Eleanor Turns 3

The last year sure went by quick! Our sweet Eleanor turned three years old on Sunday, though she has been acting three for some time now. She sure has plenty of sass.

To celebrate we met up with my sister Jenny's family, brother Ben, and Aunt Judy and Uncle Kevin at Old Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City. We all ate too much and enjoyed some Olaf cupcakes with our Spumoni ice cream. Eleanor loved the gifts she got.

After lunch we headed over to Discovery Gateway. It was our first time and the girls had a blast.

Sunday morning I had streamers in her doorway and balloons in the hallway. I did the same thing last year and she loved it, so had to repeat it.

All dressed up for church!

Presents! It is so fun to see her reaction to everything.

For dinner I decided to have all her favorite foods: pizza, french fries, apple sauce and rootbeer. She wanted to help with the pizza. 

Eleanor told me for months that she wanted an Elsa cake. I had her look at cake ideas online and she insisted I make an Elsa Barbie doll cake. I think it turned out fairly well. She LOVED it, which is all that matters to me.

Scarlett loved it too!

I decided to do a little Birthday Interview with her and she gave me all her answers without any prompting.

I have to say I sort of teared up when she told me who her best friend was and the answer to the last question. This girl is certainly my daughter! We love her so much and I am so grateful she made me a mommy!

Holiday Greetings 2014

I was excited to send out Christmas cards this year. We got some really cute pictures of the girls with "Santa" (Kevin dressed up in a Santa suit). Sorry we couldn't send a card to everyone, but here is what we sent out.

Greetings! We have had a fabulous (and seemingly quick) 2014 and hope you have too. Time flies way too quickly when you have little ones! Here are a few highlights from the year.

 Scarlett turned one in October and we celebrated with lots of cake and candy. She is so close to walking now and loves to say “tickle, tickle.”

 Eleanor celebrated her second birthday in January with a giant cupcake and Build-a-Bear. She never stops talking (not even in her sleep) and is overflowing with personality and charm.

Kevin changed jobs this year and is now working for a software hosting company based in NYC. He works from home (the girls love that they get to see Daddy during his potty breaks) and travels fairly frequently. Occasionally the rest of the family gets to tag along.

April turned the Big 3-0 this year. She has found a few grey hairs and blames it on our soon to be three-year-old.  

While Kevin was in between jobs we drove up to Bremerton, Washington to visit his family. The girls loved playing with cousins and the fresh Pacific Northwest air. We also were reminded that Eleanor needs Dramamine before driving though winding canyons.

This year we got a membership to Thanksgiving Point, a local venue with museums, animals and beautiful gardens. We go almost weekly, and surprisingly the girls haven’t gotten sick of it yet.

 In June, April and the girls flew to San Diego to visit her parents. They wore the girls out with trips to Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, a Harbor Cruise, the beach and the pool.

While the girls were away, Kevin took a “Boys Trip” with his dad and brothers floating through Hells Canyon and hiking in Washington. Lots of male bonding occurred.

The girls got to experience Las Vegas for the first time in November. We introduced them to Grimaldi’s Pizza and the Fountains at The Bellagio. Though the highlight of the trip for them seemed to be the wardrobe in the hotel room that they crawled in and out of over and over again.

Thank for all the kind words, support, thoughts and prayers on our behalf this year. We appreciate you and hope your holidays are filled with lots of love, laughter and joy.  We hope you know and recognize the Savior’s love for you and our love as well.

Love,

The Andersons

Kevin, April, Eleanor and Scarlett

Scarlett's Growth

Scarlett - 12 Months

My baby is starting to not be a baby anymore. I don't believe I  have a one year old and a two (and a half) year old. My hair is already turning grey. Our Scarlett is seriously such a doll and a happy little girl. We love her so much!

Stats

Weight: 15 lbs 5 oz  (1%)
Length: 26.3 in (1%)
Head: 44 cm (25%)

A few things about Scarlett at 12 Months:

- Says Hi Daddy, Bye, Yay, and sometimes Momma.

- Climbs all over everything.

- Pushes her walker, boxes and chairs all over the house to support her while she walks.

- Stopped nursing day after her birthday and likes milk ok.

- Still pretty much eats everything and anything.

- Loves to play with all her new toys.

- Mostly wears size 3-6 month clothes, some 6 months.

- Has developed quite the scream when her sister tries to take toys away from her.

- Finally has two bottom teeth.

- Loves Minnie Mouse

- Loves music, including "Popcorn Popping" and Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off".

Scarlett Turns One!

Totally forgot to post about Scarlett's First Birthday on October 11, 2014. Oops! Poor second child. We just had a small family birthday party with my sister Jenny's family, brother Ben and Aunt Judy. The theme was Scarlett's Sweet Shoppe and turned out darling, in my humble opinion.

The cake

 Cupcakes for everyone else.

 A few of her gifts.

Musical Numbers and Pin the Lollipop on the Stick.

Scarlett had a blast and totally understood that it was HER day. We are so happy to have family close by to celebrate with. Thanks for everyone who made her day so special!