Come on Christmas!

After a couple winter activities & a weekend @ home getting ready for the holidays, Ellie & Ty are ready for a Merry Christmas!

Daddy & Ellie walked our Christmas cards to the mailbox. When they got back, they wanted to make a snowman. Here's Daddy's masterpiece (Ellie put the carrot nose on)!

Afterwards, Ellie really enjoyed some hot cocoa!

The next day Ellie made her very own gingerbread (grahamcracker) house. She spent an hour keeping the sides up & adding sprinkles.

She really enjoyed eating it too!

Mariemont Luminaria & Tree Lighting!

We already love the town we live in, but this night in Mariemont was magical, picturesque (old town English) ...a night to remember!

Our street & the old town center closed for carriage rides, neighbors lit their sidewalks w/ luminarias, Santa sat out in the snow for the kids to see, snow hills were played on, hot chocolate was served & to top it off a Christmas tree lighting (which Ellie can see lit every night out her bedroom window) made our December 4th evening!

We took as many pics as possible. I had to head in w/ cold baby Ty, but Jason said Ellie had so much fun riding the carriage, playing w/ her neighbor friend Zoey and seeing Santa Claus. She asked for "clothes, toys & snacks!"

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

We enjoyed a beautiful Fall & a fulfilling Thanksgiving dinner w/ our neighbors here in Cincy! We're thankful for the friends we've gained since we've moved here and we look forward to making more memories (& taking more pics) w/ them this next year!

Ellie & her friend, Leila, in her new playhouse that she LOVES!!!

Peek-a-boo!

My favs...cheeseballs!!!

Happy Halloween!

We began with a birthday party for Ellie's friend Leila, where they had a pumpkin pinata and goodie bags that included glow necklaces. It was fun and led right into trick or treating @6PM in Mariemont. This was Ellie's first real trick or treating experience, and she did pretty well for a lady bug. She did not quite understand that each house had candy, she decided to stop at every other house but still did well in the candy department. As for Ty's first Halloween, he decided to go as Buzz Lightyear. It did not last long, as he ended up spending his first Halloween the same way his sister did, SLEEPING!


Ellie in Ty's costume too!











Here we are carving our pumpkin. Ellie picked out what shape she wanted each eye, nose & mouth to be. She wanted the mouth to be "rainbow shaped" & daddy talked her into to giving it a tooth, that of which a squirrel got the next morning.

Daddy loves to do Ellie's hair @ bathtime! Is he willing to brush the knots out after...no! For these pics, it's worth it! Loved their Great Ernie & Freda's 60th this weekend (wish we had pics)!

Labor Day Fireworks, Cincy

On our way back from Indy, we stopped downtown walked the purple people bridge & stayed for the big fireworks display with the dueling Bridges!
We were happy to have our nephew Chad with us!

The next day we went to the aquarium and the Hofbrahaus for lunch.

Ellie's 2nd Birthday!

Ellie is a happy 2 year old. She had 2 birthday parties & 2 Dora cakes! We were happy to spend her birthday with both sides of the family and with Mommy's friends, the Greens' & Brandenberg's. Thanks for all the great gifts!

happy birthday to you...(OMG, it's MY birthday...thanks, guys!).

She loved the balloons!

Nana & GG loved holding Ty during the party!

What great company.

Fun @ the Zoo!

We enjoyed the zoo w/some of mommy's high school friends, Leisa & Val. Ellie loved Lucas!