Happy New Year!!!!

Goodbye 2008... Hello 2009!!

We have so many things to look foward to this year. The first of many exciting things will be Ella's 1st birthday at the end of this month (Jan 29th)! We can't wait to help Ella celebrate this big milestone. Maybe she will even get some teeth in time for her 1st birthday!

A VERY Merry Christmas

Where do I start?? We had an amazing Christmas vacation in Florida from Dec 21-30th. We couldn't have hoped for better weather and we were in the best company with the Herb Family (Nanny and Poppa Herb, Great Grandpa Pete, Aunt Ayesha and Uncle Rob) and the Godsey Family (Granddaddy and GG Godsey and Uncle Tom). The only thing that was missing was Uncle Eric & Aunt Shelly and Aunt Patti & Uncle Chopper.

Here are some of our favorie pictures from the trip:

Ella wore her Xmas PJs even though we were in Florida and the flannel was probably a little warm.

We went to lunch with Great Grandpa Pete and Nanny and Poppa on our 1st day. What a treat!

We went to the beach twice while in Florida. Too bad Ella didn't like it as much as Mom & Dad. She had an odd alergic reaction both trips to the beach, we think she might be alergic to the sand??? So sad! Her face was all splotchy and her nose was running like crazy. Hopefully next trip we will be able to enjoy the beach!

On Christmas Eve we had a family dinner with both the Godsey's and the Herb's in the party room at the Lucerne. The Herb Family hosted a wonderful dinner with honey baked ham (yum!) amd Ella wore her special Christmas outfit (from GG).

Then on Christmas day we had another big family meal, this time at the Godsey condo. Ella had another special outfit- an ADORABLE summer dress from Aunt Patti. Wish she could have been there to see Ella wear it!

December 26th is Poppa Herb's birthday. We enjoyed an extra special dinner at one of our FAVORITE places- the Turtle Club. We all had yummy meals and Ella helped Uncle Rob with his dessert.

It was such a fun trip and so hard to say goodbye to everyone. We're looking forward to doing it again REAL SOON!

Santa came to our house a little early...

Because we will be traveling to Florida for Christmas, we put in a special request to have Santa come early. And because Ella is such a good little girl- he did! Santa delivered Ella's 1st Christmas gift- a train!

Ella also opened her gifts from Rachel (hat and sweater) and Kristie & Alan (puzzle). Thanks for the graet gifts!!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

You Better Watch Out,

You Better Not Cry,

You Better Not Pout,

I'm Telling You Why...

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!!!!

Ella Climbing the Stairs

Big Day for Ella

Today was a BIG day for Miss Ella Anne! First, we attended our 1st birthday party (I'm sure there will be many more to come!). Ella's neighborhood friend, Ella Sanidas, turned ONE today. The Ella's (as we like to call them) are only about 6 weeks and 2 blocks apart. While at Ella's birthday party, Ella H. climbed the stairs ALL BY HERSELF!

Then... as if that wasn't enough... once we were back home, Ella pulled herself up to standing ON HER OWN! Our little girl is moving!!!

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

After returning from Phoenix, we started decorating the house. Although we won't be here on Xmas day, we still wanted to get into the spirit of things. We think Ella enjoyed decorating her 1st tree... although she seemed more interested in the Santa hat!

I've been playing Christmas music nonstop. I think I'm driving Mark crazy!

10 months old

Ella turned 10 months old in Phoenix over the Thanksgiving Holiday. And she has changed so much in just a month! We can't believe it.

Since starting to crawl just a month ago, she is moving FAST! Too fast for me in fact... I turn around and she is gone! She amuses herself by doing laps around the couch and coffee table in the family room. This has resulted in a few too many head bumps, but I think she's starting to lean how to DUCK! Ha!

A BIG milestone while in Phoenix, Ella is starting to walk while holding our hands. Maybe not a big deal to everyone, but until the day we arrived in Phoenix, Ella wasn't showing any interest in walking... now I think it won't be long until she is running! It must be Aunt Patti! (She rolled for one of the 1st times with Patti too!)

And by the time we left, she was holding on to furniture and trying to cruise around.

Happy Thanksgiving

Ella's 1st Thanksgiving was great! We spend the long weekend in Phoenix with Aunt Patti & Uncle Chopper at their beautiful new home. We enjoyed the company and the food- espcially Patti's cornbread stuffing! MMM MMM Good!!!

Our trip included lots of rain, some hail, golf for the boys, pedicures for the girls (except Ella!) and a family trip to Ikea! Ha! Ella enjoyed riding on the Ikea rocking horse!

Thanks Patti & Chopper for having us! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

MIZ-ZOU

I FINALLY returned to my alma mater, the University of Missouri, for a football game. Mark and I traveled to Kansas City and left Ella with my parents for the evening so we could see Mizzou kick butt against K-State! Go Tigers.

It was great fun to take Mark back to Mizzou and so neat to see the Pi Phi house again with all my pledge sisters. Yes, WE were the annoying alumni visiting the house! Ha!

It didn't hurt that the Tigers played great! And we REALLY enjoyed hanging out at Shiloh after the game... maybe a little too much!