Birthday Party for Eli!

We had a fun time celebrating Eli's first birthday with family!

There's something about a fresh cake from the bakery that I just LOVE!

So we splurge a little on birthdays... :)

When we went to pick up the cake...we were surprised to see the little cake that came with it! :)

That's a lot of cake for such a little guy!

Hmmm...I kinda like this :)

Digging in for more! :)

YUM!

Cleaning up after a messy cake!

All clean and ready to party! :)

Opening presents!

Lots of cousins to help Eli open his new toys!

Goofy Girl!

Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful weekend with family!

Eli (12 months) & Cousin Adam (16 months)

Adam!

Cousin Kyle

Who's this goofy little guy??

Eli!

One of the many many card games that were played this weekend...

Buddies!

Grace had so much fun playing with Cousin Noelle over Thanksgiving weekend!

Ahhh...I love this one! :)

Birthday Morning!

On the morning of Eli's birthday he got to open his first present!

As you can tell...Eli was quite into his present :)

Or other things like...the TV remote and the TV itself!

Grace showing Eli that his new toy really was cool :)

Eli's Birthday!

Here are pictures of Eli on his birthday!

I still can't believe he's already a year old!

Birthday Fun!

We had a fun evening celebrating Eli's birthday!

Ohhh...what's in there?

Trucks! Eli's very happy to have some boy toys around the house! :)

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!

This is great! :)

Waiting to taste some cake for the first time!

Happy Birthday Eli!

(Gotta love a free 1st birthday cake from Byerly's!)

(Guess the picture decided to be sideways...and I'm too tired to fix it! :)

Helping Eli blow out the candle!

Yum!

Grace agrees :)

Grace with one of her favorite people...MARLENE! :)

Birthday Boy!

Today is Eli's first birthday!

Can't believe how fast this year went!

Here's Eli's first year in pictures...

Go Broncos!

Grace was ready to cheer on the Broncos with Daddy!

Crazy Minnesota Weather

We had wonderfully mild and warm fall weather during October and early November.

Today was absolutely perfect. It was nice and warm.

We didn't even have to wear coats! (Now that's my kind of weather!)

I think Eli knows winter is coming...

Saying "Good bye" to the parks and sunny weather is tough stuff!

Playing in the sand...

We love our walks!

(Especially when our destination is to the park!)

Just three days later...

Good bye grass! See you again in March?? :(

Little Stinker! :)

Appearing all sweet and innocent :)

Eli...

Who needs toys when you these fun buttons to play with... :)

B-day weekend

A cake from Dave...isn't he sweet!?! :)

The cake was delicious! :)

The start of Eli's walking!

Eli took his very first steps today too! :)

Weekend with Family

Dave was gone for confirmation retreat this weekend...so rather than stay home to an all-too-quiet house...we went and spent the weekend with family!

Eli hanging out on Uncle Chad's shoulders...

Silly Cousin Ryan!

Grace getting her hair done by Aunt Kimmy! :)

Ryan again! :)

Trick or Treat!

Well here's our little trick-or-treaters!

Eli the Lion (hand-me-down outfit from cousins & outfit that Grace wore last year)

Grace the Care Bear! ($2 garage sale find :)

So...maybe not my first pick for costumes...but I still think they were adorable anyhow :)

It was Confirmation Sunday at Trinity... so it was a crazy busy day!

So sadly...this was the only chance I had ALL day to get a picture of them :(

Here's Grace the Bear and Eli the Lion...sitting in the parking lot of our local grocery store (they gave out some great treats! :)

I thought about dressing them up in their costumes a day or two later...and reenacting the whole event....but it just wouldn't be the same...

Next year I WILL take more pictures! :)

Pumpkin Fun!

Today Grace and I went to a pumpkin activity at the early childhood center in town.

Grace had a great time learning all about pumpkins! :)

Decorating a pumpkin cookie...

Time to eat it!

Where's Gracie??

Elmo Fan

Grace LOVES Elmo! So it's a special treat to watch him on TV!

Here she is...eyes glued to Sesame Street! :)