We're Goin to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

The first thing we did when we got to the zoo was take a bus tour around the whole zoo. We learned a lot about the zoo & it's animals, but the best part for Lily was being able to ride on the top level of the double decker bus!

Lily's favorite zoo exhibit is always the elephants, but this elephant made our visit even more exciting for Lily. This elephant was swaying back & forth & swinging her trunk - she was "dancing" for us!

Up close & personal!
Lily found lots of animal statues to pose with.

STAR OF THE SHOW!

The most exciting part of our visit to the zoo was the sea lion show. The sea lion trainers asked for a volunteer to help with the show & Lily jumped up & raised her hand. The trainers chose Lily to help them & she displayed her new found bravery by going right up on the stage in front of the whole audience!

'Norman' the sea lion
Norman getting a back scratch

Lily & Norman clapping

Lily teaching Norman how to stick out his tongue!

Feeding Norman a snack of fresh fish

Sea lion kisses!! YUCK!

(She really did smell like fish for the rest of the day!)

San Diego

Grammy decided to take her girls to San Diego for Lily's 4th birthday. (yipee!) Our main reason for visiting was to go to the famous San Diego Zoo, but we also planned on visiting a few other "San Diegan" attractions. We visited the zoo, the Wild Animal Park, Legoland & spent a day sight-seeing as well. Lily had a great time & it seems, for Lily, that turning 4 has unleashed some very big-girl behavior. She had her very first piece of gum & did very well with it, so she is now allowed to chew gum occasionally. She also impressed both Grammy & Mommy with a LOT of bravery in a lot of different situations while we were in San Diego. It seems like she grew up a lot in just a few days!!

The BIG GIRL arriving in San Diego

The Princess Turns 4!!

I can't believe Lily is 4! Where has all the time gone?!

Happy Birthday Lily!!! Birthday Girl

Birthday cupcakes
yum yum!

WILD THINGS!!
A pink guitar! Future rock star?

We took Lily to Chuck E Cheese on her birthday
Peek-a-boo!
Look at all those tickets!
Stomping spiders!
Monster trucks!
Playing with Grammy

Lily's Fabulous Pink Poodle Soiree'

Lily had her birthday party at Grammy house this weekend. Since she loves her Poodlena so much, we decided to have a pink poodle soiree'. We had a lot of fun planning her party & I think it was perfect for Lily. All of her best 'Boston' friends came to her party & they had tons of fun!

"La Boutique de Paris"

"Cafe de Paris"

We found a company that is similar to Build-a-Bear, but they have a mobile unit that can travel to birthday parties so kids can make stuffed animals. All the girls got to stuff their own pink poodles & fill them with love. They all named their poodles, weighed them & the poodles got their very own birth certificate.
(Can you believe we had 70 degree weather in JANUARY?!)
Lily stuffing her poodle 'Ariel' Lily & Kylie
Casey, Skylar, Autumn, Lily & Kylie with their poodles!

We played 'Pin the Tail on the Poodle'!

We decorated little pink bags with poodles, Eiffel towers & rhinestones & then the girls collected their pinata candy with them!
We also decorated pink sunglasses with rhinestones
Kylie
Auntie Tiffie got in on the fun too! :o)

Opening gifts!

Lily's FABULOUS cake!!
(After the cake catastrophe last year, I was thrilled with how well this years cake turned out!)

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Lily,

Happy Birthday to you!! Blowing out the candles
Waiting for cake is not easy when your 4!

Lily & Autumn

A happy girl with her poodles!

Mommy with the birthday girl!

'The GIRLS'

Lily's Rockin New Year's Eve

BIG HUG!

Lily's friend Skylar came over to play on New Year's Eve. The girls had a great time together & their moms got to have a good visit too.

First snowfall

Yay!! The first snowfall of the season!!

Heading out to play...It was just a light dusting, but that didn't stop Lily!
She was a little upset there wasn't enough snow to build a snowman...maybe next time!

My first haircut!

I decided it was finally time for Lily's first haircut. The ends were pretty unhealthy & it was getting more & more difficult to brush. Lily insists on wearing her hair down as often as possible (she has informed me that princesses don't wear pony tails) which only makes her hair more knotted & snarly & that in turn causes bigger arguments about brushing her hair because it hurts too much. I have been putting off the haircut for some time now in fear of cutting off all her beautiful curls & having them not return, but I came to the realization that it had to be done.

Look at all that hair ~ and those beautiful curls!

She had to sit backwards in the chair because her hair was so long.Lily was a little nervous that getting her hair cut was going to hurt, but after being assured it wouldn't, she was very brave! I think I was more nervous than she was! The first cut!

A happy, brave girl

After her haircut, she got her picture taken & was given a little baggie of hair to take home with her. She was pretty excited to be able to take her curls home with her. We ended up cutting off only about an inch & she still has some curls, but it's not anywhere near as curly as it used to be :o( At least it is healthier & easier to brush!

Lily also got a prize for being so good & brave during her haircut - a rubber duckie with a crown & wand...very fitting for the princess.