Making Christmas Cookies

Since we have been de-Christmastizing the house the last few days, we haven't had a chance to take any new photos or videos of Ella.

Here is a short clip of Ella helping make Christmas Cookies last week.

~Aaaahhhh...I love decorating for the holidays but, it is always nice to have my house back to normal Mommy dee, I have to lug those Christmas Tree(s) back up to the attic now???Daddy David, and "bye, bye Tismis Tee's see you weel soon, I gonna miss you....holiday Ella!!!

Christmas Cont....

Just another little video of Ella opening a present yesterday morning....she is just too, too, cute!!!!

~recovering from the Christmas festivities Mommy dee and Daddy David, and our champion present opener Ella

3 Peas in Pod First Christmas and our 7 Month Family-versary!!!

WOW!!!! Our first Christmas as a family of three!!! I think there were many, many, many times over the last 8 years when David and I wondered when THIS Christmas would happen. Every year we would say to each other..."we are closer than we were last year" when we really never knew if we were any closer, we just knew that time was passing in order for us to move forward to the next hurdle, obstacle, or milestone.

THIS was the Christmas that we have been waiting for, dreaming of, and wishing and hoping for it to be......

Ella and Savanah (cousin) being silly while waiting for Christmas Eve dinner to finish cooking.

Ella and Savanah with Ne Ne (my Mom) singing Christmas songs.

Ella and Savanah "looting" the presents while they thought we were busy...we were, but we had a spy.

Santa thought that this was going to be the absolute best gift. Ella LOVES "Nemno" (Elmo) so what better gift than a Tickle Me Elmo. This was NOT a Santa success but, a Santa Fail!!!!

Ella has caught on to the fact that when there is something wrapped in pretty paper, with ribbons and bows, that it is obviously meant to be opened. She enjoyed unwrapping her presents, and said "Ooooo... and Wow!!!" after each one, but if you listen close to the end of the video clip you can hear her ask for "more presents!!!" a typical 2.5 year old!!!

Today is also our 7 Month Family-versary!!! There are times David and I just look to each other and say "we have a daughter" or "Ella is really here with us" or "we have the family that we wanted and waited for, for so long" and then there are other times, when it seems as though this is the way it has always been, that Ella has always been with us....in many respects she always has been with us, it is just this year it is real!

Merry Christmas from The 3 Peas in Pod to you and your peapods!!!

~Mommy dee, Daddy David, and our sweet little Ella

I took several videos the other day when Ella had her fairy wings, tutu, pretties in her hair, and squeakers on. She was just too cute to not take more than one video.

~love giggling with my girl Mommy dee, finally home of vacation with his girls Daddy David, and our silly, giggly fairy princess that squeaks Ella

Ywelllow-Umbarine

Here Ella and David are singing one of Ella's favorite little diddy...The Beatles "Yellow Submarine."

~since Ella has been home I am learning so many Beatle songs Mommy dee, the missing 5th Beatle Daddy David, and our Ywelllow-Umbarine girl Ella

The busy-ness of being a Fairy Princess!!!

Ella is one busy Fairy Princess...fluttering and squeaking about here, there, and everywhere!!!

~video taker of the day Mommy dee, busy at work for one more day Daddy David, and our fluttering Fairy Princess Ella

Shoveling Snow

During last Sundays snowfall Ella tried to shovel some of the snow.

~snow shovel helper Mommy dee, video taker Daddy David, and a pink delight in a winter wonderland Ella

Pre-Chrismtas Fun!!!

We have been busy little elves over the last few weeks and on top of getting back to work I have been a bit behind in posting some Ella fluff.

Hopefully, now since I am on a Holiday Break and then once the holidays are over I will be able to update the blog daily like I have in the past and really like to do.

Ella and her friend Mya at a Holiday Fun Night at the school I teach at (as well as Mya's Mom).

Ella and David at the Holiday Fun Night....Hmmmmmm........

Ella's laundry basket. This seems to be a new fascination of hers, she loves to get in it each night.



All dressed up and ready to have Supper with Santa at Greenfield Village's Holiday Nights.

Ella and David waiting for the carriage ride to take us to the resturant for Supper with Santa.

Oh...this...is...Santa???? Hmmmm....not too sure about this guy.

The  3 Peas in a Pod ending our night at the Supper with Santa event.

Ella's first BIG Michigan snowfall. She had no idea what she was in for when we stepped outside.

Getting ready to go play in the snow. Ella LOVES her snow pants....I mean LOVES THEM!!!!

Ella's footprints in the snow. Those are the footprints of our baby girl...our baby girl....sometimes we still cannot believe it!

Ella walking (trying to walk) in snow for the first time. The "Woo Hoo" at the end is the best!

Ella and Mommy's first Snow Day together at home. Ella made snowflake ornaments.

Ella hard at work putting the snowflake "steeeekerrrs" on the ornament.

Ella showing off her handiwork. Beautiful (both Ella and the snowflake). Of course this is the "smile" Ella gives when she is saying "Smiling, Smiling, Smiling" at the same time she IS smiling.

Two snowflakes completed in record Toddler Time...about 7 minutes!!!! Ella was shaking the snowflakes saying "Nooooo,  Nooooo, Nooooo" which is "Snow, Snow, Snow!!!" We are still working on those "s" sounds.

We are looking forward to the next week ahead as we spend Christmas together for the first time as a family.

~festive, festive, festive says dee, the snow is pretty but, that is about all I like about it David, and our little bundle of Christmas energy elf Ella

Special Christmas

We have a pre-Christmas family gathering, called Special Christmas, for some family members that are unable to come to our house on Christmas Eve.

We travel out to Auntie Jo Jo and Uncle Ray Ray's home. We usually eat until we need to be rolled out the door, open a few holiday presents, and play the game Apples to Apples (yes...I even will play this game).

Ella, Savanah, and Ne Ne

(Ella was about finished taking photos at this point.)

Ella, Savanah, Owen, and Aunt Staci reading.

Ella ended the evening by receiving a pair of fairy wings, a tutu, a fairy wand, a "duder" (LeapFrog Computer), Princess Bean Bag Toss game, and a roll along suitcase with her name on it.
~getting into the holiday spirit dee, going into Santa overload David, and Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...presents Ella!!!

Christmas (a little early)

Ella's friend Madison (they lived in China together) sent her a little something last week. She opened the package(s) last night after we returned from having supper with Santa.

Thank you so much Madison, Mackenzie, Jim, and Kathy!!!
~Can't wait for Christmas dee, Ella's gift opener helper David, and a future Santa's helper Ella

Ho, Ho, Ho

Ella and I were putting the finising touches on the Christmas Tree last weekend while David was recording us. At the end of the recording you can hear Ella say "Ho, ho, ho" of course we think it is just adorable!!!

~making a list and checking it twice dee, might be on Santa's "nice" list David, and one "good, good, good girl" Ella