Thanksgiving

Collage of pictures from Thanksgiving at Elizabeth's lovely house in Montgomery

(try clicking on the collage for a larger view)

The letter A

I promise I won't post every letter she learns to write...but here's her writing the letter A for the first time. She must be taking some writing class at school that I don't know about, b/c I have no idea how she is learning to do this!

Wee Weet!

For Halloween Ella was the most adorable pumpkin I've ever seen! (thanks for letting Ella borrow the costume Stephanie and Hannah!). She just loved prancing around in the costume. We had a very busy day, which started at the Halloween parade at her school. Then we went to lunch at my work, she conked out, she had her 18 month check up (which wouldn't be complete without a couple of shots), then finally ended up trick-or-treating in Whit & Joann's neighborhood. All it took was her saying "Wee Weet" at a couple of houses, followed by a "Tank Tu", and we have way more candy than we should eat!

At the party in her class after the parade

Whit and Joann's house

(Thanks to Jonathan at John's work for the idea for our halloween costumes...Pumpkin Farmers...you know...farmers that grow pumpkins! )

No more Wee Weet....

Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago Grace Golightly had her 2nd birthday party at the Pumpkin Patch at Baker's Farm. John was out of town, so it was quite an adventure getting around the patch with Ella, all of our stuff, and 2 pumpkins (thanks for helping Drew!). Ella had a great time, and I was completely exhausted! Next year, I will not do this without John!

Mandy & Grace on the hay ride that did not seem like it was completely safe. Luckily no one fell off.

Stephanie & Hannah

Ella LOVED the horse. Although I was a little scared of the horse b/c I heard some other little girl running off crying that the horse hated her...apparently she got too close and the horse knocked her down with his head! But the horse seemed to like Ella ok.

Can you find Ella amongst all of the pumpkins?

A day at the Park

A couple of weeks ago Ella and I got to spend the afternoon with Jenny Strickland and her youngest boy, Dylan. Ella and Dylan had a great time flirting on the playground in Helena (this is the best playground if you've never been!!). Ella definitely is an expert on the slide. She knows the drill...and likes to slide again, and again, and again, and again.....

Little update

So, I guess my lack of adding things lately might indicate just how busy we have been! You know, with stock market crashes, john learning how to be a lawyer, and Ella learning new things every day. John's job is going so well. He loves all of the people there and is really enjoying the work too! So much it almost seems like he's enjoying going in on some Saturday mornings! Which just means that Ella and I get to stay in our PJ's longer and watch cartoons when he's not around!



We celebrated our 5 year anniversary on October 11, and it is so hard to believe we have been married that long. We like to stick with the traditional and modern gifts. I secretly got John this guitar he's been wanting and playing for months at a music store by the Diplomat Deli. It was hiding in Ella's closet covered up by her sheets! I had to spoil the surprise early once he found he passed the bar! But, I told him it was for passing the bar and for our anniversary since it is made of wood (traditional 5 year gift is wood). John's been trying to get me to have my grandmother's Star Ruby reset. Before Nanny passed away she told me to get it reset. So, I am having a pendant made out of it at the jewelry store that fixed my engagement ring (when the prongs started falling off b/c the ring was so old, right after we got back from our honey moon). So, there will be some silver on the pendant (the modern gift is Silverware...so close enough!).

Learning to play the Harmonica