January 2011

Now that we are into May I thought I should update the blog and let anyone who still checks let you know how life is going here in Connecticut. 

We started the New Year by celebrating Sam's 30th birthday.  While he doesn't like to make a big deal about his birthday we had a nice dinner and tried to spoil him a little.  Hudosn even gave Sam a present, crawling for the first time.

Sam was welcomed by 30 cans of his "favorite" beer, or better said his
favorite beer that comes in a 30 pack.  Along with 30 things we love about him.

Snow was the theme for January.  We continued to get more and more as the month went on.  Not any worse than we were used to in Spokane, but it did get old quickly.

Our Patio

Our Mailbox
There were a few days mail was not delivered

  

Most of January was spent getting ready to move to another house.  The reason for the move was that the owners of the original house we were renting moved back from California and asked us if we wouldn't mind moving.  After only a couple days of looking in December we found another house within five miles of the first one. 

Helping Daddy clear snow for move
While out there said "I want to go to Hawaii"

Watching as Daddy and Annabelle clear snow

Getting things ready to move

Hudson had a big first (and hopefully last) during the moving process: surgery.  Nothing major and we had known about it since he was only a week old, but still difficult for both Hudson and mommy.

Waiting for Surgery

Headed to the Operating Room

Recovering at Home

 In between clearing snow and getting ready to move life went on as normal, here are some pictures

Watching the Danbury Whalers
kid's first hockey game

Annabelle doing dishes in her sink

Hudson "cooking"
Hudson started pulling up and cruising at the same time he started to crawl
He is only getting away with this because Annabelle is napping

Playing with Christmas gifts

Dressed for the weather

Giving kisses and paying her back for all the times she interrupted his sleep

Oma and Opa Part II

Still posting about December...

My parents were scheduled to leave the 27th so we spent the day after Christmas in the snow at Topstone Park and Weir Farm two place we had not made it to and wanted to show them.

Hiking at Topstone Park

Oma and Opa
Enjoying the snow

Keeping Toasty

Some help from Opa

Touring Weir Farm

We wanted to send them off with a memorable meal and accomplished that by purchasing "Larry" a live lobster.

Hudson and Larry

 We decided to give Larry a few last moments of freedom before he became dinner.  Also needed to get pictures of and with him.

Annabelle and Larry

Larry after his bath

We woke the next morning to more snow and the news that airports were closed and my parents flight was cancelled.  Good news they were at our house and not stranded at the airport, "bad" news the earliest they could fly out was the 31st.  We took advantage of the extra days with them and for the most part stuck close to home.

My mom was able to spoil the kids more and made sure Annabelle got the sled experience

More time with Oma in the snow

That works so much better

View from inside

View from Outside

Oma also got them 150 more balls for their ball pit

Opa got more cuddles

Sam and myself got some time alone.  We went out to dinner while my parents stayed with the kids.

This is what we came home to

We fit in one more "tourist" activity and went to Keeler's Tavern

Our Tour Guide

Annabelle at the end of the tour

Early on the 31st we said goodbye and Sam drove them to the airport. Their trip home went smoothly and they actually arrived early.  We loved having them here for the two weeks and look forward to their next visit, hopefully in nicer weather.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We quickly got into the holiday spirit here as December arrived.  Annabelle and I went on a mommy/daughter outing to our town tree lighting.  We had  a cold, fun time.  The high school choir sang carols, the Lions provided hot chocolate and cookies, and Frosty and Rudolph were there to hand out candy canes.

 

Annabelle and Frosty




Annabelle and Redding Town Tree


After getting home and warming up we started to decorate our own tree,

Very carefully hanging ornaments

 got out our stockings


Silly Girl


and decorated a gingerbread house



Placing the wreath

On one of our many trips to Stew Leonard's in getting ready for Christmas we even got a visit to Santa in.

Cow sleigh at Stew's

It wouldn't be Christmas without a family picture in front of the tree.



The finished product

Front Window

Tree with Gifts

Stockings ready to go

December

December quickly came and went and along with it 2010.  It was a busy time here like anywhere else, and again I got behind on keeping everyone up-to-date.  So with the house fairly picked up, no dishes, no laundry and two kids sleeping I'll see how far I get on the posts I intended, but never got to until now.

Oma and Opa Part I

We were blessed with a visit from my parents for what turned out to be two weeks around Christmas.  The kids were spoiled, mommy and daddy got a bit of a break, and Oma and Opa got to see a little bit of the East Coast.

Annabelle had a long list of things to do while they were here and got through it a couple of times...here are some of the pictures:

Visiting Frog at Library
(Know if you visit us you will get a picture with The Frog)

Hudson and Oma (going through pictures)

Dunkin Donuts
(Annabelle happily got everyone a donut out, but tried each one first)

Bath Time with Oma and Opa (mommy break)
I told her to splash away while they were here

Sleeping in her princess tent
slept at the foot of Oma and Opa's bed the entire visit

Taking Oma for a walk at Yale

Hanging Out



Making Cookies
Something my Mom and I have done together the past few years
glad she was able to be here to roll out the candy cane cookies again.



Little Baker

Drive up to Litchfield County

When in Litchfield Annabelle most excited by the dancing Santa in the window

Nativity in Bethlehem, CT
When she got back to me "Mommy, I touched Baby Jesus"



BK a must with Oma
She is drinking ketchup here



First BK crown

Serving them in celebration of their 34th Wedding Anniversary

The evidence of their anniversary "dinner"