Category: Family

My sister-in-law kept all the baby/toddler clothing from my nieces and nephews thinking that she might have more children. Well, that never came to be and the clothes were packed up in storage for years and years.

Then 2 years ago when we were back in Utah for a visit, my brother and sister-in-law were cleaning out their storage. Trying to get rid of all the unnecessary items for a move into their new house. My sister-in-law asked me if I would like some clothing for Isabel. I’m always grateful for a gift, specially one that is free! For 2 days, we searched through giant garbage bags of clothes.  In the end, I ended up with over 50 lbs. of clothing for Isabel; ranging in sizes from 1 year to age 6! This clothing has been a HUGE blessing to us because we haven’t had to spend a lot of money on clothing for Isabel. Thank you so much!

1998 – La Verkin, Utah
Brienna is 2 1/2 years old and Brenden is 5 years old.
This was Brenden’s Preschool graduation.

2008 – Washington (state)
Isabel is 34 months.

“Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!” she says
“I like Christmas!”

Tonight, Isabel and I made a paper chain for Christmas. Gino didn’t think that she would understand how to use the glue but she knew what to do! She did a great job. I let her glue the end of the paper strips and then I linked them together. Enjoy!

The concentration…

“Back and forth and you only need glue on the end.” I say

“Isabel, what did you and mommy make?”
“A train!” she says with a smile.

the decorating has begun at our house…

Isabel thought the garland was grass and toted it around with her from the living room to the kitchen and then decided she was going to take a “nap”.

The tornado of a mess in the living room. Gino started working on the outdoor lights. Last year we had this problem of the lights going out. So this year Gino went over every light and socket to make sure we didn’t have the same problem this year.

I managed to get some garland on the mantle with lights and pine cones. As I kept looking at it, I wasn’t happy with the look of the garland. So I started all over again later in the week (I’ll have to take a new picture).

Last Christmas we bought Isabel her first “bike”; it’s a Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go Trike. All year I’ve been doubtful that she was ever going to learn how to push the pedals and go. Thinking in my head that maybe we should have waited a year to purchase it. Well, about a month ago she hoped on and just took off! She can push forward, backward, turn the wheel in the direction she wants to go. It’s so delightful to see her ride around the house.

We have taken the trike outside with us but unfortunetly we have a sloped driveway and she tends to either fly down into the street or fall over sideways. So for now, we’ll keep it inside.

The birthday celebration started around 3, after Gino got his work done. We headed over to the Olive Garden for some dinner. Which we actually got for the lunch price specials! Bonus! Afterward, we headed over to Best Buy to walk off some of the pasta. Then we stopped at Baskin Robbins to pick up some ice cream and then came home for dessert.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

The concentration that it takes to cut brownies…
(I forgot candles and to sing!!!)

Enjoying our time together.

Isabel’s highlight of the whole day was dessert!