Bailey's school performance

Bailey had her first school performance a few weeks ago and she was definitely a star. She was very excited because all of Chris' family came to watch her perform and she got to wear a pretty dress.

 

Chris' Mom got Bailey a wrist corsage and Bailey was over the moon! She loved that she got to wear her Easter dress again and she proudly showed both to her teachers when we go to school.

 

Bailey had no trouble being in front of everyone and she was so cute singing the songs enthusiastically, complete with hand motions.

 

here are two videos:

 

"God made the sunshine..."

 

"Here's a little biride, hatching from his shell, out pops his head, then comes his tail, his little leg he stretches, then he gives a flap. He flaps, and flaps, and flaps...now what do you think of that?"

 

We are so lucky to have such a loving family! Bailey happily showed everyone her classroom and artwork and playground.

Bailey and Mema

 

Grandpa Mike, Debbie and cousins Ella and Eden.

We went out for dessert after the performance to celebrate!

 

I love our little star!

Big Bear for Christmas

 This year we decided that instead of giving presents, we wanted to make memories with my Parents for Christmas. We thought that renting a cabin and taking the kids to see the snow for the first time was a great way to spend the holiday! We decided to visit Big Bear and rented a lovely cabin for us all to share.

 

Bailey went up on Sunday with my parents (I was working) and Chris, Wyatt, and I followed on Monday morning.

 

The view on the drive up, snow is so peaceful and the lake was beautiful!

 

We decided to go snow tubing after we arrived on Monday because it was supposed to rain on Tuesday.

Wyatt wasn't that impressed to be wearing his snow clothes.

 

Mom stayed with Wyatt while Dad, Chris, Bailey, and I went tubing.

Wyatt must have been pretty cozy in his clothes because he fell asleep!

Nana watching and Wyatt napping.

 

There was a small hill that Bailey could slide down on her own.

 

And the big hill that Bailey LOVED going down.

 

Bailey wanted to go down the big hill by herself, but that'll have to wait a few years!

Two handsome guys!

The Crosbys in the snow!

 

We decided to open the few gifts we had Tuesday morning

 

Our tradition is to have mimosas while enjoying Christmas breakfast, Dadda and Bailey making a gingerbread house...

The girls, Grandpa and Bailey making foam bugs (trying to stay busy and entertained)

 

We went out looking for snow and found a great hill for sledding, snowball fights, and for making a snowman!  

 

Bailey and Grandpa just hanging out at the cabin.

We had a great view at night, the cabin was just across the lake from snow summit and the snow tubing place. Both were lit up at night and we could faintly see people skiing down the hill.

 

We spent one afternoon walking around the village.

 

We came upon some carolers and Bailey was so excited to give them some money, then they asked her to sing with them!

We found some ice in town and Grandpa helped Bailey explore it.

 

Nana and Grandpa make the best walking buddies.

*I was going to type "Nana and Grandpa make the best swingers" but thought that didn't sound right :-)

 

Two of my favorite guys!

 

We took a few walks around the neighborhood and found a little snow.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had fun crunching the ice and looking for bears (wooden statues anyway)

 

Although we didn't experience as much fresh snow as we expected, we had a great time visiting the snow and making memories together. I think this is a great tradition that we will be able to continue! 

Peas!

It's hard to believe that Wyatt is already ready for solid foods, it feels like I was just posting about his birth story (haha)! We started him on rice cereal a little after four months, he was definitely ready and loved it from the beginning.

 

Like with Bailey, I wanted to make my own baby food and so I got out my favorite baby food recipe book and Bailey gladly helped me make some peas for Wyatt.

 

I wanted to start with vegetables because that way he's not starting out with the naturally sugary fruits and will be more likely to eat his veggies.

 

Bailey wanted to help every step of the way and I love that she loves to help care for her brother. She loves to help give him a bottle and feed him cereal, she really is the best big sister!

 

First we started out rinsing the frozen peas...{a job perfect for a princess}

 

Then I added them to the boiling water and cooked them, once they were cooled off in their ice bath Bailey helped me take them out and put the peas into the blender.

*I've always had great luck making baby food in our regular blender (even meats). We were given a baby food specific blender but I took it back because our blender worked perfectly*

Once the peas were blended and smooth, Bailey helped me pour them into ice cube trays to freeze.

I love my princess assistant!

 

Here is Wyatt's first taste...a little different than Bailey first taste!

 

A much better reaction than Bailey's!

 

Our happy boy

I think we'll be moving on to carrots this week!

Our Monday

Monday was a holiday for most people and fortunately, Chris and I had the day off together too! I was hoping to spend the day at the beach, but the morning dawned cool and foggy so we nixed that plan.

We've been wanting to take Bailey ice skating for awhile and we decided Monday was a good day to do it! She always talks about how she is going to play hockey with her Dada (while I cheer for her), with her pink hockey stick and skates and helmet. She cracks us up with her imagination!

She was so excited to wear skates of her own and be bundled up in her cold weather gear! She wanted to run over to the ice, but she was pretty wobbly so we kept a firm grasp on her.

Fortunately, there weren't as many people as I expected and we were able to move around the ice pretty freely.

 

Bailey wasn't too confident once she actually got on the ice because it was so slippery. We held hands and coaxed her along by reminding her that to be able to play hockey she had to practice and that kept her moving.

I was a little nervous about my own center of gravity, but I did pretty well {and it helped that we moved slowly!}

 

After each lap she wanted to get off the ice and sit down to watch the hockey players on the other rink. After a few minutes she would then jump off the bench and exclaim "I can do it myself!" and take off for the ice. Fortunately, she didn't mind holding hands and we made it around the rink together.

After the fourth lap (and 45 minutes) she was asking to go home, so we decided that was enough for one day. But as soon as we took off her skates, she was begging to go back out on the ice.

 

I have no doubt that she will take after her Dada and do some sport that involves an ice rink!

 

After we left the rink the sky cleared and the temperature rose (or it just felt that way after being in the ice rink!). We decided to head over to the park to feed the ducks.

Bailey loves all creatures and eagerly feeds the ducks whenever given the opportunity. She gets close to them and talks to them and loves watching them grab at the bread she throws.

 

The park has a cool {free} exercise/light game that plays music or makes noise as you try to hit the lighted buttons. I sat and watched while Chris and Bailey racked up the points.

 

We still had some bread left after playing at the park, so we headed back to the ducks and Bailey would reach as far out as she could to place the bread in the water. We were shocked she didn't fall in!

 

I'm so glad that we decided to forego running errands and had a family fun day instead. We ended the night with a BBQ at home, playing in the backyard until we couldn't see without the lights on.

 

I'm so thankful for days off all together, making memories and ending the evening cuddling in bed, reading books as Bailey falls asleep.

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday friends!

I hope that 2015 is starting out well for you! Here's what's making me happy this week:

 

These two {of course}

We took Bailey to see Disney on Ice in Long Beach and she loved it

{well..she loved it until the villains came out}

We're trying to fit in many fun outings and memories together while we are a family of three and she can be the center of our attention.

Daddy Santa brought Bailey a small fish tank for Christmas and she was very excited to pick out her own fish and Nemo toy for him. Bailey aptly named him "Fishy" and she loves watching and feeding and talking about him.

{Bailey actually took this picture herself, her photography skills taking after her Nana!}

Bailey has been a bit clingy lately and I'm soaking up the quiet moments I have with her.

 

My Parents are the cutest! Mom texted me this picture:

with the comment: Dump Date!

I hope that Chris and I have this much fun together when we're retired and our kids are grown!

 

Chris and I both had to work on New Year's Day and we were missing our girl. She was spending the day with Chris' Mom and she sent us this cute video.

I've watched it at least a dozen times and I just love hearing her sweet voice.

 

This is an exciting year for us full of celebrations with those we love. I hope that you have a great year and that it's starting out with a good week!

Amy and Brandon's wedding

 

Bailey was asked to be a flower girl in our dear friend's wedding this past weekend and she did great!

{Sorry if this post is a little slow to load...there are a few videos at the end}

 

At rehearsal Bailey was very clingy and I was nervous that she wouldn't make it down the aisle. I had to walk with her to practice and she didn't want to hold the hand of the other flower girl or stray too far from me.

She loved being in her pretty dress and I was able to capture a happy moment!

The beautiful bride with her two flower girls.

As soon as Bailey saw Amy in her wedding dress, Bailey had to be right next to her. Bailey and Stella were fluffing Amy's dress for her as we waited to take pictures. Amy's Aunt made the girl's skirts and they looked so sweet.

Amy and her girls.

Bailey loves her Auntie Amy!

While we were waiting for the ceremony, the girls and I practiced our kissy faces.

Stella has been a flower girl 3 times before this wedding, so she helped Bailey prepare and pose for pictures!

The girls danced for about half an hour before the ceremony! They were going non-stop.

 

Even though she was happy, we were a little worried that Bailey wouldn't walk down the aisle, so Chris sat towards the front of the ceremony and I stayed back with Bailey. Chris was able to get a video of Bailey walking down the aisle!

 

 

She did great and loved the attention!

It was nice to dress up a bit!

Bailey and her Dada

I love this sweet girl!

 

Bailey could not stay off the dance floor and stole the show!

 

Before dinner, Bailey asked her Dada to dance...how could he say no?

 

 

She even asked me to dance and showed me some dance moves!

 

 

Bailey and Auntie Amy dancing.

 

 

 

Bailey was happy to dance with anyone who would say yes...Kika took her turn on the dance floor.

 

 

Towards the end of the evening, she was focused on the dance floor lights!

 

She loved the candy bar! We shared our mini desserts and allowed her to have this one, big lollipop. She was a happy, tired girl at the end of the night.

 

Congratulations Auntie Amy and Uncle B! We hope you have a great time in St. Lucia and we can't wait to see you when you get home! 

Vay-Cashe

A few days after Bailey's birthday, we jet-setted off to NY for Chris' cousin's high school graduation (Congratulations Sydney!) and famous pig roast. We spent 12 days together with family, exploring upstate NY, and even getting away to the city for a parent's only night. 

 

Because Bailey was 2, she was in her own seat on the airplane. She really enjoyed it and didn't even notice when we took off. Fortunately, each seat had their own TV and Bailey watched a few episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse before falling asleep. {we took the red-eye}

She woke up after about two hours and I ended up holding her for the rest of the flight. so that she would sleep..so she slept, but I didn't.

 

Right after we got to Chris' grandparent's house, Bailey wanted to explore the acreage in the back yard.

We found a frog and Bailey was very eager to hold it. She was pretty gentle and we let the frog go on it's way a short time later.

 

Elizabeth, Mario, Ella, and Eden got to NY a few days before we did and Bailey was very happily reunited with her favorite cousin!

They had fun running around the backyards and spending time together!

No matter where we go, Bailey seems to find a chicken to hold! Definitely a little country girl!

Chris' Grandma, Chris, and Bailey loved spending time together!

Chris' Uncle Michael, the proud Dad of the graduate.

Chris and his sweet Grandpa.

 

Chris and his cousins with their Grandparents. We were missing Elizabeth and Eden and Ella, but it was so fun seeing everyone together!

 

We spent lots of time outside and Bailey loved being in her bathing suit.

{and I couldn't resist how cute her back looks in this suit!}

The 4th of July was pretty windy and cold (a complete opposite from the rest of the trip) so after a cold morning spent at a local lake we decided to hang out at the house and watch the fireworks on TV.

 

Bailey had fun dancing to Miranda Lambert before the fireworks started.

 

Most days were very warm and muggy, so we spent lots of time outside playing in the pool. After Sydney's graduation, there was a pig roast {yes, there was a whole pig roasted in the backyard} and we got to meet lots of family and friends.

 

Michael has a Harley and we decided to have a little fun with Bailey on it. She loved sitting on the bike and held this pose while we took pictures. I doubt we will think it's this cute if she does it when she's in her teens, but we all loved it at 2 years old!

We even had our own private fireworks! Chris and Michael set them off and we all oohed and aahed as they lit up the sky.

 

The sunsets and sunrises were gorgeous and everything was so green! We had a few thunder and lightening storms roll through but they didn't last very long and it was nice to experience some rain since we are used to hot and dry weather here in CA!

 

Bailey was amazing! Lots of people, lots of changing schedules, new sleeping arrangements and she was a trooper through it all!

 

I love these two!!

 

One thing I have always wanted to experience was catching fireflies.

Chris came in from the porch one evening and called us all outside.

It was completely magical!

Bailey loved holding them {as did I} and it looked like the yard was full of tiny camera flashes going off. Next time we will try to catch some in a jar.

 

We also went to Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George and spent the majority of the day at the water park. Bailey loved the lazy river and they had a few areas for kids, so it was perfect for Bailey and Ella. Chris and Mario went on the waterslide called the Tornado and it was scary to watch! Elizabeth and I stuck to the kids area and a few more tame rides.

 

It's really nice that the waterpark is within the normal park, so after being in the water, we went on some non-water rides.

Chris and Mario took the girls on the swings.

We were heading towards the exit when it started down pouring on us! Chris ran to get the car and as soon as we all got in, there was a lightening strike and thunder so close it shook the entire car!

 

We had a great visit and it was so fun spending time with lots of family. Chris used to spend a month each summer back in NY every year and it was so good to see Bailey enjoying the same environment. Listening to their stories and memories, watching Bailey with her great Grandparents makes me so happy and glad that we were able to get back East.

 

The ride to the airport for our flight home was a lot longer than we expected. The end of the holiday weekend (we came home the Sunday night after July 4th) combined with a missed exit on the freeway made for a 5.5 hour drive to JFK. Our flight got back to LA an hour early, so our flight only lasted 4.5 hours, and we all slept better on the way home! It was wonderful to go, but so much better to get back home to our own beds and routines!

 

Like I mentioned, we were able to get away to NYC for a night...more pictures to come in my next post!