Our Weekend

Our weekend was pretty low key.  My parents came for a visit on Saturday to celebrate my birthday and we all went out to eat.  I just had to share a few cute shots of Miss Annie from our walk Sunday.  There's nothing better than a big, open field for her to run. 

Hope your weekend was relaxing!

C

Bowling!

We took Annabelle bowling for the first time last weekend.  Of course she couldn't hold the ball yet, but that didin't seem to put a damper on her fun.  Randy took this video with his phone, so the quality isn't the best, but you can see her excitement after her ball (finally) knocks down some pins.  She would get so excited each time she bowled and she loved cheering for us after each time we bowled as well.  We all had a great time!  She's been asking me if we can go again, saying "bowling?!" while nodding her head yes at me.

C

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this past weekend!  It was so much fun to see Annabelle get excited about her gifts, but I think she still enjoyed being around family the most.  It was such a relaxing weekend spent with family, something I always look forward to.  We took Annabelle to see Christmas lights Friday night and she absolutely LOVED them.  We went to a farm that does a big display each year, it was beautiful.  Annabelle was in awe of the lights.  Saturday was my Dad's birthday and we just enjoyed spending the day with him.  We're looking forward to the new year, just one short week away!

She loved playing in the leaves during our walk.

A little static at the playground.

Trying on her Santa hat.

Right after waking up Christmas morning, I think the table and chairs with her tea set are her favorite gift.

Trying to figure out how to open her gifts.

Another favorite from Uncle Cory & Aunt Aliza.

Playing in Nana & Pop's garden.

Enjoying mimosas while cooking.

C

Baking & Cheese

It's been a fun week around here.  I spent a few hours last Sunday baking cookies for Annabelle's teachers.  I also helped Annabelle make some home made cards for them, which was a lot of fun.  I wish I had remembered to take a picture, but let's just say it involved paint and cute, little squishy toes.  Happily, the tins I purchased to hold the cookies didn't hold as much as I thought they would, so we had a few left overs to enjoy for ourselves (good thing we've been working out each night after little miss goes to bed).  Annabelle lovingly calls the cookies "cake" and will ask for one by saying "cake peeez?"

I had to share the picture below, this is what we get when we ask Annabelle to say cheese....oh boy!

What a ham! 

C

Eyes, eyes

We're getting ready for the holidays around here.  This year has been more fun with Annabelle now that she understands a little more what's going on.  I can't believe how good she's been with the Christmas tree.  I really thought it would be too hard for her to keep her hands off it, but honestly, our cat has knocked more ornaments off the tree than Annabelle.  We told Annie that the plush, snowman ornament hanging at the bottom of the tree was ALL hers, but the others were off limits.  Just about every day she grabs her "Noman" off the tree and walks around the house with it.  I stressed to her from the beginning that we only look at the tree with our eyes.  She's been really great about abiding by that rule, she'll walk right up to the tree with her nose just a few millimeters from it and say out loud to herself, "Eyes, eyes" like she's reminding herself what to do, it's so funny!  That's not to say there haven't been a couple times she's "accidentally" brushed up against the tree or given in to the urge to touch the sparkly snowflake that taunts her. 

Annabelle talks about Santa all the time now saying, "Saaaaanta! Ho Ho Ho!"  I guess they taught her the "Ho ho ho" in school.  She was pretty good with meeting the old guy, she did a quick freak-out when we sat her on his lap and backed away, but then Randy made her laugh about something and she was fine. 

I let Annabelle try some hot (warm) cocoa this past weekend, which was a big hit.  Although, she did have to chase a couple sips with some water.  I guess it was a little too sweet for her.

Here's some pictures from our regular weekend walk to feed the ducks:



The girl loves being outside! One of her favorite things to do is pick "fowers" a.k.a. weeds and feed the ducks.







Annabelle loves her Daddy! 

Here's hoping you have a wonderful holiday!

C

Random Things

Last Friday afternoon when I got home from work I decided to make some warm tea since it was so chilly out.  I showed Annabelle how you dip the tea bag in the warm water and for some reason it cracked her up. I guess the idea of putting something in your drink attached to a string is pretty funny to a toddler.
Lately, Annie also loves sitting in the drivers seat of our cars while they're parked in the driveway.  I assure you, this is a "game" that her Daddy started with her.  He'll sit in the passenger seat while Annabelle stands in the driver's seat.  She's so happy just pushing buttons and turning knobs. It's funny to see what entertains her. I walked out there the other day and the signal lights were blinking and all I could see was this little blonde head bobbing below the steering wheel.  I'll be inside the house and all of a sudden hear a horn honking.....our neighbors must think we're crazy, but she loves it.

Annabelle is getting better at telling us what she wants.  The other night I asked her what she likes to eat, she thought a moment and then said, "pisah (pizza), eggs, toast, and MEAT!" Every time I tell her I'm going to cook something she looks up at me and asks "pisah?"  The kid repeats EVERYTHING we say now. 

We're looking forward to the holidays and having some time off work.  Whenever I talk to Annabelle about Thanksgiving she yells "Turkey!" and then I'll ask her what the turkey says and she replies, "bobble bobble!"  Then she'll say "pie! yummmm!"  She's such a silly girl. 

Sometimes I'll turn on music for Annabelle and start dancing around the living room and she'll crack up laughing at me then start dancing too by spinning herself around in circles and bouncing up and down.  She loves music.  The other day at the playground, while Randy and I were pushing her on the swing, she just started singing her own little song.  We had no idea what she was saying, but it was clearly her own little version of a song.

Last night, Randy and I got away and had a delicious dinner at Fish Bones. I was craving some seafood and that place did the trick! Seafood isn't something I make at home very often, although I see no reason why not. It was nice to have a quiet night out to ourselves!

I'll leave you with a short video of Annabelle singing the ABC song with me.  My favorite part is where she says Hannah at the end, one of the characters in her favorite book...so random!

Cooling Off

It's been a fantastic summer and I'm so glad the temperatures are finally cooling off around here.  We can actually enjoy the outdoors.  I could say our summer was super busy and that's why I haven't updated the blog in a while, but honestly we were just enjoying ourselves. 

Annabelle's been growing and is talking so much now.  I've lost count of all the words she knows, even though I'm the only one who understands half of them.  It's so funny to hear her speak and know what's on her little mind throughout the day.  Her newest game is sitting on the couch or bed and saying, "Ready........Set........Go!"  then jumping up in the air and landing on her butt.  Cracks me up EVERY time! 

Annabelle's hair was pretty non-existent until she was a year old, then finally started coming in.  She's had a little mullet for a while now, but I haven't had the heart to cut it, despite how ragged it makes her look.  Randy's been begging me to let him cut it and I finally gave in this past Monday.  I grabbed the scissors and snipped off her little lock of curls before I could stop myself (then lovingly placed it in her baby book).  I have to say, it looks SO much better now, she doesn't look like she has constant bed-head.

 

She's been so happy that we can play outside more now, thanks to the nice weather.

Calling "Mimi?! Mimi?!" trying to get our cat to come and play.