Debut of the Mushroom Pool

It finally got into the upper 70's this weekend, so we decided to initiate the mushroom pool. Ella was so excited when she saw it, she marched in place and squealed with glee until we helped her get into it.

She was very "busy" with her pool. It is serious business filling up your pitcher in your mushroom pool and transferring water to various locations. Very serious.

Filling Jed's water bowl.

Watering the yard.

First Trip to the Zoo!

Ella has her first trip to the zoo this Saturday (May 24). We think she enjoyed it, but she has just gotten her 1 year shots that morning, so she wasn't quite herself.

Here we are in front of the monkeys.

With Daddy at the "farm". We only got 2 pictures because we forgot to charge the camera batteries before the trip.

Another Visitor

We had another friend visit Ella a few weeks ago. Miss Makenna Smeltzer spent some time at our house while her mommy has a doctor's appt. She is such a sweet girl, and she and Ella play so well together. Plus she calls me "tuff" (Steph), which I think is adorable.

Makenna showing me the peanut butter on her face.

Makenna checking out one of Ella's books.

Abby and Anna!

Abby and Anna came up to visit a few weeks ago. What a ball! Here are a few pictures from their visit --- bath time was definitely a highlight

Anna trying out Ella's bow. Neither one of the girls have much hair!!

Bath time!

How sweet!

Another day in the backyard...

A few more pictures from a day in the backyard.

Spring is Here!

Spring is here! Well....ok, so Summer is almost here since it has been so long since we posted pictures! It has been a pretty cool Spring, but things are finally starting to warm up. Below are some of Ella's first experiences outside in the backyard -- since being able to walk. Let's just say she loves the feeling of her bare toes in the grass! We think she might be a bit of a "free spirit"...because she likes other areas to be bare as well.

This is how she started out. "Hmmmm...this is nice..."

This is what followed!

Close up on that grin! Yes....at 13 mos. we still only have 2.5 teeth.

Trying to squirm out of Daddy's arms to get her toes back in that grass!

1st Birthday Party!

We had Ella's first birthday party yesterday (Saturday, March 29), even though her official birthday is not until next weekend (April 6). She had an absolute BALL! She was so blessed with many people stopping by and bringing all sorts of wonderful things for her. Matt and I were humbled by people loving Ella so much. It was a fantasitc day for her -- she didn't get fussy once, and enjoyed every minute of the action!

Her new chair from her Uncle Nate, who is COMPLETELY spoiling her, and she loves it. If you can believe it, as soon as she saw this she grabbed the remote for the TV

and hopped right up into the chair!

Mama and Nana helping her open her gifts. This year she liked the cards and tissue paper best, but we have a feeling that will change in later years.

Special lady bug cakes that Mama, Nana, & Aunt Nellie stayed up late to make on Friday night! After 2 ENTIRE bottles of food coloring, the "red" icing was still just coral colored at best. Ok, that was being nice -- it was really probably closer to construction cone orange.

Her first taste of cake! We gave her a whole lady bug cake to enjoy....and she did just that. Forget grabbing pieces with her hands, she just dove right in with her mouth! What a champ!

After the cake frenzy, she was whisked up to the bath tub for a "scrub down". The onesie went straight into the trash - there was no hope for it after the orange icing explosion.