Christmas morning is always nice because we don't have to leave to go to Papa/Pia's or Nana's until later in the afternoon. So we spend the morning in our PJ's and play, put the kids down for naps, shower and get ready and then go! I couldn't imagine having to hurry and open gifts, hurry and get ready and then hurry and leave. With my older brother (that has disowned us) we would have to be at his house at 9:00am, we would open gifts, eat, and then kinda be kicked out at 12:30 so the kids could nap. It was almost like it was an obligation for them to have us over. Now take into account that their kids were the only babies and we ADORED them and I always felt kinda cheated out of watching them enjoy and play...it was just so...routine? Not relaxing AT.ALL. Here are the babies all dressed to go to Nana's for Christmas. Hazel's dress is darling and Hagen looks as handsome as ever.

Santa came! It was so easy this year as there were not really too many things to put together. I did shopping throughout the past 3-4 months so it wasn't a big rush either which is killer! Hagen's loot:
Tee Pee
Digger thing for yard
Lincoln Logs
Darth Vader clock
Bat Mobile
Bow and Arrow - Nerf
Shotgun - Nerf
learning tablet
remote control moon
coloring books and dry erase crayon activity book
Rocket
Bouncy ball thing
He loved it all! We were so excited to see him so excited. When we woke him up he said, "Is it time? I think I heard some banging last night...maybe it was Santa?"

This year is the year that my brother Adam (the nice one) goes to NC to visit his wife's family, so we spend Christmas Eve with my parents! I remember 2 years ago it snowed and was the prettiest eve EVER! It almost snowed this year, but not quite. Both kids had strep so it was good to have a laid back day. Mom made her famous Cheese Soup, we baked potatoes in the crock pot, and Ryan smoked a brisket! Yes, we will probably be burned out on smoked stuff soon enough, but not yet.

Noah and Emily will be visiting family in NC this year so we met before they left and decorated cookies for Santa and exchanged gifts! The gap between the girls is slowly filling up! They get so excited to see each other. Hazels ponies are getting longer and Em's curls are coming in fast!! Hagen and Hazel gave Em and Noah personalized books with their faces in them. Hazel got a cute pink outfit with poodles on it and Hagen got a t-shirt with Spider man AND Captain America! It was a huge hit! I also gave Adam and Rebecca salt dough ornaments...I couldn't resist. My brother has started...wait for it...collecting coins! Ha! He loves it and is finding some really old coins. So I found an ornament that was for a coin collector. I got Rebecca one that is a girl with a camera since she has started a photography business. So happy for her because she is so good...and loves it!

We did Polar Express this year again! It is a train in Grapevine that takes you on seriously like a 20 minute ride. It is short but perfect! The kids all had matching PJ's on...Hazel and Emily in red and the boys in green. It was POURING outside so Rain boots for the boys! Here is Hazel and Papa!!
Sweet Hazel was getting so sleepy. I had to take Sophie with us (who is usually in her bed ONLY) because the ride was late and WAY past her bedtime. It was a good thing I did!!

So I'm wrapping up the end of the year...doing some organizing at the office, etc. I've got a huge Christmas Zit and it keeps bleeding since it is in a spot where if I move any muscle in my face it cracks it. I look swell. OH, and I had my hair in a sock bun on the tippy top of my head 2 days in a row. I am just looking fabulous at work lately.

I went to pick Hagen up from school yesterday and he was in time out reading a book. When his eyes met mine he had the SADDEST look on his face. I took him out into the hallway and asked him why he was in time out. He had the quiver lip and eyes filled to the brim with tears. "I don't know Mama." I asked him if he really didn't know or if he was afraid to tell me. I followed it up with he needs to tell me everything and that I would be very upset if he hid anything from me. Also that if he didn't tell me and I had to ask the teacher I wouldn't be happy. He started crying that "cant catch my breath" cry and said he wasn't being a good listener and the teacher told him to put centers away and come sit on his name and he didn't. I thanked him for telling me and said no shows tonight. and that was it...easy peasy.

Hazel has figured out how to take backward steps. It is so cute to watch...it looks like she is trying to do the moon walk.

Hazel also LOVES the Yeti or however you spell it on the old Rudolph show...you know that big white snow monster? Smiles and laughs when he is on the TV.

Hagen called me Peanut Butter Underpants one day when he was mad at me...Oooooooo....scary.

Hagen has been making alot of ornaments lately. I got some at Hobby Lobby for a cold afternoon when Ryan was out of town. He colored it and put glitter glue on it and was so proud! Well, one night Hagen was going potty standing up (if you know what I mean). Hazel came in with the ornament in her hands...looked at Hagen...and dropped his ornament in the stream. He was sad...but surprisingly not angry! Hazel laughed...I stifled in a laugh while fishing out the ornament...and Hagen told Hazel it is not nice to tee tee on ornaments! That's Right Hagen...that's right...

Ryan got a year review and it was very positive. He has worked so hard this year and missed out of some firsts of Miss Hazel. I'm glad that he has a job that he enjoys and likes and the feelings are mutual.

So Ryan and I have been doing our date nights on the patio wrapped up in blankets with a heater on lately. We just love it outside because it feels like we are away. Plus, It is snore city if I am inside on the couch drinking. Hagen has been joining us some and cozying up and watching football. He said he loves date night! I remember growing up my parents would have steak night and alot of times it was after we were in bed. I remember being so jealous of the marinated mushrooms and the avocado with this special dressing my mom would make to put over it! Weird huh? I was jealous of marinated mushrooms and avocado salad...

Hagen started playing soccer! I wish everyone could see how ADORABLE he is in his biker shorts "soccer underware" that he wears under his shorts. It is indoor soccer so it is not cold. Ryan has been taking him mostly and I stay home because his games are at 8:00am so we have to leave around 7:15...Miss Hazel and I like our sleep. I took him last week because I wanted to go and also to let Ryan sleep in a bit. It was adorable...like little ants running around. They got creamed...but were having fun. Hagen kicks and then falls on purpose. Plus, he is tackling...the opponets AND his teammates. Even if they don't have the ball...weirdo. We are working on trying all the sports out and seeing which one he likes best. Will be interesting! After the games Ryan gets him a slurpee and chips...it's 9:00 freaking o'clock in the morning people! I was mortified that I had to do so...it is an "atta boy" for Hagen.

I sent my older brother a note through LinkedIn last week..."Hey Matt, with the holidays here you have been on my mind alot. I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Love, Carrie"....nothing...I sent a Christmas card also as I have every year. I'm not surprised at no response, but it just blows my mind that he is gone...but only lives about 10 minutes from me...

Hagen NEVER got into cabinets except for the Tupperware cabinet which I let him get into. Hazel? She is into EVERYTHING she is not supposed to be into. So this week the locks went on the cabinets...which is a huge thorn in my side. We have the ones that you use the magnet to unlock...BEATING.

"Hazel, what does Santa say?"
"Ha Ha Ha"
too cute

Hagen and I went on a date the other night. He took a shower, put his PJ's on and we went through Starbucks drive thru for Hot Chocolate and drove around in the rain looking at lights! Ryan is so Bah Humbug and doesn't like lights...Hazel goes to be early so it was just Hagen and I! We like the Christmas carols and looking at lights so really it was best that it was just us two. Ryan needs to get a grip and realize that he will have to do things even if he doesn't like it because it is about the KIDS and not him...dipshit...

In the morning I tell the kids lets go to school! I then put hats and coats on. Well now when I say "Let's go to school" Hazel walks fast to the hat box and picks out her hat and tries to put it on and walks to the back door. She is so cute...growing up way fast

This is so random...I just had alot of thoughts on my mind...

Tata,
Carrie

I've been horrible about posting things! Life is busy...good and busy so it leaves me little time to talk about what is going on!

Hagen is just sweet. He is having some issues with his listening skills so I have to make sure and make him look me in the eyes and give him specific instructions. Like this morning. "Hagen, I need you to brush your teeth, put these shoes on, and pick out a holiday book to take to school. Got it? OK, now what do you need to do?" He repeats and slowly does what is asked. He is just like me in that he has a million things floating in his mind and it is hard to concentrate...I get it.

Hazel is walking like a pro now. She has even started trying to run or walk very fast. She is the cutest little walker ever!! She is saying the sound of "H" when we ask her what Santa says. She is also sounding out a "D" when she sees Dapper, but that is pretty much her extent on talking. I'm sure she is going to be talking our ears off soon enough so we will just wait. She also just popped her 5th tooth!

I wanted to make a list of some of our holiday traditions and talk about some new ones we have going on!
1. Kirby our Elf has been here since Thanksgiving night. I'm not sure if Hagen cares this year to be honest. He likes to look for him in the morning and then when I say "Hagen, Kirby saw that" if he is up to no good he just kinda shrugs it off.

2. I love decorating the tree every year! I like to see our ornaments from the years past. To be honest I stress out about the yearly ornaments every year! This year I couldn't find a salt dough person. People kept saying for me to make them...they don't understand that these look like homemade, but not like crap...they are detailed and just not something I want to do. Hagen's this year is Batman and Hazel's is a little girl in a Christening gown.

3. Christmas Eve we are having my parents over to our house. We have decided that Ryan will smoke a brisket, Mom will make her famous cheese soup, and I will put baked potatoes in the crock pot and have some snacks. We don't want to be cooking all day...we just want to chill, drink, and eat. I can't wait and honestly love spending the day with my family and my parents...it is calm and relaxing.

4. Hagen is already excited about putting out reindeer food for Santa and the reindeer.

5. OK, people will be so jealous on this one. My parents give us money for Santa. They pay for Santa's gifts. So basically we don't spend money on the kids because Papa and Pia do it! They tell us to go shopping for the kids and they pay for it. It is wonderful!! Then they get things for the kids that they need or just stuff they want to get them. It is not that exciting sometimes to be honest. It's not like they give them the toy of their dreams...but they don't care. They want Santa to be the true hero. I just can't wait till the day to say, "you know all those fabulous gifts Santa brought you? Your Papa and Pia are the true Santa's". Of course it will be when they are way older...I can't wait to help Hagen and Hazel out with Santa when they have a family of their own...it means so much!

6. Our Santa gifts are all unwrapped and displayed. Most are out of the box and put together. I HATE having all the wrapping, twist ties, boxes, etc. Nice to have them all ready to play with!

7. Ryan and I skip gifts for each other. We are just so opposite that it is stressful. We do things throughout the year and would much rather focus on the family. BUT we have a new thing this year. Ryan will take Hagen to Target with $50 and tell him to shop for me...anything he wants to get me. I will then do the same for Ryan. I can't wait to blog about what he picked out!! Could be hilarious...

8. This year is Ryan's mom to have us for Christmas Day. I have a great time and love his family, but it is so hard to not have the holidays like you grew up knowing. It is sad that my parents will be alone on Christmas Day (My brother will be in NC with his wife's family). But it is good that on the year that we DO spend Christmas with my parents is when Adam's family is in town and is there too. I think that is one of the hard parts of getting married is switching holidays...Ryan and I started doing this when we started dating...

9. So my Dad gets envelopes with $100 in each to hand out to strangers that look like they could use some help. I have decided to do this also and can not WAIT to do so! Honestly, if you have a little money to spare this holiday season, put a chunk in an envelope, drive to an area that is needy, and pull over and hand an envelope that says "Merry Christmas" to a stranger...there is no feeling that matches it. Make sure the drive away and not look back...you will feel wonderful.

That's what I can think of for now...
TATA,
Carrie

What? I know...I am a terrible blogger!!
This year we spent Thanksgiving at my brother Adam's house. We fried 2 turkeys and everyone brought over a side and an appetiser or desert. I can honestly say that it was the most stress free Thanksgiving to date!! The kids eat first and then go watch a movie and then the adults eat. Hazel took a rest while we ate so it was relaxing.

I'm not going to do all that "how did the time go by so fast" crap...but it's true...
Sweet Hazel Grace, you are 1 year old! It's actually a few days past your 1st birthday but you didn't have your 1 year well check until last night and I wanted to put that in this post.

Fun Halloween this year! I think next year will be even better because Hazel will be 2 and can go out trick or treating with the cousins! Here is a picture of Hazel and her BFF Sophie. They don't smile...very serious...but they liked the parade and got lots of smiles and Aww's...
Hagen got to hold Annalisa's hand...she was Hello Kitty! he was SO excited as you can see. Loved having his family "fan club" front and center to greet him!

Sweet baby Hazel Grace was FINALLY baptised this past weekend! We had some scheduling conflicts with Ryan's traveling and getting the required class in (only offered once a month) and then setting a date. She wore a BEAUTIFUL dress bought by my parents...long, smocked, detailed...just perfect! Here she goes!
Hagen was so proud...he was curious and it was interesting explaining it to him as we are TERRIBLE about going to church...we need to get our crap together!! The water was warm so she didn't cry much...just a little...