Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!!

Ella turns 1!!!

Well...I must have blinked.  The year went by so darn fast!!!  I can't believe my sweet girl is already one year old!!  She is pure joy.  You cannot be around Ella and not smile.  She makes me so happy!! 

Rich was in TX for her actualy birthday, so we did a little party the day after.  But...on her actual birthday we started off the morning with Red Velvet pancakes!!  The day Ella was born, we ate Red Velvet pancakes, so I thought it was the best tradition to start!!  She was so excited for the candle!  But...sadly she wouldn't touch them!!  It was hilrious! She just looked at them and looked at me...almost as if she was saying "what are these things??" 

I love the look on her face!

Taking advice from her big bro.

She would NOT eat them!!

The rest of the day was a little rough for her.  She has her two front teeth coming in and they are taking their sweet time. 

The next day she woke up to balloons and streamers and she loved it!

The birthday girl!

Later on, there was cake...

Then there were presents...but she wanted to show off instead! 

Happy Birthday to my Ella Belle!!!  Our world is so beautiful because you are in it!  We love you so much!!

A quick trip...

My parents were making their way down the coast in search of a town they might like to live in. (YAY!)  So, we were able to make a mini trip up to San Luis Obispo and spend the night with them.

 It was sooo much fun and a much needed visit.  I miss my mom and dad every day.  In May, we will have been here three years, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss being closer to them.  But...I have to say that the days following a visit always leave me wishing for more.  My kids miss them.  That kills me more then anything.  So the idea of having them move closer (maybe ONLY 3 hours away!!) makes me so unbelievably happy!!!  I can't wait!!!

Grandpa and Jax

Daddy with Jax and Ella at Seal Beach

Little monkey...

Playing catch- up...

First of all...Happy New Year!  Wasn't it a fabulous holiday season???  We had a great time! 

Now that the holidays have come and gone...we are FINALLY back to a routine around here.  Jaxon had to go through detox for a couple of days after spending 15 days with his cousins and his grandparents.  (And all of his aunts and uncles, too.)  The first morning he was home he said "When are you going to buy the doughnuts?"  If that is any indication of the kind of trip we had...I knew SERIOUS melt down was going to occur.  When I told him I wasn't going to buy doughnuts, because we NEVER have doughnuts...I think his little world started to crack.  Then we had a couple of days of fits and crying...but I am happy to say that my sweet little, reformed sugar addict has returned to me.  I am so happy!

Ella detoxed in a different way.  Every time I ate something she gave me the look of "HELLO???  Are you going to let me try that???"  She too heard that crack that broke her heart.  Then of course every time I put her down her little lip began to quiver.  She had been adored for 15 days.  I don't think her little knees felt the cold floor for the entire 15 days.  She was passed around and she loved every single second of it!

It was such a fun vacation, but I am happy to be home.  That is so weird to say.  For the very first time, when we came home, we felt like THIS was home.  There is something to be said for that.
Anyway...here are some pics of our vacation...and our Christmas.  :)

PS- Happy 11 months Miss Ella Rose.  I can't believe you will be one in 4 very short weeks.  You are pure joy.  I love you.


I love that they match.

I love that they both look just a little bit terrified.

When we first got to NM, it snowed 6 inches.  Jax and grandpa were in heaven.

My niece Olivia and Ella.  They liked to match.  I love them.

This is grandpa Craig's new toy.  I think Jaxon cried a little when he saw it.  He loved it.

I love this picture of Gramma Velle and Ella.  It makes me miss her.

Christmas Eve gifts.  He was pretty excited.

Christmas morning...he was still excited.

Ella sat in the MIDDLE of everything.  It was hilarious.  She loves being the center of attention.

This was my dad opening his BIG gift.  My mom got him a "Dream Team" package.  He gets to DRIVE an Indy car!!!!!  So excited!!!

My mom made Jaxon these chaps and the vest.  He also got six shooters.  Adorable.

They were screaming giggling.  It was adorable.

Rascals

This is thrown in there to prove that I was ON this vacation.  It is the only pic of me...I kinda love that.

Jaxon got a Exploding MENTOS kit.  It was awesome.

Awesome. Right?

Love those kids.

Christmas came early...

On Friday the Fed Ex came to the door.  As I answered the door, he requested my signature for a small envelope.  He said "looks like tickets!"  I said "REALLY??"  Then he said "uh-oh.  I hope I didn't ruin a surprise." 

Unfortunately I have one of those brains that puts surprises together WAY too quickly and that was the icing on the cake.  I was growing suspicious of my dear hubby all week, he was just way to into my Saturday night. 

Well...turns out...he bought me tickets to WICKED!!!!  And...he got a babysitter!!  So off to LA we went for the greatest show!  We went last night...it was heaven.  My sweetie is such a sweetie. 

We had a great time.  It was the BEST show.  It was so wonderful!  Did I mention that I liked it??

Funny kids

I was going through all the pics on my camera and I found this one.  They are such Hams!! :)

The giggles...

These two are constantly making each other laugh.  Every time they are giggling, it warms my heart.  I love that they love each other so much.