Week #51: 5th Wedding Anniversary

This week Mike and I also celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary.   I can't believe I am  married to such an amazing man, who is so very patient, caring, loving, and such a champion for me. It is so incredible to watch Mike transition into his role as daddy to our beautiful baby Hazel.    He is so sweet with her and I seem to love him more and more each day.  Infact, I still get excited when Mike enters a room :)    This year we spent time reflecting on our wedding back on January 14, 2006 over a wonderful dinner at  La Grolla in St. Paul. 

Hazel's first birthday is a week away. Reflecting on this time last year Mike and I were doing laps around the MOA, eating spicy food and expecting Hazel to arrive on 1/10 (her due "guess" date).    

Favorite Things This Week:

• Feeding my toy babies their bottles
• Waving hi and bye 
• Sledding 
• Walking all over like crazy.... bye bye baby hello toddler

Week #50: Car Accident

This week was a bit wild.  We are so blessed that Nana and Hazel are ok after their car accident.Nana's car was totaled but everyone is "A" ok.  Material things are always replaceable.   I have always leaned toward fuel efficient, small cars as I have a bit of a  commute to work.  However, after the accident Mike and I are really rethinking our vehicle  strategy.  In fact we are looking to see if we can purchase a retired tank from the military and drive that around to keep everyone safe and sound.  



We are so blessed and thankful everyone is doing great after the accident!  Thank goodness for seat belts and car seats!!!

Week #49: Ringing in the New Year (2011)

Thanks for the cute outfit Uncle B and Jenny

2011 - Seriously, this is crazy to even type. I can't believe another year has slipped away.  So many great things happened in 2010 and of course to top the list was the birth of Hazel.  We are  looking forward to a wonderful 2011 and can't wait to see what is in store!  We are already getting geared up for the wedding of Uncle Bryce and Jenny in Hawaii later this year.

These boots sure don't stop me from moving around

Favorite Things This Week:

• Staying over night at Nana & Papa's so Mommy and Daddy could go out with friends on New Years Eve.
• Ringing in the New Year - 2011

Week #48 (Part 4): Christmas

This year Christmas morning was the best. It was so great to wake up to Hazel chatting in her crib... carrying her down stairs and seeing her expression when she saw the flower ball pit Santa brought her.   "ou ou ou ou ou ou ou ou" Hazel kept repeating with so much enthusiasm it made us giggle. Nothing could be better.  Did I already say Christmas morning is the best!!!!! Nana's famous cinnamon rolls were amazing!

Christmas morning.... oh so sweet!

Santa still visits Nana & Papa's house because of the believers

Nothing beats getting pulled around in the house on my sled

Playing the piano with Auntie Chris

Music with Grandma Morris

4 Generations

Favorite Things This Week:

• Christmas celebrations
• Hazel is walking like crazy.... bye bye baby and hello toddler

Week #48(Part 3): Christmas Eve

What a  extra special Christmas celebration we had this year since Hazel was here.  It was amazing to see her little face with all the lights on the Christmas tree. She loved spending time with family and friends. 

Christmas Eve

(Spent at the Ray's with Nana & Papa )

Ready for Church and then over to the Ray's

Hazel, Piper, and Ivy playing memory!

"I know that card is here somewhere"

Daddy and Hazel

3 girls in their PJ's loving their ride

Hazel reclaiming her Daddy's legs!

Baby's First Christmas

You have to hold her up to see
The angel on the Christmas tree.
And even though she's still too small
To know the meaning of it all
You watch her eyes reflect the glow
Of colored lights that come and go
And feel her quiver with delight
At every new and wondrous sight.

There's Santa with his jolly face
Beaming from the fireplace.
And from the stocking hanging there
Peeks a cuddly teddy bear.
Bright ornaments and candy canes --
Musical toy, dolls, and wooden trains --
There's just no end to the delights
Spread out for her this night of nights!
 She points and grins from ear to ear
And then she yawns - her bedtime's near!
Dad gives her a kiss and you tuck her away
To rest up for the fun of his first Christmas Day!

~Alice E. Chase~

Week #48 (Part 2): Decorating and wrapping presents

 Christmas is almost here and I just love decorating and picking out what color scheme I am going to use for wrapping presents.  Every year I totally obsess about what my "theme" is going to be. It may seem a bit strange to some but I totally LOVE it!  My mom and Great Grandma got me hooked. This year black/white/red mode.

Week #48 (Part 1): Gearing up for Christmas

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
- Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

Our Christmas Party (take deux).   We had to reschedule our Christmas Party do to the massive snow storm last week.  It was so great that so many people were able to stop by despite the crazy busy holiday season.  We had a wonderful time kicking off celebrating the Christmas season.  We had so much fun seeing all the little ones hanging out and running around together.  Hazel didn't want anything to do with Santa. Santa got a high five but that was it for this year.

Invitation

Beverage Station

Kido Muchies

Food & Muchies

Santa brought "Reindeer Food" for the kids to sprinkle on their lawn  Christmas Eve!

Papa gearing up for the Party!

Character artist- so fun!

 

 

 

Sitting for the Character Artist......

Finished drawing... loving Hazel's lip!

 Adorable Grant with Rudolph's nose done from the face painter

Story time with Santa's Elf preparing for Santa's arrival

Visit for Santa

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy I don't like Santa today even if you sit on his lap

Clinging to Mommy for dear life.. not liking Santa

Mommy & Daddy tell Santa what they want for Christmas

Favorite Things This Week:

• Helping host my first Christmas Party - getting to see many friends!
• Visiting Macy's Santaland "A Day in the Life of an Elf" - Loved every minute of it!
  
• Finishing decorating our house for Christmas and wrapping the presents



Here we go through the Macy's display!

Loving everything about " A Day in the Life of an Elf"

Week #47:Massive Snow Storm

Favorite (or not so favorite) Things This Week:

• Getting sick and throwing up in the car down at St. Mary's when visiting Great Grandpa Walt in the Hospital.  Scaring mommy and going to the Mayo ER.  Good thing Nana & Papa were along to grab a new set of clothes at Target for the ride home:)
• First Christmas Play at school - I loved clapping to jingle bells in the stroller with my friends!  Mommy didn't realize it was a whole school thing and neglected to dress me in cute Christmas attire like my friends. I had fun performing in front of Mommy, Papa, and Nana.Daddy had to watch me on video tape cuz he was sick!
  
• Massive Snow Storm - snow up to the stop signs and having to reschedule our Christmas Party with our Friends. (12-18 inches)
• Walking backwards to get Mr. Lion unstuck

I am in the back row on the right next to Miss Wendy!

Week #46:FIRST STEPS TAKEN!!!!!!!!!!!

 On December 2nd Hazel official took her first steps....5steps in a row 
"WO WO WO"

Favorite (or Not so Favorite)Things This Week:

• First bloody lip (ok so this wasn't really one of my favorite things but mommy felt terrible)
• Decorating our Christmas tree with lights - I can't get enough of the tree mommy creates on our dinner room light either "baBa, baBa" is what I call it.
• Holidazzle with the Boado Family - great to meet their newest addition Brenna

Maddox and Hazel watching Holidazzle

Hazel & Teya

Hazel giving kisses to Teya

Don't know what we were looking at but it must have been pretty cool!