Firsts for Brooklyn

Here are some photos we took tonight of Brooklyn trying rice cereal. She wasn't sure what this foreign substance was I was putting in her mouth. I'm sure she'll just get better.



Here are a few photos we took just for fun. I don't seem to get too many photos with my kids as I am usually behind the camera. Cute kiddos!

Thanksgiving

We had a really nice thanksgiving this year. Our friends Eric and Sarah Peterson came down from Michigan to spend a few days with us. They got in late Wednesday night and then Thursday we enjoyed good food, lots of toy messes, and best of all good company. On Friday Cory worked until about 3 and I took some family photos of their family that morning; it was so much fun for me--cold, but fun. Sarah and I went shopping in the afternoon and then we hung out for the evening. Saturday we went to Polaris Mall and let the kids play while the guys went to an arcade and got in touch with their youth for about an hour. We had lunch and they took off for home. What a fun time! Our kids loved it. Here are few photos that Eric took of Briggs and Ava while we were doing our photo shoot. Briggs and Ava were best of friends and worst of enemies. They also both had their first kiss; with no encouragement-what can you do? We love these photos of them.


I call this "the look"


"What did I do?"

Daddy's doin'

So the other day Cory put Brooklyn down for a nap. When I went to get her this is what I found. I think the picture speaks for itself. When I inquired about Brooklyn's new "fashion statement" if you will, he replied, "I had already pulled her pants up and I figured she was just taking a nap anyway." Pretty funny! Sometimes I have to laugh at a fathers approach to taking care of his children; it is never how the wife would do it, but somehow it works and it gives us a few laughs along the way.

Celebrating 6 Years!

Happy Anniversary Cory! I just want you to know that I love you more today than I did 6 years ago. You have always been there to love and encourage me. I can truly say that I found my confidence in what I could become when you came into my life and I am a better person because of you. Thanks for being such a wonderful dad and a wonderful husband. I love you so much! Here's to forever!


Six years ago Cory and I were married in the Idaho Falls Temple and what a ride it's been. We've loved, laughed, and cried. We have 3 beautiful kids, graduated from college, lived in 7 apartments, purchased two houses, one minivan, moved across the country, worked together, taken many road trips, made some great friends along the way, enjoyed our kids, made some new traditions, supported and loved each other in good times and bad, and have truly enjoyed the ride. I can say that we have really felt and lived life thus far and we look forward to creating a future full of wonderful memories; we are truly blessed. I couldn't ask for anything more.


To celebrate our anniversary we went to the melting pot fondue restaurant. It was pretty good but I think next time we'll skip the main dish and go right for the desert. We took brooklyn who was an angel while we sat there for the two hour fondue experience. It was a nice evening. Here's to another year.

Finally . . . photos of our house!

Well, I've had some requests to see photos of the house that we bought a few months back. Cory and I have been working really hard on it, and my dad was a great big help to us when he came out for Brooklyn's blessing-we can't thank him enough. So on the slideshow the first photos are pictures of the house before we bought it, then I have some of the "during" process, and then the "after" shots. Cory has given me the freedom to just go for it in regards to the design and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. It has been a labor of love if you can call it that. I think my husband would call it something else but that's besides the point. He really has been great through this all and we have learned so much; we love the end result! It has been fun for me to create an environment that suits our style and needs. After all, it is what I love to do. Enjoy!

Pure joy . . .

If there ever was such a definition as pure joy, Brooklyn would be it. She is such a bright light in our home!


Amongst all the balls, loud wrestling (which always leads to screaming and fighting), jumping from the sofa to the floor, cars and chaos, the boys completely malling her, and all the things that it takes to keep a household of 5 running smoothly, she is such a mellow and laid back little girl.


She often laughs at her brothers and thinks that they are the greatest thing; there is such a peace about her. We all love to cuddle and love her.


She has such a special and sweet spirit and Cory and I feel so blessed to be her parents!



We love you baby girl!

He's as stubborn as they come . . .

And that would be ETHAN!! Just the other night Cory had put him in time-out, which he screams this death shrill for the full 2 minutes. When Cory got him out of time-out he refused to say "I'm sorry." After several failed attempts we will often put him on a chair until he is apologetic (we've tried it all and this seems to work and he will eventually say sorrry), accept for this night. . . He sat there for a good 1/2 hour as quiet as a mouse. There was no TV on, no kids to look at, no toys to play with, the lights were down. He just sat.


I would say it was about 9 pm when Cory and I went to check on him this is how we found him. Asleep on the chair. Apparently it was better to claim sleep than say those two simple words "I'm sorry." He can be our most challenging child at times.

This past sunday he was really on one. He was everywhere in the chapel pew, in and out of my bag, asking for food, up and down the row, playing with Brooklyn, bugging Briggs. Cory and I were trying to help him to sit quietly while they passed the sacrament. He then asked for some snacks again (for the 3rd or 4th time). I told him that he needed to sit on the bench until the boys all sat with their families then he could have some. So he yells-and I mean he really yells as loud as he can, "FINE!! I'M FRUSTRATED! I'M NOT HAPPY!" it was one of those moments as a parent that you literally can do nothing but laugh. I think the whole congregation was laughing; it was a funny moment-not funny, but funny!! You know sometimes as a parent (we'll for me a lot of times) I find myself very frustrated throughout the day but just as bitter as it sometimes can be, we have quite a few of those sweet moments, a lot of those are with our little Ethan.



Ethan is really into doing things him "self" (as he puts it). He discovered that he can turn on the lights if he climbs onto the toilet. A few days ago Cory found him in the bathroom, with Briggs underwear (clean underwear) on his head just casually switching the light from on to off. We were laughing so hard. He thought it was the coolest thing. Once Briggs grabbed it off his head, he screamed (surprise, surprise) and put it back on with determination. Pretty funny little boy!

Random Photos

I don't have really anything to say about these photos, but I thought I'd share. I love my little kiddos!

Gotta love photoshop!!

I've been having fun with all I am learning on photoshop and some action mixes that I have downloaded. Below is the original photo I took of Brooklyn's feet the other day and the second one is one I changed up! I really like the look and feel of it.


Also, I've had a few people request to know which photos I entered in for Brooklyn. I checked official rules and was able to enter two; one under my account set up and one under Cory. So, originally I chose the 1st one and then based off a suggestion from Holly, I submitted the 2nd one. Thanks everyone for your input. It helped out! Win or loose, we have the cutest buckeye baby around!!

Loving every moment? ?

Oh . . . this is to my friend April. I had to laugh as I read a comment she left on my blog about do I really love every minute as my title of my blog says? That is a great question and the answer is clearly no. I have actually for a while now been thinking that I need to change the name of my blog. Not that I don't love "a lot" of those special moments that go along with being a mom that just totally confirms my love and conviction for being a mom, but I must have been having a great day when I titled it that and I don't have those "near-perfect" days very often. I love being a mother and a wife-don't get me wrong, but if I am completely honest with myself, the answer is clearly "no." So thanks April for helping me to be a bit more honest with myself and giving me a little smile to start out my day. (The Hansen's is not my new permanent title)

Please help . . .

Cory found this "Cutest Buckeye Baby" contest that he wanted to enter Brooklyn in for tickets to the Michigan/Ohio state game and a $500 gift card to Babys-r-us. Please help me out by making a note on which one you think we should enter. There are basically 2 or 3 shots with different effects. I will be sending the photo in tomorrow, Friday! Thanks!!


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So sweet . . .

The boys love Brooklyn so much! Ethan can be a bit overzealous in his love but he means well. The other day I was talking to Brooklyn and I said, "hey darling little girl," to which Ethan overheard me and I heard him say with a smile, "hey . . . dar-ling . . .baby . . . girl" He says it all the time now and it is so cute! What a sweet little boy!

Happy Halloween

I love this photo of the kids right before going trick-or-treating. Ethan liked going but thought all the costumes where "spooky." Briggs loved it! And Brooklyn loved going along for the ride. Love my kids!!