Bella's 3rd Birthday

I am a complete slacker, I know but hopefully the baby on the way is a good excuse :)

Bella turned 3 in April and had a blast at her party!! She was so excited for all her friends to come and thrilled that it was an Ariel Birthday. We played pin the crown on Ariel, colored Ariel pictures and had the bubble machine out again - what more could a little girl want?

After that, we had a cake and what a cake it was! Joe put forth his baking skills and man, it was good. I put on my final touch - an Ariel candle.

She adored her presents and made out like a bandit but most of all, I think she loved being the center of attention -I can't believe my little girl is 3!!

Our Vacation

We just got back from our 10 day vacation to Disneyland/ San Luis Obispo, CA...

and we had a GREAT time!!

We went with my brother, Nate and his family as well as my mom. Bella loved it, but I think in Disneyland, meeting the characters had to have been her favorite. She got to see Jessie, the cowgirl from Toy Story 2 AND she dressed up like Ariel, the Little Mermaid to see all the princesses! What more could a little girl ask for?

She loved that she had a princess hat like all the other little girls - Winnie the Pooh and Tigger were the last characters we saw.... what a smile!

She even got to see Tinkerbell and Rosetta in Pixie Hollow - she showed them both her tattoo they gave her at the hotel and told Tink she has wings just like hers at home. Oh, and the tea cups, what a blast - just look at those crazy kids!

Whew, what a whirlwind - 5 crazy but fun days in Disneyland.... now off to San Luis Obispo to go to the Beach!

This was Bella's first time at the Beach - what a water baby! It was little too cold to actually swim in the water but we had a blast!

Thanks to Aunt Georgianna who brought buckets and shovels for the girls and also told us the best time to visit the beach - at low tide.

How cool is this place? We have to come out here more often!

We had a great time! I am so blessed to have such and amazing family and be able to experience these things together and to know we will love each other after the trip!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

Bella had such a fun time! She was so excited to see all her cousins and said every gift was "so cute!"
Here she is at Uncle Matt and Aunt Kristi's house getting the first round of gifts...

She also had a great time helping dad shovel the snow when we finally got our snow storm for this season... we were beginning to think we wouldn't have a white Christmas and then it came... 14 inches by Christmas Day!

And then it was Christmas Eve and on to Grandmom's house (that would be what Bella calls my mom) to be with all her cousin's on my side... including Justin's and his kids, JJ and Bre! What a treat!!

Here is Bella "helping" bring in the presents to the big room so we can all fit...and after we tried to get 19 kids to sit through a story, it was time for presents!!
















Christmas morning we headed up to Joe's parents and we were the first ones there but only because of the massive snow storm! It was so scary but we made it there and so did everyone
else... we had a great morning!

Bella and her cousin, Mary having a Tea PartyBella and Daddy playing with the blocks that Grandpa made for her... What a cool gift!!

Whew, what a day but every minute was a great memory. We just want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season!