October Recap

So I can't believe October is almost over, so I'll try to give a brief recap. It was a crazy month to say the least. Pappa and Granna came out the first weekend to celebrate Bella's birthday early.

The next weekend, Joel and I took the girls to Disneyland for the weekend to celebrate Bella's 4th birthday. We had so much fun. We had breakfast with the princesses again. This time we got to meet Cinderella. Gabby was not a fan of meeting any characters except Ariel and Tinkerbell. They loved the rides and fireworks, but I think we spent most of our time in line waiting to get autographs...yep we filled up the books. They also loved the parades. Bella even went out and danced with Goofy...she's so not shy.

My grandpa passed away while we were gone. We got to spend a few days with him before we left and I will miss him dearly. When we got back Sunday, everyone came over to celebrate and open presents. We even got sprinkles cupcakes....mmmmmmmmmm.

Then Auntie came to visit! We went to the state fair. Once again Bella wanted to go on everything. She had a blast, but then saw the adult one and wanted to go on that Gabby kept standing on her toes so she'd be tall enough.

I think Bella would have taken this goat home if we'd let her. She sat there feeding it and hugging it. Gabby wanted nothing to do with the animals.

However, she did love the corn! We raced down the big slide by the time Gabby and Joel got to the bottom her shirt had come up and her belly was hanging out.Last weekend we got pumpkins on the way to Papa and Nana's house to celebrate my 33rd birthday and Uncle Chad's birthday...as Bella says "that's a lot mommy"

Ryree helped Gabby make her pirate pumpkinand Nana helped make Bella's princess one, she even sewed a tutu on itDaddy's pumpkin

Well I will try to be better about posting. It has been one crazy summer and that has turned into one crazy fall and winter.

Grandpa Shotton

My grandpa passed away 10.9.10. We happened to be in Disneyland for Bella's 4th birthday; however, we were lucky to spend several days with him before our trip...they are memories I'll cherish forever. His services were a beautiful tribute to his life and how many people loved him and his service to others. He was amazing and lived 90 years. We are glad his is now pain free.

Grandpa Shotton

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Pinetop

So I obviously haven't done well with keeping this thing up to date. I can't believe how much we've been doing the past few months and how fast the girls have been growing up. I fear that it's about to get busier with holidays just around the corner and Bella turning 4 in a few weeks (holy crap she'll be 4)!

So I'll start with Pinetop, or Pinetree as Bella kept calling it. We went up for Labor Day. Papa rented a cabin and the whole family went up. I have so many memories from Pinetop so it was nice to share those fun spots with the girls. I drove up early with mom and dad, ryan and the girls. We got there late Thursday night, but the girls were so excited they didn't go to sleep until 11 and then were up at 5am! So we hung out and then went for a walk around the woods. Of course Bella and Gabby picked flowers, which seems to be one of their favorite things to do in the woods. Bella ended up with quite the bouquet.
Papa also bought one of the hardest puzzles we've ever done. It took all of us the entire trip to get it finished. Bella LOVES doing puzzles. She's gotten up to 100 piece ones and finishing them by herself. She has been doing 3-4 a day. Just like her mommy...I loved puzzles and still do.

Saturday morning we headed to Fred's Lake, so Papa could "really teach them how to fish". Well to our surprise the stocked lake had changed hands and wasn't opened, so we headed to Woodland Lake (which was not stocked). It was beautiful and we walked around most of the lake; however we did not catch anything, but I got some good pictures anyway.

Sunday we headed to the Rim. It was great hiking around and seeing the view. The girls even got to see a horny toad. That and one squirrel were the only animals we saw all weekend (not like the Colorado trip).

The girls had so much fun with play dough. Bella made a giant cake and then served it to everyone.

Gabby has started singing more and more...and making up more songs...it reminds me so much of Bella at that age.

Bella is pointing to a butterfly that kept fluttering by us on our final walk before heading back to the heat.

So now an update on the girls...we have started to notice the girls' personalities coming out more and how different they are. They are both still funny and love goofing off, but Gabby definitely likes playing catch, running and playing chase. Bella LOVES her art time, puzzles and dress up. They both love it all and love playing with each other, but it's funny what they gravitate towards.

Colorado Summer 2010

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Bella's First years

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Gabby First Two Years

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