Well, it was a huge success!

Abbie had a great time her first day of school. She learned a lot of useful things...

1. "When you draw a person, you should make sure he has a neck."
2. "It is probably better if I don't get married in Kindergarten and wait 'til college."
3. "My teacher has a baby boy. He should meet my little sister."
4. "If you eat a cupcake at school for a friends birthday, you shouldn't come home and eat one." (A lesson I don't understand at all, and who is teaching her this crap! I plan to write a strongly worded letter.)
5. "The playground is STUPID hot, and I really mean STUPID. It's not smart!"

She had a great time, and it was fun to listen to her little pearls of wisdom all night long.

She's still having trouble understanding she cannot maintain her sorority house schedule now that she's a school girl. At Chez Billingsley, our kids have always had relatively late bedtimes (9:00-10:00P) because we liked our kiddos to sleep in late (8:30-9:00A...sometimes later).

So, she thinks we can keep that up, but she's learning 6:00 comes very early each morning. Other than that, she's doing great!

Thank you to all of my wonderful friend who called and checked in with me all day. I am so proud to call you all my friends! I'm gonna make it through this!

Just another day Being Billingsley...

Wonderland a.k.a. Dallas!

Abbie and I took a trip this weekend to visit very good friends and to celebrate her last weekend as a preschooler! We had a phenomenal time with Cheryl and little M!

We journeyed to the Alice in Wonderland Adventure at a resort in the big D. This place was ridiculous! There were stations all over the atrium that illustrated a section of the story with a piece of artwork created by artists from all over the world.

My favorite was the Gryphon. It was made of balloons! Can you see how big this thing is? Look at the people in the upper left corner to get an idea.

Also very cool, was the caterpillar perched on the mushrooms. The artist created this with "chainsaw and styrofoam." Also huge! Look how convincingly wasted the little insect looks!


Check out this stack of tea cups and tea pots along with the little girl who was doing her best impression of an unimpressed model.

In addition to the crazy displays, many of the characters were wondering around the premises. We met...

The Queen of Hearts who made the girls curtsy for this picture. They were also required to say "Your Majesty."


The hookah smoking Caterpillar.


The Mad Hatter. I feel pretty sure this guy really was nuts! And, notice the Cheshire Cat is in the background!


And then, there's this GIANT flower. He was on stilts and seemed to be about 10 feet tall. He was my favorite, and probably because he made the kids very nervous.

M did not go near him, and Abs was very cautious. I, on the other hand, was very brave. I shook his hand and everything. He was a creepy thing. Check out that close-up!


What a wonderful weekend we had! Thanks Cheryl and M for being such perfect hostesses. Go ahead and pencil us in for the 2 million pounds of sculpted ice adventure in the winter! I can't wait!

Just another day in Wonderland and Being Billingsley...

I'm Kind Of A Big Deal...

That's right folks... I'm kind of a big deal!

Today I got not just 1 but 2 blog awards, and to make the honor even greater, they came from two of my very favorite people, Anna and Alison!

These awards require that I share a few things about myself and then pass the awards to other deserving bloggers. So, here goes...

1. I married the man-of-my-dreams and have two of the most gorgeous girls in all of creation. At least once a day (occasionally more), I will hand our baby to my husband knowing she has a loaded diaper. I pretend that I forgot something urgent... something like, "Oh no! I forgot about the water boiling on the stove!" Then, I run toward the kitchen.

He's so enamored with his youngest that he hasn't yet discovered my ingenious strategy that makes him handle more than his fair share of dirty diapers. He also hasn't yet asked me why all the boiling water. Shhhhhh..


2. I can recite every single line from the movie StepBrothers. Hilarious.

3. I love a vodka tonic with extra lime. My oldest daughter refers to the drink as "Mom's grown-up juice."

4. In my unwrinkled years, I starred in a national Chevy commercial. I was "girl who longingly stares at the Chevy Silverado." It was one day of work, an excuse not to go to Thursday classes, and I received residual checks for that little gem for a year. Sweet gig.

5. I LOVE to scare people...which is why Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays. I love to hide in a dark room, jump out, and yell Boo!! It is particularly fun to do with my 5-year-old. I've also been known to scare my husband as well. The problem is that my family is used to it and hardly reacts anymore. So, I'm always looking for new victims.

Abbie and Lila on their first Halloweens.

6. My favorite time of the day is when my girls wake up in the morning. I get Lila out of her crib, and we sit in my bed until Abbie wakes up. She brings her pillow, a book, and Fluffy the dinosaur into my room, and the three of us chat, laugh, and plan our day while cozy under the blankets.

7. I am terrified of birds. I once seriously pulled an ab muscle and a calf muscle by jumping out of my chair, turning it over, and running from a pigeon who was ridiculously close to me while I was enjoying lunch with my friend Cheryl. Afterwards I think I cried while Cheryl laughed, and the damn pigeon mocked me by coming back for more.

It is now the time you've all been waiting for...

I would like to award The Beautiful Blogger Award to April, who writes the most beautiful posts about her sweet baby girl, and I would like to give the same award to my girl Mary the Swiss because she's incredible and has used her blog beautifully to describe her new adventures... and I'm hoping it will encourage her to blog SOMETHING since it has been weeks!

The Honest Scrap Award goes to Cari because we share the same feelings about candy hearts and to Kelly because her "Sound Off" features always make me yell"You Go Girl!"

Congrats ladies, and remember to give us a list of things about yourselves and then give the award to two other deserving bloggers. (Technically the BBA recipients should give us 7 things about themselves, and the HSA winners should divulge 10.)

Just another award winning day Being Billingsley...

Happy Thanksgiving From The Billingsleys!

Hope your day is a special... complete with at least one solid nap and three trips to the dessert table!

Just another incredibly blessed day Being Billingsley...

Shake and Bake Mondays

Mondays are a special day at Chez Billingsley. That is the day we go out with Abbie's best friend S.B., her brother, and her Mommy to "Shake and Bake."

Shake and Bake Mondays have taken us to a number of fun places... Pizza and some park time, playing at the house, or the girls' favorite location...Luby's, of course. (Did you realize there was plenty of room for a "dance festival" in the foyer of your neighborhood Luby's.)

This week we took the girls to a bar, obviously.

Their favorite bar refreshments??? Kit Kats and Skittles.

Don't worry. S.B.'s Mommy and I kept it to Diet D.P. and Iced Tea, so we did the driving.

Just another day keepin' it responsible and Being Billingsley...

First Girlfriends' Lunch

Look who got all kinds of dressed up to see a friend for lunch...

Lila couldn't wait to meet Anna, one of her Mom's favorite people. So, she rocked her best tutu. Afterall, she's pretty sure that's what they mean when they say "dress to impress."

Just another adorable day Being Billingsley...

Tutus Are Fantastic

Look at the tutu this gorgeous child's extremely talented Mom made...

My friend Anna hosted the greatest tutu making party last night. All of us were able to fashion quite the not-just-for-ballet-anymore skirt for our girls. The beauty of it all is that they are simple to make, and coming home with this little beauty made me quite the popular Mom.

Potential problems with making the tutu...

1. Your child will insist on wearing it to HEB and ride in the cart....tulle pouring out of everywhere.

2. She will also insist on having her photo taken in it all over the house so she can use her "America's Next Top Model" posing strategies. i.e. "Know your angles" and "smile with your eyes."

3. She will not rest until Mom has made herself a matching tutu to wear to church on Sunday...even if that means her pregnant belly has to hang over the top. It's ok apparently because, "everyone knows you have a fat tummy."

Thanks Anna for having us over!! I had a wonderful time!!!

Just another extremely creative day Being Billingsley...

Sad News

I learned that Bea Arthur died in her Los Angeles home today.

You may have known her as Maude, but she will always be Dorothy Zbornak to me. She was always the voice of reason in that crazy Miami home she shared with Blanche, Rose, and Sophia.


Rest in peace Ms. Arthur, and THANK YOU for being a friend.

Just another day missing my golden girl and Being Billingsley...

Funny Name Game

I got the challenge from Anna to play this game, and now I challenge you to do the same! It is fun!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Penny Saab

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Candy Jar Strappy Heel

3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Pink Tiger

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Lynn Manhattan

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Bilan

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Green Soda

7. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy): Pure Grace Whoppers (EXCELLENT! I don't know Anna, this might be the best stripper name ever!!)

8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Smith Santa Fe

9. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Spring Rose

10. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Peaches Stretchy Pants

11. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Strudel Magnolia

Email me with your answers!

Just another day Being Pure Grace Whoppers...

Abbie's First Bar Fight

I had the pleasure of going out with the girls last night for a nice dinner and a chance to catch up with my good friends Brandi and Anna. It was a wonderful night! While I was livin' it up with the ladies, Abbie apparently hit the bars...


Well, Abbie clearly had one too many last night and apparently got into quite the brawl as evidenced by the wound on her face. She also seems a little hungover this morning as well...waking up at 10:00 this morning!


She didn't seem too worried about her shank scar once we were able to get some foolproof hangover treatment this morning... oatmeal with apples and peanut butter.


She assured me that she could make the gash "work." Apparently, all you need to do is put a hand through your hair and work up your best beauty pageant smile, and the people around you will simply say, "Knife wound? What knife wound?"

Just another day Being Billingsley...

I love her already!

Anna and Marcus, being the overachievers they are, have already posted pics of their stunning little girl.

Click on the "Journey with the Jenks" line under my blog list.

God is so good!!!

Hallelujah!

Well, I got the call I've been waiting for the last few weeks. It came about 7:45 this morning from Marcus...

Anna had her gorgeous baby this morning at 1:18 AM! The baby was 8lbs 3oz and 20.75". According to the docs, she is perfect in every way!

I know lots of you were praying for Marcus and Anna's sweet family, and I wanted you all to know they are doing great!

I'll let you know when they have posted pics of Abby Lu on their blog. I can't wait to see her!

Just another completely exciting day Being Billingsley...