Thanksgiving 2011

On Wednesday we loaded up with Kyle's parents and headed for New Mexico to spend Thanksgiving with Kyle's side of the family. Ellie did great on the 8 hour trip, as usual! We had a great time visiting, eating, talking, eating, playing games, and more eating! Ellie was very shy with most of the family (as she usually is), but started warming up right about when it was time to go. We had a great time! We are already looking forward to next year!

Grandma with her girls Ellie and Sadie (or Say-Say, as Ellie calls her)

Sweet Cousins

She looked so precious on Thanksgiving. Like a little grownup!

Pinball . . . a Thanksgiving tradition at Ma and Pa Bill's house

Yum! Ellie did not hold back on Thanksgiving! She had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese casserole and buttered rolls. For dessert: Ma's famous chocolate cake.

Grandma, Ellie, and Ma

Our nephews, Josh and Caden

We don't get to see these boys nearly enough!

Nap time!

This has nothing to do with Thanksgiving . . . it's just funny!

Early Christmas gift from Aunt Kelli, Uncle Michael, Josh, and Caden

A new baby doll! She loves it!

Love her face here!

With Daddy and Aunt Lori

Kyle, Randy, and Michael

Me and My Sister-in-law, Kelli

The whole group!

Stopping off to say goodbye to Granny Jean

It was great to see everyone! Can't wait till next year!

Christmas in the Park

On Saturday evening we went to Christmas in the Park at the Yukon Community Center. Aunt Tammy, Uncle Mike, Jaiden, and Jasmine joined us! We took a horse drawn carriage ride through the park and looked at the hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Ellie fell asleep during this time right after she insisted, "Off. Off. Off." Apparently, she wasn't very impressed. She wouldn't wake up for pictures with Santa, but did so right after. We walked around and did a few of the activities, had some punch and popcorn, and then went to dinner. It was a lot of fun and I think Ellie will have even more fun next year!

Santa and Sleeping Beauty The Girls
"Peace, Love, and Presents"

Riding a camel

With Mom and Dad

Petting the horse

The Price Family

Party Pooper

Jasmine helped her make this headband

Dog balloon from Chester the Clown

Thanksgiving in a few days and then we'll be getting ready for Christmas!

I love this time of year!

Ellie at 18 months!

My sweet girl turned 18 months last Monday. She is getting more talkative and a little more outgoing everyday. I think going to the YMCA is definitely helping her with her shyness, although it still takes her a while to warm up to people. She talks constantly now (at home) and is actually easy to understand. She has started to enjoy playing independently a little more and doesn't have to have me watching her 24 hours a day (only about 23 1/2 hours a day now). Here is what else Ellie is up to at 18 months:

-Weight: 23.8 pounds (35th %) and height: 30 7/8 inches (25th %). She has actually lost weight lately due to having croup. She weighed about a pound more the week before when we took her to the doctor. After 3 days on steroids and lots of nose blowing she started feeling better.

-Diaper size: 4, Clothing size: 12-18 months, some 18 months, Shoe size: 4

-Favorite foods: yogurt covered raisins, grapes, sugar snap peas, broccoli, corn on the cob, sausage, oatmeal, strawberries, apples, carrots, cheese, milk, apple juice, suckers

-Favorite toys: baby doll and stroller, bike, zebra, balls, books, puzzles, farm, blocks

-New words she's saying (the word and how Ellie says the word)

raisins- "freeses"
cuck-cake- "cupcake"
grapes
broccoli- "brockey"
jacket
house
home
mouse
coke
girl- "gool"
French Fries- "Fen Fies"
Kleenex
Wylie- "La-La"
Mickey Mouse
Minnie Mouse- "Me Mouse"
Linny
Tuck
Ming-Ming
Oscar; "Ocsar"
Cookie
Elmo- "Melmo"
Abby
Grover- "Gover"
milk
apple juice
sunshine
pacifier- "sass"
so sorry
all gone- "gone-gone"
diaper
toenails- "nonails"
mommy's car (you can pick it out in the parking lot)
bubbles
Get Back (to Wylie when you have food)
fart- "fark" (you say this when you do that . . . I know, so proud!)
All animals and family members names and too many other words to list right now!

-You love going to the library. Here are some of your favorite library activities:

Craft time- this is the turkey we made last Thursday.

Puzzles

Reading books

Playing at the Lego table

Playing with the puppets

You are doing and saying so much right now, I can't fit it all in one post! I can't believe what a smart, funny, sweet little girl you are . . . I'm so proud of you! Happy half birthday, Ellie!

Halloween 2011

Candy!

Ellie was all about the candy this year. She sometimes says, "pize" when she wants some because we've given her a surprise, aka dum-dum sucker, when we've bribed her. Yes, we bribe her. Like when I'm only halfway through Wal-Mart and she starts to wail, or when we're taking our family pictures and she starts to cry, etc. Anyway, she likes candy. So do I. So we took her trick-or-treating. She had a blast! Mostly she just loves to be with all her cousins.

She is talking so much now and you can really understand most of what she says. At least I can. She would say, "trick treat" when we went up to a door, "tank you" when the nice person dropped candy in her basket, and "buh-bye" as we walked away. She's very polite. After 2 fun size Skittles and 2 suckers (the most sugar she's ever had in her short little life) she was up until 11:00 p.m. and then slept in until 9:45 a.m.!

Here is my little Minnie Mouse on Halloween 2011!

Visiting Nini's house before trick-or-treating With Nana

Jasmine and Ellie (have I mentioned that Ellie adores Jazz?)

Ellie, Mommy, and Daddy

Ellie and Nini

Ellie and Uncle Timmy

Ellie and Papa Dean

Ellie and Grandma

Nini with Jett, Jasmine, and Ellie

Grandma and Grandpa with Ellie and Gage

All the kids: Gage, Jasmine, Haven, Sadie, Ellie, Finn, and Rooney

Gettin' momma some candy!

Grandpa, Daddy, and Ellie

I think I have a pic from this same house last year

Grandma with all the kids

And my sweet little Elliott last year. I can't believe it's already been a year since she was a precious little flower!