Wonderful Winter Weekend

Again, I am putting my preplanned blog on hold to bring you news of Lilly's big weekend. Play date on Friday night. Parade, Santa visit and Christmas tree shopping and decorating on Saturday. Sunday was Uncle Wes's birthday so there was a cake to make and a party to go to.
Lilly had a great time at Christmas in the Village. She loves a parade and nothing says Christmas Parade like a fresh dusting of snow that is still falling.
Lilly had a blast and enjoyed the parade more than anyone. She was so obviously happy that a shop owner took her picture, Santa waved at her and the United Way singled her out with a special stuffed animal.
Jack and I sat the parade out, but Bryan and Lilly came home after and picked us up so that we could all go back together to see Santa. Lilly wasn't shy at all, although she was a little confused about what to do. She walked up to Santa, stood about three feet away and shouted 'doll house' at him as if she were placing an order at a drive thru. We explained the procedure a little more clearly. She then sat on Santa's lap and had a more respectful conversation. After saying 'good bye' to Santa we made a quick stop for dog food and then headed to the Christmas tree farm.
On Friday I was thrilled to slip into my pre pregnancy jeans and find that they fit. So, I packed up all my maternity clothes and got the boxes ready for storage. In an ironic twist, only a day after doing this I was digging through the boxes for my maternity coat because just for old times sakes Jack and I both wanted to wear it at the Christmas tree farm. It was snowing and cold so I put him in the carrier and put the coat on over both of us. Oddly enough it fit perfect like that. Genius!
After naps, we all took one when we got home, Bryan brought the tree in. He and Lilly trimmed it a little to even it up...unfortunately, they got a little carried away and the tree had to be turned to hide the bare spot they made.
After putting on the lights Lilly helped with the ornaments. Mostly, she took off the ones that Bryan had put on and asked him a million questions about them. Now, she takes off the ones she can reach and plays with them. In two days most of our ornaments that were hung on the bottom have made their way to the higher part of the tree.Sunday was my brother's birthday and birthday cake baking is traditionally my responsibility. Over the last year Lilly has appointed herself as assistant. Nothing makes her happier than dragging a kitchen chair over to the counter and helping make something. She pours in the ingredients, or 'green ants' as she calls them, and then does the stirring. She refers to her apron as her 'cake making clothes'.
Lilly was very proud of her cake. After I frosted it she decorated it with chocolate sprinkles...most of which were piled in the one spot just off the center of the cake. She helped Kristy put the candles on and then clapped after the singing when Wes blew them out. Birthdays around here have changed a little. We've always celebrated each person's birthday with a family dinner, but now it seems that everyone's birthday is less about his or her actual birthday and more about Lilly celebrating that birthday. She even helped Wes open his gifts. He was pretty happy with his gifts, but she was disappointed that he got a couple sweaters, a dress shirt and a gift card instead of play doh, barbies or blocks. Since there were no new birthday toys to play with Lilly had to make due with her favorite playthings: Daddy, Papaw and Uncle Wes. She ruled that they were all horses and spent the hour after dinner leading them, in turn, from room to room with the ribbon from one of the gifts and having them sit in their 'stables' to wait for further instruction. I have to point out that all of this went on while the Colts were in overtime with the Cowboys, but Lilly's horses gladly followed her around and one, the show pony, even wore birthday ribbon on his head.