My friend Stephanie called me today and invited us to go with her to a farm located in Lithia. Bella was with Grandma Ruth and Ian, so I accompanied Stephanie and Connor to the farm. She had heard there were animals to see and grapes to pick. I figured it'd be fun and we hit the road in the early afternoon.
It was H-O-T!!! THe farm is located in Lithia, which is pretty much landlocked and there was not a breeze to be had. The moment we got out of the car we were sweating bullets. It was a relatively small farm and the gentleman who owned the farm dabbled in many different fruits, vegetables, herbs and animals. We were quickly greeted by two dogs and a flock of chickens. There were chickens, turkeys and ducks to feed and a pony to pet. Connor seemed to enjoy himself and it will be fun to go back with Bella one day.
Figuring out the various seasons in Florida can be tricky. Tomatoes and strawberries are no longer in season and it's not quite time for citrus fruit, so it was slim pickings (literally) in terms of fruits and vegetables. Except for grapes... but Stephanie and I quickly realized that we've been spoiled by seedless grapes from the grocery store and these grapes were not seedless. The grapes were small because the farm doesn't use pesticides or fertilizer, and taking the seeds of of the small grapes would leave nothing left for the kids to eat. We snipped a few bunches of grapes for the adults to enjoy. We also snipped parsley, rosemary, dill, basil and chives. The herbs smelled so good and were pretty much the highlight of our trip. We also picked some squash and a few onions.
The farm charges $1 per pound and after weighing my loot, I only paid $2 for an onion, squash, a bunch of grapes and all the fresh herbs. Can't beat that! We also stopped by a produce stand on the way home and picked up a few locally grown things, like corn and cantaloupe. Yum!
Stephanie and I plan on finding more local farms so we can provide fresh fruits, vegetables and maybe even milk and eggs for our families. It's fun teaching the kids where their food comes from and it's nice to provide healthy food options from local growers. Plus it's fun to take the kids to new places and watch them explore new things. Bella will definitely be joining us on future trips to the farm.
Well, I've got homemade mashed potatoes to make (with fresh chives) and fresh corn to steam. Sunday family dinner... what a wonderful way to end a great weekend.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Beach Baby
We packed up the car and headed to Treasure Island today for the Deloitte summer party. Neither Ian nor I had been to Treasure Island in awhile so it was nice to have a change of beach scenery. The best part of the drive was passing Crabby Bills, the Don Cesar Hotel and Spinners Restaurant on St. Pete Beach and taking a quick walk down memory lane.
While interviewing for jobs in St. Petersburg in 2005, I stayed on St. Pete Beach for about a week. Ian and I had just started dating and we went on a date to Crabby Bills on St. Pete Beach. For those of you familiar with Crabby Bills, it's a no frills seafood restaurant throughout the Tampa Bay area. Ian thought I might enjoy some seafood to keep me from getting homesick, but the less than stellar seafood made me miss Maryland and it's delicious seafood even more. It was a sweet gesture and we had fun on our date.
In early December 2007, Ian proposed to me at Maritana Grille at the Don Cesar Hotel. While it wasn't his first choice of places to propose to me, he made the proposal very special for me. Obviously I said yes and we were married in August 2008. We even contemplated getting married on St. Pete Beach but decided to get married in Maryland.
While celebrating our 1-year wedding anniversary in August 2009, I surprised Ian with some of the most exciting news of our lives at the Spinners Restaurant on St. Pete Beach. It's a really cool restaurant that overlooks the beach and gives you a 360-degree view of the Tampa Bay area as it slowly revolves. That night I told Ian that I was pregnant and he was going to be a dad! And in April 2010, we welcomed Isabella Eve Lasher into our lives!
St. Pete Beach will always hold a special place in our hearts and we have some really fond memories of being there. It was fun to take a trip down memory lane, with all three of us on the journey.
We arrived to the Deloitte party just before 11am and the weather was questionable from the get-go. Luckily the event was being held at the local Lions' Club so we had indoor shelter and air conditioning. We met up with Ian's friend/co-worker Greg and his daughter, Jessica, who are really great people. Greg actually has two daughters who LOVE watching after Bella. Jessica played with Bella in the water and Bella LOVED the water. She crawled out, got smacked in the face by a wave and continued crawling. Bella was fearless and it made me very nervous. Jessica held her in the water and Bella was giggling and shrieking the entire time. Bella had a blast and was worn out just in time for lunch. We ate lunch and left shortly after to head to Grandma Ruth's. Bella slept soundly on the way to Grandma Ruth's and even took an additional 90-minute nap at Grandma Ruth's. The beach really wore her out! We need to get to the beach more often.
Today was a fun day and I'm so glad that Bella enjoyed herself. She is such a fearless child, which is a great thing but causes me a great deal of worry. I'm so glad she is so fun-loving and independent but I worry about her taking a risk and getting hurt. Ah, such is life.
We are Bella-less and I've been so tired recently, so I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! Sleeping in is a guilty pleasure of mine so when Bella is away, I take full advantage of sleeping in.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
While interviewing for jobs in St. Petersburg in 2005, I stayed on St. Pete Beach for about a week. Ian and I had just started dating and we went on a date to Crabby Bills on St. Pete Beach. For those of you familiar with Crabby Bills, it's a no frills seafood restaurant throughout the Tampa Bay area. Ian thought I might enjoy some seafood to keep me from getting homesick, but the less than stellar seafood made me miss Maryland and it's delicious seafood even more. It was a sweet gesture and we had fun on our date.
In early December 2007, Ian proposed to me at Maritana Grille at the Don Cesar Hotel. While it wasn't his first choice of places to propose to me, he made the proposal very special for me. Obviously I said yes and we were married in August 2008. We even contemplated getting married on St. Pete Beach but decided to get married in Maryland.
While celebrating our 1-year wedding anniversary in August 2009, I surprised Ian with some of the most exciting news of our lives at the Spinners Restaurant on St. Pete Beach. It's a really cool restaurant that overlooks the beach and gives you a 360-degree view of the Tampa Bay area as it slowly revolves. That night I told Ian that I was pregnant and he was going to be a dad! And in April 2010, we welcomed Isabella Eve Lasher into our lives!
St. Pete Beach will always hold a special place in our hearts and we have some really fond memories of being there. It was fun to take a trip down memory lane, with all three of us on the journey.
We arrived to the Deloitte party just before 11am and the weather was questionable from the get-go. Luckily the event was being held at the local Lions' Club so we had indoor shelter and air conditioning. We met up with Ian's friend/co-worker Greg and his daughter, Jessica, who are really great people. Greg actually has two daughters who LOVE watching after Bella. Jessica played with Bella in the water and Bella LOVED the water. She crawled out, got smacked in the face by a wave and continued crawling. Bella was fearless and it made me very nervous. Jessica held her in the water and Bella was giggling and shrieking the entire time. Bella had a blast and was worn out just in time for lunch. We ate lunch and left shortly after to head to Grandma Ruth's. Bella slept soundly on the way to Grandma Ruth's and even took an additional 90-minute nap at Grandma Ruth's. The beach really wore her out! We need to get to the beach more often.
Today was a fun day and I'm so glad that Bella enjoyed herself. She is such a fearless child, which is a great thing but causes me a great deal of worry. I'm so glad she is so fun-loving and independent but I worry about her taking a risk and getting hurt. Ah, such is life.
We are Bella-less and I've been so tired recently, so I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! Sleeping in is a guilty pleasure of mine so when Bella is away, I take full advantage of sleeping in.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Friday, July 8, 2011
I Love Groupon!
It's been a long day of shopping so this post is going to be quick. Bella and I ventured out in the treacherous weather conditions to meet Grandma Ruth at Westshore Mall for some lunch and shopping. I had a Groupon at Old Navy to use before July 20th, so when Grandma Ruth suggested getting together, I suggested getting together at Westshore Mall.
About a month ago, I paid $10 to get a $20 Groupon to use at Old Navy. I know it's basically like a 50% off coupon, but it's still saving money, which is an awesome thing. I paid $10 for the Groupon and $3.48 in overage, so here is what I bought for $13.48:
I should have paid $39.59 for all of these clothes, but with my Groupon, I only paid $13.48. Gotta love Groupon! I especially love Groupon because during a triple referral period, I received two more referrals so I now have a total of $80 to spend on Groupon! I'm patiently waiting for either a Keratin treatment or house cleaning service to come along and I'm going to treat myself.
About a month ago, I paid $10 to get a $20 Groupon to use at Old Navy. I know it's basically like a 50% off coupon, but it's still saving money, which is an awesome thing. I paid $10 for the Groupon and $3.48 in overage, so here is what I bought for $13.48:
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| Two t-shirts, 1 onesie, 1 skirt and 1 romper... $13.48! |
Well, it's been a long day so I'd better hit the hay. We have a busy day planned for tomorrow. Goodnight.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Thursday, July 7, 2011
MNO... Mom's Night Out!
Last night I went to dinner with a group of ladies who I've been spending a lot of time with since about October of last year. Here's a bit of background on how our mini-playgroup formed. After a lot of unnecessary drama in the large playgroup we had all been a part of, we decided to take matters into our own hands and form a small playgroup. Our kids were all born within a few months of each other and we live in close proximity to one another. We all invited and attended each baby's 1st birthday party and have been attending weekly play dates since October. It's been a lot of fun getting to know each other.
We try to have a MNO, or a mom's night out at least once a month. We usually go to dinner, have a few drinks and chat for awhile. We've tried new restaurants that we normally wouldn't take our kids and it's been great not having to order an entree to share or feeding the kids before we feed ourselves. Sometimes at play dates, we're so consumed by the kids that we don't always have time to finish a conversation. MNO allows us to have hours of uninterrupted adult conversation. It's awesome!
We decided to try a pizza and martini bar called "Joia Fabulous Pizza and Martinis" in Riverview. As the name states, both the pizza and martinis were fabulous. We took our time to order, sipped yummy martinis and relaxed with good conversation. And although we love them dearly, it was a well deserved break from our husbands and kids. I ordered a pomegranate martini and a raspberry Bellini, along with a Margherita pizza and everything was delicious. I even had leftover pizza to bring home to share with Ian.
It was a fun evening and I was so glad to be out with the girls. We all have very busy travel schedules this summer, so it was nice to get together before everyone leaves for vacations. We have a trip to Baltimore planned, along with frequent trips to Orlando and the beach. Living in Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area is great because we're close to the beach, Orlando and we have a ton of things to see and do in the area. We have Busch Gardens and Sea World passes, as well as Disney passes and passes to Lowry Park Zoo. It's going to be a great summer!
Well, Ian is working from home today and Bella has a play date at Camden's late this morning. It's my third Thursday of not having a Thursday babysitter and I missed having the babysitter come on Monday because it was a holiday. I'm looking forward to getting back into our normal weekly routine. Grandma Ruth has been watching Bella here and there, so I guess that makes up for not having a babysitter twice a week. Anyway... Bella is napping and I need to hop in the shower so we can be ready to leave when she wakes up. Have a great day everyone!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
We try to have a MNO, or a mom's night out at least once a month. We usually go to dinner, have a few drinks and chat for awhile. We've tried new restaurants that we normally wouldn't take our kids and it's been great not having to order an entree to share or feeding the kids before we feed ourselves. Sometimes at play dates, we're so consumed by the kids that we don't always have time to finish a conversation. MNO allows us to have hours of uninterrupted adult conversation. It's awesome!
We decided to try a pizza and martini bar called "Joia Fabulous Pizza and Martinis" in Riverview. As the name states, both the pizza and martinis were fabulous. We took our time to order, sipped yummy martinis and relaxed with good conversation. And although we love them dearly, it was a well deserved break from our husbands and kids. I ordered a pomegranate martini and a raspberry Bellini, along with a Margherita pizza and everything was delicious. I even had leftover pizza to bring home to share with Ian.
It was a fun evening and I was so glad to be out with the girls. We all have very busy travel schedules this summer, so it was nice to get together before everyone leaves for vacations. We have a trip to Baltimore planned, along with frequent trips to Orlando and the beach. Living in Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area is great because we're close to the beach, Orlando and we have a ton of things to see and do in the area. We have Busch Gardens and Sea World passes, as well as Disney passes and passes to Lowry Park Zoo. It's going to be a great summer!
Well, Ian is working from home today and Bella has a play date at Camden's late this morning. It's my third Thursday of not having a Thursday babysitter and I missed having the babysitter come on Monday because it was a holiday. I'm looking forward to getting back into our normal weekly routine. Grandma Ruth has been watching Bella here and there, so I guess that makes up for not having a babysitter twice a week. Anyway... Bella is napping and I need to hop in the shower so we can be ready to leave when she wakes up. Have a great day everyone!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Bella is 15-Months-Old TODAY!!!
Well, this post is actually being written the day after she turned 15-months, but I'm writing it today because we had her wellness appointment today. Here are her 15-month-stats:
Height: 31.5 inches (she actually dropped to the 82nd percentile for height, but is still tall for her age).
Weight: 24 pounds 4 ounces (she actually lost 6 ounces since her 12-month appointment and is now in the 73rd percentile for weight).
Clothing Size: Bella has plateaued and I could not be happier! She is actually wearing some 12 month clothes that she previously "outgrew". She is finally wearing age appropriate clothing sizes, but still wears some 18-24 month stuff.
Sleeping Pattern: Bella sleeps about 11 hours at night and is still taking two naps a day. A few weeks ago, she began sleeping in until 8am and then only took one nap on those days. I was thinking she would go to a one nap a day schedule, but she isn't quite ready. She takes a morning nap for about 2 hours and she then takes an afternoon nap for about 2 hours. She is the best little sleeper!
Eating Pattern: So long formula and baby food! Bella is now a whole-milk drinking, table food eating champ! She eats 3 meals a day and has snacks as needed. She has yet to meet a food she doesn't like and eats everything! She drinks whole-milk out of her sippy cup three times a day and also drinks water. We're a no juice household and I fully intend to keep it that way. Not that there is anything wrong with giving your children juice, I just don't see the nutritional importance of doing so and would rather have Bella eat her fruits every day.
Milestones: Where to begin?!? Bella began cruising around 12-months and has even ventured to take a step or two by herself. She's had some setbacks with walking due to the torticollis and plagiocephaly, and is not considered developmentally delayed. Both issues hindered Bella from developing a true sense of balance until corrected. Now that she is no longer tilting her head and is out of the helmet, she is progressing as expected. Bella is talking up a storm! She says "dada", "mama", "dog", "kitty cat", "gaga", "hi", "bye", "out", "uh oh", "bye bye" and jibber jabbers all day long! She has a mouth full of teeth and has 8 teeth in the front and all 4 of her first molars. We're just waiting on the 4 canines and 4 second molars and we'll be finished with teething. She has been a real trooper with all these new teeth and loves taking care of them! Bella loves to brush her teeth!
Friends: All the usual baby playgroup friends and our neighbor friends, Aidynn and Reese.
Current Events: Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, but was found guilty of giving false information to a law enforcement officer. Her sentencing is Thursday and she is expected to receive a year or two in prison, but most likely will be given time served.
Bella is a happy and healthy toddler, which makes us very happy. She is well-behaved and is an absolute sweetheart!
Happy 15-Month Birthday, Isabella Eve!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Height: 31.5 inches (she actually dropped to the 82nd percentile for height, but is still tall for her age).
Weight: 24 pounds 4 ounces (she actually lost 6 ounces since her 12-month appointment and is now in the 73rd percentile for weight).
Clothing Size: Bella has plateaued and I could not be happier! She is actually wearing some 12 month clothes that she previously "outgrew". She is finally wearing age appropriate clothing sizes, but still wears some 18-24 month stuff.
Sleeping Pattern: Bella sleeps about 11 hours at night and is still taking two naps a day. A few weeks ago, she began sleeping in until 8am and then only took one nap on those days. I was thinking she would go to a one nap a day schedule, but she isn't quite ready. She takes a morning nap for about 2 hours and she then takes an afternoon nap for about 2 hours. She is the best little sleeper!
Eating Pattern: So long formula and baby food! Bella is now a whole-milk drinking, table food eating champ! She eats 3 meals a day and has snacks as needed. She has yet to meet a food she doesn't like and eats everything! She drinks whole-milk out of her sippy cup three times a day and also drinks water. We're a no juice household and I fully intend to keep it that way. Not that there is anything wrong with giving your children juice, I just don't see the nutritional importance of doing so and would rather have Bella eat her fruits every day.
Milestones: Where to begin?!? Bella began cruising around 12-months and has even ventured to take a step or two by herself. She's had some setbacks with walking due to the torticollis and plagiocephaly, and is not considered developmentally delayed. Both issues hindered Bella from developing a true sense of balance until corrected. Now that she is no longer tilting her head and is out of the helmet, she is progressing as expected. Bella is talking up a storm! She says "dada", "mama", "dog", "kitty cat", "gaga", "hi", "bye", "out", "uh oh", "bye bye" and jibber jabbers all day long! She has a mouth full of teeth and has 8 teeth in the front and all 4 of her first molars. We're just waiting on the 4 canines and 4 second molars and we'll be finished with teething. She has been a real trooper with all these new teeth and loves taking care of them! Bella loves to brush her teeth!
Friends: All the usual baby playgroup friends and our neighbor friends, Aidynn and Reese.
Current Events: Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, but was found guilty of giving false information to a law enforcement officer. Her sentencing is Thursday and she is expected to receive a year or two in prison, but most likely will be given time served.
Bella is a happy and healthy toddler, which makes us very happy. She is well-behaved and is an absolute sweetheart!
Happy 15-Month Birthday, Isabella Eve!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 5th... 15 years
Today marks 15 years since my beloved grandfather, Bebop, passed away. This day never gets easier and even 15 years later, I still dread this date.
Even though I was only 12-years-old at the time, I remember the day like it was yesterday. I woke up that morning and was greeted by my dad. I remember thinking it was odd that my dad was home because it was during the week and not a weekend. We were in the dining room at my dad's house and he didn't even have to open his mouth for me to know why he was home that day. He told me that Bebop had passed away early that morning and we would be going to my aunt's later that day to be with family.
The next few days were a blur and I spent most of my time with my cousins. This is also the time my cousin Amy taught me to French braid my own hair. To this day, I still can't French braid anyone else's hair, but can still French braid my own. I remember taking walks with my cousins and talking about what we'd miss most about Bebop. I felt so bad for my younger cousins because they were only 6, 9 and 10 at the time. I thought about the time I had spent with Bebop and longed for my cousins to have more time with him.
Bebop was an amazing man. He was gentle, soft spoken and patient. He enjoyed gardening, bird watching and collecting the golf balls that entered his yard from the local country club. He had his life cut short by a misdiagnosis and it's totally unfair. I enjoyed the 12, almost 13 years I had with him but I've always wished for me. I'd like for him to have met Ian and Bella. He'd be the best great-grandfather and Bella would be in love with him, and he'd be in love with her. But as a mother, I can share all my really wonderful memories of Bebop with her.
Not a day goes by that I don't miss either Bebop or Mom-Mom. They were two very special people in my life and loved their family very much. Each member of our family is who they are because of them. Without them, our family wouldn't be. They are the glue that held our family together and their children are now the glue that holds the family together. We miss them dearly, but they are in a better place. Some day we will all be reunited and until then, I will hold them in my heart and mind.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
P.S. Today Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her daughter, Caylee. I cannot say I'm pleased with the verdict because I don't feel that justice was served. Such a sad, sad day.
Even though I was only 12-years-old at the time, I remember the day like it was yesterday. I woke up that morning and was greeted by my dad. I remember thinking it was odd that my dad was home because it was during the week and not a weekend. We were in the dining room at my dad's house and he didn't even have to open his mouth for me to know why he was home that day. He told me that Bebop had passed away early that morning and we would be going to my aunt's later that day to be with family.
The next few days were a blur and I spent most of my time with my cousins. This is also the time my cousin Amy taught me to French braid my own hair. To this day, I still can't French braid anyone else's hair, but can still French braid my own. I remember taking walks with my cousins and talking about what we'd miss most about Bebop. I felt so bad for my younger cousins because they were only 6, 9 and 10 at the time. I thought about the time I had spent with Bebop and longed for my cousins to have more time with him.
Bebop was an amazing man. He was gentle, soft spoken and patient. He enjoyed gardening, bird watching and collecting the golf balls that entered his yard from the local country club. He had his life cut short by a misdiagnosis and it's totally unfair. I enjoyed the 12, almost 13 years I had with him but I've always wished for me. I'd like for him to have met Ian and Bella. He'd be the best great-grandfather and Bella would be in love with him, and he'd be in love with her. But as a mother, I can share all my really wonderful memories of Bebop with her.
Not a day goes by that I don't miss either Bebop or Mom-Mom. They were two very special people in my life and loved their family very much. Each member of our family is who they are because of them. Without them, our family wouldn't be. They are the glue that held our family together and their children are now the glue that holds the family together. We miss them dearly, but they are in a better place. Some day we will all be reunited and until then, I will hold them in my heart and mind.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
P.S. Today Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her daughter, Caylee. I cannot say I'm pleased with the verdict because I don't feel that justice was served. Such a sad, sad day.
Monday, July 4, 2011
A very laid back 4th of July
We had a very laid back 4th of July and it was absolutely wonderful. Ian owed me a morning of sleeping in, so I took full advantage and slept in until 9:30... it was awesome. Ian and Bella played in the family room all morning until it was time for her morning nap. We lounged around the house for half of the day and then headed to Clearwater for a BBQ at Uncle Sam and Aunt Dawn's house. Bella took an extra long morning nap and was well rested for the party. Bella was an absolute sweetheart and
We returned home in time for a quick evening thunderstorm and relaxed in our pajamas for the rest of the night. I even spoke with my dad and a few friends from the old neighborhood while they were celebrating at the annual Trupia 4th of July party. Those parties were so much fun and I really miss celebrating the 4th of July with my crew from Lyndale.
I did a little online shopping and I took advantage of a sale at one of my favorite boutiques, IzzyB. Jerica was running a 20% sale for the 4th and I ordered Bella two new bubble outfits. Jerica makes beautiful things and I am so happy with what I ordered from her in May, that I couldn't resist. The turn around time is astounding and Jerica told me I'd receive Bella's outfits in 7-10 days.
Well, we have a sleeping baby and I'm finished with my online shopping for the evening. Goodnight y'all! Happy 4th of July!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
We returned home in time for a quick evening thunderstorm and relaxed in our pajamas for the rest of the night. I even spoke with my dad and a few friends from the old neighborhood while they were celebrating at the annual Trupia 4th of July party. Those parties were so much fun and I really miss celebrating the 4th of July with my crew from Lyndale.
I did a little online shopping and I took advantage of a sale at one of my favorite boutiques, IzzyB. Jerica was running a 20% sale for the 4th and I ordered Bella two new bubble outfits. Jerica makes beautiful things and I am so happy with what I ordered from her in May, that I couldn't resist. The turn around time is astounding and Jerica told me I'd receive Bella's outfits in 7-10 days.
Well, we have a sleeping baby and I'm finished with my online shopping for the evening. Goodnight y'all! Happy 4th of July!
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Rays and The Wiggles
Bella attended her second MLB game and her first concert today. About a month ago we heard that The Wiggles were going to play after the Cardinals v. Rays game so we purchased tickets without any hesitation. It was a great day because the Rays won and The Wiggles put on a great concert! Here are some pictures from our great day at Tropicana Field!
Bella loves to dance to the silly songs The Wiggles sing and it's actually somewhat tolerable for Ian and I. Bella begins each morning by watching her show and drinking her milk. She started watching The Wiggles while we were visiting Baltimore in December and it became part of her routine. And in case you're wondering, yes, I allow Bella to watch television... in moderation. It allows us both to wake up in the morning and it works for our family.
We planned our departure around Bella's nap schedule. The goal was to have Bella take a nap on the way to the game so she could last through part of the game and the concert. It worked like a charm and Bella took about a 45 minute nap. Unfortunately, we arrived in 6th inning, so we watched only 3.5 innings of the game. The Rays were losing until we arrived but rallied and were able to beat the Cardinals. Like I mentioned before, this isn't Bella's first MLB game. We went to the O's v. Rays game in April when Pop was in town. She watched the entire game that time, despite our early arrival to obtain autographs. She is such a good sport and does really well. There is so much to see and with three adults, it's easy to move from lap to lap.
After the game we moved closer to the field so we could get a better view of The Wiggles. We didn't have to wait long for The Wiggles and they began playing within 30 minutes of the game ending. We listened to a few songs from our "new" seats and then moved to the actual field. It was so cool to be on the field and it was a first for all of us. We rocked out to The Wiggles and they played all of Bella's favorite songs, including "Fruit Salad", "Hot Potato" and "Mr. Knickerbocker". We danced and sang along for about an hour, which was the perfect amount of time for a children's concert.
It was such a fun day and Bella did such a wonderful job of maintaining her happy, bubbly personality with only a 45 minute afternoon nap. She loved the baseball game and she loved The Wiggles concert. We can't wait to do more fun things, like this, with her in the future.
Well, I'm exhausted and Bella is already asleep, so goodnight all.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
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| The view from our seats. |
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| Bella meets Raymond, the Rays' mascot. |
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| Bella and me. |
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| Patiently waiting... |
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| Dancing with The Wiggles! |
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| Ian and Bella taking in the new view. |
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| We actually were able to get onto the field! |
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| All three of us on the field. |
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| Mom and daughter on the field. |
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| The Wiggles! |
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| Bella and Grandma Ruth enjoying The Wiggles concert. |
We planned our departure around Bella's nap schedule. The goal was to have Bella take a nap on the way to the game so she could last through part of the game and the concert. It worked like a charm and Bella took about a 45 minute nap. Unfortunately, we arrived in 6th inning, so we watched only 3.5 innings of the game. The Rays were losing until we arrived but rallied and were able to beat the Cardinals. Like I mentioned before, this isn't Bella's first MLB game. We went to the O's v. Rays game in April when Pop was in town. She watched the entire game that time, despite our early arrival to obtain autographs. She is such a good sport and does really well. There is so much to see and with three adults, it's easy to move from lap to lap.
After the game we moved closer to the field so we could get a better view of The Wiggles. We didn't have to wait long for The Wiggles and they began playing within 30 minutes of the game ending. We listened to a few songs from our "new" seats and then moved to the actual field. It was so cool to be on the field and it was a first for all of us. We rocked out to The Wiggles and they played all of Bella's favorite songs, including "Fruit Salad", "Hot Potato" and "Mr. Knickerbocker". We danced and sang along for about an hour, which was the perfect amount of time for a children's concert.
It was such a fun day and Bella did such a wonderful job of maintaining her happy, bubbly personality with only a 45 minute afternoon nap. She loved the baseball game and she loved The Wiggles concert. We can't wait to do more fun things, like this, with her in the future.
Well, I'm exhausted and Bella is already asleep, so goodnight all.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
4th Annual 4th of July Party
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| "Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a zebra..." |
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| Looking adorable in her red, white and blue bathing suit. |
Our first 4th of July was held several months after we moved into our current home. The pool was literally finished and the new sod was laid just days before the party. We had out of town guests that year, including Dawn, the Peluso boys and friends from Orlando. We had an epic party that year, which lasted well into the night. We drank too much, played a lot of Rock Band and nursed hangovers the next day. It. was. awesome.
Our second 4th of July party was pretty much a repeat of the first year. We drank too much, played a lot of Rock Band and nursed hangovers the next day. Little did we know that our 4th of July parties would change (for the better) the next year.
Our third 4th of July party was... different. We were new parents and hosted a house full of babies and new friends. The weather was less than desirable and it rain... all day. We literally had 30-40 people in our house because of the rain. Babies were all over the place and it was a much different atmosphere than our previous parties.
Our fourth 4th of July party was a happy-medium. We hosted about 20 people and only had 3 children. It was perfect amount of people and our house didn't feel too crowded. The weather was hot and sunny so we were able to cool off in the pool. Having the extra outdoor space makes entertaining so much easier. Bella was a gracious hostess to her friends Connor and Lily. Limiting the number of kids made it more enjoyable, for the adults.
We have so much leftover food and drink, so we will be eating hamburgers, hotdogs and brats for the next week and a half. I'm totally okay with that because at least I have our meals planned for awhile.
Later today we will be heading to Tropicana Field for the Cardinals versus Rays game. We bought tickets about two months ago because the game will be followed by a concert. Bella's favorite "band" The Wiggles will be putting on a post-game concert and we are so excited! Bella loves The Wiggles and she will love seeing them in person!
I hope everyone is having a fabulous extended weekend... and partying like rock stars. =)
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
Friday, July 1, 2011
Last Minute Lashers
This post will be short and sweet because I have a "to do" list and need to get to it, but there's always time for a little blogging.
It's the day before we're hosting our annual 4th of July party and as usual we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off because we have so much to do! On Ian's "to do" list there is laying landscaping rock around the lanai, mowing the lawn and cleaning the patio. On my "to do" list there is grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning. Both of our "to do" lists are a mile long and we have a little more than 24-hours to get everything finished. There's nothing like waiting until the last minute... or is there?
I hate waiting until the last minute. I am a planner and I have a difficult time getting along with people who like to fly by the seat of their pants. And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with people who are more laid back than I am. I am laid back when I need to be and rigid when I want to be. Even though I am a planner, I am also a people pleaser so I have the ability to compromise. I enjoy making people happy and if I can plan for that, well then, that's just great! It just brings me a great deal of joy to have things planned out ahead of time and see that plan executed step by step.
So far this morning, the flower beds in the front yard have been mulched, the pasta salad has been made and the landscaping rocks have been delivered. Our "to do" lists are in the midst of being "all finished" lists and I cannot wait. There's nothing better than finishing a "to do" list, except maybe a glass of wine after a "to do" list is finished. Yum.
I'd better get back to it... before it begins to rain again.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
It's the day before we're hosting our annual 4th of July party and as usual we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off because we have so much to do! On Ian's "to do" list there is laying landscaping rock around the lanai, mowing the lawn and cleaning the patio. On my "to do" list there is grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning. Both of our "to do" lists are a mile long and we have a little more than 24-hours to get everything finished. There's nothing like waiting until the last minute... or is there?
I hate waiting until the last minute. I am a planner and I have a difficult time getting along with people who like to fly by the seat of their pants. And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with people who are more laid back than I am. I am laid back when I need to be and rigid when I want to be. Even though I am a planner, I am also a people pleaser so I have the ability to compromise. I enjoy making people happy and if I can plan for that, well then, that's just great! It just brings me a great deal of joy to have things planned out ahead of time and see that plan executed step by step.
So far this morning, the flower beds in the front yard have been mulched, the pasta salad has been made and the landscaping rocks have been delivered. Our "to do" lists are in the midst of being "all finished" lists and I cannot wait. There's nothing better than finishing a "to do" list, except maybe a glass of wine after a "to do" list is finished. Yum.
I'd better get back to it... before it begins to rain again.
Love always,
Ian, Kim & Bella
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