Elves!

There has been a lot of talk about elves in the Benscoter household this holiday season ... First, our Elf on the Shelf (whom we named Rupert) came to live with us. Ellen had a great time hunting for Rupert every morning to see where he decided to hang out after returning from the North Pole where he went to give Santa a report each night. The Elf on the Shelf soon became our favorite bedtime story and the movie by the same name was watched over and over again thanks to our DVR.

Ellen was exposed to more elves when we went to visit Macy's 8th floor display. She loved all of the scenes, but her favorites were definitely the polar bear and dancing pig, the elf whose face was covered in chocolate, the elf with a present stuck on his head, and the elf walking on stilts.

We can't wait until next year when Rupert returns to our house for the holidays and we can revisit A Day in the Life of an Elf at Macy's!

Rupert the elf.

One of EVB's favorite scenes from the Macy's 8th floor display.

Tree Decorating by Ellen

This year, for the first time, Ellen partook in the decorating of our Christmas tree. She observed us carefully hanging individual ornaments on the different branches, but she apparently decided she had a better method ... stacking multiple ornaments in a pile in one special spot. :)

2nd Encounter with the Big Guy in Red

Ellen survived her second trip to visit Santa at the mall ... Like last year, she was all about it as we waited in line. Ellen pointed out all of the toys in Santa's tree and even noticed Rudolph standing next to Santa's chair. When it came time for Ellen's turn, however, she clammed up a bit (just like last year). EVB held it together and managed to sit on Santa's lap without crying (unlike last year), but she was too petrified to say much to Santa other than "thank you" when he gave her a festive coloring book and candy cane. :)

Checking things out from the safety of Mom's arms.

There, that wasn't so bad!

More Milestones for Ellen!

Recently, Ellen has celebrated a number of "firsts" ...

Her first trip out of state: We went to Iowa for my cousin Cori's wedding. Ellen did a great job during the 5-hour car ride and had a blast when we finally got there. EVB loved the hotel (especially the elelvator!) and had the time of her life dancing at the reception.

Ellen's only nap of the weekend: a 20-minute snooze as we traveled through southern Minnesota.

Enjoying a little Subway for lunch in the hotel.

Ellen & cousin Sophia (aka the flower girl).

EVB with Sophia and Gavin.

Her first movie in a movie theater: Ellen and Mommy went to see "Winnie the Pooh" at the Riverview Theater. Ellen was too tiny to sit in her own chair, so she snuggled with mommy. She paid attention the entire time and liked it so much that she cried when it was over!

The photo is a bit dark, but this is the back of Ellen's little head as she anxiously waits for the movie to start.

After the movie, Ellen and Mommy enjoyed some mac & cheese at Noodles & Company.

Her first night in a big girl bed: That's right, Ellen has moved out of her crib and her old room and into a new big-girl room! Ellen has done a great job settling into her new digs while we get her old room ready for the baby.

Ellen's new room!

Ellen all tucked in for her first night in her big-girl bed. :)

Thanksgiving & 25 Months Old

Ellen had a great Turkey Day! We celebrated at Grammy & Grandpa's house earlier in the day and then headed to Omma & Boppa's later in the afternoon for more food and good company. Ellen tried everything on her plate, but she definitely liked pumpkin pie the best!

In lieu of her regularly scheduled nap on Thanksgiving, Ellen took a brief snooze on the car ride from Grammy & Grandpa's to Omma & Boppa's.

Following meal No. 2, Ellen (and her baby) devoured some pumpkin pie. :)

A few days after Thanksgiving, Ellen turned 25 months old. I had originally planned to stop taking the monthly photos once Ellen hit the 2-year mark, but now I think I'll try to keep it going until she turns 3. She's still changing so much that I feel compelled to continue documenting each monthly milestone!

Looking more and more like a big kid!

25 months old and still as goofy as ever!

Halloween 2011

I think Ellen enjoyed her third Halloween! Leading up to the big day, we spent a lot of time talking about pumpkins (she loved spotting pumpkins on doorsteps throughout the neighborhood), ghosts and witches, and making our house look festive with a few decorations. Ellen also practiced saying "trick-or-treat" followed by "thank you" and "Happy Halloween!" to ensure she was ready for the main event.

This year Ellen helped us carve pumpkins and then dressed up as a duck on the big night. We went trick-or-treating at Omma and Boppa's house and then tried to go to a few neighbors' houses once we got back home. Despite all of the trick-or-treating practice, Ellen got a bit of stage fright and wasn't up to actually walking up to people's doorsteps. (She preferred the safety of the sidewalk.) So, she came back home and hand a grand ole time trick-or-treating on her own by moving pieces of candy one at a time from our big bowl to her pumpkin treat bag (or as she called it, her "pumpkin purse").

Pumpkin guts sure feel funny!

A squatting duck with the Daddy, Mommy & Ellen pumpkins.

Happy little duck!

Birthday Party #2

Ellen was lucky enough to have most of her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins help her celebrate turning 2 at a Sesame Street-themed birthday bash. Ellen loved the attention, her Elmo balloon and yummy cake ... And, she received SO many lovely gifts! What a special day for such a special little lady!

Sesame Street cake: courtesy of SuperTarget ...

Cookie Monster cupcakes: courtesy of mom's questionable baking/decorating skills.

EVB got a super-cool Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank from Grammy & Papa. (They also gave her a grab bag filled with all sorts of goodies!)

The Laughlins gave Ellen an adorable baker's set, complete with a hat, apron and oven mitt!

Ellen got a Mickey Mouse Look & Find book (and a fun Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Sing-with-Me CD Player) from the Luke clan.

Great Uncle Jim gave Ellen an awesome cleaning set, so now Ellen has her very own broom! (She LOVES to "help" mom & dad sweep.)

And Omma & Boppa gave Ellen a Fisher-Price My First Dollhouse. (Ellen has been envying the one at their house for ages!)

EVB was a little unsure about everyone staring at her and singing "Happy Birthday" ...

But she soon got over it ...

and enjoyed a piece of cake, which she said was "so nummy-licious."