Family time

Really this is an extension of the Christmas pictures from the other day, since they were all taken at the same time. When Uncle Peter wasn't too busy sleeping or studying, he took some time out to play with Nick. As you can see, Nick was thrilled!

Grandpa Muffin got in on the action as well. Nick loves him so much, it's adorable to watch the two of them together.
We all took turns pushing Nick around in his brand new Cozy Coupe (thanks Santa, aka Eric)!
Uncle Peter got into the pushing action as well. He hands down pushed the car around the fastest. Nick loved it!

I love my Uncle Peter - I wish we could play more often!

Family portrait, and I can't believe that everyone is actually looking at the camera, with their eyes open and a decent expression all at the same time!! I guess the little picture screen on the front of the camera actually helps.

White Christmas!

This year we got to experience our first white Christmas in Arkansas (and Nick's first white Christmas ever)! It rained all day on Christmas Eve, eventually turning into sleet and then snow. Christmas morning when we woke up, the ground was covered!

Although Nick does not yet grasp the concept of Santa, he LOVED the new toys waiting for him under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
Christmas is exhausting, as Peter demonstrates. I think he's trying to learn by osmosis... unfortunately it does not work very well.
After exploring and playing with all of the toys from Santa, we opened stockings. The biggest hit for Nick was this green ball with little rubber string-like things coming off of it.
Eric loved his stocking stuffers as well - they came in pretty handy to keep him warm during the frigid weather.
As everyone promised us, yes, Nick loved his actual presents, but the wrapping was also a TON of fun!

No Christmas is complete without some of Eric's famous apple-berry pie. Nick LOVES pie, just like all of the Hansens.

Saint Nicholas

This weekend we had some of our friends over for a cocoa and cookies party. For the occasion we dressed Nick up as St Nick and he looked adorable!

For some reason Nick doesn't mind wearing hats, and he left the Santa hat on the entire time.
Since it was rather warm out that afternoon, Eric took Nick and the puppies outside to play for a bit.

Merry Christmas every one! Love Susan, Eric and St Nick!

Santa Time!

So it has been forever since I last blogged. There are two reasons for this. One, I have been traveling I think as much as I've been home and two, our camera broke. Thankfully we got a new one (gotta love Amazon Prime). Anyway, two weeks ago the VA had a Children's Christmas Party. We took Nick and he had a great time playing the games, making ornaments, and meeting Santa!

As I expected, he was not at all happy about sitting next to some strange man dressed up as Santa.
While it appears as though he may have stopped crying for a few seconds, I'm pretty sure that he balled the whole time.
Little man was not at all excited about Santa. It's funny how that opinion will change on Christmas morning and there are a bunch of presents under the tree waiting for him!

Portland Part 2

After all of the Thanksgiving and birthday festivities, we took some time to explore some of Portland. On Saturday we went to the Japanese Garden with Eric's Brother (and family) and Robert. It was chilly in Portland, so we bundled Nick up and put on his adorable little hat.

Nick was clearly not impressed with the Japanese garden, or maybe it was the fact that I was taking his picture. Either way, it was cold but absolutely beautiful.
I would love to see what the garden looks like in the spring with everything blooming, it must be breath taking.
Me looking over the coy pond (can it be called a coy pond if it's huge?).

Eric took a ton of pictures of me in front of various parts of the garden, so you will get to see more pictures of me than usual (sorry, more Nick to come soon).

Portland Part I

This year for Thanksgiving we headed out to see Eric's family in Portland, OR. It is seriously so beautiful out there, always so lush and green - I'm sure the fact that it rains all the time helps out. Here is Nick with Eric as they took a pit stop on the way to the airport.

So beautiful with the leaves! I'm impressed that Nick actually sat on the bench and didn't try to move... he's rather mobile these days.
Later that afternoon back at Gr'Auntie Marilyn's house, Nick decided that he was going to crawl up Marilyn's entire staircase, which is 17 stairs and a landing! We don't have any stairs in our house so I had no idea he could even do this. So here he is at the bottom of the staircase.
Almost to the landing! He actually made pretty good time up all of the stairs. Although he did take a small break while on the landing to explore.
Finally reaching the landing! I was super impressed at this point, not even knowing that he would keep going.

On his way up to the top of all of the stairs. He was so proud of himself, and so were we!
On Thanksgiving everyone gathered at Gr'Auntie Marilyn's house. Cousin Jeremy put on these funny glasses and Nick loved seeing him in them.
Of course no Thanksgiving is complete without pie for dessert (homemade by Eric). So we gave Nick his first bite of pie. Let me tell you, the boy has a sweet tooth and he loved it!
Gr'Auntie Becky got in on the action as well. It was so cute to watch him eat it, he loved the pie but would make a face every time he had some of the ice cream.

Happy Birthday!!

I can hardly believe it, but Nick is one! Since his birthday fell on Thanksgiving day this year we had a party for him the day after. Gr'Auntie Marilyn was gracious enough to let us take over her house and host our party there. Gr'Auntie Becky offered to make cupcakes/cake for the party. I thought it would just be your standard cupcake with frosting, boy was I wrong! Below Eric is frantically working to create the chicky cupcakes.

Finished product. We had a barn (barnyard theme for the party) with big chickies, little baby chickies, pigs and sheep. Gr'Auntie Becky (with the help of Eric and Gr'Auntie Marilyn) went all out, it was crazy!
Marilyn's living/dining room transformed into party central, complete with balloons, streamers and tons of children.
The birthday boy and mommy. Nick did not mind wearing the hat at all, and had it on for about half of the party (and then the string to keep it on got too loose and it wouldn't stay on).
A rare family shot. It's a shame that Nick's not smiling, because he had TONS of fun and was super smiley for the whole party.
When it was time for cake, I stripped Nick down to his diaper so that he could really go to town. And after all, I didn't want to spend forever trying to get cake and frosting out of his clothes.
Not surprisingly Nick takes after his mom and LOVES cake! He ate the first cupcake (a pig) frosting first!
After he polished off the first one (in record time I must add) I gave him a chickie cupcake, and again he went to town!
Who wouldn't smile after two cupcakes and being covered in cake and frosting remnants?!?
We not only had a fabulous trip out to Portland (those pictures will follow shortly) but we had a wonderful first birthday and party! Thank you so much to everyone who helped out and who came. It's so hard to believe that Nick is already a year old - time flies when you're having fun!