Happy Fall! At 13 months Everett is on the verge of walking, balancing standing up without holding onto anything and taking a step or two here and there. He's a climber! He sees stairs everywhere, so we're always on the watch and rearranging things. He enthusiastically waves goodbye to his daddy every morning he leaves for work, and he shouts Ella's name all day long. He loves to hug, and he's starting to give and blow kisses. We've been fascinated by the difference in wiring between girls and boys. He is lightening quick, so physical, and such a boy! A happy, loving boy :)
Ella is still into make believe every single day. First we're monsters, then we're princesses, then we're made up characters... She makes up names for herself: Okie, Oka, Popo, Cheechee... random and hard not to laugh. She loves to dress up; I don't think her friends at Little Hands have seen her one full class in the clothes she came in wearing. She dances her heart out when everyone else is singing at the end of class, and enjoys going to all sorts of stations, art being one of her favorites. Her expressions make us smile every day. Just yesterday she said, "Good thinking, Mommy," when I fixed a problem and told her teacher, "Don't worry, I got this," when she distracted a boy who was having trouble.
Going through these photos has me feeling grateful and amazed how quickly they're growing and changing. It puts my "hard days" at home into perspective... 'Tis the season for being thankful, and we have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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| Bath Action Shot |
We celebrated Gina & Brent's wedding in October. Gina Van Loon was my neighbor growing up, and more like family than friend. Ella was thrilled to be her flower girl, and it was so special for her from the minute Gina asked her until her final dance with the ring bearer, Timmy. Timmy, Gina's almost six-year-old cousin, was adorable. He was so sweet and affectionate with Ella-- not to mention he learned how to dip her on the dance floor from the groom himself. Ella ADORED him, following (read chasing) him around all night and leaving the reception with tears about leaving her new best friend. She hasn't forgotten either. Let's just say she told me a story two weeks ago that went something like, "Once upon a time, there was a prince named Timmy who married a princess named Ella in a church. They were fancy, and she wore a sparkly dress..."
It was a beautiful wedding and fun party. Gina, Amanda, and Megan looked gorgeous, and it was fun being parents of the flower girl. Can't wait to see Gina and Brent's professional photos. Here are a few we took on our phones.
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So special riding with Auntie Megan in the limo!
Bridesmaid and Flower Girl |
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| Meanwhile, Everett had a blast playing with Auntie Kathleen and her kitties! |
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| Ella had so much fun meeting Elsa, getting her face painted, bouncing and celebrating Abby on her birthday! |
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| Family Walk/Stroller Ride/Scoot on Sawyer Camp Trail |
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Both kids taking swim lessons. All three of us are in the pool at the same time!
Fun in the pool, crazy in the small locker room. |
We had a random family morning in Palo Alto, getting coffee at Philz, taking the kids to get crepes at our favorite place when we lived there, and walking around downtown. We had to walk a few blocks out of the way to take these pictures... Funny story: We decided to have Chris take the kids to the park near our old apartment while I went to get the car. When Chris walked by our old building on Everett Avenue, he ran into our landlord, Marvin, who was giving potential renters a tour. He remembered Chris and said hello, and Chris introduced Ella and Everett. Marvin laughed out loud, saying, "Ohhhh Everett! I get it!" I'm sure he'll be telling that story to future renters for years to come!
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Ella can write her name!
3 years old |
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Swinging Doubles
Don't think we'll be able to do this many more times! |
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| No Hands! |
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| Everett and Grandma Barbie in her New Home |
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| My cute sous chef cutting vegetables (with a plastic knife) for minestrone soup |
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Mom/Daughter Girls Date: Ella's First Trip to the Movie Theater
We saw The Peanuts Movie :) |
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| Ardenwood Farm and Pumpkin Patch |
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| Haystack Pyramid with Joi |
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| Riding the train at Ardenwood Farm |
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Everett will be running around with this group in no time--
Jocelyn's Joi and Mae and Julia's Dillon and Connor |
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| Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch with the DeMartinis! |
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| Painted some, carved some. |
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| Little Hands Halloween Party 2015! |
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| Decorating Cookies |
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| Pumpkin Carving with Papa and Grandma |
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| I like a good theme :) |
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Happy Halloween 2015
Mrs. Banks, Mr. Banks, Mary Poppins, and Bert |
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| Grandparents and Great Grandparents! |
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Oreo truffle spiders!
Ella helped break the pretzels to make legs and put on the candy eyes :) |
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Bert and Ketchup, I mean Gina
Not pictured: Mustard (Brent) and a Hot Dog (Enzo the Dog) |
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| Mary Flying with her "Brumbrella" |
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Our Cute Trick-or-Treaters
Second Generation of Crossridge Road |
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| Off to School! |
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| Everett rocking the babies in Ella's classroom |
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| Everett and Maddie at Little Hands |
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| Pretty typical outfit for Ella at preschool (size doesn't matter to her :) ). |
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Twins for Chris and my mom's birthday breakfast.
I love my boys! |
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From our family adventure to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz for Chris's birthday...
If you look closely, those brown grape-like clumps are bunches of Monarch butterflies! |
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| Chris and Ella checking out butterflies |
