Wrapping up 2012 (December)

(I'm on spring break this week, so let's see with a little extra time I can work on FINALLY getting our blog up to date!)

December started off with celebrating my 33rd birthday. For my 30th we started the tradition of renting a bus and visiting local breweries. We had to take last year off because I was pregnant, which made this year even more fun! We had an awesome night with over 20 of our closest friends. Can't wait for next year!

                                                                                                      with my love at Hopmunk (our first stop of the night)

One of my favorite things our town does during the holidays  is have Santa visit each of the Rohnert Park neighborhoods during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Fortunately one of his stops is on our street. Hannah refused to sit on his lap (or even get near him for that matter!), however Jordyn was not phased one bit.  :)  We can already see clear personality differences between these two. :)

Ok with sitting on Santa's sleigh (about 10 ft. away from Santa)

At the beginning of December we had our good friend Ian snap a few pics of our family in attempts of getting a photo that would be Christmas card worthy. Jordyn had just woken up from a nap and wasn't quite as smiley as usual. We still got a few cute ones though.

The girls with Carter enjoying the last of the beautiful fall leaves

serious girl :)

Each year gets more and more fun with Hannah when it comes to the holidays. This year was of course the best by far. She helped me decorate the tree two nights in a row and loved picking out materials at the craft store to make a holiday wreath for our front door. Jordyn of course was mesmerized by the lights & holiday music.

hard at work

our beautiful girl

My mom and I took Hannah to see The Nutcracker for the first time and she LOVED it. I don't think she even moved during the first half of the show. She was so enthralled by the dancers, music and costumes. It was so much fun seeing it through her eyes! I look forward to continuing this tradition every year.

Feeding little sis her dinner

I love the way they look at each other

holiday shaped french toast

After the 2nd haircut of her lifetime so far...and looking way too grown up!

love that smile!

Looking at Christmas lights during a visit with Nonni and Nonne

gingerbread house decorating with her cousins

enjoying winter break...Jordyn of course is chatting during the picture

ready for the annual friend's Chistmas potluck at the Cutler's house

the kids having a "picnic" in the livingroom

dress up time! Tyler enjoyed it just as much as the girls

the girls with "Santa"  :)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only reason Hannah is smiling and standing that close is because I let her know it was Josh Cutler. :)

Tuck enjoying a beautiful December day

Sleeping on Nonni during Christmas Eve with the fam

Hannah and Nonne

With great-Aunt Karen

Santa came :)

playing with her new doll house on Christmas morning

Jordyn and dad

the girls enjoying the car that their great-grandfather built for their Nonni when she was a little girl. Uncle Sean surprised Nonni by restoring it  :)

stocking time!!

ready to enjoy her new instruments

Christmas 2012

Out for margaritas at Las Caz

enjoying  Christmas (#2)  in Rancho Cordova with Nana and Papa Heald

her first carousel ride at the Nut Tree on our way home...clearly she loved it :)

rocking horse ride with her cousin Mazzy

Christmas (#3) at Grandma and Papa Martin's house

This year we rang in the New Year with our good friends and neighbors Louie and Melinda. It was perfect because we were able to put Jordyn down for bed in the pack-n-play, while we enjoyed drinks and played games with friends. Hannah had a blast staying up til midnight and playing with a new friend. Jordyn decided to wake up just before midnight to ring in the new year with her family. :)

note Hanah wrote for me...love my girl!!

Wrapping up 2012 (November)

During the month of November we enjoyed watching Hannah's first ballet performance, a family vacation to Monterey, and a week off for Thanksgiving break (filled with fun day trips and Thanksgiving dinner with Josh's family).

With her BFF Kenzie after the show

I just love this picture of her waving to her family in the crowd. :)

 At the beginning of November we traveled to Monterey with my parents, Nicole, Sean and Lilly. We stayed at the Pajaro Dunes (approx. 40 min. from Monterey) in a place right on the beach. It was so nice to go to sleep listening to the ocean waves and walk out on the deck each morning with a cup of coffee and a beautiful view of the ocean. We spent part of the time enjoying our condo in Pajaro...family meals, games, walks on the beach, sand castles, and kite flying. We also enjoyed a day trip to Monterey, where we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium (I highly recommend going there, we've been twice and we'll go back many more times at the girls grow up). Hannah loved it (she hadn't been since she was 4 months old) and Jordyn & Lilly were fascinated by their first visit as well! Along with South Lake Tahoe, the Monterey area is one of our favorite nearby vacation getaway destinations.

Dads and daughters

family pic

cousin love

the girls love their Nonni and Nonne

Hannah loved running on the sand

loved talks and walks with my best friend on the beach

baby giggles

they are so cute together

Hannah loves her cousin

Thanksgiving day :)

With grandma and papa

loving her fingers and toes

enjoying her second trip to Train Town in  Sonoma

on the train ready to go

ready for a ride with Carter

playing at lunch

first of many father/daughter runs together

my brown eyed girl :) 7 months old