The Slumber Party Mystery

Alli turned 11 this weekend, and I can't believe how grown up she's getting.  We had one of those mystery theater parties where everyone has a part and tries to guess who committed a crime, which was a riot with a bunch of eleven year olds.  I got to play the part of the host/detective on the scene.  It was a slumber party mystery, and Alli's cousin Jaycee played the cheerleader who couldn't stop saying "Go Team!" and ended up stealing everyone's stuff.  Then they played Murder in the Dark, but whenever the lights went out they just screamed and giggled, so we didn't always catch the murderer. Grandma brought a Cold Stone cake because the one I attempted was, let's just say not edible...  I struggle with the cake part of birthdays, but I love Alli!

Ginny crawled all the way up the stairs at Grandma's on Alli's birthday, which was also pretty amazing.  Alli and I spotted her while she made those big moves.  When she got to the top she was so  excited, she started jabbering.  It's fun to see her try to communicate a little bit.  I think she was proud.

So Big

On Saturday night Ginny woke up from her nap, and when I went in to get her out of the crib, she was hanging over the railing trying to get a better look at the floor.  She looked up at me with her big toothless grin, and I got a little bit mad at her!  Why can't she stop growing up?  There will be no more pulling up on things in. this. house.   But a few days later, there she was pulling up on the stairs.

We all just adore the pants off this little girl.  Every time she does something new, like eat food from a spoon, or sit up for a second by herself, everyone cheers for her.  And then Ty and I look at each other like, where is the time going?  It's bittersweet, I guess.  The last time for this and that keeps passing us by.  I'm afraid that I'll blink, and it'll be my last kid going to college instead of just learning to stand up in a crib.  You want to be upright?  Whaaaa?!?  Next thing you'll want to live on your own, and that is not happening, sister!  Poor thing.  I won't ever let her grow up.  

Never Speak of it Again...

I haven't written a word in over a year!  Man that was a rough patch.  I just re-read all of my New Year's goals in the last post, and, funny thing, they're pretty much identical to the one's I just made last week that blew my mind.  Top of my list this year was getting organized, streamlined, and efficient so that I can HAVE MORE FUN...

Last year on New Year's Eve I wrote, "Have more fun" and "Find Joy in the Journey," and that would be an excellent lead in to this year, minus the 12 months that occurred directly after I wrote it.  No, we did not have more fun last year or find a whole lot of joy in the journey, but we did bring a healthy, sweet, and wonderful little girl into the world.  It's funny how those resolutions have a way of running away with themselves.

I'd like to say that I endured the whole ordeal with grace and style, my head held high, but mostly I just slouched uncomfortably around making everyone miserable.  Well, misery does love company.  If it's true that you can climb a mountain just by taking one step at a time, then that's what happened here.  We kept putting one foot in front of the other and hoped it was like a pass/fail situation instead of the graded type of life test, and hallelujah, we made it!  We have the sweetest, cuddliest, most precious little girl who brings with her a lifetime of joy and fun.  But it was really really hard.  I'm never doing that again.

#fluffyshoes

I'd like to go back and have some cathartic recap of all the craziness that happened last year, but honestly, it feels like dead weight.  I gotta let it go because this next year is going to be amazing.  I can already tell that there is some magic waiting to happen.  I made about 80 goals I want to accomplish, and so far, after a whole 5 days, I am tearing it up.  That's a good sign, right?  I know, it's a little early to break into a victory dance, but I can just tell that between Ty and I, we have enough energy to make things happen in 2015.  If we don't accomplish everything, we'll conquer something we never intended.  What I'm trying to say is, I haven't felt this great in years!  That's worth celebrating on it's own because I've felt like 7 days in Lehi for an entire decade.  I haven't taken my asthma medicine for about a month now, and I've never felt better.  I was right all along: the meds were doing more harm than good!  Now someone sign me up for Doterra.  Just kidding.  Don't call me about that, I'm only joking.

I have made a lot of goals, and one of them is to write a weekly post to record the life and times of my kids.  I really hope that one sticks because they love to read the old stories, and it makes me sad that I've lost so much time.  So, cheers!  Here's to blogging in 2015!

Christmas Card 2014

Merry, Merry Christmas

This year has been filled with adventure.  We had a baby!  Ty started a new job, and we moved across the street.  It was like running a marathon, only life style.  And speaking of Marathons, Ty ran a few of those too.   He ran a lot.  In fact, he ran so hard that he now has a broken leg.  It’s kind of an accomplishment if you think about it.  I definitely couldn’t run myself into a stress fracture!

            

It’s been a crazy year filled with miracles.  We learned that we needed to move just 4 weeks before Virginia was due in May, and I was on bed rest for low fluid.  I wasn’t allowed to pack a single box!  The same week we discovered that the next-door neighbors were moving OUT and would be ready to rent their house on the very same day that we needed to move IN.  We literally rolled our stuff down the hill.  What a miracle!

Help came from everywhere.  It was like Angels came to take care of us.  In two weeks they packed all the boxes and then helped unpack them.  They cleaned the house.  We ate amazing meals that I didn’t cook.  I counted about 25 people who sacrificed in big and small ways to help us out that month.  I didn’t even think I knew 25 people that well, and truth be told, I actually didn’t know a few people before they showed up with a mop.  If you are one of those wonderful old or new friends, thank you again, and imagine me giving you a big hug!

The day we moved my fluid dropped so low that I had to have several tests done up at the hospital, and I ended up having our baby girl 7 days later by C-section.  She was beautiful and healthy—that day another Angel touched our lives.  She is so sweet and special, and really she must be after the category 5 storm her birth caused in our lives.  We gave her an extra special name: Virginia May after both of her amazing grandmothers.

As if all that wasn’t enough change for one year, Ty also took on a new job, so now he has two.  It’s been a great opportunity and a Miracle in itself.   In between working for two companies, Ty took Alli hunting this fall and is teaching Maddie how to ski, which they love.  He, as always, lives life as intensely as possible.

Alli (10), Maddie(7), and Annie(5) are growing too fast.  I wish they would just stop!  Alli is going to be in Middle school in another year, and is such a beautiful, talented young lady.   She is a whiz at school and wants to try out for the school play next month.

Maddie has re-discovered her long lost friend Ginny!  Whenever Maddie looks at her, she laughs.  Every time.  Either Ginny thinks she looks goofy, or they are reunited at long last, haha.   It also tuns out that Maddie is super fab at math.  Her teacher raves about her.  (She must get the math gene from Ty.)

Annie is hilarious.  One night Ty pulled into the garage after we’d eaten dinner.  As he walked in, he asked Annie what was for dinner, and she said, “we had chicken and rice and delicious beans.”  He was disappointed to find out that the delicious beans were black-eyed peas.  Annie and I love them, but no else does, bless their hearts.  New Year’s in non-negotiable though!  Good luck, and all that.

We love all four of our delightful girls.  They make life so amazing, and we feel really blessed this year.  Merry Christmas!  Hope your holiday is bright. 

Love,

The Hansens