Christmas!

Josh and I both had Christmas Eve off....which was nice...we really just had a lazy day around the house relaxing...it was very nice! We got ready for church as our church does a candlelight service....we went to that...and then stopped on the way home at our friends house as they had a little gift for Ella...we came home and Ella got to open her Christmas PJs...there was a matching nightgown for her baby doll too. This was her first nightgown....so I put it on her and she said, "Mama I need pants. Where are my pants??" I was excited to tuck her in so I could bring up all the presents and put them out under the tree! I think I was more excited than Ella for sure. I woke up at 4, 5, 5:30, 6:15, and then finally 7....which is when Ella woke up. Here we are ready to go....

 

Ella enjoyed opening up the first few presents...then she was more interested in playing with them and kinda didn't care about opening up anymore! 

I think the hair dryer might be her favorite thing....she wants to blow dry everyone and everything! :)

After Ella got to play for a little bit...we packed up and headed over to Grandpa and Gigi's!

I was really hoping she would sleep on the way over....but no luck :(

We did get Ella to take a nap....in the big bed...she desperately needed one!

All in all it was a great day....we were all tired out at the end of the day....and it was sad to have to be at work the next day at 8am! 

Josh and I both worked Thursday and Friday. Friday night we went out with some friends for dinner for my birthday. Saturday we took Ella to Grandpa and Gigi's house...then Josh and I went to Roanoke for the evening....we picked Ella up on Sunday afternoon....came home for a few hours then went back out to our friends house for dinner....it's been a whirlwind...I'm tired! :) 

I made homemade chex mix in the crock pot today! Pretty good I must say....not quite as good as my Nana used to make it...I need to do a little tweaking. 

Ella's favorite toy has been....play-doh!

Every chance she gets she's asking to play with her play-doh! LOVES it!

Almost Christmas!

Josh was gone all last week to DC for work....so it was just Ella and I...needless to say....I was sooo happy to have him home Friday evening! Ella is a good girl....but she has a hard time obeying Mom...and my patience was just about out! Last time Josh was out of town I told Ella that Mommy needed to step away for a few minutes because I was so upset that she wasn't being a good girl....so this past time when I was getting upset...she said, "Mommy...you need to step away few minutes." At least she knew she had pushed my buttons!

We had a pretty quiet weekend...

Ella was sick again! Imagine that....it's actually a nasty little bug going around....it only lasts for about 18 hours...a yucky little bug that made for a big mess for Mommy to clean ;) That hit Ella on Sunday morning as we were all getting ready for church....but after that..there was no church for Ella....I was almost ready...so Josh said why don't you go to church and I'll stay home with Ella....he knew that I had been cooped up all last week with her...so I did. They watched a movie...and then Ella fell asleep on the couch...and slept for a few hours. Woke up and had a little applesauce....and then went back to bed for another hour. She  woke up from that nap...and said that she was hungry! So I made her a little Mac and Cheese (her request)...and that was all she ate for the rest of the day...and she climbed into her bed at 7...and asked to go to bed.

She woke up this morning and said....my tummy all better....she said she slept and when she woke up her tummy was all better! So she ate breakfast....and then I headed to work. Josh was off today...so he hung out with her. They actually went to the mall...Josh had a few last minutes things to get...and he wanted to take Ella on the train ride at the mall.....and show her Santa. He said that Ella didn't want to sit on Santas lap....but she was very interested in him....Josh said that Santa waved at her and said, "Merry Christmas"....and Ella waved back and said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" She was very excited to tell me about it when I got home. She also told me exactly what her and Daddy went shopping for :) I had asked for a new water bottle since I broke my last one a few weeks ago...I always carry a water bottle with me...so apparently that is what they shopped for today ;) It's a purple one. Ella pointed out which present it was under the tree....hahaha....can't tell Ella any secrets!

Ella's new thing is bringing her table and chair into the living room to eat....

I didn't have my act together this year...I didn't get Christmas cards going...I need to be a touch more organized for next year....

And on that note...I'm going to go wrap for a few minutes :)

Overdue!

It's been a few weeks...

And what do you....2/3's of us are sick again! Josh - always manages to stay healthy. Ella just came down with a cold on Thursday...it's actually not a bad one....except for her cough...poor little thing....and I have never felt sick at all....just a cough that kept getting worse...and finally enough people said to me....you should probably go to the Doctor for it...I did....asthmatic bronchitis I was told I have...so basically bronchitis...and some fancy named tubes are reacting like I have asthma (which I don't)...so I have to use an inhaler for a few weeks and be on an antibiotic...Someday we'll be healthy again....maybe not til Summer!

We've been busy with Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and getting ready for Christmas! We had a mini ice storm last week...so we stayed home and Ella and I made gingerbread houses...

 

She had fun making them....and eating them!

We decorated our tree...

 And Daddy brought this wonderful toy up from the closet downstairs....it has lots of Christmas songs...and a train goes around the globe...and she plays it non-stop! Thanks Daddy!

Nanny and Grampy came for a few days for a visit. Ella had lots of fun baking with her Nanny!

And of course she's not smiling....but Ella had a blast on the train ride! She kept wanting to go on it again and again!

Ohhh....Ella got to meet her new friend....Baby Sadie....

 

That's Baby Sadie at 2 weeks old. We got a picture of Sadie and put it in a frame. It is in Ella's room....and she carries around "Baby Sadie" quite often. It's cute!

She's still very much stuck on Ann and Andy and they go everywhere with us! Andy came to Josh's Christmas party this past weekend. Ella and Andy got matching "Deputy" stickers. She thought that was soooo cool!

Poor little Ella coughed so much last night...no one got very much sleep...I put her to bed tonight a few minutes before 7...she was just so tired...she's still coughing quite a bit...but I hope she'll sleep a little better...she needs it! And mommy need it....I need more than 4 hours! :)