Photo Happy

On my quest to learn more about this whole Digital Photography thing....I went a little picture happy the other day.
Hope these make you smile.

Wouldn't it be Loverly?

It was!!!
The past few days really have been loverly....
I had bad luck trying to get a babysitter this week so Steve and I could go out for an early Valentine's dinner, BUT, after telling my good friend Leah my woes she saved the day and offered to let Gabriella come over to her house.
thank you, thank you!
It was great to go out.
We had bought some dessert to share with Gabriella and let her open the Valentine's Day package she got from Steve' family, she was very happy.

Today we were off to a birthday part at the Children's Museum. She ran and ran, played, slid, fell, it was very fun and a bit chaotic. She had a blast and even saw her friend Hunter there from church.
I did feel a little bad at one point...a little girl and Gabriella weren't watching and bonked right into each other. Ella got up and rubbed her head, looked at me and ran to the slide. The other little girl went to her mom crying and I saw them leave soon after. With so many kids running around I was surprised Ella didn't have many more

collisions. So with minimal bruises and no tears, it was time to get home.

It was a great and busy Valentines day!

Here's to sweet dreams and "chocolate" wishes.

Wanted to Share

This past week went rather well...I've had a lot on my mind but staying busy helps I think.
I was really surprised to find these on my front step the other night.

Steve's family sent beautiful Tulips. I was so touched and appreciate them thinking of me and my family. Thank you.
I just love them, it is amazing how flowers can make you smile and make your home feel so pretty.
In other news...I decided to trim Gabriella's hair....the mullet was just getting longer and longer so I took some off...and I hope it grows back fast. It didn't turn out super great, but her hair is so curly I don't think it looks that bad.

I also got my hair cut (I didn't do it myself) that would be horrible.

Funeral this week....

http://www.jones-prestonfuneralhome.com/index.cfm

Missing family right now...

Wish I could be there...

Funeral on Friday...

Grandma Wilma passed away yesterday, Monday morning around 9am.


I've had the unique opportunity of having known 5 great-grandparents.
Out of all of them I probably knew Wilma the best...

I found a letter she wrote me today while I was cleaning. It was written last April. I'm glad I have it so I can show it to Gabriella one day. Wilma loved Gabriella very much and still does I know.

Having Fun!

There isn't too much new going on here. Steve is enjoying his job and I'm enjoying spending time with Gabriella and staying busy. Ella and I have been keeping busy and have lots of fun with friends.
One of our first adventures was to put together a stroller I bought on clearance at Target for $12....originally $50. It was cheaper than an umbrella stroller so I couldn't resist. She also had to sit in it in the front room.
Gabriella was a wonderful helper, giving me the wheels and handing me all the parts. She says, "I am helping." It seems like this past month her vocabulary has increased dramatically and she talks in sentences. She also loves to sing songs from the Barbie movies. Her current obsession is "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," I hear her quoting the movie at times. She is so cute. She also loves to dance...I think I see ballet lessons in her future.

She also helped with a birthday party. We decided to get some pretty flowers for the birthday girl at Costco and everyone smiled as Ella Bella carried the flowers around the store. Thank goodness she didn't fall and crush them.
Overall I think the party went very well.




On Friday I went visiting teaching and as were going down the stairs Gabriella counted each step up to twelve...honestly we do practice saying numbers but she usually mixes them up and repeats certain ones, but not this time. She counted all the way to twelve. It wasn't until we were in the kitchen and she started stepping on the individual squares on the floor that I realized she was mimicking the Barbie movie. The princesses step on 12 spots on the floor. So I guess I can't take credit for her current counting skills.

I thought with it being so nice outside today that ice cream would be perfect. She enjoyed the sprinkles the most.

Hooray!

A Sunday Afternoon

My favorite pictures from today. And believe it or not Gabriella wouldn't stay still for me, I lucked into getting some great shots.

Look at this stuff...isn't it neat

Since our trip back from WA, I really wanted to get Gabriella to sleep through the night in her room and in her own bed. So far so good...thanks to Aunt Geri we were able to get her new bedsheets. And to top it off my family got her an Ariel pillow and Steve's mom made her a new blanket.

Random...

It was one of those days in December and Gabriella was all over the place in desperate need of a nap. So I put on a movie, The Little Mermaid, and about 5 minutes later this is what we saw...

ENJOY!

Twas the day after Christmas...

...and all through the house, well there was nobody at the house. We were actually in a hotel I think.
But we finally made it Washington State after flying out of Denver, only to turn back and land in Grand Junction, then after 45 minutes we left again for Salt Lake and missed out flight to WA. So we spent the night in snowy SLC, Utah.
The next day we made it!

Washington FUN! doggie rides, watching Barbie, dancing and chasing.