Bella's 2nd birthday party

On 08212011, Bella celebrated her second birthday with a party at Fun Zone.  The main attraction was 3 big bouncy houses - Bella's very favorite thing to do.  One featured a "rock wall" which she scampered up effortlessly like a little monkey.  Once she got to the top, she would slide down the slide.  She did this time and again.  Another was an actually bouncy house.  At one point she was in the bouncy house by herself yelling out "I-like-this-bouncy-houuuuse!".  It was great!  Then came a zoo themed cake and monkey cupcakes, both of which Angela made for the party.  They were very cute and very yummy.  The kids had a blast!  (So did the adult!)

This is the doll cradle that Ron made for Isabella.

Fun in the bouncy house!

Bella had fun on this bouncy house.  She scaled the rock wall to get to the slide.

Monkey cupcakes that Aunt Angie made for her birthday party.

Aunt Angie also made a zoo themed cake!

Bella's new "motor bike" (her name for a bicycle).

Bella is 23 months old - July 21, 2011

On July 21, 2011, Isabella turned 23 months old.  She really loves the water and has absolutely no fear of it.  (Which is a bit unnerving!)  With her floaties on her arms, she bobs around like a little cork.  She's comfortable in the deep end, as well as the shallow end.  She also loves jumping off of the side of the pool.  Bella jumps off, usually going completely under the water, then pops out laughing.  She's so fun!

A visit from Linda - July 16 -22, 2011

Linda flew in on July 16th to spend my birthday with me this year.  We had a wonderful time, from the birthday celebration with the kids which included a yummy Lowcountry Boil to the trip she and I took to Myrtle Beach to shop and relax, and everything in between.  All-in-all a truly nice time.  Too bad the only pictures we had were from the airport on the day of her departure on July 22nd!

4th of July fun - 2011

We were fortunate to have all of the kids with us for our 4th celebration, as well as Ron and our good friends, the Andersons. We swam, stuffed ourselves with lots of tasty food, and jumped back in the water for more swimming. The Anderson's little girls, Maleah and Ashlyn, and Isabella had a blast playing in the water, as did the rest of us!

Isabella is 22 months old - June 21, 2011

Isabella loves the water!

The sun was very bright on Saturday, June 25th, when we took the pictures.

Watch out, Papa!

Bella thought it was very funny to squirt Papa with the hose. She laughed so hard, I thought she was going to get the hiccups!

Jen and Tim are expecting a boy in October!

Today at lunch, the "reveal" took place.  Jen had ultrasounds done on Wednesday and had a plan in place so that not even she and Tim knew the gender of the baby until today.  The ultrasound tech put the "revealing" shot into an envelope, so only the person making the cake knew the gender.  Pink icing in the middle of the cake for a girl or blue if it was a boy.  As you can see, the cake icing was blue!  This a whole new chapter for us as I am one of 4 girls and I had all girls!  It's a chapter that we are looking very forward to as the scales are tipped toward the male sex.  So exciting!

Angela and Tim's wedding reception - May 28, 2011

Although the kids had a reception following their wedding in Charleston on May 9th, they had another here is Columbia so that friends and family could celebrate.  We had a wicked storm on Friday, May 27th which took out the power at the reception site on Friday, but lo and behold it came back on 10 minutes before the reception was about to begin at 4 pm on Saturday, May 28th!  We had hamburgers and hot dogs, as well as potato salad, cole slaw, chips, and cake.  Then the kids had a mini St. Baldwick's event - 8 heads were shaved and almost $800 was raised for childhood cancer research.  We are so proud of them!

Isabella turned 21 months on 05/21/2011

In just a few short months, Bella will turn 2!  She is growing up so fast and is such a little sweetheart.  Papa and Grandma couldn't love her any more if we tried!