The Next Chapter

Well folks, after three years of posting on this blog, I am all out of space. When trying to publish a post recently, I received notifciation that I can no longer upload pictures. So, I've created a new site...From the Ground Up Part Two.  You can find our next chapter at the following address: http://jepandvalerieparttwo.blogspot.com/

Thanks!!

School Friends



Lilah with her buddy Zeke



Papa may not be too happy about Lilah sharing a couch with Zeke. :)




Playing with "Dinosaur tails"

 

How To Wash Your Hands: A Demo by Lilah

Lilah was chosen to be the poster child for washing hands in the Buttercup room.  Below is a series of pictures of Lilah demonstrating how she washes her hands.

Step 1: Turn on the Water

Step 2: Place your hands under the running water

Step 3: Next, it is time for some soap



Step 4: Lather up the soap

Step 5: Rinse

Step 6: Dry your hands

Step 7: Throw the towel on the faucet ???

Step 8: Throw the towel away in the trash

(Sorry this picture is turned the wrong way. Can't figure out how to fix it)

Highlands CDC Beauty Shop & A Presidential Election

Ms. Gwen sent me this precious picture a few days ago...

Lilah's 1st Braid

I've mentioned before one of the (many!) things we love about Ms. Gwen is that she texts pictures of the kiddos to their parents during the day.  

 When I asked Ms. Gwen to please explain to me how she got my squirmer to sit still long enough for her to braid her hair...this was her response:

"I sat down and she sat with me while I fixed her hair...I told her you are sooo pretty now let me finish!!"

I have to admit that after hearing Ms.Gwen's strategy, I tried it for myself at home. It didn't work!! :)  

 I guess it is just something about those teachers--they are AMAZING!!

 ********

And, now...completely switching gears:

 Lilah in deep thought about her experience with her first Presidential Election. 

Halloween Day!

 Happy Halloween!!!

 

Lilah started this Halloween getting ready for school in her candy corn outfit.

 

A carseat full of tulle!

 Once we got to school, we took a few pictures with the precious Mary.

 

 

 

And, then with Ms. Brenda...Lilah's FAVE. 

 

 

 

 

After nap time, I headed over to the Buttercups' Halloween Party to hang with Lilah and her friends.

 

 

The party was a good time...full of food, fun, and Halloween music.

 

After school, it was time to get ready for Trick-or-Treating!

"Where's the Candy?"

Knock, knock...TRICK-or-TREAT! Give me something good to eat!

 



 

 

Strolling around the neighborhood in the little, red wagon en route to the candy!

Ms. "Thriller Night" really did have a good time. :)

 



Because our neighborhood is not very festive...we walked down to the local park to participate in Trunk-or-Treat.

 



Ms. Priss picking out her own candy.

 



When we got home this little girl crashed. I've never seen anything like it. Our usual energetic girl was exhausted!! After I took this once in a lifetime picture, we went straight to the bath where sweet girl could hardly keep her eyes open. 

 



 

What a fun day!!! Can't wait for next year!!

 

Halloween: Baking Cookies

 I have such fun memories of making Spritz Cookies with my mom around the holidays so, I wanted to continue that tradition with Lilah.  We started off the holiday season by making pumpkin cookies for Halloween.

 

She was a great helper!

 





School Costume Parade

Lilah dressed as a peacock this year for her school costume parade.

 

We had a very rocky start getting her dressed. I arrived at school early to allow plenty of time to get dressed since we didn't have a dress rehearsal and I had a feeling she would hate the feathers. Well, it turned out, I was right...she threw an all out fit when I tried to dress her. Once she was in the costume she continued to scream as if she was being tortured.  I felt a little guilty and decided I wasn't going to push it so I took her out of the costume and she'd just participate in the parade in her regular clothes. 

As we were walking to the parade, Ms. Nancy stopped us and said she'd take Lilah and get her back in costume.  I left the two of them alone. I had no doubts that Ms. Nancy would work her magic.  Shortly after, here comes Ms. Nancy with my little peacock all dressed up! :)  We are grateful that Ms. Nancy saved the day!!

You'll notice that some of her feathers are a little bent which was as a result of her fits while getting dressed. I also had a cute ribbon on the front of the onesie and that became destroyed while getting dressed too.  Oh, well! I think she still made a precious peacock!!

Lilah and her friend Mia

Lilah and Madeline

We did have a slight meltdown which stopped the parade. (see video below)

Here are a few (very short!) videos from the parade.

A short clip of a much happier peacock!



 Sadly, the peacock costume did not make it through the day. While I was packing things up to leave, Jep took Lilah outside to the Bounce House and tore off all her feathers so she could jump with the big kids. Oh, well. I guess we got one good wear out of her costume. We have a back up costume for Halloween day. Can't wait!! :)

Happy (almost) Halloween!!

Auburn/Vandy Weekend 2012

Last weekend we headed up to Nashville to meet my parents and some of our friends to watch our Tigers play. We lucked out and got a hotel at the last minute literally right next to the stadium. Before dinner on Friday night we decided to take a walk around the stadium.  We were surprised to find out that a gate was left open for anyone to walk out onto the field.

Lilah had the BEST time running around and around on the open field.

 

 

 

 

After playing on the field we went and watch the Vanderbilt band practice. It was so neat that everything was so open to the public.  We were loving it. At one point Jep said he expected to next walk into a Vandy team meeting while they were discussing their gameday strategies. :)

 

Later that evening we met up with some friends for dinner. Lilah got to meet sweet Jace! How precious are these two little blondies?!

 

 And then came Saturday--GAME DAY!  Lilah got to experience her first tailgate and Tiger Walk.

 

Thanks to my wonderful parents for watching our sweet girl while we were at the game.

 

 

Unfortunately, Auburn lost the game 17-13. But, we still had a great time!!

 

After the game we all headed back to the tailgate. It had turned out that our tailgate spot was next to a tailgate that all the Vandy players stopped by after the game. 

 

As each Vanderbilt player walked by, Jep would call out their number and throw them a ball to test out their skills. After about 10 different players had come by, a young player and his family walked past and Jep threw him the ball. The player nonchalantly threw the ball back and in Jep's words " the ball spiraled like a winning touchdown pass in a movie." When Jep caught the ball, he said, "Hey man, you should be a quarterback!" We found out later that this guy was Jordan Rodgers (little brother of Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers & Vanderbilt's starting quarterback).  Awhile later, Jordan and his family were leaving their tailgate spot and Jep yelled "Rodgers" and threw the ball across the parking lot to him. Rodgers returned the ball and as it sailed through the air, it hit Clint's hands, a chair committed pass interference and the ball fell incomplete. Fail!

 

Tony Franklin (Vanderbilt's head coach) was also a lucky recipient of one of Jep's passes. Ha!

    .  

What a big shot!

 

WAR EAGLE! We still LOVE our TIGERS no matter what happens!