Happy Birthday Daddy

Thad is pretty lucky that he gets to spend every birthday with all of his family in his hometown. His mom makes him a cake and he gets to open presents (usually boring guy stuff!). Hannah loves helping daddy blow out his candles and lick the frosting off. She helped him open his presents and even tried them on. Who's birthday was it again? Even though Daddy's new coat does look cute on her, she better hold out till her own birthday, and maybe then she'll get something that fits better!

Christmas 2006.2

Wow! Another Christmas, with just as many presents! Hannah was just as excited the second time around. She had fun helping Ben and cousin Evy open all of their presents, and playing with all their new toys. Her new Twin Time Dollhouse from Grandma and Pap took the spotlight though. Ben got a train too from Aunt Juls and Uncle Tim, he thought that was pretty cool.




With all of the Christmas excitement going on Ben took a moment to chill out with his soon-to-be Uncle Tim. They seem to get along pretty well. Hannah thinks Uncle Tim is pretty special too, they're both very lucky to have such a great family.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE A GREAT CHRISTMAS FOR HANNAH AND BEN!

Christmas 2006.1

Christmas morning. Is there anything more glorious in life for a two year old than to come downstairs and find that Santa left her presents under the tree. I'm getting old and I still feel that way! Hannah was very patient in waiting to open her presents. I don't think she was very suprised to fing that Santa got her her one and only wish for Christmas: a play choo choo train, but she was certainly very happy.




Here is Hannah's train all set up (with a little help from daddy, who I think enjoys playing with it as much as Hannah). There are lots of different ways to lay the tracks and I'm sure Hannah will keep busy with it for awhile. She runs the controls herself and knows how to make the whistle blow!




Ben had a great first Christmas too. Here he is after opening just one of his many presents. He did great for awhile and seemed interested in everything, but soon after he took a much needed nap. I guess Christmas morning is quite a lot for a little baby.




This is Ben's "house" that Santa brought. Of course Hannah thought it was for her, and luckily Ben doesn't seem to mind her playing with it. It's a toy that he'll grow into and hopefully enjoy for a long time.

Christmas Preparations 2006

Step 1: Find a pretty dress to wear. Lately people have been telling us that Hannah looks older in pictures. I have to agree.




Step 2: Bake and frost the cookies for Santa. Hannah has had some experience in this department.




Ben is still a little young for this step; so he and I just sat and watched Daddy's fantasy team underperform as usual.




Step 3: Go go church. There is a candle light ceremony at the end. Since Hannah is too young to handle a flaming stick of wax, we brought her princess flashlight for her to hold instead.




Step 4: Leave snacks out for Santa and his reindeer. Our budding engineer asked me if Santa's sleigh would break the roof. She showed me her calculations and I couldn't find any mistakes. I explained to her that Santa's knowledge of space and time must be profound. If he's figured out a way to deliver gifts to millions of households in a single night, I'm sure he has figured out how to land on rooftops without buckling them.

Crazy for Crazy Bread

For two weeks now Ben has been eating dinner with us. This night it was peas. Ben has inherited his father appetite and speed-eating habit. He makes a face at the first bite, but then immediately wants more, and more, and more. When he realizes that his cereal or jar food is gone he throws a mini baby tantrum, but calms down soon enough.




This picture from a couple weeks ago shows what happens when he's still hungry after he eats his main course. We decided since he ate his vegetables that he could have one piece of Little Caesars Crazy Bread.

Lights on the Lake 2006

Christmas isn't Christmas in Syracuse until you've gone to see the Lights on the Lake. This year was a big change compared to last year. Hannah was excited to get out of her car seat and ride up front with mommy and daddy (last year she wanted to get back in her car seat and screamed until she got sick all over herself and mommy). She was enjoying herself so much we even let her guide the steering wheel. Ben came up front too and loved all the different lights and colors.




Usually when we do this there is almost a foot of snow, this year it was about 50 degrees and it sprinkled a little bit. It was cool to see the lights reflecting off the puddles, though. We're holding out for a white Christmas, but the snow will probably wait until we're traveling.




(A note to the worried Grandmas: We didn't go above 5mph)

Santa Visit 2006

Unlike last year, Hannah was really excited to see Santa this year. We have been preparing her all year; explaining how he is the guy who brings presents on Christmas. Once that started to sink in, she started warming up to the idea.

For at least a month, now, she has known exactly what she was going to ask Santa for: the Fisher Price (R), Geo Trax (TM) Rail & Road System Workin' Town (TM) Railway with Geo Motion. Thankfully, Santa's answer was not, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."




Ben got to see Santa for the first time, too. I'm pretty sure he had no idea what was going on, but he and Santa seemed to connect. It must have been the magic twinkle in his eye. (Santa's eyes kind of twinkled, too.)

As parents, we have to top ourselves every year; so that every Christmas is the "best Christmas ever." We'll see how long that lasts...