Hello - I'm HERE!!!

It's been a month since I've posted! There are a lot of different reasons why I couldn't make it a priority to do so, and I wish it could've been different - but I will NOT beat myself up over it!

A while ago I was tagged by sister-in-law, Liza to write 6 things about me. Well, I'm going to finally take the challenge (better late than never?) and today I am going to write one category of 6 things and then later this week I'm going to write a different category (or two or three - who knows?!)

Here are 6 things that have been going on lately to where I've been EXTRA busy...

1.) After my Grandma's funeral I came home from Salt Lake a little drained - emotionally. Nothing too serious just something to recognize. I vegged a little (vegging with 3 kids and all we have to do can't be a big thing) and through it I realized that ...

a.) I am very sensitive to death - I am fully aware that when it happens, it means Our loving Heavenly Father needs that person for other purposes. Believe me it's not like I don't think it was my Grandma's time or anything, she was 94 - but still the same - the night before the funeral I was caught being emotional a few times. Embarrassing as it was in front of a lot of family members, I came to realize after reflection that I am o.k. with who I am (in that aspect) and know there's people that even love me for it!

b.) Traveling with kids is hard because they always end up being tired (and not because we don't try to give them opportunities to catch up on sleep) - and can't possibly end up acting their best or own self's. But I need to chill out about it and not worry if people think my kids aren't good kids when I know they really are!

2.) I read the Twilight Series in a little over a week (hence my little"veg".) If I had wanted it to be a bigger veg - which I really can't do - I would've read it in about 3-4 days. This is why I didn't want to read the first one - because I don't want to put good books down when I need to. But of course I'm glad Nicole gave me the first one for Christmas because then I had an excuse to get sucked in and boy am I - when's the next one coming out??!!??!!

3.) I have been really fine-tuning my organization of - well - just about everything! It's hard to face it all - but it feels SO good to have a better system.

4.) I have been fine-tuning our schedule also. I've got it written down numerous places (for each person) and it's very structured and is working so much better for all of us! It takes the guess work out of what to do - when! (I do have a "blog/computer time" to check other's posts and write my own - but I haven't gotten to either because of all the organization and such.) Right now I'm not posting during the time I want to - when the boys are asleep - but it's working -

(with interruptions galore!!!)

5.) Kevin and I have been taking a "Love and Logic" Parenting class once a week. We have been assigned a plethora of books to read (not all at once but whenever we like) and I have been immersing myself in both the literature I receive from the class and the first book I've gotten to read off the list. The other thing about taking this class that is probably the most time-consuming off this whole list is, that I'm taking the time to fine-tune the skills I learned from reading one of the "Love and Logic" books several months ago with the help of the instruction from the course. It's not easy at first to switch a lot of parenting and discipline techniques, but it's worth it when you get better results and a happier family!

6.) Kevin and I have been spending a lot of time trying to decide where we are going to build a house. I have been spending most of the time figuring out the key factors we want in the two places we have narrowed down (both in our price range, obviously.) They are as follows: the school, the location, the school, the school, the location and the school! Well last week, after going to a couple of school board meetings for one of the potential sub-divisions - District #93 (one's in District 91, one's in District 93) we decided to drive by the school our kids would attend if we moved to one of the potential areas. Well it happened to be open (although it was nighttime - parent teacher conferences where just ending) and we happened to run into the Principal and he happened to talk to us for an hour and show us the whole school and he happened to impress me with a lot of things about the school and himself but mostly his heart in being a good Principal BUT he also happened to tell me what I needed to hear (and did not hear from numerous other Principals I communicated with from schools zoned in other areas we were considering.) And what is it that I needed to hear that basically would make up 99.9% of my decision in where we build? It is exactly these words I'm going to type right now...

YES I WILL MOVE A CHILD UP A GRADE IF SHE NEEDS TO AND I HAVE DONE SO BEFORE!!!

That's all I needed to know - that night we told our friend (and millionaire financial advisor - he does our car insurance and our kid's college funds) the guy who started and is funding his own Construction Company that we will go with... that we'd decided on ST. CLAIRE ESTATES (which by the way is the place we were leaning toward anyways because the location is better than the other contender.) The next day, Tyler (by the way, Sara, his last name is Schwendiman sp?!) called and said there's one lot left in our price range!!! It's now secured and I think it's no coincidence that AFTER it was secured, Audrey (my Kindergartner) came home and said "Mom, I'm not in the first grade anymore, now they moved me up to 2nd grade!" Do you know how stressed I've been about her going to a different school next year and have to do over what she's already done this year?! If I didn't know we'd be somewhere where she'd be going to a school with a principal who will put her where she should be - I'd be freaking out! I thank Heavenly Father for the sequence of things - from the bottom of my heart!!!

SO - AMONG OTHER THINGS LIKE EXERCISING MORE AND EATING BETTER, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND HERE !!! AHHH!!! I'M TIRED FROM JUST WRITING IT!!! ALL!!!

Hansen's Christmas Times!

Judging that the only comment I received on my last slideshow was from my mom, maybe these bore you, my readers - but oh well... I like them...

BTW the last pic looks like Kyle is going to pretend to hurt Audrey but really they were playing fire...she was stuck in a fire and he was going to use the axe to break the window and save her!

I'm off to Salt Lake for my Grandma's funeral on Monday - I think we'll leave tomorrow instead of Sunday as planned... wish us luck (pray) for our driving safely - there's been over a foot of snow accumulating over the last week - it's been snowing almost nonstop! And now there is a big storm coming...

Hansen's Hallmarks of December.. So Far

Among these and other things we have been asked to sing, sing sing

Nettie sang:

Breath of Heaven at Kev's sister's Single Ward's Christmas Concert two Sundays ago.

Mary's Lullaby at the Care Center (just one day after her Grandma died - this is at the same Care Center that her Grandma had lived at - she would have been there watching...)

There Within a Stable in church last Sunday

(in a sextet of seven as the first Soprano Soloist.)

Two Choir Songs on Sunday.

Kevin sang...

When Joseph Went to Bethlehem at his sister's concert she put together.

Two Choir Songs last Sunday

Audrey and Kyle sang...

Away in a Manger at the Ward Christmas Party, the concert their Aunt Melanie ran and at the Care Center.

Audrey is...

Audrey is...

Reading at a high 2nd to low 3rd grade level.

Here's a video of her reading a first grade level book for the first time - she'd never seen it before!

Audrey Is...

A Scholar.

Kevin and I were able to meet with her Kindergarten teacher a little over a week ago for Parent Teacher Conference. I pretty much knew what was going to be said and what the test results were going to be, but it still gave me a lot of joy and some good old fashioned pride (the nice kind.) She went into Kindergarten having already mastered all the goals for the children to reach by the end of the year. Her behavior and all of those areas are great, too!

When they started testing her the first week they immediately put her (and only one other child - one of her best friends, Sam) into the first grade. Sam and Audrey only spend around 20-30 minutes in Kindergarten for some recess and group time. The other 2 hours are in the 1st grade. When I saw the goals for the 1st grade and how she's pretty much met all of those it didn't surprise me either. I'm not trying to be an annoying, bragging mom. Actually, it's stressful having a gifted child when you're going to be moving and the school she's in now is the only one in the area that will move her up to where she needs to be. I'm currently praying that where we're going to build a house will be zoned into the school she goes to now. Otherwise, I might have to waive her in - and drive her everyday next year!!!

Audrey is...

A natural teacher.

While I cook dinner Audrey likes to reinforce what I'm teaching Kyle right now - how to write letters. It's easier for him with this magnetic board. She writes the letter with the magnetic pen and then Kyle gets the square magnet and traces over it. She has the best ideas!

Audrey is...

An energetic, goofy little girl.

Even if she's one of the top students in the grade ahead of her and socially mature, she is a kid at heart. She works hard but she also plays hard just the same!

Audrey is...

Still very in love with Rudolph (The Red Nosed Reindeer!)

I bought this toy at the D.I. when she was around 2 - the Christmas she fell in love with him. He was around $1.00 and every December she's ecstatic to see her friend again!

Last year I bought her a new one that sings and has his nose light up and everything, but she gave it to Kyle. She likes this one the best!

Some Of The Things I'm Thankful For This Year

I am thankful...

That one of my new friends in the ward, Tammy, decided to plan her own "Fabulous Friday Craft Night" at her house and taught me how to make this cute Pumpkin Stand.

I am thankful...
That I was able to go down to Shelley the night before Thanksgiving and make pies (with my mother-in-laws supervision.) I was able to work hard and have fun. Baking can really bond women together and make them laugh and giggle uncontrollably - more serotonin!!!


I am thankful....
That Susan was able to cheer me on as I made a homemade apple pie with a homemade pie crust and everything. She said I have talent and she's taught a lot of people how to bake so I take that as a MAJOR compliment!


I am thankful...
That I was not only able to make my first apple pie, but I made 4 pumpkin pies, 4 banana cream pies, 4 chocolate cream pies and one candied yams! And I didn't mess one thing up!! (In fact, for the first time ever, I now love candied yams!!!)



I am thankful...
For my family. They are the 4 best things I have in this world!


I am thankful...
That we noticed Audrey's hair was getting in her food in time - so we could tie her braids up!


I am thankful...
That Audrey enjoyed all of my pies (she was able to taste every kind throughout Thanksgiving day and the 3 days after.)


I am thankful...
The same thing went for Kaden.
And for Kyle, too, but he didn't get to any pies until the night of Thanksgiving (we ate at 1pm.)



I am thankful...
For a husband and brother-in-law who are happy helpers
(they're washing dishes in this picture.)
And also for their friendship, for my friendship with Steve's wife, Mindy, and for the friendship between my kids and their twin boys!


I am thankful...
For a husband who is fun. He's always ready, willing and happy to play with the kids. Here he is trying to steal the ball from Josh, one of Steve's twin sons.


I am thankful...
For some great cousins Kevin has. Here is one of his cousins, David, giving Audrey a fun ride!

I am thankful...

For my mother-in law Susan and all her hard work this year. (She was in charge of Thanksgiving for her side of the family.) She reserved the church which was perfect for the little ones. And she even had fun crafts she sat and did with her grandkids.

I am thankful...

For the friendship my kids have with one another. When they are playing nicely together, not a lot can match the joy I feel in my heart from that.

I am thankful...

That Heavenly Father gives us children who have the same talents, interests and habits as us.

It's so fun to watch my daughter stretch while she watches t.v. just like her mom. (Or to watch her and Kyle watch t.v. upside down like her mom did as a kid.)


I am thankful...

That after the festivities we were able to have my parents babysit Kaden while he took a very late nap. Then, Kevin and I were able to take Audrey and Kyle to "The Bee Movie" for a special treat. (In my opinion it was more for adults and I would imagine was mostly over the kid's heads, but we all enjoyed it!)

And of course as in any year, I'm thankful for...

The Gospel of Jesus Christ,

The Scriptures,

The Prophet and all the Leaders of the Church,

And a free Country to live in!

And basically I'm thankful for every good thing and person in this world - and all the experiences I'm able to go through - good or bad because I am thankful for what's in my heart and mind and soul and spirit more than any "thing" in this world.

Also, this year I have the wonderful blessing of being a part of the blogging world - to be able to share my thoughts and feelings and to have a way of preserving memories for my family.

I'm thankful for anyone who reads this and likes it and/or me!

Birthday Clusters

Anyone else have these?!?!
Well I have a fall cluster of 8 in my family. And I failed to post about all but one so far...
woops!

First, on September 20th (o.k. it's 3 days before fall starts but it's in the September part of the cluster) is the best father in law I could ever have - Larry's birthday!

Two days later on September 22nd is Kellie's oldest - Ian's birthday. Kellie is Kev's youngest sister.

This year Ian turned 2!

Not even a week later is Audrey's birthday on the 25th and the best mother in law for me - Susan's on the 26th!

Not even a week after that is my brother Greg's firstborn son Liam's birthday on October 2nd.

This year he was 1!


Not even a week after that is Kevin's Dad's Mom's birthday on October 9th. (She is such a great Grandma, friend and one of my best Mary Kay customers!)

Then there's Greg's wife Liza's birthday on October 24th. This year she turned 28! Yes, Greg married someone 3 months younger than his baby sister. (He's such a stud!)


It all ends today - November 19th - Happy Birthday Kellie! I can't believe you are 23!!! And pregnant with your third child!!! You still look 16!!! This picture was taken last Saturday - What do you think, does she look 23 to you?!?!

Goodbye Dutchess :(

Well last Saturday was happy and sad. Happy because Kevin's sister Kellie came to visit from Arizona where she lives.


Sad because the reason she flew out was because she came to say goodbye to her 10 year old dog (who her mom and dad have taken care of for the last 5 years.) Dutchess was not doing well so Kellie and Kev's parents decided it was time to put her down. She was just too miserable - blind and deaf and tired.


So we all went down to Shelley to play with her one last time.


Our kids have known and played with her their whole life - and I knew her as long as I knew Kevin -we wanted to say goodbye.

So here is what she looked like before they left for the vet...

And within 20 minutes, they were back and there she was looking like this in her grave. I have to admit, I was pretty shocked with sadness. But, I brought out the mommy strength and said nicely "now she is running and playing in dog heaven where she can see and hear again!"

Kev's dad Larry mentioned that in South America (he served an L.D.S. mission in Bolivia) everyone puts some dirt in the grave. So we all did.

The kids chipped in too.

Kaden wanted to help his dad shovel dirt in.

And then Grandma helped Audrey put flowers on top...

Followed by Kyle. (The grass was put back on later after Larry watered the dirt.)

I have to admit that it was an emotional day for me - even though I hid my emotions (which I don't normally do unless I have to for my kids.) I never had a pet growing up other than fish, birds and hamsters - and seeing them die still wasn't easy. But seeing a dog die kind of shook me - although I ignored it until a few days later and finally let myself cry (after the kids were in bed.) It was just weird to pet her one minute and within a short few minutes after that, she was gone.

TELL ME, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN REALLY SAD ABOUT A PET DYING?