first time sledding!

Our family has a tradition of going sledding @ Rock canyon the day r two after Christmas. Elleah loved it. Her first time down the hill she held on real tight and didn't open her eyes. At the end I stood her up and said "what did you think?" She gave me her biggest smile and clapped. We marched right back up and did it over and over!

Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We had such an amazing holiday and we hope you all did also! Miss Elle was completely overwhelmed by presents, but has a good day. She would open one present and want to look at it play with it and hold it for a long time, not caring that there was an enormous stack piling up in front of her. She looked at ever toy carefully and wanted to play with all of it. I ended up packing almost all of it back in the boxes and will bring out a new toy every few weeks or as needed throughout this long indoor winter! Thank you so much everyone for your thoughtful gifts. It was really unnecessary, but I know one day she will just delight knowing where all these great things have come from! Thanks!

Elleah was big enough to participate in the family nativity! She was the cutest angel ever!



She loved this baby doll and still carries it around everywhere. She rocks it and feeds it a bottle!

"Santa baby...
I've been an angel all year"





Mike and I are having a ball trying to do Christmas for this little monkey!
I can see how easy it is for parents to get carried away and spoil rotten their children. You just want to give them EVERYTHING!
although after yesterdays biting episode
(where I might add she bit me on the collar bone and drew blood!)
She might be on Santa's naughty list!

Elleah just learned to say "Jesus". I tell her his beautiful story everyday as we play with her nativity set. She now carries the baby Jesus all around the house (the bathtub included) and says "Jesus" and "Baby". I don't think she has the ability to understand yet all the things this wonderful time of year represents... but she does understand one thing.

It's about love, and baby Jesus...I think that's a pretty a good start.

Oh so pretty

ONE!
















My amazing friend Kristina took these photos for Elle's one year shots and also some family photos we can hopefully use for Christmas cards! (sorry you'll have to wait to see them)
We were wondering if anyone who would like a Christmas card sent could leave us a comment with your address or send me an email to lora.gardner@gmail.com
We don't want to leave anyone out so any info you give us would be great! Thanks so much!

Happy Birthday Baby!

"You're my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you're my sweety- pie. You're my Cuppy Cake, gum drop, schnuggums-bugggums, you're the apple of my eye. I love you so and I want you to know I'll always be right here, and so I sing sweet songs to you 'cause Ellie you're so dear"

I love you more than all the stars in the sky my little one! Happy 1st birthday!

We chose to give Elleah a "cupcake party" since it seems to be her favorite song (it's my ring tone when Mike calls. She always lights up and starts bouncing around) The party was complete with a guessing game, a cupcake decorating contest (Elleah chose the winning cupcake-horray Sophie), a bouncy castle, musical chairs, a beautiful lunch and of course a pinata!

First Halloween

Old McDonald had a CHICK!
Happy Halloween! We were sort of sad realizing this is Elleah's last first holiday! She had a great time (we did too) she would look at kids with really weird costumes and just point at them and then look back at me as if she were saying "mom what are they doing dressed like that?" It was so funny! We were so happy that the weather was so nice. She loved walking around with all her little doting cousins! All girls, All want to be little moms they just ADORE her.

Elleahs first piece of candy!






This pic is a bit blurry but I think it's so cute! Elleah and her cousin Hallie LOVE to play on the trampoline together they just laugh and laugh I always think I should take some photos and so of coarse the day I bring it out, the battery dies as I begin. I'll catch the two cuties later!