These are a few of my favorite things...

I can't tell you how much Elayna learns and grows when Jake's family from Iowa come and stay in town for a stretch. It's so much fun because they are with us from morning until bedtime for most of the days they are in town, and sometimes someone (or two) stay here. E soaks it all up like a sponge!

Last summer Papa Steve taught 18 month-old Elayna the answer to "What does a skunk say?" She would grab her little nose and say "Peeeeeeee-ew!" so adorably. (This is still one of my favorite things she says. It's so darn cute)

Well, this holiday season when they were back they taught her how to really hug. She now puts her little arms around our neck and squeeeeeeezes (at our request most of the time). I LOVE the variation that G.G. Ruth taught her. A bear hug!! She not only squeezes real tight, but says "Grrrrrrrr!!!!" at the same time. What could be better than that?! Not much.

Here is a (poorly lit) shot of her giving Jake a bear hug before he left for work this morning. We can't get enough of them!

Oh, another new favorite is the word "snickle-fritz," which Ruth also taught her. It was apparently a word that Jake's grandfather (Howard) used to use a lot as a nickname for grandkids. Elayna says it pretty well and if she says it we ask her "Who's snickle-fritz are you?" and she says "GG's snickle-fritz!!!"

We will never run low on the cute, I tell ya. =)