Christmas Cookies

Hazel,
It has been so fun trying new things with you as you get older and more able to do things. We have been really excited for this Christmas season, and making Christmas cookies with you is one of the reasons! You and Daddy went and got us some cookie cutters while Mommy made the dough. When you guys got back from the store you helped me cut out cookies. I was impressed with how well you did, and how long it held your attention. You loved picking which shape, and cutting each one out! Later than night we frosted and decorated the cookies. You are so creative, and LOVE sprinkles! You didn't really see a need for frosting, just sprinkles, sprinkles, and more sprinkles! So fun to start these traditions with you. You make my heart happy.

We love watching you grow!
Mommy and Daddy

O Christmas Tree

Hazel,
We had such a great time picking out a tree this year! It was awesome. We went to one of Daddy's friends tree farms, and they had crafts, and they drove us right to the trees, and cut it down for us, and tied it up and put it in our car for us! You had such fun stomping around in the mud by the trees. You picked up several branches off of the ground you were sure should be our Christmas tree! We love this little tree! And decorating, well, you were into the idea of decorating, not so much the reality. You did help for awhile, and oh were you gentle and purposeful with those ornaments. Finding just the right placement and putting them on gently, just like we told you! Such concentration on your face. Then you found the strings of beads, and it was all over. You couldn't get enough of the feets and feets of beads!

We love you, you smily happy girl!
Mommy and Daddy

be thankful

Hazel,
This year we spent Thanksgiving with Nana, Papa, Aunt Al, Aunt Hannah, and Uncle Ty. We did a lot of hanging out and eating together, well, and playing with you! You had tons of fun playing with everyone. You learned some really important facts about Uncle Ty, like he likes chocolate milk almost as much as you, and you can convince him to eat any sweet treat you want! We went to playdate PDX and once again, you ran and ran and went down the slide approximately one million times. We got to feed the goats at Uncle Andy's house (mommy's uncle), we got to see Aunt Al be baptized (super super cool), we got to eat lots of great food, and we just got to be together! We are so thankful for our family!

We love you so much!
Mommy and Daddy

Caught You

Hazel,
Two has been mostly good. Some not so fun, but mostly good. You are so darn smart that usually when you want something I can explain why you can't have it in a way that you can understand and you take it okay. However, you are also smart enough that you've figured out how to counter my points, or sometimes you are just so tired you whine, or sometimes you just don't feel like listening. At any rate, I know these tantrums, meltdowns, whining sessions, and overall "two-ness" is a phase that will pass, and we try to just let you work through it. But sometimes, just sometimes, we have to laugh. I promise we are laughing with you...okay, maybe we are laughing at you, but we love you a ton. In the second picture, you were sitting on my lap calming down so I held the camera up and took a picture of you, which of course, set you off all over again. Oh man.

Meanwhile, this is what your happy, easy going brother was doing! Don't worry, he'll be two one day too. Then you can laugh with us.

We love you so much!
Mommy and Daddy

A Football and Super Hazel

Hazel,
We were a little behind the game on Halloween this year. Fortunately, you LOVE your Super Hazel cape Aunt Al made you, and we thought that would make a good costume. The other good news is that we got a sleeper for Fletcher that was a football, which made a perfect costume for him. You guys are so cute! You had a lot of fun trick-or-treating this year! We ended up going down by Clearlake Elementary since that is a much bigger neighborhood. There were so many families out, it was just perfect! The fire department was even out and we got to sit on a fire truck. You didn't exactly love it. In fact, you mostly just asked to get down as soon as we set you up there! You were such an awesome Super Hazel!

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

Pumpkin Patching

Hazel,
This year we kept waiting to go to the pumpkin patch, even though the weather was great. We thought for sure we were going to miss the good weather, but we found one last Sunday of dry weather to go play at the pumpkin patch! You had so much fun this year. We got you some tickets so you could try some new activities. Although you are still pretty hesitant with trying new things (unless a friend goes with you), you had tons of fun! You did a hay maze, and really loved it, we rode on a tractor ride through the pumpkin patch, you got to drum a huge drum, eat donuts, climb lots, go on a terrifying ladybug ride, and swing on a giant swing. Such fun!!!

We love you so much, and are so proud of how you try new things!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Sharing the Bath

Hazel, you are such a nice sister, and let Fletcher in the bath with you! You are so sweet with him, and this is just another example. You were so excited for him to be in there too, and didn't even complain when he took up all the room and just kept splashing! You are such a great sister!

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy