December (really, December)

I used up most of my sitting tolerance uploading pictures so there won't be a lot of writing. I tried to type on my beloved iPhone, but couldn't figure it out. So, I will just be quick.

We had fancy brunch at the Little America for Christmas. Hazel was extra fancy and wore her Cinderella dress.

Tayvia went regular fancy, not princess fancy.
The Santa was horrible. He had a weird look about him and wasn't very good with kids. Bad job, Little America.
Ha! My kid is a pill.
They had an awesome gingerbread house in the lobby.
Sometimes my kid is less of a pill.
Driving to my dad's on Christmas Eve. Hazel was exhausted and fell asleep. Being an awesome mom, I took a picture instead of removing the tiara. Also, I think I am currently driving on the freeway while taking this picture.
Jenni read Hazel a story.
Both Gloria and Hazel had crowns.
Cookies we made (from scratch!) for Santa.
Our stockings
Nova and Jenni spent the night too. Nova pondering eating the overbearing child.
Santa left us moustaches in our stockings.
Yeah! More food for Hazel's kitchen.
This is from a massive snowstorm we had on 12/30/09. Hazel went outside and played for at least an hour-and-a-half while I was working. A good break for both of us.
Cute!
My next goal is to get January's pictures uploaded. Including all the birthday pictures. Not today, however.

Monthly Update? What's that?!?!

I = suck. If only I could be a little more incompetent, people might not expect me to do so much. Of course, you would think from all the grief I get, that I am, in fact, completely incompetent. Or, maybe I would just think that.

Anyway, we haven't uploaded pictures since January 28 and haven't taken a picture since February 10. Yeah, that was like a long time ago.

So, here is a quick catch-up. With a bunch of pictures.

Hazel's verbal skills are improving every day. She talks more frequently and more clearly. It is great. Two is a fun age. I like the crazy talking and the "my turn!" and whatnot. Plus, Hazel is old enough to do stuff but still young enough to be restrained in a stroller. It is a bit tiring for the mama, but maybe that is just because I try and get in at least two hours of studying every night. Oh, and I have a job. And a two-year-old. And a Geoff...

She is also getting better at doing stuff. Like puzzles and reading books. And recognizing letters everywhere. She has also been very into coloring and playing with her doll house. And probably other stuff that I would think of if I wasn't exhausted.

Hazel made another trip to visit Baby Alex and co. in Texas. The weather was great and they watched Mickey Mouse and went to the zoo. Maybe other stuff, I don't know. I went to Portland and it was fabulous. I didn't watch Mickey Mouse or go to the zoo.

Making a snow angel. This was a massive snowstorm on....January.....28th? I just know that I got let out of work early, it took forever to get home and Geoff was laid up on the comp so I had to shovel everything. It has been a bad winter for snow and shoveling.

Hazel also made a "snow penguin". I don't know what made it a penguin. Or why the penguin wore a hat.
Playing in the box with daddy.


Sometimes we make her clean. She had to put on an apron to clean. Her choice, I am fine in her cleaning in whatever. By the time she gets really good at cleaning, she probably won't want to do it anymore.
Hazel likes to play on the computer. Mostly this involves banging on the keyboard and moving the mouse. And YouTube. She loves watching videos. Especially the Fairy Alphabet, from an old Sesame Street. And the Alligator King, and Ladybug Picnic, and so on and so forth.

The Internet. It is hypnotizing.
Notice that Hazel is now in a different outfit. They watch YouTube A LOT.

Cute baby in a hat. I love her in hats.

Hazel likes dogs a lot. Real or stuffed. She fashioned a leash out of her monkey backpack tail to use for her stuffed dog.
Most of all, Hazel loves her Nacho dog. Nacho is Hazel's dog. Triscuit is mommy's dog. Daddy doesn't get a dog. "sorry dad"

And that is the past month or so. Oh, and then our fridge died today. Or probably last night because the food was starting to thaw. But, I called a local appliance store (Famous Appliance) and they were able to deliver us a new fridge within an hour. Woo!!

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.