Ella's 4th Birthday

I cannot believe how quickly time passes.  I remember being at the hospital when Ella was born.  Now, 4 years later, she's such a big girl.  We had a great time at her birthday party and it was so fun to see her interact with all her little friends.  Ella's birthday was at a bounce house type place where the kids were able to just run around and have fun.  

Ella was so sweet and loved showing off her "baby" to all her friends.

 Cameron wasn't quite sure at first, but then he loved this little toy and kept bouncing and bouncing on it.

 Jumping with Grampy G

 Lots of lipstick kisses from Grammy!

 Ella and Colleen sliding down a huge bouncy slide!

 Ella in the hurricane simulator.  (Grammy was the first brave soul to attempt this!)

 Sliding and bouncing with Daddy

 Getting sleepy on Mama

 Sweet boy...

 Loving pizza

 Beautiful Birthday Girl

 Grammy and the birthday girl

 Ella and Aunt Theresa and Miss Carmen

 Cameron, demonstrating to Aunt Colleen how to eat wrapping paper

January fun...

Cameron just has such a personality now.  He loves rolling all over the floor, running back and forth across the family room, pulling toys and books off the bookshelf, and plopping into my lap to read.

Just playing and having fun with Mama...

Working on using utensils while eating...

 Playing in a box, NOT helping Mama try and put together his toy.

To say that Cameron LOVES Nola is an understatement.  He shrieks with delight when he sees her and always yells "da"...meaning "dog"...and sometimes will say "tat"...meaning "cat", but we're still working on that.  Every time Josh gets the leash from the front closet to walk Nola, Cameron darts over to pick up the leash.  He starts wielding it like a madman which usually sends Nola running away. 

 Walking Nola...

 

It was incredibly nice and beautiful out on New Year's Eve, so we decided to have a picnic at the park.  Cameron was not interested in "picnicking" at all, rather just really enjoyed picking up leaves and grass and had fun attempting to get his footing on the hills. 

 Exploring with Daddy

 Soccer with Daddy

 Beautiful boy on the swings

Christmas 2011

We had a really nice Christmas in Raleigh with everyone.  I think it was one of those events where there were so many people, pets, and chaos, that I have very few "good" pictures.  Here are a few...

Getting ready for Christmas Eve church

A kiss from Grammy

 Christmas Eve church with Ella and Aunt Colleen

After Santa came!

 Opening presents...

Discovery Place Kids

Mom and Ella came to Charlotte to babysit for us while we went to volunteer at Christmas Village Toy Store.  The following day, we went to Discovery Place Kids before Mom and Ella headed back to Raleigh.  We had been with Cameron when he was about 4 months old, but now that he can walk, I think he had a lot more fun. 

Checking out a Fire Engine

 Ella, shopping at the grocery store...and yes, that outfit was Ella's own creation!

 Checking out X-Rays at the Dr's office

 Grammy, helping Ella across the balance beam

 Ella and Cameron had a great time in the pretend restaurant.  Ella "pretended" with all the various activities, while Cameron must have opened and closed the fake microwave one hundred times.

 Cameron, actually trying to drink out of a glass!

 Ella, checking out the underwater room

 Posing after a fun day!