3rd birthday, dedication, gymnastics, pumpkin patch

There is no way around this being a really long post. Since coming back from Italy (more pictures on Facebook from the trip), things have been a whirlwind. The girls have been hilarious and testing at the same time. Bella was obsessed with giving us tattoos at night. She would get her magnidoodle out and put socks on for gloves and go to town on our arms and legs. She was so intense it was so funny...have no idea where exactly she picked this up.
Gabby is talking so much. She loves to carry heavy things around so when I asked her to show me her muscles...this is what we got. (She also gives and says "Good Game")

She is all about climbing up the stool to get things off the counter. She'll even push the stool around to get her toothbrush...or bananas off the counter.

For Bella's actual birthday we went to breakfast with Nana and Papa T, then headed to the park to feed the ducks (which we later saw were all sleeping on the other side of the pond) so we settled for pigeons.Bella (and Gabby) finally got on the carousel and loved it...after trying 3 times before with lots of crying and getting off, this was the first successful attempt.

and then onto the choo-choo

and of course had to end up with and icee (had to get a 2nd one since Gabby didn't want to share)

and popcorn

That night Granna and Pappa got into town so Saturday we headed to McCormick Railroad Park

to ride another choo-choo

and merry-go-round and played on the sides forever

and swings (this was the first time Bella had been on the big swings) Sunday morning Pappa dedicated Gabby at church in a ceremony after the service. Gabby looked so precious in the dress Granna had made her.

Gabby was a little tired and we had to let her have Joel's phone so she would sit still.Then in the afternoon we had a joint party to celebrate Bella's 3rd birthday and Gabby's dedication - a Tinkerbell party of course

Bella and Gabby loved the bouncy castle and balloons...I think Gabby liked the bouncy more than everyone

Gabby of course loved the food. Joel couldn't figure out why she threw a fit when he tried to tear a piece off for her...then we figured that she wanted to eat the whole piece by herself...she is getting to be quite another independent child.

Bella showing off her Tinkerbell Tattoo Gabs and Nana (Gabby still eating pizza - she was a machine)Then onto cake

and presents

That night we put together the microphone from Granna and Pappa...and Bella was all about rocking it out.

Their new stove and dishes from Nana and Papa T have also been a huge hit...and the girls are constantly cooking.

and the princess dress up clothes and tent Bella's snow white outfit from "Stephie-Chad" was a little small but Gabby loves it to play princess too

Monday Bella started gymnastics...and LOVED it. She even put her leotard back on to practice later in the day. They started on the trampolines, then went into the "tumblebugs" room which has smaller versions of gym equipment and finished with the foam pit. Bella has also been a huge fan of the vampire teeth we got at Peter Piper Pizza

The two emptying out the pantry

Today we went to the pumpkin patch at Mother Nature's Farm. We went early since it was back into triple digits this weekend.

Gabby loved picking out a little pumpkin to decorate.

Bella claiming the big pumpkin to take home...lately when Bella says "Cheese" for a picture she closes one eye...it's so funny

Gabby loved the strawFeeding the cow and goats

Bella wasn't too sure at first about the cow, but was comfortable feeding the goats. decorating with stickers

ended with a cherry sno-cone

Bella also had her 3 year check up, she was 41 pounds and 39 inches (which kept her in the 95+% for both and she's wearing 5T in most clothes). She should be taller than mommy by a few inches and will around 5'8". Bella of course talked the pediatrician's ear off. Bella is speaking non stop these days and comes out with things where I have no idea where they came from. The other day on the way home she said "mommy you said we were going to Nana's after you picked me up from preschool" on the way to the pumpkin patch she informed us "there's is going to be poop and pee-pee at the pumpkin patch from the animals". She has moved up to the Preschool class and we were 2 out of 4 with crying when I dropped her off last week, but 4 out of 4 with happy pick ups. She is with all her friends again that moved up the last two months...so she likes that.

Gabby is just cracks us up. Bella is funny but Gabby is more of a clown. She loves to shut the doors and hide until you come find her. She is picking up so many words and putting some together like "animal", "thank you", "love you" and "good game". She also goes around saying "Bella are you?" and in class the other day the teacher asked who wanted to go outside and Gabby raised her hand and said "I do". She is so smart like her sister. When I pick her up from school she goes to the fridge and once opened grabs her two cups. If one is empty she grabs the juice or milk and hands it to me to fill up the one that's empty...then grabs her paper for the day and waits by the door. She is also into animal noises especially a monkey, lion and duck. I did get her to tweet at the chicks today too. She mimics everything Bella does and is such a snuggle bug. She'll just run into our arms and snuggle or grab our legs and then walk off. Gabby also loves to grab as much as she can and carry it around. Yesterday she carried out her cups, two animals and crackers in each hand all the way out to the car. In the morning she will grab all her blankets and animals from her crib (like Bella used to do) and carry them out to the family room.