Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve ....girls putting out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer 

 My girls must have been so very good this year because Santa brought lots of special gifts!

 Bella showing off one of her favorite stocking stuffers

 Bella really enjoyed sitting back and having sissy help her open up her gifts

 Christmas dinner table....minus a few chairs

 I did manage to get one of her with her favorite Santa gift...Simba

 After the rest of the family arrives...let the present opening begin!

 The cousins all together at the end of the night...they had such a blast!!!

Bella adores Peyton and keeps trying to kiss him...he wasn't too crazy about that idea!

Christmas 2011 was an amazing time! Lots of good food, family, love, and laughter!  We are so grateful for so many things this year, what an amazing year!  We are looking forward to 2012!!!

Christmas Eve-Maddie's Birthday

 We followed our yearly tradition for Christmas Eve/Maddie's Birthday...started the evening off by going to her favorite Mongolian Grill restaurant in Gig Harbor.....

 Then back to Grandma's house for cake and presents!

 Cute new hat!

 New Vest

 AND...drum roll....tickets to go and see Mamma Mia in March with Grandma!  The two of them know this movie inside and out and sing at the top of their lungs while watching...SO they are both just a little excited!

 Auntie, Uncle, and baby Ronan

 Finally we headed to church for the Christmas Eve service......

Where Daddy, Bella, and Mama spent the entire service in the hallway outside the service...OH well, at least we could still hear the service and music, and Bella was as happy as a clam as long as she could run around!

Great night and Happy Happy Birthday to my first born baby girl!!!  We LOVE you so much

My my how you have changed....2 years old Miss Bella

Polar Express Train Ride

We had so much fun taking the Polar Express train ride in Chehalis, Wa. We went with our good friends Carly, Erik, and their daughter Leah. The girls all wore their jammies and we had a blast! We got hot cocoa, cookies, sang Christmas carols,listened to a reading of the Polar Express, stopped at the "North Pole," got a bell from Santa, and a picture with Santa too. This will be a new yearly tradition for sure!

My girls snuggled in their jammies

Bella and Leah were really excited to see each other! Hugs and kisses galore

We picked up Santa Claus from the "North Pole"

Bella was shocked, excited, and terrifieed all at the same time

There was no way she was sitting on his lap..,

What a fun night!

Gearing Up for a 2nd Birthday Party

I cannot believe our little Bella is going to be 2 in just a few days! Tomorrow we are having her birthday party to celebrate 2 amazing years with our little girl! The theme was Polar Express...which sort of morphed into more of a red/green Christmas theme party! This mama had grand ideas, and just not enough energy to follow through. Anyway...I love the way her birthday party invite ended up. Super simple and we put it on glittery green card stock...The back invited everyone to hop on to the Polar Express....

Departure Time:

1:00pm

Itinerary:

A "chili" bar..

A hot cocoa bar

Sweet winter treats

Gingerbread house decorating