The Alsups

Monday, October 12, 2009

Train Day 2009

This past Saturday was Train Day at the Gaddes' house. Mr. Gaddes has 2 trains~1 steam locomotive and 1 diesel~and a track that he built around his backyard. He and his wife invite all of the kids from church over every fall to take a ride on the trains and enjoy good food and fellowship. We all had a great time!

First Haircut

Ella Tate had her first haircut on October 1st. She has been needing it for a while, but I was determined to wait until she turned 1! It was getting pretty shaggy, so I decided to get her a trim the day that I was getting a trim. She did great and sat very still. Thank you, Lauren, for coming along with us and enertaining Ella Tate while I got my hair cut.

One motivator for getting haircuts was Sara and Ryan's wedding! It was in the courtyeard at the Schemerhorn Symphony Hall and was absolutly GORGEOUS! The weather was perfect, the bride was beautiful and Ella Tate made it through the entire ceremony without any major meltdowns! (I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few.)

Ella Tate couldn't take her eyes off of Sara...I think she was thinking about how pretty she looked!

My dad did the ceremony, so my mom was there, too.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

And A Happy Birthday It Was!

We began the birthday festivities on Friday morning by waking up Ella Tate with a birthday banana! She was not real sure what to think of her mommy and daddy walking in her room singing "Happy Birthday", as you can see in the picture!

Then, Hunter, Ella Tate and I went to eat breakfast at the Pancake Pantry. Ella Tate loved watching all of the people and Hunter and I loved the food!

Our family trio. (We took this picture ourselves, so that is one reason why Mommy looks so scarey...we don't need to discuss any of the other reasons!)

Nana and Pop came into town on Friday morning and brought Ella Tate this sweet table and chairs from the family for her birthday!

Opening presents from Mommy and Daddy

"Happy birthday to you"

Eating the first of MANY birthday cakes!

On Saturday we celebrated with all of my family. We had a really fun time, but we missed Aunt Rachel, Uncle Jeff, Anna, Olivia, Shannon, Campbell and Colin

My sweet 1 year old!

Uncle Stephen with Ella Tate and Truitt

Nana, Ella Tate and Pop

Stephen, Ella Tate and Hayley playing the piano.

"Happy Birthday to you" again

Daddy, Ella Tate and Mommy

Trying to get Ella Tate to try her cupcake

and it didn't take long!

Zach and Ella Tate

Uncle Phillip, Truitt, Ella Tate and Pop

Sweet cousins

We continued the birthday celebration all through out the week and into the next weekend! (You only turn 1 once, right?!) Here she is opening a present from Avery, Harper and Reese Bennett.

It was a "play" purse and she LOVES it!

Next, we had a "friend" birthday cookout and party on Saturday night. Ella Tate got so many nice gifts and we had a great time with all of her kid and grown-up friends!

Here is her birthday cake and it was SO cute and delicious! Kelly Santel made it...check her out at http://www.kellyskakes.blogspot.com/.

Mommy with the birthday girl

Ford, Grayson and Ella Tate playing outside

Ella Tate and Emma in the bouncy house that we borrowed from the Guthrie's~thanks SO much!

Ford kicked back in Ella Tate's chair

"The cutest birthday girl? Who, me?!"

Mommy and Ella Tate with your "aunts", Lauren and Carrie!

Another "Happy Birthday to you"

Ford wanted to try a little of it

She looked like she had had enough cake!

Max and Emma patiently watching Ella Tate open her presents

Me "ooo-ing" over the frame that Katie made with one of the pictures she took!

Is this all mine?

And last, but not least, on Sunday, we celebrated Ella Tate's 1st birthday for the last time with Hunter's family. Some were here in Nashville and others drove some Sparta to celebrate with us. We had another wonderful time!

The same girl who made Ella Tate's cake for the party on Saturday made the one for Sunday. It was just as cute and delicious as the first one!

Showing everyone her new walking skills

Gran Gran, Ella Tate and Poppa

And for the last time "Happy Birthday to you"!

Relaxing in the rocking chair that Gran Gran and Poppa gave her

We almost had WW III on our hands over this stroller (that Sandra, Steve and Hilary gave her), but Ella Tate and Mary Elizabeth ended up sharing it very well!