Delilah's first trip to the zoo!

I love it when Ben has the day off of work.  I love it when we can all just spend time together as a family!

Today, I had the urge to go to the zoo.  We've lived here for 4 years, and have never been.  

At first, Lilah was asleep.  I thought she was going to miss the whole adventure!

But then she woke up!

My sweet happy girl!  (Don't worry, she was wearing sunscreen!)

Enjoying the view!

These guys walked right up to the fence to see us!

All in all, a very fun day.

In other news, I made some nursery letters for a friend back home.  She got them for her sister in law.

I've been using my ring sling more too.  It's so much easier than lugging around her carseat every time I have to go in somewhere.  Just plop her in the sling, and off we go!

Shopping with Daddy, getting stuff to make chili!

Excited.

Things I'm excited about:

1. New friends! 

2. Baby party (thinking about starting cloth diapers!)

3. Going back to MO for an extended period.

4. Crafting with my mom.

5. Hanging out poolside with friends.

6. Hunger Games tomorrow with Mira!

Hanging out with Delilah tonight.  Nothing exciting happening in Clovis (nothing I want to be a part of, anyway!). I think we'll watch a movie.  Breaking Dawn?  I do love that movie.

Bullying

Bullying is in the spotlight lately.  Ellen. Lady Gaga. etc.

Bullying has been around forever, but lately, there's been a trend of kids taking their lives over it. 

Here's the solution:

1. Stop treating kids like they are made out of egg shells.  Kids are resilient.  They can handle things.  We need to quit making excuses and dish out some responsibilities.  Stop giving kids rewards without also making sure that they've deserved it.  There has to be a balance of rewards and consequences.  If you let a kid go through life thinking that they can do no wrong, you're doing that child a great disservice.  

2. You're not going to stop people from bullying.  Some people are just MEAN.  They don't feel bad for what they're doing, and more often than not, you're not going to change their minds.  They grow up to be mean adults (military wives?).  90% of the time, their parents were bullies too.  Mean behavior is LEARNED.  Instead of trying to get these kids to stop bullying, we need to empower the bullied so that they can cope with  these awful people.  If they don't learn how to cope as kids, they're going to flounder as adults.  I'm 26 and have worked with bullies.  Like I said, you can't often get them to stop.

Getting some distance.

I'm getting some distance. 

First of all, I am distancing myself from the small group of people I have mostly associated with since living here. Nothing bad against any of them, but it's time for me to branch out and broaden my friendships with others.  I'm making friends from my breastfeeding group, doggie playdates, and neighbors.  I'm enjoying the new company and enjoying getting out of the very small circle I was in before.  I think I'm going to be happier. 

I had a great night with my friend Mira last Friday.  We ordered sushi, baked oreo peanut butter brownie bites, and watched Hugo (good movie, btw).  We also went for a 2 mile walk with the puppers and Delilah.  We're going to see The Hunger Games this weekend.  I'm pretty stoked.  I loved those books.

Another way I'm getting some distance is by going to Missouri for a month at the end of May.  Ben has a small TDY that he's going on, so instead of being stuck here in Clovis, I'm going to go back home to see family.  I'm really excited to see my friends and family.  I think it will really rejuvenate me and make coming back to Clovis (for however long) more bearable.  

I made curtains for Delilah's room!

For her big window

Up close detail!

And now, a rant.

Ok, so everyone has been getting all up in arms about Chick-fil-a...because of their ties with organizations that do not accept same sex marriages.
They've been harassed and made fun of.

My thoughts:
Don't the people that run Chick-fil-a have a right to have an opinion?  Why is it that they are being put under fire for simply disagreeing with what some are saying?  Isn't that kind of hypocritical?

Curtains

I made curtains for my living room yesterday!

Before...ugly blinds.

Washed the fabric I bought.

Pin down the hem.

Iron down the new sew hem.

Attach the curtain rod clips.

Have your tall husband help you hang them up.

AFTER-lovely handmade new sew curtains!

Now to tackle the bedroom!

My first big order!

Yesterday, I got to deliver my first BIG order!  I made 6 shirts for My Smart Hands.  It feels good to be crafting and doing things for other people!  I'm working on a birth announcement for someone else.  I have an order for nursery letters too!

I also got a big box of fresh produce from http://www.bountifulbaskets.org

potatoes, romaine, tomatoes, oranges, pears, kiwis, zucchini, cabbage, pineapple, and broccoli!

 Today is St. Patrick's Day.  Ben refuses to wear green, so I've been pinching him all day long.  He claims that he won't participate because he's not Irish.  Uhhhhh, who cares?  That's not the point...it's a holiday, and you wear green!

Obviously, Delilah and I wear green.  We look goooooooooooooooooooood in green.

Don't let that yawn fool you, she's not sleepy.

Ben and Lilah had a fun hang out time while I was shoe shopping.

Going to a Japanese restaurant tonight (my treat) for 2 friends' birthdays!  I love that place, Ben doesn't really.  I wanted to go there for my birthday, but I didn't get to go.  I'm happy to go now!