Goin' Ridin'!

One of Chad's favorite things of all time is riding dirt bikes!  So you can imagine how excited we were to come back from Texas with a new dirt bike for me (thanks Archer and Eileen, we can never say thank you enough!)  It is the perfect little bike - a TTR 125!  A great addition to Chad's YZ 125 and Bella's little power wheels four wheeler we bought for to her drive around the cul de sac, which has gotten much more use out on the dirt.  We have had so much fun going out as a family!  This was the first time we took both the bikes and four wheeler out together.  We went with our friends, the buckmister's, and their three kiddos.  This is when living in Tucson is nice.  A couple weeks before Christmas, and we are out riding in t-shirts.  It was a perfect family day - dirt to play in and toys to play with! 

Casen spitting.  He looks so grown up in this picture!

The kids LOVE to ride the four wheeler. This was their first time riding together, and they had so much fun! Casen will sit on the four wheeler and bounce up and down and make noises when it is in the garage.  So glad Bella picked this out instead of the scooter her friends had.  That's my little girl! 



Riding with Daddy!



The boys getting dirty.

The girls getting dirty.  Notice how they both smile for the camera.
They know they are cute, even if they are playing in the dirt!

family photo.  Yamaha Blue!

Bella was so exhausted.  Look how dirty she is - love it!

"Snow Day" on Base

Every year before Christmas, the Base packs in some snow for a fun filled night!  Last year, we moved on base the week after the event.  So, there was no way we were going to miss it this year.  It was a pretty decent night of activities, but the snow and ice skating were a little disappointing.  The snow was pretty icy and Bella left her gloves by the front door, so she played in it for about 20 seconds.  And the ice skating, which Bella was highly looking forward to, was for kids five and older - no exceptions.  Honestly, though, it wasn't real ice skating.  It was like plastic, I don't know how to explain it, but if anyone has seen it, you will know what I am talking about.  Santa was there, but the line was way too long, and Bella didn't really want to sit on his lap anyway.  The best part was the hayride, and of course for the kids, jumping off the rock.  Who needs truckloads of snow and ice skating for hire or wagons pulled by real live horses - just give the kids a big rock to jump off of and they are as happy as can be - until someone gets hurt of course!

Bella standing in the snow.  You can see how packed it is with kids.

Posing with her friend, Aubree.  These two just love each other!

The rock!  They were pretty good about taking turns,
until Bella pushed one of her friends for taking too long.

And then someone pushed Bella and she hurt her knee.
What goes around, comes around!

Family pic pose.  Chad, obviously, looks a little drugged,
so we told him to cheese it...

...and he did!  Great pic!

Casen was not sure what he thought of the horses pulling the hayride behind us.
I love the look on his face!

Bella being very possesive of her hat and her daddy!

Welcome to Tucson.  Nice Christmas Tree.
I think this tree could give the one in Madison Square Garden a run for it's money!

Casen's First Haircut

I have waited patiently for this day since half of Casen's hair fell out when he was five weeks old and he looked like a bald man.  I knew it was getting pretty long at the ends, but I also knew we were going to Texas and I wanted Aunt Tiffani to give Casen his first hair cut.  She gave Bella her first hair cut, and it is so much fun for the kids and Tiffani to share the experience.  This, of course, was while we were in Texas.  She did a fantastic job.  In fact, I just tried to cut Casen's hair a few weeks ago and he moved and I butched the back, so the next week Chad took the clippers to it and buzzed all but the mohawk on top.  He still looks cute, but I liked the way Aunt TT did it better!  Anyway, Casen was being such a ham when we pulled out the snacks and camera.  He loves getting all the attention, and didn't seem to mind too much that Tiffani was cutting his hair.  He looked up a few times, but pretty much just smiled.  He even pulled a few funny faces for the camera.

Getting all ready.  The famous high chair
(Bella and Luke have used it for hair cuts too)



being a little ham



enjoying all the attention

laughing at the camera with a snack in his mouth

the after pic.  I love his little mohawk.  He is such a little stud now!



Thanksgiving, My Birthday and A Quicky Christmas - Texas Style!

We drove to Texas this year for Thanksgiving.  Let me tell you, that is a long drive when you don't take a nap and drive ALL night.  The kids handled it pretty well, although Casen does not like to sleep in his car seat and he gets a little car sick.  Bella was so excited and had no interest in watching movies or playing with toys, she just wanted to get to Nana and Papa's house!

We had a lot of family for Thanksgiving.  Both Clark and Linda's parents came down, as well as Clark's brother and his two boys.  My sister and her cute little family were at Sheppard AFB only a few hours away, so they came for the weekend as well.  It was one of the most enjoyable trips we have taken, especially since the kids were so happy and no one got sick!  Chad had a training in Oklahoma the week after Thanksgiving, so the kids and I stayed an extra week with his parents while he was there.  We did so much and got to see so many wonderful people we miss (Archer, Eileen and Steven : ))

Chad brought his dirtbike to Texas and took it
apart to give him something to do.

the beloved red corvette, or red dorbette as Bella calls it.

hanging out in the game room (Trak, Heather, Nathan, Jacob and Devin)

Natalie, Nana and Casen

Grandpa Spence, Bella, Aunt TT, Grandpa Bud

Madison

Luke

Bella going to bed in the girl's room.  It was pitch black and she is telling me (with a little attitude) NOT to take a picture of her.  It was kind of fun to see how the pic turned out since I couldn't see her when I snapped it.

We went to Yogurt Journey in Wichita Falls with my sister and her kids. (Amanda, Bella, Natalie, and Devin)

Chad drove down from his training in Oklahoma to visit us at my sister's house in Wichita Falls.
The kids were excited to see him!

Casen leaked through his diaper on our way back from American Girl in Dallas, so he hung out in just a diaper at our friend's Archer and Eileen's house.  This is him on the car ride home from their house.  He is so tired!

Bella in the car telling me how much fun she had at Archer and Eileen's house
and going to American Girl with Aunt TT!



My Birthday - this year was one of my best birthdays, except for the fact that Chad was gone (again, that is two in a row)  He at least was only a few hours away.  I was completely spoiled.  We went out to lunch with my in laws.  My father in law watched the kids while I went shopping and got a much needed new pair of jeans and a few other things.  Then we went to Patrizzio's in Highland Village for dinner, which is one of my favorite restuarants.  It was freezing outside, and they happened to be lighting their Christmas tree that night.  Then we went back for a little cake at Clark and Linda's.  We also skyped Chad so he could watch us eat cake from Oklahoma!  I had gotten my mother in law this cute dish scrubber that looks like a girl, and Bella insisted on putting her in almost every picture.  She was really cute, and will always tell me that I am 26 now, I love her!

Me posing with the dish scrubber, Bella took this picture.  We named her, but I can't remember the name.

Bella wanted to post with the scrubber. 

Bella loves this picture, she put it up in her room.  She loves birthdays!

This is typical Casen, you never know if he is going to bite you or kiss you.  I think he kissed Bella this time.

Casen wasn't quite sure about the happy birthday song or blowing out the candles.

Quick Christmas - We had an improptu, quick Christmas celebration with Chad's parent's and sister, Tiffani, the night before we left.  They wanted to watch the kids open their presents, and I don't blame them.  It was fun to celebrate the Holidays with family, even if Christmas was a little early (again).

Bella can't wait to open the first present!

Casen hanging out with Papa.  It looks like he is trying to get something.

Clothes, Bella had to pick up and look at every single thing. 

more clothes (much needed)  Thanks Nana and Aunt TT

Bella's first Barbie - a purple ballerina one.  She loves it!

Casen is very excited about his dinosaur.  I love his tongue!

Both kids checking it out!

and he's off!  He still gets so excited to play with it.  I love when he stops
 and dances and laughs to the songs the dinosaur sings.

Merry Early Christmas!!!!

Fall Fun!

This year is going by so fast!  I can't believe Isabella is four and Casen is 9 months old already!  They are both getting so big. 

Casen is all over the place and really starting to get a mind of his own.  He is learning to stand up for himself a little bit, or at least whine to get Bella in trouble.  He has learned that climbing the stairs is fun and he is cutting teeth like crazy.  His two bottom teeth came in, and then he cut his top right fang before his front teeth.  He is cutting his front right tooth now as well. 

Bella is getting so big and so smart.  She loves Joy School and is finally starting to talk a lot, sometimes.  She is still queit, but every once in awhile she will talk your ear off.  I love to hear how she thinks and what she feels, but she is still a little hard to understand sometimes.  We took her in for a speech evaluation at a speech therapists office, and they want her to come in three times a week for 30 minute sessions.  We are just waiting to hear back from the insurance.  She has been watching Annie and singing and dancing to it non stop.  I have let her watch a few other musicals, which she loves.  Having a girl has been so much fun!

Casen Crawling up the stairs

The kids loved this cart and have never been so good at the grocery store.

Bella got her shots and was really cranky, I found her like this...

She slept in the basket for about 30 minutes, and woke up in hives from her shots.  Thanks goodness they were the last ones she has to get!

If you look really close you can see Casen's fang on the top.

He loves to help with the dishes, and was extra proud he had climbed up on the door.  Notice he is rockin his Longhorns Jersey.

The kids played with these balls forever one night.  Chad and I just sat and watched them chase them around the house and laugh and laugh and laugh.  By the end, the small globe ball was flat.  I think Casen bit it.  Too bad, I have wanted to use it a few times to show bella where places are.