soaking it all up . . . and then some

It is amazing what our children absorb through the media they take in.  For example:

Lydia watched her aunt play Maria in "The Sound of Music" over spring break.  Today Lydia was telling me about the play which she kept calling, "The Sound of Maria"

Colton is really into super heros right now.  Today we went to story time at the library where they read, "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"  Colton came home with his Peter Rabbit puppets and acted out for me the story- all about Mr. McGregor and Peter Parker. 

Yesterday . . .

Yesterday I wore my sandals.
Yesterday I rode my bike.
Yesterday my neck turned pink.
Today it is raining . . . and raining . . . and raining.
Please come back yesterday. 

what happened to my blog?

 I like to blog.  I do.  I like to write interesting things and I like to post photos for Gram's and Gramps, but it seems lately after I finish dinner, dishes, laundry etc that I just want to sit down with Mike at the end of the day and veg out.  So please excuse my binging.  Hopefully I can start being more consistent- in more areas than just my blog.  (exercise, family home evening, eating my vegetables . . . )  If you can't guess from the above photo, we celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday at our house.  And though Lydia did try them (green eggs and ham) and though she did like them I ended up eating most of them. 

 typical.  oh so typical.

 Our first adventure to Chuck-e-cheese.  It went quite well with many requests to go back.

 The only snowman of winter- in march.  The tall skinny fellow fell down the very next day because of more warm weather. 

 Our most recent family photo on a walk to the bog.

 He claimed he was 'too tired to walk!'  Where there is a will for a free ride, there is a way. I'm just glad he didn't stick out his thumb and try hitch hiking on someone else's stroller. 

 We ran into  our good friends at the children's museum. 

 road trip!

 Running into MY friend at the children's museum.  (And my new hat!)

 Playing in mud puddles with his bestest friends! 

 My chubby little cheerleader!

 Lydia and her best friends at the church Easter egg hunt.

 Easter Egg hunting with a crooked leg.  Surgery is due soon.

searching for eggs.  I think that stick really helped him.  He carried it around all morning.

Life is good.  Life is busy.  Mike got a job.  We will be moving 3 times in the next two years and are excited for the adventure.  More later. . . when babies aren't crying and kids are fed.

3 crazies!

 These three pictures depict the personalities of the kiddo's quite well.  Colton- crazy fun

 Lydia- sweetheart

Jocelyn- animated

I'm still here

 Not too much to report.  It is winter.  We spend a lot of time inside.  Lydia has her cast for 4 more weeks, but she is walking around on it now and she seems quite liberated by that. Some things are getting old- like driving her to school every day, but I shouldn't complain because Lydia never does. Colton still loves Ohio State- as evidenced by the above photo, but after some time at Papa's house he does pretend to be on 'Bama's' team sometimes (short for Alabama, not Obama.)  Mike has had a couple of job interviews, but that just means we still have no idea where we will be 6 months from now.  I was stressed about it, but now I am at peace.  This is unusual for me because I always like to have a plan, but I would rather not worry about it than get grey hairs over it.  Come what may and love it.

I've been able to get out a little.  I went and painted a bowl with some girlfriends (Thanks for the photo Becky)  I also went and saw a documentary on Lewis and Clark.  (Did you know that in the two years it took them to cross the United States, only one man died?)  On Thursday there is a chocolate fountain activity and of course I am excited about that!  I am grateful to have such wonderful friends. 

The girls

 Carrots!

 Bubbles!

 Isn't Duct tape awesome?  It sure adds some color to the walker.

Snow, A Wedding and Pain

 We started our holidays early this year because Mike's sister Maria got married.  Just about everyone was there.  I love the above photo because everyone looks so happy.  It is generally a good time at the Hansen house.  (Although Mama forbid us from playing tag in the house because she just got her couch fixed from all the diving we have done on it since couch is base.)

 Jocelyn helping Kimmy drive Colton's new remote control car.  She was such a good driver she ran it into my toe.

 The couple of honor.  Kyle and Maria.  It was so wonderful to see them make eternal commitments to each other.  We snapped this photo as they walked out and it looks pretty nice for the end of December, but most of the time . . .

 It looked like this.  Rainy and cold.  Kyle's sister Erin was such a trooper to hold the umbrella for their photos.

 Lydia liked the beautiful cake. 

 She also liked watching Maria and Kyle have their indoor photos.  (And I think this is the only photo of me our whole trip)

 Jocelyn and her cousin Will at the reception.  They are great friends.  Will is a month older and much more active, but Jocelyn wins the heavy weight title.  If only the photo did justice to those thighs.

 "Uncle Mat, did you pinch her?"

 There was a tea party table for all of the grand daughters.  They loved it!  A real tea set, pearl bracelets and beautiful cupcakes.

 Lydia was looking so cute in her jammies with her toothless grin.

 Lydia was not feeling so well in this photo with her cousins.  She had just got back from the hospital.  Lydia broke her leg sledding and now has a blue cast up to her hip until sometime around Valentine's day. 

 A photo of the kiddos on Christmas Eve.  Colton loved his "Dash" jammies.  You can kind of see Lydia's cast on her left leg.

 Christmas morning and Jocelyn and Will's 1st Christmas.  They were most concerned with stealing the mardi gra beads from each other that are in Will's hand.

 Colton was the helper with the Santa hat and got to distribute the gifts from under the tree.

 Lydia with her stocking.

 Thanks for the Mini Mouse Grandma and Grandpa.  She takes up half the bed, but she is a great friend.

 Thankfully, many of Lydia's Christmas presents were games or craft activities that she could sit down to do.  Here she is drawing on the big windows with her new window markers. 

 Though Lydia got hurt sledding, it didn't stop Colton from continuing to enjoy himself. 

Though she didn't want to, we made Lydia go outside so she could get some fresh air. 
We are now back in Indiana.  Mama kept Colton for an extra week so Lydia can rest and heal a little bit without her pesky little brother.  We got Lydia a walker and she is getting the hang of it, but is very slow and tires quickly.  She did not like the boring grey walker so we got some rainbow duct tape and souped it up.  It is very colorful and distinguishable now and much more suited to a  6 year old girl. 
It was a very merry and very eventful Christmas!  Wishing you a happy new year!