There's lots of interest in the tree and pressies. Note that most presents are now missing bows (if you see the pic below on the day we put up the tree to the time this was taken they are nearly all missing and laying around the house).
To our Irish family--Elli can still fit her Ireland kit!
Ellis got her first chance to help bake cookies last weekend. With a lot of patience and lots of cleaning up, we had a great time. She loved playing with the dough but also loved to eat it. As a side note, whoever thought up frosted cut-out sugar cookies did not have kids, a job or was easily frustrated. It will not happen again in our house!
Baking is fun and really messy!
Elli loves to help with the dishes and this time felt it would be a good idea to also give her hair a wash with the kitchen sponge.
Elli got to experience her first real snowfall on Thanksgiving Day. We think she would have stayed out all day given the chance. She's recently become obsessed with snowmen (she refers to them as "noman").
A quick hug for good luck before heading out to Trick or Treat! Ellis as a lady bug on the left and Charlotte (our little neighbor girl) is the giraffe on the right.
Daddy and Ellis
Here we go! We are armed and dangerous for the big night--blanket, sippy cups, and fruit bites.
Now this is the way to travel while Trick or Treating!
Charlotte and Ellis find a cute little dog along the way to pet.
Ellis and Mommy
Helping Grandpa make sure all the seeds were removed from the pumpkin. And yes, this requires the removal of pants, shoes and socks. They just get in the way...
Helping Daddy clean out his pumpkin. Ellis found this to be so much fun!
Ellis and her new best friend Charlotte, who lives next door, playing in the paddling pool. 
Darren with Charlotte, Aaron with Ellis and Jen (Charlotte's Parents)
Charlotte and Elli giving Stella some love (Stella desperately wanted to get into the pool too!)
Playing the bean bag toss game with Daddy and Lily Hastings
How tall is Elli compared to the corn (are we in Iowa or what?)
Playing with Lily in the corn box (who would have known that dried corn could be so much fun?) 
Ellis kicking back relaxing on a pumpkin drinking fresh apple cider
The Gibbons' Family at the Geisler Pumpkin Farm
Mammy and Daddy take forever to update the Blog, so I have taken it upon myself to do the updating.
Ellis wakes every morning and wants to watch her favorite show "Jacks Big Music Show", and this is why. Her mother is very proud, that she doesn't take after her Dad for dancing abilities.
Taking a few minutes out to play with the air conditioning grate on the wall and relax for a bit on Stella. Ellis has also discovered the door stops and removed them from the back of every door. Such a big helper!
Catching bubbles with Daddy
Catching bubbles in the grass
Giving Mommy a backrub
The big hit at the zoo was feeding the sheep. Elli had no fear of the sheep or goats and freely let them lick her hands.
Viewing the lions with Daddy (surprisingly she didn't bark at them--anything with a tail and four legs is a dog)
Mining for Gems (water makes everything more fun!)
With Daddy at Blank Park Zoo
I'd love to post a few pictures of our new house but I can't find our digital camera. I know it was in a box to be moved but I've never found it. The way our garage looks, I may never find it. In any case, the move went well--and it's over. We're still exhausted 3 days later. We're living amongst more boxes than we care to think about. Darren and I stood looking at them last night wondering how we've accumulated so much stuff (wasn't it just 1 1/2 yrs ago we lived in a small 1 bedroom apartment?). Then we notice how many of the boxes are labeled "Ellis." We love our new home and still can't believe it's ours to keep. We danced in our living room together on Saturday night with the music really loud--because we finally can! Elli has taken to it so quickly like she's always lived there. She's loving all the space and sleeping wonderfully (thank god!). Home sweet home!
I found Elli's winter coat from last year in the back of the closet while packing. She thought it was great and wore it for quite awhile with only her diaper in the house (better than outside in the 95 degree heat I guess).
It's been a big reunion for Elli and her baby things. Her walker and exersaucer have provided hours of fun while we're packing.
We've spent the last 16 months trying to keep Ellis in her bed while she fought it to the end. Now she's trying to climb into her bed herself. Go figure! She's pictured here last night post-bath with her bath towel wrapped around her--this is not one of my fashion concoctions.
No time to get dressed...must read!
Ellis and Grandpa sharing a book (or 20). Elli is mad about books and would spend all day having people read to her. Elli has also become Grandpa's special girl most recently.
Darren's birthday dinner with Ellis, my parents and me.
Sharing chocolate cake and sorbet with Daddy (note Elli is using a fork in each hand to eat).
Chris & Rebecca joined us for cake and champagne!
Ellis now knows how to open the dog food storage container and give Stella food. It's one of her favorite past times. If at any point you don't see her, you can rest assured she's either giving Stella more food or playing in the dog's water.
Darren's Mam Jean and Sister Amanda
Casey and Charlie
Kane and Reece
A few pics of our family in Ireland taken at Darren's Aunt Colette and Sam's wedding a couple of weeks ago. Our nieces and nephews have grown up so much and they are so gorgeous!
Darren had hopes of Elli becoming a paleontologist someday, but I'm excited at the prospect of a famous chef. Look out Food Network, here comes Ellis! This photo was taken by Julie at daycare yesterday. I'm most proud of the fact she's photographed in coordinating, fashionable chef wear.
There were 3 women (yes, I'm including Stella) in the Gibbons' household that were very happy to see Darren come home from Ireland. He spent July 13-17 in Dublin with his family celebrating his Mam's 60th birthday. His siblings planned a surprise party for her and it was a huge success. She was totally surprised by the party AND the fact that Darren was there. Nana G. sent home a new baby for Ellis.