I belive it has been the best two years ever!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Ellery's second birthday! Twenty one of us gathered in our backyard for the hottest day of the year! Of course it was hot since it was the only day we had made plans to be outside. We turned it into a pool party for the kids...with little kiddie pools.

Here is a picture of Ellery with her Rosie cake that I made her.

While the kids played in the pool the adults stayed in the shade.

We went all out for the big day!

Ellery and her car, that's what we gave her for her birthday.

We had hamburgers, hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob and baked beans...yummy!

Thomas pinata.

Opening presents. Ellery still didn't "get it". She would open one then insist on playing with it for a few minutes before touching another one.

Time for cake and singing.

She was so excited that it was finally time to eat Rosie.

Singing Happy Birthday...she liked it so much that she made us sing it twice.

She blew out the candle on her own!

Posing with Rosie.

She wanted to eat Rosie eye balls first.

Reagan decided he wanted to help too!

Eating cake and ice cream.

Trying out Elle's new roller skates that Dr. Moore gave her.

The weekend after her birthday we took a mini family vacation. On Thursday we went to a "day out with Thomas". Ellery got to meet Sir Topham Hat and go for a ride on Thomas. Then we headed into Chicago for a Cubs game and a day at Navy Pier.

We waited in line for over 45 minutes to meet Sir Topham Hat. She was so excited until it was her turn, then she was terrified. So, mom got to be in the picture with Sir Topham Hat!

Time to ride Thomas!

Pretty excited!

Family photo aboard Thomas.

Ellery receiving her "junior engineer" certificate.

Millennium Park in Chicago.

Daddy and Ellery's first trip to Wrigley Field! Big Day!!! Ellery picked out her hat and flag for her souveniers.

We were VERY early for the game. We wanted to go to Lincoln Park Zoo first, but the airshow prevented that from happening...so...we were a few hours early, but Elle was ready to wave her flag!

Hot Dogs, Nachos and French Fries...yum yum.

Jason and his "Chicago Style" Dog!

Running from Mom.

Ellery's first bite of cotton candy.

Hmmm....that's good!

We gave up and let her have her "baby plug" so that we could buy some more time at the ballgame.

We had a ticket for Ellery, but we sold it. So, she had to sit in my lap. She kept trying to coerce us out of our chairs.

Roaring at mommy.

Horrible picture of mommy, gotta love the double chin, but she was being silly.

We made it until the 8th inning, then we decided it was time to head back to the hotel.

Family picture in front of Wrigley Field....some drunk homeless guy was "nice enough" to lay down on the sidewalk to take this picture! :)

Ellery waiting for our car outside Wrigley Field with all her "gear".

Playing in the fountains at Millenium Park with Daddy.

Millenium Park fountains.

I'm not sure which one of these water lovers was having more fun...

Running in Millenium Park.

The "Jelly Bean" in Millenium Park...as Elle called it.

On Daddy's shoulders so she could see the concert in Millenium Park.

Hanging out on Navy Pier with Daddy.

Riding the ferris wheel at Navy Pier.

Check out our hair! It was VERY windy on the ferris wheel.

Navy Pier ferris wheel with mom.

Daddy showing Ellery the jets flying over for the airshow in front of the ferris wheel at Navy Pier.

We had a great time in Chicago. You can probably tell from the pics that Jason and I really fell in love with Millenium Park. Very cool place! Needless to say, it was a whirlwind week and two weekends with the party, her birthday and a long weekend in Chicago!

The BIGGEST news we have...if you haven't heard....is that we are expecting our second baby! I'm 10 weeks pregnant with baby G #2! We actually got to hear the heartbeat this morning at our doctors appointment. So...Ellery will be a big sister in March! I feel different with this baby than I did with Elle...so maybe a boy?!?! Time will tell!