Catching Up

Beware!  This is a really long post with lots of pictures!
First off Ellie turned 3!  Since Ellie and I were going to be in Seattle on her actual birthday, we celebrated with Andy a week early.  We went to Red Robin for dinner, and Ellie got to pick her dinner.  Usually when we go out to eat we just share from our plates with her, so this was a big deal for her.
She was so funny because when they brought out her birthday treat she would not take a bite of it until she finished every bite of her mac and cheese.

action shot

 The next day we had a little birthday party with some family and our good friends the Wamplers!

Ellie and Ivan reading together

 The next day Amanda and I took the kids on a little hike to see a waterfall and they loved it!

Amanda, a picture for their wedding slideshow?

 After celebrating with our Utah family, Ellie and I headed up to Washington for my cousins wedding.  It was a long drive, but thankfully we were able to break it up by staying with our friends, The Olson's, in Boise.

Olson Kids!

Olive and Ellie two peas in a pod

We had such a fun time at the wedding!  Congratulations Brittany and Keith!

Jack and Max were ring bears

Ellie spinning in circles before the ceremony.

Dad, Ellie, and Abigail

Ella was the gorgeous flower girl

With my nieces

 My dad was dancing with all the granddaughters and it was so sweet!

I can't believe Jack is going to be 11

cutting the cake

 The venue where the wedding took place had really beautiful grounds, but it had a lot of ponds and little lake.  I just knew Ellie would be wet by the end of the night and sure enough she slid into one of the bigger ponds while she was trying to look at fish.  Thankfully Uncle Bill was there to save the day and fish her out and in the process get himself wet too.  Thanks Bill!

Ellie's savior

 On Ellie's actual birthday it was a chill day, because we had already celebrated in Utah and she was going to have another party that weekend.  We made pancakes, played, and opened a few presents that night.  And since we had already cake and were going to have it again in a few days, we roasted s'mores.

story time with Aunt Rebecca

On Sunday we had a combined birthday party with my niece Abigail who turned 2!

Ellie was not feeling it at first

But then she warmed up

We were supposed to leave on Tuesday but car troubles had us stay until Saturday.  Which means we got to have even more fun with our family!

Ellie loves Jack!

Singing "Let it Go" on the top of her lungs

A snazy outfit she put on that consisted of tights and a backward sponge bob shirt

The Elsa wig that has seen better day

We had a great time and we are excited to go back at Christmas!