New outfit

Aunt Jenny got Elyse a really nice outfit for Christmas. So cute! 

It would have been better pic if Elyse would stand still!

Merry Christmas!

Wow was Christmas fun this year. We stayed home in St. Louis versus going to Ohio. It was so nice to wake up and take Ellie down to the Christmas tree and sit around in our PJ's for the morning. We did make it to the 11am mass on Christmas morning! Impressive I think. I cannot remember the last time I went to mass on Christmas. Unfortunately we did not make it through the whole mass with antsy pants Ellie but it was nice to at least get to the church. Back to Christmas morning....

We did not wrap Ellie's gift from Santa, the Rody horse. It is an inflatable horse that she can ride/bounce on. She was so excited when she saw it. It really got christmas going. Otherwise I think she would have walked right past the tree. Or maybe just pulled an ornament off and kept going.

Here is silver Rody. She also thought he was fun to bite! Good thing it is strong thick plastic. I am really waiting for the day she is done putting EVERYTHING in her mouth! When does it end???

Ellie also got a toaster from her cousins Kelley and Ryan. It was another hit of the morning! She stood over Nate's  shoulder as he opened it babbling something...probably hurry up! She was so funny with it though. She was having a great time putting in the toast and pulling it out over and over and over. Until Gershwin tried to get in on the fun. She wanted nothing to do with him so she took the toaster and turned her back on us all!

The ultimate gift of the morning was the ball pit that Daddy really wanted her to have.  THe box was big enough for her to sit on and open.  She was interested of the picture of the kids on the front but almost burst when she saw the balls inside! She is a fanatic! She had a blast playing in it.

The ball pit was bigger than I had expected. Almost 4 feet tall and 50 inches around! Her is Ellie trying to put a ball in the top. There is a spiral down the middle that the balls can go down. Of course she wants to do it because she can hardly reach it!

 

We had a great Christmas morning! Ellie was really into opening the presents, even 'helping' Nate and I with ours! In the end we did not have that bad of a mess...

Merry Christmas!

Friends

The other day we went to the botanical gardens here in St. Louis, I really love the botanical gardens here. We have a yearly membership and go frequently! This day we went to check out the Christmas train exhibit with our friends Walker & Jen and Erin, Stella & Charlotte. I just thought this was cute. This is Ellie and her good friend Stella, who is 3. They were watching the trains together holding hands. So sweet!

Our little artist...

Ellie has been sick off and on this winter already. Mostly colds nothing too big. But she has not been quite herself playing and laughing. SO I figured maybe she could enjoy some of her down time coloring. Now if I can only keep her from eating the crayons!

Trimming the tree

We had a great time trimming our Christmas tree this year. I actually got help doing it which was enjoyable for me. Nate put on the lights. He really does do a better job of it than I do probably because I don't like doing it! Ellie helped too!

She found the ornament boxes,

...got in

...got out some cool ornaments

...hung them on the tree

then she took an ornament break(good thing they are unbreakable!)

Tickle Lexi

Ellie has become fascinated with our dogs tails. She seems to think she is tickling them when she grabs it. SHE thinks it is funny. Some how Lexi and Gershwin do not agree. They usually give me a dirty look while they are draging their buts on the ground to escape her.

 

 

Turtle Park

Before our Thanksgiving guests left we burned some energy off at Turtle Park. Turtle Park is a park of concrete turtles that kids (and those who wish they were still kids) can climb all over. It is one of the fun interesting places we enjoy in St. Louis and of course my nephew, Austin, loves it. He want to go here and out on the boats every time he comes. Luckily this place is free!
Ellie enjoyed it here with her cousins and loved spending some time with Papa and Grandma too.
Luckily we got this good (or good enough) shot of Ellie and Papa.He is getting it on a cup for Christmas!

All the cousins got in line for a photo. From top Austin, Taylor, McKenna and Ellie.

Ellie also took a stroll with Grandma over to the swings.

Enjoying her ride while watching her cousins jumping on and off their swings.

Quality time with Taylor!

Elyse enjoyed spending time with her cousins. She really took to Taylor as you can see.

At the zoo

No shopping for us on the Friday after Thanksgiving! We took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the zoo. This time we were dressed for the penguin house!

Ellie loves the penguins. Probably because you can get right up next to them. Usually my niece Taylor love them too. But this time she was a bit scared. So Ellie posed alone.

All the cousins did pose on the bug though. Ellie got a little help from Papa.

Of course she was off and running once let out of her stroller.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Family at the Thanksgiving table.
We had such a feast turkey and all the fixings. YUM! I love doing the cooking for Thanksgiving, especially because it gets me out of the clean up!

Cheers!

Fun at Thanksgiving...

My parents, nephew Austin, and nieces McKenna and Taylor joined us for Thanksgiving! Elyse was THRILLED! She played so much she passed out for naps and bedtime. Thanksgiving afternoon we took a walk to the park to play before dinner. Nate even joined in on the playground fun.

Austin on the top of the slide!

Monkey Taylor...

Ellie conquering the slide...

McKenna

Nate hanging out.

Ellie leading the way home for turkey!

YUM, YUM. Chocolate cake.

HA! So this is what happens when Ellie gets chocolate cake. She was SO excited. I mean I love chocolate cake too but she was really happy.

She ate her whole little piece. Then looked at Nate and I for seconds. She didn't get anymore! She did decide to try a new hair style though with chocolate frosting as her hair product. Yum yum. It was a fun bath that night.

What???

So this is what I find while I am cleaning house. I guess they were 'helping' by staying out of the way!

Chore time...

We have given Ellie the job of feeding the dogs in the evening. Sorry for the sideways view in the beginning.

Chicago

Nate had to take a trip to Chicago for work and wanted Ellie and I to join him. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous at first. We have traveled with Ellie before but we have stayed with family or friends. This time we were staying in a hotel and a nice one too!
Ellie decided she would 'help' me pack for the trip. Nothing like the help of a one year old to slow ya down. She had so much fun climbing in and out of the suitcase and unpacking it as well.

Here is Ellie checking out the bed and the tub at The Drake.

She also loved the window display at the store outside The Drake as well. They had a Santa climbing up and down a ladder. She kept watching him and saying "OHHHHH!!" every time he got to the top and started coming back down.

We had brunch with our friends Chad and Greta. Ellie had a blast with them.

She also liked the band that was playing that morning too!

Sunday night we had dinner with Nate's cousin Marty and his family. Ellie loved playing with the twins Aaron and Anna.

Aaron and Ellie entertained one another shaking their heads 'no' and eating goldfish.

Anna was talking care of some business on the phone and just needed a minute before her photo

Ellie and I also got the chance to see our friends from Michigan Neha and Gitesh. We also finally met their son Aarav, who is 1 1/2 months older than Ellie. They had a great time playing as well. And I had a great time visiting.

On Tuesday while Daddy was at work Ellie and I checked out the Chicago Children's Museum. Ellie had a BLAST.
Here she is my budding archiologist...

Look I even got to get in a picture with her....kind of

My little flower. These were in one of the nature exhibits. If you stick your head, or arm, in they play animal noises and kids laughing.

Posing as a little pup...

Going for a strike....

Checkmate...

The best part of the museum was the water area! Ellie was a bit to short to really enjoy it but she still enjoyed it. The best part was the little rain coats they give you to wear!

Overall we had a wonderful trip. Ellie did so well with the drive, the hotel and the crazy schedule. Can't wait for our next trip.