Fun with my Camera

I've been playing with my camera, taking pictures of my most willing subject.

Reindeer Footprints

The day after Christmas we went outside to play in the snow, when all of the sudden I heard a shout of "reindeer footprints!" Apparently Rudolph landed in the yard instead of on the roof.

Play Time

The last of our Christmas snow looks like it is going to melt away today. Just in time for another round tonight. As a result of all this cold we've been staying inside quite a bit playing with all of our Christmas gifts.

Isabel has been cooking up a storm. She loves her new kitchen and all of the accessories that everyone sent. I've been playing with my new camera. I'm really enjoying the fact that it takes pictures so quickly, it has been much easier to take pictures of Isabel on the go! Robert's been enjoying his time off of work and has just been relaxing.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family. We hope you all had a wonderful day, and may your Christmas season be happy and joyful.

We had a wonderful time today opening presents, spending time with friends, and playing in our miracle snow.

It was fun to watch Isabel this morning as she came out to see what Santa brought.


Isabel's stocking was filled with M&M's...just what she asked for.


Breakfast of champions, Rice Krispies and M&M's.


Isabel had a hard time trying to decide what to open first. It took quite a while for her to quit looking at the packages and start opening them.

It's a Christmas Eve Miracle!

Isabel got her wish for Christmas snow. Big beautiful, wet snow flakes. They are not sticking because it was 70° yesterday, but she had a great time getting dressed up in all her warm clothes and trying to catch the snowflakes. When she was done she decided to lay on the bed in the guest room and watch the snow come down (much to mommy's delight).


It is now several hours and many degrees colder and the snow is starting to stick. It is a Christmas Eve miracle!

Sweet Isabel

A few weeks ago we put out our Nativity Set. We were telling Isabel the story of Jesus' birth and how he was born in a barn with the animals. She said "Jesus cold?" , I said he had his mommy to wrap him up and keep him warm. She then ran to her room and got her blanket and her sleep sack and put them on top of baby Jesus so he could be warm and cozy. Such a sweet girl.

Wheat Free Bagels

I don't know that anyone who reads this is dealing with a wheat or gluten allergy, but if you are or if you know someone who is we highly recommend the recipe for the Bagels at wheat-free.org. They are definitely the best wheat free recipe or product that we've made. They are a bit of work, but I am able to make and freeze about twelve small bagels at a time, so they last us for a while. Isabel loves these and they are great plain or as sandwich bread.

Snow

Before we went to Cleveland we told Isabel that we might see snow while we were there. Every morning when she woke up there she would go look out the windows to see if there was any snow. By some crazy freak of nature it was actually pretty warm while we were there, so every day she was sadly disappointed. Then on our last day we woke up to a nice covering of snow. Isabel was so excited! She didn't get to play in it too long because we had to go catch our airplane, but she sure enjoyed the fifteen minutes that she did get. She loved making footprints in the fresh snowfall.

Fun in Cleveland

We had a wonderful trip to Cleveland for Thanksgiving. We had a great time visiting with Grandpa, Uncle Tony, Aunt Meredyth, and all of the rest of the Urso family. Thank you to everyone for all of your hospitality. We are so thankful for such a wonderful family.

Isabel's lounging on her favorite chair at Grandpa's house.


Swimming at Tony and Meredyth's hotel.


Playing Auntie Annette's piano like a pro.


The boys.


Mmmmm, Thanksgiving goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends. We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday!

Undressing

I've been trying to teach Isabel how to get undressed. She was doing well with pushing her shirt over her head until I showed her how to push down her pants, she now does the same with her shirt. She likes to show off her new found skill about 70 times a day, and as a result always seems to be walking around with her shirt around her waist.

Climbing

Now that Isabel is up and running we've been trying to teach her how to climb as well. This weekend she finally figured out how to climb up on the couch all on her own. Go Isabel!

Swinging

We met our friends at the park for some swinging and silliness.

Penguins

We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and Isabel loved the penguins. We told Grandma this, and soon after a lifesize penguin arrived in the mail for Isabel. She is in love!

Isabel's Favorite

We've had beautiful weather here lately, so this weekend we partook in Isabel's favorite activity...being outside. We went to both the duck pond to feed the ducks and swing, then went to our city Wildlife Reserve for some hiking.

Japanese Gardens

We took Isabel to the Japanese Gardens this weekend to get out and enjoy the beautiful day. She loved feeding the fish in the Koi Pond, checking out the flowers, and watching the crane catch minnows.



This crane was just a few feet away, oblivious to us, just catching some dinner.


Going out on these rocks with Isabel was not the smartest thing I've ever done. They were spaced just enough so I had to hop across holding Isabel who was desperate to get down and check out the fishes. But it was pretty, so it made it all worthwhile. :o)

Trick or Treat

Halloween with Isabel was so much fun. It was the first holiday we were really able to talk to her about, and look forward to with anticipation.

Isabel was so excited to dig out the pumpkin and get her hands messy. She sat patiently holding the bowl while daddy worked to get the pumpkin open. But in an odd turn of events as soon as she saw the "guts" her gag reflex kicked in, and every time she looked at the pumpkin while we were carving it she looked like she was going to throw up.


After the pumpkin was done being carved it was back to being all kinds of fun. So much so that she couldn't even look at the camera for one second so we could take a picture.


She has her bag and is ready to go trick-or-treating.


Checking out the goodies with daddy at the end of the night.


Our little ladybug, taking the loot and running.

Happy Halloween

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!

Fifteen Minutes with Isabel

Look I found some flowers.


Oh, more flowers, maybe I can put my purple flower in there.


Hmmm, dirt, what can I do with that? Oh, I know, I'll smear it on mommy's pants.


What's this? A dead worm, I think I'll carry that around for a while too.


I have to see how my bushes are doing today. Looks like they grew some more.


Look birdies. "Caw, Caw, Caw."


Wheeeeee. "Busy, busy, busy." That's "dizzy, dizzy, dizzy" to those of us who speak English.


Run. Fast, fast, fast.


That was fun, but now I'm pooped, time to go inside again.