Dinosaur Dance Party

As Ellie gets older I have a hard time deciding whether to have a friend party or family party or both. This year we just went for the family party, I didn't have the energy to throw two parties. We had a dinosaur birthday with a dino egg hunt and dance party. The kids ate dino nuggets, lots of candy and cake. We lucked out with nicer than normal March weather and Ellie had a great time. 

Ellie's big gift this year was a big kid bike. We got her a Good Dinosaur bike with training wheels. She loves it! We were really back and forth with whether to do training wheels or a balance bike. The training wheels won, she is able to have fun and go fast sooner. 

Dino Egg Hunt. 

Tie dye cake. Came out great!!

Dino Dance Party!

Birthday gifts from Uncle Ross and Aunt Lynsie

A picture I came across of me Pregnant with Ellie. I think she was 3 days late.

A letter to Ellie| Turing 4

Ellie, How can it be....you are turning 4. I look back at photos and videos of you and I miss you. I miss the 18 month old Ellie and the 2 year old Ellie. But you are constantly growing and changing and I LOVE the little lady you are becoming. You continue to be friendly and loving. Waving at strangers from the car window and asking people to share their snacks at the park. You are fearless one moment and timid the next. You have a memory that amazes me and you have recently taken an interest in singing. You are slowly becoming more independent at home, your imagination is taking off. I think there will always be moment when I still see you as my baby, and you still resemble one when you come walking into the family room after a nap with rosy cheeks and damp nappy hair. Even though I get tired of if sometimes I hope you never stop wanting to cuddle on the couch and holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me how to be a mom, thank you for loving me, being concerned for me and always making me laugh. I love you my little one. Happy Birthday.

Ellie's Birthday Party | Octonauts

Ellie is obsessed with the show Octonauts, so it was no question that we would have an Octonauts birthday party. We really lucked out this year and we were able to have her birthday outside. We decorated the outside window with streamers looking like seaweed, balloons for bubbles and cut out fish. We at Blue Koolaid, pirates booty, doritos and BBQ hot dogs. I made her a good old box yellow cake and decorated it with swedish fish and gummy sharks. We had the cousins fish for bags of candy and pin the eye patch on the pirate. It was such a fun day. Ellie ate too many chips and fell asleep 20 minutes after everyone left. 

Ellie is 3

Mostly potty trained, pees but has only pooped a few times

Can swing a baseball bat like a pro. She has great hand eye coordination.

She gets out of bed on her own now, opens her door and comes into our room every morning. She is up when the sun comes up. Thanks heavens for the PBS app, she watches cartoons while I sleep for another 30 minutes.

She is obsessed with the show Octonauts. It teaches her all about marine biology, so I guess their could be worse shows to watch.

Insists on standing on a chair and helping me with most things I do at the kitchen counter.

Likes to draw circles and trace her hands.

Talks about relatives all the time: cousins, grandma's and grandpas

She remembers so much, she recalls past events like, going to Salt Lake, the Zoo, the beach, etc. 

Quotes:

"Oh, it's nice and crunchy"...in reference to crunchy foods

"it's belicious".....meaning delicious.

"Oh that's nice of you" "please" "thank you" "excuse me"....she is very polite

she sings most of "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and "I'm Like a Star Shining Brightly"

She claims anyones farts as her own and says, "No, it's me"

"oh thats awesome Mom" or "this is so cute"...when shopping at most stores

counting "1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11" What happened to 4 & 5?

Ellie is a typical toddler. She throws fits over irrational things and definitely likes to push my buttons. She likes to climb on me and doesn't like to play independently often. However, she is getting older and more capable of doing certain things on her own. Somedays, when her mood is right, she will use the bathroom all by herself. Somedays she will wander around the back yard and swing and play in the dirt while I relax in the sun. She is still the greatest little sidekick. I love our time together. Our walks to the park, the conversations we have, having her help me make cookies or bread or popcorn. Snuggling on the couch, her letting me take cat naps in the afternoon, and dance parties almost every night after her bath. She exhausts me most days but it's worth it. I can't believe she is going to have a sibling, I know she is going to be a great big sister. She is already such a loving and friendly little girl (to complete strangers) I know she will love this little baby so much. 

Happy Birthday Ellie Bell. You are so smart, funny, energetic and passionate. Thank you for making parenthood such an enjoyable experience. We have some days that are better than others but you hold a special place in my heart little one. I have loved the time we have had just you and me the last few years. I know it might be hard to get use to a new baby but you are going to have so much fun having a constant friend to play with. You are constantly changing, and I cant wait to see what this next year will bring. Never loose your curiosity, passion, humor, and energy. We love you so very much little one. Happiest of Birthdays to you. 

Ellie turns 2

What better way to celebrate Ellie's 2nd birthday than to drive to Salinas and spend the week. We all needed a vacation and an escape from the cold weather. We decided to leave after work on Friday and drive to Elko. I was so prepared, I had a cooler full of snacks, and I had read every pinterest article on "how to go on a road trip with a toddler" Those articles are crap! We drove to Elko, Ellie hadn't slept, it was 10:30, she should be tired and go to sleep right? WRONG. She was up ALL night. I have never seen her so hyper. Well maybe I have, but when I am exhausted it seems so much worse. She would climb up on the bed and get down and up again and down again AHHHHHHH. It was my worst nightmare. Jared and I were dreading driving 8 hours the next day but figured she would have to sleep at some point. Luckily I have a husband who can sleep through a hurricane (curse him). Jared slept and I nodded of here and there and long story short we made it to Salinas and all was well.

P.S. We brought Rosie and we were worried about  her.....she was a saint!

As for Ellie's birthday, we had family and friends over to my parents house. Ellie ran around outside, the boys worked on the tree house being built in the backyard, we ate delicious food and cake, and laughed and talked and had an amazing time. How can Ellie be 2? I can't focus enough to write a post about Ellie and all her amazing qualities. I will soon, just not tonight. We love her so much and so does everyone else. We feel very lucky to be blessed with such a special, spunky, amusing little girl.


This was Jared's project for the week. My dad had assembled most of the tree house and then with the help of Jared and my brothers it was raised and finished. Ellie loved it, and Jared added some awesome features!

Spring was in FULL swing. I had forgotten what the color green looked like, vegetation..what's that?Thank heaven for spring, we were so sick of the winter.

Ellie's Birthday Cake

Rosie the party animal!

and Lisa too!

Can you tell she is a bit tired? The girl went non stop all week!

I love this picture below! Look at all the love for my little Ellie girl. I love them all so much!

She did SO good blowing out the candles!

Happy Birthday sweet girl we love you!