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. :)

The unthinkable. Please pray!

This cute, spunky little guy is our nephew, Atticus. This is him on New Years Day, just over 2 weeks ago. (that's a balloon under his shirt)

He and his parents and little brother were out here for the holidays, visiting from Texas.

These three cousins had the best time, chasing, screaming, laughing and playing together.
We had zero indication that less than 2 weeks later, as we stand now, our sweet, super smart, super coordinated, incredibly witty four-year-old Atticus would be diagnosed with an
inoperable brain tumor on his brain stem.
Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
 Zero percent survival rate.

Our entire family is absolutely devastated to say the least. He just had the MRI last Friday and we have all been in complete shock. His health has gone completely down hill in just a matter of days. Chris and I have just been emotional wrecks.
 It is so unimaginable, it seems so surreal.  

He will start radiation on Tuesday, is taking steroids, and is doing one round of oral chemo, but that will be the extent of his treatment. It is in hopes to slow down the growth of the tumor and give him a few more months to live. It will hopefully help with his current symptoms of paralysis of part of his face, partial loss of vision and loss of balance and coordination so that he can hopefully gain back the ability to play sports again for a time and do the things he loves. 

Please include he and his parents, Cindy and Eric, in your prayers!
Visit their blog and read their heart wrenching story that is unfolding. If you are touched - which you will be - feel free to please leave them a note, even if you don't know them! I know that when I lost my brother 4 years ago  I felt like my world was crashing in on me. I still can't talk about it to this day it upsets me so much. And then when Parker had his head injury last year- we were lucky enough to only experience that despair for a short time, but I am telling you that the text messages, blog comments, emails, etc were what helped buoy us up on top of the many prayers offered in our time of grief in both of those situations.
And the grief this cute family below is experiencing is more than I can even fathom.
 My heart is so broken for them.
And for us.
Atticus has been such a bright light in our family.
He always will be.

You can visit their blog at: www.echansen.blogspot.com

To start from the beginning go here: http://www.echansen.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-it-started.html

Lexi is 3 months!

Our little Lexi is 3 months old! Actually, more like three and half months with my posting this so late. But in the picture she is 3 months on the dot.

She is truly the best baby! I just smother her squeezy cheeks with kisses all day!

She is super happy and smiles a ton. She loves to goo and chat with whoever will listen. Her hair is super curly straight from the bath and will keep the curl if I put a little mousse in it, otherwise it's pretty wild woman hair. I guess she takes after her sister. Who takes after me. :) The bedhead around our house is quite the sight. ;)

She has started sucking her thumb quite a bit. She loves to hold onto my thumbs and has the strongest grip. The last few nights she has slept from 12 am -6 or 7 am so I am relieved to finally be getting that much of a stretch of sleep! Her stomach is still bothering her quite a bit and the projectile vomiting is getting a bit worse. I feel bad and wish I knew what to do to help her!

She rolled over from back to stomach for the first time yesterday! It doesn't surprise me because she is such a strong little thing but it seems a little early. I was shocked to find her on her stomach. I'm not ready for mobility yet! :)
Don't grow up so fast on us Lexi!
We love love LOVE her!

To shine for Him each day

This little cutie patootie started her Sunbeams class at church a few weeks back!

It seems like we just hit this milestone with Parker, so it's hard for me to believe that my little girl is already so big! I had her wear a  necklace with her name on it the first day so that her teachers would be sure to get her name right. She has been three times now and has done a great job! As far as we know anyways. :) She goes willingly and she especially loves singing time. I have to wonder though if by the end of class this dreamer girl is off in the corner chatting away to her imaginary friend in La La Land and twirling for her imaginary prince.

 My Emmie...! Her attention span is pretty much non-existent...

It's crazy to me that I have TWO kids in Primary!

Sooooooo glad to be done with Nursery for the moment. Emmie had such a darling teacher but I just can't handle the germ infested toys in that place.  And all the goopy toddlers that come and happily share their slobbery diseases. It's a sure ticket to a miserable cold, the chicken pox, stomach flu, RSV, pneumonia, pink eye... you name it.  I'm just not sure it's worth the gamble of bringing home one of the above stated miseries.

LOVE this twosome!

And this threesome!

Christmas Night 2011

We spent Christmas evening back at the Hansens.
It was great to be altogether with having Chris' brother Eric and his wife Cindy in town from Texas. Our kids just played and played and had the best time.

Family Picture

One of my favorite memories from the night was after we had opened some presents, and cute 4 year old Atticus (Eric and Cindy's son) went around the circle with a headlamp on and told everyone to "open wide". Upon examining each person's teeth he would say, "Ew, you need to brush!", or "You've got FOUR cavities"! I was nervous when he got to me but thankfully he told me that I'm a good brusher! Phew! That precious little Atti has got one big personality in that tiny body of his.

There was an extra special feeling in the Hansen home that night.
We didn't want to leave!
It was a great Christmas.

Christmas afternoon

 We spent Christmas afternoon at my Grandma Mimi's.
I think this is where I've been every Christmas during these same hours for the last 32 years.
As you can see, her family room is transformed into a present wonderland...and this picture only shows a small portion of it....

I think our favorite present of the year (among many great gifts) was not having my kids be sick and just being able to enjoy the day with family.  Holidays through the eyes of your kids is the best. Especially when they are non-boogery kids. That is an extra perk for sure.

They make everything so much more fun and it was a great day!

My sister in law, Kylie made the CUTEST fabric shoes for Lexi. What a crafty girl! She just whips these things out like Martha Stewart. I have several Martha sister in laws... it's nice to be surrounded by such talent!

All in all, it was a really great afternoon. Too much was given to my family but we are so grateful for everyone's thoughtfulness and the spirit of giving on this special day! My kids are so spoiled got sooo many nice things and are pretty much set with toys until they graduate high school.

One of my favorite moments was actually a gift given to my Dad by my brother and his wife...

It was a box that surprised us with the announcement, "It's A BOY!" with attached ultrasounds. SO cute and such fun news on Christmas! Kylie was just 16 weeks along and wasn't due for her ultrasound for another couple of weeks but they found out early.

Such a fun surprise!

Christmas Eve

Carbonite works! My pictures are restored. :) SO glad.
Christmas Eve....
We spent Christmas Eve at the Hansens where Aunt Marsha hosted an ugly sweater party.
I'm so glad to see people laughing about all these hideous sweaters people always seem to wear at Christmas. I mean seriously it's nice that we can make a joke of what we've all been thinking all these years of these ridiculous sweaters. No offense to anyone who truly finds them attractive.
Sure takes a lot of pressure off coming up with something cute to wear to that holiday party! :)

I bet you can guess who the lucky winner of the night was. He wears a turtle neck quite well doesn't he? Haha. We love Uncle Brett - he always has us laughing.

...and for some added excitement for the night...

we were lucky enough to receive a visit from the Big Man in Red! 

Christmas morning

Blogging just isn't working out so hot for me these days, is it?! Besides the fact that I have NO IDEA  how in the world my header picture and sidebar pictures suddenly turned skiwampus and resized themselves (blog hijacker is all I can come up with), I haven't had an operable computer for the last 2 weeks and have lost a bunch of my pictures!
AGHH!
 The good news is that we gave in and got a new laptop...well, kind of not so awesome because- really, who likes to be forced into spending that kind of money...but then money does grow on trees, right? Yeh. Bad news is (for me) that we had to wipe the old laptop which had all my christmas eve/early christmas day pics and Lexi's baby blessing photos. Supposedly they are backed up out there in cyber space, but it seems that they might not be retrieved until 2015. Thankfully, I did save a few from Christmas morning onto a disk before the computer died... and also Chris gave me a new SD card that morning so the rest of Christmas day is on a card that has yet to be uploaded so I still have all of those!
ANYWAYS, who cares, right? Here we go with the few I have! You know I'd have lots more to share if I could. :)

This was actually taken of my threesome a few weeks before Christmas. There were much cuter ones, but this is the only one I have saved. And no worries. Parker got a haircut soon after this picture. The gel bill to keep his hair that high is a costly one. Plus it reminds me of a polygamist... the higher the hair the holier. He's looking pretty holy in that picture if you ask me... :) Still cute, but holy cute. And for the record, I'd take the holy high hair over the undone, ungelled, ragamuffin look on this blondie any day.;)

Christmas morning...
Waiting to go in the basement to see what Santa brought!

The big reveal!
 We unfolded our sectional so that everything would fit.There is one more tent and tunnel that hook onto this but Santa opted to not put it up to avoid having to stuff the tree into the tent
 Not to mention the claustraphobia problems.

Emmie got her longed-for doll house!

 She was so enraptured with it, she did not want to be bothered with opening her other presents!

Oh the time and money we could have saved if only we had known...

She ended up having to open the majority on the morning of the 26th because we ran out of time Christmas morning...our schedule is a tight one on Christmas! 

Parker's big requested "SURPRISE" from Santa was this Toy Story Imaginext play set. It's actually a Landfill and sanitation truck.

 What?

 Every kid dreams of getting their own garbage wonderland, right? It's actually pretty cool. Really!

We LOVE Imaginext toys!

25 points if you can spot the baby.

There's our Lexi, smiles and all.

 I LOVE this happy girl!

 As for Chris and I.... Chris got the Star Wars bluray extended edition set (guess who won't be watching it with him...I know, such a good wife but come on... Star Wars?), and I got spoiled with a new KitchenAid mixer (YAY!) AND my first IPOD to name a few. That's right. Between that and getting my first smart phone a few months back...watch out! Michelle's going all high tech.
Eeee not so much seeing as how my blog looks these days...
Christmas morning was the best and we feel very, very blessed!
Not to rhyme or anything.
For real though, we had a wonderful day and I'm so grateful for our family. We have three awesome, healthy kids, we live in such a great community and the beauty of our surroundings amaze me, Chris is blessed to work in a steady field with a job that he absolutely loves, and most of all we are so grateful for our knowledge of the gospel and the tremendous blessing it is in our lives!