The Ellis Family's Little Wonders...

A Fun Weekend in Tennessee...

Saturday, April 4, 2009

We spent the weekend in the mountains of Tennessee with Donnie's sister, Ursula, and her hubby, Keith. Keith competes professionally in motocross... which has become all three of the boys fascination. Sky & Kaden will be getting their own bikes soon, but to them not soon enough!

Urs & Keith bought the boys motocross shirts... and they didn't take them off the entire weekend!

Sky spent the ENTIRE weekend on a bike, literally. We saw him for meals... and that was IT! Keith said he put well over 120 miles on it... which would have brought him back down to Atlanta from where we were in TN!!

Keith is SUCH a stud!!!!

Biker Babes

Donnie spent almost as much time riding as Sky did. Did I forget to mention Donnie & I are getting bikes too? =)

Kaleb just could not go high or fast enough. Look closely at that little face of joy!!

Kaden can't get enough either!!

Of course, I had to take a turn too... although, Keith rides SO fast I was a little scared!

We rode off to a waterfall and dropoff. Keith teased Kaleb saying we were going to get on the bikes and jump over to the other side... but Kaleb thought it was a great idea. On the way back, he asked Keith to do a wheelie the whole way... a bit tough, even for Keith.

Aunt Ursula riding Kaleb

Sky got on the 150 for the first time without any trouble, even though the bike weighs more than twice his weight, & headed straight for the big boy track. We all are COMPLETELY blown away at what a natural he is!!

Keith is at it again!

You CAN'T go camping without having a bonfire... and making s'mores!!! =)

Urs & Keith

I'm SO fortunate to have such a great sis-in-law!

Our last day there, Urs & Keith got such a kick out of it when the boys started throwing around their random 'I love you's'... hahaha, I guess Donnie & I just consider that to be typical. It was really cute though when Kaden said, 'I love everyone in this camper, even you, Hayden!' (Urs & Keith's playful pitbull =) Hanging out with the Wilsons is ALWAYS guaranteed to be a good time! And as sore and tired as we were after we got home Monday evening, we can't wait to do it again!!

Returned From Great Britain...

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Cardiff Castle Clock Tower, Wales

Donnie just got home from England & Wales. While he was there, he was fortunate to have time to do some shopping and sightseeing. He came home with some really neat gifts... including the BIGGEST bug-eyed sunglasses I've ever seen, apparently all the Welch girls wear them! Haha... I do love them though!! I asked him to take a bunch of photos for me, here's my favorites...

Donnie & his friends had to get a photo in front of an old red English phonebooth, and actually searched for one.

I'm so glad Donnie had such a good time... he had some great stories to share with me. Apparently, the London marathon is every April... so he wants the two of us to go run it in 2011. I guess I better start training now!!

These photos are just BEAUTIFUL!!!

Happy Birthday, Shelly!!!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

We love getting together with several of our ward friends for bbqs... there's something about fun conversation and good food. Shelly let the cat out of bag and told me her birthday was next Wednesday... so I had no choice but to pull one over on her by having the bbq in her honor. Her hubby, Jason, and I filled my house with 50 pink balloons... which all the kids had a BLAST kicking around... pink streamers and I made a yummy chocolate raspberry cake (with some helping hands that added 2 tubs of frosting and white chocolate to drizzle over the top =). We even made her wear a tiara! It was SO much fun!!! I wish I would've gotten a photo of the look on Shelly's face once she walked in my door and saw what we were up to! =)

My fun playdate girls... Shelly, Leiah and Erin. Just a few more weeks, ladies... and we'll be back at it, soaking in some sun rays!!

I am so happy to have Shelly & Jason living just down the street from us! We get together and have so much fun... and best buddies Kaden & Braydon LOVE it!!! Although, I need to keep Donnie away from beautiful little Ambria... because he's always picking her up giving me those puppy eyes. I swear, he's dreaming in pink WAY worse than I am!!! (He's still in England... so I played the 7th wheel today. Lol!!)

Leiah & James also live in the neighborhood... so we're doubly spoiled. Leiah is a good friend to have when you like food... she brings the BEST dishes to our bbqs. I literally have cravings for her homemade bread!! Not to mention, I can't get enough of their two daughters! It's great having them over to balance out all the testosterone floating around!!

Aaron & Erin don't live in our subdivision, but are so sweet to drive way out into the country for our bbqs... that must mean we're really cool. =) Getting Jason & Aaron together is a riot... I love hearing their flying stories!

Shelly, you have been such a great friend... one I've had to count on a time or two, and you've never let me down. I really hope we all were able to show you how appreciative we are for all that you do!!!! xoxo

A Day Playing Hooky....

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Kaleb has been home from school for the last 3 days now because he came down with a fever & bronchitis early Sunday morning. Thank goodness, his fever finally broke this morning and he's starting to be himself again... although a bit crankier and still isn't eating much.

I LOVE his little toes!!!

So while Sky & Kaden were working hard in school... Kaleb & I decided to enjoy the gorgeous 80 degree sunshine, and jumped on the trampoline for a little while.

It's so funny how much air Kaleb can get when he jumps with either me or Donnie... he usually ends up on his rear!! Haha!!!

Even though Kaleb wasn't feeling well... it was really nice to be home with him, like the good ole days. And a day of hooky, every now and then, never hurts!!

You KNOW Your Little Guy Is Growing Up When...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

... he asks you to fix his hair before school!!! All the sudden, Kaden decided he needs to look 'cool' now... like a rockstar, he says. Yikes... Sky didn't care about his hair until just a few years ago... when he informed me 'the girls like the curls.' Aren't they just a riot??

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! As Long As It Melts When The Day Is Over!!!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The front of our house at 8am.

When we woke up this morning... we couldn't believe our eyes!! It was actually SNOWING!!! From what we've been told, the last time it snowed here was 6 years ago... and 20 years prior to that. Needless to say, it is most definitely NOT a typical day in March, when the weather is usually creeping into the 70's!!

All through church, Kaden & Kaleb could hardly contain themselves... they were SOOOO excited to go play in the snow. By the time church was out, the ground was completely covered!! If you look closely, you can see both Kaden & Kaleb sticking their tongues out trying to catch snowflakes. Sky was pouting because I made them all take a photo before I let them into the car to go home. Our California boy HATES the cold!!! (And no, that isn't a giant snowball on Donnie's head... it's a snowflake falling in front of my camera.=)

When we got home, we saw the snow wasn't sticking like it had at church... at least not for a little while.

The front of our house at 3pm.

I think we only got about an inch or so... and it melted hours later. But it was so wet, it made for perfect snowballs!! Kaden & Kaleb stayed outside until their fingers and toes were completely numb! They obviously don't have snowboots, so they bundled up with soccer socks... but even those get wet after a while. It was only the boys' second time ever playing in snow... and they both kept saying how they wished it snowed down here more often. As for me, after moving down here from Chicago, I was quite happy to see the snow completely melt away after a fun day of play. When the boys came inside they warmed up with a cup of hot cocoa... with extra marshmallows.

Hellooooooo!!

Sunday, March 1, 2008

Kaden is the funniest boy... every now and then, when I go to upload all the photos off my camera I find pictures like these. It's always a sure way to brighten my day!!!