Happy Birthday Ella Bella!

Ella turned 2 last week, so we had a little family party for her. She loved it and kept saying 'Happy Birthday to you" all day long! I've said this before, but kids make holidays and birthdays so much more fun! She loved all her presents, and balloons in particular. Notice she is holding her balloons in EVERY picture. I don't think she let go of them the whole night...strange child:) I can't believe my baby girl is already 2....well, actully I can, especially when she gets in her tantrum moods. Then I can TOTALLY believe she is 2!

The purse cakes...a big one for everyone and a small one just for her. (No, I did not make them..I wish:)

She got one of those potty babies....they're kind of weird, but she loves it, plus it makes her want to go potty!!

And just for fun, a picture of a yummy sleeping baby! My favorite:)

Good News!

Great news everyone, Ella grew hair overnight.....it's a miracle.

Lucky Me

Luckily, I have been getting double doses of the toddler tantrums from this one here, to help me take my mind off of the post below:)

Hmmmmm......

I received this email a couple days ago about this guy who wrote an article about his feelings on Obama.
Heaven help us...that's all I have to say!

"Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I laughed. Once in the restaurant my server had on an 'Obama 08' button , again I laughed--just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed the money more. I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application."

Happy Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year...Ella is getting old enough to get excited about holidays, and I love it! Kids make holidays so much more fun. She was saying 'trick or treat' all night long...always expecting more candy! I think she was on a little bit of a high by the end of the night.

Gage is supposed to be a chili pepper...but he kind of looks like a Christmas elf! And of course, Ella the little devil:)

Cute cousin Luke, the pirate

Trick or treating with aunt Amy....I love it!

Love My Kiddos

I am really trying to take President Monson's talk about enjoying the journey to heart, and enjoy the stage I am at in my life right now with my kids. I think those of us with small kids (especially close in age!) can get so overwhelmed (I hope I'm not the only one!), that it becomes so hard to stop and appreciate this phase that your kids are in - which does go by so fast! I was at the store the other day and Ella had taken a pen and drawn all over her arms, legs and face earlier that day, and a lady stopped me to laugh at how funny she looked. (Yeah, I took her to the store like that without washing it off...I was super tired.) I said something like "yeah, she drew all over my sheets too (because she did!)," and the lady said "oh honey, please don't wish her age away, because before you know it she will be gone and you will wish so bad you had these days again with her." It was just kind of weird that she said that to me because that is exactly how I have been feeling lately. Anyway, between her and Pres. Monson's talk, it has really been a great reminder for me to enjoy my kids right now - and not worry so much about having a clean house and other little things that I can obsess about, but really don't matter.

I swear her hair really is growing like crazy, but for some reason it looks irridescent in picures and makes her look kind of creepy:)

This little guy makes me happy. He has been such a blessing for our family - he is so good and so happy..... maybe I want the rest of our future kids to be boys:)

Showing mom that she can be nice to brother. We struggle some days.

Matt Jr.

She was so proud that she did this all by herself! She is so crazy and funny - I am constantly asking myself where she comes up with the funny things she says and does. She just talks like a little adult now, constantly and 24/7....you can't get her to shut up! The other day she kept telling me, "mommy I'm so ornery." I don't even know if she knows what that means, but she was right, she was very ornery.

By the way, have I said I hate my camera? Does anyone have suggestions for a good camera that doesn't cost $500? I'm dying - I want to chuck it off a cliff daily!

I Love Fall!

I love the fall - everything about it makes me happy. I wish it lasted longer, but since it doesn't, we have been trying to get out and take advantage of it before its winter. We went up the canyon the other day and went on a little hike. It was so pretty, the leaves, the view, the sunset. I absolutely love it.

This is our attempt at getting a family picture. I don't know if you can tell, but she is screaming at me. Seriously, I think she is the hardest toddler on earth to get to look and smile. We are getting our family pictures done in a couple weeks and I'm afraid we're doomed!