On Saturday we celebrated Ellie's first Birthday! Many friends and family were able to join us to celebrate the day. Ellie had lots of fun playing with everyone, opening gifts and eating cupcake anyway she wanted!!! Hard to believe tomorrow she will have been here one year!!
Here are a few pictures from my parents camera...more to be added later.

Some of the guests watching Ellie open her gifts!

Ellie peaking inside a bag


The usual bow on the head


A very happy girl with her giant cupcake cake!

Ellie realizing she could eat the whole thing...

Mom, you've been holding out on me...this is tasty

taking a walk with Grandma to open her gift

Opening a gift with Papa

Very intent



Our little girl is getting big!

watch for others in the next couple of days...

Merry Christmas!!! Hope everyone has a wonderful time with family as we celebrate our Savior's Birth!

Ellie's first visit to Santa


No tears from Ellie on her first visit...just wondering as we left why mom put her on that strange man's lap



Opening an early Christmas present


A new Christmas story to read...

All this Christmas excitement wears a girl out

Downloaded pictures off the camera...you can see Ellie's Halloween costume if you didn't see it in person...

Preparing for her first Halloween


Our little cutie

What mom are you looking at...I am not about to clear everything off the coffee table...why would you even think that?


Waiting for my friends to come


Mommy's little bear (Thanks Aunt Alyssa for letting us use it) In a former life it was a squirrel when Tate was little

My buddy Tate the fireman and Cade the monkey

Mommy and Daddy put me in the stroller, more to meet some of the new neighbors they hadn't met yet as opposed to going trick or treating




It was not a very warm Halloween...but Ellie was toasty warm in her costume



Home again and even with a little candy



I am not sure why kids get excited about this day...this doesn't really taste very good!

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday Alyssa and the boys along with Ellie and I went to the pumpkin patch. It was muddy from all the rain but everyone got to play some and have fall pictures taken. I was glad we got to go and take pictures of Ellie among the pumpkins!!

Peeking out the wooden train window


Happy Girl


Ellie standing next to one of several scarecrows



Not so sure about this pumpkin headed person sitting next to me

Which one shall I pick??

Mom I think I like this one



putting leaves and stems from the pumpkins in her mouth was a highlight of the trip

These pumpkins sure are heavy


Just measuring up

Mommy look how big I am getting

Going for a drive

She could hardly sit on the seat and reach the steering wheel but it sure didn't stop her



Not sure who is giving who a lesson on driving


There are pumpkin things everywhere

Again driving....this time the truck

Peek I see you!!!

All three kiddos


Just hanging out while mom takes my picture

Aunt Alyssa, Tate and Cade (Tate decided while walking through the little store that he would like an apple...he started to take a bit out of one...so Alyssa bought it and from there Tate pretty much ate the entire thing...at one point asking Alyssa to take the seeds out)

A happy mommy with her happy little peanut


We set Ellie and Cade down by the turkey and told Tate to go sit there too...this is how he posed himself

3 little munchkins...(Tate still eating his apple)

Happy 2nd Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday Mr. Cade! We had fun celebrating with you today!!

As I said we will work our way backwards....these are Ellie's 9 month pictures! She is growing like a weed. She crawls everywhere at a rapid speed and is pulling up on anything she can get her hands on. We are slowly getting settled into our new house...pictures to come!

Happy Birthday

we are back...on the Internet that is...or at least at the moment. We have had and continue to have phone/Internet issues...so in the meantime let me say...

HAPPY HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY HENRY DAVID GOTTSCHALK

hard to believe it has been a whole year!!!

I will post pictures tomorrow of little Ellie...we will start with the current and work backwards...otherwise she may be 12 before we get caught up!