Christmas Bike

For Christmas Lily got a big girl bicycle. Here she is learning to ride her new Christmas bike on the sidewalk in front of our house. (Note the mild weather as she is only wearing a cotton sweater.)

Lily's Stocking

Christmas morning was very exciting for Lily. Here she is seen opening her stocking. She was shocked to discover Santa had left not just one present but many. Opening all the gifts proved to be quite exhausting...especially since she was up late in anticipation of Santa’s arrival.

Lily meets Santa Claus

Today Lily and I were shopping at the mall when Lily spotted Santa Claus. She was very eager to meet him and excited that he would be coming to her house on Christmas Eve. Mom thought she might be afraid but Lily could hardly wait for the two kids in front of her to be done. Santa’s lady elf took this picture and Santa gave Lily and book and a candy cane. It was very exciting!

Holiday Sing-a-long/Brunch

Today at Lily’s school parents were invited to join the class for a Holiday Sing-a-long and brunch. Here are most of the kids singing with music teacher Miss Olivia. Lily’s teacher Miss Nadine is the one in black with long black hair. After the music we enjoyed refreshments and each other’s company. Everyone had a great time and Lily seemed a little sad to be leaving for Christmas vacation.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Today we dug out the decorations and decorated the tree. Lily was a big help and especially enjoyed eating candy canes.

Beatrice & Lily

On our last day in Maine Lily got the chance to hold her new cousin Beatrice. It was Lily’s first time holding a baby. Looks like she will be a great big sister.

Uncle John & Lily

Today we had lunch and Grammy & Grampy Phillips house. Also in attendance were Aunt Bee, Aunt Florence, Aunt Anne, Uncle John and Sarah. Here is Lily with Uncle John.

Lily & Julian

On Thanksgiving day we were in Vassalboro to visit all the family. Here is Lily with cousin Julian who is reading her a story.

Lily & KJ

We made the trek to Maine recently for the Thanksgiving holiday. While we were there Lily got to play with her cousins KJ and David. Here they are all ready for bed at Memere and Grampy Dorval’s house.

Grampy Phillips & Lily

Here is Lily with Grampy Phillips at his house in Vassalboro. She is eating her favorite lunch of grill cheese and applesauce.

NC Wildlife

Example of creepy bug found in North Carolina. Hope you can appreciate the size of this bug found on our patio sunning itself this morning. Yuck!

Napping

This is Lily taking her nap today.  That’s her under the purple blanket.  Not at all what she looked like when she was tucked in but apparently how she fell asleep.  Go figure.

Trick-or-treating

Halloween night was tons of fun.  Lily really enjoyed trick-or-treating but really all she wants is more lollipops.  No chocolate for her it’s “too chocolately”.  Oh well, all the more for us.  It was lots of fun seeing all the trick-or-treaters and visiting with the neighbors.

Lily & Amelia

Lily met her new friend and neighbor Amelia on Halloween.  Here they are jammin out on the piano. 

Carving Pumpkins

Lily has been anxious to make a jack-o-lantern so today we carved a scary pumpkin in preparation for Halloween. Boo!

Climbing Trees

Today while playing outside, Lily attempts to climb a small tree...better luck next time.

Frisbee Golf

Lily playing frisbee golf with Mom and Dad. One of our new favorite things to do is go to the public course at the city park. It is quiet, shady, and a good place for Lily to add to various collections (pine cones, leaves, etc.) while we enjoy ourselves.

23 Weeks

For those of you who were wondering here is Leah at 23 weeks. All was well at this weeks doctor’s appointment. Don’t expect many of these for this picture was taken reluctantly and with the limited photography skills of Chuck. Enjoy!

Jodie's Baby Shower

Went to Jodie’s baby shower at Memere’s house today. Visited lots of family and Lily played with all the cousins. Later Uncle Ken took KJ, David, and Lily swimming....brrrrrrr!

Apple Picking

Lily and Leah went apple picking at Lemieux’s Orchard in Vassalboro, ME. Gram Phillips and Aunt Anne came along for the fun. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we also got to see some cows. Moooooo!

First Day of Preschool

Mom and Dad took Lily to her first day at preschool today. She ran right in and didn’t look back. Lily met many new friends as well as her teachers Nadine and Beth. Things to look forward to are Rodeo every Monday (riding bikes) and Music class every Wednesday.

After a busy morning Lily and Mom flew to Maine to visit the family. What a day!

Ultrasound

Is it a boy or a girl? Only the technician knows and she’s forgotten by now. You’ll have to wait until January 23rd to find out!

Baby Dorval is doing well and moving all around. All the little parts check out and he or she is about 8-10 inches long now. Mom is getting bigger by the minute.

At the Durham Bulls

Today we went to see the Durham Bulls with Chuck’s lab. Lily really enjoyed the popcorn and also the playground. After the game she ran the bases with her dad.

Lily in her new bed.

Yesterday  Lily got her big girl bed.  She loves being tucked in tight under the blankets.  Although she has little steps to help her in and out she doesn’t get out of bed in the morning until we come to get her.  She does seem to enjoy taking books of the shelf next to her bed and filling her bed with them.

The Summer of Monica

Another day down at the coast with Aunt Bee.  Lily is totally in love with Monica.

Happy Birthday Gram!

Gram's birthday at camp.  Aunt Bee, Roger and Mary were there, with Mark and Monica.  Lily was the best present, bow and all.

Popham

Awesome beach day with Aunt Shelly and her nieces, Shannon and Erin. They loved Lily, she loved them, and everyone loved the beach.

Independence Day

Celebrate that a bunch of rich, white, protestant, slave owning men didn't want to pay taxes! We woke up at camp, hung out in the kayaks and Lily played in the sand box.  Then over to Memere's, and Grampy took us out in the boat.  Ended up at the Landing, where Lily smeared an ice cream cone into her mouth, while sort of saluting the flag.  Perfect day.

Born on Feb. 17/18, 2004, anyone?

Fun day with Leah's college buddies and all of their identically aged children at Patty's house.  In this pic, Lily's hoarding the bubbles while Hanna and Meghan decorate the sidewalk.  Kate and Joseph were also in attendance.

Beautiful Patio

Ahh, summer in the south.  We're very proud of the patio (Chuck did that last summer) and our hydrangea bush.  It didn't bloom last year, we though we'd killed it.  But now look at it!  We are about to head to Maine, and the arctic chill they call summer.

32!

HAPPY (birthday?) LEAH. Chuck made a cake.

Duke Family Fun Run II

We went to our second Duke 3 mile race/hike today.  We hiked.  For the parts Lily was awake, she enjoyed it.  After the race, there's a kiddie games section.  In this game, you were supposed to throw the rings onto the pegs.  Lily was too interested in sorting the rings on the pegs by color. Does that AR come with a side of OCD?

Duck Pond

The whole family went for a hike to the duck pond to see the new baby ducklings.  The pond is beautiful, but the ducks make an awfully gross mess of the shoreline.  This is Leah and Lily just before we left.

Easter!

The bunny visited and Lily found a few eggs.  This is her on the way to church. Yes, she is in the process of falling on her face.

Sodman & Star

Bill and Natalie visited NC.  We didn't do too much, played some disc golf.  Plus, Natalie got to read to Elmo & Lily :).

Swimming in Retirement Home

Hung out in the old person's activity center, fighting with wrinkly geezers for prime pool-side real estate for the chaises. Lily got to show Memere what a great swimmer she's becoming.

Busch Gardens

When in Rome, right? We're avoiding Disney: she's only two!  But we had to do something Floridianesque, so we hit Busch Gardens.  Lily loved the animals and the kiddie rides.  Too cute for words.

Florida!

After a long road trip, we arrived in Land O' Lakes.Quite a few swamps, but not a lake in sight. Lily packed her backpack herself (with some help from Mom), to make sure all of the important stuff made the trip. Lily seems to like her future retirement property.

Ride 'em cowgirl!

Leisurely weekend, with not too much going on.  Lily has decided she's big enough to ride the horse G.Grammy D. bought her.

Bird of Prey

We have a hawk that hangs out in a high tree top behind our house.  He landed on the fence today. Photo isn't great, but he looked amazing up close.

2 Years Old

Happy 2 years old Lily!  She has the unwrapping of presents down pat.  This vacuum cleaner got extra attention, probably because it makes lots of noise.

Diapers

Back to the grind in North Carolina, and our 'winter' is flying by.  Leah's started working again, and Lily has started 'school'. Because Leah goes in so early, Chuck gets the Muffin ready in the morning. He's not exactly sure where these diapers thingys go.