Christmas in Tennessee

Things have been going good here in Tennessee. Tabor is doing well at his new job and learning more every day. He seems to be really liking it. We had a great christmas.  Just before Christmas Tabors parents came to visit and it was so great to see them. They were able to spend a few days here and brought us some really fun early Christmas presents.  

Our christmas was wonderful.  It was our first christmas spent as with just us and it was really fun to to watch Hazel enjoy the magic of it all. She squealed with delight every time she saw Christmas lights. She loved having a tree in the house and was always touching the prickly branches.  On Christmas morning she wandered into the living room and did a double take when she saw the presents.  She ran over to them and seemed unsure if she was allowed to touch them or not.  As soon as we showed her it was okay she got so excited and started unwrapping like a pro. 

 Here are a few more pictures of Hazel from the last month because I just cant resist sharing pictures of her. 

 she always wants to be helping me with whatever I am doing. 

 I just adore this little scrunch nose smile.  to me it is the face of pure joy. 

 We went to watch the town Christmas parade because Tabor was part of our ward float. Hazel loved it!

 We love the random 70 degree days that Tennessee gives us in December!!!

We are excited for the New Year and excited to see what it holds in store for our little family.  

The Past Few Months

It has been a really long time since I have written on my blog.  Things have been crazy lately.  For those of you who don't know we are now living in Gallatin, Tennessee . Our adventure started when we decided the timing was right for Tabor to switch jobs and start working for the company his brother works for.  He has been wanting to work with this company for a long time, but the time was never right. This time it was.  His training started in March, so at the very end of February we said goodbye to our friends and family in Utah and drove across the country.  We drove straight through only stopping for gas and the occasional feeding.  Hazel slept for what seemed like 24 of the 27 hours so we were really lucky.  After a long drive we made it to Tabors brothers house in Gallatin, TN. Tabor then went on to his 8 week training in St. Louis and I spent some time visiting.

Hazel hanging out in our empty apartment as we prepare to leave. 

saying goodbye to Utah

After a week in Gallatin I drove Hazel and I up to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa Howe for a week.  We had so much fun visiting with them.  Hazel was just learning to scoot on her belly at that point so it was really fun to see her learning something new.  Of course her Great Grandma and Grandpa thought she was just the most adorable thing they had ever seen (which she was).

Hazel and her Great Grandma Howe

(she looks so large on her lap)

With her Great Grandparents

Hazel at her Great Grandparents house. 

After that visit we drove out to Pennsylvania to stay with my parents for the remaining 5 weeks of training.  It was so much fun to spend time with my family.  Miriam and Sarah were there for some of the time and so was my cousin Chase and his family.

Getting milk at the dairy. 

I think cows are her favorite animal.

After what seemed like a very long time it was finally time to drive to Virginia where Tabor was waiting for us after finally finishing his first part of training.  In Virginia we moved in with a family (the Rowes) that we didn't know at the time, but who have become very close friends now. I guess that's what happens when you share a house with someone for 4 months.  Josh and Lenee  were so kind to share their home with us. And it was so nice having Tabor do the rest of his training with Josh. They have 4 kids that have become Hazels best friends.  One of her first words is Ryry, which is the name of their 2 year old son.  We had a very fun-filled summer doing all that we could to make the most of our time with our new found friends.  We went to the water park, went camping, took a trip to the beach, caught snapping turtles and saw a little bit of Washington D.C. It was such a fun summer!

Hazel 6 months old. 

6 months

Great Falls, Virginia

Pittsburgh Zoo with Sarah

Tabor hard at work.

We got to visit one of my best friends from high school, Jackie Bokan. 

Taking a pit stop on a nature walk. 

stealing some of the camping treats

apparently she doesn't really like snapping turtles

Josh caught some huge snappers. 

with her best friend Ryry at the water park.

We were also able to go to my parents house a few times and they came down to visit us once too.  It was such a treat to be living so close to them.

with cousin Dallin at Kurt and Julies house

Tabor standing by the largest poison ivy plant I have ever seen. 

My cute family ready for family prayer. 

At the potter county fair

One of the times I went home I decided to redo Hannahs room. it turned out awesome.

Hazel loved her Grandpas garden and she especially loved eating the cucumbers. 

spending time with Grandpa when they came to visit in Virginia.

we took my parents to see Monticello when they came to visit us in Virginia. 

Our last weekend in Virginia we went with some of our friends to Nags Head Beach in North Carolina.  It was Tabors first time to the Atlantic ocean and Hazels first time to any ocean.  We had such a fun time and we are so glad we got to go.

not so sure about the sand

with her papa at the beach

with her papa at the pool

Now we are in Gallatin living with Tabors brother Derrick again. Derrick and Kara have 4, soon to be 5, kids and Hazel loves playing with them. I love that she has cousins to play with just like I did when I was little.  We are now looking for a place to live in this area so that Tabor can take of some of Derricks territory for work and then he can get started on establishing his own customers. So far he is doing really well with his job and I am so proud of him and grateful for his hard work.

Hazel loves to climb and play with all her cousins toys

 I know that was a lot of review, but I though it would be good to do a little update, if not for everyone else's sake, at least for my own.  Hopefully I will be better at keeping this up, but we will see.

Thanksgiving

I know I am a little late with this post considering it is already half way through January, but I figure I might as well post it anyway so I don't forget.

For thanksgiving my mom came into town and we were so excited! We drove down to mesquite, Nevada, to my grandpas house to see her and my sister Hannah. We are so happy that they came! Hazel loved her Grandma and her Aunt Hannah. She also got to meet her Great Grandpa and Grandma and her Great-Auntie Roo and Great-Uncle Vance, as well as some of her first cousins once removed. We had such a good time playing games and visiting with everyone. I am really mad because i forgot to take a picture of Hazel with her great grandpa Shillig.

with great-auntie Roo

playing dutch blitz

cousin Alexa

   Grandma Howe

Great-Uncle Vance

 Hazel flipping off her mom haha

After Thanksgiving we brought my mom and Hannah up to Utah with us and they stayed here for a few more days. We celebrated Hannahs birthday and we even got to see Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bob and the Birch family. It was so good to be surrounded by so much family for the holidays. it was also Tabor and my first anniversary. It is so funny to think that on our first anniversary we already had two month old baby. I wouldn't want it any other way. I love my little family so much!

with uncle Bob and aunt Nancy

our first anniversary

three generations