Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2012 was so great!  We all went to the live animal service at Bethany and Hana performed again.  It was outside and a little cold, but well worth it!  Hana sang with her choir, but was most interested in being an angel and seeing the animals.  There was even a camel!

Not the best photo, but funniest! 

That's my Hana!

After that (and Hana's nap, for us) we all went over to Leif and Ann's house.  As usual, we ate too much and had a wonderful, fun filled family evening.  Christmas Day we all went back (the Balk's stayed, of course) and had a slightly "lighter" menu of soups and things.  We invited a few of our friends to join us as well.  It's always so nice to spend time with family and friends.

The girls liked their purses.

Christmas Day.  I love this picture.

"Classic" Karla head-tilt shot! 

Santa!

Our visit with Santa last Saturday went much better this year than prior years.  Hana has been seeing him on TV and I suppose her friends at school have been talking about him as well.  We went up to Zoka's again and arrived early enough to see Santa's arrival on the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department's fire truck.  Hana was thrilled to see him arrive!!  She said she wanted "a present" this year and one time she said she'd like something purple.  Let's hope that Santa can deliver. 

I should mention that earlier in the day, we went to see Hana's first real "live" show.  It was the Sesame Street "Elmo's World" show.  She loved about the first 10-15 minutes of it and then was ready to leave.  Our friend's the Jorgensen's were also there with their son Ryker.  We all left at intermission and went to Red Robin for lunch.  It was a busy and fun day!

Sunday, Hana sang the cutest song in church.  I forgot to hit "record" and am sick about it!  Thursday is her Christmas Program - I will make sure to record that!!

After Church, we went to the Turner's house to meet baby Carli, who was born via a surrogate on December 1st.  She's a sweetie and very mellow, just like Hana at that age!  :-)

Tree Trimming

Well, I have no idea why it's called that, but we did that tonight.  We actually "decorated" our tree. Knute, who was hunting last weekend in Wisconsin brought home the cute tree from Lois & Larry Balk's tree farm in Pepin, Wisconsin.  Knute says it's actually John's brother Randy's land.... details!

Anyway, we had fun finding old ornaments that we like a few "new" ones that we forgot about!  Overall, I think the tree looks pretty good!  Also, Hana had fun "helping" and also putting together (many times) the get tree that her grandma and grandpa gave her last Christmas.

Thanksgiving Week 2012

What a busy week!  Last Sunday, Glenn and Jane arrived.  Grandma made cookies for the our "Ugly Sweater" party and Grandpa and Hana decorated them.  We were also fortunate enough to have Grandma's homemade pasta not once, but twice during the week!  They also joined us at Hana's school for a "Thanksgiving Feast" lunch last Monday.

Hana (bottom left, pink pants) sang at church again.

This time her cousins came too!

Thursday, we all went down to the Balk's house for Thanksgiving.  All together there were 24 people and we were all very thankful for SO MANY things.  We are blessed and happy that Karla is recovering so well from her cancer treatments.

Most of the girls!

On Friday, my aunt Gayle and cousin Jennifer arrived.  Friday night we went to dinner at Karina's house so Glenn and Jane could see Hana one more time and meet Gayle & Jennifer.  Saturday was last minute shopping for ugly goodies at the Goodwill and then party prep.  I think everyone had a fun time and we sure did eat a lot.  Sunday we went to Boulder and watched a Twilight movie at home.  Monday, we saw the "part 2" of that movie at the theater!  I think Aunt Gayle might be hooked.

Some of the group - had to run out and get the cool sunset shot!!

In Boulder Canyon.

Halloween 2012

Yesterday was a super fun day for Hana!  At school, they did a "parade" from office to office getting candy with the bags they made on Monday.   Hana wore Halloween clothes, but we "saved" her actual outfit for trick-or-treating at home. 

Once she got home, she dressed as a cupcake.  First, we drove over to Britta (and Sonja's, although she wasn't home yet) house and Hana picked her first (two) pieces of candy.  Then, we headed back to our neighborhood, wher ethe 3 of us ventured out.  Knute was able to stay most of the time (due to our early start) before he headed home to hand out candy to the kids who came to our house.  Hana had a blast and the neighbors were all very nice.  Two even took pictures of Hana! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4iJ4gMZORw

I should also mention that Tuesday night we carved pumpkins:

And Sunday, Knute and Hana went down to John and Karla's house for a visit.  (I stayed home sick.)  Krestie is visiting to help Karla, as she did her 2nd round of chemo last week.  She is such an inspiration. 

On Friday, November 2, we had a family dinner at Gabriel's in Sedalia.  Knute and Ann were out of town (hunting for Knute and college looking with Solveig for Ann) but the rest of us had a nice time. 

Goal!

Britta's Betes

Today we walked in the Step up to Stop Diabetes walk with Britta and friends.  It was a beautiful day with perfect weather!  Afterwards, we went to Lala's for brunch and it was delicious!

Pizza dough for the kids to play with - great idea!

Then they cook it and give it to the kids with cinnamon and honey.

Then, after Hana's nap this afternoon, we headed south to Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.  Hana got to ride on a pony, we took a hay ride, she went through the children's corn maze AND we went to look for the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch.  Alas, we did not find the perfect one and decided to wait for daddy to get back form his SD hunting trip to pick one out with him.  Well, maybe.  There is a nice looking bunch at the church down the street, so we may go tomorrow.

 

Helping steer the horses on the hay ride!

Telling me why this was a good pumpkin!

This one is big enough to sit on!

Speaking of tomorrow, Hana is singing for the first time ever in church tomorrow with her Cherub Choir form school.

Aunt Ann  and Aunt Karina came to watch!  It was great!!  Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVSkgRqH6G8&feature=em-share_video_user

Big weekend!

DC Weekend for Dan & Andrea's Wedding

What a magical weekend!  Congratulations to Andrea (Palm) and Dan Utech!  Your wedding was a wonderful celebration and it is obvious that you two are perfect for each other!  Your whole family is so happy for you both and we were honored to be a part of your special day!!

 

I should also mention we were very privileged to be able to take a special West Wong tour of the White House.  It was amazing to be in such historic areas of our President's work space.  It was even more amazing that we were able to do it that weekend, as all tours were supposed to be suspended that weekend due to the annual Fall Garden Tour on the south lawn of the White House.  That was open to the public and we also took the tour.  That garden was MUCH nicer than mine (what an understatement!)  We also took in most of the National Monuments.  I brought the wrong shoes and I think my feet may never be quite the same!  :-)

 

South Lawn view of the White House

That is the Oval Office on the left.

We saw it on our tour! :-) 

The President had this put right outside the Oval Office, 

so he could see his girls play.

Looks kind of like Hana's playset!  :-) 

West side entrance to the West Wing

North side entrance to the West Wing. 

This room may look familiar to.... well everyone!

It's much smaller than it appears on TV!

Notice the White House to the left.

Awesome day of sight-seeing!