Celebrating the Christmas Season

This has been one of the funnest Christmas' to celebrate! I think little ones put joy into the holiday season! I made an advent calendar for Paul so we would do everything we wanted to do in this short holiday season! Included in that was: tea party with the ladies, singing hymns, enjoying a fabulous evening with the Feldt's at the Westin's Christmas extravaganza, an amazing evening at Six Flags (for Paul's work party) where we enjoyed roller coasters, bbq and the most amazing Nativity Play we have ever seen! Paul's boss had another wonderful party at her house last weekend and have enjoyed dear neighbor Maggie and her awesome Christmas cookies and I even talked Paul into a drive through nativity (actually it was pretty amusing and cute). Needless to say, it has been such a wonderful holiday season and it has just begun! I also had to include some random pics of Elli, because she cracks us up daily! The latest have included: dancing so hard at the JCPenney Christmas music that I had to hold on tight to the stroller so she didn't tip it over and when Paul gets home she runs to the door with her arms wide open and a huge smile on her face. She has even started to give kisses to her baby neighbors(without us ever saying anything). But the best way to describe Elli right now is a girl who has a book in her hand wanting to sit on someone's lap to have them read it to her. I cannot count how many books I read her a day. I never could have dreamed how fun it would be to be a mommy.

Winter and Walking

I just thought I would add some more "walking" pics as well as it was supposed to snow either yesterday or today so we got dressed up in our snowman and Colorado gear...but there's no snow:(

Elliana liked the knee walk until last week. Over the past 10 days she has really got to like walking.

Elliana likes walking, Closing doors and hiding under chairs!

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week was wonderful!! My bro, Mike and fam came out and on Wednesday we got to all be together with all the cousins/siblings at Momacks. The kids played and played for 4 hours at the playground! On Thanksgiving we went to Sea World. We enjoyed no lines and Shamu, as always, was fantastic! On Friday we celebrated Thanksgiving with yummy turkey and the fixins. We relaxed, played games and naps were of course part of the day. Saturday we hit the Riverwalk, Rain Forest Cafe and the train at Brackenridge Park. Elli thought she was all that because she started walking and could "hang" with the cousins. Plus Abby and Bethany played and played with her. She was so sad when the house was quiet again! What a fun week!

Elli's Turkey Birthday Party!

Saturday was so much fun as we celebrated Elli and her friend, Maggi's, birthday! There was a bounce house, pumpkin painting and turkey hats to make. Of course, Elli loved the cupcake the most, but I have to say she is her father's daughter! Paul rates cakes by the FTCR (frosting to cake ratio) because he loves frosting so much. When Elli ate her cupcake she first ate the frosting then handed me the rest, wanting more frosting! We had such a great time and it was fun to celebrate with friends!

Halloween Flower Girl

Elliana was a flower for Halloween (thanks to Joni's thoughtful costume buying)! She actually loved wearing her petals and left them on all evening.

Celebrating Birthdays in Kansas

While Paul had another work trip, I got to go to Kansas and celebrate Elli and my birthdays! We felt very celebrated as Julia came home, too, for the week and surprised me on my birthday with tickets to the Broadway production "Wicked". It was absolutely so much fun! Dad and Mom babysat which was very nice, too! The next day we headed to Mike and Tina's and enjoyed a wonderful day with them including pumpkin cake and Thai and crepes...yes, yummy! On Thursday, mom took off of work and all of us spent a really great day in McPherson! Then mom made Elli her first cupcake! Paul and I have pics with our first cupcakes in front of us...now how does that happen? Elli tore into it as soon as it got near to her high chair! It was a wonderful time and mom and dad made yummy meals and it was a week where we both felt so special! Thanks ya'll!

Germany Trip with Dad

Paul had a conference in Germany and his dad was able to go with. They had an amazing time in the Alps and old town Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber and Heidelberg. It was a great time reminiscing of days when Paul used to live there. They enjoyed their father-son time so much that they stayed up late the last night watching the Vikings game (yes, Germany supports the Minnesota Vikings)!

Week in Buhler

While Paul was in Germany I got to go to Buhler! Elli absolutely loves hanging with Grandpa and Grandma and this trip she was close buddies with Grandpa. Everyone would try to make her laugh with no success until Grandpa came into the room, then whatever he did would make her happy or laugh. She did get sick (Roseola) and was in a very bad mood most of the trip (again, except for when Grandpa was around). Dad, Elli and I checked out the Mennonite Heritage Musuem which was a fun day and I got to see Bro Mike and Tina and fam twice which was wonderful. Too bad I didn't get pics. Another highlight was seeing cousin Joni--see below!

Lunch Date with Joni and the Aunties

So I have the coolest family ever! Yep, no refuting that! My cousin, Joni, came to Buhler last weekend, too, and we had a lunch date with the aunties as well as one night we got together and laughed and laughed about life. It was extremely refreshing and they make me more motivated to be silly any time life allows!

The Exotic Farm

Dad and Mom were in Texas for a week and we had a blast! We stayed at an exotic farm in Johnson City and it was a very unique and fun experience. First of all we went on a "safari" feeding all of the exotic animals. I have never been that close or fed a bison, elk or kangaroo. Then we went swimming and a camel would casually walk by or an elk would cry out to it's mates. Hilarious! Elli's cousin, Landon, made a "deer" friend and the guys made the most wonderful grilled meal. Our cabin was inside the safari grounds (with a fence) but my mom laughed and laughed because their bed was next to a window where the zebra were. When she would turn over, that's what she would see. It was the craziest time, but extremely fun and memorable! I highly recommend it to anyone with children.

Child Dedication

When Mom and Dad were out, we had a child dedication with them. It was a very special time.

Cute Grapevine, TX

Ooh Boy am I behind on blogging! But wanted to include a few pics of our week in Grapevine, TX (Dallas area). Paul had a conference there so instead of staying at the hotel, we rented a house downtown. We would walk (or run) to the cutest downtown area and enjoy a pastry everyday and Christmas shop or whatever. I took a jewelry making class and we enjoyed the marina, too, where we saw the biggest houseboat! It was a wonderful week! Also, Elli said her "first word", Mama appropiately! I am so honored, though it was while she was screaming after a fall. I got up one morning and went to a community garage sale and found Elli a toy and a great birthday week present for Paul (the remote controlled windsurfer). Every vacation is better with a great garage sale!