Party it UP!!!

The day after Thanksgiving we had a party for Ellison's birthday.  Oh my word does this girl love a party.  She kept touching her chest saying "my party" "my presents".  The other highlight for her were the cupcakes.  Once she saw them she couldn't stop asking for one and she did not disappoint when she finally got one.  She devoured it.  She took great delight in opening her packages, squealing with each new discovery.  I am so grateful, we truly got to celebrate her birthday this year.

In her birthday outfit.

My party, my presents.

Aunt Mary brought her ipad and this little lady was in heaven.  Such a little techie this one.

Showing Nana Vicki her reading skills.

Squeezing Aunt Mary in two.

Say cheese BellBell.

CUPCAKE!!!!

This is getting a little messy, how about I just eat it like this.

Happy Thanksgiving

We went home to LA for Thanksgiving and to celebrate Ellison's birthday.  The trip ended up being quite the adventure, but that was at the end so it didn't spoil the beginning.  Thanksgiving I got to meet a cousin I don't remember meeting before.  I have cousins by the dozens on my Dad's side that I haven't met.  So it was nice to finally get to meet at least one, along with his family.  Bradley, Elaine and Cassie joined us along with my Aunt MoMo.  It was a great day and the girls go to play with sweet Cassie and had such a good time.

The pie, Kentucky Derby Pie.

The girls, they look quite shocked in this picture.  I think I was acting really ridiculous trying to get all three of them to look at the same time.  The end result was expressions of who is this CRAZY WOMAN?

Such concentration during sticker time.

A new way to play on our itouch.

Someone couldn't make it to the Thanksgiving meal with the rest of the family.  She ate early and went down for a long nap. 

Sweet Cassie.  She is so adorable.

Hadley and Cassie, building a house out of the blocks.

Ellison Ann making new friends.  She made herself comfortable with Elaine.

Oh no the baby is crying.

Wait, she is all better now.

Elaine, Cassie and Bradley.  So glad we got to meet you.  Hope to see you again at Christmas!!!!!

Birthday party pictures and the story of our adventure later.

Wax On Wax Off

They aren't great, but here are a few snaps of Hads doing her Karate thing.  She loves it.  Probably her favorite activity.

Bath time fun

Bath time fun.  What is it about taking a baby out of the bath and them looking at their own reflection.  Both of my girls love looking at themselves in the mirror after their bath.

She wanted her picture taken by herself.  She loves the camera.

The Birthday Girl

BIRTHDAY PICTURES

It's your birthday, PARTY!!!  I am still not quite sure she understood what her birthday was and why we were gushing over her so much.  It was such a marked improvement over the way we celebrated last year that there aren't words to express it.

On our way to school, so stinking cute when she looks at me and smiles for the camera. 

Really, this is what we are having for my birthday......

No, I don't like it.  This is not my birthday breakfast!!!!

Telling Elmo all her troubles.

She got to pick for her birthday dinner where she wanted to go.  Cheesing again for the camera.

A little sisterly love, we will take it where we can get it.

Her pick for dinner, PIZZA!!!!

Cupcake time, I'm T W O!!!!!

Present time, she loved opening her presents this year.  Christmas is going to be an absolute blast this year.  She gets so giddy over what is inside the boxes.

Running your own Race

So if you came here looking for birthday pictures you will have to come back tomorrow.  I am out of order right now and this is definitely something I want to log and have a memory of.  This journey began and ended with an amazing group of ladies and we all learned you Run your own Race in life and on the road.

I'm pretty sure running a 5K was on my list of things, I never thought I would do.  Not that I didn't want to, I just really wasn't willing to commit to it.  I mean after all, I was pretty committed to my TV watching vegging out after work (after the kiddos were in bed of course!!!!)  However, it is something I have done not once but twice now.  Color me shocked.  So the first time, I set several goals for myself:  to run as much as I absolutely could, to not look at the time, not look behind me, and finish in under 37 minutes.  I don't know, 37 minutes, just seemed like my goal.  The first time I accomplished all my goals and was pretty pleased.  The second time, I had one goal to push myself harder and beat my first time.  I am so thrilled that I was able to accomplish that goal for myself.  Accomplishing the goals I set for myself was pretty exciting, but pushing outside my comfort zone and doing something new and different that I have NEVER done before was even more thrilling.  Going through this journey with a great group of new friends, thrilling.  I'm pretty excited right now.

Who knows I might just be running a 10K in February. 

Happy Birthday

Dear Ellison Ann:

I can hardly believe it has been two years since you made your early entrance into our lives. We thought our life was pretty grand as it was, little did we know what all we were missing. You truly have completed our family in ways I could never have envisioned. I love to imagine the little lady you will become. Will you be as decisive as you are now? You are very specific with what you want and you will try every angle to persuade until you get it. Will you be as aware of your surroundings and in tune with people as you are now? There isn't anything you fail to observe or experience in your environment. I call you my street smart girl, because you don't miss a thing that is going on. Will you always be so independent? You want to do everything yourself. Feed yourself, pour your milk yourself, get your diaper yourself. It amazes me how fiercely you fight to learn new things. Will you always be such a selective eater? You aren't very adventurous when it comes to eating. Your staples are veggies, cheese and fruit. Getting you to eat meat is very rare. Will you always be as determined as you are now? Also known as stubborn. If you don't want to do something, it is near impossible to change your mind.

Watch out world, you are going to be one red headed force to be reckoned with!!!

We love you so very much.

Love, Mommy, Daddy & Hadley

SUPER COOL

I can't get our scanner to work, SHOCKER!!!!  I wanted to post this note that Hadley gave to her Daddy on his birthday.  I thought it was super sweet and wanted to remember her excitement over his birthday.

Snap Happy

Just a couple of snaps of the girls this past Sunday before Church.  They aren't real great, but they are something.  These show off Ellison's second injury on her eye.

Ms. Els

Just a few random pictures of Ms. Els.  She has a little BooBoo on her nose, I accidentally scratched her.  Then today she got in a little disagreement at school and has a scratch by her eye.  She looks like a boxer.  So pitiful.