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