Murder & Mystery?

Just wanted to post a few pictures from this past Friday night - our first ever murder mystery dinner!  Never actually thought we'd do one of these, but it was hilarious and super fun.  We met some new people and got to know some people we already knew a lot better (and on a very weirdly entertaining level).  Thanks to the Osteens for hosting!

Nick as Bob Bucks the accountant and me as Allison, the spoiled daughter.  A good night to wear the ol' 80's dress, no?

The group

The girls

The guys

Ellie is 6 Months Old!

It's so hard to believe that Ellie has been with us for half a year...  This month was a big one for Ellie (check out the video below to find out why!).  Here are some things that we love about Ellie...

1) She's super social... always twisting around to see everyone, always wanting to be held facing out, and always willing to smile... even (or especially?) at a stranger.  She always skips her nap at church but is completely happy anyway because she's surrounded by people!  But as soon as we're in the car, she is 100% sacked out.

2) She's always on the move... She is only still when she's asleep - literally!  She's a major wiggle worm.  At her 6 month check up, poor thing was in the 5th percentile for weight (25th for height).  The doctor said it was because she was a "calorie furnace"... always kicking or twisting or scooting or sitting... always burning those calories.  Need to fatten the calorie furnace up!

3) She's independent... she is usually happy to sit on the floor by herself and play.  I'm really thankful for this!  Sometimes, we solve fussiness by just putting her down :).

4) She knows us... There's not much to say to explain this, but that feeling that she recognizes you is just amazing.  Ellie's not a big sleeper (during the day), and we're still working on extending her naps, but - man - is she cute when we go to get her out of bed...especially in the morning!  That look of recognition when we come in the room brings us both a lot of joy. 

Trip to Colorado!

We just got back last night from a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado!  It was such a good time with our old friends the [tall] Smiths and the Fraziers.  Highlights were the two hikes that we took with our daughters, cooking together, watching the Horns play, and just relaxing.  The lowlight?  Probably driving 14 hours back home to Tyler with a toddler and a baby... and most definitely Ellie's poo explosion near Wichita Falls(yep).  But really, both Saylor and Ellie did a lot better than we expected them to on that long drive!  Let's just say that I'm very, very thankful for Baby Einstein.  :)

Erica, Matt, and Saylor; Erick and Brooke; and the [short] Smiths.

Matt and Nick with the girls on the porch

Brooke, me, and Erica with hiker Ellie.  Ellie did great on our hikes... just slobbered/sucked on her hands and made cute noises the whole time.

There was a wee bit of sadness on the long drive home, but not as much as we thought!