Happy Birthday to Hazel!!

Our baby is TWO! For her birthday, Hazel wanted a party. With cake and balloons and kids and party hats. Except for the party hats, she got everything she wanted. I decided we had enough activities and chaos and didn't need to add party hats to the mix. And, frankly, I don't think Hazel missed them.

We had brunch for Hazel's birthday, for the second year in a row. I made eight different quiche, but then didn't get out the camera before serving. Thanks to Anne for remembering the camera, or I possibly would have forgotten in the midst of the party. We also had yogurt parfaits and mini bagels. And cake. Cup-cake.
Hazel and her cupcake.
Mmmmmm.....frosting.
Hazel opening presents, notice the awesome party dress. Yes, I made that. And it is polka-dotty. And she has polka-dotted ribbons in her hair. And polka-dotted balloons. Not in her hair.

And a polka-dotted giraffe. Awesome. Which I didn't make, Amy made it. But, it totally fits the polka-dot theme.

Zoey and her parents came to the party. Zoey picked her own clothes. I understand this completely, as Hazel likes to pick her own clothes.
Gloria and Anthony and their parents came to the party. And Gloria was Grandpa Ray's friend, so we had to take a picture for proof.

Chase, Ashton, Dylan and Sadie came to the party. Chase = grown up.
Orson, Helen and Amy came to the party. Hazel was excited about Orson and had to pull out the matching Care Bear when I told her he was coming.

Anne and Jenni came to the party, but forgot to bring their cheeks.
Jenni and Shauntil were especially happy to come to the party. Oh, and they are crazy.

Jordan and Tayvia and their moms came to the party. And they proceeded to point fingers at each other. The kids, not the moms.
Hazel came to her party, and looked very determined about something.

Helen, Bonnie and Sadie were button-making machines!
More button making.
Zoey loved Hazel's big-girl bed. I am guessing she will get one in the near future, especially because her birthday is in three weeks.

Anthony, Orson and Gloria play with some Pez.

Proof that Gloria is Jenni's friend. Hazel is very finicky and sometimes likes people and sometimes h-a-t-e-s them. Gloria is nice and sweet. Thus, some people like proof of nice babies because they are used to the not-so-nice baby.
All in all, it was a fabulous party. And, it has been a fabulous year. We are looking forward to the, what are the called? Terrific twos? Yeah, I am sure that is what it is called.

Deep Fried New Year's Eve

So, to celebrate the new year, we (Jenni, mostly) decided we should have a Deep Fried New Year's Eve (DFNYE). This is as delicious as it sounds, but deadly.
We had donuts. Covered in sugar.
Also, clockwise, starting from the top. Cream cheese wontons, mini corn dogs, panko covered brie and onion rings.
Also, we deep-fried a Twinkie.
You see how we used whole-wheat flour? It is almost like our batter was "healthy".

We also deep fried: S'mores (which were like 100 times better than the zoo's), ham and swiss rolls, ham and Swiss wontons, pizza rolls, Brussel sprout (only one), my entire kitchen. It is like there is a haze in my house. The brie and the s'mores and the mini corn dogs were the most delicious, in my opinion.

And then we toasted the New Year with mini pigs-in-a-blanket. They were not deep-fried.
Happy New Years!

Christmas!

Christmas was fabulous this year. Hazel was far more into it this year. She loved giving presents and getting presents and wrapping presents and unwrapping presents and a sleepover with Auntie Jenni and seeing relatives and going home and all the other joy that comes with Christmas.

Hope everyone had as fabulous a Christmas as we did. Hugs and kisses.

Hazel got these super-cute jammies for Christmas from Shauntil. She got the matching robe (without even planning it!) from her mama. I thought I uploaded a picture of it but apparently I didn't. And since I have to upload in reverse order (stupid blogger, stupider Vista) and the Internet (the ENTIRE Internet!) has crashed twice, requiring two reboots, I am done. Just enjoy the pictures from Christmas.
Our three-generations (and Santa) picture. Apparently, I don't know how to brush my hair.
The normal Christmas Eve chaos. Meadow, Ashton, Anne, Hazel, Dylan and Sadie.

Mama and Hazel opening new jammies (JAMMIES!) on Christmas Eve. Hazel was having a hard time with all the other kids getting presents and none for Hazel. She was fine after opening jammies.
Jenni got a button for Christmas, something about how Engineers are ALWAYS wrong and never trust them, or something, Hazel borrowed it and wrapped it in a napkin and then gave it back to Jenni. We wrapped a lot of presents this season, but apparently not enough for Hazel.

Hazel, Sadie and Dylan. In a rare moment where Hazel is not attacking Dylan.
Hazel and Jenni reading the story of Ping, the duck who gets lost and then captured by a boy with a barrel on his back who later lets him go so his family doesn't eat Ping. I just think it is weird he has a barrel on his back.

Geoff standing guard on Christmas morning. He is the family brute squad.***As a side note: Geoff got a pedometer for Christmas (it was the "IT" gift this year) and now he is jogging in place while I update the blog. Damn you, Internet! I am going to lose in steps today, just like every day.***

Hazel opening presents from her Auntie Jenni. She was much better this year at opening presents. She even helped other people open their presents.

Hazel and mama reading Knuffle Bunny Too, her new book from Auntie Jenni. It is much wordier than the original Knuffle Bunny, but Hazel has a longer attention span now, so it works out.

Hazel and her daddy on Christmas morning.
Playing the accordion with Grandpa Ray. We tried to get a video of them playing together and Hazel freaked out. Her relationship with Grandpa Ray runs very hot-cold.
Cutie-cute pink shoes from Grandma and Grandpa Caracena. "Hazel Shoes?"

Opening the tent.
Hazel signing 'tent' to show the tent she got from her Grandma and Grandpa Caracena.

Hazel got a dollhouse from her Tutu. She loves it and has spent a good portion of the day playing with it.
Hazel got this fabulous cat from Auntie Michelle. There was a stray running around her 'hood and she took it to the taxidermist. It is actually a puppet, the hand hole is not in the back...

Meadow and Hazel got matching kitty (KITTY!) shoes from Ray and Anne. They are even more awesome in real life. Plus, matching. And kitty.

Hazel loves her tent. And it works perfectly on her bed, we were a little worried because Geoff shortened her bed to fit her mattress, because we don't have a crazy Ikea mattress. But, it worked and it is fabulous.

It was a very, very, very long day.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Hazel has been loving the snow this year. Last year she was really too little to care about it, except to hate the cold. On the first big snowstorm this year (December 1), we went and played in the backyard.

Nacho had to sniff the animal encircling Hazel head. The dogs also like playing in the snow. They play a game I like to call "Hide-the-poop", wherein they poop and then it snows and then I step in it because I can't see it under all the snow. I do not especially like to play this game.

I was trying to get Hazel to make a snow angel. I think she (1) did not understand what I was trying to get her to do and (2) did not care.

I love the shifty eyes in this picture.

The very next Saturday, we had another big storm. This was the day of our Cookie Party! so Geoff and Hazel shoveled the walks. I love this series of pictures.

Cookie Party!!!

We had our 2nd Annual Cookie Party a couple of weeks ago. Okay, maybe one week ago, but it has been a really crazy couple of weeks so it seems like it was a lot longer ago. And I am tired. And don't have the English....diction...

Anyway, I think the party was fabulous. The stupid rice in my chicken soup fell apart (again!) but it was still good and really the kids just cared about the massive quantities of frosting and candy. All in all, I think it was a lot of fun and even though it is always a lot of working to have a party, it is worth it.