North Carolina

The day after Christmas, at 5am we left for North Carolina to visit Jim's sister and her family. It was an early morning but Bella went back to sleep in the car and we made it to Ohio before she woke up. We planned to make the entire trip down in one day and despite some rain, fog and a traffic back up we did it. It only took us 14 hours total, including several stops along the way.

Fog in the mountains of West Virginia.

Once we were there it was nice to relax and not drive around too much. The Mast's took us to a great playground not to far from there house and as you can see it was nice enough for no coats!!
Bella had a great time and did not want to leave.
Here she is riding the giant fish.

The Cousins-Bella, Brayden and Jacob.
Aunt Dawn and Bella at the White Water Center that is across the river from their house.Isabella is a natural at the rock climbing. She loved it!!! Here we are by a Palm tree in South Carolina. It was a beautiful day with temps in the 60's and plenty of warm sun.

Bella and Uncle Brent being silly.

The view of the Mountains as we headed home.

Bella relaxing in the car not too long after we left on our trip home.


This is what we came back too. A snow covered car. After making back to Ohio the first day. We came back to cold weather and more snow once we made it into Michigan, but it was a great trip and I am glad we got to go visit Jim's sister and her family.

Christmas Time

Christmas came and went so quickly this year, but we had a lot of fun. Isabella really got into the opening of presents part of it, although when she got something she really liked she only wanted to play with that toy and open no more gifts. Our first Christmas party was the weekend before with Jim's family.

Ready to rip it open!!

Bella got a new doll house from Grandpa Kuntz that she absolutely loves to play with.

All the Kuntz cousin's minus Brian for a recreation of last years Christmas photo. Darin, Lydia , Brayden, Jacob and Isabella.

Then on Christmas Eve we had a Christmas party with my extended family, on my mom's side. It was at my Uncle Fred and Aunt Laura's house this year, and there was so much more room than usual, a great time with lots of delicious food.

Here is a photo of me with my mom, dad and sister Kerri and Ashley.


Here we are as a family trying to get Isabella to stay still long enough to take a picture.

Here she is again posing in front of the tree.



After gifts were opened she wanted to put her pj's on and go home. While we packed everything up she played with the left over ribbons and bows.

Christmas morning at our house was a normal Christmas morning. We were up before Isabella like we have been the past two Christmas's. She slept until 8:30am (we are so lucky). Santa brought her lots of great gifts and her favorite was definitely her new kitchen. She didn't really want to open anything else, oh and she loved the new hat she got from Aunt Linda.

Merry Christmas!!!

After opening gifts at home on Christmas morning we were off to my parents for more presents. Bella got a palace and a camper for her Little People and we all had a nice Christmas brunch.

Visiting Santa and More Fun in the Snow

On Wednesday Jim stayed home with Bella and they had a beautiful sunny day to go out and play in the snow. Bella "fed" the reindeer in the front yard and did a great job at making snow angels.

Then on Friday night in we went to downtown Lowell and visited with Santa and his reindeer. Bella loved the reindeer and was not scared to pet them at all. It was freezing cold and it even started to snow, but Isabella did a great job waiting for the 45min to see Santa. She was excited to see him but would not sit on his lap, so Mommy got her picture taken with Santa too!

December Snow

It has been a few snowy days in a row and on Saturday Bella got to go outside and play in the snow. She did much better this year, but she kept trying to eat the snow.







Then on Saturday night in the freezing cold and snowy weather we went to Downtown Lowell and watched the Santa Parade. We were frozen solid but it was so much fun and Isabella loved seeing the lights and waving to Santa.

Thanksgiving

We had a great first Thanksgiving at our new house. Mom, Dad, Kerri, and Grandma Julie came over for dinner with Jim, Isabella and me. I have to say everything turned out great. I stressed out over it and the hardest part was just timing everything to get done on time. It was a great day and we have so much to be thankful for this year.

The table set with Thanksgiving dinner before we gobbled it all up .

On Saturday we decorated the house and tree. Our tree is an artificial one that was just the right size in our old house but now it looks really small. We will probably be getting a real one next year, or a larger artificial one. Bella got to put the angel on top of the tree.

Here she is posing by the tree, and not touching any ornaments, for the moment :)

The house with lights and the snow that fell on Sunday.

Our New House

Here are some pictures of our new house, the main floor. As of today we have owned it for 2 months and it definitely feels like home.

The front view, with the Christmas lights Jim put up this weekend.



The living room as you come in the front door.


Living room view from the kitchen.

Our nice and big open kitchen with eating area. Honestly this kitchen is three times the size of our old one.

Our Family room off of the kitchen. It is where we spend most of our time.

Isabella Turns 2

Here are some of the pictures from Bella's 2nd Birthday party on Saturday. She got a new Dora bike that she absolutely loves to ride in the house. We had about 35 people in our house and it was full, but it worked out much better than being in our old really small house. It was a great afternoon and everybody had lots of fun. Isabella loved her cake and cupcakes too. She especially liked helping decorate them with sprinkles, and could not wait to have one after she blew out her candle.

Showing Great Grandma Lawson her new pink soccer ball.

She did not want me to help her blow out the candles.

Enjoying her birthday cupcake.

These next two pictures were just taken today and she was being so cute I had to add them. She is wearing the t shirt of her dad's Alma mater

Relaxing in her new pink bean bag.