Ella likes to help me sweep

Ella reorganizing the Tupperware

Ella reading one of her new Halloween Books from Nana.

Ella is quite the character now days. Of all things she can hoot like an owl, moo like a cow, say the word duck, give Eskimo kisses with her nose, just tonight Jake taught her how to raise her arms up for the "touchdown" sign, she's a great dancer, and lately she has been trying to snap with her fingers using her pointer and thumb (it's so cute).

In some of her pictures you may notice her nose is running but that's b/c she has a terrible cold and hates to have her nose wiped or suctioned. Also make sure you check out the slide show of our Maui pictures.

Dancin' Girl 2

We had a great family vacation to Maui. Most days consisted of laying by the pool or the beach, swimming and eating good food. One day the boys went on a Fishing Charter and on another day my mom and I had a Spa day and lunch.

Each day Ella took to the pool and the ocean like a fish in water. The thing she liked best at the ocean was the SAND. Yes, she had a ball scooping sand into buckets but what she loved best was eating it. Every time she tried to eat the sand I would say to her, "No, we don't eat sand" instead of stopping she would laugh and put another fist full in her mouth. I tried not to let her see me laugh but it didn't always work especially with my mom laughing at her. What a stinker!

In the evening we would relax and let Ella doing the entertaining. As you can see from the video's she is quite the little dancer.

Dancin' Girl 1

Ella's walking but the Salmon are running

This weekend we took our annual trip to see the salmon running up the Deschutes River. It's Jake's most favorite place to walk. Ella got to do a little walking on the trail but we think she enjoyed seeing the fish swim and jump the most.
If you look carefully you can see the huge salmon, they are reddish in color.

Ella is playing peek-a-boo for the camera

After the walk we stopped by the park and played on the slide.

Ella was searching for Avery. We found her!

"No, no, no Kitty". Ever since Ella started walking Avery is not sure what to think. She is definitely not safe anymore.

Walking!!!

So close

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Ella getting into her bumbo

Ella giving her kitty statue a ride in her baby stroller

Stretching before the big stroller race

Ella and friend

This weekend we had the Tubbs Family come to visit. They have a little girl named Dana who is Ella's age and one big difference between the two is that Dana can walk. Not to take anything away from Ella because we think her 5-6 steps are huge milestones but Ella is so close to walking, we thought this might push her over the edge. We think it might have worked!! Tonight at our friends house Ella was walking on her own back and forth from me to the coffee table, or from me to Jake. We couldn't believe it, not sure whether to count it as walking or now we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Ella's has not discover how to play peek-a-boo. She is so funny, she will play with the curtains, hide behind the coffee table or couch or sometimes hide her face with her hands. The cutest thing about it is when she is hiding behind the coffee table she pauses a long time before she comes back up for the "Boo" part.

Random Pictures from the past week

Here is a older picture from when Ella was celebrating her b-day at the cabin in MN.

Ella thought it would be fun to help feed herself.

Eating all by herself- what a big girl!!

This morning Ella climbed into the dishwasher when I wasn't looking! What a goofy girl!



Play date last Thurs with Ella's friend Molly. Ella is sharing her new Bee Bop Band toy.