Catch-Up

Here are just a few random things from the past week or so. First up, some pics from a walk we took down to Lake Alice. The girls had fun standing on the bridge and checking out the water.

Lily showing off her flower.

"Smelling" the jasmine. Love the piggies!

Here's a cute one of Ava from a mall trip last week. Love those big brown eyes!

And, another one of Ava, guess most of these are of her...She adores these soft blankets my aunt gave the girls for Christmas, her's is waiting to be washed right now, so she keeps stealing Lily's. She just loves to cuddle them and sleep with them. I think I may have to invest in a couple more so that they don't have to fight over Lily's Dora one!

Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco Review

As I have mentioned before, the great folks at MomSelect gave me the chance to review the show Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco here in Gainesville. Well, the show was last Thursday, so me, Lily, and our friends, Kim and Madison, got dolled up and headed to check it out.


It was really an awesome performance! I think the kids may have been a bit young for it still (they're three), and the bleacher seating was not the most comfortable (although, it was nice and close), but the show was amazing. There was a bit of "adult" humor that, had the girls been a little older, I would have been more concerned about. The whole show was in French which I didn't realize until Kim told me she had checked out the website (but duh, right?). They did not allow cameras in the show, so check out the Saltimbanco site for some pictures of the acts (you can also watch a trailer on the site that will give you an idea of some of the performances). Also, here is some info about the show and the meaning of the title from the Saltimbanco site.

About the Show:
" Saltimbanco -from the Italian "saltare in banco", which literally means "to jump on a bench"-explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.

Saltimbanco is a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope."

There was beautiful singing, fun dancing, and incredible acrobatics. The costumes were bright and just a lot of fun. Everyone involved in the show seemed to really enjoy what they were doing and they tried to include the audience as much as they could. One poor gentleman got called on stage to participate in a 5 minute long mime skit. He was a great sport about it and the audience thought it was hilarious. We had a blast (well, Kim and I did)! I would definitely recommend heading to check this out, but maybe leave the little ones at home!

I'd like to thank MomSelect for the opportunity for this great review!

7 Years

I've got a couple of posts to put up today, but first I wanted to mention a milestone for Nate and I. Yesterday was 7 years since out first date to my junior prom. I can't believe it's been that long! I love you, Nathan!

Mother's Day Interview with Lily

I saw this and thought it would be fun to do with Lily. The bold parts are the questions I asked her and the not bold ones are her answers. Here it is:

My Mom

I really love it when my mom gets me some games and my movie comes on. (???)

My mom likes to wear clothes.

My mom always tells me, “No, no. and to say 'Yes, Mommy.'"(Niiiiice)

The best thing she does is give me some ice cream.

It makes her happy when when I be a good girl. (Can you tell what we've been talking A LOT about lately?)

My mom loves to relax by by getting hugs.

I like it when she plays.

The best thing she cooks is pizza. (Funny, because this actually the thing that Daddy, always cooks.)

When my mom shops she likes to buy clothes. (Um, for her, maybe.)

My mom’s favorite household chore is cleaning up.

My mom’s favorite TV show is Mommy shows.

If she could go on a trip, she would go to Africa.

I love my mom because I love you.

Battling Boredom

This week, I have been trying to come up with ways to entertain the kids that don't involve u getting in the car and actually driving anywhere. Thankfully, we have been having absolutely beautiful weather! On Wednesday, we headed outside to let the girlies play with some finger paints! Lily loves to paint/ draw/ do anything craft like, so this is always a fun thing for her. I usually let her do it inside on a drop cloth during Ava's nap, but I decided to let Ava have a go at it. I was not brave enough, however, to let me 16 month old loose with paints inside my apartment (Lily was probably closer to 2 1/2 before we did paints, so it was a little different, not o mention there was only one of her to keep from smearing paint everywhere). The outside paint was a wise choice. We have some long rolls of paper and I just laid a big strip of it out on the sidwalk, sprinkled some paint all along it and let them have at it! It was fun to watch them. Lily used it as a cat walk, leaving little multi-colored footprints behind her. Ava was a little more cautious...although, she did end up using the paper/ paint as a kind of slip-n-slide...

Oh, I just love those fat little legs...

Oh, yeah, outside was a good idea!

And, this is what happens when you walk through the paint and slip and land on your bum...but, I think she can pull it off :)

Look at the mess Mom's letting me make!

Lily doing her catwalk. She's such a little diva.

Thankfully, the bottom was not s bad as the top. Nothing transferred onto my carpet (not that you'd relaly notice if it did with our nasty carpeting).

Big Sis' feet didn't fare much better.

I couldn't keep the whole long piece of paper, so I took pictures of some of my favorite spots...mostly, little hands and feet...








We also made our first trip to the pool today. Lily has decided she is going to learn how to swim this summer (which sounds great, because I have decided I am going to get a tan this summer). So, we went to the pool and Lily loved it. She had a blast, swallowed lots of water...Ava on the other hand...hated it. And, I mean hated it! It took me like 15 minutes just to get her in the water and in her float. Then, she spent the whole rest of the time we were there saying, "No. Done. Now." Yeah, she's not much of a little water baby. We will also have to work on that this summer :)