My Very First Blessing

Yesterday was Hanna's 10th birthday. I posted pics from her party over the weekend. Today I want to post some pictures of her first 10 years. I can't believe how fast they have gone, and looking at all of these pictures tonight has left me feeling very sentimental, thankful and blessed to have Hanna as a very special part of our family. She truly is "my first blessing". **I had to scan in most of these pictures and some of them are very grainy, but it was before my digital camera days:-).**

Here is Hanna at age one (I love the picture of her holding up her cake. Jack did this same thing at his one year old party.):

Age two:

Age three (this was taken at a Gymboree bday party--she had a blast, I don't have cake pics from years two or three for some reason):

Age four (this first picture is Hanna all dressed up--I love this picture):

Age five (a party at The Little Gym):

Age six (another of my favorite close up pictures of Hanna--just before she lost her first top front tooth):

Age seven:

Age eight (This is the year she was baptized--on the day of her birthday even. I like this picture of our family taken at her baptism. I was 4 months pregnant with Jack here.):

Age nine--(We took Hanna to the American Girl store for her 9th birthday. We stayed in an American Girl themed room at our hotel--it was decked out in hot pink everything. They even served Hanna pink milk and pink cookies on a pink tray in her pink bathrobe before bed! She was a true princess!):

Age ten:

Hanna is so beautiful inside and out. She is a caring, compassionate girl who cares deeply for people, animals and nature. She is strong willed and always stands up for what she knows is right. She was such a good example of right at school, and I was always told by her teachers of her trying to teach others to do right as well. She is fun and funny, loving, a helper and a friend. My life is blessed each day by having Hanna. Hanna, I love you forever!

My Very First Blessing

Yesterday was Hanna's 10th birthday. I posted pics from her party over the weekend. Today I want to post some pictures of her first 10 years. I can't believe how fast they have gone, and looking at all of these pictures tonight has left me feeling very sentimental, thankful and blessed to have Hanna as a very special part of our family. She truly is "my first blessing". **I had to scan in most of these pictures and some of them are very grainy, but it was before my digital camera days:-).**

Here is Hanna at age one (I love the picture of her holding up her cake. Jack did this same thing at his one year old party.):

Age two:

Age three (this was taken at a Gymboree bday party--she had a blast, I don't have cake pics from years two or three for some reason):

Age four (this first picture is Hanna all dressed up--I love this picture):

Age five (a party at The Little Gym):

Age six (another of my favorite close up pictures of Hanna--just before she lost her first top front tooth):

Age seven:

Age eight (This is the year she was baptized--on the day of her birthday even. I like this picture of our family taken at her baptism. I was 4 months pregnant with Jack here.):

Age nine--(We took Hanna to the American Girl store for her 9th birthday. We stayed in an American Girl themed room at our hotel--it was decked out in hot pink everything. They even served Hanna pink milk and pink cookies on a pink tray in her pink bathrobe before bed! She was a true princess!):

Age ten:

Hanna is so beautiful inside and out. She is a caring, compassionate girl who cares deeply for people, animals and nature. She is strong willed and always stands up for what she knows is right. She was such a good example of right at school, and I was always told by her teachers of her trying to teach others to do right as well. She is fun and funny, loving, a helper and a friend. My life is blessed each day by having Hanna. Hanna, I love you forever!

Happy Birthday Hanna!

We celebrated Hanna's 10th birthday Saturday evening at our favorite pizza place and park. It was a perfect ending to a not so perfect week. We had such a good time being together and watching Hanna enjoy herself. She was so happy and excited the whole day--to be a kid again:-). I'm sure you've read the cake catastrophe from yesterday....well, Jamie took Hanna out this morning to local grocery stores to see if they could find a cake that would suit me--oops:-)--Hanna for her party. Luckily they found one sweet man who was willing to whip up something "custom" at the last minute. He did a really good job. He used bright, girly colors and even piped a butterfly on the cake. Hanna was happy with it, and I was too! I will not be making any of the kids cakes ever again--that job will remain in the hands of my very, very talented sister-in-law, Teresa, who is seriously the cake diva, and queen of all things artsy and crafty!!

Hanna will turn 10 Tuesday and my was it a mix of emotions putting those double digits on her cake today. Some of my thoughts were: I can't believe how fast these 10 years have gone, how quickly she has gone from little girl to my "friend and companion"--especially within the last few months, how 10 is the halfway point to 20, and if the first 10 have passed so quickly so will the next 10. The years just pass in the blink of an eye and I try so very hard each day to remember this. That is one thing that helps me remain positive weeks like this one!

Hanna loved her cake, and presents too:-). She was "tickled pink" to get more crafty decor for her awesome new room. I will post about each of these crafts as she completes them--they are some really cool ones!

She had fun playing, laughing and being with family. Hanna is very family oriented and always has been. She will choose being at home and with family over anything--and I do mean anything. This is such a comforting feeling and makes me feel so loved by her, and delighted that she enjoys our home and family so much.

Joe had a blast running, climbing, goofing off and just being Joe. He was happy too, the whole evening and thoroughly enjoyed playing with grandparents, aunts and his uncle.

Jack was happy Jack--for the most part:-). Even with the terrible time he's having teething right now, he still has such a sweet and happy disposition. He is such a "beautiful" little boy!! I didn't get too many good pictures of him though--only one. He was on the go the whole time and it was impossible to get a good shot of him. I did get this really sweet, cute one of him and Jamie going down the slide--I love it!

Here are a few more pictures of us together. It was a fun, special time--a memory made that will be a happy, lasting time for our family. Hanna, I love you so much, and am so very thankful for you each and every day!