Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Happy 2nd Birthday Bella!

Our Beautiful girl is 2 years old today! I can't believe how the time has flown by. She is above average is smarts, and as independent and strong willed as Eric and I put together. We are the happiest parents in the world with our precious toddler. I can't wait for many more years to come. This just gets better by the day.

So Happy Birthday big girl! Mommy and Daddy are so so proud of you!

Memorable Monday

Lawrence Christmas Parade

This weeks Memorable Monday is brought to you by the Lawrence Christmas Parade. This past Saturday Bella and I had an exciting day filled with a Birthday party, parade and even a second Thanksgiving. The morning began with Bella's friend Sadie's 2 year birthday party. Sadie is part of The "Mommy Mafia" a group of friends and I who all met at a nursing support group and became great friends. We do playdates, lunch dates, mommy's night outs, and a book clubs. It's a wonderful group of amazing women who have been so important to me these past two years. Sadie and Tara are all within a week old of Bella so we enjoy having December birthdays together. Sadie's birthday was a blast and we all headed downtown to enjoy the Christmas Parade. Bella LOVED the horses. Whenever there was a gap between groups she looked very concerned as she asked me "More Horsies?" or "where'd horsies go?" At one point she stood up in the street, looked at me in great earnest and said "Horsies beut-i-ful." I readily agreed, they were beautiful. We saw donkeys, ponies, and all types of horses imaginable. Then afterwards we headed to lunch at The Orient (not our best visit, service was very slow, and food was half amazing, half awful).


























































On the way home Bella fell asleep for nap and was so out that Eric and I got her inside, took off her hoodie and a couple of layers before tucking her in bed, without even waking her up. Sometimes it amazes me how well she sleeps. Nap did take a bit longer than expected so we missed the majority of the Lampe's Thanksgiving part deux, we did make it over in time to meet a couple of their friends and do some grazing.

It was an outstanding Saturday, our Next few weekend are packed with Holidays and Birthdays and I'm looking forward to it all. Speaking of Birthdays, a shout out to Miss Evelyn Jones!! Happy 4th Birthday! I can't believe Evey is 4, I remember holding her in the hospital, snuggling with her over the following summer, watching her grow and thinking how amazing it would be to have a baby girl. Now I love watching her play with, snuggle and enjoy hanging out with Bella. Hooray for dear Friends who become Family. So cheers to the Jones Clan and Happy Birthday Evey!

~Trish

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Our Budding Artist

One of the things we love about Sunnyside Daycare is amount of engaging activities. They do music time, outside play, games and of course ART! We finally have a collection of art from our Beautiful girl and it's awesome. In reading Elser 411 (where I steal many ideas from Heidi) I found that Heidi is taking digital copies of Jackson's Art. I thought this was a brilliant idea so I have begun to do the same. Here are a few of this budding Artist' new pieces. Enjoy!

Memorable Monday

Halloween Pictures

We had a fantastic Halloween Weekend. It started with Bella's school trick or treating that I was able to join and ended with a great night downtown.

Thursday Morning Bella and her friends got dressed up to trick or treat around the Dole and Hayworth buildings up on campus ( these are the buildings the Sunnyside and Educare call home) I was able to cover a couple of classes so I could see Bella's first school costumes parade. It was adorable!! Bella was the cutest bumblebee but she wasn't the only one. A couple of her friends were dressed as bee's as well. So much for originality! We weren't able to take pictures due to school policy but it was nice to get an extra day out of her costume.

On Saturday we were able to relax and lounge around the house until Costume time. After nap we picked up Nana and headed to the Lawrence Arts Center, to see Poppie in the show Cats and Bats and to enter the Costume Contest. Bella LOVED the sing alongs and was riveted by the play itself. She sadly didn't win anything in the contest but when it was her turn to parade across stage Eric and I both heard the whole audience say "ahhh" It made us so proud!


























Nana couldn't help but kiss that little bee, then she had to wipe the lipstick off her face. "Ahh Nana"











We then headed downtown for the trick or treat festivities. We saw many cute costumes and friends as we roamed the streets. Bella LOVED the lollipops and mostly wanted to eat the candy rather then collect it.

























































































Bella and I taking downtown by storm!














Flying with Daddy,



























Smile Bella!











A Candid Family Portrait












Nana, Poppie, Bella and Daddy--what a beautiful family!












I hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween, we sure did!

~Trish

Memorable Monday, Pumpkin Patch Edition

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Our Anniversary!

3 years ago today Eric and I tied the knot. It was a beautiful rainy day full of fun, love, laughter and cookies. Thanks to everyone who was there with us to celebrate in person or in spirit and thanks to everyone who has come into our lives or closer in the past three years.

And of course Thanks to Eric, the love of my life.

(here comes the mushy part)
These past three years have been amazing, exciting and adventurous. I am so lucky to have such an incredible husband and Bella is so lucky to have such an amazing father. I've loved these past years but look forward to many more with a bigger house, bigger family, and growing up together. Thanks for being my partner in life, love and of course crime :) You mean the world to me.

"I loveou merry much daddy"
---Bella Neuteboom October 13 2010.

I heart you baby.....

~Trish

Memorable Monday

Memorable Monday

Bella's First Trip to the Renissance Festival

One of my favorite memories of growing up was going to the Renaissance Festival in Kansas City. I remember it as a truly magical place where you can walk through living history and be transported back to England in the middle ages. I had forgotten however, how totally kid friendly it is as well. It is a wonderland for adults and children alike. Now, I'm not saying it's not also a little cheesy with actors and everyday people who go a bit over the top. But it is sure a heck of a lot of fun.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Amanda's husband, Josh, was able to get tickets to the Ren Fest for Amanda, Sarah, Bella and I. We let our husbands off the hook for this trip since we wanted a girls only day but I think it's a place that Eric would enjoy as well so I plan to drag him with me next year. So early on a Sunday morning we left our house to arrive in Merry Old England.

We arrived before the gates had officially opened and listened to Queen Isabella inform us that her son had met a lovely girl at a ball and was in search of her after she fled (It was Cinderella Day) And that he better find her by 6:00pm which was the Royal Wedding. As we entered the gate, Prince Charming was desperately looking for his bride and was even willing to try the slipper on Bella's foot. It was too cute, and he was very nice. She wasn't quite to sure about the whole thing but the rest of us got huge kick out of it.


























We then saw our first performance. A magician who was a wonderful showman and a pretty good magician as well. He even dragged Amanda up on stage to help him with one of his tricks.


























We then walked around the park and found a variety of life sized cut outs where we could put our faces on a variety of characters from the past.

Bella the Mermaid


















Me as Henry VIII


















Sarah as Queen Elizabeth I












And my very Favorite, Bella as Puss N Boots












Bella's favorite thing all day was probably the bubble machine we found.








































Or maybe the petting zoo,



























Or the games,












or the Playground! Like I said, it was GREAT for kids.



























We had such a wonderful day of eating, shopping and laughing at people with bad British accents. Bella got her first pair of wings that she will be wearing with her bumblebee Halloween costume and the rest enjoyed the day eating and shopping. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday.


Thanks Amanda and Sarah!

~Trish