Ellie is 3!

We have a three-year-old!

Miss Ellie turned three in October, and it is about time I blog about it!

We had such a great time celebrating our cute, funny, sweet little Tangled-loving girlie...

First, we had a little party with family.  She LOVED her Rapunzel cake! (thanks, Auntie Jenn!)

Princesses and babies are her favorite things ever, so she was in heaven!

Auntie Heather with cousin Brynlee and Ellie... :)

...and then we had a little friend party!

I had about 10 minutes to decorate her tower cake so it didn't look as pretty as I'd hoped, but that's okay!  I know Ellie was very happy with it, so that's all that matters to me.

I served the cake in a frying pan!  (If you've never seen "Tangled," I'm sure that seems weird...)

Once all her friends got there, they got a tiara with a Rapunzel braid attached and could decorate it with foam flower stickers if they wanted to.

Then we went outside and got ready to paint like Rapunzel!

I decided to get a quick picture of the braids before putting painting smocks on.

Cute little Xander (the only boy at the party) told me he was really good at making people laugh, so he helped me get these girls to laugh!  Haha, it was such a hoot and, as you can see, it worked!

Love these girls...

Painting is always a hit... ;)

...then back inside for lunch!

We just had peanut butter and honey sandwiches (Ellie's favorite), pink juice, and jello boats!

Oh, and of course, pink cupcakes and pink ice cream.

Then some "Pin the Nose on Flynn Rider"!

Then we all sat down and I read one of Ellie's favorite books, "Pinkalicious."

It was almost time to go at that point, so we opened presents!

Ellie was just on cloud nine the whole time.

She has the cutest little friends ever.  We are so blessed to live close to all of them!

We love you, Ellie bean!

So happy you're ours!!

♥

Apple Pickin'

A couple of weeks ago, we spent a lovely day with people we love!  There is nothing better than spending time with family. Todd's side of the family is amazing!!  We had so much fun picking apples together and celebrating all the October birthdays (look for that in another post soon).

Todd's parents have a Jonathan apple tree.  They are so delicious.
Every year, they give us as many as we want (YUM!) and we love it.  But, this year, we were all together when the apples were ready and we went and picked them together!  It was so much fun -- I hope it becomes a yearly tradition. ;)


"Grandpa" :)




Our nephew, Kyron, and Ellie


my cute little helper...


Our beautiful niece, Sierra...




Adorable Hollie loved climbing the tree to get the apples...


Spiderman (a.k.a. Cooper) and Daxton climbing!  Love those boys!!


Daxton :)


Look at those muscles!


"Take a picture of me, Mommy!"


We ♥ these kiddos!!
Cute cousins :)


...and even Todd climbed the tree ;)

Our Missionaries ♥

This past summer, Kim's little brother, Austin, got home from his mission in Oregon...

{Todd, Austin, and Kim at the airport}

...and now her baby brother, Ryan, will be leaving on a mission soon to Nebraska!

We love our missionaries!

So proud of them!!

A Little Cabin Time

this past weekend, we went to our family cabin for a little rest & relaxation.

and lots of laughing.

it was SO fun!

ellie and i, on a spur of the moment decision, went up earlier than we had planned so we could go up with nana and papa.  so, of course, in all the hurry-hurry out the door, i forgot my camera.  so not like me.  usually that thing is attached at my hip!

therefore, here is our weekend fun - instagram style.

nana is skilled in the pancake department.  ellie requested a kitty pancake.  :)

she also requested "shamu."  wish i had a picture of that one, too.

todd was elk hunting with his dad and brother all day, so he missed out on bloomington lake!  we missed him.

that place is seriously heaven on earth.  i LOVE it!

and the fall leaves were gorgeous!

lots of naps. :)  isn't sleeping the best!?

ellie rarely naps so i had to snap this one...

can't wait till our next trip!

Welcome, Baby Tavin!

Ellie has a new cousin!  And he is too adorable for words!

I loved every moment I had snuggling this little cutie.

Ohhhh, I cannot wait to have a newborn of my own again someday. :)

Goodbye, Summer.

We will miss you.

We'll miss the many popsicles eaten, water wars in the backyard, fireworks, lazy days at the pool, boating trips, camping ... (just to name a few things).  Until next year.

I can feel the air getting cooler and crisper, and this time of year, I get beyond excited for FALL!

I love fall.

I love everything about it. :)

First Day of Dance Class!

This week, Ellie went to her first day of dance class!

She was so very excited.

She asked me if she was going to a ball.  For princesses.  :)

I told her she would be learning how to dance at a royal ball... which made her all kinds of happy.

Such cute little dance friends!!

I adore these little girls!