Mr. & Mrs. Claus

It was that time again where Elliana got to visit Santa! She actually did great and didn't want to leave. Now everyday she asks to go see Santa or when he is going to visit the house. It is GREAT that she "gets it" this year. How quickly she has grown.

Thanksgiving was really nice. My folks (Opa & Gigi) came to visit. We got spoiled with home cooked meals and lots of love. For the second year in a row I went Black Friday shopping with Nicole, Liz & Tiffany (co-workers of Nicole and friends). When I got home at 9am (after the EARLY shopping) Elli, Opa & Gigi checked out a few other stores. It was a nice holiday weekend.

Now it is the countdown till Christmas. We are headed out to Michigan for a few days to meet Elli's cousin and our new niece, Olivia and spend family time with Ryan's side of the family.

Hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! We missed all the family & friends we weren't able to visit with. Much love to you all!

Pumpkin Carving

Last night was the GREAT PUMPKIN CARVING adventure at the Morris House. Elliana got super excited. Then once she realized how messy you can get she wanted nothing to do with it. She put her hand in daddy's pumpkin then came to me to clean her up. Then she tried helping mommy clean her pumpkin and still NO LIKEY!. She went in her little tent house we have up for her and sat in there playing for a good 15 minutes. Then ventured out to sit and watch daddy carve. As you can see in the pictures Elli wanted us all to have our "hoodies" on.

It is so fun to watch this little sas-a-frass. She has a STRONG personality. She is very loving and always wants to help. Everyday developing more and getting smarter by the minute. Oh and just so outgoing! She says, "HI" to every person we walk by in a store. She loves the chit chat at the check out counter with the cashier. Social butterfly, wonder where she gets that from? Miss Elliana is very, very, very independant already. She HAS to try everything herself first before we can help her. Don't get me wrong she can put up a fight when she wants it to go her way....but mommy ALWAYS wins (daddy not so much) HA. This girl is curious, full of energy, imaginative and FUNNY! Example: the other day out of NO WHERE she runs up to me pulls down her pants turns slaps her behind and says look at my cute butt. It was HILIARIOUS. Where she came up with this we have no idea.

Hope you all have a wonderful safe Halloween. Hopefully while I am gone Ryan will post some video/pictures.

Trunk or Treating continued...

Last night we got invited to Karen's (Elliana's daycare teacher's church) for Trunk or Treating. It is where people decorate there car trunks and pass out candy. It was a fun, safe way of celebrating Halloween. Plus with me not being here I didn't want to miss out on the festivies. Ryan is still going to hit up a couple neighborhoods after they drop me off at the airport but at least our "Little Red Riding Hood" got a preview of what this Trick-o-treating this is all about and mom didn't miss out! Enjoy all the FUN pictures. Also, our good friends Nicole, Noah, Katie & Mia joined us for the fun. Getting Ready!
Just the cutest thing ever!
Little Red Riding Hood making her grand entrance!

She is very excited, can't you tell?

The front of Elliana's baseball pal, Noah's costume his grandma made.

Elliana helping Karen (her daycare teacher) pass out candy.

Daddy helping his precious girl out.

Mommy's turn.

TRUCK OR TREATING w/ Friends!

Look at the pumpkin on the trunk. Lots of the trunks were decorated! Pretty fun.
Headed on a candy mission.

Katie and her little kitty, Mia.
Nicole and her ALLSTAR baseball player, Noah.

Another cool decorated trunk.

Noah Johnson the baseball player came with us too. Noah Grandma Gale handmade his outfit. SO CUTE!

Elli and Noah stepping right up to get there treats. Reaching for her yummy treats!

Katie and the cutest kitty, Mia met us for some fun.

Nicole and Elliana

Halloween Carnival & Pumpkin Patch

Last night we went to a couple Halloween carnivals. They had a big one at the Silverton and then pretty much on various intersections they have foe pumpkin patches (we stopped at one). Daddy tried winning Elliana some prizes on the midway games, she FINALLY went on a ride and we enjoyed some fatty popcorn. We got 3 pumpkins which we will carve one of these evenings. Elli wondered through a hay stack maze. It was a ton of fun. Halloween is my favorite time of year and I am so glad I we were able to share is some Halloween festivities as a family.

In two weeks, Oct. 31st I leave for a two week tour in Europe for work. I have been a bit bummed one I won't be here for Halloween and two I will be away from Ryan & Elli for so long. It will hopefully go by fast. Enjoy the pictures.

Halloween season begins...(YIPPEE)

Elliana recieved her first Halloween treat in the mail yesterday from Grandma & Grandpa Morris. Ryan wrapped it with left over Christmas paper to make it more fun to open. Check out the videos of her unwrapping her Halloween present.

Welcome cousin Olivia!

Yesterday, Uncle Jason & Aunt Nicole welcomed their first child to the world. Olivia Katherine Morris was born 10/14/10 at 7:26 pm at 7 lbs 5oz. Grandma & Grandpa Morris where able to make it to Chicago in time to be there for the birth. Below is a picture of new baby Olivia and another of Grandma Morris holding her.

When Ryan and I got word we told Elliana, "your cousin Olivia has arrived. Remember Uncle Jason and Aunt Nicole they have a baby now. They are a mommy and daddy." She remembers Uncle Jason & Aunt Nicole and relates to them by remembering that they have two cats..she responds the one with the kittys. We said, "yes they have a baby now that is your first cousin!" She yells, "yeah (and gets a big grin) let me see, let me see." She sits on the stairs and Ryan show her a picture. She responds with, "oh baby!" It was super cute and she was very excited! We all get to to meet Ms. Olivia during Christmas break.

Me being an only child I never in my life have ever had a thought of ever being an aunt to anyone. Even when Ryan and I got married knowing he had siblings wasn't something I pondered over ever! Weird! Kind of crazy to think Ryan and I are now an Uncle and Aunt, also!

CONGRATS to the new parents! We all already love Olivia very much and are thankful she is in our family!

Frogs, leaves and fun in Michigan

Over this past weekend Ryan & Elliana were able to go to Michigan for a long week. They were visited with family and enjoyed the beginning of fall in Michigan. During the time they were there the county fair was in town. Ryan said it was a ton of fun. At the fair Elli got to ride a pony, see all types of animals from turkeys, bunnies to a camel and a little dancing performance monkey. Elli got to experience her first campfire to at Grandma & Grandpa house! She played lots with 2nd cousin Kenleigh, Baleigh, visited with Great Grandma&Grandpa West, Great Grandma Morris, Aunt Kelly & Uncle Blake plus the rest of the family.

Froggy Froggy...while Ryan helped his folk replace there hot tub cover Elli found 3 or 4 little frogs. Hope you like the video.

Aunt Kelly helps Elli gather some leaves and play. Something she doesn't get to do in Las Vegas. She really only gets to gather rocks, cactus and dirt here. :)

Athlete in training.

New bed & new bedding!

As you saw in the previous video it was time for a toddler bed. When we purchased the crib it was a 4in1 so it has 4 different set ups. Crib, the one you see below and two others. We took Elli to the store to pick out a new pillow/bedding (had heard this helps the transition). Funny she picked out Dora the Explorer stuff. I don't think she has even ever watch the show...but that is what she liked. Check out Elli's new set up! Night one of new bed she fell right to sleep and did good till about 2:30am tried for a bit to get her back to sleep in her own bed but mommy was lazy and just let her sleep with us opps, night two we had a bit of trouble getting her to stay in bed and sleep once we did she was good till about 11PM but finally we got her back to sleep and she stayed in bed till 6:30AM when we have to get up. I think it so far a pretty good transition. Keep your fingers crossed for night 3!

Popcorn & Ratatouille = Easy Flight Home

Escape Artist

Swimming Videos

Cutie Pa-tootie

Swimming Lessons

Elli started swimming lessons last week. We go every Tuesday & Thursday for an hour. It is Parent & Me, meaning we get in the water with her. The teacher tries to teach her basic stuff like floating on her back and becoming comfortable with being on her tummy in the water. Kicking, front crawl motion with her arms and blowing bubbles are just some other things. They do fun little warm up songs and stuff to get the kids excited. Elli seems to like it so far. Thursday the water was very very cold and Elli was shivering so we didn't make it through the entire hour class. The teacher understood. Enjoy the pics.