Holiday traditions

I've been horrible about posting things! Life is busy...good and busy so it leaves me little time to talk about what is going on!

Hagen is just sweet. He is having some issues with his listening skills so I have to make sure and make him look me in the eyes and give him specific instructions. Like this morning. "Hagen, I need you to brush your teeth, put these shoes on, and pick out a holiday book to take to school. Got it? OK, now what do you need to do?" He repeats and slowly does what is asked. He is just like me in that he has a million things floating in his mind and it is hard to concentrate...I get it.

Hazel is walking like a pro now. She has even started trying to run or walk very fast. She is the cutest little walker ever!! She is saying the sound of "H" when we ask her what Santa says. She is also sounding out a "D" when she sees Dapper, but that is pretty much her extent on talking. I'm sure she is going to be talking our ears off soon enough so we will just wait. She also just popped her 5th tooth!

I wanted to make a list of some of our holiday traditions and talk about some new ones we have going on!
1. Kirby our Elf has been here since Thanksgiving night. I'm not sure if Hagen cares this year to be honest. He likes to look for him in the morning and then when I say "Hagen, Kirby saw that" if he is up to no good he just kinda shrugs it off.

2. I love decorating the tree every year! I like to see our ornaments from the years past. To be honest I stress out about the yearly ornaments every year! This year I couldn't find a salt dough person. People kept saying for me to make them...they don't understand that these look like homemade, but not like crap...they are detailed and just not something I want to do. Hagen's this year is Batman and Hazel's is a little girl in a Christening gown.

3. Christmas Eve we are having my parents over to our house. We have decided that Ryan will smoke a brisket, Mom will make her famous cheese soup, and I will put baked potatoes in the crock pot and have some snacks. We don't want to be cooking all day...we just want to chill, drink, and eat. I can't wait and honestly love spending the day with my family and my parents...it is calm and relaxing.

4. Hagen is already excited about putting out reindeer food for Santa and the reindeer.

5. OK, people will be so jealous on this one. My parents give us money for Santa. They pay for Santa's gifts. So basically we don't spend money on the kids because Papa and Pia do it! They tell us to go shopping for the kids and they pay for it. It is wonderful!! Then they get things for the kids that they need or just stuff they want to get them. It is not that exciting sometimes to be honest. It's not like they give them the toy of their dreams...but they don't care. They want Santa to be the true hero. I just can't wait till the day to say, "you know all those fabulous gifts Santa brought you? Your Papa and Pia are the true Santa's". Of course it will be when they are way older...I can't wait to help Hagen and Hazel out with Santa when they have a family of their own...it means so much!

6. Our Santa gifts are all unwrapped and displayed. Most are out of the box and put together. I HATE having all the wrapping, twist ties, boxes, etc. Nice to have them all ready to play with!

7. Ryan and I skip gifts for each other. We are just so opposite that it is stressful. We do things throughout the year and would much rather focus on the family. BUT we have a new thing this year. Ryan will take Hagen to Target with $50 and tell him to shop for me...anything he wants to get me. I will then do the same for Ryan. I can't wait to blog about what he picked out!! Could be hilarious...

8. This year is Ryan's mom to have us for Christmas Day. I have a great time and love his family, but it is so hard to not have the holidays like you grew up knowing. It is sad that my parents will be alone on Christmas Day (My brother will be in NC with his wife's family). But it is good that on the year that we DO spend Christmas with my parents is when Adam's family is in town and is there too. I think that is one of the hard parts of getting married is switching holidays...Ryan and I started doing this when we started dating...

9. So my Dad gets envelopes with $100 in each to hand out to strangers that look like they could use some help. I have decided to do this also and can not WAIT to do so! Honestly, if you have a little money to spare this holiday season, put a chunk in an envelope, drive to an area that is needy, and pull over and hand an envelope that says "Merry Christmas" to a stranger...there is no feeling that matches it. Make sure the drive away and not look back...you will feel wonderful.

That's what I can think of for now...
TATA,
Carrie

Thanksgiving 2011!

What? I know...I am a terrible blogger!!
This year we spent Thanksgiving at my brother Adam's house. We fried 2 turkeys and everyone brought over a side and an appetiser or desert. I can honestly say that it was the most stress free Thanksgiving to date!! The kids eat first and then go watch a movie and then the adults eat. Hazel took a rest while we ate so it was relaxing.

Of course, wherever the festivities are there is a path of destruction that is made. The boys and Emily really got into all the toys and they were strung out all over the house!!! We had to make sure that the toys were kicked the the edges to make sure we didn't step on them and break our necks!!

Hazel sported 2 pony's for the first time. Not sure if I like it. Kinda looks like Shrek to me...not her, the hair. In the picture above she is VERY sleepy. I had just woken her up from her winter nap and we were about to head home.

The boys are at such a fun age! They love playing together and are SO.LOUD. BUT that is what cousins do. I wish they remain the best of friends forever. They truly love each other, but also get on each other's nerves!

I am so thankful...just with everything. I have a wonderful hubby, beautiful and healthy kids, a fabulous job and work schedule, a comfy house, and the best family and friends I could wish for. I just feel so blessed and thankful for everything that my life has turned out to be. Except my little boobs and saggy rear...but I will take that.

Tata,

Carrie

Hazel is 1 year old!

I'm not going to do all that "how did the time go by so fast" crap...but it's true...
Sweet Hazel Grace, you are 1 year old! It's actually a few days past your 1st birthday but you didn't have your 1 year well check until last night and I wanted to put that in this post.

Your brother loves you so much! Loves to kiss you...hug you...put things on his head so you walk to him to get it. Yes, you are walking! Not all the time, but you can if you want to. I swear you will be walking around to anyone and everyone and then I come in and you plop down because you know I'll scoop you right up...very true. You are like my ventriloquist doll...always on my side.

For your birthday party we had the family over for Rudy's BBQ and some Bundt cakes. You weren't so sure about your cake but you played with it for a bit. You got some cute outfits, some toys, and a silver cup and silverware. The outfits you got were DARLING! One of MY favorite gifts you got was a journal that Pia wrote for me. When I was going through some PPD I was stressed out about not having your baby book as updated as Hagen's. Mom said not to worry...now I know why. She started a journal months before I found out I was pregnant with you! Talking about having another baby, all the way through all of your firsts, your weights at Dr.'s Appointments, her feelings for having you in her life, etc. It is honestly one of the most special gifts I have EVER received!!

Some things to note about your first year:

• You take short naps at school, but your teacher hands you some board books to look at in your crib and you are quiet so your friends can sleep


• You started wearing shoes...I am a firm believer in no shoes while learning to walk...but with it getting colder I need something to keep your socks on


• You have 2 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth


• You have been off bottles since you were about 10 months old


• You transitioned to Whole Milk this week and have had no issues


• You still have your giraffe paci for nap and nighttime...I am wondering when I should cut that out. Never had to do it with Hagen as he was not a paci baby


• I love putting your hair in a pony on top of your head...I will not cut bangs...I will not cut bangs...I will not cut bangs...


• You love your bunny chair and Hagen's puppy chair...you tackle, love on it, give it kisses...etc. Best baby gift ever!


• You really enjoy your bath


• A special time of day with you is after your bath and PJ's you and I sit in Great Grandma Hazel Grace's chair and we read books. You like the books where you can pet them...the ones that have fur on the animals, etc. You love looking at books!


• You are such a good eater and especially when it comes to fruit and pasta...you were not that into formula but you LOVE milk...you come from a family of big milk drinkers and I think you will fit in just fine!


• You have started to dance...just bouncing really, but it is so cute


• Dapper pisses you off with his tail knocking you over...

You rarely cry...it is usually because you are tired Your stats from the doctor:

Weight: 16 pounds 7.5 ounces (0%)

Height: 28 3/4 inches (35%)

Head: 17 3/4 inches (48%)

They are a bit concerned with your weight (here we go AGAIN) so I am taking you in for a weight check in a month. We did this with your brother and it PISSED me off because it is just how the babies in our family grow...slow.

One last thing Hazel, I wasn't sure about having a girl...I had it in my mind that there was no way to have a girl and I was going to have all boys (with both of my brothers having one of each...what are the odds I would too). When I found out you were a girl I kinda panicked...just thought of how I was going to have to protect you from Internet predators, make sure your clothes were appropriate, worry about you going on a date, being really cute like your Mama and being really niave like me too, etc. I didn't really think about all the positives of having a girl. You have been everything I ever wanted and I didn't know...my life is complete with you. I know that sounds corny, but I am just in love with you. Happy Birthday Hazel!!

Love,

Mama

Halloween!

Fun Halloween this year! I think next year will be even better because Hazel will be 2 and can go out trick or treating with the cousins! Here is a picture of Hazel and her BFF Sophie. They don't smile...very serious...but they liked the parade and got lots of smiles and Aww's...
Hagen got to hold Annalisa's hand...she was Hello Kitty! he was SO excited as you can see. Loved having his family "fan club" front and center to greet him!

Miss Piggy didn't even mind her hat...I was shocked! She looked ADORABLE!! I loved her little costume...

Hagen looks so grown up below!! So heroic and handsome. He was SUPER stoked about trick or treating. Ryan took him to Noah's house to go with him and Emily. They have way more fun together. I stayed home to pass out candy and put Hazel to bed. Sista isn't feeling good. Hopefully those Antibiotics work on those ears! I fear they aren't!

This is probably the last kissy pic of the boys. Adam and Ryan had a fit when Rebecca asked them to kiss! It's time to grow up and man up and no more kissing. :(

We didn't have that many trick or treaters this year! We live on a culdsac and the houses at the beginning of it had their lights out. We all had our lights on and lots of candy, but alot of families didn't want to walk down the street to our's. boo!

So Hagen had to take his costume to school and not wear it until before the parade (which was at 4:00). Well, when he took it off last night he wasn't wearing any under ware! I guess he striped COMPLETELY when he changed! Took Captain Inappropriate to a whole new level!!

Tata,

Carrie

Hazel's Baptism

Sweet baby Hazel Grace was FINALLY baptised this past weekend! We had some scheduling conflicts with Ryan's traveling and getting the required class in (only offered once a month) and then setting a date. She wore a BEAUTIFUL dress bought by my parents...long, smocked, detailed...just perfect! Here she goes!
Hagen was so proud...he was curious and it was interesting explaining it to him as we are TERRIBLE about going to church...we need to get our crap together!! The water was warm so she didn't cry much...just a little...

I love this picture...so sweet...

My brother is the Godfather and Aunt Kristen is the Godmother of both Hagen and Hazel...

Here she is enjoying some celebratory cake! Practicing for her big birthday in a week...what?!

The bib she is wearing while eating her cake says "future nun". Aunt Kristen got it for her and it is adorable! She received some precious things...a cross necklace, a pearl bracelet, a silver cuff, a cute picture frame, some books, and a beautiful cross for her room.

She had a double ear infection and I had a cold. The ladies were not feeling very good at all! But it was a beautiful day and the kids behaved very well.

That night after the family left I was outside letting the dog out and I looked up in the sky and saw a shooting star. I believe that Great Grandma Hazel Grace Adams was sending me a sign that she witnessed the baptism and is so proud...

Love,

Mama

Pumpkin Patch

So this past weekend we went to the pumpkin patch! Ryan was out of town so I loaded up the kids in the wagon and met Adam and family there. We had a great time! Although, Hagen has had better days...think someone is missing his Daddy!

We petted the animals, we had a hot dog lunch, went on a hayride, posed the kids for the cousin picture (they all love that), and we took home our millionth pumpkin!

I LOVE that the kids are around the same age...makes outings like this so much fun. I love that the girls are even closer in age than the boys are...but the boys are still BFF's 4E!

We missed out on our annual family picture at the farm, but that's OK...Aunt Rebecca captured the above sweet SWEET images of my little pumpkins.

Tata,

Carrie

Just Listen...

This sweet boy taught me a good lesson...not just a lesson on parenting but in life.

It was show and tell day at school. Everyone was to bring a photo of themselves dressed in a costume. I had Hagen take a photo of him dressed as a zebra for Halloween when he was 1 1/2...it was darling.

I was sitting at the table with the kids for dinner (Ryan was out of town) and we were talking about our days. I asked him how his friends liked his photo. He got a sad look on his face and said that people were laughing at him and calling him diaper boy...basically calling him a baby.

I said that he WAS a baby when that photo was taken but he is not anymore. I told him that I use to wear diapers and even Papa!! I explained that we all wore diapers at one point.

He said his feelings were really hurt and it made him feel like he wanted to cry. So I went on an on about how in life people are going to not always be nice...we are going to get our feelings hurt and disagree with someone. Even I get my feelings hurt sometimes and it makes me sad. I went on to say that sometimes we just have to walk away and be with people that are being nice and steer clear of the mean ones. I kept going ON and ON and ON seeing it as a moment to teach him something...little did I know he was about to teach me something BIG.

He said stop Mom...you never let me talk... (silence...crickets chirping...both kids staring at me) I felt like a toad...

He is so right...I need to LISTEN more and not just offer advice. Sometimes all he wants to do is to vent...just like I do sometimes!

Lesson learned my sweet son...lesson learned...

Love,

Mama