To grandmothers' houses we go

Lill and Latham had a great time in Cleveland during this Thanksgiving holiday.

Many thanks to our warm and wonderful family. We love you!

1000

Today is a big day!
It's our 1000th post.






This is the very first photograph that I posted. (The text on the onesie reads "This is my little black dress")





















And this is Lillian Betya Boyle holding this very onesie this morning before school.

Lillian explains how to make a volcano

Click here if you would like to hear Lillian explain butterfly metamorphosis (video from April 2011).

In April of 2011 we also produced three episodes of "Joy of Painting 2" - Lillian's parody of Bob Ross' "Joy of Painting."  In Episode 2 (click here) you can really feel the joy!

Lill can't stop cooking

This morning she woke up, put on her Mummy costume and is now making us pancakes.

Love it!

Mama's dinner

Lillian made my dinner too.
We bought a very small octopus and Lillian stir-fried it for me.



Before .....

After .....

Hip Hop routine

On December 15th, Lillian will have her first Hip Hop recital.  This is today's rehearsal.

Enjoy!

There is a sushi chef in the house

Lillian was in charge of dinner this evening.
She decided to make sushi.
First, we went to the grocery store

Then, when we got home Lill took over the preparations:

Measuring and cooking the rice ...

Preparing seaweed ...

Putting it all together and rolling the sushi ...

Cutting the roll ....

And, of course, enjoying it.

Crazy Saturday weather

After Hip Hop class, Lillian and I had a treat from one of our favorite bakeries called Dough in the Danforth.  It was a beautiful and sunny morning.

5 minutes later, this happened. It snowed on us while we were still walking down the street??!!!

Lillian explains how to make a ponytail

The best cake in the UNIVERSE

Lill's first house

Lillian's doll house is done.  She built this all by herself!!!!

Getting ready for the holidays

We picked up dinner after school today and had our desserts first (Candy Cane French Macarons).

Gift highlights

We received a ton of amazing gifts.  Thank you!
We will showcase some of them as we open them.  We are taking our time.

Two of the gifts that we have enjoyed already are:

Red hair spray ...

... and a practice skateboard called "Yo Baby".  It's a skateboard without wheels.

Disco Dance Party

For Lillian's birthday party we went to Breakout Studios. It's an underground disco club for kids. Everyone was invited to come in costume and I did extra face painting for the kids and grandparents.

It was loud, with bright flashing lights, toilet paper, bubble wrap, two chocolate cakes (made by Peter), a DJ and an MC, pizza, and ice cream.
Thank you, everyone, for coming!

The party rocked!!!

between two grandpas

Nana, Osik, Bibi, and Grandpa Jim came this weekend for Lillian's birthday party.

On Saturday night we all went out to dinner at Spring Rolls (most of us had sushi).

Thank you!

Thank you to all of our friends and family who called, emailed, texted, IMed, Skyped, and FaceTimed with us today.

Thank you for your good wishes and wonderful gifts.

Thank you for making delicious treats and giving warm hugs.

We love you.




(photo of Lillian talking to Lana on the phone)

(p.s.  the celebrations are not over - we're looking forward to a whole weekend of fun!)

Celebrating in the classroom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILLIAN!!! 5!!!

These are the cupcakes that Lill brought to school today to celebrate her birthday with her friends.

She woke up to a room full of balloons and balloons make everyone happy.

Thank you Kim Chin for your beautiful and delicious baking!

This photo is from Lillian's first birthday party!


p.s. this is our 984th post on this blog!

Power tools

Last week, Lillian built a wooden doll house at school.

Ripley's Aquarium

There was so much to do at the aquarium today.  It was amazing!
Four hours of non-stop fun!! Thanks for the play-date, Cate!!

Sunday Dinner

Lillian was in charge of dinner this evening.
She made ratatouille for us.  And it was DELICIOUS!!

Full Saturday

7:00 am - waking up, snuggling, having breakfast
9:00 am - Hip Hop class
10:15 am - snacks after dance class with Alyson and Morgan
11:00 am - Drama Class
12:15 pm - snacks after class with Izzy and Caleb
1:00 pm - lunch with Mama
2:00 pm - watching "Hansel and Gretyl" at the Solar Stage with Ariel
3:30 pm - making loot bags for birthday party
4:30 pm - Skyping
5:00 pm - playing LEGOs with Daddy
6:00 pm - dinner
6:30 pm - dancing with Daddy
7:00 pm - bath
7:30 pm - reading
8:00 pm - brushing teeth and going to bed

(photo of Lill practicing ballet while in line at the Solar Stage)

Family Crafts

Anna and Peter came over to help us make owls that will go into the loot bags for Lillian's birthday.

Food Shopping

Lately, Lillian has really been enjoying grocery shopping.  Today, she was completely in charge of dinner  (I am just kidding).

On Monday

Mondays are probably our busiest days with Lillian's piano class that runs until 5:15.

By the time we got home, we were exhausted and treated ourselves to a fishy dinner.

Day of the Dead

We can never resist an occasion to get Lill's face painted.

More food fun

I made this dish for lunch.

Lill re-arranged it and said, "Look, I made a Picasso lunch."

Food Fun

Lillian's breakfast from top to bottom: banana, apple, hard boiled egg, cucumber, lumpfish caviar, pickle, turkey dog, lox.

Lillian loved it!

Hiking at the Evergreen Brickworks

We are so fortunate to live next to such a beautiful place. (Latham took this photo while hiking with Lillian at the Evergreen Brickworks).