Elley's Birthday Table

For Christmas, Elley's grandpa and grandma gave her these pink and blue dishes. To go along with the dishes, grandma and grandpa gave her this table for her birthday. Grandpa and Uncle Andrew made this for her while we were visiting over Christmas. Thank you for all the hard work!!!

This is the table and chairs before we painted them. And, by the way, the chairs were Adam and Maggie's when they were little.

And, here it is all done!!! Adam wanted to paint them neutral colors but I talked him into these cute little girl colors. Who wants to have a Tea Party on a plain white table..... right?

Over the River and Through the Woods

Adam had some time off after Christmas so we decided to make a trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was not looking forward to the 8 hour car ride with the 2 girls but they did exceptionally well. We left at 5 pm on the way there thinking Elley would sleep the whole way, well....she didn't, in fact she only slept for about 2 hours. She didn't cry much and loved watching Barney (her new addiction) Thank you to Mark and Jordan for letting us use the DVD player....it was a life saver!
Here are some pictures of our trip. I tried to pick only a few but it was so hard....so get ready for Christmas picture overload, And click on the picture if you want to see it bigger.

View from Grandma and Grandpa's deck

Molly and Uncle Nate

Grandma and Molly

The 4 brothers...Adam, Jay, Nate, and Andrew

Elley and Emily playing hide and seek

Jordan and Molly

Adam and Elley sledding down the hill. Grandma and Grandpa have a sledding hill right outside their house. This is a cute picture to click on and make bigger. Elley's face is priceless!

My niece Jordan celebrated her 16th birthday over the Christmas break and we were lucky enough to party with her. Happy Birthday Jordan!

Elley with her cousins Jordan and Sydney! Thank you Jordan for sharing your pop with her

Emily and Elley having a tea party with the dishes from Grandma and Grandpa. Also, Grandpa and Uncle Andrew made this table for Elley 's Birthday coming up.

Never leave your pop unattended while Elley is around

This is Elley's new thing....she's "breastfeeding" her baby

Aunt Maggie and Molly! We were so lucky to have Maggie come and visit this Christmas......we miss her!

Uncle Andrew and Elley

This is a cute one to click on too. Elley had just gotten up from a nap. She has a diet coke in one hand and fishy crackers on the arm rest of the chair.....all while watching Barney!

Christmas Night

As I mentioned in my last post, we had our "Christmas" Christmas night. My dad and I cooked our Christmas dinner while Adam was at work and as soon as he walked in the door we ate. After dinner we opened our presents and then played until it was time to go to bed. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas night.

Dinner

We never got Elley a stocking...I know I know, bad parents but last year she was to young and we were to lazy. This year I don't know what happened.....but, Adam was born so close to Christmas that when his parents brought him home from the hospital he came home in a stocking. That is what we used for Elley.

Elley loved to "steel" Tic Tac's from my dad, so that's what he gave her for Christmas. She loved that....her own pack of Tic Tac's

Elley got a new back pack to take to Grandma and Grandpa's

And Little Miss Molly got a new entertainment play mat from Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas Eve

This year Christmas was a little different for us. Adam had to work Christmas but not Christmas Eve. We decided to let Elley open a few gifts Christmas Eve and then Christmas night, after Adam got home from work, we had a Christmas dinner and opened all the presents. Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve and later I will post pictures of Christmas .

These are the new play dishes Elley got from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Dan. She loves them and is always setting them up for a "Tea Party." She is always asking for jew (juice) in the cups and when I say no she goes and gets some water from the bath tub.

She got some new skates from Mommy and Daddy. She doesn't really get the concept yet but hopefully they will be a fun spring/summer toy.

First Smiles

Here are some pictures of Molly's first smiles! This was Christmas day. Notice the play dishes beside Molly.....these were a Christmas gift for Elley and she is setting them up so both her and Molly can play. I hope Elley continues to love Molly enough to share her toys.

All that smiling made Molly very tired!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Today was such a fun day! First, we went to church. The Sunday before Christmas is probably my favorite Sunday of the whole year.......that and the primary program! Sacrament meeting was a wonderful medley of songs, talks and musical talent that reminded us about the true meaning of Christmas.

Next, we came home, ate lunch and took naps....the whole house!

Next, we made cookies (which, by the way, are almost gone....because of me.)

Next, we played in the snow

A picture of the family before church

Getting ready to go outside

We are so excited that we are finally getting snow. We have been waiting for the "storm" the weatherman has been predicting. Well, today he got it right!!! Yea for snow!!!

Grandpa and Elley are both watching some kids pull each other on the sled

There should be some type of child labor laws that would protect her....right?

Ward Christmas Party

Last night was our ward Christmas party. The girls made it difficult to really enjoy the night but, it was nice to get out of the house. We had dinner, a musical program put on by members of the ward, and Santa came to visit. Elley was excited for Santa to be there. Earlier in the week, Adam and I took her to the mall to see Santa. She liked him from far away but didn't like getting to close, so , I was surprised that she was excited to see Santa last night. I would tell her that Santa was going to be there and she would say, "ho ho ho! lap, lap." Meaning she was going to sit on his lap. Well, here are a few pictures of that night including the Santa experience.


Molly getting ready to leave

Elley trying to cut in line to see Santa. We were the last ones to see him so you can imagine how impatient she was getting.

This is Elley's new friend she made while standing in line.

And this is my poor child who wants to get away from this scary man named Santa. All Mommy wanted was one picture.