Visiting Daddy at work!

Bella always asks to go see her Daddy at work, but he works an hour away! We went once at Halloween to their Fall Festival, but other than that we just can't justify the drive. This past week though his golf team had their conference tournament at a course about half the distance of his normal course. We went to visit and rode the golf cart around to see a former student of mine (his best player!) play a couple holes. She also got to putt around a little.

About a month ago Bella started telling me she wanted to ride a school bus for her birthday. I wasn't quite sure I could ever pull that off, but at the course, Randy took her on the school bus he drives the team on! It was the next best thing. She was so happy!

Ava went too :)

how's the weather?

The weather has been crazy! Last Monday we were freezing as we walked into lunch. Bella was bundled just like an old woman carrying her purse:

and this Monday it was this kind of day!:

Favorite Things: Bella Version

Currently, Bella loves:
Monkey Joe's
Wearing pajamas all the time!
Crafts
Ariel
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Barney,Tinkerbell & Lion King are in there too- depending on the day
Nutri-grain bars, chocolate milk, applesauce & marshmallows
Barbies
Bubbles
Her cousins, Sophie & Stone, and her school friend, Sophie
Going to "Wal-Mark"
Purple

look alikes?

Not quite! Bella and Ava really look very different at this point. Everyone seems to have a different thought about who she looks like but as the mom, I don't think she favors any one person too much. There are times, however, and mannerisms that remind me of Bella as a baby. Here is the latest comparison at two months:

Bella
Ava
(Ava's eyes are actually very blue but I had to use the red eye reduction for this picture.)

Bella turns three!!!

Bella turned three on Saturday. Where has the time gone? She woke up and looked like a 5 year old. She is a little girl now- no more babyness. She had dance class that morning and Randy took her to see her cousin Sophie's soccer game and then at 3 it was party time. We all went to Monkey Joe's- her favorite. We just did a family party this year, knowing we could't really get away with it after this year and also to save money. I have been asking her for a while now what she wanted for her birthday and she has said, "Cupcakes, chocate ice cream, and fruit snacks." She also said she wanted to ride a train. A few days before her birthday she decided she no longer liked Tinkerbell the "best." She liked Ariel so back to the store I went to return Tinkerbell party supplies and to look for Ariel. Thankfully they had just what I was looking for and we got a couple miniature Ariel cakes made at Wal-Mart. She was spoiled to death with toys, movies, pajamas and new sheets and a little money too.

That night we tucked her in and she said to me as I kissed her, "Thank you for my happy birthday mom. And thank you for the stickers." I melted. All the stress and worry of running around and picking up this and that was worth it (of course).

The last two days we have been playing "Darbies" aka Barbies and having a blast! Nana gave her her first Barbie Saturday and I got my old Barbies down from the closet, plus we bought a Chelsea last night (a little girl Barbie). She is in heaven between discovering all the accessories for them and taking them for a swim in the Barbie pool and I must admit I have enjoyed the trip down memory lane!

Zoo Trip!

Randy and I took Bella to the zoo on Friday for her third birthday (cannot believe we have a three year old!). She wouldn't let Randy put her down for the first half but we think she loved it. We saw "Simbas," "kangaroofs," monkeys, bears, elephants and "raffs." She rode the train and the carousel, fed a goat and ate ice cream. It was a really good time. Ava joined us and was a doll.

easter post #3

Randy and I spent our first Easter together going to church and having lunch at his brother's. I remember having just been engaged! We played with his niece (now my niece too) that day and I have a picture in my scrapbook. Unfortunately we don't have it on this computer.

The next year- Easter 2008- we were married and spent Easter at my aunt's.



Easter 2009 we were expecting. I can't remember much other than that but we only have one picture from that day- this cross from the church down the road from us. We had Bella two days later!



Easter 2010, Bella was almost one. We went to church with my sister and Will and he was baptized. We had lunch at their house afterwards.





Last year- Easter 2011- we went to Randy's brother's golf club where we had lunch and an Easter egg hunt.




And this year... Our family has grown!

easter post #2

Today was so wonderful. We went to church and then headed to Randy's brother's golf club for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Bella always has a blast with her cousins.

easter post #1

Today we had brunch at our house with my family and played games. It was so much fun. Randy made a french toast casserole that is mostly done the night before, I did an apple cobbler in the crock pot over night and we did quick pancake.strawberry.whipped cream. skewers this morning plus my sister did a casserole so it was a breeze. It was so nice not have to get up early and cook. Almost every thing was already done :) After nap, we headed to our friends' house to introduce Ava and visit for a few minutes before heading to my aunt's house where we had dinner with my Dad's side of the family. We had a huge egg hunt there with all of the many girls! We also got to meet my cousin's new baby girl, Chloe.

It is really important to us that Bella know about Easter at an age appropriate level so we got her a book that tells the Easter story and we have been talking about Jesus and the cross each day. She tells the story in such a precious way and then adds her own spin as well. She likes to talk as much as anyone will listen :)

Tomorrow we'll go to church and then go to lunch with Randy's family so I will post that soon!

strawberry patch!

This was our first time going to pick our own strawberries (well, I went as a kid, but this was Randy, Bella and Ava's first). We went across the street to Miller's where we get our pumpkins and Christmas trees. It was a ton of fun. Bella ate a lot of strawberries before we even made it back home. She even chose to share a few with the goat, sheep and pigs :) We will probably go back every week for a while- they are cheap and Bella really enjoyed the trip.

2 months April 4th

Ava is sleeping through night- from about 9 or 10 to 5 to 6 am. That early morning feeding is still rough but she goes right back to sleep until 8 or 9. She is great baby and loves to be snuggled.