A Snowy Day

The Only Santa Picture

I saw a report on the news the other day that they were making a book full of pictures of kids who were screaming on Santa's lap. That is what we would have had if we had forced the issues this year. You would think with today's technology they could superimpose Ellie's body into a Santa picture, sparing her the trauma of having to get so close to someone who she sees as pretty scary. She has told me numerous times that she doesn't want Santa coming through our fireplace. He may have to leave gifts on the back step!!!

Ellie sings the cougar fight song!

Elliette learned the fight song over the summer. Here she is singing it for Mommy and Daddy (both cougars and so proud)!

Halloween Trick or Treat

Getting into costume she was so proud to be a kitty cat... meow!!!

Kicking back with Daddy on the front porch!

We've had 197 visitors tonight... we are only three away from our goal of 200! The 200th is getting the rest of the candy and then... out go the lights... I don't know if Ellie will ever fall asleep. Her favorite thing is having friends over so tonight was like a dream come true!

ELiE's NeW HaIrCuT!!!

So it has taken me a week to get used to... but I officially love her new doo! Ask me to tell you the story some time!

New Boots, New Coat, New Hat

Ellie just got this coat and these boots from Lori and Pam. She was so excited to go outside and wear them. She is also very into "hopscotch" right now. She asked me to draw the rainbow at the top! The hat is a souvenir I brought back for her from a women's retreat I just went on. Once again, in Leavenworth!
If you look closely you can see she still has breakfast on her face AND a shiner on her eye from where she ran into a table this past Saturday. Brian said she cried for me... of course I wasn't here to get her an ice pack. So sad! :(
When we came inside Ellie said to me "Mom, that was a fun adventure wasn't it? That was a fun adventure outside." It is such a joy to see that the little things, like going outside with sidewalk chalk, are an exciting adventure for a two-year-old. It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom introduced us to sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, and snail hopscotch it is so fun to pass this tradition on to my daughter.

I can't believe this little girl is my baby!

What ... am I cute or something?

ooooooohhh, I just love this kid!

Sleepover Friends

Jars of Clay

We got to go and see Jar of Clay, the last weekend of August. It was pouring down rain, but so much fun. I am adding a few Jars of Clay you tube clips to give you a feel.

Girls Weekend in Leavenworth

It was a neighborhood girls weekend in Leavenworth, for me and my other Lakeland Hills buddies. They squeezed me in at the last minute so I was able to go along. We stayed in a great big cabin on the Wenatchee River. The weekend included shopping, a wine tasting, but mostly lots of laughs and girl talk.

McCall, Idaho

Dear Denise, Lenny, and Abbey.... We miss you already!

Got Pedicure???

Oh-mi-gosh !!! I am having SOOOO much fun at the beach on the Lake...

Building castles and wading in the water.

A surprise birthday party for Denise, it wasn't her birthday,

but she had one this summer!

Twins???

My good friend Denise organized a summer weekend getaway at her in-laws cabin in McCall, Idaho. Their daughter Abbey is only few weeks younger than Ellie and they got along famously (for two two-year-olds) all weekend. These are some of our favorite moments.

Brian finds a camera

I record the view each day, here I am getting caught up on my episodes after a busy week.

OuR dAtE aT tHe MaRiNeR's GaMe

Well the Mariner's lost 14 innings later!!! Oh well, we had a lot of fun at this game. It was a beautiful day to visit the ball park.

The Fourth of July at Les Grove Park

A couple of self portraits with the family!

The Fourth of July is serious business, look at this face. Our little ladybug.

We "share" a strawberry lemonade.

The Jumpy Bouncy Toys are Ellie's new obsession!

Later we went to watch the fireworks over Lake Tapps, I have NEVER seen so many fireworks in my whole life and Ellie slept through the whole thing.

Ellie meets BaBy PaXoN!

Ellie meets her new cousin for the first time.
She shows him the card she colored just for him.
Later we let her hold him on the couch. "I love you, baby Paxon!"
"Baby Paxon cries alot because he is a baby," she says.

MoMmY i'M A pRiNcEsS

This scene usually starts with, "Mommy can you help me put on my princess dress, so I can be a princess?" Then it goes, "Mommy, I need my princess tiaaaaraa (emphasis on the ara)." Finally, "Mommy, I need my wand. Do you know where my wand is?" She got this princess dress from our family in Texas (My sister). Her cousin has one just like it. She loves this dress. She turns in circles and dances on tiptoe.

This "princess bed" was a hand-me-down from a neighbor girl. I often find Ellie curled up in her "princess bed" with Geeky and Na Na, she says, "I'm taking a nap." Then steals a pillow from a nearby chair.