Twas the night before Christmas!!! Ellis Style

Twas the night before Christmas and as Amy was in the kitchen.

Not a child was stirring, not even our Griffin.

The stockings were placed under our tree with care,

In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be there!

G did not like this big jolly man at the mall,

We hope Santa will leave him more than a melted snowball.

And Daddy was tired relaxing in his chair.

After putting together a battery powered car with care.

Then he says, "Oh my! I may need a shot of caffeine!"

I still need to put together Griffin's big trampoline!

We opened the box, my heart skipped a beat,

Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!

Too late for last-minute returns or replacement.

We got lucky, Q set it up right in the basement!

And listening to Christmas music coming from right down the hall.

Amy cuddled up on the couch (well sort of) wishing snowflakes would fall!

She has been hoping for a White Christmas this year!

Quentin says, "Why? You are from Texas, it never snows there my dear!"

Then off to bed the rest of us go!

We'll dream of sugarplums with or without white snow!

No cookies, snacks or milk shall appear,

Santa Claus is on a diet at our house this year!

The next morning G opened his presents that Santa had left last night.

Mommy looked up at her family and thought, "I am one lucky lady, what a great sight!"

****Here is our "Twas the Night before Christmas"! Yes, it does look like Santa's sleigh exploded in our living room! But we had such a fun time and made lots of fun memories!!!

Here is Q and I before our last Christmas party of the season! The Tidemann Family hosts such a fun party on Christmas eve every year!!!

Mommy helping G open some presents!!!! LOVES his new laptop!

Daddy and little man having so much fun opening presents!!!

Vroom Vroom! G LOVING his new wheels!!

Stylin' in his new fedora from Nana!

We had the BEST time spending Christmas Eve with Nana and Uncle Brad!!! Thank you so much for making the trip up to see us! We love you!!!

Check up for our growing boy!

Griffin just had his 14 month check up. We found out that Griffin is a pretty tall dude, 78th percentile! And that is head is full of lots of brains, 90th percentile! We already knew he was a smart boy ;) ! The doctor also told us he is more like an 18 month old in his development! ....and he might also start the terrible twos early....great, just what mommy needs!

Isn't he the cutest little patient!! Testing out my new smartphone with my favorite subject!

The escape of Griffin James!!

We laugh a lot around our house!!!

Here is one of the many reasons why! He escaped after his bath and found one of his early Christmas presents! At least I know he will be excited to get this gift!!!

Deck the Halls!!!

Griffin is decking the halls with Mommy's bikini bottoms this year! I about died laughing when I took a look at our Christmas tree! He is such a funny little man!!

Christmas Lights!!!

What a difference a year makes! Here are the Christmas lights pictures that we had taken last Christmas and this Christmas! I can't believe how much my little man has grown! Aren't these just the cutest pictures!!! He loves the camera...hmmm...you would think maybe he has been in front of the camera a time or two HA! We were so nervous taking the pictures this year, we just knew that he was going to break one of the bulbs....anyone who knows our little man knows that he NEVER sits still, I thought for sure he was going to stand up and walk around! No worries, he did fabulous!!!

14 months!!!

Wow, this one really snuck up on me!!! Here is what our little man is doing now:

• he is a little daredevil!!!
• starting to really try and pronounce words, my new favorite is whoopy-daisy! he also tries to repeat fun words that we say like strawberry, handsome, cheese, popcorn, uh-oh, juice
• squeals and splashes like crazy at the pool....and LOVES miss wanda and his swim buddy caroline
• falls off of objects that are higher and higher...which means he is getting braver and braver and climbing higher and higher.
• loves putting on mommy's bracelets...the fancier the better
• waves bye bye to everyone, gives lots of kisses, lots of hugs
• loves his baths, as soon as you say "time for griffin's bath" he makes a beeline to the bathroom
• as always, loves to wrestle with Daddy and for you to chase him
• likes to stack blocks, insert small objects into bigger ones (like bottle lids into his bottles)
• likes to be tickled, and tries to tickle us back
• he has the cutest little giggle you have ever heard
• no more walking for him, he now runs everywhere
• loves to dance with mommy
• such a playful little man
• such a happy boy....and still full of lots of energy
• it is so crazy that he is transforming into a little boy right before our eyes!
• and we know we are a little biased, but probably the cutest kid ever!!!

Swimages!!!

Swimages, who takes underwater pictures, came to Wichita Swim Club a few weeks ago and did super cute underwater pictures of the kids! Didn't it turn out so cute! Such a good little swimmer!!

Naughty or Nice....you decide!!!

So, all of this screaming makes me think Griffin really doesn't like this Santa guy!

Griffin and I met up with Grandma Kathy to visit Santa! The only problem...Griffin was not really liking Santa! We tried three different times...even with a cookie! But, then he just screamed with a cookie! I definitely won't forget this visit with Santa!

Here is our little sweetie with Santa last year! He seemed to like Santa a bit more last year ;) Wasn't he such a handsome man dressed up in his Christmas duds! He melts his mommy's heart!!!

Tacky Sweater Christmas Party!!

Not many things better than a tacky sweater party!!!

You know you have cute friends when they still look cute sporting these tacky...I mean festive sweaters!!!

Here is our little clan at the MAPS Christmas Party last night! It was super fun girl time!!

Erin and I showing off our festive sweaters and scarves! Showing our "skills" as we modeled Krista's scarves! By the way, I had quite the sweater, complete with snowmen and tree applique!!!
Liz opening her "nostalgic" Christmas candles.....my favorite part is the wrapping matched her lightbulb necklace!! One hot mama!!
Another group shot! This one including our "celebrity" friend! Love you and your sweater vest Em ;)!

Thank you from Griffin!

Almost forgot to post this until a friend just mentioned that she may 'steal' my thank you card idea! Thank you again to all of our (griffin's) friends for helping us celebrate my little man's first birthday!

g and great grandpa joe

Griffin just loves his Grandpa Joe! We got to see them right before they left for Texas! Aren't they just the cutest in this picture!!!

From this Texas girl to you...have fun in Texas Grandpa Joe and Grandma Donnis, and send some warm weather up here for us!

mr miss matched

Since Griffin has started swim lessons a few months ago, it has gotten cold outside, so now, we put our baby legs on and hoodie and we are ready to rock and roll....only thing is...g is always looking a little miss matched. I think he looks so cute in his random outfits that I started taking pictures and couldn't help but share them! These totally eclectic outfits now have a special place in my heart and I look forward to getting him dressed for swim lessons ;)

a few favorites!

I have been hearing so many funny quotes lately! I love when people are brutally honest!... SO FUNNY!!! Here are a few favorites lately:

"I guess that's the real circle of life. Your parents fake their way through it. You fake your way through it, and hopefully you don't raise a serial killer." -Phil Dunphy from Modern Family

"I just don't like to play games, one game of goldfish is my max. When I told my mom that I had 2 kids for a reason, so that they can play together, I was serious." -MAPS mommy

"Just don't worry about it, 10 months from now, no one will remember anyways." -Dad

(by the way, I took his advice and he was totally right!!! HA!!)

A Clifton Christmas!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Grandpa Joe and Grandma Donnis celebrate Christmas at their house each year...we always have such a great time and all of the kiddos have so much fun playing together! Here are a few snapshots from the fun day!

Griffin and Grandpa Joe resting up before the festivities begin!

G lookin' pretty fly in his Christmas duds!
Aunt Bryn playing bingo with her 2 favorite boys...sorry Ryan ;)
Griffin couldn't wait for his turn to open his present, he just dove right in! The kids' did a fun gift exchange this year...they each brought a toy of their own that they would like to give away...it was so fun...and funny!
Daddy helping his little man open presents!
The cousin picture! What a good lookin' bunch!!! There will be a new addition to this picture in a few days...congratulations Amber and Grant!

A lot to be thankful for...Thanksgiving!

We are so blessed! Q and I have so much to be thankful for! Here are a few:

Wonderful family to share these special holidays with!!!

A beautiful, high spirited, outgoing, little boy that brightens each and every one of our days!

Thankful for the little footprints and for the happy, high energy little man leaving them!

Thankful for the little handprints on the wall because I know it means that there is a sweet little man leaving them!

Thankful for the constant sea of toys on my floor, because I know it means that my little man is happy, and loves to play!

Each other!

A wonderful husband, who keeps me smiling and laughing each and every day! Who loves me, our beautiful baby boy and this wonderful life that we share together!

Incredible friends near and far!!!

MAPS mommy friends that give me encouragement and always seem to know exactly the message I need to hear at the right time!

For my business that I love....and I love that it allows me to stay home with my little man... and enjoy every minute of him!

...and last but certainly not least: Thankful for all of my friends that hand over all of their pumpkin recipes, because they know I LOVE anything pumpkin!

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We spent all of Thanksgiving Day with family! It was such a fun day, and having Griffin makes this holiday seem all the more special!!! Here are a few pics from Thanksgiving 2010!

Griffin with his cousins Bailey and Megan! Megan wasn't so sure she liked Griffin taking all of her toys, so after a while she wised up and began hiding her toys from Griffin! Pretty funny...and something his cousin Kolton is starting to do as well! Ha!

Brad and I with our cousins Kimberly and Tiffany and Grandmother.
All 3 of the great grandkids.
Uncle James and Monica, they prepared an AMAZING meal for us....I think I am still full from this lunch!
Griffin's turkey hat from Aunt Monica! He thought he was pretty cool wearing his turkey hat!
Brad, Griffin, Mom and Me!
Group shot minus Q and I! Brad, my cousin Spencer, his wife Izumi, James, Monica, Sandra, Griffin and Mom!!! Notice Mom and Aunt Sandra's matching outfits...so funny!!! Q and I enjoyed teasing Mom about this!

Catchin' up...Spending time with friends!

We had so much fun visiting with my high school friends! I miss them so much living up here, but we always have SOOO much fun together! Now, most of my girlfriends down there have young children close to Griffin's age! Here is my friend Tasha with her 2 cuties Jaxon and Kash(Griffin and Kash are only about 3 months apart)! They are the cutest and so sweet! Jaxon will give you hug after hug and then ask his mommy to bring us flowers!! I always ask Jaxon if he will come home with me! Love them!!

Here we are, it was late in the evening we took the boys out and just let them run! They were so cute and full of energy! The weather was amazing down there, shorts weather up until Thanksgiving day!

The boys had so much fun, they didn't want to stay inside after the running was over!

Our 3 boys, aren't they just the cutest!!!
Haley, her husband Brad and little princess Rylee Paige came to visit and Griffin just loves her!!! And she just thinks Griffin is pretty cool! Haley and I are convinced they are going to date...one day! We do worry that they will cause half as much trouble together as Haley and I did! Our Mom's think we totally have it coming to us!
Haley, Rylee, Griffin and Me! We miss you!!!
Griffin and his little friend Avery, they were born 2 weeks apart. It was so fun seeing them run around together!
Jennie, Avery, Kim, Griffin and Me!

Flashback!!! Here is Jennie and me at my baby shower, I was 32 weeks prego and she was 31. Avery had other plans and made her entrance 2 weeks before Griffin. I was very jealous when I was sitting at home ready to pop! ;)

With our friends Kim and Ricky! We ALWAYS have sooo much fun with these 2! Love you guys!

Such a great trip! Griffin did so wonderful with all of the driving and was always having fun no matter where we went or what we did!