Ellie's "Big Girl Bed"

A couple of weeks ago we found out that Ellie's crib had been recalled. We contacted the manufacturer, and they are willing to buy us a new crib - but before they send us the voucher they need all of the hardware back from the recalled crib to ensure that we aren't still using the crib. So if you can follow this - you can see that there would be a time period where Ellie didn't have a bed. After thinking about it for awhile, we decided that she is old enough to be in a "Big Girl Bed".

So for the past couple of weeks we have really been talking up the "Big Girl Bed" and how cool it is. We have even taken her to the store to try out what a "Big Girl Bed" is. The biggest incentive that we offered though, was that her buddy Gavin sleeps in a "Big Boy Bed". So Ellie was pretty excited to get her "Big Girl Bed".

Well I couldn't justify buying Ellie a toddler bed, that she would outgrow in a couple of years, so we opted to use one of the bunk beds that I had in college. So we tore apart her crib, and installed the "Big Girl Bed".

Ellie loves the bed. She couldn't wait to try it out. The first night was a bit rough - she took awhile to fall asleep. She did manage to fall asleep in the bed - just not under any blankets, and facing the wrong direction.

Here are a couple of pictures from her new "Big Girl Bed".

Here is the information on the Crib Recall: http://www.jardinecribrecall.com/

First Real Hair Cut

Ellie's hair has gotten a little OUT OF CONTROL. That is an understatement. Regardless of what we do to it - it always ends up looking like a Nick Nolte mugshot.



So we took Ellie to get her first real hair cut. I have been trimming it up every now and then to try and help the cause, but the mullet has gotten out of control, and I could do nothing about it.

She was a bit apprehensive about going to get it cut, but she was really good - and honestly the hair cut took less than 5 minutes. The girl is over 2 years old, and I have seen some men with more hair on their backs then she has on her head. Poor child.

Here are a few shots from the hair cut:



Before - notice the resemblance to the mug shot



During



After - much better.

Can We Go Home Yet?

Ellie at her first Rockie's Game. Ready to go home.

Ellie & Gavin

This is an old photo I found of Ellie and her buddy Gavin, whom she absolutely adores. Gavin's parents post videos of him on Youtube so that the family can see what he is learning, what he is up to, and just how cute he really is. So every night when we get home from school, Ellie has to have a pack of Nemo Snacks (I totally should have bought stock in Nemo Snacks) and we have to watch "Gavin Bideos". She has seen the videos so many times, that she requests certain ones over and over and over again.

Anyhow, the picture is from this past summer, when the kids were much shorter. It was a huge accomplishment for them to be able to climb up in the chair - so once they got up there, they stayed for awhile. Until they realized that the bottom of the chair was like a slide - then it was up, down, up, down, up, down... over and over again....

Raking with Papa

In typical form, my Dad purchased Ellie a rake this fall so she could help with the leaves. My brother and I both vividly remember helping my Dad with yard work growing up. So, it totally didn't surprise me that when I left Tom and my Dad in charge of Ellie, that when I returned, she would be doing yard work. What did surprise me is that Papa made a special trip to the hardware store to get her a rake.

Killer's Concert

Saturday night Tom and I went to the Killers concert at Magness Arena. We had a great time, and really enjoyed the show, however, I felt really old! There were kids there that weren't old enough to drive yet. Tom and I had GA seating on the floor in front of the stage. Once the show started, everyone seemed to rush the stage and pack in. Tom and I, along with the other people we went with, pretty much stood in the same spot, and let all the kids fill in in front of us.

Here are some pictures of the concert:

Their new album is spectacular. They played almost the entire album at the concert, along with few of their other more popular songs from the previous albums.

The new album is called Day and Age. Very good.

She is her Father's Daughter....

Last night, I realized exactly how much Ellie is like her Dad, and her Papa. For dinner last night, we made schnitzel, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, and red cabbage.

Tom loves gravy. For those of you who don't know, I bet him $20 to drink from the gravy boat at Thanksgiving one year in front of everyone. There was no hesitation, and he glady drank from the gravy boat. Last night, Ellie decided that she also loves gravy, and ate a ramakin full of mushroom gravy with a spoon, then asked for more. YUCK. I intended the gravy to be more like dip for her....

My Dad, Ellie's Papa, loves ketchup. He puts it on just about every meat product I can think of, and even in some soups. During dinner last night, after finishing her gravy, Ellie informed me that she needed some pink dip. The only thing I could think of was ketchup, so I gave her a ramakin of ketchup. Instead of dipping her meat in it, Ellie dipped her red cabbage in it. I was a little apprehensive about giving her the cabbage to begin with, but she ate it, and seemed to really enjoy it with ketchup on it. When she was out of cabbage, she ate the rest of the ketchup with a spoon.

I am questioning whether or not Ellie is related to me at all at this point.

New Office

I am sitting here at my new desk updating the blog.

I am super excited, I finally got new office furniture that I LOVE! After spending most of the day getting the office set up and cleared out of all of the boxes that were holding my stuff - I feel like I could actually function in here! Yea!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to my Christmas gift card fund for new office furniture! Most of it has finally arrived, enough to get the office set up and functioning again.

Pictures to come soon - I just have to find that pesky camera within all of this mess!

Sledding

Yea Snow! We finally got some snow over the weekend. Ellie was able to try out her new sled. She had a great time, until she got too cold. Then she said she wanted to go see Mommy, and eat Nemo snacks.

#2

Just an update to the potty training status -

Ellie finally went #2 on the potty last night.

Pictures were not taken to protect the innocent (and to prevent you from throwing up your lunch).

You may now resume your regularly scheduled program.

Potato Creations

What does Mr Potato head look like when put together by a two year old?

Ice Skating

For Christmas this year, Ellie got a pair of ice skates. They strap onto her boots, and are adjustable. So we decided to try them out. Here are a few pictures from our first ice skating adventure.

After a couple of laps around the rink, Ellie was done, and ready for a pack of Nemo snacks.