HappyThanksgiving

We hope that everyone had a terrific Thanksgiving. We had a nice laid back day. Aunt Susie came over and made a Thanksgiving dinner (with a little help from me) which was way too much food for the four of us, especially since Ellie didn't eat any of it. Well, actually Ellie did have some cranberry sauce...

Happy Thanksgiving!

9 Months Old!!

Time for dolphin pictures!

Okay.. I'm done with dolphin pictures now.. I wanna go to bed.

The fact that we did dolphin photos, in her pajamas, lets you know it was that kind of day...

No!! Ellen, No!!

Life with a mobile, quick, likes to pull up on anything, almost 9-month-old is something else. Ellie is curious and loves her new vantage point when she pulls up on a piece of furniture or person. However, we find ourselves telling Ellie, No! much more often. Just a few examples...

"Ellen! Stay off the wine rack!"

"Ellie...don't eat the remote!"

"Ellen! No! Do not put your fingers in the VCR!"

"Ellie...hey...well, okay, you cn explore the new cabinets"

And no, by taking these photos we do not feel we are encouraging this behavior. She is going to pull up, grab, taste, and exlore as she is a curious child (aren't they all?).

Our Halloween

So I know we are a couple weeks late...but I figured I would share some photos of our Halloween fun.

So Nick and I decided to dress up as a farmer and the farmer's wife. We participated in the children's parade at the monument (along with hundreds of other kids!). We could not have asked for better weather. Then we did a little trick or treating on the way home. Ellie wasn't quite sure what to make of her loot, but she knew she really wanted it!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The Calm Before the Storm

Things have been a little bit back to normal since we got back from the wedding (despite the fact that I got the flu and was completely useless for a few days, fortunately Nick and Ellie didn't get it). And we have a few more weeks before everyone's lives are turned upside down and we move. And before that happens we have Aunt Susie's favorite holiday Halloween!

But while our lives are almost back to a regular routine (leaving the house for showings in the evening and keeping it spotless keep us from being back to normal) I thought I would share some of the mundane things that go on in our household.

Ellie sleeping in her favorite position and blanket (she won't sleep without the red blanket...)

Some morning mischief of playing with her books, note she isn't even dressed yet

Time to escape her room and see what else is going on in the living room...

...and make funny faces at the camera


Nap time. This is Ellie just after a nap, sitting up, ready to come out of the crib. (As a side note, Nick lowered the mattress the other night as we found Ellie standing up screaming. So at midnight, Ellie was reading a book and Nick was lowering the mattress.)

Time to play with her toys. Apparently taking the toys out of the basket is more exciting than actually playing with the toys.

Appetizers before dinner of puffs and a sippy cup of water. She is quite proficient with the sippy cup and grabbing the puffs and getting them to her mouth.

Getting in a little bit of trouble before bedtime...she knows she can't play with garbage cans or outlets now.

Getting her nighttime bottle...right before a couple stories and going to bed.

Phew, she keeps us going everyday. Its always something new, from pulling half her books off the shelf or taking all her diapers out of the basket or "petting" Mallie or demonstrating to us that she does know how to use a sippy cup...life is exciting even on what seems to be the most boring and typical day.

Welcome to the family, Uncle Mike!

Two weekends ago we took a trip to Illinois for my sister Cindy's wedding to her boyfriend of 6 years or so, Mike. We were there from Thursday through Tuesday and in addition to the wedding we were able to fit in time to visit with a lot of our close friends. It was great to see all of them, but the wedding itself (and getting to see relatives from as far away as Denver and Seattle) was the real attraction, so we figured we'd share some of our photographic memories.

Ellie was quite excited about the necklace Mommy received as a gift at Aunt Cindy's rehearsal dinner. Check out her eyes in there!

Here's Ellie hanging out with some members of her far-flung family. There's Great Grandma Kost (Palatine, IL), Grandma Sue (McHenry, IL), Great Uncle Gordon (Longmont, CO), and Great Uncle Glenn (Bellevue, WA). Those uncles are my mom's two brothers.

Ann, Cindy and I.. pre-ceremony.

Cindy & Mike sharing a laugh during the "sand ceremony" part of their wedding. They alternated filling a vase with different colored sand. (It was new to me, despite having been to about a dozen weddings since college.)

Cindy & Mike at the reception.

Ellie was very curious about the wedding cake, and Ann had to keep her a good distance away because the little one most definitely would have stuck a hand or two in it.

Ann's family (her sister Susie and her parents, Mike and Pam) came to the wedding to help celebrate.. and help us take care of Ellie while we had fun at the reception. Thanks to them for all their help.

Believe it or not, Ellie was the first one to hit the dance floor.. and everybody tried hard to get her attention for a couple funny photos -- little did they know *they* were the real funny ones..

Ellie made it through this round of pre-dinner pictures before zonking out. Then she slept through dinner in her car seat, which was next to my feet at the table.

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You know it's a party when the mother of the bride ends the night with the groom's tie around her head.. and one of the wacky uncles breaks out the glow necklaces to help with his air guitar routine.

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We'd like to thank Cindy and Mike again for inviting us, and wish them all the happiness and luck in the world. The three of us had a great time helping them celebrate their special day.