Easter Weekend

For Easter we headed up to June Mountain (in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mammoth) with my parents and my sister Adrienne's family, as well as a bunch of my parents' friends that I've known my whole life.  I grew up skiing/snowboarding up there and it was fun to share it with Chris.  It was also great to have a much needed getaway.  This weekend was one of the many times over the past 9 months of living in California that I've thought, "I'm SO glad I'm not missing this..."  I fully appreciate all these get-togethers after missing so many of them over the years.  Thanks Mom and Dad for such a fun weekend!

Ella and Grandpa

Ella was fascinated by the snow--I think she was connecting with her first year of life in Chicago

the Easter basket loot

Ella caught on very quickly to the Easter egg hunt

(the egg hunt is a big deal when my dad is involved)

Then Ella realized there was CANDY ("nummies") inside the eggs.  

She did not move from that spot for 15 minutes while the rest of the Easter egg hunt went on.

Feeding the ducks in Bishop on the way home

Happy girl!

Love that sweet face!

Happy Spring!

Happy Easter!

13 years ago my best friend dressed up as the Easter Bunny to help me with a service project (yes, that is Chris).

Marrying that Easter Bunny is the best decision I've ever made.  

Happy Easter!

Daddy's Girl

Last month, Chris was gone for a weeklong work trip (to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl and Dallas for the Super Bowl--I know, I know, that really shouldn't count as "work").  When he returned, Ella was giddy with excitement. That girl LOVES her dad.  Since it was like 80 degrees, we headed to the beach a few blocks from our house.

the water was pretty cold (explaining Chris' fake happy face)

Ella totally fearless

leading the charge and apparently immune to the cold

The best part of Chris coming home was when he returned from work the next day.  I have never seen Ella that excited to see anyone.  Her face said, "He's back? AGAIN!?!"  She couldn't get over her luck.

Before we ever had Ella, Chris' dad once said that any kid would be lucky to have Chris as a dad.  

He was right.  Ella is one lucky girl.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hilton Head, SC

We spent the week after Christmas with Chris' family in Hilton Head, South Carolina.  It was a really relaxing trip and so fun to see so much of the Ward family.  As much as I am southern California girl, I love East Coast beaches--you know, lighthouses and all that.  We mostly played games, played football on the beach (I use the term we loosely here), watched movies, rode bikes (on the beach!), ate delicious food and just generally enjoyed each other's company.  We also had a family night program most nights and that was one of my favorite parts.  My other favorite part was having dance parties with Ella and her cousins.  Pretty hilarious stuff.  Now for some pics.

The top of the lighthouse in Harbourtown.  Ella is going for the Donald Trump swoop with her hair.  "The Donald" is not quite as awesome as when Chris had "The Rosie" haircut (as in Rosie O'Donnell).

I'll have to fish out a picture for that one...

The Ward Family (minus Juli and Brent families--we missed you guys!)

Scrabble--Chris' favorite!

Chris' other favorite--football with his family

(until my sweet sister-in-law Stefani broke her ankle in 2 places playing football on this trip--then it was not so much fun). 

Ella "loving" her cousin Bailey

Ella playing in the jacuzzi tub

My super cute in-laws.  I know few people more in love than these two.

Our little family

New Year's Eve--love those pouty lips!

Nothing like marshmallows to cheer a girl right up!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Traditions

For Christmas this year, we headed up to my parent's house in Ventura.  My family has A LOT of Christmas traditions and it was so fun to include Ella in them.

First of all, my mom has themed trees.  This year it was peace.

Then, there's the matching pajamas--even for the adults (the whole fam minus Kim and boys--we missed you guys!)

Then we sing Christmas songs.  We sound truly awful, but luckily Chris and Ryan have helped us a little.

And my dad reads us "Twas the Night Before Christmas"--while we all obnoxiously mouth the words so that everyone knows we have it memorized.

Then of course there are way too many presents.  Ella was especially a big fan of her new polka-dot rocking chair and lots of new musical instruments.

I didn't include pictures of the tamales we order (it is California, after all) or the trek outside to see Santa go by in his sleigh/helicopter.  Mostly we just soak up being around family.  Ella especially loves her cousins and seeing her excitement is now officially my favorite part of Christmas.  Hope yours was happy as well.

The Dollar Store

The dollar store is kind of a big deal in our house.  Chris LOVES dollar stores.  He is pretty much an aficionado.  Most Saturday mornings in New York found Chris with a fanny pack (yes, fanny pack--in fact, it was the blue one he wore on "Let's Make a Deal) filled with change and heading to the dollar store a block from our house.  He continuously extols the virtue of the dollar store.  It's easy to feel rich at the dollar store and they have everything, according to Chris.  Luckily, the fanny pack was eventually replaced by a mountain pack (I am still grateful to our BFF Jocelyn for that gift--she had witnessed the fanny pack/loose change/dollar store ritual while visiting to help us paint our New York apartment--yes, she's that kind of friend).  Anyway, even with the mountain pack upgrade, I still could never quite get on the dollar store bandwagon.

Until today.  Today I pay homage to the dollar store.  I am not only on the bandwagon, I am leading the charge.  When we were asked the day before (I know, don't get me started) to plan and run the children's area of our ward Christmas party, I was a little stressed.  But then I went to the dollar store.  Christmas decorations galor, eraser and pencil prizes, plastic table cloths, candy canes--all for a dollar.  Amazing.  I left there feeling confident the kids area was good to go.  I am a dollar store convert.

As it turns out, the kids area did go well.  And at the risk of sounding like a feature for Seriously So Blessed (hilariously mocking this and every other Mormon mommy blog), I kind of fell in love with my husband all over again that night.  I was running the games section and Chris was running the story time section.  I was worried that during the story time rotation, the kids would be looking longingly at the games and crafts area.  But then at one point I looked over to see Chris reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (as you can imagine, he was very animated) and then I saw that he had all of the kids standing holding hands rocking back and forth at the part when Christmas goes on in Whoville without the gifts and trees. I wanted to stop what I was doing to hug him.

So, there you go.  Merry Christmas and happy dollar store shopping!

Ella and cousin Charlie at the ward Christmas party--

does she look terrified or what?