Merry Christmas!!

When we moved into this house, we were unable to furnish every room with furniture. So, since we have no dining room table, we decided to put the Christmas tree in the dining room. It really was a great idea because Whitten was less likely to play with the ornaments and it filled the space!! We had a beautiful tree this year in our new home and we really have enjoyed this holiday season!!

We had a great Christmas today. We woke up early, opened gifts, ate a big breakfast, and then played outside all day. It was great outside weather today and all of the kids in the neighborhood were outside with new toys.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

We have been enjoying our new house this Christmas season and today really topped it off. We have had the BEST Christmas Eve. We started the day with a big breakfast and then a little play time. When Whitten went down for his morning nap, Michael, Vaiden, and I got out the gingerbread house and started building. Michael being the engineer that he is kept, thinking about the structure part, where as I the scrapper, could only think of the decorations!! Funny I know, but it is so true!!

We continued the day with baking brownies and cookies for neighbors and Santa. Later in the day, we walked around the neighborhood and enjoyed the break from the rain. We had a great Christmas dinner, left food for the reindeer, and then after baths, we put Santa's snacks out. We really have had a great day together and can only imagine what tomorrow will bring...Merry Christmas Everyone and May God bless you all!!

Ellis Family Christmas

(Elaine, Jason, Mallie, Nana, Paw-Paw, Whitten, me, Michael, and Vaiden) (Happy birthday to the December birthday boys!!)

(Whitten opening his presents)
(Vaiden opening presents)

We celebrated Christmas with Michael's parents last weekend. Nana had a birthday cake for Michael and Vaiden, and we had a fabulous dinner. Nana and Paw-Paw gave the boys a new TV. Vaiden loves it because it is going in the playroom and he can watch "his shows" on it while playing!! Both of the boys got several John Deere Tractor things and that was also a big hit. Everyone gave great gifts and got great gifts, but it was great having everyone together...We had a great Christmas!!

Vaiden turns 4

(Michael and I with Vaiden~shortly after he was born!!)

(Vaiden at 4 years old)

I cannot believe that my first born baby is now 4 years old. My my how time flies. Vaiden has grown up so much this past year. He has adjusted so well to a new house, new town, and new friends. Vaiden is obsessed with his bike!! He is riding his bike without training wheels and trying to pop wheelies like his Daddy!! He loves books, trucks, and anything "fast"!! He loves to play outside, get wet and dirty, and he loves to make his little brother, Whitten laugh!! Vaiden is such a sweet and gentle child and he really has made my job easy. I am so thankful and honored that God chose me to be his Mommy. I love you sweet boy and I hope you have a wonderful 4th birthday!!

Vaiden's Neighborhood Birthday Party

(the invitations I made~with a little help from Kelly:)

The spread~it was breakfast, orange slush, donut holes, and cupcakes!!

(the neighborhood friends)

(Vaiden was so excited all day about his party and his gifts!!)

Well, if you are wondering, we are having 3 birthday parties for Vaiden this year. Since we moved and he still has a lot of great friends in our old town, we thought we would have his "big" party there. We had a great school party and then we had a small neighborhood party on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. The kids at ate very quickly, then played, then sang happy birthday, then played, then opened presents, and then played even more. Vaiden loves all of his new neighborhood friends and cried when everyone went home at the end of the day!!

Vaiden's school birthday party

Vaiden's school had a Christmas party on Friday. We also celebrated Vaiden's birthday that same day. (He will be 4 years old on the 20th) We had a great time!! We had cupcakes, crafts, stories, and even a Christmas play that the class performed for us. Vaiden was a Shepherd and did a great job!! The play was really cute!! Vaiden loves his school and is already to got back in January!!

Happy Birthday to our Daddy!!

Michael had a birthday last week. We had a great little birthday dinner for him. I cooked his favorite pasta dish and by demand, we had brownies with ice cream for desert. Michael is a wonderful man, as most of you already know. He is my rock and my soulmate. He is an even better father. His two boys look up to him with such admiration and love. Vaiden wants to be everything that his daddy is and follows every step Michael makes. We moved to a new town for Michael's job and we are so proud of him and the accomplishments that he has made for himself in his career and all that he does for our family. WE LOVE YOU DADDY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Video of Whitten walking

Here is my first attempt of posting a video...Hope this works!!

Whitten is walking all over the place these days. He really loves it and literally walks around the house in circles. He is so proud of himself and so are we!!

Our Christmas Card 2008

We had our Christmas pictures taken by Amy Bates this year. She did a great job and I was very pleased!! This is our Christmas Card for this year...I love these pictures of Whitten...I had to share!!

Vaiden wasn't in the best of moods that day...here is his best solo shot:(

And this is the best shot of my boys together!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Great weekend...

(Jay, Nick, and Michael)

~Michael, Whitten, and Vaiden~

(Oh and the ducks!!)

(Paw-Paw, Whitten, Nana, and Vaiden)

Michael wanted to go hunting this weekend. I told him the only way he could go was to take the boys with him. He called his parents and they, of course, said yes!! Michael had some good hunts with some great friends and I got ALL of my Christmas shopping done and I am so thrilled!! Thanks again Nana and Paw-Paw!!

Such Talent...

My mom's youngest brother, Chad, married one of his high school classmates, Melissia, many years ago. When they would come visit us in Canton, Katharine and I would practically sit in her lap. We loved her!! I even wrote in my diary that I wanted to be just like Melissia...and Alyssa Milano (you know, the girl from Who's the Boss?)

Anyway, Melissia is an interior designer and is awesome at what she does. She is also an artist and can do anything!! Recently she has been hand painting Religious Icons. They truly are amazing.

She has now moved on to hand stitching. She thought one day, she would stitch her boys a Christmas Stocking and so she began. They were beautiful!! Then she made one for Chad and it was beautiful too. Then she presented me with 2 stockings for my boys and they are truly breathtaking!!!! Melissia draws each design on a piece of graph paper. Then cuts felt to each pattern piece. She then hand stitches every stitch on each stocking. The names are even stitched!! So far, each stocking has been different, yet she keeps a couple of things similar. She always adds a cross and a Christmas tree.

The photos don't do them justice, but I had to show them off...and Melissia's great talents!!

(Melissia stitching stockings!!)

(My mantle)

I think I need new ones for me and Michael~hint, hint!!
(Notice that Santa's beard is made of thousands of french knots!!)

Whitten's Walking...

Whitten will be 10 months old next week and the little man is all over the place. He has been walking between Michael and I for several weeks now, but really just prefers to crawl~as does his Mommy!! For the past couple of days, he has been walking all over the house. He still likes crawling but he always tries to walk first. He can even bend down to get something from the floor and then stand back up. He is such a little man and we are so blessed to have him in our lives!!