Always my bright happy baby...minus when she's sick or teething!
Sit'n like a pro! I forsee a rodeo queen!
Ridin' fast like the wind!
Just a happy little pleasant thing!
Carter and I had been missing him terribly, since he'd been gone already for three weeks job hunting...without a moments hesitation I bought a plane ticket so we could spend some more time with our Jonathan!!! Unfortunately that left the Oregon clan in what i'm sad to say was a cloud of dust...like I said even the best made plans.........the upcoming festivities were all the chatter in both our families, but all my heart and mind could focus on was being with John. One canceled flight, and an additional delayed flight brought me to the brink of tears...the anxiety and excitement of finally having our little trio together left me furiously biting my lip, holding it all back as I walked through the Boise airport.....When Carter and I reached those big glass doors, Jonny was waiting for us with an equally anxious grin, I hurriedly got her out of the stroller just in time for that glorious....wonderful....family embrace that opened the flood gates of emotion. I love the holidays, the festivites galore, BUT of ALL the traditions Christmas brings, spending time with family is the MOST important and cherished in my heart....they always say there's no place like home for the holidays...for me that's true, but home isn't where we live, or where we grew up, it's not with our parent's or siblings, home for our little family is that sweet enveloping love that's cemented by John+Joy+Carter=Forever. 
Cousin Love: Riley, Carter and McKenzie on Christmas Eve
Too her credit...Carter was VERY tired!!!
Santa ended up being an OK fella after a few minutes...but jut OK!
All of the young'uns
Carter, loving the box more than the toy!
A little bewildered at all the comotion so early in the morn, but happy for her new rolling monkey ball toy from Nana Powell!
Carter and her loot, she made out VERY well....hmmmm, i'm thinkin she must be well loved!
Thankfully amidst the misery there've been a few distractions...playing with cousins is usually the highlight of the week, during those dismal days of incessant moaning and crying, baby einsteins and FULL length Disney movies tend to relieve a little of the chaos!
Brook and I lowered Carter's crib mattress, and she's discovered that standing up and holding on to things makes you a big girl!!! She can't get up on her feet by herself, but when we help her and let go, boy oh boy, she thinks she's hot stuff!
A little bewildered after having just woken up from a nap!
Couldn't resist making a gingerbread house...this never has been a tradition of the family's, but I love to bake, and I love to decorate...after one bad batch of dough, I got it right, got them baked, and got them put together...one for me, and one for my sister's family...now most people would take the time and delight in decorating them with the children, however I was desperate for some much needed me time after having a sick clingy baby all week...so I stayed up late...I felt a little selfish doing it without my neice and nephew, but alas, I felt renewed and really enjoyed the project!
The finished product...a view from the back! The Hansen gingerbreaed house complete with a gumdrop garden-o-love in the backyard!
Sitting down for a tasty meal...I'm sure glad the women in our family know how to cook!
After dinner, to help our food settle, we all gathered in the living room, as Papa read a children's thanksgiving story...of course, with the fireplace hearth begging for attention, how could we not have a talent show/sing along put on by the children?! They took the "stage" in a flurry, and we heard everything from Twinkle Little Star, to High School Musical, and even a little baby babble song by our own Carter Grace!...She was catching on that to get attention and clapping you had to make a lot of noise...so she joined the show....very cute...and SOOOO fun to watch her learn such things and find her place in the family!
Brook and I had so much fun making fancy arrangements and setting the china with bright red apples as personal votives to sit by each plate, it really was a beautiful sight...which is masked in the picture by VERY hungry folks, as the turkey took a little longer to cook than anyone suspected!!!
The whole lot of us! Minus me, and Carter who's tucked in her high chair in the back right corner...and Autumn who's being held by her father, and Parker who was too hungry to have his picture taken, and Aunt Kimmy who was at another family gathering......we're always in a quest for that perfect family picture of everyone gathered around a beautifully set table wearing matching sweaters, with big smiles and perfectly styled hair....but alas, it's not to be!...Family gatherings are rather unpredictable things you see, but we're happy with what we get...everyone together in one place, for a moment in time...for this I am truly grateful....besides we still have Christmas to get that perfect photo right?!?!
Sleeping Beauty's Castle lit up with icicles and snow just before the big holiday parade
John, lovin it at California Adventure
Getting dizzy on the tea cups
The sisters waiting for the Thunder Mountain roller coaster to take off, one of our favorites!
Well, I have to say this was probably one of the grandest Hansen Family Adventures to date! We hang glided over California, rode the rapids down Grizzly River Run, flew to Never Never land, entered The Twilight Zone at the Hollywood Tower Hotel, roller coasted on the appropriately named California Screamin, got shot into the air on the Mali-boomer, mixed and mingled with royalty, joined Buzz in defeating Zurg, attended Jedi Knight training, and adventured with Indiana Jones........we had an amazing time in the California sun, and soaked up all of the sights and fun to be had....we feel so blessed, and grateful to my sister and brother in law for taking their Nanny, and Manny along!
My California sunshine baby! She actually left her sunglasses on for quite a while...until her 3 year old diva cousin decided she needed to wear them!
Meeting the local royals...Carter got to meet Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Arial and Tiana, the newest member of the Disney Princesses...she was never quite sure what to think of them...she was usually more interested in their wigs and gowns than smiling at Mommy for a picture!
And what would a trip to Disneyland be without a ride on Dumbo!
Princesses of course...If you can't be a princess in Disneyland then where can you!
Of course....the Mickey ears...too poor to buy them, but had to get a picture at least!
We had to take Carter to Minnie's house in Toon Town for a picture...ok, so we were just as excited...too bad the wait at Mickey's house was WAY too long!
The whole gang outside of Sleeping Beauty's Castle
We arrived on Monday evening...Friday was to be the big holiday parade so over the week the park slowly transformed into a winter wonderland...complete with falling snow on the night of the parade!
Couldn't resist the traditional picture at the entrance just through the ticket gate!
Daddy and Carter chumming it up with the local celebrities!
Baby Carter could only take so much excitement...thankfully she took good naps here and there in between going on rides with Mommy, Daddy and her Cousins...we eventually got a pretty good "kid pass off" system in between kiddy and adult rides...fast passes and baby passes were helpful too!
After many "Are we there yet"s... "That's mine, give it back"... "Leave Carter's binki in her mouth"etc, etc, etc...we finally broke down and turned a movie on for the kids...thankfully cousin Abrianna didn't leave her "microphones" on very long which gave Carter a chance to tune in to the action...she loved having the headphones on and was enthralled with the movie...she really wasn't a miss fuss on the drive, but lets face it, adults get bored, little kids get bored...I'm sure little babies get bored sitting in the car for hours on end...the movie was a nice perk...for the adults too!
How enjoyable that it was the boys turn to be up front when the movie began...craftiness or convenience...we'll never tell!!!
We made it to Sacramento at about 11pm, and fell into bed at my brother in laws sister's house, we're so thankful for their hospitality... after many potty breaks, a few melt downs, a roadside bathroom emergency, and endless moments of a three year old breaking out in song...we welcomed the blessed reprieve! All in all the children did well, it was just the usual necessary chaos that all must endure on long....long...road trips! Thanks Brook and Randall for taking us along...!
Fred and Daphne posing as the Hansen's
Carter Grace makes a pretty cute box of Snax!
Baby Autumn didn't like being a Scooby Snack at first...maybe she just had gas!
All in all it was a fun night at the church trunk or treat party...it was exciting to get to watch all of the little cousins play and run about the church just like we used to back in the day, and of course dressing up and joining the festivities even as an adult was just as fun!
The bunch of us minus Brook the photographer, proud of our handy work!
John did such a good job carving Scooby Doo!
Thank you Brook for the delicious treats!!!
