Merry Christmas!!

No comment..........

It took Ben an HOUR to wrap this crazy shaped present! I think I would have given up, but he persevered and he was so proud!

Presents from Santa!

Lilli eating crepes Christmas morning! What a mess!

Our cute little stockings that my mom made (I cut the pattern out.....).

Here's Lilli in her new Christmas dress with her handsome daddy.

Lilli in her new Christmas pj's. What a ham!!!!

We had a great Christmas this year. We stayed here in Georgia for the second Christmas in a row, and I have to say that it's been so fun to start our own traditions. We brought traditions from both sides of the family and I've just enjoyed it so much! Christmas Eve was a quiet evening. We made our traditional homemade pizzas, had Family Home Evening and read the Christmas Story, opened our new pajamas, then went and drove around to look at all the pretty Christmas lights. There really weren't a whole lot of houses with lights on them, but it was okay because it was well past Lilli's bedtime and she was getting sleepy. So we got home and put Lilli to bed, then Ben and I stayed up later and wrapped presents and watched "A Christmas Story." I love that movie. It brings such fun memories! Lilli let us sleep in the next morning. She didn't wake up until around 9am. I made our traditional Christmas crepes with fruit and whipped cream on top, then we opened presents. Lilli got spoiled this year, but it was fun to see her enjoy the things she got. Ben and I were SUPPOSED to keep Christmas small this year for each other, we were only going to get stocking stuffers. But Ben ended up getting me some work out stuff (which I really am going to enjoy), and spoiled me. Later in the day we had our good friends the Pilkington's over, along with David Meisenheimer (Ben home teaches him), all over for some yummy and delicious grub. Okay, not grub, Ben made prime rib and we had some other fixin's. It was so good. We had such a good Christmas! Sometimes we can get so caught up in the gift giving, and Santa, but we really tried to bring the true meaning of Christmas into our home. I know it's so important for Lilli to know why we celebrate this holiday. Christ is the ultimate gift our Heavenly Father has given. He has taught us to love one another and serve one another. I hope that we will always remember that, not just at Christmas time, but all through out the year. We missed being with family, but we were happy celebrating with just us and good friends! Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Family Photos

We had our awesome friend, Greg, take our family pictures last Saturday with our camera. I thought he did a great job. These one's are just candids, but we do have quite a few that turned out pretty cute. Lilli wasn't very happy about having to sit still. She wanted to wander around. We took these on the Euchee Creek trails. We're trying to get our Christmas cards out, so be watching for them. We were able to put two pictures on them, so we did one of a family picture (I kind of wish we had picked a different picture, but oh well) and the other is one of Lilli. She looked so cute with her curly hair and her little piggy tails. Overall, I would say we were successful in getting our family pictures done! Finally!

My little Lilli bug!

She was eating yogurt today and had it everywhere. She used her hands more than her spoon.

And the cup!

Lilli went out with her daddy today, so of course I had to doll her up.

Cheeser!!!

Lilli has discovered the cup! She does pretty good with it and now that she can use it, that's all she'll use. This is all a new development (as of.........yesterday). Today I tried putting some milk in a sippy cup, and she would not drink it. She wanted it in a cup. It amazes me that even so young, they know EXACTLY what they want! Anyway, she loves it. Every once in a while we'll have a spill, but she does well. She really likes yogurt too. She thinks it's ice cream. She's developed quite the sweet tooth. It's my fault. I should not have given her the sweet cereals. Now all she wants are sweets. I just don't want her teeth to rot. She's our little Lilli bug! She's been a little grumpy today. I think it's her teeth. All the signs were there, poor little thing. I just love teething season!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Ben!!!!

This was his surprise birthday party!

Getting some help blowing out the candles!

Ben and I playing cards in my really small, old college apartment.

Ben was in a band and they would play at some local joints. Yeah! He's so DREAMY!

My roommate and I tried straightening Ben's hair to see how long it would be! Look at those side burns!!!! and that hair!!!!

Yesterday was Ben's 27th birthday! I know, he's so old! The day started off okay. He was sweet and let me go to my work out class. Then I came home and made his favorite breakfast, crepes with strawberries and whipped topping. The rest of the day consisted of Ben doing his math homework (while I cleaned the house to get ready for the surprise birthday party I had planned for him). Then at around 5pm, he and I went to Miyabi's where they cook the food right in front of you. There was so much food. Thankfully, the Pilkington's had offered to watch Lilli for us. Anyway, after dinner, we went to Dick's Sports (where else). We played some air hockey. Ben cheated, a lot!!!! And ended up winning, but I guess that's okay cause he was the birthday boy! Then we went home and had all our neighbor friends there to wish him a happy birthday. He said he had no idea, until before we went in I told him to go first. I'm so bad about surprises!!!!! I always blow it, so if you ever have a surprise, don't tell me. :) Plus, everyone left their shoes by the door, so of course he saw them. It was funny! But it was a really fun day! I hope Ben had a very happy birthday! Lilli and I are so grateful to have him in our lives. He's a wonderful father and husband and is always so helpful and willing to serve. He's hard working and is such a great provider! We love you Ben and can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays to come!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

I love Thanksgiving! I have been blessed so much and have so much to be grateful for! We were able to spend Thanksgiving Day at our really good friends' the Pilkingtons'. It was a lot of fun, and there was tons of food! I love food!!! This week has been a little rough, so it was a nice change being able to get away from it all. Kind of. Lilli has been sick, and with that, she's had a really bad diaper rash. We're talking, blisters. I just wanted to cry for her! She was still in pain Thanksgiving Day and wasn't too happy, but to be honest, it didn't put too much of a damper on the day. I had also been sick (with a cold) this week, but was feeling better. It's okay for one of us to be sick, but for both of us, it wasn't much fun. But, to look on the positive side, Ben had a few days off and was able to take care of his girls! And he did a great job! We feel so blessed to have such good friends and be able to spend the Holidays with them. It sort of makes up for being so far away from family. Thanks Pilkingtons'!!!!!!

Everyone knows that the Friday right after Thanksgiving is the big shopping day, Black Friday! I never thought that I would be one of those crazy people to get up at 3:30 in the am and go to the early sales, but I did it! I went with my partner in crime, Megan (Pilkington), and it was crazy! I don't think I was meant to get up so early, because Ben had set the alarm for 3:30 but set it for in the afternoon, so Megan had to call and wake me up. Once I got up, it was fine. We went to Wal-Mart first. We got there at around 4am and stayed till the sales went on at 5am. It was like vultures to a dead carcass (sorry for the analogy, but that's seriously how it was). People were mad dashing it to get toys. We did manage to get what we had come for. So then we headed to Target. Prepared for another chaotic event. Their sales started at 6am and we got there around 5:15am. We had to wait out in the freezing cold with just pants,a sweater and flip flops on, waiting for them to open. We both were freezing cold! It was a lot of fun though, and we both got what we came for (and some). Target wasn't as crazy as Wal-Mart was. I seriously would do it all over again, we had such a blast! Needless to say, I was really tired and took a 2 hour nap later (Ben had gotten up at 4am and had to take Lilli to the other Target, just to be sure we got what we wanted). I let him take a nap too.

Anyway, amidst being sick, and the chaotic shopping, and trying to prepare for a talk in church, this week has been a really good week and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people and celebrate such a fabulous holiday. I love my husband and daughter so much and they bring such happiness in my life! Hope everyone had a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!!!

I've Been Tagged! AGAIN!!

I love this whole tag thing. I know I did one not too long ago, but I got tagged again and thought of some other ticks/habits/favorites. Sorry if you're sick of these. I think they're fun. So here goes!

1. I am deathly afraid of heights!!! Not even kidding! I start to hyperventilate if I get up too high. I even get a little nervous if I'm up off the floor even a little bit. When I went to New York, I couldn't go up to the top of the Empire State Building, I was so freaked out. This is going to sound really bad, but I get nervous even watching movies where a plane is flying or if the view is looking over a city or whatever. It freaks me out!

2. My roommates used to make fun of me for this one, but I can't stand there to be any extra time on the display on the microwave. I always have to clear it. Sometimes, they would stop something from cooking in there so there would be extra time on the display and would leave it on there JUST to bug me. It really bothers me.

3. I'm starting to love working out. I never thought that would happen, but I really am starting to like it. I love the way it makes me feel after a long hard work out. I feel good!! Not to mention I lost 2.5 pounds this last week! Yea!!!!!!!! THAT is definitely worth it!

4. I have over 100 cousins just on ONE side of my family. My mom has 15 brothers and sisters (16 kids total, all from the same mother and no twins or triplets etc.) Crazy huh!? I don't even know some of them. And let's just say that family functions for the Davies' family were/are nuts! There was/are a lot of people there.

5. I love volleyball. I coached volleyball in college for two years at a local high school (Rigby High). I was the head JV coach the first year, and the assistant varsity coach the second (I got married and moved away after that). I also coached volleyball camps for about 5 years (coaching with/for one of the best vball coach in the world). I would travel around the U.S. and teach volleyball at high schools and some junior high schools. I also received a full ride scholarship to play volleyball to Division I university (granted it was University of Idaho, but still.........). My dad is a vball coach (he coached me all through high school), so it's in my blood. My dad says that Lilli had better be a vball player (let's just hope she's got hops like her daddy). Anyway, volleyball is the best!

6. I have to say that I am a member of one of the best church wards I have ever been in. I've got so many great friendships with so many of the women in our ward. I think they are all unique and special and I have loved getting to know all of them. I have such a great time whenever I'm around any of them and I want all of them to know how much I have grown to love them. They are women of God and are so inspirational. They have been such great examples to me of being a good wife and mother. And they're feisty too!!!!! and sassy! I love it! We get such a hoot out of each other! Anyway, you are the greatest, ladies!!!!!!!

So that's it. I hope you all enjoy it!

Pop Rocks and Finger Paints!

Wednesday we went to Target to get some stuff and I saw some Pop Rocks on sale. I haven't seen Pop Rocks in a long time, so we bought a few packets. Well, yesterday we were watching a movie so I pulled out the Pop Rocks. Lilli wanted some, so I gave a little bit to her. She loved them! I was opening my mouth so she could hear them "pop" and so she started doing the same thing. After a while, she wasn't quite sure about them. Here are some pictures of her eating some. She got them everywhere.





Then, that night after dinner, Ben and I were doing dishes and all of sudden Lilli comes in just a growling and laughing and screaming. I turned around and this is what I saw!!!!!! She had the mesh bag that holds all of her bath toys over her head! It was funny! Then I turned around again and she had lifted it up off of her mouth so she could eat a leftover noodle (that had fallen on the floor)! What a goof!




Today Lilli found some finger paints I had gotten a little while ago. I had every intention of letting her do it, just not yet. Anyway, she wanted to do it so I let her. I know, I'm either really brave or really dumb. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She did get paint all over her, butshe had a blast. It was definitely worth it. I think it took more time to get it all set up (of course I had to fully cover my table with paper bags so it wouldn't get destroyed, then had to move all the kitchen chairs away from the table, then had to move the table away from any walls that may have gotten paint on them) than it did to clean up. Anyway, let's just say that she didn't make too big of a mess, but a mess none the less. She had a blast and I had a blast watching her. She was a little hesitant at first because she wasn't sure if she should be making a mess but once I showed her the way to do it, she just went for it. She definitely got a bath afterwards!! Like I said, I had so much fun watching her have fun!!!!! Her face just says it all!