Fall 2011

We are having a busy fall season!  Partly because, Gianna is now on the run!  She started to walk short distances in early September.  As of today, she is more balanced and can really move.  She knows that she needs to keep up with Isabella.

 We are having some awesome fall weather, so we went to a pumpkin patch today.  The girls really enjoyed it!  We walked through a snake maze, Isabella and Anthony walked through the hay maze, we rode on a hay ride and the girls loved seeing the animals in the petting zoo.  They also gave free little pumpkins to the girls!  It was a fun morning!



Isabella playing in the corn box.



Gianna and Mommy

Checking out the bunnies

The very stinky pigs

Gianna hanging out while Isabella gets through the maze.

Isabella and her cheesy smile

Ready for the hay ride!

There was also a small jungle gym to play on.

The girls

September & Preschool

Isabella is now officially a school girl.  She goes to preschool now, 2 days a week.  We were a little nervous before the 1st day of school, not knowing how Isabella would do.  I made sure to keep my nerves to myself, not wanting to get her upset.  We talked a lot about it in the days prior.  I knew she was ready.

Isabella was super excited to go to her first day of school.  We had met her teacher a week before.  We walked in, put her bag in her cubby, said goodbye and she was happy.  Not a tear shed, by her or me.  I might have had tears of joy....because I have been looking forward to this day for about a year!  I admit, as much as I love our 3 yr old Isabella, it is VERY nice to have a break from each other twice a week.  I also like the time I get to spend with Baby G now!



Ready to go to school!



This is the picture I took as I was leaving.  She may have been a little nervous (fingers in mouth), but her teacher said she was "awesome".

September has been filled with many firsts.  Isabella also went to her 1st dental check-up.  She did a fantastic job sitting still for the hygienist while she cleaned her teeth.  Of course, she got a few prizes for being so good too.  As soon as Dr. Scott came to look at her teeth, she wanted nothing to do with that.  I don't blame her.  Going to the dentist is usually scary for most of us!

Showing off her clean teeth.

 Now,  I just wanted to share some funnies.  Isabella makes us laugh on a daily basis.  She is exploring more and more, which is great, but sometimes it can be messy and something that she really shouldn't have gotten into.  Oh well, it makes for funny memories and good pictures to share with her when she is older. (Like on her wedding day!)  :)

This is not a hat, it's a trick or treat bucket.

She takes after her "aunt" Angie.....she LOVES to smell things.  This time it was a permanent marker.

She thought she would try my lipstick.  She just didn't know it's supposed to go on her lips, not her cheeks.

Enjoying a beautiful fall day with both our girls at one of Isabella's favorite spots.  Jamba Juice.  She loves a "smovie"!

The girls were all right

In case you were wondering how Isabella and Gianna did without us for a week, just check out the pictures below.  These were sent to us throughout our vacation. They had a great time and never asked for us.  Gammy & Gampy kept them busy!  One day they went to the park with Aunt Jill, Jackson & Hailey, and a family friend Nancy, and her grandson and daughter-in-law.  It was a very hot day, but they enjoyed it! 

Isabella told me that "I had fun at Gammy's house."  Followed by, "I missed you".  So there, I guess they did miss us a little bit.  I'm sure if Gianna could talk, she would have said the same thing.

Petting a cow at the petting zoo

Gianna sitting on the potty chair.  Isabella wanted nothing to do with it.  :(

Petting the goats.

Playing outside at Gammy and Gampy's.

This is the dance party video.  Gianna just cracks me up. 

Paradise

I don't really need to say much about our trip to Hawaii.  The pictures tell it all.  We had such a great time and hopefully, some day, we can do it again!

Our view most every day sitting by the pool.  You can see a couple of parasails in the sky.



One of the many sunsets

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View from our 2nd room

Enjoying the view from the balcony

The is Napili Bay....absolutely beautiful here.  If we get a chance to go back to Hawaii, we want to stay here.

Napili Bay

The water is so clear!

At the start of the zipline tour

We had a killer view the whole time.

Anthony getting attached to go by one of our guides, Pete.
Both of our guides were fantastic and very funny!

And there he goes!!

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Still smiling after sailing through the Maui hills.  If you are ever in Maui, and you aren't afraid of heights, be sure to go ziplineing.  As you can see from our helmets, go to http://www.zipline.com/ and look them up!  They have a few locations in Maui and the big island.

Here is a video of Anthony on the zipline.

Our Baby is 1!

On Sunday, we celebrated Gianna's 1st Birthday with family and friends.  Her actual birthday is on Wednesday, the 17th. What a fun time it was!  Gianna was her typical smiley self , enjoying all of her company.  I have added a lot of pictures.  It was so hard to choose from the many that were taken.  At the end, be sure to watch the video that I pieced together with the many short videos taken of Gianna digging into her birthday cake!  It was the highlight of the evening!




Gianna ready for her party to start!



Playing with some little friends that came to help her celebrate!



She is thinking.....why am I sitting here with this silly crown on my head and everyone is staring at me.



Oh....a cake!  Yum!

The first bit of icing...not yet touched her lips.

Yum!  And so it begins....

I can't get enough of this frosting!!

Very, very upset that we took the cake away!  You can also see that I was Skyping with my Illinois family....all watching from Diane and Tim's house.



This is a great shot of the destruction.



So, we gave her the cake back....she is happy again.

And....the cake is gone for good.  I think she could have eaten the whole cake!

Our family photo.  Gianna looks like she is in a sugar daze.  :)

Happy Birthday "baby cakes".  You have brought so much joy into all of our lives.  What a year it has been!