Homemade Ladybug Piñata

Upon hearing there would be a group of girls Mila's age 

at a Memorial Day BBQ we'd been invited to, 

Mila and Mommy decided to make a homemade piñata. 

 We kept it simple by using a regular balloon for shape. 

Using a paper mache mixture of 1 part flour to 2 parts water,

Mommy covered the balloon with 3 layers of newsprint strips

(letting the layers fully dry in-between).

 Mila liked gluing on the tissue paper and lady bug spots 

much more than doing the paper mache,

which she "helped" with for about 5 minutes.  

As she said, "that's for Mommy's to do, not little kids."

 We popped the ballon and left the top open in order to fill it 

with goodies. Mommy secured the sides with duct tape 

before poking holes for the string.

Then we used tissue paper/construction paper to cover the hole. 

 "Are we ever gonna smack this thing open?"

 It was pretty durable, but after a good beating by all the girls

 and a few parents, the ladybug split open.

 The mad scramble.

 Mila made sure there was nothing left :)

 Our hosts set up their awesome bouncy house 

for the girls after the piñata.

Mila had a really great time and so did we.

At night we asked her what her favorite part of the day was 

and she answered, "All of it!"

Ice Cold "Wemonade"!

Our building had a yard sale last weekend.  

It was a beautiful day and we had all the ingredients 

to make lemonade, so Mila set up her first lemonade stand. 

 Getting ready.

 Waiting (impatiently) for customers.

 "Anybody want some lemonade? Only 25 cents!"

We sold out our two large jugs in about an hour and a half.

Several nice neighbors gave her more than 

the asking price, so she made quite a bit for her 

first business venture! 

She says she's saving it for the candy store. 

Mila, Mommy and the Morton Arboretum

Recently, Mila and Mommy took a drive

 out to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.

We packed a picnic and checked out the beautiful scenery.

It felt nice to be among the trees, creeks, flowers

 and the fresh air of the 1,700 acre grounds.

 Mommy was a little nervous when buying tickets for 

the tram...an hour long ride with no place to hop off, 

but Mila loved it!

 We went at a great time, all the flowering trees

 were in bloom and daffodils popped up everywhere.

 The Arboretum has lots to offer little kiddos--

playgrounds, a children's garden, fountains, a cafe, space to run...

...they even had a free craft where kids could 

make art out of recycled materials.

Mila said the hedge maze was her favorite part.  

She would run and giggle at every turn.

 Mommy and MQ in a little play house. 

Taking your tykes to the Morton Arboretum 

is a fun and educational way to tire them out! 

We definitely recommend it. 

Hooray for Free Comic Book Day!

Daddy had long looked forward to taking his girl 

to our local comic book shop for Free Comic Book Day,

which occurs on the first Saturday in May at

 participating comic book shops across the country. 

 They stood in line a few minutes before the store opened.

 Once inside they got to choose three free books each.

 They were pretty happy with their selections!

Mila couldn't wait to "read" hers, 

she started before we got home! 

Fun in Florida!

Our trip started by taking a stretch white limo to the airport! 

(Mommy found a great deal on Living Social)

For the first leg of our trip, 

we stayed the very charming Riverview Hotel

 in New Smyrna Beach, Fl. 

Mila quickly dubbed it The Pink Hotel.

 We spent maybe 10 minutes in the hotel room

before we put on our suits and hit the pool!

 Mila's cousins were vacationing a few miles away

so we got to spend lots of fun times with them too!

Mila displaying her shell collection.

We enjoyed breakfast on our balcony each morning.

 Mila didn't mind her legs being buried a bit!

Daddy tolerated a total body bury from his niece and nephew. 

Beach babes.

 The cousins had a blast splashing together.

 Mila liked the beach more than the pool so we

spent a lot of time there.

 22 weeks pregnant with Mila's little sis!

 We watched some fisherman wrangle a 5 ft. long shark!

They set it free shortly after.

We loved the little restaurant nest to our hotel, Cafe Heavenly.

Great lobster rolls!

The Pink Hotel had apples and 

fresh chocolate chip cookies in the lobby each day,

Mila took full advantage. 

Check out the sweet necklace Mila

made one lovely, lazy afternoon.

As Mila says, "It's a sha sha sha shark!"

 Sandy Vandy.

 AHHH! We love the beach!

 Family time is the best time.

 New Smyrna Sweetie.

 Our hotel room overlooked the causeway.

When the bell rang the bridge went up so big boats could pass.

Mila was always so excited to hear that bell and watch the boats. 

 Clowning around in the tacky tourists shops.

 For our second leg of the trip, we headed to Orlando

where we visited with more family. 

Here is Mommy, Grandma Lynn and Great Grandma Mimi.

 Goofballs in Grandma Mimi's pool.

 At Mommy's Uncle Keith & Aunt Mickie's place 

we spotted a very friendly bald eagle! See it on the lawn?

 His name is Henry and Uncle Keith has trained him

 to come closer each year. 

He was only about 7 feet away from us!

Family photos after church.

We stayed at Marriott's Harbour Lake...

It was the perfect place for Mila! 

The pirate theme was right up her alley, 

the entire time there she insisted we call her Izzy 

(from Jake & The Neverland Pirates).

This was her preferred way to slide down.

She wore a smile on her face the whole time...

...and because of that so did Mommy & Daddy :)

She made a little friend at the pool and played with him for two days. 

 His name was Dylan but she just called him, "My boy."

Poolside ice cream.

Again, Daddy! Higher!

Family photo before Mommy and Daddy went to dinner.

Thanks to Grandma Lynn's babysitting, 

we enjoyed an AMAZING, adult dinner 

at Jiko in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Soaking up some rays.

4 generations of bathing beauties.

Mila loves her Great Grandma Mimi and Grandma Lynn.

We celebrated our last night with a fantastic dinner at 

Cafe Tu Tu Tango on International Drive.

The restaurant was filled with funky art.

Tan and happy.

Cheers to a great family vacation!