I know I can't believe that my little girl is two years old already. We went out to eat for her birthday on Friday and went back and opened presents from us. A lot of books and some new tubby toys. Then the craziness started on Saturday. This was her party day. Her kiddos party at Kazoing was at 11:45 and then our entire family came back to our house for dinner afterwards. I think Ella and all of the kids had a blast (even the parents) jumping and sliding down all of the inflatables, then pizza and Elmo cupcakes & ice cream, then into the toy room for a little more playing. When we got home she woke up when I got her out of the car and I took her inside took her shoes off and laid her down for what I hoped would be a long nap. She woke up and sat up in the bed and I all that went through my head "oh know it's definitely not going down like this - no nap would mean very grumpy girl for the long night ahead." She leaned up only to turn on her aquariam and then laid her head down and I saw her eyes roll back into her head. She took a very good nap but was still groggy afterwards and took some warming up to everyone being in her house. But no problems starting opening gifts and she was a very happy two year old. Thank you to everyone that helped and came down to make her birthday so special!!

Great Grandma & Grandpa came to our house before the party. Ella of course just spilled apple juice all over her party outfit and Papaw.

Opening Great Grandma & Grandpa's present

Uncle Scott & Cousin Jack climbing through the obstacle course.

Chris, Britt, Josie & Jackson going down the slide

Josie, Will & Brody chilling on the floor

Miss Olivia going down the big slide again

Sophia & Isabella Nord enjoying some cupcakes

Savannah eating her cupcake - sweet thing you look like the cookie monster

Giavonni, Alex & Ella

Happy Birthday Baby Girl - trying to blow out the cupcake

Playing at her party - her lips look green from her cupcake

She got a tricycle from Momo & Papaw

Eating dinner with her Momo & Cousins Jackers & Livie

Birthday Girl

Our little angel is 2 today I can't believe it!!

Christmas at Home

Blueberry pancakes

Ella & Daddy opening gifts

Ella & Mommy before we opened gifts - look at her eyes - poor baby

I think we will try and do Christmas at home every year if it works out. Absolutely loved getting up and waiting for Ella to run out to the tree to see what Santa brought....not this year. So we did a trip to the doctor on xmas eve. Double ear infections = fun for us! She didn't wake us up until around 8:00 am which was nice and I also know won't last in future years. She begged me to carry her out into the living room after I changed her diaper and I refused so we could see her reaction to the presents. She was crying and holding on to my leg as I drug her into the living room. Mark was video taping and all he could say was "not the reaction we were hoping for." She did start to warm up to the idea of presents and started opening everything, even presents that weren't hers.

Pre-Christmas at the McGarvey's

We drove up to Zionsville the weekend before Christmas to celebrate the holidays with the family on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a little crazy with 4 - 2 year olds, 1 - 4 year old and a 2 month old baby. I told mom I wanted to get all the kids picture on the fire place before we left. I think we succeeded with a lot help from the big boy Jack. I say big boy because Jack corrected gamma when she asked for his help. "Gamma I'm not little, I'm big!" Don't you know - loved it! The at least got all in the same general area - I know what your thinking (good luck getting them all to look at the camera).

Ella you look so thrilled and Jack's pants blend in with the blanket on the fireplace. Livie is thoroughly enjoying getting her hair done and Mia might be a beautician. Ari where are you?

Guess Ari wanted to sit solo.

Love the smile Liv!!

Sunday all the Millers came over to mom & dad's for lunch. Was actually able to get a decent family photo in front of the tree.


Ella your being fun and can't see your face Liv but at least your not screaming like Ella.

The Miller Men (4 generations)

Christmas 2009

So Ella had to put her little twist on Christmas this year. The Wednesday before she had a temperature of 101 and was coughing terribly. I took her into the kitchen to get some cough medicine and she threw up everywhere. Poor thing was so freaked out and scared of what happened and best part was that Mark wasn't home from work yet. So I had to leave the throw up and change Ella and help settle her down. Went to the doctor on Christmas Eve and she has double ear infections and they think the throw up was from coughing so much. I went and got her up on Christmas morning and told her Santa had come to see if she would go running out by herself. Instead she wanted momma to pick her up which I refused so she could see all of her goodies. So the video tape is of me dragging Ella in on my right leg - not the reaction we were hoping for. She did however warm up to the idea of presents and then started tearing into them.

December 28, 2009 - the word "no" has officially begun in our house. Ella let me change your diaper - no; Ella let me get you out of bed - no; Ella let's brush your hair - no; Ella are your eyes blue - no! Elaine said she said it about 7,000 times yesterday.

Santa

So we attempted to see Santa this past Sunday at the mall. We arrived an hour early and the line was so long and Santa wasn't even there yet. So we went to get lunch and walked by afterwards to see him as we were leaving and decided a week night would be a better idea. So we went tonight and there were 4 people in front of us and I think we waited maybe 5 minutes. She just had to take Elmo with us. So I kept telling her "you should show Santa your Elmo," hoping this would help ease the transition onto Santa's lap for a quick photo. She froze in front of him and it was like she had cement shoes on. Santa spoke to her about Elmo and Ella even gave him five. I picked her up and sat her on his lap and got out of the way in hopes of a quick picture. Her bottom lip started to quiver and she was not liking it but she didn't cry. They took a couple pictures and this was the best one. The last one they took she smiled after the flash. She keeps talking about Santa - this is going to be a fun Christmas this year!!!

Sorry it's been so long since I blogged but if you know anything about my job - November & December are crazy. We had our company party last night which I plan and this year I catered (except for the chocolate fountain - yummy) so I am exhausted. It feels like I worked out because I was walking around like crazy last night, in heels of course. Now that is over maybe I can concentrate on finishing everything for Christmas.

Don't think I ever got around to posting the Halloween pictures of Ella - if I did sorry here they are again.

Ella & Jackson

I couldn't get her to say trick or treat but my polite little girl said please & thank you

Baby Will

Ella done with the trick or treating