Christmas was busy. Not only did Hannah get down late the night before, she decided she didn't need a nap today. It was a rough afternoon. We woke up to do presents at our house before heading back to the Reeder's for breakfast and opening of presents. On the way to Bountiful my sister who is still serving in Afganistan wanted to Skype, so Hannah and I got to see her briefly and wish her a Merry Christmas. At lunch time we headed back home for Hannah's nap (which she never took) and my family came over for dinner, presents and a White Christmas. Over all it was fun day and we were super spoiled! Hannah and Daddy on Christmas morning Hannah and Mommy looking at her Christmas book (I decided she will get one book every Christmas. Not necessarily a "Christmas" book, but a book she can add to her library). Hannah opening up her stocking Hannah's "cheese" face My sweet baby giving me a Christmas kiss Our attempt at a family picture Hannah got a stuffed kitty from La La and Bumpa. She was giving it a hug Stu got ski passes..I hope he takes me with him.. Hannah got this remote kitty from La La and Bumpa. He sings and asks you to chase after it. It is motion sensor and she LOVED it. And finally, she got to pet and kinda hold a real kitty. Aunt Karly and Uncle Mike's kitty-Backster Grandma Nicholls made Hannah a cape. She is always putting things around her neck so now she has her own super hero cape. Cutest face EVER!
Christmas Eve was with the Reeder side this year. We had a fabulous dinner and played a Nicholls family game (The Candy Bar game). To close out the night..Santa dropped off PJ's for the kids to wear to help them get ready for bed and to get excited for Christmas morning. Hannah and Owen thought it was pretty cool to see presents on the door step. Hannah opening up her PJ's from Santa Hannah in her Christmas PJ's Owen trying to give Hannah a hug
Since we saw lights the night before, we decided to make it a 2 part and go to Temple Square and see the lights there. We went to dinner and headed out into the cold (and boy was it cold). Hannah did okay but I think she got tired and then cold and then un-happy. We got through the lights in about 20 min Lights at Temple Square We let Hannah out of the stroller and she thought she found heaven in all the space she could run around in Hannah and Sarah FREEZING at Temple Square Hannah and Stu at Temple Square (see Hannah's quivering lip? This was towards the end and she was starting to melt down) Pretty good family picture
On my side, we decided that Christmas was all about family. So we sat down in November and made a list of things we could do each week to celebrate Christmas. One of the activities was to see Christmas lights. So down at Thanksgiving Point you can pay to drive your car through the light show...OR you can pay to take a wagon ride through the light show. We decided on the wagon ride. It was cold (no coverage in the wagon, it was open) but we still had a good time. Hannah thought the lights were "WOW". And she got to pet the horse afterwards which she thought was pretty neat. Stu, Sarah and Hannah in the cold looking at Christmas lights Hannah petting the horse after the wagon ride was over
On the Reeder side we draw name for the adult stockings. This year we decided on a theme. The theme was "homemade". So we had to make something for the person who's name we drew. Mom Reeder has some beautiful cross stitched stockings she made for her kids when they were small, but all of us 'newbies' that joined the family don't have any stockings. Well I decided to change that this year. I decided to make stocking for everyone. Since the theme was homemade...why not. I did all the sewing (with my mom's tutelage). I think they turned out pretty good!
Hannah is sure growing up right before our eyes. She has become this independent person that likes to do things herself. I want to raise her to be independent..but there are some things mom still has to help her with, and Hannah doesn't like the help. *Hannah will throw herself on the ground in anger when she doesn't get her way
*Says "Un..unnn.." when she wants something and points. We are trying to teach her sign language so she can tell us what she wants. This un...unnn thing doesn't work.
*Become a master at tip toes and reaching things she normally couldn't reach and will pull things off the counter. *Learned to open doors *Getting good at running *Says "yummy...yum" *Quite the talker (in her own language) *Understand what mom asks her to do "shut the door please Hannah" and she will go and shut it.
We discovered all the Christmas stuff was in our storage unit. Its amazing how a year can make you forget where you put stuff. Stu filled his car up, and we needed to empty it by Monday, so we decide a good Sunday activity would be to decorate for Christmas. Hannah recently switched her nap and it is right in the middle of church. So as she slept, Stu and I decorated. We got completly done by the time Hannah woke up from her nap and we captured her reaction to the decorations and the tree.
The final project-completed. I didn't want to temp Hannah with the ornaments, so they are only a few on the TOP part of the tree only.
Hannah pointing at the lights she can see from the stairs
When Hannah noticed the Christmas tree
She is not quite sure what to think of the tree This is a Little People Nativity Set my old boss gave Hannah for Christmas last year. She LOVES it. If you haven't seen this, or want one...they are so great for those little ones in your family. And it sings! Little People Nativity Set
This year Thanksgiving was on my side and we decided to have it at our house. With Leah still in Afghanistan she would be the only one missing from our Thanksgiving feast. Stu was excited to bake a turkey (his first). And I found all kinds of fun stuff on Pinterest I wanted to try out to decorate the table. But before we could do anything that day...I signed up for a 10K race with my sister in law Karly that morning. Karly recently got into running and had done a 5K and I talked her into a 10K. She ROCKed it and we came in at 1:17 (not to shabby for her 1st 10K) I was sooo proud of her! Karly and me at the starting line My brother Cole decided that morning to run the 5K. He has been trying to get into the top 3 in his age group. Today he got...4th again! Must have been the 2 slices of pizza and tall cup of java that slowed him down that morning. Karly and me at the finish line with Hannah I found this on Pinterest. Get a dollar store plate, paint and write things you are thankful on it. Bake it at 350 for 30 min and it will be set. I followed all the rules and it STILL rubbed off-as we were eating. I was sooo mad!! These were also on Pinterest. They were easy to make, the time that it took was letting the frosting dry. A lot of my turkeys look kinda...'special'. But so it my family so it worked out great! :) And...finally...Stu's turkey. He brined it over night and everywhere we read said it should be ready by X time...It was ready a full 2 hours before that. So we had to move up dinner. It was soo juicy and I am soo proud of Stu and his first bird.
Stu's little brother Trevor just got home off his mission in Barcelona Spain. We all headed to the airport to welcome him home. We were there right when his plan landed, but if you have ever flown International...it takes time to go through customs, get your bag..etc. Every time the door opened we were hoping it was him. Turns out, the missionaries coming home that day were in the B-A-C-K of the plane. Here are some pictures of the day.
Little Miss Hannah had all kinds of energy and spent most of it running around the International waiting area. I was lucky to get this shot.
We all got matching shirts to wear to welcome Trevor home. The shirt are the Barcelona Soccer Team (Trevor is big into soccer). Hannah didn't get one (I couldn't justify spending $20 on a shirt she would only wear once) First picture of Trevor
So Hannah has a mullet. When she was little she rubbed the hair on the back of her head off and when it started to grown back the hair that was NOT rubbed off continued to grow. So we had a mullet situation going on. I HATED the thought of cutting my sweet baby's hair, but she need to have it all trimmed up so it can all grow together. Here are her before and after pictures: Before After And yes..I saved the hair that was cut.
Hannah is getting close to that 1 1/2 mark...She is 15 months old today. Hannah can: *Says "meow" for Kitties *Says "wow" *Has been know to pick tomatoes off the vine and eat them like an apple *Said "baby" (We are counting this as her first official word) *Started to spin around when music is played *Will pick up and carry as many things are possible in her hands *Got her first cold *Figured out how to ride Blue like a horse and loves to sit on him (or use him as a stool to get on the couch) *Can throw a ball *Loves to be outside (and finds the snow very fasinating) Nickname: Pumpkin Pie
A amour..Love. Stuart and Sarah met in April 2006 at church. After Stu broke up with the girl he was dating, Sarah moved right in and they have been together ever since. They were engaged on August 4th 2006 and married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 3rd 2007. In November of 2007 Blue joined our family. Since then we have enjoyed the pleasure of puppyhood that only a dog can bring! Little Miss Hannah joined the group on August 11th and having her in our home, completes the Reeder Circle!
