Ellie Spotlight...

I thought I would do a little spotlight on each of the kids.

 

So Ellie...

She is so sweet! Right now is probably one of my favorite stages (around 18 months).  She is learning things at an alarming pace- she is especially adept at speaking.  She talks so well and I just love hearing her voice. 

She sure does love her brother.  It is quite evident that she wants to be just like him.  In fact, the other day we were outside and Brig suddenly had to go potty- the urgency was loud and clear in his voice.  So since he is a boy, he found a private spot outside and everything was fine...Ellie, however, starts saying (with the same urgency) that she has to go potty and lifts up her shirt and starts pulling down her diaper and pants.  I am not quite sure how she will handle it when she discovers that she is a little different than her brother.

Her favorite thing to say right now is "SELF!" She wants to do everything by herself- even if she can't, she wants to think she is doing it herself.  She can be so independent and yet her next favorite thing to say is probably "Rock you." She loves to be cuddled and rocked and if she doesn't feel well or gets sad that is what she wants to comfort her. 

 

She can be so sweet and adorable and then someone can say the wrong thing...and BAM! a switch has flipped and she can sure be sassy. 
It never ceases to amaze us how different girls and boys are. 
Brig has always loved little thrills like four-wheeling and being thrown up in the air...if we even say the word four-wheeler, Ellie will start saying no and back up until we reassure her that she doesn't have to ride it. 
 

 

She does love lotion, singing, and Cinderella... here are a few pictures (and video) to prove it...

She was squealing with delight because of all the Cinderella shoes this store had.  She absolutely adores Cinderella and loves to wear her "Rella shoes" all the time...it is so funny.
 

 

 

Ellie has quite the personality and we are so grateful for all that she adds to our family!

Charmer...

Snake charmer that is. Check this boy out!

 

 

 They found several water snakes in the rocks behind our house!

 

 

This is a video of Ellie a few weeks ago when we were outside catching worms...she didn't really like them and although she was napping, I believe she would say the same thing about the snakes.  I agree!

 

Wintertime...

So often, we watch family videos and by the end Cory or I will usually say...

 

I miss summer.

 

Well, I strive to be an optimist.

 

And I think that winter has some great things to offer as well! So, I decided that I would make a little video showcasing just a few of our happy, warm, winter memories!

(I also really want to be as awesome at making movies as my friend...so I decided to start practicing!I still have a ways to go...)

 

 

disclaimer:

This song doesn't really match the video- but we really like this song. And I was just playing around and this was the first song that I grabbed:)

When We're Helping, We're Happy...

 

Apparently, the Primary song had it right! Because even though we have had a day full of sibling squabbles- they pulled together for a super sweet little moment of helping each other. Brig had been doing some "modern art" and had about 20 cans of beans all over the kitchen floor and when I asked him to clean it up...Ellie jumped right in too! She would hand him the can and he would put it away. They did all the cans and didn't complain once. Melt me:)

 

She's A Walker...

 

It took her a while...but she is now all over the place! 14 1/2 months and she is walking like a pro. She was standing up by herself in July (she was about 10 months) and we thought she was going to be walking in no time! Then at 11 months, she started to take a step or two and again, we were just certain she would be walking any day. Nope. She took her sweet time. But she is walking so well now and I LOVE IT!!! (just a few journaling notes...she started to really get interested in walking around 2 weeks ago and then just on Sunday she took off. She walks really well when she is holding something in her hands--I think it distracts her from thinking about the process too much) She is so much more content and it just melts my heart.

Good job Elle!

 

A Red-Hot Halloween...

This fall has been pretty crazy so far. We (when I say we, I really mean Cory) has been working NON-STOP on our house.  The remodel is coming along- slowly but surely. We will all be so happy when it is over. It is really looking good and Cor is doing so awesome. We did take a little time for some Halloween festivities...

Here is our family theme picture...

Cory & I were smoke and fire (I tired to put flames on my shirt) because "smoke follows beauty... and I'm one hot mama!"

I know...that is pretty vain- especially when I look like I have a crazy lazy eye and Cor looks pleased as punch about it all!

Ellie and Brig were really the main attraction though...

I mean check out the cutest Dalmation and her Fireman ever!!!

Brig's firetruck was pretty awesome- thanks for the help Grandpa Madsen!

Ellie was such a cute little dalmation...for some reason the little nose just melted me!

Notice how tired Cory looks! Oh- we sure are thankful for such an awesome dad! The kids were pretty excited that I kept saying yes to all the candy they wanted to eat!!!!! WAHOOOOO!

Here is a little video. Love these kids and love the holidays!!

Kinda...

So the other day, Brig was pulling Ellie around in this box and she would just laugh and when he would stop she would start saying "fass, fass, fass!"  It was so cute and they did it for like 20 minutes!!! He was such a great big brother:) I love seeing them have fun together...however I only "kinda" captured their fun in this video...that's how it always goes with the cutest moments. C'est la vie!

 

 

Elle-iVision: Episode 1

So we have BrigTV on this blog...it's about time we do a little Elle-iVision...I know...you just can't get enough of my hiliariousness...yes that's a word.

The other day we were enjoying some lovely weather and it was about time to go home, so we start calling for Brig to come over by us and get ready.  Well little Miss Elle wanted in on the action and joined us...watch her funny face she makes when she calls...she would do thid almost everytime we called out to him.