The Christmas Bean

Pandora and Lillian get an early start on Christmas, opening the day before some Dora the Explorer furniture from Lilli Bean's mom. They took an immediate liking to it, sitting back and kicking their feet up. 

Pandora and Lilli Bean chillin' on the new furniture. 

Early morning shot of the tree with presents beneath. Lillian slept to her usual 8:30 am or so, allowing her parents perhaps one last Christmas morning where they were awake before she was. 

Lillian makes good use of her new play tent, using it to hide from her folks as she chews on a book. 

Mom helps Lillian open a present from Grandpa Charles. 

A bleary-eyed Lilli Bean wakes up from a Christmas afternoon nap. 

Mom and Bean inside the play tent, reading a pop up book. 

It turns out that the hit of the day was a $2 cat toy, which Bean used to play with her birthday present, Marzipan the Cat. She was howling with laughter as she played with Marz like this, probably getting a good hour's worth of fun out of it.

Continuing the time-honored tradition of NOT playing with her actual toys, Bean has a grand time playing in a box. 

We finally absolutely HAD to get out of the house, so hopped into the Campervan to drive around. It turned out a Chinese Buffet was open so we stopped for a traditional Christmas dinner, although I couldn't find any duck with the head still on it like in 'A Christmas Story'. Bean found the Lo Mein though, which she apparently LOVES, often double-fisting it into her mouth. Like dad though, she may have eaten too much and gotten a belly ache later as she was pretty fussy during bedtime.

Bean's Birthday Bash!

Friends from near and far (like Nampa) gathered to celebrate Lillian 'Lilli Bean' Chesak's turning the Big Oh-One. 

There were friends, toys,... 

... the now famous 'Upsidedown Baby',...

...and the root beer was totally awesome man. 

After singing 'Happy Birthday', a hush came over the crowd. The candle was plucked away and the frosting 'fest began!

Before... 

...and after. 

After several handfulls (of mostly frosting and little cake), the sugar buzz kicked in!

Dad got 'assigned' clean up (thank you Sally), and quickly took off his shirt before removing the frosted Bean from her chair.

She went right in the tub, clothes and all.

After the clean up, it was time for presents.

Lillian's dad with Bean's birthday present from her parents: a Costco-sized box of Goldfish, which she totally loves.

Lillian's actual birthday present: Marzipan the Cat, and one-year old (?) rescue from The Humane Society. Just by chance (really), Marz looks eerily like the long-lost Zues cat.

The day after the party, Pandora and Bean played with a present from Kari, Edin, and Adrianna.

A Day Out

Lillian and her friend Pandora, bundled up (and pacifiered up) for the weather.