My post for 2012

I know. I know it's be FOREVER but you'll just have to forgive me...I've been...busy. Life has been a whirlwind this past year. Here's what's happened...

Russ has worked his little tail off his last year of MBA school. He was selected to be apart of the venture capital team for Notre Dame, worked with a non-profit to build a library in Uganda, and committed to P90X--losing 20+ pounds, all while keeping up his secret identity and saving the world by night.

Heather's three jobs are finally coming to a close which leaves more time/energy to play with Hannah. Woohoo!

Hannah grew up, potty trained herself, finally grew some hair, and is spunky as can be. She thinks she's pretty cool and we have to agree.

Russ is graduating is three weeks and we'll be moving to St. Joseph, Michigan where he'll be working for Whirlpool in their Financial Leadership Development Program. This is the house we'll be renting and it's only a few blocks from...

...THIS! I know it's a lake but it sure is a beautiful beach with lots of fun things for a family to do. We're looking forward to our new home.

Things aren't perfect but they're pretty darn close.

Catch Up!

Here's a review of the last four months....

Hannah hates Santa Claus.

Russ' Christmas present--his very own T-Shirt quilt.
I can officially say I've sewn something.

I love Christmas Eve dinner.

German Christmas Festival in Chicago...I almost froze to death.

"Finger puppets!? You've got to be kidding me."

For Christmas Russ wrapped up random household items to
give me more presents to open...thanks Russ!

Hannah got her first full-time job.

My mom came to visit us.

Russ wears his Notre Dame Snuggie regularly, complete with ribbon.



Hannah and I went to visit Marianne & Mike Phillips in Florida.



For those of you who actually got to the end of this blog post...Russ has a summer internship with Whirlpool in the Finance Department. Go Russ!!!

Thanksgiving

I look forward to Thanksgiving all year. It makes me warm and fuzzy inside thinking about stuffing myself with all those nostalgic foods. So imagine my dismay when Russ and I both get the stomach flu the day before Thanksgiving. It was a humbling experience to have my husband incapacitated on the couch while my daughter stands by the toilet and watches me throw up. Talk about miserable. Some friends took Hannah for the afternoon until I felt I had enough energy to disinfect the whole apartment. Ironically, getting the stomach flu made this Thanksgiving extra special. Russ and I were feeling well enough to go to the Thanksgiving dinner on campus (which was fantastic by the way) and it was our first meal in a day or two. I've never felt so full of gratitude at a Thanksgiving meal as I did at this one.

Video: Thanksgiving with the Cramers

I always find random pictures, like this one, whenever Russ feeds Hannah.

Aaron and Andi Britton with us at Thanksgiving dinner.

She's definitely a Cramer. She can eat enormous amounts of food. :)

Chicago at "The Bean"

Chicago Millennium Park

The Holidays is the time for kids to play in big boxes. This was the beginning
 of Hannah's fort complete with tunnel. 

A Month in Review

Here's pictures from the past month...minus pictures of Virginia...those pictures are on Russ' computer.

Click here for the Video of the Month

Halloween!! Hannah and Russ in their costumes.



This was us on a hayride. Our apartment complex put on a huge Halloween party that included a band, bonfire, dinner, a hayride, and a petting zoo. It was awesome!



Vivian Tew and Hannah. We visited the Tews in Bloomington, Indiana and had a great time catching up.

The Tew's minus Nathan. You gotta love 'em.

Trying on Daddy's shoes.

Notre Dame vs. Utah. We won!!

The Palmer's came out for the game...and tried to have a good time while watching their Utes go up in smoke. That's "Touchdown Jesus" in the background.

I just like this picture.

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Notre Dame campus in the Fall.



I'm so proud!



I Love My Blendtec!

Russ recently won out on a year long debate as to whether or not we should purchase a Blentec Blender. I was adamant that I was going to use our Walmart blender until the motor went up in smoke but Russ used his sales techniques and sold me. Now I wonder how I ever did without it.

Yesterday I made a green smoothie and not once did I have to use my special smoothie spoon (so named because I have on more than one occasion caught the plastic spoon in the blades of my Walmart blender...luckily I was not the one to get the plastic spoon pieces in my smoothie...sorry again Russ.).

After the smoothie I used my Blentec to grind wheat for some homemade wheat bread.

For dinner I made Creamy Potato Soup with my Blentec. It even warms up the soup for me so it's completely ready to eat when it's done.

Then for dessert I made some Orange Sorbet. All I had to do was put in two orange with a little sugar and ice cubes then hit the ice cream button.

I LOVE MY BLENTEC!!!

http://www.willitblend.com/

Behold...She Speaks!!!

I dreamed of the day when I would finally hear Hannah's first words. Oh how my heart would swell with pride and love. Finally after so long of waiting the blessed day arrived. Hannah looked lovingly into my eyes and said..."Ball!" ...Not exactly what I was expecting but we're making progress. She also says "bye." But the communication barrier is finally starting to come down. I've been teaching her ASL and she can now sign milk, ball, all-done, and bye-bye. In addition to her language skills her motor skills are also picking up. She has now designated a shoe box as her stepping stool which she strategically places around the house. Can't reach the piano keys or climb up on the couch? Problem solved! Nothing's going to stop this girl.

Oh dear...

Birthdays All Around

I'm officially 28. I don't shun old age...I embrace it. That's why we went to Kirtland, Ohio for the weekend and spent it with a whole bunch of old people. JKJKJK. We met up with my grandparents and my aunt and uncle in Kirtland and had a great time! It was awesome to be around family. I forgot how good to feels to be around people who inherently have to love you. It was Russ' first time seeing the Church History sites there so that made it even better. I just love the sister missionaries who give tours at the Visitor Center. They are so adorable and really made my day.

Newel K. Whitney Store



Hannah with Grandpa Great




Hannah actually waving for the picture...that never happens.




Hannah with Uncle Kim



Kirtland Temple



Grandpa & Grandma Great and the Cramer Clan




School of the Prophets...awesome.

 Hannah's birthday is two days after mine. She got to wear her Birthday Girl shirt all day and then we gave her a cupcake. Way to go Hannah! How did we ever live without you? The first year has been a blast!



The Birthday Girl!!



Hannah with her B-Day present...a cupcake.



Hannah's princess outfit from Grandma Cameron



Hannah Diva

I took these pictures of Hannah the other day. It seems she has quite the variety of facial expressions. I think we might have a little model on our hands.

Ninja Hannah



Vulnerable Hannah



Giddy Hannah



Welcome to the Mid-West

If I were to describe South Bend, Indiana in one word it would be...Football. The whole town shuts down on game day. Planning on driving somewhere? Not on game day. They literally block off the entrance to our apartment complex and hold us captive. Russ went to the game on Saturday and loved it. It costs $75 to take Hannah to the game so I'm doing a trade off with another couple where we take turns looking after each others kids. So I'll make it out to half of the games. I'll have more to report next week about the actual football experience when Notre Dame plays Michigan...awesome.

South Bend is treating us pretty well. No one here knows we have a blog so I can be honest...it's kind of a dumpy town. Campus is beautiful and Russ loves his classes. Notre Dame works on a quarter system so mid-terms are already next week. He feels stronger than ever that this is where the Lord wants us to be. Recently he got a job as an interviewer where he'll interview people who apply to the MBA program. I'm grateful that fell in his lap. ANY income is welcome at this point. :)

I've started teaching piano lessons and I'm learning how to quilt. I love where we live. The community features make up for the old, 500 square apartment with a heavily stained toilet that makes me gag every time I have to clean it. The backyard is a giant fenced in area where all the kids play and the community center is nice. We live in on-campus family housing so everyone's in the same boat.

Hannah started walking this week. She gets so excited when she walks across the room. Her little feet start going and a few steps into it she starts giggling and it progressively gets louder until she reaches the other side of the room. Then we throw little celebration where she bounces up and down. I love it.

All in all, we're happy to be here. And we still miss Texas.

The Golden Dome

Russ' first Notre Dame football game.

They flock to the stadium like little sheep.

Hannah with her Daddy. She's already learned the quick head turn. Way to dodge that one Hannah.

Don't ask.

Spaghetti is a favorite meal around here.