Yeah, she finally looks like me!

Ever since Ella was born, most everyone would tell me that Ella looks "just like Brennan". Even my own sister said that Brennan and I need to have another child so the next one can look like me.  As a mother, you want your child to look like you.  However, after time, I got used to the fact that Ella wasn't a Swensen.  She was more Snow, which is just fine.   

About a couple months ago, I was looking though some old pictures looking for Swen's retirement.  Then, I came across this picture.  Of course, I got some hope that maybe Ella does look like me.  Yeah, I finally got my wish.

I knew she got those ears from me.

Bed Head

About a week ago, I heard Ella talking after her afternoon nap.  So, I went in the room to get her and to my surprise I saw the most crazy bed head I have ever seen from her. I know she sleeps on her forehead with her legs under her but, this day I am not sure how she slept to cause this kind of hair.  Classic!

I like to call this one "The Wave"

I am so thankful for....

I just wanted to express to those around me how grateful I am for them.  This past Thanksgiving was very enjoyable.  This year, we had Thanksgiving with my family.  We basically had dinner at my mom's house and just enjoyed each others company.  It was very low key, except of course for cooking.  Anyways, I just want Brennan and Ella to know how thankful I am for them.  They are truly the loves of my life ( even more than Edward).  I am thankful for my family, in-laws, and nieces, nephews, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, basically everyone.  You have all been so supportive to Brennan and me.  Thankyou for all you love and support.  Now, bring on Christmas...

GO UTES!

I just wanted to write and personally thank the Utes for beating BYU.  If any of you don't know, today @ 4:00 MST the Holy War began. It was a pretty intense game until the 2nd half.  Then Utah just began to make some really good interceptions and converting on 3rd downs.  The final score was 48-24.  Anyways, like I said thank you Utah for beating BYU because now I will have a happy husband...   Good Luck, which ever bowl you go to!

                              

Rubba Dub Dub, Thanks for the TUB!

Not only is bath time my favorite time of the night but, it is also Ella's.  She is such a scheduled child that if she doesn't get in the bath around 7-7:30, she will get super cranky and crawl towards the tub wanting us to put her in.   So each night, our routine is to take her in the bathroom, she watches as we fill the tub, then we go in her room and get her ready, put her on the floor, and then she excitingly crawls to the tub.  She loves it.  I had to post this because, I think it is so funny to watch this little body cruise as fast as she can to the tub.  

Go..Go..Go...

  

 

All Smiles :)

Better late than never!

Sorry about the very belated Halloween pictures.  We had a little accident and the pictures were erased from the camera.  I went to post the pictures, but Brennan thought they were his mountain biking pictures that he had already uploaded, so he got rid of them.  It is a good thing we only have one child, because that way we could get her dressed up again on a random day and do a "retake".  If we had more children, Halloween '08 probably would have to be just a mental picture.  In any case, the Snows had a wonderful Halloween.  We did what we have done the last 10 years, or so...we went to Reef Pace's mom's house and did some pumpkin carving followed by a Halloween party.  It was a lot of fun.  But what I enjoyed the most was my little bee.  Ella was a bee for Halloween.  She looked so dang cute.  I was surprised she actually kept the antennas on her head.  That's what good bees do...

Once again, sorry for the late pictures.  I'll be the one in charge of erasing pictures from here on out....

p.s. in regards to the poll from the last post... I just got them all made up and am enjoying all of them.  Too hard to decide. Thanks to those of you who voiced your opinions. 

Pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere...

For years, I have wanted to have a child at Halloween time.  In the past I have loved walking into stores and seeing all the adorable costumes and halloween goodies.  All I needed was a cute little one to share in the fun with me.  Well, my time has finally come!  I also have always wanted to get pictures in a pumpkin patch.  So this year, Brennan and I took Ella to Wheeler Farm to take some pictures.  She absolutely loved being put on the dirt ground free to roam.  She loved the straw, the pumpkins, the dirt... she just loved the whole experience.  We took a few pictures.  You see, I have this frame and I really want to put a pumpkin patch picture in it.  But I am having a hard time deciding which one is the best.  So I need your help.  Which one do you like best?  Please help me decide...  

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Crocodile Hunter

As many of you are aware of, and if your not, Brennan was very fond of the late Steve Erwin, a.k.a The Crocodile Hunter.  He wished during high school that he could do all the fun and exciting adventures the Steve Erwin did.  We even went and saw the movie.   Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to swim the swamps looking for crocs, or picking up the worlds deadliest snakes yet...  However, he has a daughter that took up his desires for croc hunting and lizard eating.  She is a natural at it.   Now Bren just has to teach her how to eat and survive on these creatures like Bear Grylls.

                         

                                            

      She's not scared

                                            

                                            

Cake Work...

                                             

                                            

Fall, the best time of Year!

I absolutely love the fall!  It is honestly the best time of the year.  The weather is warm, but not too hot.  You can wear a sweatshirt and capris, or long pants and a shirt.  And the leaves... need I say more?  The chill in the air at night, football season...(Go Utes! #14), being able to be outside during the day and not sweat, Halloween, my husband's birthday, and our anniversary.  What a great time of the year it is in Utah.

This past Monday for Family Home Evening, Bren and I decided to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon to look at the beautiful leaves.  Brennan went mountain biking a few weeks ago, and he said the leaves were nice then.  Well, the leaves were even prettier this past week.  If you live in Utah, I suggest you take a drive up one of the canyons.  It's amazing! 

I've never been tagged...

9 T.V. Shows I watch:

1.  Channel 2 News

2.  Big Bang Theory

3.  How I met your Mother

4.  The Unit

5.   Mad Money

6.  Amazing Race

7.  (Any) night Football

8.  CSI (Original)

9.  (Would like to start watching) The Office

9 of my favorite restaurants:

1. Market Street Broiler

2. Cafe Rio

3. Z Tejas

4. Cancun Cafe

5. Paradise Bakery

6. Citrus Grill

7. Aristo's

8.

9.

9 things that happened yesterday:

1. Showered and got ready

2. Watch Morning Conference

3. Made breakfast 

4. Took care of Ella

5. Took a Nap

6. Made Lunch

7. Watch afternoon Conference

8. Went to my Mother-in-laws for dinner

9. Did the nightly routine with Ella

9 things I am looking forward to:

1. Halloween

2. Thanksgiving

3. Christmas

4. Ella's first birthday

5. Moving someday

6. The Beach

7. Owning a home someday

8. Snowboarding this year

9. Going to Europe (again)

9 things on my Wish list:

1. My own house

2. XC 90

3. Moving to Europe (England)

4. Brennan having a great job that he LIKES!

5. Getting rid of that nasty last bit of baby weight

6. a beach house (a little Extreme)

7. A new Mac Laptop

8. That my entire family will always be happy

9.  Decked out home Gym

9 People that I tagged:

1. Mares

2. Brynnly

3. Meg

4. Margaret

5. Erika

  6. Ashley

7. Natalie/Morgan

8. Kasia

9. Wendy/Latta

Our 7th Anniversary!

You know, it's always funny... Every year on the 28th of September, I call my mom and tell her these exact words, " I told you this was the most beautiful day of the year."  With out fail, since Brennan and I got married on the 28th, 7 years ago, it has always been the most gorgeous day.   The leaves are just beginning to change on the mountain side and beginning to look like a patch work quilt,  the weather is always a nice temperature, and it is always sunny.  I honestly love the 28th of September.  Another reason why I love this day so much, is because I got to marry my best friend.  I love him so much and I am so glad that we are going to be a happy family forever.  I just want to say , "Happy 7th Anniversary Bren.  I LOVE YOU!"

Happy Birthday Brennan!

Bren,  

SURPRISE !

Ella and I just want to wish you a happy birthday.  You are the best dad and husband.  You make both Ella and me very happy.  Thank you for all you do.  We hope you have a great day. We love you very much! Enjoy the pictures!

I'm a big kid now...

Owen and Ella taking a tub

We had to lower the crib

My pearly whites

There she goes...

"Look at me... I'm a big kid now"

"I will never stay in one place again."

Accomplished !

Summer is coming to an end, and Ella is only getting bigger and bigger.  After she started crawling she decided that she knows it all and started climbing up stairs, chairs and mom and dad.  Ella is also getting very experienced with bumps and bruises.  She doesn't realize yet that with the exploring and climbing, it is bound to happen.  There is nothing I love more than when she gets mad or tired and crawls to my feet and just drops and puts head down and just cries waiting for me to pick her up.  It is very hilarious to observe.   Since the beach, her bottom 2 teeth broke through and now we are patiently waiting for the upper tooth to come in.  They are starting to break through.  As of the 24th she is now 7 months old.  I can't believe she is growing up so fast.   

I am not missing teaching.  In fact, I still feel like it is summer and everyone is still on summer break.  It has been fun the last two weeks just being with Ella and not worrying about school.

Where is time going.

I can hardly believe that it is mid-August and Ella is already 6 1/2 months old.  She had her 6 months Doctors appointment and she now is 27 inches long (94%) and 16.4 lbs (48%).  As you can see, she is a growing girl.  Ella has also picked up a new trait since we have been back at the beach.  Yep, our little girl has begun the dreaded crawling stage (or so I hear of its dread).  She is now into everything.  I feel like I need to pick up everything off the floor and vacuum twice a day.  She has fallen off the bed twice. Needless to say, I have learned my lesson and she is only on the bed with an adult.  One other indicator that my little bundle is growing, we have to move her crib down to the second notch.  I can't believe it, where is time going?

Here she goes...  Crawling all over the place...

Ahh, the beach...

Ella's beard

  Hmm... Good stuff

The Grandkids

Ella loves her cousin Anna

Cousin Owen and Princess Ella 

Crazy Face!

Just like the rest of you, Brennan, Ella, and I went on a family vacation.  Every year, the Swensen family heads down to Newport Beach, California.  We go down for 2 weeks and get to enjoy relaxing, reading a good novel, the water, soft serve, strolling down the boardwalk, and Charlie's Chili.  We get a little piece of heaven for 2 weeks!  It was a lot of fun having Ella there.  It is very different having a child, but we had a ton of fun.  Ella loved the sand from the start.  She is very tactile and so feeling the texture of the sand must have made her day.  She also didn't mind having her face in the sand.  When it came to the water, it was a different story... She did not like it.  Whenever Bren or I tried to put her feet in the water she would lift them up.  It was a very funny site.  When we made her stay in the water she just cried.  It must have been the cold water.  Brennan had a great trip.  We bought him his 4th and 5th surfboard (one is a softy, the other is a fish tale)  The waves were BIG the first week and part of the second so, Brennan got to play on his new boards.  Needless to say it's like a little kid in a candy store.  I enjoyed running in the morning, a great book, and some of my own shopping (H&M).  We had a lot of fun with my family and we are so grateful that we get to go each year.  Enjoy the pictures.