Christmas 2011

We had such a great Christmas this year. I can't believe how different Christmas is when you have a little one. Ellie made everything so much more fun and it was great to be able to see her get so excited with each new thing she opened. We were able to spend Christmas in Orem with my family this year and my brother, Gary, his wife, Katie and there dog Sadie came as well. Sadie is a lab and at first I was a little apprehensive to have Ellie there with this huge dog. Well....Ellie LOVED every minute of Sadie being there and was sad when it came time to leave. Sadie did really good and didn't ever get mad or feisty with Ellie...even with her pulling her tail and lips!

When we got down to my parents, my mom had made this fun Christmas tree for Ellie to take off and put on the ornaments. It is just felt and stuck on the fridge, but Ellie loved it! She spent a lot of time taking them off and putting them back on.

Ellie helped make pies with Grandma and had a great time. She even likes the pie dough(just like me) Then, on Christmas Eve, we celebrated oneofeach. A holiday we have made up where we have a small piece of each of the pies the night before. I love this because, really, you are always too full to each much dessert after snacking all day on Christmas and dinner. Here is my plate! I'm pretty sure Ellie likes this tradition too. She especially enjoyed the chocolate shavings from the Chocolate Sundae Pie!

Christmas morning was awesome! Santa came and it took a bit for Ellie to really understand that all of these things were for her. I loved watching her with her stocking. She would reach way down in and get each thing out. Then she had to play with each too:)

My mom got her a kitchen that we had all set up for Christmas morning. Unfortunately the doors were warped and wouldn't close. I don't really think Ellie minded much, but I didn't want to have it bother her if she couldn't open and close them. So, the next day I called everywhere and found that they have actually discontinued this kitchen:( We took it back and ordered a new one online. It was the other one we were decided between and when it came in the mail, Ellie was super excited about it! It is a favorite toy still and she plays with it all the time.

Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year we decided to wait until after church to open presents. We got all ready(this is how Ellie entertained herself while waiting) She loves to walk around in shoes, especially high heals, and she does a pretty good job at it. I made everyone take a picture before changing:) Here are just some picture of opening presents. Patrick got me cookie cutters I have been wanting.Ellie with her farm from Grandma and Grandpa Brown. She loves this one so much. I love how focused she is in this picture.Every kids needs a popper vacuum thingy...right:) Gary and Katie got Ellie a stuffed dog, Jingle, that comes with a book and when you read the dog will interact. Ellie thought this was the coolest thing ever!We got Ellie a little baby doll and Gary needed to wear the little hat:)Krista sent Patrick this hat with hair:) It was hilarious.And I got him a couple of seasons of Psych! Best show ever!The biggest surprise was for Patrick. My mom got him a blanket from his high school. His brother and sister have one and he always wants one too. He had no idea this was coming. I had to test it out too:)

On our way home, we had to stop and spend some time in Layton with Patrick's family. We had a great time there too. Here is Ellie with her new table and chairs and ice cream set. She loves them. Judy also got Ellie a sled that we didn't have a picture of. We had such a great time with everyone. It was nice to get home and have our routine back. Here are pictures of Ellie with all of the haul she came home with:)

Lights at Temple Square

I remember when I was little going to see the lights at Temple Square and thinking it was so much fun. Patrick and I have said every year that we will go and see the lights and have never made it....until this year(December 22, 2011). On our way down to my parents for Christmas, we decided to meet up with Patrick's family at Temple Square. It was pretty cold, so we bundled Ellie all up and were on our way. Grandma Judy even made her a little scarf. There were tons of people, but Ellie thought all the lights were pretty cool. Katie and Mike Eric, Judy and Todd Me, Ellie and Patrick We were going to head out to get some hot chocolate afterwards, but Ellie was exhausted and before we even got out of the parking lot had zonked! We had a great time and think it will be a fun tradition to make.

A Second Visit to Santa

I am really far behind in posts, but here's to at least one new post and maybe I will catch up soon:) We decided to take Ellie to see Santa again at Patrick's work(December 21, 2011). He was a much better Santa and she did a little better also. She was very apprehensive at first, but decided the bells on his wrist were pretty cool. No sitting on his lap, but she would sit on my lap.....It will be fun to see how she does next year with Santa.

Happy 6 Years

Christmas Calendars

We were a little late getting our Christmas calendars done this year, but we made it! Ellie loved to have such a huge surface to draw all over. December 9, 2011

She especially loved being able to use markers.

Although she had such a large poster all to herself, she insisted on helping daddy and mommy

The finished product!

This was a tradition that Patrick LOVED growing up and I am glad to keep it going. They always had to make sure they read scriptures everyday or did something nice for someone else(when they were smaller) I think it is a great idea to help keep some of the true meaning of Christmas.

Pillow Surfing

Ellie loves it when Patrick is home. He tries to come home most days for lunch and she gets so excited. This is a new fun game they have been playing. Pillow Surfing December 14, 2011

She has pretty good balance too. I am amazed at how long she will stay on even with Patrick shaking the pillow all around.

It's funny because when he goes to shake it he will say na na na na na na na na(can't really get the tune to come through) So now whenever he goes to shake the pillow, Ellie will say na na na na na. Little copycat:)

Transitioning to one Nap

We have been having a hard time trying to figure out naps with Ellie lately. She is so tired and ornery with one nap, but refuses to take two...it's a work in progress. It has actually gotten a lot better the last week and I think we have it pretty good. She was so tired, but not quite ready for a nap....so I thought the other day. She was just snuggling on the couch and all of the sudden I looked up to find this...December 13, 2011

She was out. This is crazy for Ellie because she NEVER sleeps anywhere except her crib, pack n play or carseat. She seriously has never fallen asleep on a bed. It is more like playtime. I thought it was a cute picture, don't mind my pants that she is laying on. It was wet outside and the bottoms were soaking wet:)

Uh Oh!

Patrick has a sub woofer in our front room that seems to attract kids. They always want to try to put stuff in the big hole in the front. We have been very impressed because Ellie hasn't even tried to put anything in it....yet! Well, our luck ran out when she put a toy lettuce leaf in. After getting in "trouble" she hasn't done it since. Here is the wonderful contraption we made to get it out! December 8, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great time for Thanksgiving this year in Layton with the Cassity's. We had fun with Grandma Judy and her new IPad. Ellie loves to draw and make animal sounds on it! Every time Ellie would see it, she would run over and point!

We decorated gingerbread cookies

Ellie loved putting on sprinkles

And licking off all the frosting

She was very excited

And covered in sprinkles

We made some funny faces with Grandma's glasses...and may have broken them:(

We played with Aunt Kati outside

And we snuggled on Grandma's rocking chair eating cookies and watching cartoons(toons as we call them)

We also had a great time going and looking at all the lights in Layton park. Ellie was so excited with each light that came along. We had a wonderful time!