Merry Christmas * Feliz Navidad * Joyeux Noel * Frohe Weihnachten

Though it's been sung many times, many ways---Merry Christmas to you!

I got up at about 7:15 am this morning and got started on the turkey, the cookies, and defrosting the rolls.  Then I quickly did my make up just as Hannah was starting to wake up.  Around 8:30 am we opened gifts and Hannah loved it!  Well, she mainly enjoyed the the wrapping paper and boxes.  But she did enjoy her presents as well.

As usual, Kronk also had a blast in the wrapping paper and ribbons.

Nathan got a bicycle helmet, and some 180s for his ears (he's been really wanting some for a couple years).

I got the complete collection of the Jane Austen novels (my goal is to read all of them next year), some earrings, the book Decorating for Dummies (I'm trying to learn how to decorate my house), some M&Ms, and an old Night Before Christmas pop-up book that I used to have when I was a kid.

Hannah got three books, some clothes, a princess kit, and a walking toy.

After opening gifts we finished getting ready (doing our hair, getting into church clothes, etc.) and went to church.  It was a nice change to have church on Christmas Day.  When we came home from church we changed into more comfy clothes and put Hannah down for a nap.  Unfortunately for us, she only took about a 40 minute nap!  Yep...a 40 minute nap for ALL DAY meant that we had a very cranky child.  The only good part about that was she went down for bed at 6:00 pm.

We had our friend Dan over again for dinner this year.  We really enjoy spending time with him.

I managed to get a picture of my table, but I didn't get a picture of the food--darn it!  Oh well, at least I took more pictures this year. :)  For dinner we had turkey, Paula Deen's twice baked potatoes, green bean casserole, Rhodes rolls, and raspberry shortbread thumbprint cookies.  Yes...it was a fantastic (and fattening) dinner.

Throughout the day we also talked with our families on the phone and on webcams.  I am so grateful for technology these days.  When we were skyping with Nathan's family I noticed that Kronk was underneath the tree, all snuggled up to the light box.  So funny.

The best part of the day though was in remembering why we celebrate Christmas day.  I often reflected about the miracle of the Savior's birth.  What a glorious and wonderful event for mankind.  Because Jesus Christ was born, he was later able to atone for our sins so that we could return to live with Him and Heavenly Father.  I'm grateful for this day that the world sets aside to commemorate the birth of our Savior, and Him giving us the best gift mankind could ever receive--eternal life!

2011 Goals Accomplished!

Goals for 2011:
R Read the New Testament

R Read the Book of Mormon
R Read the 2011 Ensigns cover to cover

Last year I decided to set the goal to read the Ensigns cover to cover because one of my good friends Cylynn had inspired me.  I liked reading the magazines so much last year that I decided to make it a goal for 2011.  Well this morning I finished the December issue of the Ensign.  Now all of my 2011 goals are done!  YIPPEE!!!

Thank you so much Cylynn for your example.  It has done a world of good for me!

Birthday Girl

This has been a happy and sad day for me.  Happy because I get to celebrate with Hannah her first birthday.  But I am also a little sad because I cannot believe one year has gone by and I feel like my baby isn't a baby anymore.

But as Nathan told me this morning, let us not mourn on this momentous day but celebrate it!  And that is just exactly what we did!

Hannah woke up around 7:30 am.  I got her up and did the usual morning routine (bottle, new diaper, change clothes, etc).  We decided to have her open her gifts before Nathan left for work because we knew that there would be no time this evening due to some church meetings that both Nathan and I had in the evening.

Hannah at first was only interested in the pajamas that I purchased her last night (no...they were not a birthday gift.  They were just a regular purchase because she is outgrowing her current pajamas).  She did however manage to show some interest in her other gifts.

I love her bed head hair.  So cute.

Kronk had fun opening gifts too.

Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson got Hannah a cute dress (I forgot to take a picture of it.  See video above), and Mom stuck with her family tradition of 3 crisp one dollar bills.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson gave Hannah a nice green present (I unwrapped this one because I did not want Hannah to rip this piece of paper to shreds - one of her favorite pastimes).

Nathan and I got Hannah an elephant toy that shoots out toy balls.  She liked the bag a little more at first.  The elephant scared her a few times when it started up, but she warmed up to it as the day went on.

After Nathan left for work I ate some breakfast, and then Hannah and I put on our coats (it was 11 degrees outside) and went to the grocery store to run a few errands.  Okay...one of the errands was to pick up her balloons.  But when we got back from the store I think she approved.  She stared at the balloons all day long.

When Nathan arrived home from work we sang Happy Birthday (Sorenson style) and gave Hannah her first experience with cake.  I say experience because she did not eat it.  She just played with the cupcake.  If given the choice between eating her food and wearing it, she would choose wearing it nine times out of ten.

The first cupcake eating started like this......

and it ended with this mess.

If the federal government wanted a foolproof way of destroying evidence, all they would have to do is hand it off to a bunch of babies and it would never be recognizable again.

After pulverizing the cupcake I put her in the bathtub, did her bed time routine and put her to bed while Nathan left for his stake meeting, and I prepared for my presidency meeting.

Hannah won't remember her first birthday, but we have fondly remembered her day of birth today.  Happy Birthday Hannah, we love you now more than ever.

Hannah's first crime

Earlier this month, I was in Relief Society and Hannah was happily playing with some toys on the ground. All of a sudden I saw Hannah reaching for a tag on the back of a chair, and before I could extend my arm out to grab her she ripped the tag off the chair, making a nice ripping noise in the quiet room.  I grabbed the tag from her and noticed this (see the highlighted pink portion):

Yep!  Hannah committed her first "crime," and I officially joined the club of the mothers whose children have ripped these tags off the back of the Relief Society's chairs.  The funny part is, Hannah did it again last Sunday during Gospel Doctrine (Sunday School).  Yes, my daughter is a repeat offender.