Jill's New Outfit

So, I am not usually one to brag (right?) but I am so proud of Jill's new outfit. I made it myself!

A very dear family friend of ours was preparing for her Long Journey (read "cleaning out her house before she kicks the bucket") and found some fabric she had been holding on to for several decades. She sent it with my mom to give me since I have a little girl and could use it for something. So, I decided to make this little dress I have been dying to make, but have never made time for.

It is perfect for summer and I didn't make the bloomers because it looks so adorable with her white lacy bloomers with her name embroidered on them! She looked precious at church this morning.

Jill Talking

Jill has just started vocalizing a lot and loudly. Here are short clips of her eating dinner and chatting with Auntie Michelle.

I will apologize for the video quality it was taken with a cell phone camera!

TEETH!

Okay, so I don't have any pics of them yet (for obvious reasons) but Jill got 2 teeth this week!

The last week or so I was suspicious that some might be coming so I have been feeling her gums a couple times a day to check and lo and behold, there was one on the bottom left on Tuesday afternoon.

Then on Wednesday late-morning I stuck my finger in again to check on tooth #1 when I felt tooth #2 next to it on the bottom right! Very exciting for us and a relief for Jill.

As soon as you can see something I will definintely take a pic and post it!

Hyland Family Comes to Visit

Okay, sorry, this is at least a week late but I wanted to make sure to put up pictures from our visit from the Hyland Family.

They all came down from Connecticut for Jim's daughter, Jackie's, college graduation from Baylor. After spending some time in Waco, everyone hung out in Houston visiting and catching up. I also think everyone enjoyed having some warm weather since it is still chilly up in the Northeast in early May.

And everyone got to finally meet Jill. This was everyone's first time to meet her (except Uncle Jim) since they live 1500 or so miles away. Everyone had a great time and we can't wait to go visit them in CT this summer.

Oh and sorry for the poor picture quality, like a doofenshmirtz I had my camera on the wrong setting the whole time!


Almost the whole gang, Michael, Aunt Judy, Josh, Uncle Jim, Poppy, Aunt Joan and Justin.




Jill and Poppy.




Aunt Judy and Jill.

LIMA TIME

Okay, so, Michelle's boyfriend Scott is playing baseball in a league in California and happens to be on the same team as Jose Lima. Yes, the former Astro Jose Lima, better known to Astros fans as Lima Time!

If you aren't an Astros fan, you don't know what you missed. This guy was hilarious and fun to watch. And for a few seasons a GREAT pitcher. Now he pitches and coaches/mentors players in this California league.

According to Scott, he is hilarious and easygoing and crazy. And he apparently has a crush on Michelle, but I digress. So, Justin gets this great idea to have Scott approach him and tell him, "Casa Ole, Fresh Today." If you live in Houston, you know what I am talking about. If not, he did some hilarious commercials for a local restaurant, Casa Ole, that involve him dancing around the restaurant singing and leading a conga line.

Apparently he was so excited to know that people in Houston still love and remember him, he decided to recreate the commercial for Scott. It is below. I heart Jose Lima . And I heart Scott for getting this for us.

A Picture with Someone Famous

So this weekend we got put on the VIP pass list for the Crocs AVP pro beach volleyball tournament at Westside Tennis Club thanks to our connection with Auntie Michelle.

The boys loved being VIPs and getting to go up to the exclusive VIP lounge and watch the matches in air conditioned comfort. Oh and free food and drinks was a huge plus, too.

While we were there, we got to watch some pretty high powered beach volleyball players do their stuff and even got to meet one. Josh was too shy, but Jake was pumped up to take a picture with Phil Dalhausser, 1/2 of the USA's GOLD MEDAL WINNING beach volleyball team from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jake and Jill with Phil at the tourney.

Jill and Dad

So when Justin gets home from work, sometimes Jill needs attention since mom is busy with the big kids and making dinner.

Enter Dad.

He takes Jill to look at the computer with him. Now, don't let these precious pics fool you, she usually gets fussy after a few minutes, but last night she was having a great time!

Jill's Pool

So, Jill got a new water play mat (aka "baby pool") to play in at our house this summer. Here are the pics of our first time last Friday. The little cutie had so much fun that no matter how hard I tried I could not get her to look up for a picture!




Jill's first time on the playmat. Josh checks it out.



A look up, but in the wrong direction!




The big kids take a turn, Jake, Jake's friend, Gus, and Josh. Jill still not looking!

DISNEYWORLD!

I mean, you know by the title that we had a great time! But it really was a fun, fun family trip.

It was made all the more fun by having a 6 month old little girl along who never once fussed, cruised the parks in the stroller and came on the rides (where they allowed) with us. She basically ate, slept and rode for 8 days, 7 nights. I am not even sure angel can describe this baby.

Upon our arrival, we checked into the hotel (The Boardwalk Inn) and spent the afternoon swimming in the cool hotel pool and generally chilling out.


The whole Boardwalk Inn.




Driving up.





Entry.





The lobby.





Jake going down the slide at our hotel pool.






Josh doing the same.





Super cool slide at the hotel pool.

DISNEYWORLD! Part 2

We visited EPCOT first and had a fun day. We rode all the rides and went on some twice.

Our favorites were Nemo and Friends, Test Track, and the end of Spaceship Earth. Definitely not the ride which stopped for somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes with us on it. Thank Heavens Jill was sleeping!

The boys also loved The Maelstrom in Norway!

And Jake really liked the Innoventions Plaza.

Getting sunscreened up in the morning to go out for the day.

Outside Nemo

Josh loved watching the rays

So did Jill

Josh and Stitch (one of his favorite characters).

Jake and Josh playing in Spaceship Earth.

DISNEYWORLD! Part 3

The following day we went to Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney's MGM Studios), the boys favorite place. It has all our favorite movies and characters.


Some favorites were: Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, Star Tours, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, Toy Story Mania, Hollywood Tower of Terror and Mickey's Rockin' Roller Coaster. Okay, so pretty much everything there! Sorry, no pics of stunt shows, I was busy filming them!





Jake in front of Star Tours.





Jake and Josh on the Jungle Speeder from Star Wars.







Josh on Anty at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.




Jake, Josh, Jill and Justin pose at Muppets Plaza before going in to watch Muppet Vision 3D, still a favorite of ours.




Jill and Mom meet Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc.




Sweet little girl hanging out while boys play arcade games.

DISNEYWORLD! Part 4

The next day was our Magic Kingdom Day. We love magic Kingdom's fun rides and cool things to see. We managed to ride Splash Mountain 3 times in a row before there was any wait and then hit Big Thunder Mountain Railroad twice. Then we hit Pirates of the Caribbean which we were worried about but ended up loving. And then off to Tomorrowland for more fun.




The boys and Jill getting ready on the porch of the hotel again.




Our whole family at the castle.





Mom, Dad and Jill at the castle.

Mom and Jill and fireworks. That was total coincidence!

Jake and Josh really want the sword out of the stone.




REALLY!

One of our Faves, TomorrowLand Speedway.






We went back later in the week for a reprise and hit Tom Sawyer Island (a bigtime favorite for my boys) and re-rode all our faves.



Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.




Riding in the front of the Monorail (for the 2nd time!)





Windmill on Tom Sawyer's Island.




Dad, Josh, Jill at the waterfall on TSI.