Kabobs!

At family dinner the other night we made Shish Kabobs. I gave Ella a few skewers, put a ton of vegetables within her reach, and she went to town! She had so much fun and was completely into it for a good 20-30 minutes. Who knew skewering was such an age-appropriate activity! We're definitely going to try this at home soon.

Catalog Model?

People tell me I should get Ella into modeling. So far, the closest we've come is today when she climbed into the display at the Children's Place and gave hugs to the mannequins. She cracks me up!


Hugging

Posing

Dad wins again

I came into the kitchen the other day to find this. Wow. Dad is way more fun that Mom. That's all I have to say.

Mom's everywhere will be grateful!!

I made a FABULOUS discovery today. So, here's the story. We needed milk and a few other things and I had time so I got brave and decided to take Ella to the grocery store with me. For at least a year now I've been doing most of my grocery shopping at night when Ella can stay home with Chris. She gets bored and it's just not worth the potential of a breakdown or chasing her through the aisles. However, this has been forever changed. Our lovely neighborhood Safeway has replaced their old, rickety, car-shaped, kid-carts for THESE. They're new and shiny and HAVE TVs IN THEM!!!! I was able, at a very user-friendly kiosk, to choose a cartoon (we went for The Backyardigans) and roll away with a VERY happy child. It was a fabulous shopping experience. Thanks Safeway! If there was every any doubt about where I'd shop, they totally just won my vote.

Fall Day at the Park

On Saturday we finally got to hang out with Marissa (it had been weeks!) and went to a kid's day at a local park. Lots of fun and a GORGEOUS fall day. Have I mentioned I LOVE fall?? I REALLLY do.

We were at the top of a big hill and I told Ella she should run down to this amphitheater and get on the stage and dance for us. And to my shock she took of running and did it! That little spot with pink pants and black shirt is her!

Running back up the hill to Aunt Marissa

Sucking down a sno-cone

The park had a beach on the bay and we played there for a long time. Here Marissa is helping Ella right her name with a stick. She got really into writing on the sand but insisted she only wanted to make "loooong lines" not letters. She had a blast.

Ella's gotten quite adventurous lately and likes climbing and jumping off of things a lot more than she used to. (and a lot more than I do...I get scared!)

Great Day with the fam!