I love Shutterfly!

I know that there are tons of photo sites out there now but one of my absolute favorites is Shutterfly! I actually started using them because my aunt recommended their photo books. I've used them for a lot of other things, I'm even making a lot of photo gifts with them! Every time I upload new photos to my account I add them to a website I made through them for all my friends and family to see photos of Elli! I have been making a photo calendar for the last few years to have at work, so nice to have those photos to look at every day! If you have never made a photo calendar you need to make one with Shutterfly! Since this is 'Cyber Week' they are having some amazing deals!

And just for posting this blog to share with you how much I truly love Shutterfly, I'm getting 50 free Christmas photo cards! I really do love them, don't think it's just for something free. I'm very excited to get free photo cards as well! If you go to Elli's site, click here, you can see the photo book I made for myself Elli through them!

Go to www.shutterfly.com TODAY and get some amazing specials!!!

Happy Halloween!

I hope that you all had a wonderful & safe Halloween! Here are a few photos of my adorable garden gnome!!

Busy yet relaxing weekend!

I know it doesn't really make sense to be busy but relaxing but this weekend was! On Friday night we did nothing! We picked up the house a little bit once Elli was in bed but we were just so happy Friday was here we just vegged!

On Saturday morning we got up and cleaned up a little bit more because the Empire Today guy was coming to our house to talk about new flooring! We found two styles of flooring we like, one is a total of $1700 more than the other, so it depends on how much we think it will affect the worth of our home. I have to contact the HOA and get written approval from them about getting hard surface flooring installed. What's nice about Empire is they do EVERYTHING! They will come in and move our furniture, lay a condo grade pad, install the floor, even install 1/2 round along the baseboard line, give us any that is leftover, put the furniture back and clean up after themselves! This is a big decision that we would definitely be investing in but a matter of when we can afford to get it done. The salesman gave Elli an Empire guy bobblehead and she is sooo scared of it! I got this great video of her being scared! :)
Rhonda them came over and we watched football and Keeping Up With the Kardashian's while Elli finished her nap. We then headed to Old Navy for their 16th birthday! Rhonda and I each got a fleece jacket - only $8 each!! I also got a ruffled henley for $8! There was plenty of stuff I wanted for Elli also but I have a coupon to use for her next week! :) We then headed to Chipotle for an early dinner! We were happy to introduce the amazing-ness to Rhonda - and she loved it!
We have started Saturday night movie night here once Elli goes to bed. This Saturday we watched 'Everybody's Fine'. I am a HUGE Drew Barrymore fan so I was excited to see this. I never knew it would be such a SAD movie! Oh my goodness we cried it was so sad - definitely wasn't what we were expecting!

On Sunday we lounged around for the morning - Ray made fried egg sandwiches for breakfast - yummy!! After Elli got up from her nap we headed out to Bothell. We stopped at Costco first for gas - oh goodness it is always so busy there!! We went to an open house in Bothell - we loved the house - not the yard. The house was recently updated and we loved the layout and most of the upgrades. Almost the perfect house! The back had a HUGE deck with a hot tub. The backyard was actually pretty good size but the layout wasn't good - and it needed A LOT of work! You could also stand on the deck by the kitchen and the master bedroom and look directly into the neighbor's house and their NASTY backyard! We then headed over to Mill Creek to use our Groupon at Frost. This was a place I had never heard of before but when I saw the Groupon I thought it would be a good treat if we ever did look at a house in Bothell. We got a dozen mixed doughnuts for only $8! Frost is in a new shopping center in Mill Creek and we were impressed! This shopping center is almost enough to really move to the area!! They have a lot of unique flavors to choose from. We ate the Bacon Maple Bar and the White Chocolate Truffle ones tonight for dessert and YUM YUM! They aren't too sugary sweet like Krispy Kreme - my teeth didn't hurt from eating them! :) I'm excited to try the Red Velvet and Salted Caramel - Ray got the Aztec Chocolate. I'm pretty sad that they were out of the Pumpkin flavor since Pumpkin is my favorite but just an excuse to go back in a few months. :) After that we stopped at Hyundai in Kirkland to view some cars. We had originally planned on buying a used car - trading in both of our vehicles for one. Looks like it may actually be a better deal for us to buy a NEW Hyundai Elantra. The warranty, the fact that it's new, the 5 star crash test rating and the MPG are some pretty big Pros to ignore! We are going to drive a few more cars and then do all our final research and then not get run over and make a quick decision! I then made mashed potatoes and meatloaf for dinner - YUMMMM. I tried the New Potato and wasn't very impressed, I think I will stick with red or russet for making mashed taters - the New Potato was too thick and starchy, seemed more like boxed mashed potatoes.

Whirlwind Day

So on Tuesday the 23rd my company flew me, Lupe & Crystal down to Oakland (icky) California for an annual manager's meeting. Since I was out sick the Friday before I wasn't even told until Monday and good thing Ray was able to get the day off to stay home with Elli! I set my alarm for 3:37am and Lupe and Crystal picked me up at 4:35am to make our 6:15am flight! We got to the airport at 5:00am and got stuck in a LOOOONNNNGGGG line at security! We made it through, stopped at the restroom, bought a coffee and then heard our last call! Lupe barely made it because he had to go back to the Starbucks line (I had just stood in this long line) to get a muffin! Thank God he made the flight - he hates to fly and would most likely not do well without us there! The flight there was fine - no turbulence at all! We were definitely tired though! Once we landed we had to wait for a shuttle to the rental car. We had reserved a SUV but of course they had none! They asked Lupe if he wanted a Dodge Challenger instead and he immediately agreed without asking Crystal if she would mind - since she was in the backseat! We took one wrong turn on our way there - that was my bad since I was using the GPS on my phone but still trying to do my makeup! Once we found our exit we went to go some breakfast at Jack in the Box and walked out of there 10 minutes before we were supposed to be at the meeting! We met at Campo di Bocce in Livermore. We had a joint maintenance & manager meeting about how well the company as a whole and some accomplishments of some of the properties. We then broke up for lunch - the managers went inside and we had a nice salad, bread, chicken pasta & dessert lunch. It was really nice to be able to meet all the other managers from CA! Some awards were handed out and I got a pin for 3 years with the company! I'm almost on 4 years but that isn't until November. Then we had a speaker, Tammy Laurens, talk to us about selling on phone calls - she talked super fast but was very fun to listen to! Crystal and I both answered questions correctly after and got a cup of goodies and Starbucks card! After our meeting we all got to play Bocce together and it was a blast! Lupe, Crystal, Liz, Alianna, Brandy and I were on a team together and we won 13-6! I really enjoyed meeting everyone and did have a lot of fun! We left there at 4:00pm to make it back to the airport for our 6:50pm flight! After returning the car we made it to another long line at security. Crystal was smart and brought a change of comfy clothes and changed while we were waiting. Lupe actually met Gary Payton and got his photo taken with him - what a lucky guy! We then grabbed dinner at California Pizza Kitchen - BBQ Chicken & Roasted Garlic Chicken! Crystal and I sure smelled yummy! The flight back had some turbulence but wasn't too horrible - we were just so happy to have made it home! We were like zombies walking all the way back to the car! Going back to work on Friday was exciting to share with the team but I could hardly keep my eyes open from working a 16 hour day and being up for 20 hours!

Leaking Roof

So last week when I got off of work and was about to get into my car, I noticed water all over my steering wheel, seat and floor of my car! I checked the sunroof and the windows but couldn't figure it out. There was water dripping from the ceiling! At first I thought something was wrong with my windshield but there was inches of water sitting in the ceiling. There is about two inches of space between the ceiling and the actual metal/glass of the roof. The majority of my roof is glass but I couldn't see anything wrong on the outside. I had to pick up Elli but as soon as I moved the car a waterfall came down all over the front of the car and me! I was SOAKED! I could squeeze the ceiling material and water would come gushing out! Thank God that Angela was nice enough to come and help me wipe all the water up before my drive home! She even gave me a hug since I was crying I was so upset! Well it turns out that the sunroof's seal isn't really a tight seal and there are drains that are supposed to drain the water...apparently the drains can get clogged which causes the water to back up in the ceiling! SERIOUSLY?!?!!? This is a normal problem with Land Rovers? I really just paid that much money for a car that can leak? I was just getting to the point where I was over the hate for the car and just dealing with it - until last Wednesday. I HATE this car! All anyone has ever paid for with Land Rovers is the name - there is nothing great about this car that is worth the money they charge! Our Chevy is hands down a better car! We are on the hunt to find a sedan at this time and just rolling over our negative equity into the new loan. I just can't stand paying for something I hate! I just hope we can find a dealer to work with us and a car that we will love - since we may be going down to 1 car soon!

Elli's 1st Ever Zoo Trip

In June my cousin, his wife and their daughter all came down here to WA to visit for a week. We got to meet up for dinner one night at aunt Nancy's and it was fun to watch Elli interact with Della! They live in Alaska and we hardly ever get to see them so it's always a treat when we do!

Kent, Breea & Della

Della and Elli playing in the yard

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa with the girls

On June 23rd Elli got to go on her 1st trip to the Zoo. My mom, dad, Grandma, Grandpa, aunt Mardel, uncle Tim, Kent, Breea and Della all went to Woodland Park Zoo for the day. I had just found the most perfect zoo outfit at Old Navy for Elli and was a little sad I wasn't able to get the day off of work to join them! Elli had a wonderful time though seeing the animals and spending time with family. At the entry to the zoo Elli made friends with a little 4 year old boy, he was so cute he gave her a kiss on the top of her head to say goodbye! She is so very social,  I love it! Since Great Grandma got a wheelchair, Elli enjoyed holding hands with her while they were strolled together. My mom of course made sure to get a lot of photos for me! She even got a photo of Elli and Della on the big hippo statue for me! My mom said that after one diaper change at the zoo she changed Elli's outfit because it was too difficult to get on and off! At least she looks cute in whatever she wears! Some of her favorite things were pushing her own stroller, the bolts in the barn, and any statue. Elli was a very good girl the whole day even without a nap - she definitely crashed out on the drive home though!

Getting ready to enter the zoo!

She made a friend at the entry gate

Enjoyed holding Great Grandma's hand

Mommy's favorite - the hippo!

Would rather walk than be in her stroller

Really liked banging on this ball

Such a big gorilla hand

Such a Grandpa's girl

Didn't want to cooperate for a photo

Another fun statue

All she wanted from the Zoo Store was a poster

A wonderful day at the zoo!

Elli's 1st Birthday

Wow have I been neglecting my blog!! I'm very sorry! Hopefully it doesn't happen again! I'm going to try and play catch up here so that I can look back in years and remember what happened. :) Let's start on Elli's Birthday!

In July we celebrated Elli's 1st Birthday! Oh what a year it has been! It has been absolutely amazing to watch her grow every single day! Each day brings something new that either we learn as parents or Elli has learned. She is an extremely animated little girl, she loves Max like he's her best friend, she is very social and will go to pretty much anyone, she is a great eater, she is very independant, she loves to dance, she loves shoes (thanks to Grandpa), she likes to figure out how things work, and she is obsessed with reading! I look forward to seeing her continue to grow & learn and become even more like Ray & I!

We had Elli's party the weekend before her actual birthday because we had a lot of other things going on in July. We had her party at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, hoping it would be a nice day and it was perfect! Ray and I dropped Elli off with auntie Jess and then got to the park at 11:00 to get a grill, tables and start setting up for the party at 2:00pm. She had a wonderful turn out of friends and family, we are extremely blessed! We served hamburgers, hot dogs and all the sides with help from Rhonda & Olga! We got Elli her own cake to eat along with a Winne the Pooh cake for all her guests. I heard the cake was great - I was too busy to have a slice! After she made a mess with her cake I took her down to the water to clean up. We then came back up and did presents - again what a blessing! Her biggest gift was from Grandpa Randy - he made her a cedar toy chest that will be part of the rest of her life! She got puzzles, books, little people house, camping chairs, toy pony, Violet (she deserves another blog), and many more toys! We had a wonderful day celebrating and were so thankful for all of those that showed up! We were a little tired that night....

She absolutely loves her hippo camping chair!

On Elli's real birthday, a Thursday, Ray and I both took the day off to spend the day with her. We met up with Jess, Steve & Isaac and went to the Woodland Park Zoo. We had a wonderful time seeing all of the animals and being with our best friends! We got to see some monkeys up close, as well as a hippo that even made a hippo noise! Of course that was my favorite! :) I think Elli's favorite part was getting to walk and push her's or Isaac's stroller!

After a long day at the zoo we had to hurry home through traffic to meet our family with dinner and cupcakes. My parents, Rhonda, Randy and Shawna all came over that evening for Subway sandwiches, I know not exciting but I haven't even mentioned that I was catering cheesecake for a wedding, so Subway was the best I could do! We had a wonderful evening enjoying Elli, watching 'Yo Gabba Gabba' and of course opening more gifts!

We truly had an amazing few days celebrating our perfect little girl! Even more crazy to think how much she has grown since her birthday! I know that her 2nd birthday will be here before we know it!

Vote For Elli to Be The Next Gerber Baby!!

Hey all! Gerber is having a new contest to be the next Gerber baby! I've entered a photo of Elli and would love your votes! Thanks!

http://www.gerber.com/photo/?entryid=4407&/#/detail/

Cannon Beach 2010

Ray and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary this year! Wow time sure does fly by! We got to spend our anniversary back in Cannon Beach and it was wonderful! We drove down on Monday and arrived around 3pm. We stopped at the spot on the beach we got married and took photos first. It was amazing to be back there and have Elli there! We checked in early and got the same room we had when we got married! So much more special to have Elli there this time! The weather wasn't too sunny but we went out to the beach anyway so Elli could check it out. She seemed to enjoy it. That night for dinner we tried a place we hadn't gone yet, The Driftwood Inn, and it was ok. It was dead when we arrived but that was ok since we had the stroller with us. Our server adored Elli and Elli loved pointing at her...she started a trend with that I think. That night Elli and I enjoyed the Jacuzzi tub together. She sure loved the bubbles!

On Tuesday it was raining a little in the morning so we took a drive down to Tillamook. We got some great photos on the way down and had fun at the cheese factory. It was amazing to see how the process works there. We bought a few things there and then started the trip back. Elli enjoyed sleeping in the car both directions. It rained most of the day still but we had lunch at a little pizza place and then walked around in the rain and did some shopping. I got Elli an adorable sign from Bruce's Candy Kitchen that says 'Dance Yourself Silly'. Dancing has become her new thing and she looks so cute doing it! After shopping we took a nap in the room. We had a wonderful dinner that night at Morris' Fireside, this is where we had dinner after the wedding. We both got a cup of their AMAZING clam chowder but by the time I got my food I was so full! My dinner was $26 though so I didn't want to waste the fish! That night I enjoyed the Jacuzzi tub all to myself! :) Then we watched 40 Year Old Virgin.

On Wednesday it was icky weather again so we went and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Pig'N Pancake! Elli ate lots of fruit, I had Eggs Benedict and Ray had a sausage griddle meal. So yumm! We did a little more shopping after breakfast and then we ended up going into Seaside to check out the aquarium. Well, the aquarium was definitely small and not really worth the amount they charge. Elli enjoyed pointing at all the animals though. After that we went back to the room and Ray and Elli napped while I surfed the web and thought about getting my hair done, but never did...Once they woke up the wind had died down and the rain stopped for a bit so we ran out to the beach again. That night we had dinner at Bill's Tavern which was really good food but not the best service. Elli was also tired and I think done with eating out and was a little cranky so we were happy to get back to the room. Ray enjoyed the Jacuzzi tub that night.

So on our last morning we got up early and went out to the beach while the sun was out. It was nice to end the trip on the beach! It was a long drive back home but Elli was a good girl for most of it. It was a wonderful and relaxing trip away and we so look forward to the years to come we get to spend there!