Happy Birthday to You, Mema!

(5: 58 this morning...you were our first thought...well, maybe second after "ELLIE! GO BACK TO BED AND STOP WAKING ME UP SO EARLY!!!!")

Winter Wonderland

SNOW!

Venturing out before the real snow started falling

Making a mini snowman with Daddy

Jaxie gets in on the fun

Ellie throws her first snowball

A visit with neighbor friend Sawyer

Mmm...hot cocoa with marshmallows!

The heavy snow started falling so we were stuck inside. Ellie made good use of the time putting Dan, Lamb Chop, and Pink and Yellow (Lovies) to sleep on the floor and tucking them in. Jaxie "holds Dan's hand" to get in on the snuggling. Ha!

Ordinary Joy

Nothin' Fancy...just good to share. :)

Daddy gets ready to flip Ellie

Whee!

Just woke up and mommy promised to read books by the fire; Ellie is excited

Ellie eats a cookie (at WSP Christmas party)

Ellie at cookie table with friend Kelsey

We Have Arrived

It's official. We have arrived at the terrible twos. Today was pretty much all the proof I needed. Tara came over in the morning and met us for a fun-filled day of shopping. We started with a trip to the coffee shop and then went to the Super Mall. Everything was fine until all of a sudden, Ellie started crying because I said, "Hey Missy? Did you drink Mommy's latte?" (I was smiling, teasing, not scolding, etc). From that moment, I have NEVER seen Ellie act like she did. She WAILED SOOO SOOO SOOO loud in Nordstrom Rack, we had to leave. I thought for sure I might be asked to leave because my child was hurting business. :O I couldn't calm her no matter what I said so we went to the play area hoping to distract her and move on. Ready for this? She lay on the floor kicking and beating fists into carpet (this is like a bad scene from a movie, seriously) and whining. So I said, "Tell mommy when you are done and then we will talk." Tara and I drank our lattes and chatted, all the while Ellie having this tantrum like I have NEVER seen, and the other moms looking at me like I win Poster Mom for Mommy of a Two Year Old. Finally, after what seemed like FOREVER, she quit for a minute so I picked her up, hugged her, and put her in the stroller. Of course, it all started again. Wailing, kicking, swatting the air, etc. I couldn't believe it. She WOULD NOT STOP no matter what I did/said/did not do/ etc. So I told Tara, "Sorry, but we have to leave." I told Ellie that her behavior was unacceptable and if she continued we would go home, so what else could I do? I had to follow through. She cried all the way to the car (people still staring at me) and halfway home until she fell asleep and then napped for almost 3 hours. BIZARRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know what the issue was. She was overtired??? She woke up a bit congested so maybe on the brink of a cold/not feeling well? Who knows! I was just in total shock at her behavior. She is so articulate that we have NEVER had to have a moment like that because we always talk things out. Honestly, I saw a pregnant girl watch us as we were leaving and I literally could see her thinking, "Oh God, what did I get myself into?" On the plus side, while she slept, I was able to get some Christmas wrapping done, read a book, and take a nap by the fire. Another bizarre "this never happens" moment. When she woke up, we had lunch and went to Fred Meyer. Dan was home so we got to spend several hours with him so that was a highlight. And that was pretty much my day. Pretty lame except for the coffee in the morning (mmmmm...thanks Tara!) and the time with Dan in the evening. I am currently roasting my THIRD chicken this evening (making four batches of Enchiladas) and about to paint my nails "Lincoln Park After Dark" while watching a Lifetime Christmas Special. Not a bad way to end the evening in my opinion. :) Sorry no pictures. A) You definitely would not want to see the monster child I dealt with this morning and B) I would REALLY have gotten some stares if I chose Ellie's tantrum as a Kodak moment! Hope your day was smoother than mine. :) Love to All, Ang

Tis The Season

Happy Holidays! Christmastime is such a fun time with a two year old because I feel like this is the first year that Ellie might remember what she sees/experiences etc. Last night, we went to see Santa at Bellevue Square. Ellie was very reluctant to sit with Santa (until Mommy and Daddy joined her) and then just before our turn was through, she turned to Santa and said, "Santa, please you bring me a drink and a cup and candy and a giraffe toy?" She said it really fast like "I better get this in quick in case I don't see him again." It was cute. Then we went outside to Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way. We saw Frosty, two snow princesses, a penguin, a polar bear and Rudolph. The snow machines dropped snow, the drummer boys drummed and Ellie danced to her heart's content. I think her favorite part was when the snow princess gave her a peppermint lollipop. All in all, it was a great time.

Also, I did not get any pictures of our family getting our tree this year (or decorating it for that matter...oops!) but here are some cute ones of Ellie and Jaxie by the tree.

Love to All,

Ang

Ciabattari Family

I Love these:

Moving Out and Moving On

Happy December! So much change is brewing for our little family! First, my nephew was born on November 20, 2008...Nathan Ciabattari. He was born 7 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. He is so cute...like a little Vietnamese version of my brother. :) Mary and the rest of the family are doing well and Olivia is already proving to be a very involved big sissy.

Second, Dan has been selected to be a PIO (Public Information Officer) for Western Washington. This is a specialty position within the rank of trooper. He is really excited and I know he will do great. Make sure to look for him if you watch Western Washington news! :) Anyway, because of this opportunity and the recent hiring freeze in the WSP, we have decided to stay in Western Washington. We have our house officially on the market and hope to sell and buy something a bit bigger, but are also fine with keeping our roots in our little Milton house, if that is God's plan. Spokane is still an option, we've just put it on the back burner for awhile. Third, Ellie is in the "potty training process" unofficially. I have no real clue how to teach her so I am just doing what I think I should to encourage the process. I can honestly say, I am totally at a loss with this one. In any case, here are some pictures of her "progress."

Hooray!

Way to go!

and then we are back to where we started... :)

Finally, no news in the baby department. Please continue to pray that God will bless us with a healthy pregnancy soon!

Lots of Love, Ang