Festival of Trees

We spent a little time at the Festival of Trees. There were far roo many for us to see all of them, but Bella loved the ones we did see. I told her at the first that this was very special and she couldn't touch anything. After that, every time she saw something she wanted, she would ask if it was special and could she have it. She loved the Cinderella, penguin and Care Bear trees. In fact, she wanted Dad to take her picture in front of the Care Bear one. Mom loved the ladybug tree! Do you like the scraf? Jake and Abe gave it to Bell and she loves it! She insists on wearing it everywhere!

The Nativity

Every year I debate about putting out the nativity I brought home from my mission in Chile. It really can't be replaced if something happened to it and I would be so upset if one of the pieces broke. But it makes me sad not to have it out. I usually just get it out and look at it and then put it away. I thought maybe if I talk to Isabelle about it, stressing it is very special and we don't touch it maybe it would be okay. I had her watch me as I was putting it out and told her about each piece. She was very careful to watch and didn't even try to touch it. When I got out the Baby Jesus she looked at it and started to sing "I Am A Child of God." It was such a sweet little moment. I am so glad I decided to get it out with her!

Putting Up the Tree

We spent the morning before Thanksgiving dinner putting up our big Christmas Tree and getting out decorations. Everything was a wonderful surprise to Bella. Her favorite was the Christmas Tinkerbell Doll we got at Disneyland last December. She had forgotten about out and when Dad handed it to her she said, "Oh thank you Dad, this was just what I always wanted. Thank you, thank you, thank you." We added to our collection of Disney ornaments too, (I want a tree in the basement with just Disneyland on it, maybe next year.) with Mickey, Minnie, Lightening McQueen, Alice, Belle and especially for Bella, Tinkerbell. I think she had a pretty good time decorating the tree. Now, I have to finish the rest of the house!

Thanksgiving Day

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. Good food and even better company. I got to get Baby Caroline into her pajamas. She is such a cute little thing. I love this picture of Bret teaching Jake what he calls "The Essentials." It was a little crazy with all the grandkids, but they seemed tohave so much fun. Isabelle played for 7 hours straight, she was exhausted by the time we left! I think the favorite thing was for the grandkids to throw Grandma's socks on her chandelier, they had such a funny time, you could hear the laughter echoing through the house. Ome sock started smoking a little so that had to end, but it was sure fun while it lasted!

Preschool Feast

Today was feast day at preschool. Can you tell that Bella's life seems to be just one big party? She chose to be an Indian at the feast and even chose her Indian name, Happy Snake. (I guess if you have to be a snake, you might as well be a happy one!) Her favorite part was the pumpkin pie! She also loved doing the Indian rain dance before the feast!

Our Thanksgiving

We had our own Thanksgiving dinner today. I need an excuse to get out my china and fancy silverware once a year. I only have 3 full place settings so I can only use it with out little family. Bella was so hyper, she could tell something was up. She kept asking us when her feast was going to begin. She spent most of the day cooking in her own kitchen, especially stirring things. I let her decorate the table with paper leaves. She did a fantastic job. Since I am not a big fan of turkey cooked in the oven we had grilled turkey! It was delicious. Along with the turkey we had baked yams, green beans, corn and orange jello. For desert, it was key lime pie! It was a wonderful feast!

Bella has decided that she wants this princess throne. I just draw the line at buying her a throne. I don't mind her thinking she's a princess, but does she really need a throne to sit on? I told her that she can save her money and buy it herself when she had $50. I just heard her tell her dad that she would help him downstairs but she needed $5. She may end up with it after all!

I'll Fix It

Our fascination and begging for It's A Small World continues. Every day she askes me about going. I heard that the ride was going to be closed down for a year so I told Bella that it would be broken for a while and we couldn't go back to Disneyland until it was fixed. Later she told Dad, "I will get my screwdriver and I can fix those boats Dad." She is never going to give up, so I guess I need to start working on Bret to let us go back sooner!

If I'm Really Really Good

Today at Target Bella let me know that she and her brother would like to have a pirate party. I told her she didn't have a brother. She said "I know, but I am going to get one." I asked her what she needed to do to get one and her reply, "I need to be really, really good." I just thought it was pretty funny!

All By Myself

Bella suddenly loves to say the prayer all the time. It is pretty funny what her mind thinks to say. Lately she has a been blessing Par a lot, a couple of examples, "Please bless Par and Marme. Help them to be good." and last night. "Please bless Sam and Par. Help them to work together." Last night she also said "Please help me not to say my prayers super fast." I love it!

More Disney on Her Mind

It never seems to end. Today, I received a package and it said "Disney" on the side, Bella peaked out the window and noticed it. Then she asked me, "Mamma, whose Disneyland package is that?" She even recognizes the name! Later, we were leaving the grocery store and I asked her to close her eyes, take a little rest and later we would go someplace special. "Disneyland!" she replies. I had to break her heart and tell her it was only ballet class!

Disney on my Mind

Even though it has been a month since we went to Disneyland for Bella's 3rd Birthday, she is still obsessed with it. She askes me everyday when we can go back and go on the Small World ride. We have to sing the song constantly. I had promised Bret it would be 3 years before we went back, so I guess I need to work on him a little bit. Here are some of the highlights.

Here We Go

Since I always seem to be reading other people's blogs, I decided it was about time to start my own. If you are wondering about the name, Isabelle has started calling me Mama Tinkerbell, so I thought it was perfect. Of course, that changes when she decides she is a princess, June or a ballerina, Tinkerbell seems to be the current favorite.
Now, what to write, I was just looking over the Halloween pictures and thought I would put my favorite one of Bella up.
That's all for now, Bret has finished putting the Christmas lights up on the house, so I guess I better help dig out the rest for the trees.