Welcome home doug!

Doug came home late last night and i couldn't be happier! Bella stayed the night with grandma Simpson so we wouldn't have to keep her up and this morning when we picked her up she was very happy to see BOTH of us. she was pretty shy at first but all smiles. we went out to breakfast w my in-laws and molly, it was so nice just chatting w everyone but I'm pretty sure everyone was just fighting for Doug's attention (smile.) after Doug and i went and hung out w my parents and finally Bella and I got him all to ourselves! we went and did a little Christmas shopping and ended our night watching Christmas movies and the three of us cuddling:). Bella wont let him out of her sight now and having him home feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders! What a great way to start christmas week!

Its beggining to feel a lot like christmas!

A month ago Doug called me to let me know he was going to be home in time for Christmas. Ever since then Ive been so excited for Christmas! Last Friday Bella and i kicked off the holiday by going to my mother in laws work party. it was sooooo fun! Her work rented out the majestic theatre and when we walked in they handed us a baggy full of treats. they where so cute! We got some popcorn and drinks and watched Rio. Which was an adorable movie by the way. When the movie got out Santa was waiting for us and all the kids got to sit on his lap (or in Bella's case by his side) and then got another bag of fun little toys. We had such a blast! We ended up spending the day with Grandpa and Grandma Simpson and we even got Bella a beautiful nativity set she can play with. It was so fun!

Sunday night we got into the holiday spirit a little more. I went to my moms and made some delicious sugar cookies. We made homemade frosting and decorated them and just had fun. My mom's neighbor and our friend Lynn came over too and we where just able to chat and laugh. Bella pretty much played with my dad the whole time but i know that as she gets older and if we keep these fun traditions she'll eventually love them just as much and will always remember them. Doug will be home in 4 days and then it will REALLY feel like Christmas. I cant wait!

My growing girl.

Bella is just a growing little bee these days. she says 3-4 word sentences and can hold a conversation with you. She knows the color pink, yellow, purple, black, blue, green, white but has trouble with red. she counts to 17 and some of her ABC's. she can jump with both feet and land on both feet. She does somersaults, rolls on her side, and can balance on the balance beam by herself! she knows how to jump on the trampoline. She can drink out of a regular cup but tends to spill a bit. She sleeps in a toddler bed now. She's really good at talking on the phone. She can put her pants, shirt, socks, even gloves on by herself and some shoes. She can name almost everyone she's ever played with. She also reminds me to pray before we eat dinner and before bed. she fold her arms and says "heavenly father, thanks for day..." and then waits for me to add in (smile).

Some of my favorite sentences that she says are, "Mom, i NEED that..."

"No Chicka i princess! (or Bella, or mommy, whoever she wishes to be at that moment.)"

or my absolute favorite she'll come up to me wherever i am force herself on me and hug me and say "i love you, love you more, i love you" over and over again:)

She talks a lot and getting smarter every day! I love love LOVE watching her learn and grow. Being a mom is my calling in life<3

Gymnastics!

I recently signed Bella up for a mommy and me gymnastics and let me tell you it is a BLAST! Its 45 min of extra fun play time with trampolines, balance beams, bars, etc. I get to play with her and she learns so much when she goes. We go to a gym called "Advanced Gymnastics." I absolutely LOVE these Monday afternoons with her. We do obstacle courses and at first i didn't realize how much Bella was learning but she is so much more confident. She jumps, and i know that seems like a small accomplishment but she picks up her two feet and jumps not one first then the other and she lands on both feet! sometimes he stumbles or falls but her balance has gotten great! she's getting better at her somersaults, she walks the beam all by herself now and her favorite part is the long trampoline. She LOVES the long trampoline. my favorite part is the bars. they are challenging for both of us but we get threw them and still have fun. i love them because she is just so strong and it shows. She holds her whole body by herself on them for almost a minute maybe longer. Each time she tries to hold herself longer. She flips on them (with my help) and i can tell they are hard for her but she just keeps trying and trying. I really hope to keep up gymnastics in the future. I wont be able to be on the floor with her much longer but while i am able to I'm going to LOVE every single minute of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am thankful that this will be our last holiday apart from Doug. I'm thankful that Bella and i where able to move back to Idaho while we where apart because we where able to have two very happy thanksgivings:) It was so special that she even had two extra special dresses for the occasion. For our first thanksgiving we went to Grandma and Grandpa Collins and our family on Doug's side was there. It was fun and delicious. i made red velvet cheesecake balls for the occasion. And our second thanksgiving we came to my moms and met up with our family on my side. I didn't eat as much and Bella didn't eat at all since she ate a ton already. We enjoyed our families company and missed Doug. I love holidays with our family though. I know Bella always has a great time with both sides:)

Happy Halloween!

Olivia at my moms Halloween party

Bella headed to Boo at the Zoo!

waiting in line to pay to get in sitting next to her grandpoo

She's too cool for words!

lol bella is crazy and just started rolling in the hay.

Bella with her "punzel wig"

They ddnt stand there too long so all i got was a blurry picture. oh well.

cuties!

Jarron was  a Pirate!

Bella enjoying cookies at her Tia's house:)

It's safe to say this was our funnest Halloween yet. It would have been a lot more fun if Doug was here obviously. He's amazing when it comes to holidays. He obviously helps me out so much before we go out. Also he brings different new traditions too. I really missed him this year but at the same time it made me so grateful that we decided to move back home. My family helps out so much and it makes celebrating holidays so much easier. Any who...

This year for Halloween we did soo many activities. We went to my moms ward Halloween party with Olivia earlier that week and on the Saturday before we got up bright and early to go to boo at the zoo and it was so fun! Olivia and Bella entered the costume contest, they walked all over the zoo in their adorable costumes. Olivia was a lady bug, and Bella was Rapunzel (and a princess half the time). My parents went with us too. Later that night even though we where all exhausted we went trunk or treating in my mother in laws ward which was such a Blast! There was sooo many cars and families there. It was such a blast. I let Grandma and Grandpa Simpson take Bella around all the cars while i handed out candy which to me was just as fun. Both Girls learned how to say Trick or Treat and thank you after (Bella said "candy please." half the time though haha). And finally on Halloween I took Bella trick or treating in my sisters neighborhood with my sister and her family. The girls had such a good time, and Bella finally wore her wig! They where exhausted after an hour of walking and running to each house and where so funny. Olivia really just slowed down here pace and Bella gave up wanting to walk asked for a piece of candy lol. They re faces really said it all. We got back to my sisters house where she gave Bella a very thoughtful goodie bag and made us hot chocolate! Even though we where tired we promised to go to Bella's great grandparents so we hurried on over (what a lucky girl to not just have two amazing sets of grandparents but also amazing GREAT grandparents!) We had so much fun over there too, and they really loved Bella's and Jorons (my nephew) costumes. Family is what makes holidays so special. Bella is lucky to have so many cousins her age. We missed having our own personal Flynn Rider (daddy) around but it only makes me more excited for many more Halloweens to come.

Florida With The Family!



Bella Giving Grammy kisses on the plane.

Two Best friends<3

LOVE having my family together.

Twins!

isabel and grandpa:)

It was sooo hot and ice cream just hit the spot. Bella was in heaven!

Handsome boy!

One of MY FAVORITE memories. We all love Repunzel but Isabel REALLY wanted to meet her. Her dream came true and we all got to enjoy it watching it<3 imagine being 7 and meeting your favorite princess!

Hahaha i love this picture. Olivia was a little shy....

Snow white

Aww Grammy and Isabel, i mean Repunzel.

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I got the girls best friend necklaces. Olivia is purple (duh!), Isabel Blue and Bella pink:)

Best memories is the kiddo's playing together and just having a blastt!

Mommy and Bella at Sea World petting the sting rays.

The Joyners and the grandparents.

Bella was soooo warn out. She kept crying and crying until i gave her a bath, gave her some milkers, and turned on Tangled. She needed to relax!

Minnie Mouse was the little girls favorite! Olivia and Bella just couldnt get enough!

:D

My parents and the Incredibles haha

Sleepy girls. All the kids took turns sleeping in their strollers.

Its a small world.