..click on a link to see the video, will be updated often..
Forever the little laughing stinker.
You know how sometimes you might be sitting at work wondering how Bella is doing? This is most often than not how she is spending her day. (When it is sunny.)
Our neighbor got a new dog and she has a backyard pen for him and a front yard leash. Bella has only ever seen Max in the front yard so when we walked to the back yard the other day, she was surprised to see him there.
This is Bella's first time of going to the mailbox to get the mail.
Then she tries to pet Stormy as long as she is nice to him. But I think that most of the time she thinks I should be telling Stormy to be nice.
One of Bella's favorite things to do outside is to go to Daddy's office window and let the cats out. There's always one waiting and daddy gets tired of doing it and since she enjoys being next to them, Bella is welcome to go ahead and take on that task. Often.
This video was taken in the parking lot of Target because I happened to call Yaya on the way to get Carrie Vite a birthday present and so we all just sat in the car talking to Yaya. As normal, Bella was bossin Ompa and Ompa was showing just how snart he always seems to be. Enjoy.
Hi Yaya, Here's another video for ya. And I'm still working on all the recent pictures. This is the one from camp last weekend. Bella and I had a wonderful time, that salad was gooooood! I hope we can do that again soon. I love you SO much. Did you notice you graduated from Abuelita to Yaya? Oh, I think I found an AA 'home group', the one in Edinboro is really quite nice. Anyway, enjoy, hope you see it tonight.
Yaya! Here's a video for ya. I'm still working on all the recent pictures. Hope you like it, it was just one I took while me, Kris, Ompa and Bean were out to dinner. I think we had done something outside that day, lemme think... oh yea, we were at the beach on the day after Easter. I have funny pictures of that too. Anyway, enjoy, hope you see it tonight.
This video was taken over the summer but never posted till now because I figure everyone could use a good dose of goofy ol' kris. He was fishing at his brothers house on the banks of French Creek. I think this was the day that Tristan caught a walleye and we later fried it at the Hoen's residence where little Chad played with little Bella. Anyway, here's sweetchecks.
This was taken last fall at Grandma's and since I had taken so many videos that day I skipped it till now too. It was cool, in all the whole yard the apples were mostly gettin to be bad but Bella picked a really really good one. On those two toddly feet.
This video and the two above are for you Yaya! I dont have anything recent but I'm sure you'll like'em just the same. :) Me and Bella are inside while Daddy winterizes the jetski. Nick calls while shes chomping on the string from my sweatshirt. If I had a bleep button I would use it but just use the one in your head.
Bella gets so excited at the idea of taking a bubble bath. When we fill the tub she jumps up and down saying 'Ess pees!' Today we got the idea to put some of her plastic balls into the tub so the whole time the water was running she ran from bedroom to bathroom with more supplies.
We remodeled the downstairs bathroom. This is midway through when Kris was having troubles with installing the sink. Thought I'd video it. Hey, why not? He loves it when I tape him anyway. Okay, not really.
This little sly girl. I thought I could get a video of her talking on the phone but she did not want any part of it. She decided to play hairy eyeball with the camera and hide and seek with me. Screwball.
Playing with Owen one day while mommy was dog sitting for Dan. They have fun playing chase with each other or ganging up on the cats. Owen is fantastic with kids and adorably lanky.
Still putzing and Bella almost takes a spill!
Me and Bella hanging out. We had all our chores done early so we're just putzing around the house taking videos. Till 12:30 at least when Jack's Big Music Show is on. Hmm, what to do. Might as well bug stormy, dance and play peek-a-boo.
Stopped in at my Aunt Lori's to talk about wedding plans. While Bella and I were there we got to see Alex get his hair dyed yellow. It didnt turn out as bright as he wanted it but still I think it looks good.
Dad's been doing real good lately with responsibility. Bella and I went down to visit him on Friday to show him how proud we are. While we were there we stopped in at the bank to see our friend Raimey. Bella loved the magazines. Ompa loves losing weight. Let's hear it for the boy!
Chad's moving to California. Luckily he had to drop off his car in Erie and I talked him into hanging out for a little while. We went to Wildcard on Peach to watch the Pitt game. P-u-n-x-s-y! That is our battle cry! It was fun, even on a 20 minute delay. "Thats soo him, he's like the perfect prick." Well, ciao chad, have a nice trip and send me your address as soon as you can. Don't forget, drink on c.c. and c. And if things tough, I'll send you PB.
This was the trip home from Jeffs. Bella and I sat in the backseat coloring, drawing, singing and eating pretzels. So Dan got to sit in the front seat and have his seat kicked the whole way home. Well, till she fell asleep anyway. But overall it was a good year. Looking forward to taking more videos this year and taking bella to the beach. Huh, Ompa?
We decided to go to Jeff's house in Corry. It was like staying at a four star hotel for a few days. Bella had a blast playing with Darcy, Pammy, Lauren, and Barbarino. Kris and I had fun too playing Cranium and monopoly. "You dont know what the hell your talkin about.. Oh wait.. I dont know what the hell your talkin about!"
Bella has fallen in love with Jacks Big Music Show which means so has mommy. Actually, I really like it regardless, it has really cool puppets, a neat backdrop and snappy music videos with really interesting performers. Luckily its on every day and also luckily, the noggin webpage has a Jacks page that shows all the videos. I play them for Bell and she dances, plays or just watches. We even printed out the little finger puppets they have. Its perfect! This video is Bella listening to one of the videos with daddy and me on a sunny snowy saturday morning.
This is for all you karaoke fans out there whose name begins with an 'Ay!' and ends with an 'Arr!' because we here at KateWILLtapeIt.Inc know how much you crave the donut. If its dark at first, hang in there - it'll lighten up. And if it sounds bad at first, hang in there - Hilary does Britney at the end. Buck up and watch. Quit talking to old people, quit wigglin in your seat, quit worryin about that toenail and ennnjoy the show-a.
Kris, Rog and I went out to eat at the Colony for all you can eat crab legs. Since our waitress was new on the job, her dad brought her sister and his girlfriend to visit. Turns out, he is the manager of The Cascade Club on 3rd and Raspberry and invited us to go out with them. We decide to check it out and a few drinks later Kris decides to sing karaoke. Without further ado, Kristopher Porter performs When Doves Cry.
Me, Bella, Dad at wegmans. We ate, we shopped, we snacked, we rested, and then we saw Zorb's ex-wife in the checkout line and got Eric's phone number. Anyway, the video is of the three of us snacking in the chairs at the pharmacy waiting area. I tossed Dad a bag of soft-stick lollipops and instead of catching them, he deflects them toward the Bean!
Got this costume at KayBee Toys along with a Bedtime CareBear. This was the one and only time Bella wore the entire costume, complete with the headband. On Halloween night, without the headband, we went down to trick-or-treat Jen and got lots of good candy. But in the end, the wings kinda bothered Bella too.
Mashed potatoes and a hungry Bean. She just loves doing things herself. Man, just try to pry the toothbrush out of her hand. Or a washcloth. I dont know what it is about tidying up but its like she's addicted. Oh wait, she messes up stuff a lot of the time too.
Bella gets to visit Ya-ya and the rest of the Fabrizio family during a picnic at Uncle Tommy's house. It was a little rainy that day but after the rain cleared up they played in the front yard and I got to take the famous "Jesus Rocks" picture. You can find it in the fourth row HERE.
The first video I took of Bella on my new camera was an instant success. All I say is 'Huh?' and she launches into the story of her life. It takes about four minutes. The whole thing was for Uncle Nate because he hadn't seen her in awhile. So here's to you Nate, we love ya. And thanks for all the fish.
Ohh my gosh, this was the day Kris and Big Al T went in together on a crate of crablegs and a crate of clams. We had a full house for the Cleveland vs. Da Bears and people were cracking crablegs as far as the eye could see. What made it even better was that Kelly was here and the Browns actually won after a slow start. All in all, a fabulous day. The video is Bella playing ball before the shindig.
Oh wow, I guess this was even earlier that morning before the big crab cookout in 'Browns Sunday'. The blue thing that Bella is riding on is something Ompa brought over one time. But when Bella was sick from her immunizations shots it was the only thing that gave her a moments relief. So thats what we did, pulled her around and around and around and around and ahhh-yeaa. This is a small sample of that.
Yea the hayride! Went to visit Mama Porter and decided to hop on the tractor while Papa Porter was collecting firewood. It was a sunny, autumn day and this video has an old-timey feel to it that Tristan later said reminded him of the 'old reel' movies. Not long after this video was taken Bella and I went fishing with Kris and made 'Pretty Eyes'. Look for it soon.
Well, Mom finally met her soulmate and I gotta tell ya, I definitely a-pprove. He's just like her, friendly, intelligent, responsible and wacky. They are both, as they put it, 'so stinkin cute'. Kris, Bella and I got to spend the weekend with Mom, Gary, Gary's son Christian and some of Christian's friends. The camp is really relaxing, I cant wait till there's a ping-pong table in the back room. I love the idea of the compost-loo, maybe I'll build one of those in my backyard for Kris and Aaron. Oh, the video is of Mom and Gary at the picnic tables after dinner.
We went to Al Turner's camp in Meadville for Labor Day. A lot of the Mckean-iacs and people from the Millbees team were there playing hillbilly horseshoes, frying up catfish and just generally enjoying camp. It was the perfect weekend and I don't think the sun stop shining the whole time. In fact, it was so nice out that Saturday in itself felt like two or three days combined. Lots of relaxation and entertainment. And of course, Bella ran around and checked everything out.
Still at camp but over by the river having some snacks. This is the camp that Kris liked to fish at and every time a pole would shake he would yell 'fish on! fish on!' and someone would run over and check it. It was really funny to see how excited he got and not just once an hour or something like that but every five minutes. Hehe, doof. Fish on! Fish on!
Still at camp. Since Al's sister Chrissy has a little boy, Chad, about Bella's age, Bella got to play on a lot of the stuff that Chad had there at camp. And Chad really liked Bella's kaleidescope lawnmower thing. Actually it's been awhile since we've since Chrissy, Richard and Chad. We should go visit soon.
This one is at Aaron's house in Cambridge Springs. He and Donnette had a labor day party which had quite a turnout. There were burgers, tents and fishing. Ompa helped Aaron with the grilling and Kris was, of course, plopped over by the river. Tristan and his brother Aaron came too and it was a lovely day.
Its starting to be autumn and Bella and I take to frequent walks down the path and over to the lake. She dawdles until I find something along the path and say 'oh, bella look!' and then she runs all helter skelter till she gets to me. But in this video we're just on our way down the road.
Hanging out with the sunday crowd watching the games. One of the biggest topics of conversation is buying farms. Everyone wants a farm and I hope someday we will all have farms near each other. Farms with goats. Farms with goats that Jeff will milk.