Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Each year seems to be better and better. Hannah had a wonderful time this season and it was great to see her taking it all in. She is at a great age.

Below is a slideshow of our Christmas. We hope you enjoy.

Have a safe and happy New Year. We pray 2009 bring you lots of joy, love and peace.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Messenger Christmas & The Land of the Inflatables

Last Saturday, we had a family outing. The grandparents (Nana, Mimi & Papa) and Great Grandma Rose all came with us to see The Messenger Christmas and The Land of the Inflatables. The Messenger Christmas has been around for 45 years and Jason & I both have memories of visiting it as a child. The most vivid memory is touching the North Pole. It's is fun to share the same experience with our own little girl.

We started the evening all attending Mass together. From there, we went to Bass Pro to eat. There was some entertainment while waiting for a table. Hannah "rode" a 4 wheeler, took a picture with Santa & Mrs. Claus & helped Daddy shoot a gun. Ater dinner was a delicious chocolate cookie ice cream dessert.

From there, we went to the Messenger Christmas and then onto the Land of the inflatables (as we call it). It is a house that has taken over a few of it's neighbors' yards to display over 600 Christmas themed inflatables.

We had a great time watching Hannah take it all in. She is really at a very fun age for Christmas. She is so exctied about everything.

Here is a slideshow of the evening.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Away in a Manger

Since we didn't have our video camera at Hannah's school party, I decided to set the pictures of them performing to the song. Here is a slideshow of the kids singing and signing Away in a Manger.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hannah's School Christmas Party

We went to Hannah's School Christmas Party held after naptime. We walked in as they were preparing for their "skit" which we had no idea they were doing. Ms Monique & Ms Ada had a manger scene set up in the room. The kids were dressed as Angels and Shepherds. They then began singing "Away in a Manger" and doing some movements to the song. Of course I became very teary eyed (surprise surprise). Afterwards they ate snacks of cupcakes, cookies, brownies & juice. They then opened their presents of books & coloring books. Ms Ada read a couple of books to them and then we went home. We've attached more pictures of the day as well as one of her and Santa when he visited her school last week.

We hope you are all having a blessed Christmas season. It has really been fun with Hannah this year. All of the memories will forever live in our hearts.

Tomorrow we will take Hannah, along with her grandparents to see some lights around town. If we take pictures (I know that's funny) we'll post more.

Have a great weekend.


Me & Santa


"The Little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head"


"I love thee Lord Jesus"


It's Snack Time!


Ms Ada is reading my new book to the class. It is titled "Heaven is Having You"


Picture with Ms. Ada


Picture with Ms. Monique

Fun in the Leaves

Jason decided to rake leaves today. It's funny how we DON'T have any trees in our yard, yet we had a yard full of leaves and branches after Gustav and now as our neighbors' tree sheds its leaves. Anyway, Hannah and Jason took the opportunity to have fun in the pile of leaves.


I'll help rake the leaves daddy


Soooo tempting



I'm going in



Who needs snow?

Santa's Special Visit

Hannah had a surprise visit from Santa last night. He came to her house and gave her two candy canes. He also reminded her that she MUST sleep in her bed all night for him to be able to visit again on Christmas Eve. (It didn't work. She was up a bunch last night) Anyway, she was so cute with Santa and decided to tell him completely different things she wanted for Christmas than what she had been saying... like a puppy dog. Santa told her he would bring her a puppy when she was old enough to take care of it. In addtion to that was a blue Minnie (because the other 14 Minnie Mouse animals she has isn't enough) and a pink baby.

Here are some pictures of her with Santa Claus.

Dancing Christmas Party

Hannah had her Christmas Party at dancing on Monday. They danced the first half and the second half ate snacks and played. It was cute. Here are some pictures of our little ballerina.


Here I am with my teachers, Miss Lauren and Mrs. Shannon


Skipping around...silly silly girl


Gotta love Pizza

It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas...

With the snow on Thursday and the events of this weekend, it is definitely beginning to feel like Christmas. Although today's temperature is in the mid 70's. And didn't it just snow here 3 days ago?

Last night we went to the Baton Rouge Christmas Parade downtown. Hannah had fun. It was cold but only lasted an hour, so we all tolerated it well. Here are some pictures.















Today we went to church. Hannah is still asking to pick more angels off of the angel tree. Afterwards, we came home to build our first gingerbread house; or as Hannah calls it a gingerman house. We had fun doing it and she did pretty well decorating it.












After naptime, we are going to Nanny's house to eat Christmas cookies that she and Madison baked. Tomorrow is her dancing class Christmas Party and Mrs. Claus is going to her school on Wednesday to read and sing Christmas Carols. It is hard to belive Christmas day is fast approaching. We hope you are all enjoying the season as much as we are.

It's Snowing!!

Jason woke up this morning for work before 6 am and came running into the bedroom yelling "It's Snowing...Get Up". I jumped out of bed and said "Get Hannah". Of course Hannah was on the couch (why did we buy her a new bedroom set????). We grabbed her and went outside to see this...






After playing for a short while, we went back inside. It was cold and Hannah was not as impressed with the snow as her Daddy and I. We crawled back into bed and began dreaming of a winter wonderland. About an hour later, we got up to see Jason still home and the snow flakes much larger and covering the ground. It has been over 20 years since we have seen it snow this much in Baton Rouge. We dressed Hannah warmly and headed back outdoors for snowball fights, snow angels and fun. Here are more pictures.













After playing for a little while in the snow, Hannah and I came back inside for a warm bath while Jason had to go to work. What a magical morning. Due to the snow, Mrs. Claus could not make it to Hannah's school. I guess she forgot her sleigh at the north pole. Hopefully she will be able to return before Christmas. But the bright side is we were able to play in snow and who knows when we will be able to do that again! I think with the new baby, it could be a while before we head up to Colorado again to go skiing.

Have a wonderful day in the snow!!


Here is a slide show of some of the same pictures with music.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Tyke Hyke Baby Class

Today we took Hannah to Woman's Hospital for a Tyke Hyke Class where she learned about "her" new baby. She learned how to properly care for baby, how to hold baby, how to feed baby and how to change his/her diaper. She also learned she must wash her hands before holding baby and where on baby she can touch/kiss. It was funny to watch just how much she is taking in during the class. Hannah was great with her baby doll. She did really well holding the baby and supporting its head. She also did very well holding the bottle and changing a diaper. Maybe this new baby thing won't be so challenging for Jason and I afterall. We'll just teach Hannah to call for us when she needs anything! (just joking) After the class, we went on a tour of the hosptial. Hannah saw a new baby in the nursery, who happened to be sleeping. Of course, we know that won't always be the case at home. We then went to a room where she could see where I would be after delivery. I think she learned a lot. I just worry about my girl and all of the changes she'll endure. I know many have been there before, but Hannah is my love. I am afraid of some regressions once baby is here. We've already seen some signs lately, like potty "accidents" and sleepless nights. Oh well, she will learn that this new baby will be only bring us all closer. And we thought that couldn't be possible.

Here are some pictures of Hannah taking care of her pretend baby.


Great job feeding baby while supporting its head!




Now it's time for a diaper change.



Holding my daddy's hand...this picture is precious!


With less than 7 weeks to go, we will see how much this class has helped. This evening Hannah wanted to change her Baby Minnie Mouse and use one of the baby's diapers. We then put on one of Hannah's premie outfits on Baby Minnie and they went to sleep together. I think she's going to be a great Big Sister!

Clubhouse Disney Live

Friday, Jason and I surprised Hannah with tickets to Clubhouse Disney Live at the River Center. We started the night at Frostop where Hannah danced to the jukebox (she had never seen one of these).





Hannah entertaining the staff and diners at Frostop







After dinner, we went to the show. Hannah had her Minnie Mouse sweater on and her Minnie Mouse Ears. She was excited when she learned what her surprise was. She couldn't wait to see Mickey & Minnie.






Here at last!




Wearing My Minnie Mouse Ears




Doing the Hot Dog Dance




Playhouse Disney Characters...Where is Pluto & Daisy???







After the show we went to Coffee Call and had hot chocolate and Beignets. Hannah loved them and it was fun to see her eat the "donuts". We will definitely be going there again or perhaps next time it will be to Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.





All of these are for me?





Yummy in My Tummy










We had a great family night together. It was more fun to watch Hannah than to watch the show. She alone is entertainment.

Making Cookies With Ro Ro

We joined the Cimino tradition of baking Italian Cookies. Hannah had a good time rolling and dipping her sesame cookies with RoRo, Mimi & Aunt Sandy. It was great to include Hannah in this tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We have so much for which to be thankful! While we are thankful everyday, Thanksgiving Day is a big reminder of our many blessings. I told Hannah that I was thankful for her and her baby brother/sister and her daddy and then asked her what she was thankful for. She said "I'm thankful for my babydolls and dollhouse". (I guess her daddy and I didn't make the top of her list) She has been a terrible sleeper lately, so I am thankful for the little sleep I do get. I'm telling myself that she is getting us ready for when Baby E2 arrives. Perhaps we will be thankful for the transition. It is hard to believe that is less than 2 months away!

We spent Thanksgiving Day with The Englert Family and Thanksgiving Evening with the Dufour Family. Mrs. Marilyn started a list with the Englert family trying to guess the sex, height and weight of Baby E2. All but 2 or 3 of them guessed the baby to be a boy. Since the last 7 born into that family have been girls, I think they are hoping for a change. It's been over 22 years since a boy has been born in the Englert family. I guess we'll find out soon enough. For Hannah I was certain she was a girl. I don't know why, but I just knew. With E2, I don't have a strong feeling. I think it may be a girl just because we don't have any girl names. We know for a boy, he will be Carter Joseph. For a girl.... Any suggestions are welcomed. We want biblical (but not Bathsheba), traditional, and one that goes well with Hannah Susanne.

Here are some pictures of our little turkey over the past 4 thanksgivings. It's amazing how fast time goes by.

Happy Thanksgiving!



Thanksgiving 2005...only 6 months old



Thanksgiving 2006... 18 months old



Thanksgiving 2007... 2 1/2 years



Thanksgiving 2008... 3 1/2 years... We may need a new bowl next year!