Christmas with the Hanks

Grandma, are you sure Grandpa won't mistake me for the deer he has been watching in the backyard?


Mmmm...my two new favorite things...candy canes and trucks!


Please protect me from the turkey Auntie Annie! This decoy caused a lot of laughs at Jack's expense. Let's just say that he wasn't too fond of the turkey after it gobbled at him!


Cousin Ethan was very patient with Jack as he attempted to "help" him with his new game.


Too much Christmas wears a little guy out!


So handsome in blue! Did you two plan your outfits?


Family photo time!!!!!!


Much better!

Christmas with the Dresels

Well Christmas 2007 was a little different than Christmas 2006, with Jack being mobile! (Need I say more?)


Helping Dad wrap more Christmas gifts.


What is the big deal about sledding?


Woa!!!! That hill back at Grandma and Grandpa's was the bunny hill, this is the BIG hill! Now I see what the big deal is!!!! FUN!!!!!!!!


Grandpa Tim showed Jack how to appropriately uses the eyes that came with his Mega Blocks. (Thanks alot Dad, now all he wants to do is have you put the eyes up on yours. I'll be sure to send the bill when I have to go to the doctor because I had a Mega Block shoved into my eye!)


Uncle Marc demonstrates what will happen if you eat too many Christmas cookies like Santa.


So comfortable in Grandma's arms!

Preparing for Christmas

But Mom...I want to help with the Christmas cards! I'm sure everyone would love it if I colored them a pretty picture with my crayons.


Hmmm...How far do you think my mashed potatoes will fly if I let go???? (Yes we have acted on this thought!)


I'm sure Daddy misses the snow, while he is in Antigua for work...yeah right!


I'm so happy Dad is home, especially when he feeds me pizza.


Unfortunately Jack came down with an ear infection this week, so we have had to put our Christmas preperations on hold. We are finally on the upswing, after seeing the doctor...thank goodness!

I left Jack alone for 1 minute...not lying, and this is what I came back to. At first I thought that he had actually hurt himself, but then realized that he had decided that it would be much more fun to wear his raspberries, than to eat them!!

I want to join the Math Club

It was pretty funny when Tom came home and said that he was asked by a co-worker if he was in the Math Club in high school. (Those of you who know Tom are aware that this isn't too far fetched!) Needless to say we had a good laugh when Jack was playing with his new bath toys and we figured out that the numbers would stick to his head!


Look at me! I am a math wizard! (Hopefully I won't take after my mom's math brain!)


Hmmm...I think I'll get my own snack!

Happy First Birthday!!!!!

WOW!!!! It is so hard to believe that a full year has passed! We can honestly say that the past year has been the BEST year we have ever had! So much love, laughter and joy entered our hearts and home when Jack came into our lives. We can't wait to see what the next year will bring!


Can you believe that I had to wait a whole year to have my first taste of birthday cake?


Yup...it was well worth the wait!


I have a feeling that this is going to be Tom's face at Christmas too. I don't think he was ready for all the assembling that goes along with birthdays...hey hon...it will only get better...just wait 'til Santa comes!!!!


It looks like Grandpa Tom and Ryan are giving the giraffe an "exam." This is the gift that Ryan and Jen thought that Jack just had to have...a GIANT giraffe tent. We have already had people drive by our house, and then later question us about the giraffe. All I can say is we will get even one day!


Jack was sooooo excited about all of his gifts and the noises they would make. I think it got a little overwhelming, as he started to shake and make goofy faces. We all had a great laugh when he would do his little excitement shake!


Grandpa Tim, did you sleep in my new tent all night?

I can't wait until we go camping with the Hoffes next summer, and I can sleep in my very own tent, on their campsite of course!


Some may think we are asking for it, but we decided with Jack's interest in music we thought the most appropriate gift would be a drum. He surprised us when he grabbed both maletts and started wailing away!


All bundled up for a ride in my new wagon!

Week Fifty Two

So I figured out how I was going to become a millionare...invent a baby-proofing device for the toilet paper roll! Seriously, just when you think you have baby-proofed everything, you learn that the term baby-proofing is just one of those things that exists in theory!


Now I just need to figure out how to turn this thing, so I can "walk" into the bathroom and get the toilet paper!


A new favorite pastime...the diaperbox derby! I am sure we will be creating a real soapbox derby car down the road!


Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!

Week Fifty One

After being in Amsterdam, all last week, Tom made it home safely, before heading to the Northwoods to go hunting. Jack wore his camo, in an effort to get Dad to take him along also...maybe in a few years buddy!


Staying home with Mom does have it's advantages...like real milk and chocolate chip cookies.


Do you think he enjoyed his first cookie? Look out Grandpa Tim...now you're going to have wrestle Jack to get to the cookie jar!


This seems to be the look on Jack's face quite frequently..."I didn't do it!!"