Xmas Day in pictures

Here's a slideshow/scrapbook from christmas day 2010.. video included too :)

Enjoy!

This scrapbooking design customized with Smilebox

Play date and snow

Last week our good friend, Christi, decided to host a play date. Both play group and story time were off due to the holidays, so everyone knows our kids would go crazy without a chance to see other kids and run around! Christi’s house is perfect as she had a large toy room upstairs and such a large living room too!!  Two other friends came too, so we had a nice small group. The kids seem to have a great time and i know I enjoyed talking to other adults.

 

 

The kids had fun with Balloons

 

Bella loved the nativity sets

Evan is a cutie!

 

The girls all sat down to eat their snack

Bella and Matthew play with one of the toys.

 

While we were at the play date, it started to snow. little did we know it would really snow that night. Bella had fun playing in the snow that night.

 

Bella playing in her sled

This is a standard now days, Bella sitting playing in the snow and Cole watching her.

 

Look I’m actually still around :)

 

It’s really only around 5pm, but it already so dark out!

 

Hard to see, but the snow was still falling pretty thick!

The crazy between the holidays

Due to where Christmas falls this year, our Christmas celebrations have been spread out until New Year’s weekend. Also Christmas day seemed more like Sunday, so this week has felt a little crazy.

Sunday we woke up to Bella in our bed. Apparently sleeping in her crib was just overrated for her. She has been sleeping on the couch for the last week.   This was causing all of us to lose sleep.  So we were all a bit tired as we got ready to go church.

Thankfully Bella was great in church. She did talk all through  mass, but apparently no one else heard her but us. We were able to visit afterwards with some friends we haven’t seen in while. So that was nice. I hope we will be able to see them more often.  we got home, it turns out we followed Bella’s Grandpa and Grandma Judy, back to our house. So we quickly got change and headed outside to talk to them.  We had a short visit before they headed on their way. We then headed to the barn.

Josh and I worked on barn chores, while Bella got to play outside in the snow and inside in the barn. Josh had let the cows out so the barn was empty.  Bella loves to play in the barn with or without the cows in it. We also brought out her swing, so she got to swing. She was so happy to use her swing again.

After sometime outside it was Bella’s naptime. While she napped I attempted to work on putting away Christmas gifts.  Our house was crazy. I also decided that it was time to declutter Bella’s room to make way for her new christmas presents.  So once Bella was awake it was time to tackle her room. Josh also took the rail off her crib to convert her bed to a toddler bed/daybed. Bella wasn’t sure at first what to make of it. But once we talked about it and showed her all the good things of the new bed, she was ok with it.

It took me the rest of the day to finish up Bella’s room. I had to get rid of most of bella’s 24 month clothes/2t clothes and then discovered that i had a whole bunch of 3t clothes. This makes me feel a bit better since I know that we are ok with clothes for her at least until summer. Some of her 2t summer clothes will work again since she just outgrew the length.  Bella was also excited to find all the dress up clothes that have been passed down to her. I fell i have a future model on my hands. she loves to dress up and change her outfit.  Along with finding new things, I managed to make room for her new toys in her room. we also packed away some toys and picked some out to sell.

That night after milking we ate a quick supper. Bella got dressed up in her jammies and we set off for Reflections in the Park down in Dubuque.   Bella loved the Lights this year, but really wanted to see a real Santa.. too bad she doesn’t understand he’s gone for the season.  She even fell asleep on the way home!

Monday we stayed around home to attempt to finish up Bella’s room along with work on the rest of the house.  We manged to get most of the basement picked up and start on our mountain of laundry. Bella got to play with her new toys, outside and old toys that she found again.

Tuesday was a rough day, Bella didn’t want to listen and pull out all the toys. She made a disaster in her wake. then after she threw a fit about picking up her blocks, she got really quiet. She decided to nap in my bed…after she had picked all her blocks. Well she was laying there with her pant legs pushed up, socks off and shirt pushed up. So I being a good mommy, try to cover her up.. BIG mistake.  She woke up and was so crabby! So we tried to sleep in her bed, yep that didn’t go over at all. So we had a very early lunch and then headed out to the barn for chores and for her to play in the snow.  That seemed to go over well, until Bella got overtired while outside.

So inside we came and Bella screamed on and off for an hour, slept for a hour and then was up. Thankfully she got up about the time Josh was making his way home.  Once Daddy was home,t he world was better. Bella went out to “help daddy milk cows” and got to play in the snow, barn and her swing.  She was happy when she came in the house. I swear all her toys are new when she has left them for only two hours.  Our night ended on a good note!

Today we are waiting a visit from my sister, mom , nieces and nephew. we are excited to see them. I always feel lucky when we get to see a lot of them. Bella loves to play with them so much, and I love to talk with my sister.

Look for picture related post about Bella’s new bed, our trip to the lights and what we were up too leading up to christmas!

family pics

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Christmas Day 2010

Today was a great day! Bella got up around 6:30 and came to “sleep” with me for a bit. Anners the Cat came to join us, so Bella just petted her until 7am when I turned on the TV.  Both of us laid in bed watching Dora’s christmas special. I knew that we should get moving, but laying there as so much better. I did have my netbook, so I was checking out the web while laying next to Bella.  Josh texted me at 7:35 that he would be in the house in 10 mins, so there went the laying around.  I hopped in the shower to get ready.  I was done by the time Josh made it upstairs. He started our quick breakfast of Cereal for us and yogurt for Bella.  We ate then Josh got ready to go and I got Bella ready, along with getting all of our stuff set out to go. Thankfully all but one gift was over at my mom’s already, so we just have our stuff and the Pie to take with us. 

We managed to get in the car and on the road by 8:20. Bella got left in her jammies to be change into when we got to mom’s. We also brought along snacks for her to eat, since she will eat snacks all day, but if you say it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, she won’t touch it.  We had to make one stop along the way at Kwik Trip to get gas, coffee and snack for Bella.  Then we continued on our way. It was a pretty easy ride.  Bella did great in the car until the last 10/15 mins.

We arrived at mom’s got everything in the house, changed Bella and then it was time to open presents. Bella was all about it.  She got right into opening stockings and then ready to moves on to the gifts. She pretty much would have opened everyone’s had she had the chance too. She was walking all over to everyone to either help her with her present or opening someone else's.  It was a great Christmas for everyone it seemed this year. Bella’s big gift was Mimi, a bitty baby, and a bean bag chair. We also got a pool to set up for next year for all of us to enjoy! I didn't even ask for it so it was a great surprise.  i think everyone got something they really wanted this year, so it was great.

Once we were done opening gifts it was time to try them out. It was also food time. Mom decided to have all the food out and ready so anyone could eat at anytime. It worked out perfect for us. Mom didn’t have to set up extra tables and some of us grazers could just pick and choose little bits to eat here and there. 

After most of people had their fill of food, mom started a game of Monopoly and some of us worked to try to get her new Sony reader set up. It’s always fun to figure out how to work Mom’s new gadgets. Bella had a great time playing with all her new toys and old ones too. Everything is better when there are other kids to play with. Josh got to take a nap, which made him happy!  After the game was done, we found the old xmas videos and mom put that in to watch. It was fun to see the old Christmas. I realize i need to take more video as i don't have enough of that of Bella.

Once the video was done, i woke up Josh and we started to pack up.  That was a long processes as Bella did not want to leave. I’m not sure if she realized that her toys were coming with her. She slept for about an hour of our trip, not long enough by any means. So once we got home and unloaded, she went back down for a nap.

Now i’m left with the task of putting away presents and cleaning up the house. Pictures have been downloaded from the computer, but not ready for upload yet.. so i’ll leave you with this..and promise to get all the pictures up from the last few days soon!

 

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas Eve

I was eagerly awaiting Christmas eve, so that I could spend the day with Josh. He has been really busy this week and we haven’t had much time together.  So the day started out with snow. Which is never a good sign, then Josh didn’t make it in the house until 8:45, normally it’s around 8am. Turns out the manure spreader broke, so Josh had to work on fixing that before he could do anything else. 
So Bella and I decided to help out in the barn while he started to fix the spreader.  Bella had a blast playing out in the snow. Cole and the cats loved having us out there too.  Bella played in the snow, while i did some barn chores. Once Josh figured out the problem and what he needed to do to fix it, it was time for Bella’s nap. So indoors we girls headed. 
While Bella napped, I got my tollhouse pie baked and then cleaned up the kitchen before relaxing a bit myself. Once Bella was up, Josh came in for lunch. Poor guy still didn’t have the spreader fixed.  So back outside we all went to try to get as much of evening chores done before we had to head to church.  Bella spend the whole time either in the snow bank or in her swing. It was a struggle to get her back in the house.
It was 3pm when we got back in the house and church started at 4pm. So we quickly made cupcakes (to celebrate baby Jesus’ birthday), then Bella got a bath. By the time she was out of the tub Josh was in. He finally got the spreader fixed when we came in the house. Then he got ready and i got ready and we left home 20 mins before church started …got there with 4 mins to spare.
Church was naturally packed, even in the overflow area. We got a spot in the overflow, but Bella was not in the mood to be there. All she wanted was to see Baby Jesus. This whole holiday season has been about Baby Jesus.  Thankfully church went quickly and we took Bella to see Baby Jesus outside of church.
After Church it was back home again. Bella went down for a quick nap, Josh went to milk while I started supper. I brought stuffed pork chops, then made cheesy potatoes, and rolls.  We added some Clementine to that to round out the meal. Bella got up just as i was finishing cleaning up the kitchen. Josh walked in and the table was set and all the food was done but the pork chops. it was the first time I had made them, so i didn’t get them enough time to cook. So instead we decided to open presents.
It was good year for all of us. Josh got me a netbook(which I”m typing this on) and Bella got me an open heart angel necklace from Kay Jewelers. Josh got a new bow for hunting from me and a wii fishing game from Bella.  Bella got a duplo table and duplos, more of her favorite animals, and Diego puzzle and maker set.  She loved all of her stuff and naturally wanted to open more. 
We ended up eating after the gifts and Bella was way more into her new toys. I knew either way we did it, she would want the gifts more than food.  Josh and i ended up stuffing ourselves. Then we all had fun playing with our new “toys”  Bella started to get naughty due to being overtired so off to bed she went. Josh went out to plow the snow that he didn’t get to all day and i’m typing this.
My internet connection is kind of crappy… not the computer’s fault but our providers fault, so no pictures on the post for right now, but they will come soon. :)
Pictures :

Bella helping to make cupcakes for baby Jesus

All ready for church

Finally after the long mass, she got to see Baby Jesus

Our supper minus the pork chops

Our tree

STOCKINGS!!

Bella helping Daddy

Daddy's new bow!

Me with Bella and my new necklace from Bella

Netbook, Baby!

Bella and Anners enjoying the new toys!

Merry Christmas

Customize a digital greeting card

Christmas a bit early

Bella has been one lucky girl and we are very grateful for the friends and family in both her life and Josh’s and mine. One day last week, we had my friend Katie over for lunch. I’m very grateful that she was willing  to come down to us. But I’m missing Madison, so hopefully come February we can make it up to her place.  When Katie came down she brought a gift for Bella.  Being Mommy I had given Katie some suggestions, but Katie always seems to find fun and pretty things.

Bella was in love with the two little baby animals that Katie had picked out. They were the Schielich ones that Bella loves. So that was an instant pleaser. Then she got some very pretty dresses. I’ve been looking at sweater dresses, but never had picked up on, so Katie must have been reading my mind and got her one. She also got her some magnetic dress up doll. Bella was in love with it. She loves to dress up the doll and change her clothes. Of course some of the clothes double as other things, but it is so much fun to watch Bella play with it.

  Then on Sunday, Josh, Bella and I went to Madison to meet up with Tori and Dylan. We meet at Olive Garden for Lunch. Oh the food was so yummy. I think I could just live off their breadsticks. Bella on the other hand wasn’t interested in food at all. She drank her lunch via the apple juice she got. It was her treat.  I wasn’t planning it being her whole meal though. I think Josh enjoyed it also. He got some shrimp pasta and he loves shrimp. After we all ate or attempted to eat, We exchanged gifts.   We got Tori an ornament and photo collage of Bella. For Dylan we got him a Lego game and a lego car set. He’s a Lego kid :) Tori and Dylan got Josh some specialty beer, Bella got John Deere jammies and a Veggies Tale movie and I got an advent calendar/shadow box for next year. I was looking for one but hadn’t found one that I could afford or liked. Bella loves the one that Tori picked out and it’s perfect. I can’t wait for next year to use it. :) Tori also got our family attachments for our wii controls for playing the games. I think Bella is getting to the point where she would start to enjoy playing the wii games. It will also be something fun to do as a family.  It was great to get together with Tori and Dylan , as we don’t get to see much of them normally. Of course in the last month we have seen them every weekend.   We also missed Dylan at the Christmas party.

After our lunch, Josh Bella and I braved the mall to finish up the rest of our Christmas shopping. The mall was crazy!  Thankfully we split up and got done quickly. Bella slept the whole way home, so that was a godsend.  It was nice to get back home and be done with shopping!!

A visiting we go

Last week, before more snow moved in, Bella and I ventured over to visit Bella’s Great Grandma and Poppy.   We haven’t been there in awhile due to illness, holidays and weather. Bella was excited to go and see Buddy, their dog.

Grandma had the house decorated for christmas. She also had some fun new toys to show Bella. Bella also got to help Grandma with matching up of fabric for blankets. Bella of course loved them all!

The visit ended on a cookie note, but Bella started to get to get a point where a tantum would be coming. so we headed home with promises to see one another in a couple weeks at christmas :)

 

playing with the animated turkeys

 

Playing with Buddy the dog.

Great Grandma and Bella picking out fabric

Bella and her Poppy

Snow Snow Snow

Well last week we didn’t do much of anything but play in the snow. It was chilly but the snow was so much fun! Bella loved playing in the snow and she was never cold!  I know she couldn’t have been too cold since when we got in the house and undressed everything was warm.   I didn’t mind the cold and snow too much either and it beat just staying in the house.

 

tickles from dad and a mommy snow angel

 

Sunset in the snow, along with a snow covered barn

catching snowflakes

 

 

 

Looking up our driveway…

L

 

Sled Rides

Snow Buddies..Cole likes to keep an eye on Bella

 

proof that I’m actually outside too

 

My crazy girl..laying in the snow and venturing to the snowpile

She figured out she can climb up and slide down