Thanksgiving 2008

We were fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving in Idaho with the Buckley clan. The week was fun and went by quickly.














Jake and Ellie playing Hide-and-Seek. They also enjoyed dancing together.  It's not hard to see why those two are best buds.


Ellie enjoying a stack of "delicious" pancakes made by Grandpa. She ate 6!  Then helping Mommy open her Christmas present.

















Ellie enjoying Scooby-Doo movies from Nessa and Nate and then giving kisses for her presents.
It really was a wonderful week. As seen above we did our gift giving with the whole family there (except Nessa and Jake who have to wait until Christmas). Thank you to Nessa and Nate for our wonderful gifts--we'll let you know what we buy in Florida with the loot. We gave Grandpa a universal remote for the HD TV and DVD player system downstairs. Steve made sure everything was wired correctly and then programmed the remote so with the push of one button you can choose whether you want to watch TV, DVD, HD DVD, etc. Steve also fixed my Mom's digital picture frame (a gift from last year which was still under warranty). It is so nice to have such a handy man around--I LOVE HIM!

Run, Datsun Run!!!!

The old...                                                           The New...

                                            In car

After a long and difficult (and expensive, says Britney) journey the rebuilt 2000 engine is now in the Datsun with the new 75 amp alternator, aluminum radiator and electric fan. Still to be replaced is that crappy battery (note the charging connectors) and the exhaust system. I will try and start it up in the next few days. I'll let you know what happens.

Happy Birthday Steve!

Today Steve is, as the Primary song says, 'one year older and wiser too'. I asked if he felt any older or wiser and he said, "lets wait to see if that happens when I graduate". As for the festivities, I got up early with Ellie so he could sleep in. When Steve got up Ellie was so excited to say Happy Birthday Daddy! She then said, "you get presents and cupcakes today". Of course that is all a birthday is to her right now. We fixed him a special breakfast of eggs benedict and a yummy lunch. We relaxed, played games, and decided to go out to dinner at On the Border--yummy Mexican food. I would like to say that we sang Happy Birthday and cut into the cake, but to be honest we started eating the cake last night. Steve loves Miami Beach Birthday Cake which is a tradition in his family and since I haven't been able to make it for him for a couple of years (we have been out of town on his birthday and have celebrated by getting a piece of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory) we decided to start eating the cake early. Well Steve Happy Birthday! I hope this year is full of fun new adventures for you!

Ellie Trick-or-Treating

Hurray, she wore her costume. She started crying again and we were trying everything to distract her and finally the chance to give Zoe some milk and take a picture with Zoe was all she needed to stay in costume. Isn't she the cutest 'Abby Cadabby' fairy you have ever seen?












A picture with Zoe that stopped the crying. Ellie and all the other trick-or-treaters. She usually hung at the back until everyone else was done and then she would go get her candy. 

Daddy helping Ellie the 'fairy' to fly. One of the first houses we went to. Look at her face, "Dad is this okay?".

Below: Ellie and the loot.

We went to "Trunk or Treat" at the church for a little while. Ellie had fun playing the games they had. She went fishing, threw frogs onto lily pads, bowling, etc. We didn't stay for the actually candy part because we all got tired and she had plenty of candy. When we got home we went over to our neighbors, Tank and Debbie, they had little jars of playdough and they let her pick out three colors. I think it was her favorite 'treat' of the night just look at the picture.

Ellie Writing Her Name

Ellie has been trying to write her name the last couple of days. It usually looks like that big one on the right where the capital 'E' has several extra lines (she says its her E and it can have lots of lines), but today she did a small one that looked pretty good so I had to take a picture. You have to look close to distinguish the 'i' from the 'l's because it is as big but there is a dot on top.

Ellie's First Halloween Party

Well some friends from work had twins a month after Ellie was born and they have an annual Halloween party, but we have been out of town on Halloween since Ellie was born due to engineering conferences Steve attends so this is the first year Ellie is really getting to experience Halloween. We talked about what she wanted to be for Halloween and it was decided she would be Abby Cadabby so we went to the store (because Mom had a coupon) and she picked out her costume. She was so excited she carried it all the way home. When we got home we took it out of the packaging and hung it up where she would see it every day and we talked about it all the time. Well when we went to put it on--she had a serious melt down so as you can see from the picture no dress and wings just the hair and wand was all she wore of the costume. Hopefully by Friday I can convince her to wear the whole costume.

Magical Nose

A few weeks ago Steve was playing with Ellie and stole her nose (you know the game where you pretend your thumb is the nose of the other person). Ellie didn't think it was funny and almost started crying until Steve returned her nose. Then Ellie discovered she could steal Daddy's nose and then the game became hysterical. Well last night the game got more creative. Steve got Ellie out of the bath tub and was putting her diaper on when she reached up and stole his nose. She then pretended to shove it into her mouth and start chewing. Of course Steve was loving it and acted like he had lost his nose and began pumping her chest so he could get his nose back. Ellie then reached into her mouth and pulled out "a piece of Daddy's nose". It took several pieces from her mouth to complete Steve's nose. After Steve's nose was put back together Ellie then started pointing into the air saying "my nose, it's gone". I guess it somehow floated off of her face. Steve began grabbing at the air to retrieve her nose but it had just moved according to Ellie. Finally Steve snagged it before it reached the ceiling and returned it to its proper place. What an imagination!

Ellie and the Pumpkin Patch

Well we went to a Pumpkin Farm today to pick our own pumpkins. Ellie fell asleep on the way there (since it was about a 50 minute drive) so she was a little shy around the animals, but after the nachos she warmed up and enjoyed the rest of the activities. We all had fun and look forward to the pumpkin coloring tomorrow.

Side Note: Now every time Ellie sees a pumpkin she says, "Look Mom a pumpkin patch".

Ellie Spelling

Mimi and Grandpa's Visit to Retrieve their Car

Mimi and Grandpa were kind enough to let us borrow their Lexus (pictured in Moore Vacation below) for the summer while we tried to figure out what to do with Steve's car since the air conditioning was broken. Ellie loved riding in Mimi's car and Steve was grateful to drive my car with AC. Now when ever we go into the garage Ellie always asks, "Where's Mimi's car?". I ask if she remembers Mimi and Grandpa driving away in it, she says oh yeah, but where did it go, so I tell her it is now at Mimi and Grandpa's house. She has even attempted to call Mimi and Grandpa and ask if she can borrow the car "because she needs to ride in it" she'll tell them. Well maybe she can ride it in again at Thanksgiving.

These pictures are just some of the fun times we had while they were here. Okay fixing the patio ceiling may not have been fun, but it isn't falling any more and I don't have to worry about kids eating paint chips so THANKS Dad for the wonderful Christmas present of your labor!

Moore Family Vacation

Above: Group Photo of everyone enjoying lunch at the beach.

The tide pools were a big hit for kids and adults alike. We saw starfish, crabs, and other ocean life. Ellie loved the day at the beach! After spending an hour running away from the crashing waves she decided to relax and dig.

We returned with a lot more stuff then we went with. Thanks to Debbie for all of the wonderful hand-me-down clothes and to Carole and Russ for the new addition of Zoe (the dog) to our family. Ellie loves her!

4th of July in Rupert, Idaho

What a lucky guy!

Ellie enjoying the bubble gun on the deck.

Ellie driving Grandpa's motor boat. We did several circles while she was in control, but never hit a sand bar. Steve and Ellie enjoying a tube ride behind Grandpa's motor boat.

Ellie and Uncle Nate covering their ears due to the loud sirens going by.  Ellie and Aunt Nessa gathering candy which was stored in Uncle Nate's cargo pockets.

Notice the big scrapes on her knees from running across the drive-way to meet Grandpa when he came home from work. She cried every time she told the story (I think Grandpa cried every time too).

Birthday Party with Buckleys

They rolled in early Saturday morning so we decided to let them rest on Saturday and we would celebrate Sunday before going to church. As you can tell we probably should have let everyone rest some more.

Ellie's 2nd Birthday

We celebrated her birthday the morning of by setting out all of her presents the night before. Her theme this year was Elmo so we had some balloons she loved and presents from both grandparents.

Left: Testing the tricycle from Mom & Dad while talking with grandparents.
Right: Digital camera from G&G Buckley.

Ellie loves cupcakes so we decided to make cupcakes that day--just look at her face. :)  Left: Dishes, books, and doll accessories from G&G Moore.