Saturday I sent Daniel off with the girls so I could do some major toy tossing.  We had more then our house could hold and way more then our children could take care of.  With Ben crawling, and both Christmas and Katie's Birthday coming up, we had reached critical mass!  I had told Dan to call me when he headed home so I didn't get caught in the act.  He previously put locks on the toy cabinet.  I put little and multi piece toys in there and locked them (insert evil laugh here----wahaha!!!).  I gave each child one basket of toys to keep out.  ! If they can be responsible for those, they can trade for others as I approve them.  Anyway, 2/3 or the way through Dan called and I went into panic mode!  Turns out he just wanted to take me shopping for a bike.  I'm still stressing and I don't quite get what he is saying because we have looked at bikes since last Christmas.  It was supposed to be my Christmas present in 2007 and latter we spent my Birthday "shopping" for a bike.  I was so surprised when I ended up with a bike, helmet, basket, bell, and even some padded bike shorts and a speedometer!!!!   I have ridden it everyday since then.  I rode it around the elementary school on the way home from the store.  I rode it to dinner on Sunday with the in laws, and again this morning to ride with Ann on her own bike to School this morning.  Though Anna with her training wheels could have walked faster!  So, we need to do that everyday till she gets better!  Anyhow, I'm totally in love with my Diamondback beach cruiser!  Even if it is gold and not green! 

Way back to our very first Christmas when Daniel and I were dating, we have hunted for a wild Christmas tree!  A great deal of thought, planning, bundling up, and a whole day of driving to our favorite spot go into getting the perfect tree!  The price of the tag is unbeatable at $5!   I have done the tree hunt pregnant with both Katelynn and Benjamin!  Mckay and Chelsea have had the chance to be included in this crazy Bell family tradition.   We usually take a sled, a saw, some rope, and hot (warm once we get to it) apple cider for the ride home!  It is a long cold day, but a lot of fun!  Yes, Christmas tree hunting in Oregon is an unforgettable experience!  Once or twice we have skipped this step and bought a tree, like the year we bought our home and got in it too late for Christmas, but it wasn't the same!  Here are some photo's from our last excursion 2007!

Daniel makes sure the camera is working with this self portrait!  Love that dimple!  Anna hugs a tree!

Katie makes a snow angel and gets wet and cold!  Grammy bought these pink snow suits for the girls to keep them warm!  How sweet!  Daniel finally chooses the perfect tree, He is very choosy!

Anna models with some chocolate and our tree all decorated with love!  And the final product, ooooh, how pretty!

Love them or hate them, car seats are the law.  Me personally, I don't know how moms ever drove with out them!  I have a three ring circus going on even with them all strapped in!  There are statistics that say women are the worst drivers, well look whats in the back seat and see if you can figure out why!  =]

I have had the monitor on Anna when she was a baby beep while I was driving, been hit by a flying shoe (that was Katie), and the other day I accidentally locked Ben in the car while it was running (in the rain) when I was dropping Katie off for a play date!  He was asleep the whole time, and when I had to call the cops, who called a toe truck, that guy was glad the baby was sleeping.  He says the moms are calmer that way!  He also said he had to have another toe truck guy let him into his rig when he also locked himself out!  That helped me not feel so dumb at least!  Yea, sometimes even with the classical music I play to quiet them, it is still a wonder we get anywhere alive!  All of you ladies with out little ones, count your blessings and crank your tunes!  But really, aren't they cute? =]  Okay, I should go to sleep now, so at least I'm not tired the next time someone says, "mommy I need to go potty" from the back seat just when I need to watch traffic the most!

I doodled this last winter in church to use for a christmas letter I sent out to my family!  This was when I was about six months pregnant!  I recently put it on my facebook account, but I probably won't leave it there.  I just like it and wanted it somewhere I could find it easily!

Just enjoy the pics

This is just kate!

Dress up and there is always a doll or animal in her arms.

Here is a plastic bug, and see the tissue up her sleeve. 

She falls asleep where ever she is when the lights go out in Kateville!

Happy or sad, she is all extremes!

Alone or with a friend, being around Katelynn is always an adventure!

She is so much like her mother!