Finally . . . the Christmas Pictures!

Mommy has finally gotten around to posting pictures of Ella from Christmas, and they are so cute!

Here Ella inspects the Christmas tree after we brought it home.

This is Mommy's Yule Log for Christmas Eve dessert. She might take orders next year :)

Ella and Daddy at Aunt Nancy's house on Christmas Eve.

Ella needed to inspect Aunt Nancy's tree and its ornaments every few minutes.

She also took a good look to see which gifts were for her :)

Julio volunteered to be Santa, but Ella wouldn't fit on his lap!

Ella is opening Uncle Greg's present.

She immediately needed to take the baby doll's hat off, of course!

Thanks Uncle Greg!

Relaxing on the couch with Aunt Tracey and Uncle Greg.

With Daddy by the tree . . .

And Mommy . . .

And Nonna!

Mommy has a picture just like this one from her first trip to Disneyland. Nonna was trying to take her picture on the "It's a Small World" ride, and Mommy turned around with this face to tell Nonna she did not want to be bothered with pictures!

Ella is playing with Mommy and Daddy's gift while the adults open their gifts.

This was New Year's Eve at the Garrett's house. Ella and Sierra were playing.

A rare photo of the three of us thanks to Julie!

Ella's First Birthday

Ella's first birthday turned out to be a three-day extravaganza! On Friday night, her actual birthday, Ella opened gifts from Grandma and Aunt Sandra. Ella loved her Pooh Bear bubble maker from Aunt Sandra.



Grandma gave Ella some fun books. Ella is holding up her book of Van Gogh paintings . . . we like to start them early around here!

Aunt Sandra is pointing out the pictures in her book on America's famous sights.

But Ella didn't feel like reading just then . . . she wanted bubbles!

On Saturday at Ella's party, Aunt Tracey decorated the house with balloons, streamers, and party hats.

Ella gets a birthday hug from Sierra :)

Ella did not want to wear her party hat :(

Ella had a large cupcake for her main cake and then Mommy made several cupcakes to go with it. Here everyone sings happy birthday to the birthday girl.

She was careful at first . . .

But then it got a little messy . . .

And even more messy! I wonder what she's thinking . . .

Cousin Vanessa got in on the action too!

A birthday kiss from Aunt Tracey :)

Later in the evening, Ella opened a couple gifts. Ella was not so sure about the laughing, rolling monkey that Nonna got her.

On Sunday, Ella opened the rest of her gifts. At times she seemed more interested in the tissue paper than the gifts themselves :)

Ella tried on the hats for her new Pepito doll from the Garretts.

Ella squats down to get a good look at her new sock monkey from Heath.

Ella says hello to her new doll from the Hammers.

Aunt Tracey gave her this fun sound puzzle of zoo animals.

Our Little Honker

Last Friday night, we took Ella to the Yuba City vs. River Valley football game. She had a blast walking around the stands, watching the crowd and the cheerleaders, and cheering on Yuba City. I now realize what a handful she is going to be at basketball games this winter--she hates being held and only wants to walk around--yikes!

Ella and I posed on a bench facing the crowd. We had her bundled up well.


Daddy did not like the attention he thinks talking pictures creates, but he humored me :)



Here is Ella warily eyeing the Honker mascot. She wasn't too sure about the big duck.

I had to hold the camera out in front of us for this one . . . Daddy was done with picture-taking :)

Ella's Big Halloween Weekend

Ella had a big weekend as Mommy and Daddy invited some friends from McNair up for a little party on Friday night. Kelley was the first to arrive, and Ella took to her quickly.

Ella also got to see her old friends from baby yoga, Kirin and his mom Brandi. They had a blast playing on Brandi's lap.

Then on Halloween, Stacy and Gabriel came to visit. Ella had fun goofing around in her elephant costume with Stacy.

Dad was not a big fan of the elephant costume. He preferred Ella in her "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" shirt.