Isabella's Christmas Program 2011

Isabella was in her first Christmas program this week at her preschool.  It was so cute to watch all of the children.  Isabella was a mouse, as was her whole class, except one friend who was the cat.  Isabella did a great job!  She sang every song and even did the sign language to Silent Night.  (I posted the video below)

She was so excited to be in the program.  They had been practicing for weeks!  After the program, we went back to her classroom for a cookie party.  So fun!

The video is about 6 minutes long, just so you know.  Unfortunately, the music teacher's head was in my way, but you can still see Isabella.  Enjoy!





Isabella on the far left.

Her class enjoying the cookes.

At the cookie party



Thanksgiving time in Illinois

This year we got to spend our Thanksgiving in Peoria with my family.  It was great to be back there again and spend more time with family and friends.  I will speak for Grandma Marie and say that she enjoyed having her little girls visiting again.  Isabella and Gianna had a good time there, that is for sure.  We visited the new Bass Pro Shop that opened recently there.  The girls loved seeing all of the stuffed animals and the many live fish there.  They also had to sit on just about every ATV/tractor they saw.

Picture with the huge bear!  No, they weren't afraid.

There was a winter wonderland there, but no Santa yet.



One of the ATV's.

 We also made a visit to Santa while there.  We went on Monday morning, and there was no line!  Perfect timing!  Isabella was so excited.  Gianna wasn't quite sure what to think about the big guy

We also went bowling with the whole family.  It was Isabella's first time even being in a bowling alley.  She loved it!  Gianna had a good time too. 

Gianna with cousin Troy

Cousin Tate with Gianna, Isabella & Anthony

 Here is a video of Isabella's first time up!  Pretty cute!


Gianna loved sitting on Grandma's lap



Aunt Beth took Isabella to the Santa parade that Peoria always has the day after Thanksgiving.  It is the oldest parade in the country! Luckily it was a decent weather day. She enjoyed it, especially since she got candy.  :) 

Showing off the candy.

Gianna 15 Months

Our "babycakes" is now 15 months old!  She on the move and doing very well keeping up with big sister.  It is fun to see them play together....when they aren't fighting. :)  I have her weight/height update.  She was seen for her well visit today at the doctor and weighs 18lbs 9oz and is 29inches.  That puts her in the 3%-tile for weight and 10%-tile for height.  "Babycakes" loves to eat, so we aren't quite sure where she is putting all of that food.  It makes a difference once they start moving....running, I should say.

Isabella is still enjoying preschool.  Today they had their Thanksgiving feast.  According to the teacher, all the kids wanted to eat was jello, the rolls and cookies.  Not surprising for 3 year olds.  She told me this morning that she was excited to go to school so her "friends could see me".  :)  I wish I could have been there today to take pictures.
Isabella has also been asking to sit on the potty.....finally.  Well, it would be great if she actually went into the potty.  She is smart.  She knew that if she "tried" to go, then she would be rewarded with a jelly bean.  That was great.  But, after about 6 times of sitting for awhile, reading books, and no "potty", I told her that she would not get a jelly bean unless there was something in the toilet.  Wouldn't you know that she is no longer asking to sit on the potty.  :(

Her are some recent pictures.

They LOVE bath time together!

This is what Gianna likes to do while I am getting ready.

The 1st attempt at sitting on the potty.  Gianna will probably go before Isabella does.

Fall 2011-Part 2

As the end of the month of October 2011 was drawing to a close, so was my Dad's fight with Parkinson's Disease.  On October 24, he finally went to heaven and is now rejoicing that his body is free from disease!  As much as we all miss him, we can't help but praise God for ending his suffering.  We love you Dad!  I will always share your love of laughter and love for your family with your littlest Granddaughters!

Now to share some pictures of fall festivities.





Do you think Gianna was having fun?  :0)

Isabella only wanted to ride this horse, after Gianna did it first. 

We got back to Colorado just in time for Halloween.  Gianna dressed up as a bumble bee and Isabella is Koko the train from a Disney cartoon called Chuggington.  Isabella really got into trick or treating even more this year.  We went to a few houses with Jackson and Hailey, on their street.  Then we went to some on our street when Anthony got home from work.  It was a beautiful evening. 

Our funny girls

Gianna and Hailey

Cousins & Gammy




 

Fall 2011

We are having a busy fall season!  Partly because, Gianna is now on the run!  She started to walk short distances in early September.  As of today, she is more balanced and can really move.  She knows that she needs to keep up with Isabella.

 We are having some awesome fall weather, so we went to a pumpkin patch today.  The girls really enjoyed it!  We walked through a snake maze, Isabella and Anthony walked through the hay maze, we rode on a hay ride and the girls loved seeing the animals in the petting zoo.  They also gave free little pumpkins to the girls!  It was a fun morning!



Isabella playing in the corn box.



Gianna and Mommy

Checking out the bunnies

The very stinky pigs

Gianna hanging out while Isabella gets through the maze.

Isabella and her cheesy smile

Ready for the hay ride!

There was also a small jungle gym to play on.

The girls

September & Preschool

Isabella is now officially a school girl.  She goes to preschool now, 2 days a week.  We were a little nervous before the 1st day of school, not knowing how Isabella would do.  I made sure to keep my nerves to myself, not wanting to get her upset.  We talked a lot about it in the days prior.  I knew she was ready.

Isabella was super excited to go to her first day of school.  We had met her teacher a week before.  We walked in, put her bag in her cubby, said goodbye and she was happy.  Not a tear shed, by her or me.  I might have had tears of joy....because I have been looking forward to this day for about a year!  I admit, as much as I love our 3 yr old Isabella, it is VERY nice to have a break from each other twice a week.  I also like the time I get to spend with Baby G now!



Ready to go to school!



This is the picture I took as I was leaving.  She may have been a little nervous (fingers in mouth), but her teacher said she was "awesome".

September has been filled with many firsts.  Isabella also went to her 1st dental check-up.  She did a fantastic job sitting still for the hygienist while she cleaned her teeth.  Of course, she got a few prizes for being so good too.  As soon as Dr. Scott came to look at her teeth, she wanted nothing to do with that.  I don't blame her.  Going to the dentist is usually scary for most of us!

Showing off her clean teeth.

 Now,  I just wanted to share some funnies.  Isabella makes us laugh on a daily basis.  She is exploring more and more, which is great, but sometimes it can be messy and something that she really shouldn't have gotten into.  Oh well, it makes for funny memories and good pictures to share with her when she is older. (Like on her wedding day!)  :)

This is not a hat, it's a trick or treat bucket.

She takes after her "aunt" Angie.....she LOVES to smell things.  This time it was a permanent marker.

She thought she would try my lipstick.  She just didn't know it's supposed to go on her lips, not her cheeks.

Enjoying a beautiful fall day with both our girls at one of Isabella's favorite spots.  Jamba Juice.  She loves a "smovie"!

The girls were all right

In case you were wondering how Isabella and Gianna did without us for a week, just check out the pictures below.  These were sent to us throughout our vacation. They had a great time and never asked for us.  Gammy & Gampy kept them busy!  One day they went to the park with Aunt Jill, Jackson & Hailey, and a family friend Nancy, and her grandson and daughter-in-law.  It was a very hot day, but they enjoyed it! 

Isabella told me that "I had fun at Gammy's house."  Followed by, "I missed you".  So there, I guess they did miss us a little bit.  I'm sure if Gianna could talk, she would have said the same thing.

Petting a cow at the petting zoo

Gianna sitting on the potty chair.  Isabella wanted nothing to do with it.  :(

Petting the goats.

Playing outside at Gammy and Gampy's.

This is the dance party video.  Gianna just cracks me up. 

Paradise

I don't really need to say much about our trip to Hawaii.  The pictures tell it all.  We had such a great time and hopefully, some day, we can do it again!

Our view most every day sitting by the pool.  You can see a couple of parasails in the sky.



One of the many sunsets

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View from our 2nd room

Enjoying the view from the balcony

The is Napili Bay....absolutely beautiful here.  If we get a chance to go back to Hawaii, we want to stay here.

Napili Bay

The water is so clear!

At the start of the zipline tour

We had a killer view the whole time.

Anthony getting attached to go by one of our guides, Pete.
Both of our guides were fantastic and very funny!

And there he goes!!

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Still smiling after sailing through the Maui hills.  If you are ever in Maui, and you aren't afraid of heights, be sure to go ziplineing.  As you can see from our helmets, go to http://www.zipline.com/ and look them up!  They have a few locations in Maui and the big island.

Here is a video of Anthony on the zipline.