Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,

Ben, Jenna, and Elyse

So I am going to be "that person" who doesn't send out a Christmas card this year so please accept my apologies but this lovely blog post as our family update from 2011.  And what a year we have had!

Our first year of official parenting has been fun, exciting, and challenging but SO SO SO worth it.  Elyse is the joy and love of our lives and brings us so much happiness.  At the beginning of the year she started going to daycare, much harder on Mommy than her, but the transition to being full time working parents was easier than we thought.  We are lucky to have a VERY good baby!  We get to bring her so many places like the ski hill to watch Daddy ski, to Colorado and Pennsylvania to visit family (she's flown a total of 4 times just this year!), on long runs as Mommy and Daddy trained for the half marathon, boating on the bays, swim classes at Great Wolfe Lodge, and overnights to Grandparent's house to allow Mommy and Daddy an adult night out. 

Elyse definitely keeps us on our toes!  We've finally had to baby proof the house as she started crawling at 9 months and walking at 11 months.  Elyse even learned about tools from watching Daddy and his friends build an amazing garage for our house!  She continues to chat up a storm now saying "thank you" and "i get."  Right now she loves to color, play with her baby, and harass Aspen (poor kitty).

2011 has truly been an amazing year filled with so many wonderful memories and we feel so grateful and fortunate to share those with our family and friends.  Be sure to keep up to date with us on our blog as 2012 is already shaping up to be a fun year!

Have a great holiday and wonderful 2012!

Love,

The Belyea's

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas!



Halloween

Halloween 2011 Elyse went trick-or-treating for the first time, dressed up and got to play with her friends.  She was so cute!

Snow White

Yep, I dressed up too.  I mean how many more years am I going to be able to do this?! :)

With Red Riding Hood (Isaballe) and Owly (Quinn)

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All the babes and moms

Colorado 2011 Visit

Right after Elyse's first birthday (pictures still to come) we hopped on a plane to visit Tara and Nick in Colorado with Nonni.  It was amazing weather in Aspen and we really enjoyed the pretty scenery, shopping, food, and spending time with Tara and Nick.

Luckily for us Elyse was in a super good mood to pose for many pictures!

My Favorite!  Tara says she is thinking "I'm going to climb that mountain someday."  Not if I have anything to do with it :).

All bundled up and looking stylish.

At the Maroon Bells

With Aunt Tara



My baby and me

Aunt Tara, Nonni, Elyse and Me

Diva Attitude...

At Snowmass Creek

Snuggling with Nonni

Hamming it up with Uncle Nick on our hike.

Cheering on MSU!  They defeated Michigan, GO GREEN!

Happy Birthday Elyse!

You are the laughter that fills our house, the snuggle that calms our minds, the mess that makes our house a home, the accomplishment that fills our hearts with pride, the noise that fills the quiet room, the chase that makes us run around with smiles, the reach that gives us purpose, the wild that gives us energy, the hug that washes all worry away, the calm that reminds us to just breathe, the cry that nurtures our hearts, the dream that came true, the best parts of both of us, the reminder of our love, the window to our souls, the completion of our family....

You made us the best versions of US.

You are our daughter!

 

Happy Birthday to the greatest thing that ever happened to us!

New Stuff

New stuff going on in the Belyea Household:

Elyse loves to play dress up in all of her clothes but she is almost too big for 12 months already!

Elyse is walking!  Everywhere, anywhere, as fast as she can!

And our backyard is a mess because the garage is about to be started!  Elyse is very curious to know what is going on that she stood at the back door all night.


Ciao Bella!!!

31st Birthday

I recently celebrated my 31st birthday and since last year on my 30th I was super pregnant, Ben threw me a surprise birthday party with all of our friends.  It was a great celebration and I am so blessed!

But before the party we did have a quick chance to take some family photos!

Elyse already knows how to look at the camera, we've taught her well ;0.

Me and my baby

Photo-Op with Kate, MacKenzie and Rebecca!