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.