Our Baby is One!

Natale turns 1 years old today!! WOW!! Time has flied this year!! She is such a joy and we love her so much!! Here are some pictures of her during the year and we gave her some cake this evening. Happy Birthday baby girl...we love you!!

Oct 2008

Sept 2008

December 2008

Christmas 2008, she really looks like her Papa here

And a cutie!!

CHEESE!

Here she is testing the cake

OK this might be good

Have a taste, Mama

never mind, its all mine!

yummy cake!!

Christmas with the Paduanos

We headed to Grannie and Pa's after we dropped off the Kirkland loot at home. We had dinner and exchanged gifts with the Marshbanks and Grannie and Grandpa Joe. We had prime rib and potatoes (that I made) and garlic green beans. It was YUMMY!! We headed home and we all were asleep by 9:30 pm.

I took lots of pictures of Natale being silly and she was so happy.

love it!!

All pooped out with Grannie!

We had a great day and we are loved and love our family so much!! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!

Christmas with the Hansons

My family minus my brother headed to Snohomish for a visit and dinner on Christmas eve. We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant in town. It was delicious as usual. After dinner, we all headed home "for a long winter's nap"

Going back to my brother, if you didn't know, Jonny is a UPS driver. He drives no matter what. I thought about him all the time during this snowstorm and even worried a little bit. He would go to work in the morning, chain up his big brown truck and head out into the elements to deliver Christmas packages until curfew which was 8 pm every night. He wasn't able to make it to some stops because of the hills. I just hope those customers aren't rude or mean to Jonny come Monday when he finally delivers their packages. Jonny, you are a trooper!! We are proud of you and love you so much!!

OK back to the morning with the Hanson side of the family. We headed to Kirkland in blizzard like conditions and even stopped for a mocha. We had a good breakfast and then headed to the living room to open presents. It was a mad house and unorganized as usual, but we all got some fabulous presents. The girls were spoiled as usual. Some of the adults were too!!

I hope you don't mind the picture, but there is a story. My dad won the title "King" at his Home. He was voted by his peers and received a crown. Here he is showing it off. He has no shirt on because he was trying a new shirt on and taking his time doing so.
The King of Lake Vue Gardens!!

The Hanson clan!
(sorry so dark) its was on a timer

Krissy and Danielle

The girls!

We had a great day with my family.

Quick note* my sister took lots of pictures on Christmas eve and Christmas day. We have not exchanged photos so I will post more when I get them.

Christmas morning at home

I set the alarm just in case the kids would sleep in. Well I got up when I heard Natale start to stir which was around 7:20am. I woke up Joe, looked out the window to see thick snow falling and then jumped in the shower. I changed the baby and headed down stairs to check on things and to get the camera ready. Joe followed and we watching the snow fall and talked about the day ahead of us. We let Natale check things out. She was all grins!!
I want to ride this!!

Check this out, MAMA!!!

Shaking the maracas!!

Natale was ready to check things out!

At 8 am, I had Joe go upstairs to wake Avery up. She came downstairs and was thrilled with her Santa gifts. Santa brought her a princess sofa, a princess barbie and a picnic table

Mama got Avery a jewelry box with a necklace, watch and bracelet.

Dress-up clothes...a boa and tutu

A princess keyboard...last year it was a princess guitar

PROOF!!! Santa was here!!

He even left a thank you note for Avery and Natale.

Christmas Eve

We had a busy morning trying to get ready and organized for Christmas Day. We headed up to Grannie's house in the afternoon to visit with cousins and exchange gifts. Avery received a headband/ear warmer and darling purse and Natale got a snugly white teddy bear. We had a great visit and I hope we get to see the Bennetts again soon.

Natale walking around furniture so well

showing off the purse

Papa and Natale cuddling

"the stockings were hung by the chimney with care"

Oh but wait. We don't have a fireplace. So they get hung on a cute Santa decoration next to the Christmas tree. If you look at the previous entry its in the picture. They get so full Santa places them on the coffee table. During the month of December in 2005, I sat and made the family personalized stockings. I got a bit behind with Natale's. I finished it on Dec. 24th at 12:58 am. At least I was done before Santa arrived. I am proud of them. I wish I had more time to be crafty and creative. Oh well, here they are....

Santa helped us out again....he was good to us this year!!

OH Christmas Tree

I am not sure that this year's tree has been our best Christmas tree ever. I somehow broke the tree topper sometime between packing it up last year and unpacking it this year. I did find a new one this years tree but on the 23rd. It has started to dry out and I am getting nervous lighting it up, so as of December 29th.....Goodbye 2008 tree!!

Christmas Eve when Santa was finished. We asked him to snap a photo for us!

Our Snow Angel

We took a few trips outside during the snow blast we've had in the last week in a half. Avery loves the snow and especially making snow angels. She would hop around and then lay down and make a snow angel. She climbed into Papa's truck and made one. She made like 20. We threw snow at each other and had lots of fun.

Avery is showing me all the snow on her gloves and trying to wipe it or shake off the snow.

Avery was being silly....she made a snow angel and then starting to throw snow balls at me.

Avery making a snow angel

close-up snow angel

A Mama snow angel and big sister snow angel

We love the snow, but 10 days of it gets old. We were able to get out and about a little bit, but so many others housebound. Hope this brings some smiles your way!! We DID have a white Christmas this year which was cool!!

First Snow!!

On Sunday morning, I bundled the girls up to head outside to play in the snow. It was REALLY cold. We stayed outside for about 15 minutes. Avery was upset about our short playtime but she complained that she was too cold. Natale was so curious about the snow and she even tasted it!!
Avery testing the snow on the ground

and making a snow Angel

Natale took a nose dive and didn't complain

Natale wondering "what is this stuff?"

The girls posing for Mama!

Happy 1st snowfall! Lots more snow to come!

A Special Drive

The first snowfall started falling on Saturday afternoon. After dinner we all bundled up and climbed into Papa's truck with warm hot chocolate. We headed out to look at Christmas lights in the falling snow. It was great. We listened to holiday music and just enjoyed all the pretty light displays. We even found a vacant cul-de-sac to do some donuts in the snow. Mama and Papa loved it. Natale slept through it but Avery wasn't too sure. We had so much fun and this will also be something we do every year.
Tried to get a family picture.

One of the many big light displays we came across. It snowed about 4 inches that night.