Making cookies

We made Halloween cookies this afternoon. Ella was a big help. :) Her job was to put the sprinkles on after I iced the cookies...
I'm pretty sure more made it into her mouth than on the cookies. :)
Taking a big bite...
Check out our yummy handiwork...
Two things I learned- it's not a super great idea to make cookies with a two year old when she hasn't had a nap and is more adamant about doing things HER way. I kept hearing, "Mommy, I'LL do it!" The other thing is that maybe we should make cookies just before I mop the floors, not right after. That way, when a certain two year old gets mad at Mom and throws a handful of flour... or sprinkles... or a whole iced cookie on the floor (yes, on purpose), I won't care so much. haha!
Oh well, Ella had fun and she even volunteered to help me clean up... :)

Pictures!

I took Ella to have her Christmas pictures made this morning. They are gorgeous!! I can't wait to get them back. She was very excited and so proud of her dress. She got in there and listened to everything they told her to do. She kept turning her head to the side and smiling, like she knew she was the cutest thing in the world. I was cracking up! We had a lot of fun. Ella said to me on the way home, "Mommy, didn't Ella look so beautiful in her pictures?" :) I'm afraid this little girl is going to have one big head by the time she is 16!!
She wanted me to take another picture with her "orma-ment" that she got to pick out on the way out of the store. Super cool, huh? :)

Busy day

Ella and I had a busy day today. This morning, Ella had an appointment for her 2 1/2 year check-up. We got to meet Daddy for lunch and then this afternoon, I had a routine OB visit.

First of all, Ella's check-up went great. She's super healthy and pretty darn smart for her 2 1/2 years (which we already knew!). She's tall, too, and if she keeps going at this rate, she'll be about 5'8" when she is grown! Yea for her! Perhaps we have a volleyball or basketball star on our hands. :) She was so brave, too, getting her flu shot. I told her she was going to get a shot and it might hurt for a minute. She said, "No, Mommy, no shot." She looked terrified, but when the nurse stuck her, she looked at me and said, "Ouch!" and that was it- no screams, no tears, nothing. Then she said, "Yea for Ella! She got a shot!" and was pretty proud of her bandaid. What a trooper!

Waiting patiently for the doctor...

Searching for pumpkins in Ella's ears...She did such a great job. Then we got to meet Daddy for lunch, which is something we NEVER get to do. Seriously, I think Chris has been able to leave for lunch maybe three times in the seven years he's worked for Sonoco, so this was a very special occasion. Ella was really happy to see her Daddy in the middle of the day (and to tell him all about getting a shot :).

Then on to my OB visit, which was fairly uneventful (except for the fact that my two year old was pretty tired and uncooperative by this point). Everything looks great and the baby is very active and has a strong heartbeat. Ella's eyes got so wide when she heard the heartbeat. She kept saying, "Mommy, that's the baby budder's heartbeat." I don't know whether she grasped it a little more or not, but I was glad she was along to hear it. We will have another ultrasound at our next appointment, so we are definitely looking forward to that.

Needless to say, Ella was pretty excited to get home and enjoy the rest of her day.

How great is this?

Corny, I know, but is anyone else as excited as I am about this?!!

How cute!

Look at our little candy cane!! What a cutie!

Yea! Ella's home!

Mom and Dad met me today with Ella. I'm so glad she's home! We've had a relatively peaceful week, but we've missed her so much! It's just not the same without our energetic, little chatterbox around everyday. We met and had lunch. Ella was super cuddly, saying, "Mommy, I'm so glad to see you!"

Her socks and shoes were off the minute we walked in the door...

The puzzles and games were out immediately after that...
But pretty soon she was on the couch, covering up with a pillow. She kept saying, "Ella's tired!" Look at those sleepy eyes. She's was asleep not too long after this.
She's had such a busy week! She got to hang out with Lexi and go to one of her soccer games. She also went on a picnic at Spring Mill State Park. She's full of stories and didn't stop talking the whole way home. Thanks, Grammy and Pappaw, for all the fun (and for all the Halloween candy)!

Date night

Chris took me on a date tonight and it was wonderful! We went to The Cheesecake Factory and had a delicious meal (cheesecake included!) without the fussing, screaming, or negotiating that typically accompanies dinners out with a two year old. :) What a nice break from the routine. Thanks, Baby!! I love you and love when we get to spend a little extra time together.

Family picnic

Today we had a picnic for the classmates and their families. Everyone was eager to show off their kids. Ella surprised us and took up with people immediately. I'm so glad she's starting to come out of her shell a bit.

Ella was fast friends with Lana's little girl, Ashleigh.
She was eager to share her toys with Jessi's cute kids, Maddie and Grayson.
Playing with Daddy
It was fun to see everyone's kids and I'm so glad all the reunion festivities turned out so well. I'm also so glad the planning is over and I don't have to worry about it again for another 5 years!! Yea!!

We ended up traveling home without Ella. She's going to spend a few days with Grammy and Pappaw. I start a new job this week and Ella was going to have to go to daycare almost everyday. Grammy offered to keep her and we jumped on it. We know she's going to have a blast and be well taken care of. She was ready for us to leave and get to having fun. She stood on the porch saying, "See ya, Mommy and Daddy! See ya next time!!"
As great as the peace and quiet is though, we already miss her terribly!! :)

Back at home

We traveled home again this weekend. It was another fun (and very busy!) time spent with family and friends. We were thrilled to see Uncle Kyle and get to spend some time with the whole family back together. It's so wonderful to have you home! It was special, too, to see little Payton and the love he has for his daddy. He looks up to Kyle so much. Here he is falling asleep in his daddy's arms... so precious.
Payton cracking Ella up over morning donuts.
The two of them couldn't wait to pull everything out of the closet that Pappaw and Mammaw tried so hard to organize. Here Ella's starting to warm up to Kyle.
Playing hard outside.

We didn't get many pictures. I was gone for a good part of the day working on things for my 10 yr class reunion Saturday night. It was definitely a busy day, between the decorating, running errands, and a last minute detour to the ER with Ella (she's fine now!). Somehow we managed to make it there (even though we were a bit frazzled) and had a blast. Almost all of my good friends from high school were there and it was fun to hang out and catch up on what everyone is doing. I didn't get as many pics as I wanted to- I was too busy laughing and chatting.

A pic of Jenny and me- she looks exactly the same!
More of the girls- Anne, Lana, Jessi, Jessi, and Heather
Clunie was cracking us up- after 3 babies in 3 years, she was ready to let loose. I'm not sure how she managed to walk out of there. haha! Actually, I'm not sure how most people managed to walk out of there- I'm pretty sure me and this little baby in my belly were the only sober people there! :)
Most of the classmates in attendance gathered for this picture. It was impossible to get everyone together at the same time.

Fancy dancin' Ella

We found Ella's Halloween costume today and she couldn't wait to get home and try it on. She thinks this is the pretty dancing dress we promised her when she gets older. :) When we put it on, she was so proud and kept saying, "Mommy, don't you think this dress is beautiful?"
Off with the tiara- it's time to hit the dance floor!! Check out her cool dance moves. :)

Special message for Pappaw

Happy Birthday, Pappaw!!

A fun weekend

Pappaw and Mammaw came to visit this weekend. Pappaw has a big birthday this week and we wanted a little time to celebrate together. We got up Saturday morning and, because it was such a beautiful day, decided it was the perfect time for Ella's first trip to the zoo. We had a really fun time seeing the animals, but mostly just being together.

Here's some of the highlights of our day.

Ella, Pappaw, and Daddy checking out the emu.

Ella was not quite sure what to think of the burmese python (notice I stayed back kind of far- even in their cages, those things give me the creeps!).
We had a hard time pulling Ella away from the "real, live giraffes". I think she was just amazed to see the animals in person after looking at them over and over in her books.
We got to get pretty close to the spectacled owl.

Ella and Mammaw riding the carousel. How fun!

We even got to pick out two pumpkins that were just Ella's size.
Say cheese everybody!

It was a great day and we're glad we got to share it with Mammaw and Pappaw.

Today was a good day, too. Chris and Mark managed to get our garage door opener up- yea!!! That has been a project in the making for about five months now, but we just never had the second set of hands. We're so excited about finally parking in the garage!! Thanks, Pappaw, for all your help! Sorry you had to spend part of your birthday weekend doing that, but we appreciate it so much!

Grammy time!

Grammy came to visit this week to hang out and help out. We love having her here!! Ella was definitely Grammy's girl- she even slept in her bed!

They read lots of books...
And played all kinds of games...
We did all sorts of fun things. We were even able to go shopping (it's a little easier going to the mall when I have someone to help out!). Thanks for coming to visit, Grammy!! Come back anytime!!

"When I grow up"

Here's a picture of Ella absolutely captivated while watching "Dancing with the Stars" last night. She keeps telling me, "Mommy, when Ella gets bigger, she can have a pretty dress and pretty shoes and be a dancer!" :)

More special family time...

As Chris and I got ready for church this morning, the kids were getting spoiled again- Oreos for breakfast! Geez, Pappaw! :)
Today was a very special day at church, because Lexi got baptized. We are so happy and proud of her for making such a big decision. It was just a beautiful occasion. Lots of our family were there to show their support and Chris and I felt honored to be able to share in it.

Jason getting ready to baptize her...A very special moment as the angels in heaven were celebrating with us... I don't think there was a dry eye in the church.
Chris, Uncle Jeff, and Uncle Chad
Afterwards, we all went to eat at O'Charley's. It was such a fun time, celebrating Lexi's baptism and Carla's birthday.

Here's a pic of Jason and Carla's precious family.
Chris and I enjoyed our entire weekend so much. We have said it a million times and will probably say it a million more, but we are so lucky to have such close-knit families that love and support each other like ours do. You all are everything to us!