Getting so BIG!

Santa got Ellen a doll and stroller for Christmas. Today she took her baby for a walk. She's kind of a crazy driver. (Must have gotten that from her dad!)

After taking her baby for a walk, Ellen wanted to go visit our neighbor, Grace. She loves to sit in the chairs in front of Grace's house. Sometimes, she'll just wander over and sit in the chairs whether Grace is there or not.

Cooking rice. Ellen loves playing with her kitchen and usually says that she is cooking rice.

Saturday Ellen and I went to Naples and Fort Meyers with my friend Janet. We stopped at the Edison and Ford museum where they have a 400 ft. (spread out--not height) Banyan tree. Ellen liked climbing on part of it (even though she wasn't supposed to--try reasoning with a 1 1/2 year old about that!) She thought she was a monkey.

Ellen is very interested in going to the bathroom. She has not actually gone yet but she wants to sit on her Dora seat and go, "Pee pee potty like Nikole." Nikole is the oldest one at her daycare. She just turned three this weekend. Ellen went to her birthday party on Sunday. She had so much fun jumping in the bouncy house and climbing on the playground. Ellen has absolutely no problem keeping up with the bigger kids.

Making Cupcakes

Ellen's manos (hands) are all clean and she has on her chef's hat and apron that Aunt Riana, Uncle Jer, Austin and Carson got her for Christmas, so it's off to make cupcakes.

Daddy got Ellen a recipe book to make cupcakes for Christmas, so let's see what she can make.

The cupcakes are cooking and Ellen did a really good job of putting in the ingredients and mixing everything up. She had the most fun with the cupcake papers and the sprinkles though. The cupcakes were very yummy! Triple chocolate! She took some to the neighbors and some to daycare (otherwise we'd all weigh 1000 pounds!)

Christmas in Colorado 12/22-12/31

Ellen and I went to Colorado Springs to be with my family for Christmas. My parents and my grandma also came down from Montana. This is Ellen all dressed up with her cousins Acadia and Meridian on Christmas Eve.

Ellen loved opening presents. She STILL wants to open presents! Maybe that's because she started opening presents on the 19th and didn't stop until I think she got her final present yesterday (1/3).

All of the cousins in their matching jammies ready to open their stockings.

The whole family.

Carson, Sawyer, Ellen, Acadia, Austin, Meridian

The girls.

Santa brought Ellen a baby. She managed to feed it and herself at the same time.

The girls and their dolls in matching dresses that my mom made for them.

Christmas night we went to the Broadmoor to see the gingerbread houses and the lights.

There wasn't much snow the entire time we were in Colorado. Ellen was happy to find a little to walk in. We did go up in the mountains one day and went sledding. Ellen LOVED it! I don't have any pictures to put on because everyone forget their cameras so we had to use disposable ones.