Lily pads

I got some lily pads form a freind last year. They where nice big lily pad, the next year the came back but only half the size. Does the size of pond have anything to do with how big the pad will grow back? What else would cause the pads to be smaller then what they were orignally. Any suggestions....

Mine come back every year. It is still too early to see how big they will be. I suggest patience.

Sorry I guess my years are starting to catch up.. I meant to say I got the pads 2 years ago, and last year they only came up half as big as when I got them.