Wow!

We look like twins! I just had to share.

You are so beautiful to me

Our princess at the park on a beautiful Washington winter afternoon

Cooper Traditions

I think the best part of the holidays are the family traditions that carry on year after year. I think it is important to teach Bella these traditions so that she may have fond memories of the holidays to hold on to for many years, and maybe pass on to her own children one day.

One tradition that I have always enjoyed is baking cookies. Bella likes helping in the kitchen as much as any other 2 year old (fun, yet very short attention span). However, once she found out that she could DECORATE the cookies that we were baking with gads of icing AND sprinkles, she was all about it.

The pictures below are a little out of order, but another tradition that we have started is to go see the real reindeer at Swanson's nursery in Seattle and eat Dicks afterwards. This is the second year we have done this, and Bella really enjoys seeing real reindeer. Now that Bella grasps the concept of Santa Claus and has read the Rudolph book and watched the Rudolph cartoons, seeing the real reindeer was pretty special. And nothing makes this kid happier than a chocolate milkshake from Dicks.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Our home is starting to look very festive. It has been fun decorating for the holidays, and although we don't have much, I know we will accumulate a ton of Christmas stuff over the many years we are going to live in our wonderful home!

Daddy & Bella in front of our tree. Daddy worked REALLY hard to cut the tree down.

Daddy up on the roof hanging lights

Zoolights

Zoolights was a great way to kick off this holiday season. For $3 dollars (thanks to our zoo membership from Ed and Carrie) we got to spend all night in a winter wonderland. It is so relaxing to walk through an endless trail of Christmas lights (hot cocoa in hand) while Christmas music plays throughout the zoo. They even had the aquarium open, which excited Bella to no end!

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy belated Thanksgiving! We had a great Thanksgiving this year in our new house. Bella didn't really want to eat any of the real turkey, so good thing we had made cookie/candy turkeys...little stinker.

Bella and Papa made her very first snowman, and I have to say it is the coolest snowman that I have ever seen. I especially love the floppy leaf ears.

Winter Wonderland

The snow is still dumping down on us here in Tacoma and we couldn't be happier! Bella LOVES the snow. She especially likes eating it. We had to teach her the golden rule of not eating yellow snow. Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit like playing in the snow.

SNOW!

Our first snow of the season is here and we are so excited! CJ and I are children at heart and love to play in the snow. We are hoping it snows long enough for Bella to make her first snowman.

Darling Dimple

I just had to share this adorable picture. I love pictures that show off Bella's dimple.

Silly Strawberry Shortcake

( Bella has an abundance of tattoos here because she gets to pick a tattoo every time she uses the potty.)

Here are 10 new updates on Bella;

1) Bella is full on potty training, she has been great about pooping in the potty, now we just have to get her to pee in the potty. She has been doing very well and I am so proud of her.

2)Bella has started to learn how to sing songs. Her favorite song to sing is "Twinkle, twinkle, little star".

3)Bella knows all of her shapes and is starting to learn how to draw them.

4)Bella just recently learned her own name. Now when she is asked, "What is your name?" she can reply "Bella!" It is sooooo cute.

5)Bella can now count to 20, but she doesn't like to do it on command haha. I catch her counting when she is quietly playing alone.

6)Bella's new favorite thing to say is, "You're my best friend" as she gives you a hug.

7)Bella can now jump with both feet off of the ground.

8)Bella has been sleeping in her big girl bed every night for almost 8 months now.

9)Bella's favorite food is still mac-n-cheese. She likes the annie's brand and she calls it "bunny cheese". She asks for "bunny cheese" at every meal, EVERY day.

10)Bella is a HUGE egg nog fan. Ever since the first time she tried it, it is pretty much all that she wants to drink.

My Daughter, The Gymnast

It is amazing what one gym class a week can do for a 2 year old. It is now the second half of the semester and we have watched Bella learn so many things. She has learned a lot of social skills, which is great because she stays home with Mom. She has learned to take chances and try new things, even if they might seem scary at first. But my favorite of all is how she applies what she has learned to her every day life. She is amazing, and I cannot wait to see all of the things she explores and concurs in her life.

Last Bit of Sun

We had to get Bella outside today because somehow it is still beautiful here in Washington, but we know the rain is coming. So after a big pancake breakfast, Bella and Lucy are running around the backyard. I don't believe Sundays get better than this.

Halloween

We had a FABULOUS Halloween. It was our first Halloween in our house and we couldn't have been happier. I don't know what Bella liked more, trick-or-treating, or handing out candy. With her beautiful costume, her pink skull bucket, and Nana and Papa by her side, I don't think she could have asked for a better Halloween. We had a TON of trick-or-treaters and even had to go on a candy run. This holiday gets better every year!

Little Gymnast

Bella likes gymnastics so much that she likes to climb on/hang on everything now. Her new favorite is hanging on the corner of our kitchen island. Silly little monkey.

Pumpkin Patch OH TEN!

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL fall day in the northwest and a perfect day for the pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, everyone else in the free world thought the same...it was CROWDED. We made the mistake of waiting closer to Halloween this year than we have the past couple of years. Despite the sea of people, we thoroughly enjoyed out visit to the pumpkin patch. I am most excited about the fact that we can display our pumpkins on our porch for the very first time this year!

Our New Addition

We finally did it, we got a puppy. I wasn't sure I was ready for this big step, but as soon as I saw Lucy(a sweet 7 month old pomeranian), I fell in love. It has been surprisingly a lot easier than I thought. Lucy is a very good puppy! I must say I don't think there is anything cuter than Bella playing with littly Lucy.

New Swingset!

I love craigslist!!!! The only place you can find a GREAT BARGAIN on a swingset. Bella is so excited to have a "park" in her very own backyard!

Harvest Festival

Once again, so sorry about not posting. It is so hard without a working camera. The camera phone only gets a good shot once in a blue moon. I promise we will invest in a camera soon...I just want to make sure we get one that wont break right away without spending a fortune. Here is a photo from the harvest festival that we took Bella to yesterday. It was so much fun, and the best part...everything was FREE!

We're in Trouble!

It is going to take all of my power as a parent to not let this kid get away with everything. Look at that face, I know that I am biased, but is that not the cutest face you have ever seen?! She just makes my heart melt. She says that she wants to be a princess this year for Halloween, I think it suits her well.

Camping

Sorry about not posting ever =[ !! CJ and I are going to make a point this month to either fix our camera or buy a new one. We just got back from a camping trip with friends and we had a blast. Bella did great! She made a new friend with a 4 year old named Miabella and a dog named Bailey. I have a feeling we will do a lot more camping in the years to come.

Congrats To My Journeyman!

Here is the cake I made today for my wonderful husband. It took forever and turned out pretty crappy, but it is the thought that counts!

Belated Birthday Photos

I am finally getting up some photos from Bella's party. Wow, almost a month has passed by already. Time flies way too quickly!

Blowing out birthday candles with Daddy's help

Sexy CJ

Birthday Princess

Our adorable home

Girls hanging with cool aunt Jayne

Time to party fiesta style!

Our fiesta spread

So cute

Laurie's talented artwork