Ella's Birthday

We had a great day last Monday celebrating Ella's 4th birthday! It was a very sweet day.

We started off the morning at Mimi's cafe so Ella could have chocolate chip pancakes. She ate like a champ.



They brought her a muffin with a candle in it.










Overcome with joy because of my chocolate chip pancakes.


After breakfast, Heath and I took Ella to Target so she could pick out a toy. She choose this:

It's an Ariel bath castle.

Every year, my desire has been to take a picture at 3:32 p.m.,February 15th the moment Ella was born and our lives changed forever.

This was 3:32 Feb. 15, 2006


This was 3:32 Feb. 15, 2007


This was 3:32 Feb. 15, 2008


This was 3:32 Feb. 15, 2009


This year at 3:32p.m. Feb. 15, 2010


Later that evening, we made ice cream cupcakes with Meme for Ella to take to her school the next morning. We were just going to put an E on each one, but Ella insisted that we put the first letter of each of her friend's names in her class. She's so thoughtful. Ella is just the sweetest, always thinking of her friends and looking out for them. She has a huge heart.




Happy Birthday Ella! Girl, you have no idea how you have changed your mommy and daddy's lives. The joy and love that overflows from our hearts is unbelievable. You are a gift. Every night when I say my prayers over you, I thank God that He gave us this absolutely amazing gift of you and for giving you such a sweet spirit. I pray that He will continue to grow that sweet spirit in you and that you will desire Him and love Him with your whole heart.

You never cease to amaze us with all the funny things you say and do. I have never laughed so hard then when I am around you and your daddy. The pair of you are constant entertainment. You have a very special relationship with your daddy and it's a joy to watch.

I love you so much and I look forward to this 4th year and all the fun and special memories we are going to make. You are my sweet punkin and we are so blessed to be chosen as your parents.

Love,
Your Mommy

Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday to my sweet girl!

We've had an amazing day celebrating with her. Will have pictures soon.

I love you SOOOOOO MUCH Ella Grace!!!

My 3 Year Old!

This is my sweet girl's last night as a 3 year old. Tomorrow she will be 4. Such a big girl.



This is a sweet video I just took of her saying what it means to be 4. She's so precious. I'm so thankful!

In 4 Days...

...this sweet little girl is going to be 4 years old! I just can't believe it. I really can not believe it. My mind can not wrap itself around this fact. Do all mothers of 4 year olds feel this way? Please tell me you do.

Christmas Day '09

Christmas morning was so much fun! This was our sweet girl just waking up and making her way out to the living room. I know she thought we were crazy because there were 7 of us sitting in the living room waiting for her to wake up with cameras and video cameras. Repeat after me: Only grandchild. Okay, now you understand.


This awesome dollhouse was her big present waiting for her Christmas morning from Santa (Heath's family).


Ella getting excited after she spent some time waking up.


Opening up her stocking.


Sponge Bob Tattoos. Yes, my little dainty girl is CRAZY about Sponge Bob. This was one of her ideas, not mine.


All of her stocking stuffers. Can you see a theme?






Ella getting sweet lovings from her Great Granddad.


Silly time with cousin Jerrod. This is an example of the amazingly fun time we had hanging out with family.


Some morning loving from my Uncle Jim.


My cousin Tiffany made this blanket for Ella. Is it not the cutest thing ever? She is still loving it.




Every year, instead of buying the aunts and grandmas a gift from Ella (because I can't afford that) I make them something Ellaish. This year I decided on journals and wrote a note on the front page just telling them how much they mean to Ella's life.








This is what one of them looked like.


This was the much anticipated gift. Ella for months had been asking for "the puppy that swims and walks". She saw it on a commercial and wanted it so badly. So we couldn't wait for her to open it.




She was very excited and even slept with it that night.




Getting some loving from Aunt Michelle & Uncle Bradley.


Can you tell she was excited about her new headband from her Aunt Ashley?




And of course the Dora nightgown was a huge hit.


Heath asked for boots for Christmas. I thought these would be perfect for him.


More family silly time. Wrestling with Uncle Arthur. A few weeks after Christmas, my Uncle Arthur and Aunt Sandy moved to Singapore. It was a very sad goodbye. I think this is one reason I treasured this Christmas so much with family. I was just really trying to soak all the time in.






Ella and her sweet cousins, Zach & Ethan. Always having fun together.


I am so thankful for the Christmas we had this year. I just feel like we all were focused on spending time with each other and making some great memories. It has gone down as one of my favorite Christmases.