My 32nd Birthday

My sweet family, right before the present fest!Mom, dad, and Grandma Gracie. They forgeot to tell the rest of us it was "wear red" night:)(except for me of course.)

Matt and Leah taking a self portrait.

The newly engaged couple, Heather and Gary. They had just returned from a trip to NYC where Gary popped the question. Heather texted us "you need to learn to spell Gary's last name" as the way of telling us she was engaged. Catchy, for all but me. I didn't get it sadly until the next day when Leah asked me if I had talked to Heather about what her ring looked like. Goodness. I am new to texting and that's my excuse:)

For my birthday, we went to China Cottage, my favorite Chinese restaraunt. It was a good gathering with great food. Not pictured here is Brent's brother Kyle who was able to join us for dinner. We then went to my house for cake, icecream and presents. I made out with some great presents. Thank you everyone for wishing me a happy day and for celebrating with me.

Elli's cash register

Heather got this cash register for Elli this summer at a garage sale. Typically big toys like this go to the basement after Elli plays with them for a while. However, she plays with this all the time. It is one of her favorite toys. In this picture, she set up all her doggies from visiting Santa 8 times and had them watch her buy things. She is holding one of her dogs a well. She kept telling them things like, "You want this? I wil buy it. Here you go. You sad? I will get this for you." What a little mommy she is:)

Mom's Birthday

Elli wearing Gonga's glasses.

Elli took this picture of my mom. Sorry mom:)

The table set for a very pretty and delicious meal for mom's birthday. It was a good time with family. We all enjoyed a meal together after church, some cake and ice cream, presents, and then the Christmas program at church. What a fun day. I love you mom.

Baby Jesus

Elli is really enjoying this Christmas season. She loves to sing the Christmas songs on the radio, read Christmas stories, and talk about presents. She also likes to hear the story, thankfully, of baby Jesus coming to earth as a baby and then growing up as an adult to die for our sins. She plays with the nativity scene in our house as well. moving it all over the place. She calls the characters out like this: baby Jesus, Mary, Jophes, sheep and shepherds. How cute that Jophes is a part of our Christmas story this year.

Thanksgiving 2008

Elli and Madison sharing ear phones. How cute.

Look at the spread at my grandma's house. It is always a great Thanksgiving feast. Notice however, we are no where to be seen. Brent, Elli and I as well as my cousin Brandi and her family are now banned to the kid's table. At least we aren't far from everyone else. And, we do get served first:)

I do it myself

Elli and I put up a christmas tree today while Brent was practicing for the church christmas program. We had a great time with the christmas music, lights, and ornaments. Elli was determined to help me carry some of the boxes with the ornaments in them. This box gave her a little trouble, so she ended up pushing it all the way over to me. I think it took me longer to decorate this tree than any other I have done. One ornament on, two ornaments off with, "Mommy, look at this one. Is it pretty?"

While I was unloading groceries...

Elli was taking her baby for a car ride. Note the sunglasses, hands on wheel, baby in car seat, and Elli checking the road:) Who taught her to act like this?

Elli's own Christmas tree

Gonga bought Elli a little Chirtmas Tree for her room. She was so very excited about it and kept carrying it around like it was toy. We took it up to her room and plugged it in. She loves it! When we put her to bed, she cried when we turned it off. How do you explain to a little girl that this tiny little tree could catch on fire in the middle of the night? Well, you don't. She eventually stopped crying after several verses of "her" song, "Amazing Grace." Sleep well baby girl.

The Spirit of Giving/Keeping?

This year we let Elli pick out some toys for a little girl for the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. We went to the store and she helped pick some toys. She picked out a baby first, then some head bands, and a toy kaleidascope(sp?) We filled in some other items and then went home to pack the box. Elli started filling the box, but as you can see, the baby is still clutched in her hands. She was very reluctant to give up the doll, so we had to explain several times that this was for a little girl that doesn't have any babies at all. Elli finally relented and put the baby in the box as well. She keeps wanting to look at the pictures we have at church of the kids getting boxes. She says, "We give toys to the girl? It's her birthday present?" Hopefully she will begin to grasp the meaning of giving and remember this special time.

Raking Leaves

What a beautiful afternoon to rake leaves in early Nov. Elli loved using the rake, but was unsure about jumping in the leaves. She didn't like getting dirty I guess. She is a princess you know:) Anyway, she did help rake with the one tree we have in our yard now. It took all of ten minutes, but it was fun all the same. Maybe next year we'll have two trees again. Our front tree fell down when the hurricane came to Ohio!

Science Experiments with Uncle Kyle

The first weekend in Nov. Uncle Kyle and Aunt Meg came over and did some fun science experiments with Elli. He did this huge bubble with dry ice and dish soap, he made small bubbles that she could hold in gloved hands, and he did worms under the black light so they glowed neon green. It was great and Elli loved it!!!

Christmas already

Elli is already very excited about Christmas. She likes the Christmas music, the few lights we have seen, thinking about presents, and baby Jesus. I am getting more and more excited about this year and seeing Elli learn all about it. On the way to church this morning we were listening to Christmas music and Elli says to me, "Mommy this is my favorite song. I love Christmas. I want to hug Christmas. I want to hug Christmas with my Gonga." (Gonga is Grandma) So as you can see, I am excited to see Elli learn about Christmas this year!!!

God Bless America

Today at Bible Study, Elli decided to sing a song. I make the announcements in the large group before we all break up into our smaller groups. When I was done, Elli walked up to me and asked if it was her turn. I asked her if she wanted the microphone and she said yes. I handed it to her and she said she was going to sing God Bless America. She then proceeded to sing the song into the microphone for all to hear. Talk about melting my heart! Also, how appropriate for voting day!

Elli's First Day of School!

Elli taking a baby to another little boy who was crying.

Elli started preschool at the Presbyterian Church in Cedarville this week. Wed Oct 29 was her first day. She was so excited. She wanted to walk up there by herself. She got really excited looking in the windows and said, "I see kids! I see a lady!" I cried while Elli helped another little boy who was crying by saying to him, "Hey boy, you want a baby?" She had a great time and will tell you all about it if you have the chance to ask.

Halloween Parade

The Raymond kids, Lily, Caroline, and Andrew with Elli, the princess mouse aka...Angelina Ballerina.

Elli getting ready to walk in the parade. She didn't know quite what to think. She was so serious most of the day, but did at least smile and wave to the judges.

Vacation Continued

Last night at the pier.

So sleepy. She had to be held for our whole beach walk because she was sleepy.

Elli was continually trying to get the birds to come to her. She was saying, "Birds come here. Come back here birds," as they tried to escape.

Elli's first ride on a ferris wheel. The mechanism was so loud though she rode it with her ears covered. Still, how cute is she?!

She wanted to ride the carousel twice. Once on a horse, next on a giraffe. We found this miniature sized amusement park one night in Destin and Elli thought it was great, so did we. She handed her tickets to the ride operators and didn't even wave good-bye to us as they strapped her in. Our brave litle girl.

Fort Walton Beach, Florida Oct 13-21

Elli carryng her toys to the beach.

Beautiful sunset down on the pier.

I really liked this picture of our feet. Elli was not happy about being "placed" for this picture, but thankfully it was of her foot prints and not her sour face.

A king sized bed all to herself and she loved it!!! "I sleep in my big, big girl bed. Want to go to the beach?" (How we woke up each day:)

Elli making a castle with daddy.

Brent's caption for this, "Are we on vacation yet?" We were so excited to finally be there that we changed our clothes immediately and ran out to the beach. What a fun way to spend our days.

The Pumkpin Barn Take II

On Oct 12, we went for the Brown family annual tradition to the Pumpkin Barn. We got a family picture again, and Elli got to ride a horse. She LOVED it. She also really liked feeding the horse some peppermints. Such a fun day with great weather!

Care Group fun at Youngs

We all met at Youngs for fun, pumpkins, dinner, and of course chasing kids who are soon to outnumber adults:)

Great Grammy and Grampy's house

Grammy gave Elli one of her favorite flowers from her birthday bouquet, a yellow rose.

Elli hugging Grampy as we were getting ready to leave.

We went to visit my grammy and grampy on Thursday. Elli wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" to Grammy. (not just because she sings it to anyone who will listen, but also because Grammy just turned 83!) Pictures were a little rough because Elli didn't want them to hold her, so she chose to sit in the chair. We made their day exciting though as we came, we spilled milk, we spread cracker crumbs about, and then we left! We love you Grammy and Grampy.

"I ride my bike."

Elli loves to "ride" her bike. She gets on, I push a few steps, then she gets off. She likes to ring the bell and push her babies too. She still doesn't get that you are supposed to push with your legs and make the pedals go. She is cute though isn't she? This bike was a garage sale purchase many times over then given to Elli by our neighbors. A perfect first bike for a girl who doesn't know how to ride:)

Pumpkin Patch

Elli petting "Coconut the friendly horse". She loves animals and tried to pet all of them. (pigs, horses, cows, donkey, llama, ducks, peacocks, and even the stray cats)

Smile guys.

We go to the pumpkin patch every year as a family. (We went with just the three of us last weekend, but the rest of my immediate family will be going again on Sunday, so check back for more pics:) The Pumpkin Barn has lots of pumpkins, photo ops, and animals. When you put that with a little girl who loves all three, it makes for a great ime!

Elli-isms

While Elli was eating breakfast, Fergi was running around as fast as she could go. Elli says with a big, out loud laugh, "Fergi, you crappin me up."

I was explainging to Elli that God gave us the Bible. In a very confused and upset voice, she said adamantly, "that's not God's Bible, that's mommy's."

Elli was desparately trying to get Fergi to 'wave' to her for a treat. Fergi was rolling, sitting, laying down, praying, dancing, crawling, etc, but not waving. Exasperated Elli says, "Mommy, I need a little help in here."

When Elli enters a room or gets 'found' while playing hide-n-seek, she often cries out, "here my are." (instead of here I am!)

Elli was describing to her Gonga, (grandma), our relationships. She said to Gonga, "You a precious one and mommy is a sweetheart." This statement followed my mom's clarification that Elli was her granddaughter and Iwas her daughter. Apparently, Gonga was not totally correct:)

We love this girl. Keep us laughing Elli!

Young's Again

Elli riding the cans again. She was so excited to give the lady her ticket all by herself and go for a big ride. She is such a serious little girl though. This is her returning from the trip. Brent waved to her and she smiled and took her hand off the wheel to wave. She got really scared though and put her super serious face back on and re-gripped the wheel like nothing else:)

What is a trip to Young's without ice cream cones! We saw the goats as always, sheep, El Pacas, and angora rabbits. They are having a Wool Gathering so we got to see all kinds of neat things today. Elli really loves the animlas and also enjoyed watching people spin yarn and shear sheep. What a great day!

Big Girl Bed

" I help. I essited" (I'm excited.)

"Daddy, new pincess sheets for my big girl bed."

Elli couldn't wait to sleep in it. We have been talking about getting a big girl bed all week and she told everyone she was getting it on Saturday. Here she is testing it out. As I write this blog post though, she is currently in her bed, "napping." I have heard her read to her babies, jump on the bed, and now she is singing to her stuffed animals. We'll see how tonight goes.

Ike takes our tree

Dad and Brent cutting it up with a chain saw. Poor tree.

We tried to save our tree but as you can see, it was being ripped up by the roots! The wind pulled the stakes right out of the ground as well. We are thankful for not losing power though and for the opportunity to have a slumber party with our friends:)