Fun in the Sun!

Now that the weather is starting to warm up and the sun actually shines through the clouds...we've discovered someone would much rather run around the yard then do, well, anything else!  She has spent quite a bit of time helping dad prep the garden boxes and get the yard ready for summer play.  She's taken time to "smell the roses" AKA pull the leaves off of flowers.  And we were even lucky enough to have some sun on Easter...which is great for an Easter egg hunt with cousins and a fruit hunt at Grandma's house.

 A quick break for reading when the sunshine goes away...

And we're back outside...

And now time for Easter...

 Sometimes looking for eggs means just running around with a big smile on your face!

 Ellie directing Audrey..."I'll throw you the ball, but first find me some eggs!"

Cousin Time!

Time for a little R & R before the next hunt...

 Oh is that a strawberry to go in my basket...oh look corn and bananas too!

One Year Photo Session!

We are finally getting around to posting Ellie's big girl pictures!  Not much to say other than I can't imagine being a mom of a baby model...this was hard work!  Between the two of us corralling her with rice crackers, a stuffed animal, and her Baby Animals book we certainly worked up a sweat and she was pretty tuckered out.  Totally worth it though...

Winter Beach Day!

If it is going to be partly cloudy with a chance of rain at home and at the beach...why not head to the beach?!?  Ellie was really looking to spend her holiday off by getting out of the house.  She really does love a stroll at the beach...and now that she's walking that stroll has turned into a run with a streak of independence!  So a short ride on President's Day led us to Seaside for a day with Grandma Cassandra, seagulls, and sand in our shoes!

 Just taking in the sights

Someone discovered her shadow!

 You talkin' to me?!

Window shopping...she is all girl!

Hopefully she won't have to learn the hard lesson of sandwich stealing seagulls like her mom did!

Such a happy little Punkin!

First Carousel Ride!

Yes she is cuddling a banana...because after a somewhat long session of fussiness in the car, this is what soothed her to sleep.  Which makes me wonder, the next time I have a hard time falling asleep...I should just grab a donut?!

Winter ONEderland!!

We can't believe it has been a whole year since Ellie joined our family.  I never thought it would fly by as fast as it has.  Just when we think she has reached the peak of cuteness and fun...she comes up with more silly tricks.  She seems to be attached to her "Sniffles Ernie" and has gotten pretty good at her pretend sneeze, "Aaachooo".  And with her Grover microphone, I see karaoke in her future.

The day before her birthday, they celebrated at school, crown and all!

 January seemed like a good time to go with the winter theme for Ellie's birthday.

Convincing her that cake is delicious...

...she didn't take too much convincing

\

And thanks to a very creative Grandma we had some fun taking pictures!!

 Auntie Annie made Ellie laugh!

 Ellie and Grandma has lots of fun playing and posing.

 Cousin Fun!!

 Silly Auntie Laura

 Big kisses for the big girl!

And the surprise guest from Alaska, Auntie Heidi!!!  Greg and Heidi surprised me the day before Ellie's birthday!  Made her birthday even more special!

 Mommy and Grandma

Time to open presents...

 "Ellie, let me help you."  

"Lukie, let me bite your arm."

Watch out Oregon football, you just got a new cheerleader!

And now the week of pink ruffles...she had quite a few new fashions for baby school the following week

 Oh weird, her microphone is in hand...nothing like dancing to Grover at 6:45 in the morning!!

 Who needs shoes on your feet, when you can just take them off and carry them around?!

Don't worry, we'll be having a talk with her about her midriff!