a summer tradition

I love when Sturgis Falls rolls around every June. There are lots of laid back activities to go do with the family and friends. I try to get my boys out for the weekend for as much as their little hearts desire. A few favorite's are the parade, music in the park, food from the vendors in the park, the Fun Run, and the bike races. No bike races this year, but everything else was indulged in times two!! I also love the street fair, but leave this option for just my girlie self and a couple friends :) Next year we'll be chasing an almost 1 year old during our summer tradition!

 Parade watching with friends

 Austin's favorite... the fire truck!!

 After the parade...

 Fun Run

 Austin lining up... he wasn't so sure about getting on the start line. Then I told him he got cookies when he finished... he smiled and took off!

 Happy to find his dad at the finish line and his bag of cookies :)

And our other son... who could have cared less about the cookies. He was all run and no fun!! Okay, a little bit of fun... he takes anything competitive very seriously. He was quick to let us know he got first and wore his medal proudly :)  Could our boys be any different??? I love it!

a baby ago...

I came across this as I was cleaning off my desktop. Dave's sister had given me some old pictures and I forgot I had these saved on here. Here was our family 4 summers ago... Dad, Mom with baby Austin in womb, and Jaxon. My, my how we all have grown :) (Okay, Dave looks the same, but the rest of us have grown!) What fun to look back! What fun to add babies to our family!

little chef

My love for baking comes naturally... I have many memories as a child spending time in my grandmother's kitchen's helping and watching them bake, as well as my mom's as they all prepared yummy creations. My grandmother's have passed on their knowledge of home-made goodies, hospitality, and preparing good food for large gatherings. I treasure this from the older and wiser women in my family. One thing I learned years ago was that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. While I adapt this idea to just about anyone, I find it to be mostly true. Bring anyone to your table and feed them well and they usually can feel the love that comes from preparing a good home cooked meal right in the middle of their heart :) I always assumed I would pass this onto my daughters someday, but so far God has blessed me with wonderful boys...and guess what? They seem to enjoy the kitchen as much as I do when I include them in whatever we are making! I love spending time baking with my boys and  hope someday they will be whipping up some fine goodies and meals for their future wives!

growing babies (and mama's)

Back in December on a very cold evening I found Holly in her den at her house during a family gathering to share the news we were having a baby... we still weren't telling people, but I really wanted to tell one of my closest sisters and friends. As I blurted out our news she came back with a "SO AM I"!! She was a week ahead of me! We cried, squealed like little girls, laughed, hugged  a lot, and just thanked God. I was so excited to share this sort of amazing time with her. Now here we are in the warm months of summer...weeks away from meeting these little miracles we've been carrying around for the last 9 months. She is 36 weeks and I am 35 weeks... baby girl and baby boy will join us soon :) We can't wait!

Goodbye First Grade

I can not believe we have a 2nd grader in our house! Once they hit school it seems like the years are just flying by. Jaxon had a great year in first grade. We continue to feel blessed with such a good school, teachers, and community of people surrounding him. Jaxon really is a natural student... he loves to go to school, enjoys learning, likes being with his peers, and makes school just plain fun! We were super proud of the progress he made this last year as a learner, as a friend, and as a leader. It is so fun to listen him to read like crazy these days and he has figured math out that I struggle with :) He's gone from being walked up to school everyday to jumping out and heading into class all by himself, as well as doing things like homework every night and keeping track of his school responsibilities. He has grown so much! I love that I can still be a part of his day by getting in the classroom some and getting to take him to school each day as well as pick him up. It was great to meet and get to know some more parents this year. Wow, school!!! Some days I still can't believe I have a kid in school :) We are excited for 2nd grade and Jaxon is especially looking forward to his own locker and the new wing next year. It will be here in a blink of an eye! So here is our goodbye to first grade.... thank you for a great year!

 Last week...Field Day... it was a fun HOT afternoon with all the kids.

 More Field Day... Jaxon loved it! (it was 10 different games...perfect for our competitive boy, he took it all very seriously :)

Last Day of First grade

 Picking him up after school... Austin loves to wave goodbye to him each morning from the van and we always pray for him as he runs up to school...  after school Austin waits patiently for big brother to come out and play or go home for an afternoon snack!

Last day with some buddies...

 Gabe R, Jaxon, and Austin on our way home

And to celebrate...  we headed straight to the POOL! Nothing kicks off summer then starting at the pool on a 90 degree day! Hello, summer break!!!

Happy Dad's Day!

Our boys are so blessed with a really great dad! They just adore him and love spending time with him. I know there is something special between Dad's and their sons and it is a gift to get a front row seat to watch these relationships grow. I want to thank our special Dad today for going the extra mile to make our family fun, together, strong, cared for, and special. Happy Father's Day, babe!!! You're the best!

(Side note... the above picture is from the start of their "Wild at Heart" trip... Dave took the boys on a "man trip" this weekend and I am so excited to hear all about it! A post of it's own coming soon! A tradition in the making :)

34 weeks!

Wow! Here we are cruising into the final weeks of this pregnancy! It really has gone fairly fast... now that summer has arrived it is really flying by. I am officially 34 weeks this week and after my last two appointments, am consistently measuring a week bigger. Had an ultra sound today to check on baby's growth and he is showing 5lbs and 9oz already. Yikes, better slow down on the Popsicles :) His heart beat today was  a strong 159 and it was so fun to see his chubby cheeks on the screen. I think his chubby face looks like Austin!

A few things I want to remember about this pregnancy... the MANY comments I get about swallowing a basketball (yes, I know my stomach looks like I ate an enlarged basketball and left it to carry around with me), sharing appointment comments with my also lovely pregnant sis-in-law after every appointment we have!, hearing my boys call him by his name and excited to have him "come out", the random numb hips I have and the now numb arms I get through out the day (1st time for numb arms too), feeling him kick me in the upper left side of my ribs after every meal I eat, the little tush that he pushes up against my mid-section when I assume he doesn't like how I am sitting, Avery randomly lifting my shirt up to "see Baby Hansen" but she says his name :), he's only had the hiccups once that I have noticed (Austin had them all the time in my tummy), the not so lovely spider veins I have on my left ankle (hoping those don't stick around!), sandwiching between my two boys right before they fall asleep and having them put their arms around me to feel the baby brother moving or say goodnight to him, the way my dog lays his head right on my tummy :)

This sweet boy is almost ready to make his appearance. Such a blessing! We're getting excited and for the most part are ready...I think? I actually forgot what I was supposed to take to the hospital and had to look up on-line for a list, HA! After 3 you'd think I'd remember! Looking forward to these final weeks... anticipating our little baby boy and spending some good one on one time with my first two Handsome Hansen boys!!!

  33 weeks pregnant

 our chubby cheeked handsome Hansen :)  (side view, nose in middle and hand up by his face)