More Christmases and New Years

Over the second half of our Winter break we enjoyed spending more time with family. On our way home from Reno we stopped in Lincoln so that Hannah could spend some time with her Nana and Papa Heald, Aunt Cassie, cousin Camryn, Aunt Mel and cousin Mazzie. The girls were too cute together playing dress up, coloring, reading books, etc... Hannah loved her cousin Camryn's new easel and reading book's in Camryn's big girl bed. In between trips we spent a few days at home. It was so nice having time just the three of us. Hannah is so fun and interactive right now. She's such a little jabberbox and gets excited about the littlest things. It's pretty cute. On the Thursday just before New Years we traveled to Humboldt to have a second Christmas with my family and ring in the New Year. Hannah enjoyed round two of spending time with her family and getting to open yet more gifts. :)

The girls showing off their new Christmas books from Nana and Papa Heald

Camryn posing for a pic with her Doll :)

Love these sweet girls



Nana and her girls (as you can see Hannah did not want to have her picture taken!)



Loungin' with cousin Brody after arriving in Humboldt

patiently covering her eyes while waiting for a surprise from Nonnie

 For New Years eve this year my parents offered to keep Hannah overnight so that Josh, Nicole, Sean and I could have a night out together. After much debate we decided to head to the Scotia Inn for appetizers, drinks and dancing. Before heading to the Inn we enjoyed a nice dinner with my parents at Curleys and then went back to my parent's house for a drink before heading to Scotia. We had such a great time at the Scotia Inn. It was fun running into people I hadn't seen in awhile. The four of us also had a fun time in the photo booth they had at the Inn and getting down on the dance floor.  :)

Ready for New Years dinner with her family



Loving her special cup at Curleys

New Years Eve



Running from Nonne



Making tea for her family

snuggles with mom

Cheese!!!!!

New Years Eve at the Scotia Inn

Ready to ring in the New Year



We had such a great time!



She loved opening the little houses Nonnie wrapped her Christmas gifts in

Reading books in her new rocking chair from Auntie Cole and Uncle Sean

This picture makes me smile :)

Christmas in Reno



For Christmas this year we headed up to Reno to spend the holiday with Josh's family. We had such a wonderful time and created some special memories. (We missed not having Dustin, Mel and Mazzy there though!) Below are some of my favorite pics.  :)

The day before we headed to Reno Dustin, Mel and Mazzy came over for dinner. Hannah had a blast playing with her cousin Mazzy in her new kitchen. They also enjoyed exchanging their Christmas gifts.

Sitting with my nephews Tristin (1 1/2 months) & Austin ( 2 yrs ) after arriving in Reno. Hannah was excited to see her cousins!

Christmas Eve....Giving kisses to her new baby doll

Looks like Santa has paid a visit



Loving her new mini jumpy from Santa....she came down the stairs saying "Bouncy! Bouncy from Santa!!" when she saw it. She was so excited :)

Reading stories with mom 




Opening gifts was quite the process! :) She is a very tedious gift opener as you can see from the picture above with her ankles crossed and the gift being carefully opened. Once she opened a gift she wanted to play with it for awhile and had no interest in opening the next gift. Needless to say it took us about 5 different "gift opening sessions" over the course of the entire day to open all her gifts and her stocking!

Showing off her new remote control fire truck that dad picked out. After seeing Santa arrive to our neighborhood on a fire truck, she has become very interested in fire trucks :) She had fun operating her fire truck, yet one of her favorite features on the remote was the music button which played "We didn't start the fire" She'd start dancing with the remote every time she pushed the button!

Yet another gift opening session...a new basketball hoop from Grandma and Papa :) We're going to get her started shooting hoops at an early age!

She LOVES jumping! She and her cousin Austin (aka Buzz Lightyear) enjoyed many jumps together

shooting hoops with dad

Best attempt at a photo of the two of them :)

My sweet girl



Giving mama a big "CHEEEEESE!"



group photo

All bundled up and ready to sled....she was much more curious about the snow this year

She wasn't quite sure how to get around in all her snow gear

Family pic

With Grandma

sledding with dad



sledding with mom

snuggled up watching Elmo with Papa



bath time fun with Austin

Paul and Josh after a fun, yet extremely muddy quad ride

Holiday Fun

Christmas break has officially begun in the Heald household! One of the many perks of having two parents that are teachers is Hannah being able to spend a whole two weeks with mom AND dad. :) We are looking forward to the events we have planned during our break, along with the relaxing we'll be able to do. We've already created some fun holiday memories this month. Hannah visited Santa not once, not twice, but three times! :)  Her first visit was with our neighborhood Santa. In Rohnert Park, Santa comes to visit each neighborhood on a different night over a two week span. Our section was the first neighborhood to receive a visit from Santa on my birthday (Dec. 3). Hannah was so excited as we walked down to the neighborhood park to see Santa with her friends. She chanted "Santa, Santa!" most of the way there, however once Santa came rolling around the corner with Mrs. Claus she wasn't so sure. No tears with the first visit (she willingly went up with mom to see Santa), yet she was eager to get out of Santa's sleigh and snuggle in dad's arms. :) That evening we also put up and decorated our tree (perfect way to end my birthday evening). There is something about the smell of a fresh xmas tree, decorated with white lights and childhood ornaments that I just love. I can't help but feel happy every time I walk into our house this time of year.    


Ready to see Santa in her neighborhood

So excited!

Wasn't too sure

Kisses from dad



With her friends Ian and Leah

The following week after another visit with Santa (in her friend Kenzie's neighborhood), we drove around to look at Christmas lights (a new favorite tradition of Hannah's). There is one house in Rohnert Park that goes above and beyond every year. The owner begins setting up the structure for his Christmas decorations just after Halloween. The house is seriously like a miniature Disneyland! It is breathtaking. Last year Hannah was mesmerized by the lights, this year she noticed all the intricate details (moving Ferris wheel of characters, bubble machine putting out bubbles from the rooftop, waterfall, miniature village and train set, the list goes on...). If you live in Sonoma County you have to check it out! (1190 Cielo Cir.)




This house is incredible!

We traveled to Windsor so that Hannah could see Santa yet another time with her friend Nico. Nico sat on Santa's lap first and was completely traumatized. Hannah looked on in horror at her friend screaming on Santa's lap. When it was her turn she was willing to sit on the bench by herself or with Nico, but didn't want anything to do with Santa. She was finally willing to read a story with Santa. When I asked her if she wanted to share a candy cane with Santa she willingly did so, however wasn't so happy when I plopped her on Santa's lap for a quick picture. The picture is pretty much identical to last year's pic. :)



Nico was still upset from sitting on Santa's lap

Reading a story with Santa and Mom

Check out her grip on her candy cane :)

We've had a relaxing start to our two week break. Friday night I enjoyed some Old Chicago Pizza, wine, Cold Stones Ice cream cake and chick flicks with the girls, while Hannah and Josh had a father/daughter night. We went to a Christmas Party at Jeremy and Sandra's Saturday night and are meeting up with our Survivor group for the season final this evening. This week is filled with more get togethers with friends, cookie baking, a pedicure (for mom), and play dates for Hannah. On Thursday we hit the road to Reno for Christmas with Josh's family. We can't wait to take Hannah sledding! Last year her reaction to the snow was very unsure. I'm pretty sure this year will be so much more fun. After our trip to Reno we'll be home for a few days before heading to Humboldt for a late Christmas with my family and New Years.

Morning dance parties in the kitchen

bath time fun