Festival of Trees

Rochester holds a Festival of Trees event at the Civic Center every year and Mayo Families Connection always decorates a tree for the event. It is a fun event to get the holiday season kicked off, and all the proceeds go to charity. Tim and I took Ellasen the other day. The photos don't really do the trees justice. They really are beautiful! 

This was a Disney Tree - Ellasen couldn't take her eyes off of it!

This was the tree from my organization - A Cookie Christmas was the theme

3 Years Old! Happy Birthday Ellasen Laine!

Ellasen is 3 years old today! She is growing up so fast! We sometimes think she is 3 going on 13! She is still so funny and silly, but also has a serious side. She is so special to us, and we just can't believe how lucky we are to have her in our lives! She makes every day fun and special! We are just loving watching her grow up and change! Every day she does something cooler, funnier or smarter than the day before. We know that she will grow up to be someone amazing, and we are so blessed that we get to see it happen from the beginning! We love you so much Ellasen Laine! 

At 3 Years Old Ellasen:

Goes to Preschool 1 morning a week. 

Loves to do Art Projects.

Loves Cooking with Mommy.

Is Great at doing Puzzles.

Hearts Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

AND Dora the Explorer

AND Her Family

AND Her Friends

Loves Being Silly

Can do the Tallest Slides

Devours some Pizza

AND Mac and Cheese

Loves Babies

AND Books

Our Big 3 Year Old!

Yesterday was Ellasen's 3rd birthday, and we celebrated in a few different ways. On Saturday she got a birthday surprise from Mommy and Daddy. While Ellasen and I were at a craft show Daddy was busy putting together a big girl bed for her! She was so excited and has been sleeping in it great! Then she had a fabulous birthday party on Sunday. She shared her birthday party with her friend Kylie for the second year in a row. They were born just two days (and one year) apart and we have all the same friends so while the girls are young we decided to have joint parties. We call Ellasen "bug" and Kylie's mom and dad call her "bean" so we had a "Bugs and Beans" theme to the party. We used bug decorations and jelly beans to make the party special. Emily (Kylie's Mom) made the super cute shirts for the girls. Ellasen's had a bug on it, and Kylie's had jelly beans on it. I made the tutus to match!  On Ellasen's real birthday on Wednesday we went with some friends to one of her favorite places: Bounce World. It is a warehouse full of those jumping bounce houses and slides. She had a great time with her friends and she even got to eat lunch there! After Bounce World and a nap we went outside to fly her kite. She got a super cute lady bug kite for her birthday and it was beautiful yesterday so we stayed outside for almost two hours flying the kite. After dinner we Skyped with family, opened presents and had cake. I think she had a great birthday, and we are so thankful for the friends and family that helped us celebrate! Ellasen was showered with gifts and love! We are so proud of our big girl!

Party Day!

The cake at her party

Party Favors for her friends

The birthday girls! 

Holding up 3 fingers! 

Enjoying some party food! 

Blowing out the candles

Yum!

Doing the birthday craft - Christmas Tree Ornaments decorated with beans! 

Opening gifts after the party - her friends were so generous!

She got sparkly pink TOMS! (shoes)

Birthday Morning - Getting Measured!

Bounce World on her Birthday!

Climbing the slide with friends at Bounce World

Flying our Kite with Daddy

There's the kite - way up high! 

Besides a big girl bed Mommy and Daddy gave Ellasen an apron! 

Opening gifts from family

Her family birthday cake with 3 candles!

Checking out the frosting! 

She wanted Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting! (We cheated a little and dyed vanilla frosting pink!) 

Preschool Update

Ellasen has been really loving preschool! She loves her teachers and the other kids in her class. She always comes home with a cute art project and a story. She regularly sings the songs and prays the prayers they teach her in school. She seems to really be thriving there, and I thought it was time to give a little update on what she has been up to! Here are some pictures.

Her Class Picture

A Turkey Art Project...that is her hand! 

Her Report Card! 

Her Teacher's Comments

Some of her fall artwork! 

First Snow 2012

We had our first snowfall the other day. Ellasen instantly put on her coat and boots and went outside. She spent the next hour scooping snow into a cup with a spoon. Gunner enjoyed the snow too!