Another Season of Basketball In the Books for Isabella

Last week, we wrapped up Isabella's second season of recreational basketball with the Homer Athletic Club and they are CHAMPIONS!!  Isabella started playing the season in November 2017 and she had 23 practises and 17 games total!  We loved going to her games and being her biggest cheerleaders!  Isabella grew leaps and bounds this season!  She started the season shy and ended being one of the best defense players on her team! 

The BEST accessory a girl can OWN is CONFIDENCE and you nailed it this season ISABELLA! 

We celebrated all of her hard work with a congratulations card and her favorite cake!  She was smiling from ear to ear all night after her team won the final game and got their trophies!  Atta girl!  Keep playing and enjoy the game if you want!!  Check it out.....

Isabella is #3 up front in the purple.

Isabella making a steal!

Isabella's lucky headband and her best friend Kaitlyn.

Her celebration card and her favorite cake!

3rd and 4th grade CHAMPION TROPHY

Congratulations GIRLS!  You worked hard this season!!  

Sledding Video - February 2018

35 Days

10 hours, 49 minutes and 19 seconds UNTIL SPRING.  Not that I am counting or anything......(wink, wink!)  I never wish time away, however I am looking forward to feeling the warmth of the sun on my face and seeing the beautiful colors of the tulips and daffodils (or jonquil's as Betty would call them)!

We got pounded with snow over the weekend!!  So much, that they cancelled school on Friday for the girls.  It was nice to sleep in and not have a schedule on Friday.  The news reported that we got a total of 14.0" but then it snowed another 4 inches after that.  Poor Bob had to clean the driveway, sidewalks and backyard about 5 times!  Baxter didn't even want to go outside.....

We made the best of the weather and took naps, had snowball fights.  Baked cookies.  Made snow angels.  Snowmen.  And even went sledding!  I remember when I was a little girl, I used to go sledding on the hill behind my house for hours!  For some reason, we all went sledding, and all 4 of us only lasted 20 minutes!  We were fully geared up with our snow pants, coats, hats, gloves and long underwear but that didn't seem to keep us warm enough.  We were all icicles by the time we were done sledding.

The icicles hanging above Isabella's window

WOW!  Homer Glen!!  That's A LOT of SNOW!

Sledding

Ready to go again once they reached the bottom of the hill.

Daddy took a turn with Giselle

All that sledding made us HUNGRY

I never get tired of looking at the FACE on this TREE, no matter what season it is!

My countdown for SPRING continues.  Meanwhile, the girls keep running outside to play in the snow.  They LOVE IT!  And I keep making them hot chocolate and throwing their snow pants in the dryer : ) 

Remember Me Always. Every. Time.

DREAM IT!  DO IT!  LOVE IT!!  LIVE IT!!

Is what she told me to make the title.............

9 1/2 years ago, I started writing this blog for fun.  At the time, I wanted an outlet to stay connected with my mom, dad and sister so they could be included in on what was going on with a brand new, newborn baby and a dog.  527 posts to date, I am still writing.  I never anticipated keeping up this blog, it just sort of happened.

Today, I am pretty ecstatic to share that I have turned this blog into books for both Isabella and Giselle!  I have been wanting to do this for several years so that the girls would have a memorable book from mom to cherish forever filled with LOVE, MEMORIES and LOTS of pictures!

About a month and a half ago, I planted myself in front of the computer for almost an entire day and I successfully drafted, edited and designed 2 blog books from scratch that covered a period of 7 years (I still have 2 1/2 years of writing to turn into another book - to be created on a rainy or snowy day!). 

The first book is for Isabella only and ranges from September 2008 through December 2010 and is 132 pages with 295 pictures.  I asked Isabella what I should name the blog books.  It didn't take her long to innocently look at me and say, "Remember Me Always.  Every Time."  "I want to always remember you mommy, so that is what I think you should name the books."  Thank you Isabella!  All the books are titled Remember Me Always. Every. Time.

The second blog book is from January 2010 through December 2014 and contains 254 pages.  This book is for both girls and I wrote a dedication inside that reads:  Dear Isabella and Giselle, I dedicate this book to the both of you.  I will forever cherish the memories we create together as a family.  I love you.  Love, Mommy.

I was like a little kid at Christmas the day the books arrived on my doorstep.  I couldn't wait to rip open the boxes and see the blog, that I had turned into an actual book!  I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the books and how nice they turned out.  I cannot decide if I want to store them away and save them as an 18th birthday present, or a present to be presented when the girls are in their 20's.  OR I could share the books with them right now and let them read them on their own.  Isabella has peeked at a few pages and is very intrigued by the old photos!  I still have some time to decide what I want to do.  I may not have kept up with all of the photo albums over the years or filling out their baby books, however there is one thing that has been maintained and consistent, and that is this blog.  I have always enjoyed writing and I really enjoy capturing all of these memories with my girls and as a family.  All of which I hold very dear to my heart..........

These TWO and their BATH BOMBS!!

Giselle's Bowling Party

A couple of weeks ago, we had a bowling birthday party for Giselle with her first grade classmates and her cousin, Tristan.  They bowled the afternoon away and had pizza, emoji cupcakes and soda pop.  Giselle had such a nice time!  We captured these photos from the party......

Giselle with her new bowling pin cup

Giselle with her 1st grade classmates and Tristan

Giselle LOVES her EMOJIS

Cousin LOVE

Buddies forever!