Dancing

My parents sent Ellasen and dancing Halloween dog a few days ago. She has been having so much fun dancing with him!



This one is facing the wrong direction, but still cute!

23 Months!

One more month! Ellasen will be turning 2 next month! I can't believe it! Sometimes it is hard to figure out where the time has gone, and sometimes I can't believe she is ONLY about to turn 2 because I can't remember my life without her! She is awesome! She is still the sweetest, funniest, silliest, most beautiful little girl I know! We are so lucky to be her parents. At 23 months Ellasen:

*is anxiously awaiting her "ice cream cone" birthday party
*loves to dance and do gymnastics
*loves to read books
*loves babies - real and pretend. She loves to swaddle all of her stuffed animals
*is a little bossy - she likes to be in charge when she can. We are working on "asking" rather than "commanding"
*loves Cookie Monster, Thomas the Train and Curious George
*loves talking on the phone or skyping

Apples and Pumpkins and Chickens! Oh My!

We took one last trip to another orchard a few weekends ago. We had already gotten all our apples at Apple Ridge so we mostly just went to Northwoods to check it out! It was great! I think they had more to do and see, and the price was better! Not a bad trip at all. We took a tractor ride tour of the property, we got to check out all the animals they have on site, and peruse their extensive collection of pumpkins, gourds and apples. We love FALL!

 Ellasen and her friend Halle looking at the bunnies!

 Ellasen and Halle playing on the hay!

Ellasen touching a chicken!

Apple Orchard

It is that time of year again. I am really trying to think of fall in some other way than "the precursor to the long dead winter". I actually like fall here in Minnesota. The air gets cooler and crisper, bonfires become a regular weekend evening activity, the leaves change colors, there is suddenly a need for those sweaters you forgot you have, Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner and apple orchards and pumpkin patches make for a great family outing. They have great apples here in Minnesota. The apple growers create new hybrid apples every few years. The Honeycrisp apple (created right here in Minnesota) is one of the best apples I have ever tasted! I ate no less than three apples a day when I was pregnant with Ellasen so trust me on this one! I know apples! We took a trip to the orchard with some friends on Sunday. Tim was on call, but Ellasen and I had a great time! We picked out enough apples to enjoy and enough to make two apple pies next week. Elasen also picked out a pumpkin that was just her size! And now for the proof...