Playin' with Ellie

Cameron Crazy

Ellie is helping her daddy watch the Duke Basketball game.

Ellie with her daddy

Ellie had just woken up from a nap and all she wanted was her daddy. She cried when he tried to give her to me, which is rare, and he enjoyed his ascendancy immensely.

Ellie with her mommy

If you are wondering, yes it's been very cold here in Boise. At least, it has been very cold for me, transplanted Californian. High of 28, ooh!! Fortunately, the days have been mostly sunny and we still enjoy going to the park for swinging and playing in the sand and practicing up and down the hill walking skills.

Silly Bean

Roast Ellie for Thanksgiving

We had a lovely and quiet Thanksgiving with our neighbors, Chris and Lynette. They made turkey and pancetta leek stuffing and pear and pomegranate salad and we made mashed potatoes (Robyn's recipe), maple pecan sweet potatoes, cranberry jello salad (Marilyn's recipe), green bean casserole (Ian's favorite) and a pecan pie and a cranberry upside downcake.

We have a great deal to be thankful for this year: Eleanor is a joy and makes us laugh. We both enjoy our jobs. We've made some wonderful friends here in Boise and we like it very much. And we loving families wherever they may be on the Thanksgiving holiday. We are grateful.

Cool Cat Eleanor

Eleanor and Artie over at our neighbor's, Chris and Lynette's

She really likes wearing her sunglasses now. We put these on and she didn't take them off for almost the entire time we were outside, especially after her eyes were sun bedazzled.

She has little mud on her hat courtesy of Artie, our neighbor's friend's dog. Ellie liked him quite a bit.

My little mischevious munchkin.

Snow Bunny

Ellie enjoyed the small amount of snow in our backyard. She sat down in it and started eating it.

Halloween

The young padawan preparing for trick or treating... I'm ready for my training to begin. You will bring me candy.

Anakin and Leia talk to the great pumpkin

Winter Baby

Ellie and daddy Crazy baby

Tale of the birthday hat

Daddy sporting the Princess hat Cousin Lillian removing more letters

Grandma, I'm tired of this party hat

Cousin Lillian at her bright-eyed best

The 1st birthday party

Pre-party talk and balloon 101 The spread: included both cupcakes (graciously decorated by the aunts and uncles present) and cake

You're all here for me? Ellie was a trooper. She had gotten her H1N1 vaccine earlier in the day and still had a great time

Ellie's friend Autumn who had her 1st birthday on the 20th

MMMM.... I love the frosting best of all

Your crumbles do not deter me birthday cupcake

The gangs all here: Ellie's fans are spending time with her

Where's Ellie? There she is..... Well Grandma Robyn, it's a secret....
Ellie the hair dresser

Ellie and Auntie Marcie

Misbehavin'

With Auntie Becca and cousin Lillian and Grandma Marilyn

Great-grandpa Butler, Uncle Garrett and Auntie Marcie

Pre-party gift opening with Grandma Marilyn

Ellie and Tiny Bear

Fun with new toys

The Mr. T in your pocket: Don't give me no back talk sucker....

Crawling through tunnels we set up downstairs

Helping Mommy in the kitchen

Ellie likes to help me cook and wash the dishes.

Apple picking with Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Mike, October 1st

Little Babushka enjoys her apple (although she chewed on it for about 10 minutes and it still wasn't gone)

It was a lovely day. The next day it rained.

My mom and dad came and helped me. They watched Ellie while I worked. Ian was out of town at a U2 concert