Thank You!!!

Thank you everyone who went out of their way to purchase Christmas gifts for Hannah.  Hannah is a very loved and well thought after little girl.  I can only hope that one day she understands and appreciates each and everyone of you as I do.

I tried to take photos or video of her opening up her goodies on Christmas morning.  I do however apologize if I've missed something.  All though, I do my best to capture photos for you to see, I also prefer to watch Hannah open gifts, without the camera as the middle-man.

*Please excuse the formatting, I'm currently having issues.*

Our first gift to arrive was from Nonna Renee.  A long family tradition for me growing up, was the gathering of children/grandchildren and the making/baking/designing of an Italian cookie called Bucciolatti. 

We devoured these in no time, and Hannah's Italian lineage would be so happy to know how much she enjoyed them.

Aunt Cindy mailed Hannah a beautifully illustrated version of "The Night Before Christmas."  Hannah was so excited because she was granted special privileges to open this gift before Christmas. 

Hannah set forth to immediately read me the story.  Hannah is a book hound and as the photo above shows, she was very excited.  The reading of this book takes part throughout the month of December, but also a new family tradition is reading it on Christmas Eve.








 

Grandpa Willard and Grandma Jean sent us a delicious assortment of caramel popcorn, cheeses, deer jerky, and cookies.  Unfortunately, this is the only photo of us opening this gift.  But not to worry, we've been putting the hurt on all this deliciousness since its arrival.

On Christmas morning, Hannah's first action, was locating, dumping and then opening all of her stocking stuffers. Next, came all of our favorites, the picking of one candy to eat.  Hannah, God bless her soul, picked the largest thing she could find, a M&M candy cane.

Grandpa Brent and Grandma Cheryl must have been talking to Santa, cause they brought Hannah a few items that were on her Christmas list.  The Rapunzel nightgown was immediately put on, and has still been difficult, to this day, to get Hannah to relinquish. 





    





 

When Hannah had the flu last week, she got to watch a lot more Netflix then we normally allow.  Either way, she was on a "My Little Pony" marathon.  Now that the T.V. has been limited again, Hannah now has the ability to use her imagination with her new pony, "Princess Cadance." 

Hannah and I hiked in with Robbie to remove his tree stand at the end of elk bow season.  We went in just before dark, and therefor came out at dark.  Well Hannah's favorite perch is on daddy's shoulders.  Grandpa Brent and Grandma Cheryl, those keen hunters they are, got Hannah this hunter orange hat that lights up.  Next year with her upon daddy's shoulders, she can shine the light for their jaunt out of the woods.










Somebody did good, purple!  Yea!!! Besides pink, purple is the only other color we can get her to wear these days.

I actually got some footage of Hannah opening Uncle Brian, Aunt Andrea, Sydney and Andrew's gift to her.  I tease Hannah, and tell her that her best friend Colter, (who is as infatuated with trucks as Hannah is with princess') will want to play with this toy.  That's a hurdle I'll wait to dill with until the new year.

Ted, Darcy and Jamie, thank you so much for the new addition to our library.  Sorry I didn't get a shot of Hannah holding up the book.  I can assure you we've already read it several times, and mom and dad are always happy to have something new to read. :)

Hannah Rose, what a wonderful memory game.  We all sat down to play this last night, and the game was even challenging for mom and dad.  I love how it is made from natural materials, too.  This will grow with Hannah Nadine for some time.

Santa (AKA - Grandpa Willard and Grandma Jean), brought this beautiful PINK, did I say PINK vest for Hannah.  See the smile on her face, great work!!!

This is the first time I actually remember Hannah specifically looking for the crease in the paper, where the two sides met up. (Upper left photo)  Hannah was very precise and accurate in how she executed opening presents. 

 

Chris, Amy (Mushy), Milo (their black dog) and Otis thanks for the book.  My dear college friends, you have always been so good about getting Hannah books for her birthday and Christmas.  Above and Beyond is all I can say. 

Uncle Aaron, Aunt Francie, Olivia, Rowan, Mason and Eli.  Here's a short video of Hannah opening your gift.  Hannah has begun to color her kitchen, and I bet you can't guess what color she chose first.  Yep, PURPLE!!!  Thank you, this will keep us busy for many hours to come.

Grandma Connie you did well with the beading supplies.  Our little girl loves jewelry and anything sparkly.  Not to mention, Pink and Purple! 

You hit all the right aspects with this kit.  Not to mention this is great hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill central.  Maybe when you visit next, Hannah can create you a beautiful masterpiece.





   

Watch the video to see Hannah open your other gift, Grandma Connie.  On Christmas Eve, I shoved Hannah's feet into last years snow boots, and I wish we had waited to go sledding, or opened your gift sooner.  Every night since Christmas Day, Hannah has been out playing in the snow in her new boots.  You did well, again...You are now known as the "Shoe Fairy."  Well at least in my mind.

(Just an FYI, Hannah doesn't like panties much, so I apologize if someone is offended by some toddler bumskie.)

Uncle Lance and Auntie Jan thanks so much for the dress up clothes.  I have this goal to make Hannah a dress-up trunk one of these days.  Maybe for her birthday.  We are at that age where clothes make the person, and Hannah is such a performer, she needs costumes to match her big personality.

I guess we might have to get Hannah a horse and some cattle to round-up, after all it is John Day.  Until that time, this cowgirl will have to ride her new princess bike.

Papa John and Nonna Renee, thank you for the new big girl bike.  Hannah was hesitant to get on at first, as you'll see in the video below.  But with a little coxing, and constant daddy or mommy touch, Hannah is ready to ride off into the sunset.

Although this gift was the biggest, it was towards the back of the pile of presents around the tree.  Hannah never asked about it, and remained calm all the way until the end.  Every time we go to any stores that carry bikes, she always, and I mean always, reminds us of how she wants a princess bike.  I hope to soon be posting this spring and summer, Hannah's growth and ability to ride her new bike.  :)







Again, Thank You! to everyone who spoiled this little girl and made her Christmas so bright.  Thank you cards to come sometime in January.  Big hugs and kisses from us to all of you.

Family Photos

Our dear friend, Shelley Banks, is in the beginning stages of developing her photography business, Shelley K Photography.  Luckily for us, she needed some family shots for her portfolio. As Hannah soon approaches 4 years old, we have yet to have family photos taken.  So imagine my surprise when Shelley asked if she could shoot our family.  Of course, I jumped up and down, and said yes!!!  The following shots were taken in the afternoon in mid December, on a very cold and snowy day.  Hannah, God bless her soul, was tired and cold, but Shelley was able to capture a few good shots of our family.

Thank you, Shelley!

 

Gingerbread House

Hannah's "Elf on the Shelf", Christopher brought Hannah a gingerbread house kit over the weekend.  It appears Santa must be approving of all the good choices she's been making.  Christoper goes home, to the North Pole, every night to report to Santa about if Hannah has been "naughty" or "nice".  Every morning he seems to be hiding and watching from a new perch in the house.  This morning Hannah found him hanging out in her book basket.  Although Hannah was ill over the weekend, we managed to put together a nice little home.

Christopher the Elf.

Robbie working his piping skills.

Hannah strategically placing all the candy in just the right location.

The finished product!

It's time again, please vote for our little princess. :)

Happy Halloween 2012

 Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween, and enjoyed all the goblins and ghouls that came trick or treating.

 

Here we are in this years costumes.  Hannah is dressed as Princess Aurora from "Sleeping Beauty", and Robbie and I are Charlie Brown and Lucy from the "Peanuts."

The Dog Sitting Vet

We recently watched our friends dog, Emmy Lou.  Hannah enjoyed having her stay the night, most especially the fact that Emmy Lou slept in her room and under her bed.  Just wanted to post a few pics of Hannah playing Vet to Emmy (the very patient, patient).

Vet Hannah making sure the patient was comfortable.  Nothing like a book to help manage the nerves.

 Vet Hannah checking the patients heart and lungs.  Emmy isn't completely 100% sure what is going on.

 Vet Hannah wrapping the patients broken tail.

 Vet Hannah checking other important vitals.

 Vet Hannah applying pressure, and a bandage after giving Emmy a shot.

Emmy Lou saying "Thank God she's done."

Summer 2012 Vacation, Sawtooth Wilderness

Thank you for bearing with me, as these posts not only come few and far between, but also very late.

Our second stop on our summer road trip en route to Red Lodge, MT, was Stanley, ID and the Sawtooth Wilderness.  This area had very few year round residents and was very beautiful.  I always thought John Day was tiny, but we've got little to complain about in comparison to the 63 residents of Stanley.  We spent two nights in the area, and looking back on our trip should have spent at least another.  The Sawtooth Wilderness offers plenty of recreational opportunities.  We spent the evenings at a campground on Red Fish Lake, and spent our afternoons hiking.  

 Sawtooth Mountains, hiking up from Stanley Lake to Bridal Veil Falls.  Hannah's hitching a ride with Daddy.

Hannah was rock climbing, and struck a pose.  I think she was mocking me with her hands on her hips.

 A family photo in front of the falls, but I didn't position the camera correctly.  We got a nice family shot either way.

 Hannah stretching her legs, and hiking along with us on the trail.

 Beach combing at Red Fish Lake.

 Hannah and I saying "cheese." 

Robbie and Hannah hanging out and enjoying the view.

The next few shots are a bit messed-up, as the camera has a few issues occasionally.  None the less, I've chosen to include them and represent our travels anyway.  We did a day hike, to Bench Lake, about 8 miles round trip into the wilderness.  

 Break time, we were starving for lunch by the time we arrived to the lake.  Luckily we had the view to ourselves, just like wilderness is supposed to be.

 This photo reminds me of the quality of some photos I was in as a child.  

 Robbie having us pose for the camera.

Hannah hitching a ride on the way down.  She actually fell asleep in the pack, she was like a limp noodle bopping around in there.

I got the camera positioned right this time.  Much easier to stand behind a sign, then in front of the falls.