a date, daddy style!

Matt treated Bella to front row seats at the circus today, along with pony rides, elephant rides, face painting, hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, and who knows what else... They had a wonderful time. She couldn't stop talking about how 'amazing' it was. I loved dates with my dad just about more than anything when I was little, and it was so fun to see her get spoiled, and adored by her daddy, just like I used to. Gosh, there isn't much better than seeing the joy and wonder in your child's eyes is there? Matt and Bella took my camera with them so I could report to you all their father - daughter adventure, with a little cropping and photo touching their pictures really turned out nice didn't they!

Cheers, to the newlyweds!

Saturday, we toasted to one of our dearest and oldest friends,

as she said "I Do" to her prince charming. As long as I have known this girl she has dreamed of this day,

& I could not be more happy for her!

She has met and fallen in love with the sweetest guy... she did good!

A Beauty!

Pictures of the bridal party...

Getting Ready, amazing how long it takes for girls to get beautified!

So, excited her day has finally come!

The Girls.... So lucky to have such good friends!

Congratulations K & A, we love you, couldn't be more happy for you!

I am so glad you finally get your happily ever after!

a-BELLA-ism

Tonight we were making dinner in the kitchen, Bella was up on her step stool making her own concoction ("cheese tacos" aka processed cheese slices rolled up with a bug gram in the middle... mmmmmmmmmm) any who, I digress. She says, I'm feeling so discouraged! Do you know what discouraged means? No we say, what? MAD. (grrrrr) (sound effect like a lion). Oh, to be five! Other Bella-isms I have enjoyed lately include, "I'm all done with my drama" & (when her sister woke up in the car on a long ride the other day) "good morning monkey buns" (quite sweetly, I might add!) Oh, I love her. A side note I would like to include, she is rarely done with her drama!

the love of a sister...

An older sister is a friend and defender

- a listener, conspirator, a counsellor

and a sharer of delights.

And sorrows too.

~Pam Brown

I'm sorry, this is my third post today. I guess when it rains it pours. Couldn't resist sharing this. Bella really wanted to give Meritt her good night bottle tonight, so I said of course. I ran down stairs to put some things away, and when I got back up stairs I caught them all curled up together snuggling. Since just earlier today I wrote about how happy I am that they have each other, I thought this to be a pretty fitting post, that you would probably enjoy being part of! Could this possibly be any sweeter? Or is it just that I'm their mother? I promise since there is less than an hour left in the day, this is truly the last blog... today.

self portrait

Went to down load my pictures again, and guess what I found? Miss Bella had been taking pictures again. This one was particularly sweet. An attempt at scooping her little sister up in her arms to take a picture of them together. Kind of sweet, huh? I love that they love each other (most of the time), I am so glad that these two will have each other to lean on for the rest of their lives. I don't have a sister, but I have always thought to have a built in friend like that would be just about the best thing you could ever hope for!

what good sleep can do for you...

That is quite a shock of hair isn't it?! Finally almost 18 months old, and she is finally sleeping through the night with regularity! Hurray. Amazing what a good sleep can do for you isn't it! (inside & out)

fresh new dinner idea part 2...

I realize I teased you with my recipe last week, without showing you any pictures. (I made them again, Friday) So, here goes... what should we call these? My mom voted "meat pies"... although honestly they are more vegetable than meat. Hmmm, a kid friendly, clever name, for them, that's what we need, what do you think?

ever heard of Fancy Nancy?

Who needs Fancy Nancy, when you can have a Fancy Bella... Pretty cute, thought I'd share. For those of you that don't know about "Fancy Nancy", she is a children's book character that is quite whimsical, as well as fancy! She loves fancy words, fancy clothes, fancy dogs (please note her own dog of choice, her stuffed version of Emma) (the stuffed version gets bossed better!), fancy foods, and making her family a little fancier too! Right up someone else's alley that I know. She got some "Fancy Nancy" dress up for her B-day, and has had a fun time being fancy and fabulous herself!