The Pumpkins are Picked!

October calls for a trip to the pumpkin patch. So off we went with a little help from our friends Mike and Lisa. We found a Daddy, Mommy, and Ella pumpkin... but the littlest was the favorite.



She was so proud of her pumpkin!





Then she even said cheese (although it was a tired, missing my nap, kind of cheese).





After the pumpkin was secured... it was off to feed the goats and grab a hot dog.

The Little Ballerina

Ella started ballet lessons. (Mom has been waiting to say that for a while!) She is signed up for 6 weeks of Mommy and Me ballet classes! It was some of the best 30 minutes we have ever had! Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

To celebrate Mom and Dad's 5th Wedding we headed back to Newport, RI - where Mom and Dad got married. Nana graciously offered to spend the weekend with Ella so Mom and Dad could get away a little. (Thanks Nana!!)





Mom and Dad went off to visit some masions, a vineyard, and eat great food. Ella played with Nana, and visited with family too. Here is Ella with her Dad and Great Nanie Annemarie. (We also visited Great Grandma Reed and Aunt Bette but accidentally left the camera in the car).



Then we even got to see Grampa Pete - Ella had a blast visiting him in his workshop full of big shiny firetrucks. Ella took a minute to look around, see what's what and then JUMPED right in. She love the big steering wheel and loved the booming sound of the horn too. She can't wait for her very own parade once the weather gets nice.

We looooved September!

We had so much fun in the September sunshine, enjoyed the cool weather, and did perfectly perfect fall activities. As a family we made our very first scarecrow.



Then Mom and Ella (and our friends Kim and Lila) headed out apple picking. It took us about 4 hours to pick one bag of apples, play in some hay and enjoy a cider donut and some ice cream. Ella liked wandering the orchard, having Mommy pick her an apple, and then just plopping down to sink her teeth into it. In those four hours she ate most of 4 cortland apples.







We also had some more birthday party fun. We attend our third birthday at the Gymboree - filled with a giant Elmo shaped cake, cute Halloweeny socks, and lots and lots of playtime. (Thanks Elizabeth!). Ella has a blast and is now ready for her big #2 come December.

Ella's First Spensah Fair

In New England they have many different agricultural fairs - most include giant pumpkins, things with blue ribbons, typically bad cover bands, and the assortment of fried food and poorly constructed carnival rides. When we heard the fairs were coming to our area, we said "Count us In!!"

It's Been a LOOOOng time...

It's been a long time since our last post - nearly a month and a half, but not because we've just been laying around. Here are a few high lights. Ella met the Governor. (so did Mom.) It was really nice to meet Governor Patrick, we are all big supporters of his. Incidentally Governor Patrick also became the first person who could ask Ella her name and she actually gave the right answer. Awesome moment.





At first we were a little worried that we wouldn't get the photo op so we took some of our own...

If meeting the governor weren't enough... Ella is also potty training herself. To date she has pee pee'd in the potty 5 times, no poo poo yet but it's coming. Impressive for one little 20-21 month old. Thank you both to Elmo and his potty time antics and one little potty named Frog.