Are you kidding me?????

So remember this cute little rat from the darling movie "Ratatouille?" Well...read on my friends, read on.

7:50 - Arrive at Margarita's house (Lily's babysitter)

7:51 - Walk to back door, knock at back door, wait....

7:52 - Door opens, "Ah! Buenos Dias Arturo (Margarita's husband)."

7:53 - (cue rat) Me thinking "Oooo, ouch, what was that little......"

7:53:11 - I look down...try to imagine a stream of mormon friendly expletives mixed with screams of fear and horror.

7:53:13 - Push poor Arturo out of my way into the house and run to the kitchen with Lily.

7:53:15 - Margarita starts screaming in Spanish to Arturo and I pick up, "Rat, rat, rat!"

7:54 - Look at my toe, yes it is bleeding....yes it is true.....I was BIT BY A RAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????????

7:58 - Arturo kills the rat.

7:59 - Margarita puts lime juice on my wound (a remedy from her Guatemalan Grandmother) then alcohol

8:00 - Lily is standing staring at Mommy

8:00:11 - Mommy is nervously laughing trying not to show her true feelings to the little one

8:01 - More frantic Spanish between Margarita and Arturo

8:02 - Lily says, "Bye-bye Mommy...kiss....hug"

So, I'll stop the time line now....it's true people. I left Margarita's, and called Ryan in hysterics. I talked to the current intern who very calmly gave me some medical advice (calm down and breathe) and he went to notify Ryan in the OR - with his surgeon buddies who now joke about Ryan's wife having rabies...nice.

I drove to the ER, met Ryan there, and was so relieved to hear that rats do not carry rabies. So there guys! I spent two hours in the ER, left with some antibiotics and a tetanus shot. Plus side, Ryan and I got to have lunch together! I saw him more today than I have in a week!

Moral of the story....rats do not make delicious soups in a charming cafe in France! They bite, so watch out!

By the way, the bees are good :)

More family and the Fourth of July!

It was a busy month, but a fun one for sure! After Papoo and Grandma left, Papa Ron came to visit, followed by Grandma Debbie, Aunt Kristy, and cousins Chandler, Lincoln, and Noah. Lily loved playing with her cousins, and when everyone left her first question was "Where the kids go?"

So the Fourth of July was great! A bike parade, with Lily on and off and on and off the bike (you can tell by her expression that she was super excited about this event!). Dinner with great friends, and the cutest little Fourth of July hats you have ever seen! The day ended at 10:30 pm for Lily...what you may ask????? Amy let her kid stay up until 10:30 pm? Yes it is true folks, and man did I pay the next day. I'll just say two cases of forced throw up in nursery due to screaming and crying for Mommy was my reward. I continue to stand by my defense of early bedtimes :)

Summer is humming along. The lovely month of July has hit in the east and we are spending lots of time outside in the "pool." I must say, watching Lily run through the sprinklers and play in the water on a hot day brings back the greatest childhood memories. Happy summer everyone!

Grandma and Papoo, busy bees, and Happy B-day Ryan!

We have been running around this week with Grandma and Papoo, from the zoo, to the berry orchards, and to the aquarium! Before I continue, I must give major props to my Dad and my cute hubby for working their buns off over the past two days. They have been digging me a garden in our back yard and it is beautiful! We planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, and zucchini. I think with this and the bees I might need to get chickens next!

Grandm and Lily and I went to the super cute Reston Zoo on Tuesday. It is small, kid friendly, and there are sinks everywhere so you can wash your hands as needed. This was a welcome sight for me, the germ-a-phobic mother!

Berry picking at the orchard was a true highlight. Lily knew just what to do with those berries. She picked them perfectly (despite the occasional smushings), and only snitched a few :) The scenery was so breathtaking. I felt like I was in an Anne of Green Gables novel! We took all of our strawberries and blueberries home, and Grandma made strawberry jam, and Papoo made blueberry tapioca pudding! Delicious!

The aquarium was also a treat, a fishy treat of course. We saw turtles, sting rays, sharks, dolphins, jellyfish, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, etc. Dr. Seuss would have been proud! We had a wonderful time and lunch at Phillip's Seafood was delish.

Lily has been such a good sport and has slipped into the two-year-old stereotype quite nicely all of the sudden! She really is such a good kid; however, there are moments (and now they are NOT few and far between) where she makes her very strong will known! We are working through little and big tantrums with Grandma and Papoo's help!

So, I also checked in on my bees this week. To say they have multiplied in number is an understatement! There were so many bees in that little hive!

I have to admit, I had my first freak out. After checking several frames and seeing all good things, lots of good comb, honey, larva, etc. I had to close up shop due to some quickly increasing anxiety on my part, and my 20,000+ friends! Enjoy the pictures, and soon I will get some more up close photos, especially the queen!!!

PS No laughing at the clown pants....I have to keep the bees out!

So in the midst of all these fun day trips, my wonderful husband and Lily's incredible daddy had a birthday today! Happy Birthday to you Sweetie! We are gearing up for residency year #2! Six more and away we go!

So far, success!

Sorry no pictures, but here is the update:
Sunday
2:00 pm: transferred frames from nucleus colony into hive
2:15 pm: checked each frame, found lots of honey, pollen, brood (soon to be new bees), but no queen
2:30 pm: closed up hive
2:30-3:00 pm: sat nervously in my house watching the hive freaking out because I didn't find the queen
3:10 pm: suited up again on a search for the queen
3:15 pm: drumroll please.......found the queen!
3:20 - 10:00 pm: watched the hive, watched the hive, watched the hive

Monday
5:30 am: Ryan leaves house, peek out our bedroom window and watch the hive
7:00 am: Lily wakes up
7:15 am: Mommy and Lily go outside to check on bees
7:20 am: suit up to make sure all is well
7:25 am: bees must have just woken up too....calm, no buzzing, walking slowly around hive entrance
7:30 - present time: watching hive, watching hive, watching hive

Am I a little obsessed? Yup. I'm wondering if type A personalities and beekeeping are a good match :)

They're Here!

Step 1: Drive to Damascus, Maryland to pick up nucleus colony (mini beehive) - complete with one queen and her 20,000 children.

Step 2: Place nucleus colony in trunk of car.

Step 3: Try to stay calm when one bee escapes and is inside car - in back seat with two-year-old child.

Step 4: Suit-up to introduce the girls to their new home.Step 5: Light smoker to calm the bees.

Step 6: Place nucleus colony on top of my hive - their new home.Step 7: Unscrew nucleus colony "fence" and stand back as bees come flying out in all directions.

Step 8: Pat self on the back for not getting stung, and for staying calm!
Step 9: Watch as bees inspect their new home.

Step 10: Repeatedly look out window or go outside to let this new adventure sink in.More to come tommorow.......bees move into the new hive - with my help of course!

Two Years Old!

Celebration #1 on Sunday with Daddy, Mommy, Grandma Debbie, and Papa Ron!

How did this happen? Where did the time go? Happy Birthday Little Lily! Two years ago our lives changed in ways we could not have imagined. Life is more entertaining, more exciting, more challenging, and definitely more rewarding. We love watching her grow and grow with each new day, and nothing beats those great hugs and perfect kisses.

Top Ten Lily Quotes:

10. I'm gonna go in there.
9. Daddy go work....doctor.
8. I bleed Mommy (when she is crying).
7. Oh, I see!
6. Go play Mommy/Daddy!
5. Ok mommy?
4. Airplane....go fly....in the sky....far away!
3. Mommy no like the rain.
2. My party? Eat my cake???
1. Love you Mommy....love you Daddy.

We love you too Lily. Happy Birthday to a wonderful little 2-year-old!

Celebration #2 with Mommy on the big day!

Making cookies for friends at Margarita's house!


Third night of birthday cake, and blowing out the candles again!

Elmo cake - pre-birthday celebrations!

We love Papoo!

Just a quick update today....we had a fun quick visit from Grandpa, or Papoo as Lily calls him this week. Lily loved spending time with Papoo! Going out to eat, reading books, and working in the yard were just a few of the highlights of his visit. Thank you again Dad for all of your help in the yard...in case you didn't know, my dad is a genius when it comes to yard work. It's amazing what a little lawn mow and some edging can do. Plus he helped me prpare the greatest bee yard ever! We love you Dad and miss you already!

Bee update:
My veil and smoker arrived. I think I have the cutest model!