What's wrong with this picture

Last night.
11 p.m.
Lights on.
E snoring on the floor.
Dog snoozing on the bed.

Don't be startled by the disarray. It's simply Emmie's nightly (& multiple daily) ritual of,
"I should be asleep in bed but instead I'm going to rip apart my room again routine."
A real favorite around here.
On a side note worth mentioning, E's chandelier is so bright I can't believe that she and her new-found bunkmate can sleep with that thing on.
I guess ripping apart the house all day can result in extreme exhaustion.
Heck, I know from personal experience that putting it back together again does.
Exhausted I am.:)
3-year-olds. This thirty-something can't keep up.
I'm just sayin'.
{And yes, we proudly wear xmas pajamas in any season they will fit.;)}

Brave Atticus

The last five weeks have been tough, I have to say. I haven't really felt like blogging - or doing much really, since getting the heartbreaking news about our cute nephew, Atticus' brain tumor. How can we go about the trivial daily tasks when people we love are going through the most excrutiating trial a parent could possibly be asked to endure?  You can never really be prepared for something like that and it was absolutely devastating news to say the least. It all has happened so sudden and came so out of the blue. I am still in awe that when they were here visiting at Christmastime - just a matter of weeks ago, we were all oblivious that anything was even wrong with the cute little guy.

 I see that as a tender mercy, really, that he was able to have a happy, normal Christmas before the cancer was realized. I am also so grateful for the fact that Cindy and Eric decided to trek it out here to Utah for the holidays, rather than stay in Texas.

 I think about how they threw an amazing birthday party for Atticus' fourth birthday on December 17th (see for yourself HERE). If it were me, I may have been too overwhelmed to go all out for the party seeing as how crazy busy December is, not to mention they were sick with colds, on top of the fact that they were trying to get everything together before flying to UT for Christmas. But they had the cutest, most fun birthday bash a four year old could ask for. They made it a HUGE deal.

Little did they know at the time what a huge deal that birthday party really was!

 How forever grateful I am sure they will be for making that day so special for their sweet little Atticus!

No regrets. No regrets. 

It makes me think about daily life and how going the extra mile and trying our best everyday DOES matter. Making the most of the time we have been given is one of the many lessons in all of this, one that I was taught once before with the loss of my older brother. 

It really does change you.

Forever.

There is much to be learned from this stalwart little guy and we are just feel so blessed to have such an amazing, courageous, positive spirit in our family!

We also feel crushed, heartbroken, and breathless for being thrown such an incredibly unexpected curve ball. Many, MANY tears have been shed this last 6 weeks as Chris and I have often found ourselves asking,
 "Is this really happening?".

 I wish the answer were a good one.

What tremendous examples of great faith and strength Eric and Cindy  are to all those who are coming across their story. Hundreds, probably thousands of people are praying for them and prayers being answered! Atticus' symptoms are improving and although we know it may only be for a short while, every moment matters! And you can bet that they are cherishing every second that Atti is feeling well enough to play sports and do some of the active things he loves to do.

Chris flew out to Texas 2 weeks ago and stayed for about four days. He was so grateful for the opportunity to spend those precious days with sweet Atticus.

Here are a few pictures from his trip...

Chris said  that amazingly, despite the physical changes he is going through, that Atti is his same, hilarious, fun-loving, witty, silly, ADORABLE self! 

 

Atti looooves cars. He and Chris spent hours playing with cars, tracing cars, racing and building tunnels for cars. The movie CARS will forever remind me of our cute nephew.

Here is our little champ!

The bravest little man I know.

 Who has the bravest parents I know.

An angel on earth. 

With the cutest cheeks I've ever seen.

www.echansen.blogspot.com

Valentine ramblings

Lexi's gotten really good at
eating her fist while working on her abs.
I need to take notes.
Eating - I've got that one down.
 Abs?
They need some serious work.;)

This was what Emmie wore on Valentines Day three years ago & Lexi reused it this year.
I LOVE that I am able to get some use out of some of Emmie's old things!


 Here is their side by side - Emmie was about 7 weeks older than Lexi in these pictures. I don't think they look anything alike here but people tell me all the time that they do...
What do you think?


Maybe they do more in these pics where the lighting on Lex isn't so bad? I don't know. Emmie has brighter eyes, lighter hair, Hansen cheeks and forehead, and very accentuated dimples.
Lexi has darker hair and eyes, no dimples and a smaller face like me....

& several balding spots like her Daddy. :) Haha.

{Gotta include the big brother...
Here are Emmie and Parker back in 2009. Parker 2 1/2 and Emmie (almost) 6 months!}

VaLeNtInEs DaY...

Emmie and I were pretty sick for Valentines Day. Sore throats, low grade fevers, body aches and raw, runny noses that we'd been fighting all weekend.

 All sorts of loveliness.

I had plans for making/decorating sugar cookies (a Valentine must, right?) and a few other fun things for the kids but none of it really happened. Who really wants sugar cookies rolled out, frosted and decorated by sickly goopy people?

Not me. No siree.

Parker has miraculously managed to stay healthy and had school that morning. He was excited to give out his Valentines for his classmates. He came home eager to put together Valentines for more of he and Emmie's neighbor friends. Many of them live within houses of us so he had fun delivering them at lightening speed and the old fashioned system of leaving them on the doorstep and running. He did this all while E and L napped (strategic in keeping E's germy little hands off of the goods for their friends)  while I watched P run around the neighborhood from the doorstep.

That night we had Buttermilk pancakes in the shape of hearts, topped with strawberries and whip cream, bacon, and our favorite homemade smoothies. It was the perfect meal for the holiday - especially since we (especially me) were so "under the weather" as they say.
 Easy, tasty and festive -what's not to love?

Being so sick earned me a pass to miss the YM/YW activity that night, so my sweet husband not only brought me flowers but also a surprise from Redbox - Breaking Dawn.

 I hadn't seen it yet since it came out soon after I had Lexi (plus who am I kidding - we basically only see 2 movies a year - on Chris' birthday and our anniversary).

And yes - he even watched it with me.

 Or should I say laughed through it with me?

 I semi-enjoyed the books - but really -  the acting is just so bad! And let's face it - some of it is just so awkward. You know what I'm talkin' about. At least I can't say it was the worst one. Nontheless, it was still worth seeing. For me. Chris also gave me a Rod Works gift certificate (home decor) - my favorite store ever!

Despite being sick it was a good day! We're still hoping to get better and be able to make those cookies on Saturday. I can't pass up sugar cookies and better late than never, right?!

Happy Belated Valentines Day from our Party of 5!

Lexi

Lexi turned four months last week!

This girl really does smile ALL THE TIME but of course I was trying to take her picture when all she wanted to do was take a nap.

Get used to it, Lex.

Mom+the camera=a little bit annoying.

Welcome to your life.

It's a good one, I promise. :)

I did finally get a smile out of her with the help of my assistant (aka Chris).

 

She seems to have given up the binky, to my dismay. I still try though. This was the longest any of my babies have taken a pacifier. She is still liking her thumb however, just like her sister. Which is a-okay with me. As long as it soothes her, I'm happy!

 She is starting to drool a lot and she likes to try and eat her fist.

As well as mine.

YES.  Freshly washed - OF COURSE!

 Who do you think you're dealing with here?;)

"Sup?"

Okay so maybe that word reminds me of the 8th grade.

 Nonetheless, I love this picture (above).

Her personality is as laid back as she looks in this photo.

 Most of the time.

Not only does she give out lots of smiles, she is guaranteed to put one on my face, too.

 I can't always say that for my other children these days. ;)
 Oh come on, I am teasing. Kind of. :) Her non-mobility and therefore inability to rip apart my house are unfair advantages over the other two though, I will admit.:)

Have I mentioned that I LOVE this baby??

Well in case, I haven't...

I do! I completely adore everything about her! 

I just LOVE having a baby again and I'm trying to cherish every moment since I know she very well might be our last!

I'm not the only one Miss Lexi is popular with in this house. Her brother and sister can't get enough of her either. I spend half my day yelling saying, okay maybe yelling,
 "Get away from the baby!!".
 Someone has to keep those two from smothering their poor defenseless little sis.
 Even then, the loud reminder doesn't always seem to help.
 It's very sad, but I seem to have a deaf 3-year-old.

On a cuter note...
Parker asked me recently,
"Mom, am I going to be Lexi's Mom and Dad when I grow up?"
 Apparently he thinks Lexi might just be a baby forever. I don't think I'd mind so much!
 And the idea that he thinks he can take on both roles?
 Intriguing...;)

 He also proclaimed a few weeks back,
"Mom, I think that YOU, Emmie and Lexi are the most beautifulest sisters in the whole world!"
 Awww. In his eyes, I'm not only beautiful, but young enough to be his sister. :)
 I love a sweet talking man. :)