Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas in Dallas 2011


We headed to Dallas for Christmas with Ashley's family. That just seemed like the best place for all of us to meet up. We had a wonderful weekend of catching up with each other and staying busy watching three little ones! Isabella and her cousin Bryson were receiving lots of hugs, tickles, and laughs from their uncle DJ (aka uncle Boogie). Jackson would pose more for the camera than Isabella. All three had a blast playing together.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Jesus!



On a rare occasion, Bella Grace decided to pose for the camera in her Christmas dress. Of course, it was after I took her hair out of the bow, but it still turned out great! Last night, we made a birthday cake for Jesus, lit a candle (had to use the 1 year candle), and sang happy birthday to the One we celebrate at this time of the year. Thank you Jesus for coming for us!!

Bell Ringing and the reason we celebrate



Jesus calls us to help others, and that is exactly what we do and try to teach Isabella. Since Brian and I have been married, we have always rung the bell for the Salvation Army every Christmas season. For the past two years, we have done the same thing with Isabella. She loves ringing the bell and hopefully grasping the concept of sharing Jesus's love by helping others. Some of our friends from our Sunday School class also helped and that is Jeffrey in the picture with Bella. Isabella loves wearing her Jesus shirt and telling everyone Happy Birthday Jesus!

Santa Claus aka Daddy



Isabella and I went to daddy's work Christmas party. Brian played Santa for the kids that were present. When he came out of the back, I told Isabella: "Look! It's Santa Claus!" and she said:That daddy:). I said its Santa and he started to walk toward her and she started to cry and hold on for dear life to me.

Visits with Santa



We went to eat breakfast with Santa at Chick-Fil-A one Saturday a couple of weeks ago. Isabella was cautious and would not approach Santa without daddy. Thankfully, Brian was able to get a quick picture while we was working. The Saturday after breakfast at Chick-Fil-A we went to eat pancakes with Santa at Applebee's. This time, Isabella ran right up to Santa and gave him a great big hug! She also posed for the picture. She also had fun dancing with the Christmas bear.

Pineville Christmas Parade



This year, Isabella and I met up with Kristi, Scott, Nathan, and Matt for the Christmas parade in Pineville. Brian was in the parade, along with the Chick-Fil-A cows. He drove the pickup and the cows rode in the back when they were tired of walking. Isabella loved the parade and really loved seeing daddy in it. She was bundled up and stayed real warm. She also caught lots and lots of candy!

Lights and Fireworks in Natchitoches 2011















We went to Natchitoches the first weekend in December to see the fireworks and ligts along the river. Bella Grace loved seeing the fireworks that went off to music and seeing the lights along the river. Mom and dad managed to navigate their way through the crowds and enjoyed the fun just as much as Isabella.

Final 2011 Christmas Pictures with Brian's Family















Bella Grace insisted on Grann and Aunt Suzie giving her a bath and both were more than happy to do so. She loves her popsicle soap and so did Grann and Aunt Suzie. Before Grann and Papa B left on Sunday, we had to take those final pictures. I loved everyone's expressions! We had a blast and made many sweet memories! Thanks so much for coming to see us everyone and we love you!

More Fun with Family in 2011


















In the picture with Papa B, Isabella waited patiently until Papa B finished up some things on the computer to play with her. Bella loves hugs and could not get enough of them with Aunt Suzie!

More pictures of Christmas in Alexandria 2011






















Aunt Suzie, Erika (Ka Ka as Bella calls her), Mimi and Joe came in on Friday to join in the festivies. Isabella loved playing with everyone and loved all the attention. Not only does Bella love shoes and clothes, but she also loves jewelry. She is eyeing the bracelet that Mimi was wearing.

Thanksgiving/Christmas with Grann and Papa B 2011

















Due to the fact that three women were pregnant at the same time, all due within three months of each other, on Brian's side, circumstances allowed Thanksgiving and Christmas to be celebrated at our home in Alexandria, LA, minus Brian's sister and brother-in-law (they welcomed their daughter into the world a few weeks early). In the above pictures, Isabella wanted to write, just like Grann, so of course she got paper and pen and started writing. Papa always pinches Bella's cheeks, and she knows that, so she returned the favor later that night;).

Turkey Trot 2011

We stayed in Alexandria this year for Thanksgiving
and Isabella and Brian walked in the Turkey Trot
that the Fellowshp of Christian Athletes held.
Isabella did not want to walk the mile, nor did she
want to ride in the stroller, so of course Brian
did the only logical thing left-he carried her for the
whole mile:). I stayed at home to rest, not wanting to overdo it and cause the arrival of Lilly to come
earlier than expected.

At a friend's birthday party















Later in the month, Isabella went to Nathan's birthday party. Nathan got a bunny for one of his presents and Isabella loved holding the bunny and playing with Hop. Nathan's grandma was kind enough to sit close to Isabella and Hop while Isabella was holding the bunny. And of course she loved the cake!!

Pecan Festival 2011



Brian was so sweet, he volunteered to go get food for Isabella and himself. The rest of us already got something, so we finished while we waited for him. Isabella enjoyed visiting and playing with Nathan, Matt, and Mrs. Kristi. She also enjoyed relaxing with them and playing with Nathan and Matt's fishing poles when they would let her;).

Pecan Festival 2011

















To carry on a tradition started last year with our friends the Morins, we headed out to the pecan festival the first weekend in November. Isabella, Nathan, and Matt enjoyed the parade and caught a lot of candy. Isabella loved getting her face painted. She picked out the sunshine, I think that is so fitting, since she brings so much joy and sunshine to our lives.















Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Finished Product

Isabella loved watching daddy carve the pumpkin! She wanted the pumpkin to have a surprised face! Brian did a good job if I do say so myself:)!

More trick or treating






We went trick or treating with some friends of ours, they have two boys (they are the boys dressed like pirates). Both boys and Isabella had a blast getting lots of candy! Brian dressed as a pirate, Isabella was dressed like Tinker Bell and I dressed up like Wendy. We all had a great time trick or treating! Isabella said trick or treat and thank you at every house we went too-so well mannered!!

Happy Halloween 2011





Isabella was so excited to finally be able to wear her Tinker Bell costume. Brian was also just as excited to dress up like a pirate. She was all smiles all night long!

Pumpkin Carving



Isabella tried to pull some seeds out this year, it took her awhile to warm up to the idea though. She did not want to stick her hand in the pumpkin at first. She did say yucky when she saw the inside of the pumpkin.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Cake Walk



Isabella's number was called at the cake walk and of course she chose the purple cupcake and she ate evry last bit. She sure does love sweets!

Fall Festival



After cookies with the characters, we headed to a fall festival at a church in town. We met up with Isabella's friend, Camden. Both kids had a lot of fun! Isabella even won a cupcake at the cake walk! Yum Yum!!

More Cookies with Characters



In between autographs and visits with characters, we were able to take a couple pictures with Isabella. Brian loved the characters and Christmas music just as much as Isabella did!

Cookies with Characters

This past Saturday, we went to eat Cookies with Characters. Isabella was quiet and taking it all in. Once the characters started coming out, she got excited and got real excited when Dora came out. She was more excited about seeing Dora than about seeing anyone else.



Sunday, October 23, 2011

Picking those veggies


Isabella loved picking vegetables inside the museum at one of the castle areas. Each area of museum is split up into the different parts/jobs of the castle workers. Here, she is gathering the vegetables from the garden. We had a lot of fun!



I hear the train a comin....



Ever since we spent part of the summer in MN with Auntie Sara, Uncle Jon, Jackson and Bryson, Isabella has loved trains. So when we visit the children's musem, she loves going and watching the trains. She also loved pushing the buttons to make the train honk its horn.

Renaissance Day at Children's Museum



Brian had a Saturday off so we took advantage of that and headed to the Children's Museum here in town. There is an exhibit called the Traveling Castle and it is here until December. She loves to play in it! On this particular day, there was face painting and ponies plus turkey legs for sale. We also got Isabella corn on a stick and she loved it and the turkey. The turkey leg was enough for all of us! She loved playing in the mini castle for little ones.

Fun at the Fair

Brian had to work last Saturday, so Isabella and mama headed out to the state fair. She loved looking at all of the bunnies, more than the cows, goats, and sheep. I tried to get her to sit on a donkey, but she never would. After looking at the animals, we rode the carousel three times. She loves riding those!



Taking a nap and three babies on the way



Isabella played hard with Everett on Saturday, so she was ready for a nap with Grann (mama jo). Brian's sister is expecting a girl in December, his cousin is expecting a girl in January, and I am expecting a girl in Feburary. So we took this picture to capture the memory of all being pregnant at the same time. I do have a pregnant belly, it is just hard to see. My little girl (Lilly) is riding low so it is hard to see the baby bump.

My Pretty Pumpkin Dress



I took several pictures of Isabella in her pumpkin dress that Aunt Suzie gave her. These are two of the neatest ones I think. She has recently started picking up sticks, pointing them, and saying "pow, pow." She must have picked that up from school (daycare).


Picking out a Pumpkin



Uncle Frank (or uncle Pank as Isabella calls him) grew a pumpkin patch in the back field, so of course Isabella got to pick one out. It did finish turning orange once we got home and we will make a jack-o-latern next weekend.