Some reasons why being Elli's mom is the best job ever!

1. She prays for others, including just about everyone we know who is pregnant or wanting to be pregnant.

2. Elli tooted at the table and when I asked her what she should say she replied, "Ahh."

3. Elli asks me to be a horse nearly everyday. She feeds me, brushes my hair, rides on my back, and pets me.

4. She dances to any music and does cartwheels all the time!

5. She thinks she is in charge when we are not at home, trying to take care of others. (especially at church)

6. She learns quickly and surprises me with her amazing memory.

7. She comes up with amazing stories. For instance, one evening on the way home from church, the clouds were covering the moon and I got a running commentary which included things like, "The moon is putting on a show. Someone is on the moon. Jesus is on the moon and he is putting on a show for me."

8. From the story above I am reminded of another reason, Elli relates everything to Jesus!

9. She is funny and makes me laugh, often.

10. She really is an answer to our prayers

Friends

Travis and Madilynn playing guitar together. This guitar is almost as big as her!
Elli playing guitar with Travis. They played and sang "Jesus Loves Me." Not sure Elli is ready for the stage, but her little voice and face was so sincere.
We went to see Lily cheer and Andrew play basketball with Upward. What a fun morning. Elli loved watching her friend and I think her friend loved being watched by Elli:)
I asked Lily to jump or do something big for me. She said she wasn't allowed, but she managed this:)
Andrew is really getting the hang of basketball. Here he is blocking a shot. Arms up!

Valentine's Day Preliminaries:)

Roses from Brent to me, cookies from me to Brent. (my Grammy's peanut butter cookies with added chocolate chips for Brent's liking:)
Elli with her Valentine plates from her Gonga and Papa.
She loves presents.
Her face is cracking me up with all those smiles.
Elli loves presents and she gets them often. Every holiday delivers a surprise or two:) Papa and Gonga got Elli two heart shaped plates, some hershey kisses, valentine sandwich bags, and some fingernail polish that smells like cotton candy when it dries:) What a special little valentine we have here.

Tucson, Westin LaPaloma, Feb 5-9, 2011

Brent's favorite hole. He likes the view of this hole overlooking the course and the mountains in the background.
Getting ready to tee off. The club and resort are in the background.
For me:) This is a shot of the pool area.
Brent and his friend Bill from work went on a golf trip in Tucson. They played 126 holes in 5 days. (three whole days and two half days) They had a wonderful time, great weather, and lots of golf. Brent said there is nothing like waking up and knowing all you have to do that day is play golf:) We are happy to have him home, but I am thankful he had the opportunity to do something he loves.

Just because I think she's cute:)

Look at the dogs by Elli. Fergi usually camps out here as you can see the top of her head. She anticipates something falling. Sometimes Elli gladly helps out. The other dog is a ceramic dachsund (sp?) A couple from one of Brent's nursing homes fell in love with him and then with Elli when we visited. They bought her some gloves after her surgery and asked Brent to give her this dog after learning how much she loves animals. I love that Elli set that dog by her for dinner just like Fergi:)

Yes, Elli is wearing a swimsuit to eat dinner and it is snowing outside. Funny girl she is.

Playing with Fergi

Fergi likes to play with Elli as long as she is not trying to hold her, pet her, hug her, etc:)
This goes on time after time. Elli throws the toy, Fergi runs to it, Elli grabs it back, and Fergi chases her onto the couch. Love Elli's giggle as she plays.

Elli's first "date."

Elli and Brent have had "daddy-daughter" nights before. But this time, he asked her if she wanted to go on a date. (Background-Brent and I had a date night night earlier that week and Elli wanted to know what we did. I told her we went to dinner and even kissed. Back to date night) When Brent asked her, she got really embarrassed, put her hands on her face, and shook her head "no." Then she said, "Do we have to kiss?" Brent laughed and told her no since she was his little girl and she changed her answer to,"I guess so" with an eye roll:) I asked Elli what they were going to do and she said she needed to get flowers. So, Brent brought home flowers, she dressed up in this little dress, they went to "BobDevins" for pancakes, the theater to see Yogi Bear in 3-D(Elli sat on Brent's lap the whole time), then went back to "BobDevins" for dessert. While eating dinner apparently Elli spotted the peanut butter sundae and told Brent they should get one after the movie. He agreed:) All said, they had a great time, Elli thought she was the most special girl alive, and Brent wants to do it again:)

The twins come for a visit

I haven't had a sleeping baby in the baby bjorn in a long time. I loved it to say the least:) Wesley loved it too.
Elli loves to play with these boys. She is very good with them.
Luka and Wesley. Tummy time makes for fun times, especially when they keep rolling over. Wesley was getting upset with Luka because he wanted to roll that way and Luka was in his way:) So much fun to have them here.