December 2008
We start December in late November actually with the annual tree cutting Thanksgiving weekend. Then there's the first snow, ice skating, visits from Grandparents and cousins and a whole lot of fun and snow in New Hampshire. Enjoy!
Kate enjoying picking out our Christmas tree.
Kate and Daddy have found it and Mom thinks it is just perfect.
So when we got our first snow it was supposed to melt the very next day so we had to go out and take pictures in the dark. Kate was thrilled that we FINALLY had snow!
Ice skating on the pond just down the street from our house.
Daddy and Kate enjoying the ice.
You may have heard about our little windstorm in New Hampshire around Dec. 12. Our power was out for 3 days which is good fun when the temperatures were below zero at night. Thankfully we do have a fireplace to heat the place but the power finally came back on. Here is a picture of the tree limbs we lost all around our house. Thankfully only minor things hit the house.
The ice was beautiful.
In the midst of the power outage we enjoyed a morning on the Polar Express Train Ride.
Kate loved riding the train and doing so many things the Polar Express book talks about including drinking hot chocolate and eating candy.
Uncle Gregg and Auntie Bec had their baby Andrew Charles dedicated a few days before Christmas to maximize the amount of family that could be there.
Kate and Daddy out skating again. This time it took A LOT of shoveling and snow blowing to get the pond clear.
And Kate loved it!
A little hockey player!
Kate thoroughly enjoyed each morning of December getting to count down to Christmas by getting out a chocolate candy kiss out of her lighthouse advent calendar.
Kate loved making her ginger bread house.
Kate and Mom hard at work on the gingerbread house.
We had Grandma and Grandpa Hansen visiting for Christmas. There's nothing like Christmas with a three year old!
Kate with her brand new stocking made by Grandma Hansen...so pretty and SO BIG!
Hanging the stocking with the help of Mom on Christmas Eve.
Grandma enjoyed reading all the Christmas books to Kate.
Christmas morning, this is what Kate woke up to...
She loved her present that was as tall as her...snowshoes, you'll see more pictures later.
Kate is enjoying Christmas to the fullest.
Kate and Grandma enjoying her new rocking horse.
Uncle Gregg, Auntie Bec and Andrew came up to join us for Christmas dinner. Our whole Hansen side of the family all together. It was wonderful!
Kate loves her new rocking horse ... and her purple tutu.
After Christmas we had a visit from Aaron's cousin Rod and Natalie from San Diego.
Kate is loving the snow and fun trips with visitors.
We went to Manchester, Vermont to the Orvis factory and Kate enjoyed feeding the very large trout in their fish ponds.
Rod helped her with her casting technique.
Mom, Kate, Dad and Rod in Manchester.
Kate's a cowgirl!
Kate and Daddy riding the horse.
Rod & Natalie along with Daddy and Kate in the cold snow!
Sadie had a rough life during the holidays with all the attention and someone was always sure to make sure she was wrapped up on a blanket on the sofa.
Kate's first snowshoe on her own.
Never fear, Mom can still carry her with snowshoes and 21 weeks pregnant.
Kate made her very first snowman. He was a little small but she loved it nonetheless.
Kate has taken up a new nightly tradition, she must dance with Mom, Dad or herself alone. She usually chooses a jazz song like 'Jumpin Jive' or 'In the Mood.' Too cute!
Kate loves her rocking horse from Christmas and is a regular cowgirl when she rides.
Kate and Daddy in the snow!
Kate and Mom with the little snowman!
Kate, Sadie and Mom playing in the snow!
Kate LOVES chocolate (we have NO idea where she gets that from..ha ha). Here's enjoying a chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven.
This is a cabin that is on an island in the Connecticut River that Dartmouth owns very close to our house. On Tina's birthday we ventured with snowshoes out onto the ice of the river to cross over to the island to check it out.
Yes, they are in the middle of the inlet to the river just over the hill from our house.
Snack time!
Kate and Daddy building a snow fort. You'll see that this fort with the cave then becomes a tunnel with several openings and quite the tunneling system as winter continues with more snow! 
Daddy and Kate ... So cute!
Hard work!
