Summer 2011

Our summer went down like this:

We sent Sabrina off to 5th grade camp.

Daddy napping.
We met up with our besties, The Lopez Family, for some fun at Cabrillo Beach.

We went to the bay every Monday.

Some paddleboarding down at the bay.

Some more awesome paddleboarding at the bay...Sabrina's new love!

We took a trip to the newly re-done Disneyland Hotel.

Fell in love with the waterslides and splash area at the Disneyland Hotel!!

Cabana family time at the hotel pool.

Went with these beautiful ladies to see the Broadway show Mary Poppins.

Celebrated Brandon's birthday with The Yap family.

This was a HUGE part of our summer....Sychronized Swimming. EVERYDAY we went to the Belmont Pool so Sabrina and Tabitha could be on a summer Sychronized Swim Team. It was a TON of fun and we made some great friends!

A trip to Goofy's Kitchen for my birthday.

A fun day with lots of friends at SPLASH waterpark.

A SECOND trip to the Disneyland hotel!

Ridemakerz at Downtown Disney where Daddy got to make a remote control car.

Hanging out with Mickey!More Disneyland pool fun!

Charlee's dream come true...to meet Rapunzel and Flynn Rider!

These girls got their ears pierced.

Tabitha was really, really, really happy to get her ears pierced.

And another HUGE part of our summer was Sabrina's daily committment to cross-country training with the Los Alamitos High School team. (Thanks Nate!!)

She loved running with some of her teammates from So. Cal. Running Wild days...and she loved hangin' with her "high school homies". She really gave those high schoolers a challenge. She was the youngest kid there and she ran with the Varsity boys and girls....those high schoolers were AMAZED!!

It was a VERY busy summer. We had fun, made friends, did the things we love, got great tans and enjoyed each other! It was a summer to remember!!

Happy 8th Birthday TABITHA!!!

Tabitha,

Here are 8 things we love most about you:

1. your contagious laugh

2. your smile and cute face (that looks exactly like Mom when she was 8)

3. your AWESOME dance skills

4. your compassionate heart

5. your love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and incredible faith

6. your fiery stubborn side that comes out when you KNOW you are right

7. that you try everything at least once

and

8. your sweet cuddles and hugs.

We hope your 8th birthday is one you will always remember.

Happy, happy birthday sweet Tabi-cakes!!

We love you so much.

Love,

Mom, Dad, Sabrina and Charlee

Back To School

Summer happened...and I failed at blogging about it. But I'll get back to that soon.

Unfortunately this school year came too fast!

But, here we go with our 2011-2012 school year, like it or not.

Sabrina started middle school...WHAT?!...yep, middle school! She is in 6th grade at Tincher. She graduated from wearing blue shorts/skirts/bottoms...to wearing khaki. I think it makes her look older. Don't you worry, though. She still hugged me goodbye on the playground at school!

And this girl started 3rd grade. Tabitha was so excited the first day of school to see all her friends. She is ready to learn!

And the heartbreaker award goes to .... Charlee! She started preschool at Rainbow School with Mrs. Tami (who is THE BEST PERSON to leave my baby with!!!). She has to take a bucket to school instead of a backpack. I was so proud when she showed up with the cutest bucket there! (Oh, the creative in me.)

Every year I take this same picture...and this year taking it got me to tear up. Sabrina is growing up too fast and Tabitha is becoming more and more independant.

And then I took Charlee to Rainbow school....I lost it when we got home! Tears o'plenty! (thank goodness Gian was working from home yesterday and could be with us for the first day.) And I lost it again when her teacher called me later after school to tell me how good Charlee was and how much fun she had.

And then I had to do it all again today.

I love my girls. I love spending time with them. I love being their mommy. It just hurts a little to see them grow up so fast!!

Good luck Sabrina, Tabitha and Charlee!! Here's to a great school year!

Happy 4th Birthday, Charlee!!

From the very start (July 25, 2007), I knew that this sweet little girl

CHARLOTTE LEE (aka "Charlee") DEL BELLO....

...was going to be lots and lots of fun (below, age 1)...

....full of laughs and smiles (below, age 2)...

...always ready to make us smile and bring our family joy (below, age 3)...

...and she just gets cuter and cuter!

Happy, happy 4th birthday CHARLEE!!!

Oh Charlee!

Dress-up time!

(complete with Sabrina's blankie as a red carpet)

Modest Little Mermaid...

...and Not So Modest Little Mermaid.
Not quite sure what this is??

And I just couldn't resist putting this picture on the blog. How cute is that little face??!!!

In just a few weeks my baby is going to turn 4 years old...don't get me started!

4th of July

Our 4th of July was pretty low-key.

We started off our day getting breakfast at the most American resturant ever, Denny's.

We spent the rest of the day at my parent's house.

My mom had a bunch of fun things to decorate the girl's bikes with. They loved decorating their bikes and helmets!!


Of course they had to show off their works of art and paraded down the street with Daddy!

Gian and I spent about an hour filling up water balloons for them to all be broken in the matter of about 10 minutes. Gian drew a Star Wars Death Star and the girls threw their water balloons at it to destroy it (a fun idea we got from a birthday party we went to).

There were some fun games, like flog and throwing the beans into the hula hoop.

We saw a few fireworks, both legal and illegal, from the middle of the street.

And then we called it a day.

It was nice to be with my parents and their friends.

Father's Day 2011

This Father's Day seemed to have a little Star Wars theme about it.

Me and the girls made Gian this cute Star Wars kit (hijacked from this fun website, Sandy Toes and Popsicles).

Complete with Leia Buns, Vaderade, Droid Chips, Boba Gum, Wookie Cookies...and more.
After church Gian got Sabrina totally addicted to Star Wars...and it's been a Star Wars movie marathon ever since. HELP!!

We went to dinner at my mom and dad's house, like we do every Sunday.
Me and my dad.

Gian and his girls.

Us Del Bello girls are ever so grateful for our Daddy, Gian and Papa, Bob!!!

Father/Daughter night

Last Friday night was Father/Daughter night for the Activity Day girls (girls at church that are 8 to 11 years old). This is the last year that Sabrina gets to attend this fun evening of recognition and service. (It's okay, though...Gian gets to go for about 8 more years! Tabitha starts in September.)

It's fun for them to get all dressed up. Aunt Tiff did Sabrina's curly hair and it turned out GREAT!!

They had a few snacks...and some yummy dessert.
This is all of the Activity Day girls in our stake.

During the evening they showed a slide show of activities that the girls have been doing all year. Also each girl was recognized for different acts of service they have done.

The fathers and daughters also had the opportunity to make Christmas stockings and other things to send to the needy.

Sabrina loves this one on one time with her dad.