Happy Thanksgiving

On Sunday Brandon and I had our very first Thanksgiving dinner.  Since we are leaving in a couple weeks we wanted to throw a last "thank you" party... and what better way then to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Since Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in Australia, it was fun to share one of our holiday traditions.  We had 12 of our closest friends over to celebrate (there were a couple that couldn't make it unfortunately).  

This was our first time cooking a thanksgiving dinner.  I was a little intimidated by the turkey so I had Brandon be in charge of cooking it.  He used a Jamie Oliver recipe that he found online... it was a citrus recipe, and turned out so yummy.  I have to admit it was probably the tastiest turkey I've ever had.  Well done Brandon!  

Since Brandon was in charge of the turkey I took over the rest of the menu.  I made 4 pumpkin pies, sweet potato bake (turned out so yummy), and 2 trays of stuffing.  Other people pitched in and brought mashed potatoes, veggies, ice cream, rolls and drinks.  There was SO much food.  Just the way it should be on thanksgiving!  If you don't leave feeling uncomfortably stuffed then you haven't experienced thanksgiving to the fullest. 

It was a wonderful night.  We are so grateful to have such wonderful friends to celebrate thanksgiving with.  We love our Aussie family! 

pumpkin pie

Brandon the turkey man

Brandons masterpiece

Ella enjoying some thanksgiving goodness 

Mel and Jacob

Digging in

My wonderful hubby

Maddie stuffing her face

Our Aussie family (minus a few)

We have so much to be thankful for.  :)  Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Ella 6 months

Little miss Ella is 6 months old!!!

Ella 3 months- 6 months 

Check out those long legs! 

A few fun facts about Ella at 6 months:

• Weighs 17 lbs (75th percentile) and is in the 97th percentile for height.  Holy moly we have a little giant on our hands.  
• Has the cutest, chubbiest, long legs in the world.  Which I love to kiss.
• Still sleeping through the night.  yay! 
• When she wakes up in the morning or from a nap she will play quietly in her crib until I come and get her (unless I leave her too long then she might let out a few cries)  
• As soon as she sees me come into the room she gets so excited, and gives me the biggest smile.   It's the perfect way to wake up in the morning.
• Has learned to put her binky in her mouth by herself. This is something we've been working on for the past few weeks. Initially she wouldn't sleep without it, and every time she spit it out she would cry for someone to come put it back in.  Now we just leave a couple extra binkies in her crib, so if she wakes up in the middle of the night she can easily find one and put it in her mouth.  Works like a charm! 
• Is rollin' 24/7... and trying her best to crawl.  She does the stink bug... puts her butt up in the air and kicks her legs. haha...  Hasn't quite figured out how to travel though.  She is one determined little girl!
• Loves peek-a-boo!
• Loves sleeping on her side
• Still eating solids 2-3 times (small amounts) and breastfeeding every 4 hours during the day
• Doesn't like bananas or apple sauce.  Loves pears, apricots, pumpkin, and sweet potato 
•  Will let anyone and everyone hold her.  She is a very social baby, and is happy to have any attention
• Smiles whenever I put my phone in front of her (yep.  I have her well trained)

Going away breakfast

On Saturday I met up with some of my friends from uni for breakfast. I hadn't seen a few of them since my baby shower back in March, so it was a long over due catch up. They also got to meet Ella for the first time. Ella was passed around the table multiple times so that everyone got their quota of cuddles.  I discovered a new trick of Ella's.  Anytime you take out your phone, or a camera Ella will smile!  haha.  I think she is use to her mommy taking a million pictures of her.  Such a little ham!
I had a great time. I'm really going to miss these girls... we've been through a lot together over the past couple of years!

2 weeks until we leave!!!!

Addielle, Ashleigh, Neeta, Georgina, Lauren, Chandra 

Ella loved Neeta.  Best buds :) 

Beach day with the babies

Took the babies to Hillary's beach this afternoon. Ella and Luke had a little play date. It was so nice to get out in the sunshine. Such a lovely day!

nap on the beach

Ronan William Easton

Baby Ronan is here!  My best friend Rachel had her baby on Sunday, November 18 at 5:58 am.  7lbs, 2 oz and 20 inches long.  He is absolutely gorgeous!  Hearing about Ronan's birth made me all emotional thinking back to when Ella was born.  It's such a special experience.  When you get to hold your baby for the first time you feel so close to heaven.  They are so tiny, and so perfect.  The most special experience I have ever had in my whole life.  I'm so happy for the Easton family.  Welcome to the world little Ronan.  I can't wait to meet you! 

   

Life on the coast

With our departure date in a little under 3 weeks, I am trying to soak up as much of this beautiful country (and it's people) as I can before I leave.  I absolutely love Australia, and it will forever be our second home.  We immediately fell in love with Perth when we moved.  It is such a beautiful place.  The beaches are serene and picturesque... You almost feel like you are staring at a postcard of some exotic far off place. The beaches are not over crowded which is a nice change from the US.  You can go to the beach, and sometimes be one of maybe three people there.  The water is a beautiful turquoise color, and crystal clear for snorkeling/scuba diving.  The weather is perfect.  You can go outdoors all year round (Oh how I dread going back to the snow). There are walking paths all around the coast.  Nothing like going for a run and breathing in the ocean breeze.  Living on the coast is the best I decided.  As much as I love the beautiful Utah mountains I think I would trade them in for the ocean any day.    

 I love this beautiful country!!!! 

Happy belated fathers day!

Fathers Day in Australia is on September 1, instead of June 16.  For Fathers Day Ella surprised him with a gift certificate to go in a flight simulator (I know how thoughtful of her).  Brandon initially was a flight major, so he loves airplanes and flying.  Brandon used his gift certificate this weekend, and got to play pilot for an hour... and he loved it!!!!  Ella and I were the passengers.  It was actually pretty cool to watch.  The instructor was quite impressed with Brandon's skills.  

Ella shaking hands with the "pilot"

Ella 5 months

I figure I better post Ella's 5 month stats now because on Wednesday my little baby girl will be 6 months!  Seriously where has the time gone?!?!  Can't believe she will be half a year old.  Crazy!  

A few fun facts about Ella at 5 months: 

• 16.5 lbs (75th percentile)... not sure about her height but she is definitely tall for her age
• She is seriously the happiest baby in the world.  She's my little sunshine. She will "complain" when she is annoyed or wants something but that's about it.... she rarely cries.  
• Doesn't mind her car seat now, which is a nice change 

• Rolling all over the place!  Oh my goodness this little lady won't stay put. haha
• On solids 2 times a day.  She loves pumpkin and sweet potato, and hates apple sauce (I think it's a little sour for her).
• The messiest eater.  She insists on putting her hands in her mouth after every bite and/or grabbing the spoon, so food gets everywhere
• Still breastfeeding every 4 hours during the day
• Takes 2-3 naps a day (usually 1-2 hours long)
• Up at 6:00am every morning.  We call her the "early bird special" haha 
• Goes to sleep around 7:00pm
• She is a very curious baby.  She wants to touch and taste everything!  
• Gets distracted nursing now.  She either swats at my face or tries to grab my phone (I'm usually a facebook/ instagram stalker while I breastfeed).  
• Thinks her daddy is hilarious.  He can always make her giggle (usually by burping in her face... gross)
• Loves to play and splash in the bath 
• (drum roll please)... has FINALLY started sleeping through the night as of a week ago (5 1/2 months).  She still will occasionally wake up around 3:00 but I just go into her room, put her binky in and she goes right back to sleep
• Is very interested in her feet 
• Doing all sorts of cooing and babbling
• Loves to look in the mirror
• Loves cuddling with her bunny when she takes naps

Love this little girl so much! 

Next Challenge dinner

On Saturday night Next challenge had a Christmas party at Duendes in Leederville. Even though I'm technically not working right now, Next Challenge has kept me on as part of the team, and they are nice enough to invite me to all the social events.
It was fun to get dressed up and go out to a nice restaurant... Let's face it that doesn't happen very often when you have a baby! It was great to catch up with friends and have some adult contact. I'm lucky to work with such a great group of people. I'm really going to miss them. :)

Oh and I should mention that we are moving in a month!!!! We leave on Dec 10th! That's so soon! Still having mixed emotions about moving.  Very excited to be close to family, but also extremely sad to be leaving Australia and our wonderful friends here.  Oh life... it's bittersweet.    

Halloween party

Brandon and I had our annual Halloween party on Nov 3.  Since Halloween is an American holiday, and most Australian's don't celebrate it we decided we needed to take matters into our own hands, and show these Aussies how Halloween's done. The night was filled with crazy costumes, treats galore, catch phrase and murder in the dark (my all time favorite).  

My wonderful friend Jade put together Ella's costume.  Before I had Ella I would always fantasize about what costume I would dress my baby up in... I am a huge fan of lady bug costumes on baby girls, and since Ella's nickname is bug it actually was pretty perfect.  The costume turned out perfect, and Ella looked adorable.  Thanks Jade!  

I decided to dress up as a bee to match Ella.  I was contemplating what Brandon should be... then it hit me, "The Birds and The Bees."  haha  it was perfect.  So I got to work on making Brandon's costume.  I bought the mask, added a few feathers, and then glued feathers onto his shirt and shorts.  I completed the costume with some snazzy wings.  I was pretty proud of myself... haha.  It turned out great.  I couldn't stop laughing at  his costume the whole night.  

My little bug

The birds + the bees= one little lady (bug)

Sorry people the sexy pose had to be done.... I mean c'mon we are the birds and the bees!

Here are the goodies that I made for the party.  Oreo truffles (so easy and yummy), and lofthouse sugar cookies (you know the big fluffy pink sugar cookies you can buy in the US).  Click on the desserts to get the recipe.  :) 

It was such a fun night! It's sad to think this will be our last Halloween Party in Perth.  Jade is taking our decorations, and has promised to live on our Halloween legacy! :) 

Family vacation to Exmouth

Last week Brandon, Ella and I had our first family vacation together.  We rented a house in Exmouth with two other couples (one couple also has an 8 month old baby). Our friends drove 14 hours to Exmouth.  Considering what a terror Ella is in the car we decided it wasn't worth our sanity to drive, so we decided to fly and meet them there instead.  We were able to get flights for free with Brandon's frequent flier points. Score! We flew out Sunday morning. Since Brandon is a platinum Quantas member, we got to sit in the business class lounge, and eat a complimentary breakfast before our flight took off.   Ella was a gem on the plane as usual.  She is quite the little traveler now.  This was her 9th flight, and she is only 5 months old!

The house we rented for the week 

Exmouth was a lot smaller than I expected.  It is a tiny town, and in the middle of no where.  You are literally surrounded by outback.  There is one grocery store, one bakery, around 5 restaurants, a couple gift shops etc.   October is the end of their peak season so it wasn't very busy, which was nice.

Overall it was a really nice relaxing vacation.  We went on walks in the morning, spent the afternoon at the beach, and then had BBQ's and hung out in the evening.

Yardie gorge

Exmouth is known for it's beautiful beaches, and for the Ningaloo Reef... Some parts of the Ningaloo Reef have been rated the best snorkeling/scuba diving in the world (even better than The Great Barrier Reef).  Turquoise Bay was beautiful.  The reef is right off the shore. There is a nice currant that runs across it, so you can float down the currant and admire all the beautiful coral and fish.

Turquoise Bay

Ella and Luke best friends 

 Ella had her first experience dipping her toes into the ocean.  The water at Turquoise Bay was a little cold, so she wasn't too excited about it initially.

First time in the ocean

 Ella was such an easy baby to travel with.  She loved being out and about, and looking at all the different things.  She is a very curious baby.  We brought a little beach tent for her, so she would hang out in the shade while we were at the beach, and when she was tired I'd lay her down on a towel for a nap.

Coral Bay

Coral Bay was my favorite.  The water was SO warm.  The snorkeling was good, but wasn't as impressive as Turquoise Bay.

Love my little beach bum

Ella loved the warm water

The girls :)
Mel, Lisa, Lissette

 October is the beginning month of the turtle egg laying season, which goes from October to April.  One night while use ladies were at home with the babies the boys went out turtle watching, and got to watch a turtle dig a hole and lay it's eggs.  How cool is that?!?!  I was a little jealous.  The price we pay for babies.  ;)  Brandon took me to the beach during the day, and showed me some of the turtle tracks and nests.  When we looked out into the ocean we saw at least 5 turtles waiting near the shore to come in and lay their eggs.  They wait in the water until it is dark, so they are safe from predators, and then come onto the beach to lay their eggs.  

Ella loves her baby Bjorn

Turtle tracks (they look really similar to tire tracks)

 It was such an amazing trip, and went by WAY too fast.  This was our last Australian holiday before we move back to the US in December   It was a great way to end our adventure here in OZ.  Love this beautiful country! I'm going to be very sad to leave.

Brandon bought Ella a turtle from the Exmouth airport