A new year

A new year has started which was not easy, since Isabella and I got the flu shortly after Zoe caught it.  Here are some pictures from January. Taking down the christmas tree, some pics from outside and pictures from the girls playing together. Noticed how Zoe is after Isabella?

 

Christmas Day

Finally the big day has come and Christmas is there. Even though we got woken pretty early- 7 am - we were happy to get up and open presents with Isabella.

Here are some pictures of Isabella

• checking out the presents
• wearing her new dress - thank you Tante Maria!
• playing with her pretend food and pots and pans - thank you Grandma & Grandpa!
• painting with new watercolor paints
• Daddy showing the Gruffalo Pop Up Theater Show
• Isabella wearing her Dirndl - A German traditional dress - Thank you Tante Maria, again!

Thanks for all the gifts, she enjoyed them, but will need some time to explore them all. Of course, she liked to play with Zoe's news toys, too.

Twas the Night before Christmas

This year Isabella understood for the first time the whole Christmas thing and we wanted to make the whole show for her. First we sat in front of the fire place and had hot cocoa and cookies while reading the Night be fore Christmas. After that we prepared a plate with cookies and a cup of milk for Santa. We made sure to have a sign so Santa knows it is for him. After that it was time to go to bed. Isabella was totally crazy since it was a little past her regular bedtime and the excitement.

Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

Isabella has been talking about Christmas for several month. She's been bugging us about a Christmas tree and wanting to read the Grinch. Finally after Thanksgiving we started reading Christmas books and talking about the upcoming events. Last weekend we got our Christmas tree. Even though this is the 3rd time for Isabella to go with us to the Christmas Tree Farm, this year it is the first time that she really understands it and enjoyed it. We went to the farm and went on they hay wagon for a ride to the field to choose a tree. Afterwards we went home and after dinner we started decorating the tree. Isabella got really tired since it has been a long day and it was pretty cold out on the farm so she dozed off on the sofa.  Because she was behaving so great Daddy brought her a little Snoopy snowglobe which she held while resting on the sofa with Hoppy.

See Isabella wearing the tree skirt.

Today we baked some Christmas cookies which was a lot of fun. Isabella was helping me a lot and snacked a lot of the dough. Itwas a big mess but I forgot to take pictures of the making itself.

Onkel Thomas visiting from Germany

My brother Thomas was able to visit us at our home for 2 weeks for the first time. We had a great time and he had the chance to see Isabella again and meet Zoe for the first time.

He also brought his great camera and we took some awesome pictures. If you would like some in higher resolution email me and I will send them to you.














Playground

We made a trip to the local playground. Nothing fancy or big, just a little playground with basic stuff. Perfect for Isabella. She was not scared going on the slide and wanted to do it over and over. She loved the swing and the bouncing crocodile.














































Bon fire

Last weekend we had a bon fire outside and roasted marshmallows over the fire and made chocolate-marshmallows-graham-cracker sandwiches. This was the first time for Isabella and Thomas. We had a great time.
















Isabella was taking a very long nap, so we decided to wake her and take some pictures in the dark (We used a flash).














Isabella trying to go potty in front of the fireplace.

Isabella riding her bicycle

A few weeks ago Isabella started riding her bicycle all by herself. We had a hard time catching her on a movie. Finally I got her!

Sisters

Isabella has become much better around hier little sister Zoe. She likes kissing and hugging her and playing with her. Here are some new pictures of the two, with Daddy, and with Mommy and Tante Maria.

Isabella the goofy girl

Anybody who has met Isabella knows that she is a goofy girl. Here are some pictures proofing it:

Tante Maria + Isabella

Isabella could not wait until we were able to pick up Tante Maria from the airport. We had a great time and Isabella loved waking up in the morning and getting "warm and cozy" in her bed.

Or have a relaxing time outside on the swing, splashing in the pool, getting her first real professional haircut, or wearing her clothes.