We are alive!

I can't believe it has been over two months since I did a post. Well I can a little since I finally unloaded my camera and I had nearly 200 pictures and videos on it. I don't have any excuses for taking such a long break. However, most of my free time on the computer has been spent couponing. I started really getting into it in September. I could probably spend a whole post just talking about that but I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that those of you who know me well know how I like to bargain shop, so couponing for groceries was right up my alley. Dustin has become creative trying to find places for all the food and toiletries. We have food stashed all over our pantry, cupboards, and above our cupboards. I would take a picture but unfortunately we left our camera up in Park City this weekend and don't have it.

We don't have too much exciting news to report in the McQuay house. Dustin is crazy busy with work as usual and I am busy chasing after Ella. She has turned into a little girl all of a sudden and she is such a joy. Her personality is really coming out now since she can communicate so much better and she is constantly amazing me and making me laugh. As I posted some of these pictures from just 2 months ago I am amazed at how much she has grown and changed. I apologize that this post is really picture heavy, but the grandparents appreciate it. Anway, here is the a little of the last two months in pictures.


Ella loves when I vacuum and she always gets her vacuum out to help me. She actually just got a toy vacuum for a gift so I am sure she will really enjoy using it.
We debated carving a pumpkin for Halloween because we weren't sure if Ella would even care about it, but we decided to do it and she LOVED it!

Here she is in her butterfly costume before trick or treating.

Ella and Iris trick or treating at the first house. At first Ella was pretty confused, but once she got the hang of it she loved it and she lasted for well over an hour going all over our neighborhood.

We were thinking she wouldn't last very long and didn't bring a stroller. Needless to say Daddy took over to keep us moving.

Obviously Ella did not want to get her picture taken, but I had to capture her adorable outfit. I bought this with my mom and I wanted her to see it.

So Ella is kind of a picky eater, but every once in a while we come across something random that she loves. She can not get enough chili or black beans. This night she ate a ton of beans and got a black bean mustache. She made quite the mess since she decided to forego using a fork and just dig in with her hands.

We had a wonderful thanksgiving up in Park City with my family. Of course I didn't take any pictures of the amazing food my mom spent hours making, but it was delicious. Dustin was having fun running laps with all the grandkids in the house and they loved it. Riley is in front and Josh is in back and Sam and Alex are somewhere too. Dustin is a very loved Uncle.

Ella helped us decorate our tree. She was so excited about it so we just let her do what she wanted. We had a lot of clusters of upside down ornaments. Here is the finished product.

Mommy and Ella in her cute Christmas dress.

Unfortunately this is the best picture we got of just her. She loves to walk toward the camera when you are taking a picture. So cute!

Because we were so excited we let Ella have her Christmas present early. Plus we will be in St. George for the actual day, plus Ella doesn't really get it yet anyway. Just nod and smile with me because we just wanted to rationalize giving it to her like 3 weeks early. She loves her kitchen and this was her playing with it right after she woke up. Don't mind the bed head.

Putting something in the micorwave. It is amazing to see how much she know from just watching me in the kitchen all the time.

Are you kidding me??! Opening the oven with a hot pad? This girl is hilarious!

Relaxing with Daddy and Charlie on a Sunday afternoon. I think Dustin actually fell asleep.

Last week my sister Amy came to our house with Riley to hang out. We made sugar cookies and let the kids decorate some. They loved it, but hardly any sprinkles actually made it onto the cookies. I found them all over the place. Here is Ella thoroughly enjoying herself.

Riley and Ella deeply in focus.

Riley and Ella had so much fun playing together all day. Here they are playing the piano together.

And finally, here is Ella reading in her cute little chair.

Well we have already had 2 Christmases and have one more to go. I will have to do a post to show them all. Maybe my New Year's resolution should be to blog more :) Merry Christmas to everyone!!!