October

Well here it is, probably the last post we'll make as a family of 3.

Just after my birthday Jeremy's family came on a last minute trip to visit. We got to take Ellia to build a bear where she chose a puppy dog and then went crazy looking at all the clothes...what a girl! Oh yeah, she also couldn't resist getting in the car.

We were also lucky enough to attend some other holiday celebrations. At our first party Ellia got to pick out a pumpkin and decorate it with foam facial features. When we got home I caught her putting all those pieces on herself. I missed the best picture where she had both her eyes and mouth covered!

Another party we attended was a park pot luck and trick or treat play date. We didn't have Ellia's real costume yet so she got to be a Hula girl. One of the other little girls at the park was obsessed with Ellia's coconuts and chased her around trying to put her hands on them. Ellia did NOT like that!

At this point the treats were piling up and we had to keep re-hiding them...well if you know Ellia at all you know she'll do whatever it takes to find treats. As you can see she snuck into the pantry and climbed on the garbage can looking for them....but she left a little too much evidence!

For another play date we met at a local pumpkin patch and chose some smaller pumpkins which we took home and painted.

Finally it was the eve of Halloween and Ellia was lucky enough to have a friend over to help carve pumpkins!

The morning of Halloween as I was getting Ellia out of bed and asking how she slept and what she wanted for breakfast and all kinds of other things and she was ignoring me like usual, I decided to tell her happy Halloween and I added, "It's Halloween Ellia, do you know what that means?" Without skipping a beat she answered, "treats."

At last we she got to wear her costume! First to a school party, then a church party...I attempted to "dress up" for that one, and then of course trick-or-treating! She is still working on her camera smile, but the trick or treating came easily!

Dad and Lia having a tea party!

Something new to get excited about!

SAVING MONEY ON GROCERIES!

Ok so awhile ago I mentioned that I went to a class on how to save money on groceries etc, well I have been putting the information I learned there to good use. I check the site http://www.saveathomemommy.com/ often and it is my new addiction to coupon clip - which comes at a nice time so I can stock up on items before the baby comes.

When I went to this woman's site I used to think it was funny that she took pictures of her shopping trips and the money she saved, but now I am rethinking it because of the amazing deal I got - I just want to show everyone! So here goes....

My total for this stuff was over $90 but I only paid $28 out of pocket!! Plus I got $15 to spend on anything at Albertsons on my next shopping trip!! I'm telling you, check out her site - then if you have questions let me know!

A few more deals to share!

I took my coupons to Rite-Aid today for a few deals. I got what you see below for approx. $16.00 and will get about $14.00 back in rebates. So my total "spent" was $2.67!!! (Ellia was trying to add her sucker to the picture)

There is also a semi-annual consignment here in town so I stocked up on some winter clothes for the girls. The average for each item (including the shoes) was less than $3.00! Wahoo! (Plus I am attemping to sale some things there that we weren't using and if everything sales I will make around $30 which would take the items I bought down in "cost" to about $1.10 each - I am so addicted to bargain shopping)

County Fair

At the end of September Ellia and I met some friends for a free day at the fair! Ellia and B. loved looking and the animals and all of the kids enjoyed the HUGE bubbles. Sadly this was the last day of my pregnancy that I could walk without major back pain...must have overdone it!

August and September

Ellia and I joined a group here for stay at home mommy's and one of the activities was a day of gymnastics. She loved jumping on the tramps and into these big cubes! While we were vacationing in Utah (and welcoming Jeremy's brother home from his mission) we visited Thanksgiving Point...

She got to ride a real horse too, but the pictures didn't turn out! (and yes, I know this is a cow)

Jeremy also had a chance to go camping in the Uintah's with his brothers and sister.

We had some coupons for free doughnuts at Krispy Kreme so I took Ellia to see how the doughnuts were made.

she got to play with the kitties at Grandma Laura's. They CHOSE to sleep in the net, she didn't put them there!

We went to the sheep dog festival and Ellia got her face painted, she chose a frog (again, keep reading)

They also had some crazy animals to see and pet...hence the closeup with this baby camel!

The trip started with a stop at Lake Powell, where we played in the sand, in the water and even in a kayak. Jer even learned the eskimo roll - now the two of us will have to take a trip! (in a few months anyway!)

Ellia reading in her new big girl bed.

Ellia's first day back to school, she was better at waking up early this time!

At the annual Chevron party we got to take advantage of some of the kids entertainment. Ellia enjoyed painting with dad...

and getting her face painted for the very first time. She kept scrunching up her cheek where the frog was to show it to us.

for the next week or so everytime we saw a frog toy or a frog on a book or anything, she'd point to her cheek.

After jer made the table we were feeling pretty confident so we took on a deck box. It is SO nice to have to storage for pool and lawn toys!

Ellia gets pretty desperate for sweets. She pulled down this glass pan which only had a few brownie crumbs left, and tried to eat the leftovers off the knife...luckily I was close by - I just had to get the pictures first! Now she can climb up the drawers onto the counters and into the highest cupboards - we can't keep anything from her!

We went to Mormon night at Dodger stadium and stayed overnight to visit the L.A. zoo and the Manhatten beach. Ellia wasn't quite as animated at the zoo as she was her first visit, but she still enjoyed it.

I really liked the giraffe enclosure at this zoo, you could get so close! We even had lunch at a palce we could just sit and watch them. Once again, it took a few weeks after going to the zoo for Ellia not to be VERY excited every time she saw a picture of a giraffe.

I was really excited to see the hippos since they don't have those at Hogle Zoo anymore, pluys this guy was very active while we were there, climbing in and out of the water and showing us his big teeth!

By the end of the day Ellia wasn't the only pooped one at the zoo!


Before the zoo we stopped at Manhatten beach. It took her a bit of warming up to the sand and the water, but Ellia eventually had a blast running in and out the waves on shore, and chasing the birds!

At the Dodgers game it was a little difficult to keep her entertained, but we've had worse times!

We had a little flashlight keychain and she really liked pointing to the baby with it!

Ah, at least dad is willing to play with the fingerpaints!

Although Ellia is progressing in some aspects, like getting the 'idea' of potty training, (she is rushing her animals to the potty)

she is regressing in others, like wanting to use a sippy cup again and playing in the baby gear!

Finally - a few pictures from the birthday party we had for Ellia once we got back to California (after the July trip!)

and that about does it for the last two months, hopefully I'll get in another post of two before the baby comes!