Happy 1st Birthday Ethan & Emily

This past week my cousins twins, Ethan & Emily turned a year old.  It is so hard to believe that they are already turning one.  This weekend they had their party and it was so sweet to see them both walking around interacting with everyone. Emily dug into her cake, but Ethan wasn't really to sure about all and they both had fun opening their presents.  It was a real eye opener for me as it won't be long and it will be Elli's turn!  Happy Birthday Ethan & Emily!  We love you!

Ethan &  Emily when they were born - so tiny!

Elli enjoyed playing with their new toys too! 

9 Months

Where has the last the month gone?  This past month was jam packed with activities and I didn't blog about one of them! We celebrated my 30th Birthday, which I must say I struggled with a bit but got over it in a day or two.  Elli had an overnight with Pa & T while we had an adult evening out with some of our friends. For Matt's birthday, T had bought him a date night in February at Sur la table with cooking lessons for us.  Most of you know that Matt doesn't need cooking lessons so I think this was more of a way to get me to like cooking.  I must say it was a ton of fun and the food we made was awesome! But sorry T - I still hate to cook!  

During all that, Elli turned 9 months old last week. We celebrated her 9 month with her first ear infection and a touch of the croup.  She seems to be doing better but still a little grumpy during the night, which Mommy and Daddy are not used to.  She has started to cruise around the furniture a bit but has realized she can get to things on the furniture that she wants just as easy by getting down and crawling over to it. She gives us kisses, shakes her head no while saying "na-na" and plays peak-a-boo.  We have come to realize that this little one will only do things on her own terms though.  All the things mentioned above she will not do when we ask her to, only when she wants to!  She knows what "no" means and usually listens pretty well, for now. She loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Moose a Moose/Zee on Nick Jr. and lights up with excitement when her daddy comes home from work.    

She loved playing with mommy's balloons from her birthday.

Elli's new Jacuzzi

She got her first boo-boo this month too.  Fell into the cabinet - OUCH!

Sitting Pretty

I don't know if you can see them but the dogs are on the other side of the door.  She loves to watch them out the door and we swear she is trying to say "dog"

Mommy and Elli tuckered out after a long sleepless night from being sick.

This picture sums up how Elli has been feeling for the past week!

7 & 8 months

Today, Elli is 8 months old and I realized that I hadn't blogged her 7 month yet! Elli has really started to be quite the independent and sassy lady.  In the last two months she has learned to crawl and is getting quite fast at it too.  She pulls herself up to EVERYTHING, has said her first word, of course it was "da-da."  Sometimes I think she is trying to say "mom-mom" when she is ready for bed but it sounds more like "Mmmmm" but I just keep telling myself that she is trying to say it.  She claps her hands when you say "yeah" and has started doing "so big" with her hands above her head.  We have been signing to her for the last couple of months, she hasn't started doing it back yet but we hope she will start to catch on soon.  She is a very good eater, always wanting more of everything and has started feeding herself puffs.  I think that is about it in a nutshell.  She is such a blessing and fills each of our days with so much joy. 

 For Daddy's birthday, we did a mini photoshoot with Miss Kelsey and this is one of many favorites from the shoot.

 Little Red Nose...tis the season

Another favorite from the photoshoot

Happy Birthday M&M

This evening we celebrated Marrs and Mendel's 2nd birthday.  Of course, these dogs didn't just have any old birthday celebration.

Marrs & Mendel when we first brought them home

Looking so innocent

Elli loves her brothers

The feast.....if you look closely you will see little bits of steak!  These dogs are a little spoiled!

No birthday would be complete without cake and ice cream!  Yes, that is doggie ice cream!

Ringing in the New Year

We spent our night ringing in the new year with great food, fun and friends.  Elli even woke up just in time to ring in the new year and went back to sleep shortly after the countdown.  A big thank you to Julie & Andrew for having us over to their house to celebrate! 

Elli and Abbie in their matching PJ's

Canon treated us to Prime Rib for dinner.

Cade kept most of the kiddos entertained for the night

2011 Christmas Memories

 CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas Eve was an eventful day for us.  Daddy had a special Christmas Surprise that he was working on all day so Elli and Mommy spent most of Christmas Eve on our own.  Our first stop of the day was to Grandpa Duckworth's.  Elli had a great time opening her first Christmas presents and I think she may have gotten a little spoiled on our first stop.  Our next stop was to Christmas Eve Service at church and then daddy finally got to meet up with us at Great Grandpa Proper's house.    

 taking a moment to pose with Aunt Tiff, Aunt Chels,

Grandpa Duckworth and Grandma Tammy

 





Great Grandpa Proper

CHRISTMAS DAY

What an amazing Christmas Day it was for us.  This was by far the best Christmas.  Daddy outdone himself and surprised mommy with new bedroom furniture and Santa brought Elli a few surprises too.  After an eventful morning with Elli and M&M it was off to Pa & T's house for some more presents and fun. 





M&M even got to join us Christmas morning for a few surprises of their own from Santa