What we've been up to...

It has been a while since I have updated the blog, so I thought I would post some highlights of the past few weeks. I should post more about the day to day things going on, but I am trying to play a little catch-up here so here are some recent family activities that I have captured with pictures (I am sure that I am cutting out some highlights with only using those that have pictures, but that is how I work I guess:)

A few weeks back we decided to take advantage of the closing of the autumn season by heading out to Crane's orchard to run around in the open field area and grab some cider and donuts. Ella loved having free rein running around and playing with us and she of course liked having the treats just as much. Here are some Mommy/Daddy moments.

We welcomed the beginning of the winter season by going to the Christmas Parade of Lights downtown Holland with our neighbors. It was a perfect night - not too cold but cold enough to put us in the Christmas spirit. Ella loved to look at the lights and all the people, but her favorite part was us letting her walk up and down the empty sidewalks while the parade was going on and waving to all the people...she is definately a girl who wants her independence but only at arms length away...thank goodness:)

Our buddies - Grah, Carrie, Chris & Ella

Ella was very intrigued when the first snow began to fall - she just stood at the window and pointed so we decided to venture out and give her a "taste" of it close up. She absolutely loved the snow- she wanted to run on it, lay on it and eat it:)

Ella had her boyfriend, Alden Lucas, over to play the other day and at the end of the night I told her to give him a little smootch...she did and then gave him seconds and thirds and even fourths...hopefully she doesn't make me regret using the cute little command:)...I don't think he minded though.

John Ball Zoo

This past weekend we decided to go spur of the moment to John Ball Zoo. Ella is in love with anything to do with animals so we thought going to the zoo would make for a great afternoon! She LOVED it. She did lots of smiling and lots of pointing - it was so fun watching her experience the animals in person considering we look at books with animals in them every day:)

Ella's cute little faces as she looked at the animalsShe liked watching the lion walk back and forthHer favorite animal to see was the otter...she giggled and waved and just wanted to stand there and watch it. It was super cute...before we walked away the otter stood up right across from Ella and looked right at us...she started squealing with delight.

Although we can see ducks pretty much every day if we wanted to, Ella was still so thrilled to see ducks and couldn't get enough of watching them - go figure!It was a fun day at the zoo and I imagine that this was just the beginning of many visits to the zoo in the years to come.

Like Grandmother, Like Granddaughter

My mom found this picture of her when she was around 1 year and thought it resembled Ella...so in light of my last post, I thought I would post these for her:)

Like Mother, Like Daughter

When I was a little girl, my mom said that I always tried to climb into this basket and sit in it. This past weekend Ella kept going in the other room to climb into the basket too. Of course I had to take advantage of this photo opportunity. Me at 15 months - December 1982Ella at 13 months

Awesome Autumn Afternoon

Yesterday I wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and Ella and I spent part of the afternoon at a park up the road. She had a ball! I just let her run all over and she loved roaming free...climbing on the jungle gym, digging her hands in the sand/dirt, and playing in the leaves. I am going to try and remember this day when it is snowing out and we are stuck inside:)

...To Grandmother's House We Go!

This past Saturday Ella got to enjoy some special Grandpa and Grandma time! We had an open house that afternoon so G&G Koning watched her while I was doing the finishing touches on the house (Brad was gone at a church retreat so I needed a little help:) and then we hung out at G&G Rotman's while the open house was going on. She absolutely adores her grandparents so she had a blast spending the day with them, especially since it was a gorgeous day and she could play outside with them!Picking up the leaves with Grandpa KoningPlaying with the "birdy" at G&G Koning's house - it is a wire bird they have in their landscaping and she thinks it is so fun to look at and touch whenever she is outside there:)
Outdoorsy girl at heartGetting a lawnmower ride from Grandpa Rotman

Ella loves to play with these decorative twine balls in my parents kitchen - she likes to take her time tearing them apart...and Grandma lets her. You know that I would never be allowed to do that when I was little, but when its her grandchild it's like - sure, go ahead! :)Grandpa's little peanut!

Kissing Cousins

Ella loves giving "smooches"...and apparently loves sharing them with her cousins:)Ella and Lil Ella and Kolter

Ella and Kennedy - cute little chicks:)