So behind....

Merry January! December was lots of fun. We traveled 2 1/2 weeks and visited each cousin, every aunt & uncle, grandparent, and even every great-grandparent! We feel like rockstars. :) Well, and it was just fun. Tiring, yes, but fun.

I just have a moment, but wanted to post a few shots of us getting our Christmas tree. This was the tree we purchased from the rustic Fred Meyer parking lot. :)
Happy!!

And a cheesy family shot that makes me giggle....so staged by the fire. :)

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. We got to celebrate with friends the weekend before thanksgiving, and this year was taken up a notch with homemade thanksgiving hats! :) This is one of our favorite traditions, and we are so thankful to have wonderful friends to celebrate with....



Ella got a very early birthday present sent to our house from "Gamma", as Ella calls her. She enjoyed putting together her new red trike with Dada! I actually think Jason needed me to mix a drink for him after this assembly. :) It was a constant managing of keeping Ella from being too helpful, and putting small bolts and tools into her mouth.

And in true kid form, she loved playing in the box it came in just as much as riding the bike itself...
And we got to see Gamma! Before making it up to the Hennigers for Thanksgiving day, we got to stop and have a little fun with Gamma and her kitties. And of course we played piano in our jammies...

And a few cute shots of Dad and Ella....

Uncle Evan and Ella....
And the crew....with all this family around we felt like we were off duty as parents, and even got to go on an afternoon date!
This shot just makes me laugh because there is a combo of nose boogers plus a generous application of chap stick on Ella's upper lip....

Oh, one more cute shot....

The Oregon Coast in November

Jason, Ella, and I got to take a little family vacation to the Oregon coast with our friends, Ben & Liz! We love the coast in the winter, plus the huge benefit of off-season rates! Ella loves the ocean experience more and more ....
I can't believe how big our baby girl is....


Liz giving Ella a little ride....
Family snapshot...you'll see it on our Christmas card! :)
And a final group shot before we left...
A great weekend! It was also Liz's birthday while at the coast, so the men spoiled us with an afternoon at the spa!....HEAVENLY treat. I appreciate those things so much. Thanks for sharing your birthday weekend with us, Liz! :)

Just a few cute faces....

Jason's reading glasses....
Spaghetti face....

The Annual Leaf Walk

Several years ago, Jason and I started an annual tradition of a "leaf walk". I think Jason actually came up with the idea, knowing how much I love everything about Fall. So each year we go on a walk and collect the prettiest leaves we can find. They usually sit in a bowl in our house as a decoration and celebration of my favorite season. Honestly, they usually sit there for far too long until they are way past due to be recycled.

Last year, Ella was in the Ergo carrier on our leaf walk, and this year....
...what a great helper. She loved it. It's actually the perfect activity for a toddler. She loved picking up pretty leaves and adding them to the collection. She helped carry the bag, she crunched leaves under her little converse-clad feet.

We stopped for a visit with the Ramigs and Kaleels and Carolyn snapped a quick family shot for us....

What a simple thing to do, but it filled me with so much happiness.

Happy Halloween!!

Ella was a cupcake this year! She went trick or treating for the first time ever, and it was a DELIGHT! We just went around to a few of our friends homes within a few blocks (Davis', Rockers', Burkharts, Ramigs, Kaleels) and Ella would knock and say, "treat please"! and "thank you!" We didn't have any great candy holder for her, so she just carried her little purse. She had SO much fun, and it made us so excited for the future years to come of trick or treating with her. What a blast! When we got back home we quickly swapped out all her candy (most contained nuts) for 5 gummy bears, and she had a little feast....What a happy girl. And I'm telling you....I can't wait for next Halloween!