Work Hard, Play Harder

Ellie loves to use the dumbbells she got for her birthday.
She does it with us most nights.... pushups, weights, etc.
She grunts and works as hard as she can.

Then she does some laps with Dad and Tucker.

And takes a rest afterward with Grandpa and her dolly. I
think she thought it was cool to have her shirt off like grandpa.
Even the doll got into the workout, apparently.

In this picture, she had finished breakfast a few minutes before,
and would normally be begging me to get her out of the chair...
but since Imagination Movers was on, she just sat there... entranced.
They are her FAVORITE!

Hanging out with Dad... and reaching for the camera, of course.

We were trying to take pictures to send with a card to
her Great Grandma Roggia, and Ellie decided to put this
pumpkin bucket on her head... strange child.

Blowing kisses.

This is a very "Adam" face. It made me laugh.

Chillin on the trampoline outside.

"Uh-oh". Anytime Ellie drops things or thinks something is wrong,
she immediately puts her hands up on her head like this. Sometimes
I turn around in the car to ask her where her toy is that she had
(and of course threw down), and this sign is the instant
answer... she's funny.

Being silly... on the trampoline still... it is, after all, her all-time
favorite place to be.

Ellie, Tucker, and I go to the parks around here a lot.
I'm not sure what she's doing, but Tucker is very good at
following her around and staying close. Good guard dog.... till
he spazzes at the sight of another dog.

I feel like she's plotting something evil....

Walking tall... she pretty much walks ALL the time now.

Tucker had fun playing some fetch. I wanted to get better
shots of him, but it's hard to be the one throwing the ball AND
taking the pictures.

Ellie likes to play with Tucker's tongue when he's tired and panting.
Good thing they are so patient with each other (even if they
are not patient with anyone else).

Silly poses.

Ellie then decided that all she wanted to do was push the
stroller in circles. Tucker tried to do his duty and stay near her
and the stroller...

Even thought it meant he had to keep moving around...

But then she would crash into him and CRACK UP!...
so he eventually gave up and came over to sit by me instead.

She thought pushing the stroller was hilarious.

I couldn't get enough of her silly faces. Note the leash around her
neck. That's one of her favorite games lately. Anything long and thin
goes over her head and around her neck, then she takes it off, then
puts it on, and does it over and over... or just likes walking around
with it on....... who knows what how her mind works.

Too cute.

And too busy to stop for a pic with mom.... she's never been
one for kisses, but she is a good hugger, so at least we get
those frequently. Crazy child. We love her to death. She
is ALWAYS making us laugh.

Ellie updates and shenanigans

Ellie is 13 months old... but seems to think that
she's an adult. Maybe because she lives in a house
surrounded by adults who she thinks she controls.
Anyway, she's doing really well.... still has the same
hilarious and spicy personality she was born with,
and keeps us working hard to keep up.

She loves to rock. She stops and bangs her
head or dances to almost all music. She loves
to wear guitars. There was a rock concert on TV
the other night, and she immediate grabbed a
guitar and made me help her put it on.

Talking with Tucker. She talks ALL THE TIME. Sometimes
it's just jibjab, but she actually knows a lot of words anymore.
she knows mama, dada, grandpa, grandma, tucker, tank,
this (or deese! to get things), thank you (says it all the time...
so cute!), drink, all done, night-night, bye-bye, good job,
uh-oh, ooooh wow, and countless others that she will
say or repeat for me when she's in the right mood.
It's crazy! (I know that was long, but it's more
for me to keep record better).

She likes playing with full-size basketballs and footballs
a lot lately.

Ellie is a water addict. The sprinkler was on, and
it took her all of about 20 seconds of freedom to end
up completely soaked.

And she walks! She started really walking a lot
right before Jake left. She doesn't do it all the time
yet, but gets better and better. She can stand up
and walk across the whole room if there aren't
too many dogs and things to trip over.

Uncle Jakey

I'm a little behind, but Uncle Jacob left us on the 6th to
enter the Missionary Training Center and prepare
to serve a two year mission for the LDS church in
El Salvador. He is working hard and doing really well!
We are very proud of him!

Before he left, we got to attend a Washington Nat's game
with him.... he got us free tickets to the last home game
with his active duty military ID. It was Ellie's first professional
sporting event. We had a good time.

He also got a chance to say goodbye to Phil, Paula,
Izzie, and William when they came through town!

Showing off his packing skills... or lack thereof. Good
thing he has nice, helpful parents.

Ellie was glad the cousins came to say goodbye to Jake, cause
she always loves playing with her big girl cousin. She also took
right to her Uncle Phil while he was here. Impressive for her.

Momma Garner with her fourth and final missionary son.

Then the whole clan. We love our Jake!