Trick or Treat!

I love Halloween! Growing up my family would always dress in themes and my mother would make our fabulous costumes, wither we wanted them or not. I love the tradition (well, now I do and appreciate all that my mom did!) and want to bring it into my own family, but with an open mind that public school and "maturing" can be hard and be sensitive to those feelings. I spent all summer trying to talk Blake into dressing up with Elsa... he finally said yes! I have the most wonderful husband that spoils us so much! I was so excited to dress Elsa up! The more I thought about it I realized that our church wasn't having any kind of Halloween party, Elsa won't remember anything/can't really go trick-or-treating, Blake really didn't want to dress up and just said yes to make me happy, and I already had so much to get done in the next few weeks.  I really didn't have any good reason to the whole costume thing, so I decided not to do anything. Halloween got closer... and closer... a week to go and I couldn't take it! Elsa has to dress up for her first Halloween! 

 Saturday, we dressed up and went trick-or-treating. We walked around to the front of the house and knocked on Jim and Ramona's door, Elsa's first trick-or-treat!! Next we went to Blake's girlfriend next door, an older lady that he dose a lot of handy work for and always seems to be gone to her place. She just loves Elsa!! She thought I was a turkey (I'm a flower if you couldn't guess) I didn't wear my headband the rest of the night. Then we went and visited Grandpa Russell and Blake's sister, her family and her in-laws. Elsa was such a good sport and was a happy girl even way past her bed time. Sunday, we had a party with all the Thackerays and Elsa dressed up for that too! We had such a fun Halloween!!

   

 My pretty little Bumble Bee!

 Because Elsa was such a good girl Papa decided to reward her with all sorts of Halloween treats. Her favorite was the mini lollipop.

Let it SNOW?

We had a surprise when we woke up this morning...

still in our jammies we put on our hat and boots...

 and ventured out into the white wonderland!

Our view is so pretty when it snows!! The whole valley is white!

 Elsa wasn't so sure about the cold white stuff mommy calls snow.

 The snow didn't last long, all four inches melted by lunch time.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for winter...

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

Elsa learned that she can now get to anything she wants!!

This milestone is making me feel more sad than happy. This is only the beginning for my little baby... she's not a little baby any more. I don't know if am ready for her to be able to run away from me but it'll be great when she can run to me! The happies out weigh the sad for sure!!

Seven months

 Elsa turned seven months old just as fast as summer turned to fall. 

It was sad packing all of the cute summer clothes away, but new adventures a wait us in the new season.

Elsa can stand all by herself!

 

Just joking, but she loves to roll around! 

Elsa figured out that she can roll on to her tummy and that she likes it!!

She loves to go back and forth, watching how the scenery changes and seeing where she can end up.

Elsa found her tongue!! My very own lizard!! 

It's so cute to to see her wag it around as she makes her little talking noises.

She's taken an interest in my tongue as well and can't seem to keep her little fingers out of my mouth.

Eating big girl food is always a blast with Elsa.

We introduced her to those puffy snacks and since she didn't really know how to handle the tiny things, she had to improvise.

Since then she has mastered picking them up with her hands and getting them into her mouth. Elsa's favorite foods are peas and squash. Got any ideas on other types of finger foods for her age?

 We are having to be more careful as to what's around her, I underestimate her reach. It always seems to length with the desire to consume.

Elsa loves it when her daddy comes home from school. She shouts for joy and climbs upon his knee!

Daddy lets her help play video games.

Elsa amazes us everyday with the new things she is learning. It so fun to watch her little fingers find a new toy or fiddle with the tags on a new toy, which is her favorite! She loves stuffed animals to chew on and furry soft blankets to snuggle with. 

We love our little Elsa Louise!!

Joys of being a Mommie

Isn't it sad that you spend every minute of every day with the cutest little girl in the world and only have 2 pictures of the two of you together? The first you look like crap because you just gave birth to her and the second a family picture.
This week I decided to change that!

Who wouldn't want to spend every minute with this face?

For the time being Elsa is MY little girl.
This past week she has done something everyday to melt my heart.
One day I went grocery shopping, when I got home arms full of groceries I passed through the living room saying hi to my sweet baby and husband being careful not to drop anything. When I vanished from sight Elsa started crying. I couldn't go any farther. I dropped everything and cuddled my little princess.
Another day I was doing dishes and Blake walked in the kitchen with Elsa. I leaned in to give her a kiss and she reached for me!! I had to hold back the tears because I knew Blake was a little jealous and I didn't want to rub it in.

Being mommie you have first row seats to all the latest tricks and new finds.
Nothin' but fun!
 
Because papa is too prickly I'm the only one that can get kisses.
Well, she really only does it when she's hungry and she knows papa doesn't have anything for her but I'm the mommie I can call them whatever I want.

Elsa also loves to blow raspberries. It's so cute when she mimics you.

Elsa gets a little silly when she gets sleepy.

She's still a little wobbly but is starting to get the hang of sitting up.

Elsa loves to be outside! Whither it's going on a walk or just playing in the grass.

Elsa loves the feeling of grass in her toes and loves the feel of it on her fingers. In Utah we don't have to worry about chiggers!!

Pretty Princess!!

I love spending everyday with Elsa. Each day holds new adventures!! I'm amazed that such a tiny little person can fill our home with so much love and joy.
I know one day soon Elsa won't be able to get enough of her papa and want nothing to do with her mommie so I'm enjoying all the hugs and kisses I can get now.
I love being a mommie!!

* I know mommie is spelled wrong. It's a GrandMommie Russell thing.

6 months!!

Children really can measure time in how much they have grown.
So much happens in such a short amount of time.
Elsa is half way to being a one year old :(
Hopefully the next 6 months won't go by so fast but we will still cherish every moment!

Elsa is really turning into such a big little girl. If that makes any sense...
It seems like there is so many new things happening at this time in her life, it feels like she is such a big girl.

Can I say how much we enjoy and love our little Elsa enough?
She is the brightest star in our lives, her smile melts my heart every time!

Its amazing to watch her become stronger everyday.
Look what I can do with out any help!!

Do worry we don't leave her unattended on the bed.

Elsa has taken over her Papa's heart... and his chair.
We sit her down in the chair but she would rather lay down and relax.

It is so cute to listen to all her sounds!!
She started talking real baby babble it is so cute and it's so soft, as if she is talking to herself.
She loves to scream as loud as she can... as high as she can.
It's so funny to listen to Blake try to mimic her and it is such a blast to spend all day having screaming wars. Is it bad to say she already gives me headaches?

Our little punkin had her first cold and fever :(
She was not letting it get the best of her. She tried so hard to play and be herself but you could tell she did not feel very well. After snuggling and resting with mama she would attempt to play again. We tried to put her in her jumperoo to cheer her up but she would just lay her head down as if it weighed a ton.

She was even trying to play with the toys.
My poor baby. It was so sad to see her so down.

Like I said Elsa is starting a lot of big girl things this month.
She got a high chair! Still a little too small for it and can't quite sit up by herself.

Why does she need a high chair?
Because she started eating baby food!

Besides getting it in her hair and all over her face, she's doing pretty well.
She doesn't enjoy the spoon very much but she'll drink it just fine.
She's not liking the jarred fruits but is doing pretty well with cereal.

And for dessert...
Blake loves to share his otter pops with her, only if she promises not to be a sugar brat when she gets older. I guess I'm the one that will have to be the mean parent when it comes to that.

Elsa truly has Blake wrapped around her little finger. It is so adorable to watch Blake choose an outfit for her, fix her hair, pick out accessories, and then pick a matching outfit for himself. He's better at it than I am.

I love my little family!
I love where we are in life and I know it will continue to get better!!
I am so blessed!

Summertime Softball

This past summer Blake played softball for a couple different leagues.

It's so fun to see him doing something he really enjoys
and that he's very talented at.
It was so amazing to see him diving through the air to catch a fly ball and to watch him smack the balls out of the park.

Elsa loved cheering for her papa!!

Blake and I also played for the ward softball team and
we won the tournament!