Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

Enjoying a delicious sushi Christmas Eve dinner!

Reading The Night Before Christmas before getting snug in our beds!

Ella washing dishes in her new play kitchen!

Daddy and Ella checking out what Santa left...

I love my new dog!!

Showing off her dance moves at Al & Nancy's house!

Pretty as a doll!

We had a small and quiet Christmas this year. Although we wished our families could have been with us, we felt Christmas was perfect in every way! On Christmas Eve, we went out to dinner and enjoyed....sushi!! Then, made our way to St. Anne's for a very crowded, but festive service. Ella did great in Church and LOVED when the choir sang! On Christmas day, Ella woke up at 5:45am ready to celebrate! She loved opening gifts--tearing paper, playing with ribbon and bows and pretending to sled in boxes. Ella got lots of lovely items--a new play kitchen from Santa, clothes, big Lego's, books, her first purse, a teaching toy dog, a toy video camera (so that she can be just like Daddy!) and a new baby doll. We took a family walk shortly after breakfast and enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch at our neighbors home and a small, but yummy turkey dinner at home. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Best Buds

These two are just too cute for words! Ella adores Buddy (and his bed, too!).

Old Books

"Read to me Mommy!"

Angelo's parents brought down his old Christmas books from when he was little. I stacked them on the coffee table in the front living room hoping to be able to read some of them to Ella soon. Well, Miss Ella caught eye of them and within one day decided to see what these stories where all about! I found Ella one early morning on the floor near the Christmas tree looking at all of Daddy's old Christmas stories, and when she noticed I was standing there (taking a picture of this precious moment, of course!) she handed me a story to read to her. I really wished Angelo was home at the time to witness this sentimental moment--I guess the pictures & story will have to do!

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree!

The tree is 'so big'!

Just can't stop watching Daddy with the tree!

Hanging ornaments with Mommy... The finished product!

Ella watched Daddy from inside prep our Christmas tree! She was so excited I couldn't pull her away from the door! She helped me hang ornaments, stocking and decorate around the house. Such a good little elf I have!

Proud Mommy & Daddy!

We are a family that loves numbers, so it should come to no surprise that we are posting Ella's stats from her one year well check up... Ella is in the 97% for height (32.25 inches) and 90% for weight (24.14 pounds). She is as tall as an average 22 month old female!

Who is this man with a white beard??

Waiting for the tree lighting ceremony!

"I'm still not too sure about this guy..."

We have read many stories about Santa. We have sang about every song written about the jolly old guy, so who would have thought Ella was not a fan of Santa when we saw him at Midnight Madness tonight. First came the "stare" then the tears--lots of them! Poor little Bean was terrified of Old St. Nick! I guess we can forget about going to the mall to get formal pictures with the old guy this year!

Gobble, Gobble!

Daddy enjoying a ride on Pap's new toy, I mean plow!

Ella enjoying a buggy ride in a laundry basket--she loves this activity!

Showing Great Grandma the birds and trying to grab them through the glass!

Ella & Pap watching the birds outside eat!

Ella & Great Grandma--Ella just woke up from her nap when Grandma arrived!

Ella & Grandma....still sleepy!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We went to PA for the holiday and enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Although I wasn't able to capture the moment when Ella ate her first Thanksgiving fest (I know, bad Mommy!) nor did I get a picture of her all dressed up for the special day, I did grab my camera for the moments afterwards when she was spending time with her grandparents.

Look who turned ONE...!

Sitting with Grandpap!

Make a wish!

"YUM!! I LOVE frosting!!"
Opening presents!

All tuckered out after a long day!

Ella Bean, our beautiful-no-longer-a-baby, turned ONE this week! On Wednesday, Ella celebrated with her playgroup friends at our house for a birthday luncheon, and then on Saturday, she celebrated with family and close family friends. Food, cake, presents, play, laughter and pure fun was had by all! Happy Birthday sweet **BIG** girl!!

Where did the year go? It seems like yesterday when we brought Ella home from the hospital--wondering how this perfect little baby girl could possibly be ours. I don't think we could fathom how fast Ella's first year of year of life would go by--how fast she would grow--how much she would change and continue to flourish day to day--and how much our hearts would grow.

Fun with Grandparents (and Toys!)

Both set of grandparents came this weekend to celebrate Ella's big day. In addition to tons of hugs and kisses for Ella, they came bearing TOYS!!

Ella's Birthday Playgroup

Ella's cupcakes and food for her friends!

Ella sitting pretty before her friends arrive...

Ella opening a gift from Jack!

The crowd BEFORE the crowd...

Ella playing with play dough & stickers with the "big" kids...

We celebrated Ella's 1st birthday by hosting a MRE playgroup! Our birthday girl was a little over stimulated with the many, many people who were in our home, but she stuck by her Mommy's side and eventually enjoyed playing with all of her friends--I think close to 30 came!! Happy Birthday, Ella!

Fun at the Zoo!

Watch out--it's a cheetah!
Ella's favorite--the small mammal house!

Ella and Mommy looking at the prairie dogs!

A panda bear!

At the elephant barn--no elephants, but we did see a hippo!

We just can't get enough of the Zoo! We went again on Tuesday--Daddy's day off--and saw many animals!

Say BOO, no I mean MOO!

MOO! Happy Halloween!

Moo Cow with her treat bag!

Moo Cow up close!

"It's the GREAT PUMPKIN, Charlie Brown!"

Sitting outside at our house!

Ella, the Moo Cow and Eloise, the Butterfly!

Handing out treat bags Mommy and Ella put together for Ella's friends...

Ella's little pumpkin (now a little jack-o-latern!) from our garden on the right!

Ella celebrated her first Halloween this year! She was the cutest Moo Cow we've ever seen! We traveled to three porch parties in our neighborhood and handed out candy to many trick-or-treaters. Happy Halloween, everyone!