are we there yet?

December 18th started a game of tag at our house and everyone but Dave has been "it" at least once. Let me tell you though...this is one game you don't want to get caught at!! We have managed to catch any sickness floating around in the last month, one after the other! Stomach stuff, terrible colds, ear infections, 105 fevers, headaches, and more stomach stuff!! Seriously, can we catch a break!?!? Needless to say, we are exhausted and this family vacation couldn't be scheduled for a better time! We're almost all packed up, 3 bottles of antibiotics stocked, and the pets delivered to their new homes for the week. I think it may be me that continuously annoys the driver on the trip with "ARE WE THERE YET"?

sledding anyone?

My boys would go sledding everyday if I let them. And most days, I don't argue. We have the perfect mini hill in our backyard and Austin is old enough to hang with his big brother for a bit that it actually lets me throw a meal together or pick up a room quick if I'm not in the sledding mood myself :) Now, of course, most the time I head out with them, but it is kinda nice to send the kids outdoors every so often!! We sometimes have an extra tot to pull around outside and that makes for a fun time too! Avery is always up for whatever these Hansen boys are doing... after a couple times down the hill she found much happiness just sitting in the sled at the top of the hill and eating snow (white snow only, mom!). 

Some days I take my boys to a real hill for sledding. I learned Austin has tackled his fear of fast moving things (swings, big slides, etc) He had NO FEAR going down the big hill. I had to pull him up about 20 times to keep coming back down and lets just say I had one heck of a work out!! Jaxon managed to create a ramp and was getting air as he zoomed down the hill. Boys!  Moments like these are the ones that make me smile when I lay my head down at night. What fun years these two are giving us!

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has come and gone at the Hansen's! It went by fairly quickly and like each year we enjoyed some of our old traditions, the study of Jesus' birth the weeks leading up, and of course family! We managed to get the flu at our house the day before Christmas Eve and then started a round of nasty colds a few days after, but other than that, it was a very relaxing, enjoyable, and quiet time for us. We quietly rang in 2011 just the four of us playing games, making smoothies, watching movies, and snuggling on our sectional couch. A perfect start to 2011!

 Christmas Eve...before church. It is getting tougher and tougher to get these two to stand still for a picture, much less smile at the same time :)

 Christmas with Papa Jon before church service.

 Jaxon's favorite thing... his own Tigers jersey!

(he hasn't taken it off except to be cleaned!)

 Christmas morning... we opened gifts, had breakfast, watched movies, took naps (yes! 2 naps!), snacked, and laid around. A very lazy and wonderful day for us!!!

 I always make sugar cookies with the kids on Christmas day. I have a great book that tells the story of Jesus through cookies, as well as the importance of giving to others. It has become a fun tradition (and yummy).

 McIntosh Christmas... Austin opened anyone's gifts that would let him. Grandma and grandpa were a sure give in!

 Brody Christmas... Uncle Kyle got the 4 wheeler out and gave super fun sled rides. Austin had no fear and Jaxon went around a bajillion times.

 Sledding with cousins!

 This is a typical scene with Dave's sisters at gatherings... all gathered around where the food is...

...or gathered where the kids are!

Big Things Happening Already!

We are wasting no time doing big things here in the new year! New Year's day we always spend with Dave's sisters and families. A few years ago one of his sister's and husband built a new house and with it came a new gym :) A huge advantage for our family gatherings which are growing by the number every year! The kids love having space to play ball, ride bikes, play games, run around, and just be free. Austin spent little time finding a bike and teaching himself how to get those pedals moving. I looked down and he was just riding around the gym! His legs were just a wee too short still at the end of summer and he was so excited to be riding a "big boy" bike. He's getting so big! He'll be chasing Jaxon around this spring on his bike for sure. We've got big things happening here already in 2011! Good Job, Austin!! Such a BIG BOY :)

PS Our computer is finally fixed so look for some more recent updates from our holiday season! Whew, it's nice to have recent pictures to use again!!

goodies + 3 boys + snow + music = perfect day

The snow fell all morning here and it made for a beautiful view out our big kitchen window. I just happened to have 2 extra little boys here while Jaxon was at school and thought it was a perfect time to make some Christmas goodies. The boys pulled up their stools and chairs and got messy with the flour and sugar and cereal. With the Christmas music on, the oven warmed up, and 6 little hands full of stickyness I had a moment that stood still. The smells in my kitchen, the view out the window, the tunes filling our ears, the squeals from little boys, and the taste of warm puppy chow made me so thankful for this season in my life. I was a little sad that Jaxon wasn't with us to enjoy it, but I was having one of those perfect moments in my home when I knew that I am doing exactly what God made me to do at this time in my life. Do you ever have those? I have them every so often where life feels just completely right. Like you know that where your body is and where your mind is and how your heart is feeling is right where God wants it, at that moment. I love being here with my children as they grow and having time to let life just happen on snowy mornings.  I love the little people that come into our home during the week and join our family for a little bit. I love getting to have perfect moments every so often that affirm what I am doing and how I spend my time. Today it was simply being available to just bake goodies, let 3 boys get messy, turn up the music, and watch the snow fall. I am not perfect, but I know a perfect moment when it comes. Thank goodness for goodies and boys and snow and music today!

being two

Our computer is not working great.... so not so many Austin posts as I planned this week. Here are some pictures of our little Monster being two! Austin is such a special part of our family. He has all the laid back and easy going personality that just keeps us simple. He is exactly what our family of three needed. He finds fun in little things, entertains himself a lot (preferring to), he laughs a lot, he loves to explore and get into anything, loves animals and anything with wheels, loves hiding, being outside, playing with "brodder" and his little buddies, he loves going to eat at church on Wednesday nights, has so much fun with his Papa Jon, shares a bed with his brother (again, his choice), likes to eat sweets, loves his blankie and his binkie, and is such an incredible joy to have in this family. We are so thankful we get to celebrate 3 years with him today.

Happy 3rd Birthday Austin! WE LOVE YOU!!!!