Hanging with Cousins Sure Beats After-Christmas Sales

The day after Christmas we spent the day with Auntie Belinda, Uncle Kwame, Kofi and Kwaw at the Children's Museum. The kids had a blast playing with the stage and puppet show. The boys also loved the contruction zone while Hannah tried out the craft room.

We really enjoyed the chance to spend some time with Auntie Belinda, Uncle Kwame and the boys- just don't get to see enough of these guys. We had a great time, thanks for coming down guys. Love ya!


Hannah's puppet show.


Kwaw and Kofi putting on a puppet show.


Hannah playing with the puppets.


Kwaw walking the kitty (kitty looks like she has seen better days)


Waiting for their cue -Kwaw and Hannah waiting to sing "Who let the dogs out."


Performing on stage with Kofi.

Skinny Jeans

Hannah's first pair of skinny jeans. She got a bunch of clothes from Auntie Lisa for Christmas and loves them! Thanks Auntie Lisa.

Not sure where the baby went but this little girl is definitely growing up too fast. She loves fashion and anything that sparkles. She is going to need a good job to support her "wardrobe needs" when she is a teenager. :)

Simply Having A Wondeful Christmas Time

Wishing all our friends and family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


"Mama, he left us thousands!" Hannah ckecking out what Santa left us.


Helping Grandma open her gift.


Helping Daddy open presents.


Dress-up clothes!


Trying on a mink stole from her new dress-up box.



Simply gorgeous!


Matt enjoying the gift opening. Pretty perky for only having had 3 hours of sleep.


A balloon waving harmonica concert. You all missed a great show!

The Christmas Star

"Twinkle twinkle follow me I know where baby Jesus is."

Hannah played the Christmas star in the kindergarten Christmas play. All week she had her line down cold. She was ready. She made her entrance perfectly and waited unitl it was time - and waited and waited.... then multiple classmates "whispered" Hannah, Hannah say your line. Hannah speaks her line quickly and quietly to which her class yells "louder!" She responds and executes her line flawlessly. Seems the girl who has no problem talking to or "performing" for just about anybody is shy when on a stage.

The play was cute, it is the Christmas Story according to the kindergartners. The kids write the lines so it was pretty funny at times. A wonderful way to usher in the Christmas holiday and a great reminder what Christmas is really about.



The Star



The Cast

Holidays

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.


A house for my Zhu Zhu pets. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!



Daddy and Hannah at Grandma and Grandpa's house.


Eating, I mean making a gingerbread house.


Mom, how many candies have to go on the house.


Hannah and Grandma on Thanksgiving.


Hannah and Matt sharing a hug after Thanksgiving dinner. Big brothers are great.


Hannah's first try at making sausage and apple herbed stuffing. Yum!

My Montage 11/13/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Six!

It is hard to believe this little girl is six already. It seems like just yesterday that we brought home a 3 1/2 year-old that was not much bigger than a healthy year-old baby. From not talking at all to never not talking! She has grown so much and given us so much joy in watching her grow.

Hannah, you are one amazing little girl. You have been through a lot in your short life and yet you handle all life has thrown you with the maturity of someone far beyond your years. You are kind and caring and bring so much joy to all who know you. But most of all I love how you love life. You remind me each day to live as if there is no tomorrow, to laugh and to love well.

I pray sweet girl that God will bless you abundantly in your life with people to always love you, a sense of humor to weather the storms, kindeness and compassion to help others and faith to guide your way.

We love you Hannah Deratu, Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Now a few pics of the party at Blackhills Gynastics Center.


Drowning in a sea of foam!


Kwaw chilling in the foam pit.



Jumpin with the girls.


The party picture - not easy getting 19 kids together. :)


Just ask them to make silly faces and they love having their picture taken.


Uncle Kwame lighting the candles.


The birthday girl opening presents.


Getting some birthday hugs from her cousins

The Belle of the Ball

This year for Halloween, Hannah wanted a super sparkly costume and this Belle dress fit the bill just fine. But it wasn't until we found the Belle wig at a party supply store that outfit was complete!

She had a great time trick or treating in the neighborhood. Most houses thought she was so cute they gave her two pieces of candy. With double candy, we were able to wrap up our trick or treating just before the rain started to fall. Perfect!


Of course no princess outfit is complete without some lipstick!

Fairies

Hannah loves everything fairies and princesses. So it is no surprise that when she went to a halloween party that had a balloon man for the kids entertainment that she requested he make her a set of fairy wings.

Pretty talented balloon man. She loved her wings and had a lot of fun running around the house trying to fly. :)

Marshmallow Madness

Last week when Hannah and I went to the school auction we bid on a marshmallow "cooking set" and won the bid. A week goes by and Hannah is begging me every night to play with the new set. It was a crazy busy week, but on Friday, I finally relented and let her and her new friend make marshmallow treats.

Initially the girls used the molds and made marshmallow dogs and bears and then decorated them as instructed. However, we quickly used up all the mix that came with the set so the girls decided to start concocting their own potions and formulas. What followed was a very sticky table, two even sticker girls and for some reason, water everywhere! They had a blast. I guess it's true what they say about parents mellowing with age. :)


Marshmallow Bears!

Big Girl Bed

A big girl bed! When we were getting ready to bring Hannah home from Ethiopia we ordered a bed and mattress set for her new room. Well, the mattress came but they were out of the bed we ordered and it would be months before they would be able to ship one to us. So we cancelled the order and set up the mattress and boxspring, bought a cute comfroter and finished decorating her room.

Lucky for us, the decision not to order a different bed proved to be a smart move. Our baby girl was too small to even climb up on the mattress set by herself, a bedframe would have made it impossible for her to get in her bed on her own for months.

Fast forward two and half years. The girl has grown nearly 9 1/2 inches and the Mommy decides it is time to get the big girl a real bed. So we went shopping and Hannah picked out the girliest bed she could find. The delivery guys arrived and set up the new bed and then we finished decorating with the flowery comforter and bed pillows she picked out.

She loves her new bed but she is still too short to get into it on her own without climbing up on the rail and then pulling herself up by grabbing onto her comforter. Oh well, at least we won't have to worry about her outgrowing it anytime soon!


Hannah's new bed and nightstand

Pumpkin Farm

Last week Hannah and Mommy got to go on a fieldtrip to the pumpkin farm. We had a great time and the weather cooperated too. We got to pick a pumpkin, ride in a hay wagon and pet the baby animals. We also got to run through a hay maze. We had lunch outside too!

After the pumpkin farm, we went back to school and washed and weighed our pumpkins. We had to guess how big they were and then we measured them to see how close our guess was. It was so much fun!


Hand on the wall - an effective kindergarten teacher technique


Riding in the hay wagon


Pumpkins!


I can't find a round one :( Keep looking sweetie


I found one!


Mrs. Matthews and the class pumpkin


We got our pumpkins!


This shot gives new meaning to the saying "Christmas is just around the corner."


Farmer Schilter giving the kids instructions for the hay maze


Hay maze


Hi Mom!


Eeeewww.... These guys stink!


Petting the new calf


Petting the goats


Lunchtime


St Mike's Kindergarten Class