Happy New Year

Can you believe that another year has come and gone? I find myself sitting here thinking, once again, how quickly the time has passed and looking back at all that we've done during the past 12 months. I hope that your year was filled with love, joy, hope, peace, warmth, comfort, and laughter. I know ours was. Actually, during all the happiness that we were blessed to have in our lives, we also shed a fair amount of tears -- our first born starting kindergarten, her making the TAG team at Chows and finally realizing how wonderfully satisfying it is to realize the fulfillment of a dream and taste the success that accompanies it, our son growing wings and turning from a toddler into a little boy so full of spunk and energy, and the birth of our third child -- potentially our last. When I look into his little eyes and see how incredibly innocent he is and what an incredible gift from God he is, I can't imagine NOT having another child, but Matt ..... He'll need a *little* convincing. I will say this -- having a child is, by far, the most rewarding and fulfilling blessing I've ever experienced. It is an awesome responsibility and I feel so incredibly humbled to have their presence in my life every day. It is truly amazing.

We've been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks, but I promise to post some Christmas pictures soon. I just haven't had time between decorating, baking, buying AND wrapping gifts, starting traditions of our own and keeping up with those passed down to us, and making each day magical for the kids. I remember when I was growing up, this was my favorite time of year, and it's very important that my kids feel the same way. I didn't realize how exhausting it all was for my parents! It's a good exhaustion, but I'm exhausted nonetheless!

In the meantime, I wanted to leave you with a picture of the year's best gift -- by far. It is the gift of life and love. My precious baby Andrew. Isn't he incredible?

Thief....

I admit it. Today I stole something. I actually stole something that belonged to my child and have no intention of giving it back anytime soon. It was meant for someone else, but I couldn't let her give it away. I kept it for myself. I kept it so that she could look back at it in years to come.

Last night, Katherine wrote a letter to Santa. She put so much time, energy and thoughtfulness into what she wanted to say that I just couldn't toss it in the mailbox with the rest of my Christmas cards this morning. She carefully dictated to me everything she wanted to tell the Big Guy and then copied it down in her best handwriting. It just warmed my heart. It wasn't the typical "letter to Santa" telling him what a good girl she'd been all year and then asking for a few gifts. It wasn't that at all. She was just writing to tell him Merry Christmas. She wanted to wish him a great year. She wanted to know how the reindeer and Mrs. Clause were doing. It was so sweet, so incredibly precious, so absolutely innocent. So selfless. That 's my girl. That's my little Katherine. I kept the letter because I wanted her to be able to read her own words someday, to relieve the innocence she now possesses, and remember how it feels to believe in the magic of the season. I didn't just steal it for me. I stole it for her.

The list....

Last night, Elizabeth (Isaac's girlfriend) and I went out shopping after the kiddos went to bed. I had a few odds and ends to pick up -- teacher's gifts, cards, a few things for Andrew, a gift for my mom and ornaments for the kids.

I found everything that I was looking for with the exception of Andrew's Waterford "baby's first Christmas" ornament. Younkers was sold out, so I was hoping a local jewelry store could special order it, but no such luck there either. So.... back to the mall the boys and I went this morning.

I ended up finding the Waterford ornament at Dillards -- and ON SALE! Oh, happy day!! It's regularly $65 on sale for $39. Woo-Hoo! Gotta love the good deal!

Anyway, while we were at the mall, Caleb decided that he wanted to chat with Santa. Now -- he's had the same *ridiculous* list of things he wants, and refuses to alter it. So ... we go up to Santa and he starts by reading Caleb "Twas' The Night Before Christmas" and pointing out all the reindeer. Finally, he starts asking Caleb what he wants for Christmas and suggests the typical stuff -- Thomas the Train, race cars, a basketball, Transformers, etc... You know... stuff that most 3 year old boys would love. Caleb kept shaking his head and saying that "No, I don't want any of that stuff. I have enough of it"! Dumbfounded, Santa asks him what he wants this year. Caleb starts laughing and says, "Colored potato chips ....... fruit snacks ........ and a stay-at-home Daddy"! Who knows where he comes up with this stuff, but over the past month or so, that's the ONLY thing he says he wants for Christmas this year! Only Caleb....

12/17...

Today is undoubtedly one of my most favorite days of the entire year!! I'm turning 29 again!! LOL!! To say that I love my birthday would be the understatement of a lifetime. I woke up to phone calls, emails, and text messages from family and friends wishing me a happy birthday. It's overwhelming and humbling to know that so many people are thinking of you and wishing you well. I feel incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

I was super busy all day. I drove Katherine to school because it's still pretty cold out and I don't want her to start off her day freezing. After the boys and I got home, I fed Caleb breakfast and we took off for Kindermusik. We then met up with Kelly, a friend of mine from back in the Principal days, for lunch and had some super yummy Mexican food. You just can't beat good chips and salsa!

After lunch it was time to take Andrew back to the doctor and have his ears checked and then get his two month shots. Oh man... I was soooo not looking forward to watching my baby be stuck with needles. I swear, it's harder for me than it is for him! LOL!!

Oh, and to back up for a minute -- Caleb's favorite spot in the house is our kitchen island. He sits up there and helps me cook, eats most snacks up there and does his crafts up there. He's always sitting up there, and NEVER falls. That would be, never fell until yesterday. Somehow he lost his balance and fell off the island sideways. Thankfully he landed on one of the bar stools, but had he not, he most likely would have ended up on his head. He had a good cry, but really I thought he was scared and I didn't see any marks on him. He cried for a few minutes and it was over...

This morning after I got him dressed, I grabbed his hand to help him up and he winced in pain. I figured that I must have pinched him... At kindermusik, while we were dancing, I swung him around and he nearly broke down into tears. I took a look at his hand, and sure enough, it was swollen. So... Dr. Jon took a look at it and sent us down for x-rays. He doesn't think it's broken, but wanted to make sure. Poor Caleb is in some serious pain and keeps asking when the "hurting will go away". We didn't get the x-results today because it was so late, so we have to wait it out a while longer... I'll keep you updated!

And Andrew -- right before his shots he had his little hands wrapped around my fingers, looking right into my eyes, and coo'ing up a storm. It was so sweet. He was smiling and sticking out his tongue and looking up at my with the widest blue eyes in the world. All of a sudden, the nurses gave him a shot in each leg. He looked up at me for a millisecond longer and started screaming. His entire face was red and he was having a hard time catching his breath. Talk about breaking my heart.... I almost started crying with him! It was terrible. Thankfully, after I picked him up and cuddled with him, he only cried for about 15 seconds, but still...

Oh, I have to share my BEST birthday present EVER....

Caleb is a totally random kid and LOVES to talk about anything and everything. While we were in Jon's office waiting for Andrew to get his shots he starts up this conversation --

Caleb: Mommy, what do you want to be for Halloween this year?

Me: Well honey, I haven't thought about it at all. Halloween is a long was off.

C: Well just take a guess.... What doyawanna be?

Me: Probably a Mommy.

C: You can't be that. You have to be something pretend, and you're already a Mommy ..... You're the best Mommy I know!

Oh. My. Goodness. Be still my heart and savor the moment. Seriously, can I bottle this kid up? He's so sweet. He's so absolutely adorable. He's got my heart wrapped right around that little finger of his. He gave me the best birthday gift in the world. Money just can't buy this stuff!

chaos!

Who knew such a simple affair like going to the dentist could cause such complete and utter chaos? Only in the Hanson household does this happen....

Saturday afternoon, while Matt was eating lunch, he lost the entire top half of one of his bottom teeth. It was strange. He didn't feel it fall out or remember chewing on it, etc... It was just gone. However, as soon as he drank something cold, he instantly felt pain. At one point it was so bad that he could feel pain if he breathed in wrong. So, he called our dentist and left a message asking if they'd be in this weekend, and if not, he'd just see them for our regular appointment today. We then called Isaac, but he was in Kansas City shopping, so Matt was stuck!

Now, before I go any further --

I make all the appointments. If there's a doctor appointment to be made, I arrange everything and then tell Matt when and where to show up. That's just how we roll, and it works well. So anyway ....

I get a call from the dentist office this morning and she tells me that Matt doesn't have an appointment today. His appointment is actually early January at 9 am. Now -- since I make ALL the appointments, there's NO WAY I would have made this. First of all, I ALWAYS make our appointments on the same day, one at 11 and one at 12. That way, Matt can see how busy he is that day and take the one that works out the best for him. (See what a great wife I am? LOL!) Second, I NEVER would have made it for 9 am since Matt has a market meeting everyday day at 8. She then tells me that she remembers Matt calling in around December 10th to cancel. Evidently he was going to be out of town or something. I told her that since tomorrow is my birthday, there's no way he'd be leaving town or have any other to cancel, but fine. I tell her I'll have him call her.

I immediately call Matt. Of course he didn't call and cancel. The only call he made was about his broken tooth and mentioned that if he couldn't get in earlier, he's see them today.

Thankfully, we got quite a bit of snow today which was accompanied with wind. As luck would have it, the 10:00 appointment cancelled, so Matt was able to get in anyway. He was getting ready to leave right as I was pulling in, so he helped me carry in the boys. Matt carried in Andrew while I got Caleb and his backpack and then locked the car. When we got there, I got Andrew situated, and put my keys in the fold of his Bundle me (which I always do). Matt waited with the boys while I had x-rays done. He brought them back to the room and then went back to work.

Caleb was fine while I was getting my teeth done. He played with the bag of toys I brought in and ate two granola bars while he waiting. After a while he got bored and decided to untie my shoes and see what kind of knots he could invent. But really, he was fine. Oh, and thankfully Andrew slept the entire time!

When Dr A (our dentist) took a peek at Andrew, he made a comment about how sweet he was.
Caleb looked up at him and said, "OOOOOHHH, I know..... I could just eat him up". We all had a good laugh. Evidently, I've said that one too many times! LOL.

They hooked Caleb up with stickers and a new toothbrush and I got up and started getting ready to head home. I bundled Caleb up, put everything back in his backpack and reached for my keys. They weren't there. They weren't on the floor around the carseat. They weren't in the waiting room. Oh. My. Goodness. I have two little boys in the dentist office, one is waking up, and one is ready to implode. The receptionist tells me Matt just called. He took off with my keys in his pocket. Perfect. Just perfect.

So -- we head to the waiting room and Dr. A comes out and keeps chatting it up with Caleb, who is about ready to crash and burn. He starts spitting on his hands, claiming it's sour cream, and laughing at the top of his lungs. Then he calls Dr. A a "poopy-head", and then proceeds to help himself to a glass of water and spills it all over. Oh, and during this time, Andrew is screaming. What I wouldn't have given for my keys at that moment. Needless to say, Caleb got a stern talking to when we got to the car!

So yea, it was a disaster from the get go!

Changing subjects --

A great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Isaac who turns 26 today. I can't believe that my baby brother is that old already. It seems just yesterday that I turned 26! He's such an amazing person and the kids are incredibly blessed to have him for an uncle.

Oh, and tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year. I'm turning 29 (again!)!! LOL!! Woo-Hoo!!

BRRRR....

I wish I had something interesting to write about today, but sadly, I don't.....

It's been FREEZING here the past 24 hours or so. Literally, the temperature is in single digits and the windchill is around - 10. Since I couldn't have Katherine standing outside waiting for the bus in that mess this morning, I drove her to school and then came home and got the boys ready. We went down to the Science Center with the Laundervilles, and man... it was frigid. Hauling two kids in and out of the car is just painful!

The boys had a blast playing together. I must say ... I love it when Caleb and Caden get together. They NEVER fight, always take turns and have the most endearing conversations. Oh, and it's all without Michelle and I playing referee. It's almost comical. They play together so well together it's surreal. Honestly, in the past two years, we haven't had to break up one fight or discipline them one time. It couldn't be better!

Tomorrow I'm off to the dentist, which should be really fun, especially considering (i) we're going to get between 3 and 5 inches of snow; and (ii) I have to haul both boys with me. My parents are at Disney World so they aren't around to watch the kids! Wish me luck!

Shopping....

Where has December gone? It's already half over, and Christmas is just days away... YIIIKES!

I've been a shopping superstar this year though, which makes everything soooo much easier. Black Friday I spent shopping in LeMars and Sioux City which is soooo much less crazy than Des Moines. It was amazing -- I didn't have anyone try to rip something out of my hands and shockingly enough, I didn't get run over by a shopping cart. It was GREAT!! Here's how shopping went down --

I ordered Katherine a balance beam which arrived a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. It's been sitting in a box in our garage ever since, and she hasn't noticed. What are the odds of that??? LOL!!

On Black Friday my sister in law and I took off for Wal-Mart and were there when it opened. I ended up getting Katherine and Caleb's big gift from Santa that morning -- a Nintendo DS for Katherine and a Leapster for Caleb. I also got them a ton of other little stuff, but since the "big" gifts were purchased, I felt such a sense of accomplishment. However, Katherine really wanted a pink DS, but all I could find was the RED Mario bundle, so I bought it but immediately had buyers remorse. Thankfully, Katherine has the best uncle in the universe and Isaac searched all over Des Moines and finally found a pink bundle which totally rocked. So, he bought that, and I immediately returned the red one.

Later that morning we went to Target and I got Caleb 5 Leapster games and got Katherine about the same number of DS games. By the time the day was over I had a great start on gifts!

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been collecting Michael's coupons and picked up small things for the kids along the way -- Caleb got a new train for his train table, I got them both paint dobbers and books to use them with, and found Katherine a super cool American Girl Scrapbook, and as luck would have it, it comes with gymnastics ribbons, etc... Can you say PERFECT??? LOL!

Today, I was a shopping superstar. I made another pit stop at Michael's, then went to Olive Garden to get my dad a gift card as it's his fave restaurant, Lowe's, two different Kohl's stores and got the most adorable hooded towels along with the traditional Christmas jammies, and then Target and Toys R Us to round out the rest of the toys I had to buy. So ... I'm almost done. I need to hit Target one more time to get Morgan and Hannah their gifts, and pick up a few things for Andrew. I have to admit ... I have no idea what to get him. He needs NOTHING. I got so many adorable outfits when he was born and since his birthday is three weeks from Caleb's, I have all Caleb's clothes for him to wear too. I picked him up some teethers, and plan to get him a Bumbo seat, but really, that's about it.

Oh, and my mom's gift ... She's a big fan of Ina Garten who just published a new cookbook. As part of her gift I got her the new cookbook, only to get it home and find out that the cover was ripped. So I returned that one, and need to get another...

So, the score is ... Gifts for Hannah and Morgan (One of which I already know what they'll get), and get another copy of the cookbook for my mom. All three of these things are found at Target. Then I need to run over to Younkers and pick up some ornaments for the kids. I have Andrew's on hold as I'm looking for a specific ornament, and then also need to get Katherine and Caleb's for this year. Oh, and gifts for Katherine's teachers. After much thought and agonizing, I've decided to just get them a gift certificate to the mall. That way they can get exactly what they want. So ... two stops. Target and the mall and I'm done! Woo-Hoo!!

I've made a million suggestions on what we should get Matt's parents this year, but he's vetoed it all, so he's on his own. Can't wait to see what he'll come home with for them. This I know -- it'll be (i) last minute; and (ii) probably be something I suggested in the first place.

Even though I've rocked the Christmas list this year, everything else in my life is about 2 steps behind -- I just got back my Christmas cards, so I need to address and send them out, I need to write thank you's for Andrew's baby gifts (Shameful that I haven't done it yet, I know!!), send out his birth announcements, bake Christmas cookies, start thinking of what food I'm going to make for Christmas Day and get a list together as we're hosting, and actually take the time to enjoy it all. I love everything about this time of year, and more than ever I really want to make it super special for the kids.

Super cool!!

A great big thanks to Kim for the link. This is soooo super cool. Katherine and Caleb are going to love it. Make sure to add a picture -- that's the best part!

Enjoy!!

http://portablenorthpole.sympatico.msn.ca/home/

Rotten mood...

Quite honestly, today has been a tough one.... I've had a heavy heart all day, and I haven't been able to shake it and get out of my funk.

It was one year ago today that my Grandma passed away. One Christmas. One Easter. One 4th of July. One Halloween. One Thanksgiving. One year of birthdays. One entire year filled with many memorable, but ordinary days. It was the year that my third child was born, the year Katherine started school, and the year that Caleb truly came into his own.....

Oh, how I wish she could have seen Andrew and held him. She would have loved him so.... She loved all of her great-grandkids. I remember how she'd always beg to hold Katherine when she was little, and then not want to give her up. She always laughed about what a "baby pig" she was! Grandma always looked forward to when we'd visit her in the nursing home.... She was so proud to show her off, and talked about her non-stop to anyone who'd listen. Katherine was always so sweet and doting with "Grandma Krekow". She'd sit on her lap in the wheelchair for hours and be wheeled around the nursing home and later hospice. I was worried that Katherine was too heavy for Grandma to hold in her final days, but every time I suggested that Katherine hop down, Grandma would just pull her in close and hug her, not wanting to let her go. And Caleb -- She always had such a sweet spot for him. His antics always made her laugh, and his endless boyish energy always amazed her. Actually, the last time anyone heard her *really* laugh was at Caleb. It was one of those deep down belly laughs that is just good for the soul. He always brought out her sweet side, and whenever she saw him she'd get the most wonderful little twinkle in her eye. I'm so glad he was able to bring her such joy in her final days.

I really wish she could have seen Andrew...... I wish she could have held him ..... I wish I had one picture of the two of them together..... I wish I had that memory for him, but I don't..... Katherine always reminds me that Grandma got to see him first. They were in heaven together before Andrew came to us. She got to hold him there. She got to kiss and hug him before we did. She got to know him before we ever did. How wise she is for 5...

Oh, and the ironic thing in all this ... today is also one of my best friend's daughter's first birthday. It's the cycle of life coming full circle....

To top that off, I have a baby shower to go to this Saturday at Glenn Oaks. It's going to be one of those beautiful, posh showers and I had to find something new to wear. So ... tonight I told Matt to meet me at the mall after work so that we could eat dinner and then he could take the kids while I shopped for some new threads. As it worked out, Andrew was sleeping so I took him with me while Matt took Katherine and Caleb to chat with Santa.

Oh. My. Goodness. If there's one thing that instantly puts me in a rotten mood, it's shopping for clothes. I was just foul. As soon as I walked into Gap, Andrew woke up and refused to stay in the car carrier. So here I am, shopping for clothes while pushing a stroller, carrying a purse and holding Andrew. Fun times, let me tell ya! I will say this, as long as Andrew was being held, he was fine, but trying on clothes???? Yea, that was a little problematic.

About half way through the shopping expedition, Andrew decides that he's hungry. Thankfully I was in the dressing room anyway, so I took some time out from trying on all 50 pair of jeans I had with me (none of which fit well) and snuggled with Andrew. Really, that was my only saving grace in all this. Other than those few moments of peace the rest of the time was PAINFUL!! I was totally on my own nerves!!

When he was done eating, I had the *super fun* task of trying on the remainder of the clothes in an attempt to find something to wear. All during this time, Andrew screamed. And screamed. And screamed some more. I'm sure everyone in the entire mall heard him. At one point, I wanted to sit down and cry with him. Nothing fits. I'm way too "thick". My boobs are so out of control that no shirt looks acceptable. My belly is disgusting. Right now, shopping for clothes is pure torture. Shoot. Chinese water torture would probably be more enjoyable!

Anyway, I ended up buying jeans and some shirts, but nothing that I'm really stoked about wearing to the shower. I guess it'll have to do. Most importantly, I'm glad it's over. Oh, and the best part of this little story ... Andrew fell fast asleep as soon as I was done checking out. It's like he knew how horrible it was for me and was determined to help me cry it out! Like I said, I'm glad it's over!

However -- there is one good thing in all this... I've decided that I'm sick and tired of being heavy, so starting tomorrow, I'm going on a diet. Actually, I'm going to start exercising again. I'm going to get into shape and lose this baby weight that I've been carrying for far too long. I'm tired of it. So .... The immediate goal is 20 pounds. Ideally, I'd like to lose closer to 30 or 35, but realistically if I could lose 20 pounds I'd feel soooooo much better. I'll keep you updated on my progress on a weekly basis, so if anyone wants to join me on this weight loss journey, either leave a comment or send me an email at ann hanson 1 @ gmail dot com (no spaces) and I'll send out recipes, etc.. for your reading pleasure! Here's to the first 20 pounds ... may they be gone by ????

I'm back.....

Hi! Remember me? I used to blog here on a regular basis, but in the past two weeks went AWOL.... Well... I'm officially back from my self-imposed blogging hiatus. Life has been crazy busy lately and I haven't had time to sit down and blog at all. So, tomorrow I'm back! Back on the blogging bandwagon baby!

In the meantime....

Andrew has been changing so much lately. He's constantly smiling, cooing, and trying to grab your attention. He's trying to sit up and look around at anyone and everything. He's incredibly nosy and doesn't want to miss a thing. And cuddly... oh yea. He's just yummy. I could snuggle with him all day long, and breathe in his new baby scent. I'm in love..... He has me wrapped around his little finger, that's for sure!

When we were in LeMars over Thanksgiving, Andrew cried the entire day on Saturday, but then was fine on Sunday and Monday. I took him into the doctor on Tuesday for his 2 month checkup, found out he had an ear infection. So, he's been on antibiotic, and feeling much better. The crying and crankiness from Saturday has disappeared, and he's back to his normal happy self. Oh, and the best part ... he slept like a champ last night. I fed him at 10 before I went to bed and he didn't wake up until 5. That's 7 whole hours!! Woo-Hoo!! That makes for one happy Mommy!!

Saturday might Matt and I are going out to celebrate my birthday. I've been looking forward to the pomegranate martinis at Bonefish Grill for ages now, so Matt got a reservation and Isaac's girlfriends little sister is coming over to babysit the kids. Can't wait!! I'm so looking forward to a night out with Matt. It's been too long!! After dinner we're going to go shopping and try to knock out a few more gifts.

That's all for now! I'm off to bed!! Catch ya tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tomorrow morning we're getting up at the crack of dawn and hitting the road to visit Matt's parents in LeMars. It'll be our first visit back with all three kids, and holy cow .... just packing for the trip is an event in itself. I forgot all the stuff we'll need to bring with us for a new baby. It's crazy!! Since I'm still not done packing, I just may throw caution to the wind and leave some "necessities" here -- the bobby pillow, breast pump, bouncy seat, etc... There just isn't room, and really .... when you need to stuff the car with so much stuff you can't see out the windows, it's better to just stay home.... which is exactly where we're leaving Riley! We decided to leave him with his groomer and not deal with the extra hassle of bringing a 4 pound furball with us! Good riddens!!

Tonight we had some friends over to have dinner and hang out before we all went our separate ways for the holiday. Katherine and Caleb had a blast playing with their friends, and were exhausted by the end of the night. Bonus!!

I'm going to be celebrating Black Friday in LeMars and getting up relatively early to hit the sales at Wal-Mart. There's a couple of things I want to pick up for Katherine and Caleb, and as luck would have it they're on sale! Woo-Hoo!! I won't be standing outside with the crazies, but will be there shortly after the doors open. Hopefully I can find a shopping buddy for Friday morning. I'd love to head down to Sioux City for a little while and see what bargains I can find. OOOOOOOHHHH, FRAN!!!!

Anyway, the real reason for this post ....

Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you! I hope that you have a wonderful day spent with family and friends. I hope that good health has found you. I hope that you are blessed beyond measure. I hope that you find meaning life's smallest joys. I hope that laughter crosses your lips often. I hope that your arms are filled with hugs. I hope the best for each and every one of you.

7 weeks......

Here is my precious little baby boy! He was 7 weeks and one day when these pictures were taken (last Friday).

He is now smiling and cooing at anyone who will pay attention to him.

He's a nosy little guy -- always looking around to see what what he's missing.

He has amazing head control.

He loves to be held and cuddled with. He's a super snuggler!

No matter what time he goes to bed, he always wakes up at 12:30 am give or take 15 minutes.

He's a great baby and never cries unless something is wrong -- ie he's hungry or needs to be changed.

When he was first born, we thought he looked just like Katherine, but as time passes, he's looking more and more like Caleb. However, even this young, he has some of Katherine's trademark moves.

Oh, how I love him!!

AAAHHH... isn't he just yummy??? There's nothing better than snuggling with him. If only I could do nothing else all day!

It's a new day!

I used to love scrapbooking, and looked forward to the times when I could sit down and create pages for my kids ... detailing their lives, the stories that make them who they are, their relationships, and the funny/sweet/thoughtful things they do. However, when I was pregnant with Andrew, the creativity left and my scrap mojo went right out the window. The thought of actually scrapping wasn't something I was into at all. As a result, my scrap room became a great big catch all. In other words, it was a total pit, and turned into the family dumping ground. It was so easy just to say, "Oh, go put it in my scrap room". So as time wore on, even if I wanted to scrapbook, clearing out the clutter so I could sit down at the table was overwhelming. So... For months, I didn't scrap..... I had no desire.

Well -- In the past few days, it's all changed, and I have the desire to scrap again! It all began when I decided to get a jump on Christmas and start buying presents. I found a Michael's coupon and decided to use it and grab Caleb a new train for his train table. (They carry Thomas stuff). When I went in to the store, I realized that all of the "organizing" scrapbook stuff was also 40% off, so I decided to make a few purchases. I immediately went home and got to work -- I threw out a ton of stuff, gave some stuff to a neighbor, and purged the rest. Wow... what a mess, but it feels great to finally make some headway in that room. Oh, and it does wonders for the scrap mojo!!

Wednesday night, Michelle and I ran over to Archivers and I bought myself a motherload of goodies. And guess what???? I can't wait to start using it! Then, tonight we went over to their house for dinner and to hang out and she showed me her new scrapbooking cabinet. It's totally cool, and exactly what I need. So...

Tomorrow we are having Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house and plan on being done before the Iowa game. After dinner, everyone is coming over to our house to watch the game and hang out. Tomorrow is going to be a super busy day, but the plan is --

First thing in the morning, we're going head to the tree farm and pick out/tag our Christmas tree. Since it's so cold and we'll have Andrew with us, we won't stay long, but will make time to chat with Santa and drink some hot chocolate.

On the way home, we're going to stop by Lowe's and pick up one of these great cabinets.

When we get home, it's cooking time in the Hanson household. I'm making several dishes for Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house as well as munchies for the game later that night.

Then, during the game, my dad and Isaac can help Matt put together my new scrap cabinet. I can't wait! I'm so excited to get organized and start creating again.

OK -- where is all this leading and why did I find the need to blog about it??? I've decided to turn over a new leaf and find "projects" around the house, or "projects" in our lives that need to be done. Right now, it's the scrap room, next it may be painting the hallway, then it may be purging stuff in our storage room, but I've decided to start tackling one project every week/month/2 months, etc. I'm not sure how long some of these projects will take, but I'll keep you updated and maybe post pictures. I wish I had a "before" picture of my scrap room. You wouldn't believe the mess in there. Quite honestly, it was embarrassing!

So, this is it -- my life in projects, and the happy return to scrapbooking. Oh, happy day! I can't wait to get this first project finished! If you're lucky I just may take pictures of my layouts and post pictures!!

Bubbles!!

Katherine is in full swing at Chow's. She just completed her first week, and is loving every minute of it. Tuesday after we got back from class, Danyel asked me if she did a lot of conditioning, and I immediately told her no.... Then, on Thursday, I woke up and actually watched the class, and realized that well over half the class was conditioning. They did 50 sit ups, 20 push-ups (not the girly kind), leg lifts and pull ups on the bar (in addition to their pull-overs, front and back hip circles), and every time they were done with their vault, they'd do squat jumps back to the starting point. They also did handstands along the wall and other random strength building exercises. My body just hurt watching her! So...

I suggested that she get in my whirlpool tub when we get home. I thought a nice hot bath with the jets on would do her a world of good. Well -- this definitely falls in the "good intentions" category, but didn't quite work out that way. Matt drew her water and added the bubbles and by the time the jets went on, bubbles were all over the bathroom. Upon seeing this, Caleb was NOT to be left out, and insisted he get in with her.

So fine .... two kids in the bathtub with more bubbles that any adult needs ... Here's the evidence!

They were covered in so many bubbles that I couldn't wash their hair or get them rinsed off, so I had to throw them in the shower, which they thought was a total hoot!

So Chows .... It's going well. I thought that Katherine would be in the bottom half of her class, skill wise, since all the other girls had been in class together since June and practicing the same skills. I'm glad to report that that's definitely not the case. She's doing amazingly well, and can do almost everything the rest of class has been practicing. You wouldn't know she just joined the class!

Oh, what else .....

Yesterday I put Caleb down for his nap and about 30 minutes later, I heard him hollering. Riley was in his room and wanted out. When I opened the door I found broken pretzels all over ... evidently he smuggled them into bed. When I asked what happened, he looked at me sweetly and said, "I was just pretending that I was a zoo keeper Mommy. Riley was the lion and he was hungry". How can you not chuckle on the inside. He has such a great imagination.

Santa is on the way!!

It's official ... Christmas shopping has begun! Woo-Hoo!! I feel such a sense of accomplishment to have started before Thanksgiving.

I asked Katherine if she'd rather have a few big gifts (which I promised she'd love) or several smaller gifts. Like any smart girl, she went for the pricey stuff! LOL! It works out perfectly because I was planning on buying her a balance beam anyway, and it also falls into the "big expensive gift" category. So, yesterday I got on-line and picked one out. It should be here in a few days, so now I just need to find a way to hide all 8 feet of it. LOL!

I'm also thinking of buying her a Nintendo DS. The other day the kids were pretending to play video games with a remote control, and she loves to play with her friends' systems.... So I'm thinking that might be another winner.

Caleb -- I have NO clue what to get him this year. I'd like to avoid buying any more trucks, because man... we have so many we about need to buy a new house just to have a place to put them all. But that's a worry for another day! Today, I feel like a million bucks! I just ordered my first Christmas gift. Let the holidays begin!

Caleb ...

Just a little thought from Caleb ....

C: Mommy, why doesn't Daddy ever help you feed Andrew?

M: Because Daddy can't honey. That's not the way God made him.

C: We'll I can't help either. All I have is my belly button!!

Oh, good night child. Do you have to be THAT observant??? LOL!

First meet

Katherine had her first gymnastics meet today and did a GREAT job!! She was all smiles and most importantly had a wonderful time.

Katherine with the three other little girls in her class --



Ready and waiting for the vault --



Getting ready to start her floor routine --

During the floor routine --

Lining up and getting ready to warm up on the bars -- If you can't tell, she's the last one in line....

During her bar routine --

The four Superbunnies waiting for the awards ceremony --

All smiles after the meet and showing off their hardware --

Katherine and Miss Rachel. Rachel was her Superbunny coach this year and really taught Katherine a ton. She will be missed!!

Katherine with Mr. Tarry, her first coach and beloved mentor.

Taking time out for a quick picture with Grammy and Poppops after the meet.

Great ..... Just Great....

Tonight the four of us (we're leaving Andrew with my mom) are heading downtown to see the Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Just guessing, but I'm thinking it'll be a huge hit in this house! LOL!!

So at about 4:30, I'm running around the house like a mad woman -- trying to feed the kids supper, pump some extra milk for Andrew tonight, get his bag packed, locate the tickets, you know... pretty much total chaos around here.

Anyway... I just had finished pumping and Andrew starts SCREAMING. So I'm holding him and trying to calm him down, while juggling the kids' dinner plates. All of a sudden, Katherine says, "Wow Mommy! I love your underwear. Are they new"? UUUUMMMMM, what is that? I'm fully clothed mind you! Evidently, the pocket ripped out, and there is about a 2 inch square piece of the butt of my jeans missing. Oh, and these are the same jeans I wore to Katherine's school this morning when I volunteered in her classroom. Great. Just great. It just doesn't get any more real than this!

Swimming Dolphin...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Katherine is learning all about Native Americans and their clash with the white man. They've watched clips of the movie Dances With Wolves and discussed problems the characters faced and how they determined their Sioux names. Today, they came up with their own Sioux name -- there were only two requirements (i) it had to refer to something in nature and (ii) be about something they enjoyed. So, Katherine named herself Swimming Dolphin. Not sure how she came up with that name, but there you have it.... Swimming Dolphin. So if you see her in the next little while, you may refer to her by her new name!! LOL.

Final day...

In a few short hours we'll enter Urbandale for Katherine's final practice there. Where has the time gone???

I remember a year ago when Mr. Tarry was her coach and she was begging to enter the big gym, but couldn't quite yet because she wasn't even 5. Heck, a year ago now they wouldn't even let her do a bridge because she wasn't old enough. What a difference a year makes.....

In the past year, she graduated from the little gym to the big gym, went from the recreational program to the competitive, and started at Chows. A year later, she is on the verge of quitting Urbandale and joining the TAG team at Chows. She's about to embark on a wonderful life experience that will take her as far as she has the drive and ability to go.

When I think back to a year ago, the thought of leaving Urbandale didn't even cross my mind. Quite honestly, I thought we'd be there for a long time..... maybe forever. I remember Tarry pulling me aside one day and telling me that if Katherine still loved gymnastics when she turned 6, as much as she did at that time, then I should take her to Chows... he thought she had the talent, drive and strength to make it there, and since it's one of the best gyms in the country, I owed it to her to give her a shot. I remember thinking -- Why? She loves it here....

However, a year later, our lives took a huge turn. She had an after school activity 4 nights a week (which is insanely ridiculous for a kindergartner) and I was ready to scale back. That's when Li took a look at Katherine and offered her a spot on the TAG team.

So tonight is the final chapter in one way and a new beginning in another. It's saying goodbye to the comfortable and familiar, and embarking on a new journey that can take her as far as she wants to go. Tonight is definitely a time for reflection. I'll be sad to leave the friends she made, the coaches she adored, the gym that taught her so much, and the place where she fell in love with the sport. Urbandale will always be a sweet spot for all us. With that being said, she's on the verge of one of the most wonderful opportunities of her life. She's been given the chance to train in a gym with the best equipment, the best coaches and the the best chance to succeed. She will have all the tools to make it as far as she wants to go. But, it's the unknown..... I'm sure she'll grow to love and feel as comfortable there as she does at Urbandale, but it's still the unknown. Just yesterday she was asking me exactly what they would be doing in class. She can't wait to meet her new coach and wonders what she'll be like. It's all the unanswered questions....

Anyway, tonight is the final time..... the final time she'll enter the gym as a superbunny, the final time she'll call them her coaches, the final time she'll have these girls as teammates, the final time she'll practice there..... So as happy as we all are to be going to Chow's, I'm sure I'll be walking out tonight with a heavy heart and a tear in my eye. At least she'll get to compete in the meet there this weekend.

Random thougths...

I have so many things to blog about, but since it's it's late you get the short bullet point version!

1. Since Katherine is officially starting at Chow's next Tuesday and she wants to focus all of her time and energy on gymnastics, we decided to pull her out of dance. So, today on the way to Caleb's story time I made the call. I don't know why it hit me so hard, but pulling my only daughter out of dance nearly killed me. By the time I was off the phone, I had tears in my eyes and seriously questioned if I was doing the right thing. To make matters worse, one of the little girls in Caleb's story time was wearing a leotard. What are the odds??? Oh, and by the way, it was FREEZING here today, literally in the low 30's... Not exactly leotard weather! Was is a sign????

2. Friday night while we were eating dinner, one of my neighbors rang the doorbell. He was carrying a huge bouquet of flowers that was delivered to his house since we were gone and stopped to chat for a while. When he left I asked Matt why he sent flowers, and he quickly told me that they weren't from him. HHHHMMMMM..... They were for Little Miss Katherine. When we opened the card, it nearly took my breath away... Some of our neighbors got together and sent the flowers to Katherine as a congratulations for making the TAG team at Chow's. Wow... Just wow. Totally unnecessary, and very unexpected. It made her day and made me realize how truly blessed we are. There are people who love Katherine and celebrate in her success as much as we do.

I'll take a picture and post it soon!

3. Caleb constantly says stuff that just cracks me up. He's one of the funniest kids I know, and thinks of some of the most random stuff imaginable. Here's one from today.... We were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch, just chatting away, and we have this conversation:

Caleb: Where's Daddy?
Me: He's at work.
C: Why does he work?
Me: He works to make money... so you can have nice clothes to wear, good food to eat, a house to live in, and get to do lots of fun stuff.
C: Well.... I'm hungry for ice cream.
M: Well then, you need to eat your chicken first.
C: Well.... I'm hungry, so Daddy needs to work harder!!

4. Caleb has been addicted to his plug (pacifier) since birth. I don't know what it is about that thing, but man, he LOOOVES it! It's an Avent one, and he loves to flip the handle up on his nose, suck as hard as he can, and hum.... For some reason, it really soothes him so I had a hard time taking it away. Anyway, we had some friends over on Friday night and they absolutely *destroyed* the house. Every toy we own was dumped on the floor, so when it was time for bed, we couldn't find his beloved plug. We all looked for about 20 minutes, and finally Caleb went to bed without it. Shockingly enough, it's still gone, and we're on night number 4 without it..... and still alive.

Matt did find one in the bottom of the toy box, which he hid, but there's at least one more floating around the house somewhere. I can't find it for the life of me, but Caleb is POSITIVE that Libby will find it when she cleans tomorrow. He's still hoping to get that thing back and I don't have the heart to tell him that there's not a chance in the world!!

5. Andrew has turned a corner. All of a sudden, he seems to have realized that you sleep at night and are awake during the day! Let me tell you, that makes for one happy Momma!! Sunday night we went over to my sister's house for dinner, and my Mom wanted to hold him and talk to him all night long. She has the magical touch!! When we got home I fed him and put him to bed. He got up to eat three times, but wasn't awake for long stretches of time. Last night he got up twice -- once was for an hour, but other time, he just ate and then went to bed and then didn't get up until 7:30. Oh, happy day!! Hopefully tonight goes just as well.

6. I can't believe that I'm about to blog about sports, but....

I'm a Hawkeye fan by marriage. It's not that I don't root for them and hope they win, but I'd rather take a nap.... or scrapbook ....... or play with the kids ........ or chat on the phone ......... or go shopping ...... or hang with girlfriends (you get the idea) than sit idle for 3+ hours and watch them on TV. Besides, watching a game with Matt is nerve wracking. Literally, it's horrible. To be honest, I can't stand it. Now, for any of you Hawk fans, imagine my hubby watching the PSU game. Not pretty... So, I did what any loving wife would do... I handed him his sleeping 5 week old son while I cleaned and ran to the grocery store. *laugh* *snicker* *grin*

With about two minutes left in the game, I took Andrew back and we went upstairs. Right before the final play (in which the Hawks beat PSU), I heard him pacing on the main level (we don't have a TV on the this floor). The poor guy couldn't bear to watch the game. He couldn't even breathe... REALLY????? A football game? I'll never understand.........

Now -- I'm glad the Hawks won. Don't get me wrong, beating the #3 team in the country is great, but... didn't you kinda want to see old JoePa get a national title this year? Even Matt agreed........

fall pics

Last Sunday afternoon, Matt and I took the kids outside to play in the leaves and take a few pictures. Here's just a *few* of my favorites!!

pop quiz...

How do you know when your mastitis is really bad???

When you have to sleep sitting up because laying down is too painful.

I didn't sleep a wink. Literally......... YAAAWWWN..........

I want to cry!

I hate to whine about things, BUT.....

Last night when I was feeding Andrew, it was PAINFULLY OBVIOUS that I was getting my second bout of mastitis. I spent the night with tears rolling down my face from the pain of feeding him. I couldn't sleep at all and when the sun finally rose, I noticed blood on his little jammies. Unbelievable! Getting mastitis once is bad enough, but what did I do to deserve it twice?? UUUGH!

Anyway, instead of just calling in an antibiotic, my doctor wanted me to come in so he could take a peek. Oh. My. Goodness. Either you have mastitis or you don't... there's really not a lot of confusion here................. Thankfully my mom could come over and watch the kiddos, but man definitely NOT how I wanted to spend the day, especially since Katherine had the afternoon off and we had planned to celebrate her making the TAG team at Chows. Unfortunately, that'll have to wait for another day.

A new chapter....

Remember when I asked for good thoughts last week??? Well here's why....

Katherine is currently taking gymnastics at two different places -- Urbandale and Chows. At Urbandale she's in a class called Superbunnies, which is the start of their competitive program. She's really growing as a gymnast -- getting stronger, improving her form, learning routines, you know.... actually practicing gymnastics. However, this past summer two of her coaches quit and as a result, we believed that the program was in jeopardy. So I immediately called Chow's and enrolled her in the only class they'd take her for -- a recreational kindergarten class.

** As a side note, I asked if they'd evaluate her to see if she'd be eligible for their competitive program. It was a resounding NO. I was told that they didn't work that way and she had to start in the recreational program. So fine. I signed her up for the kindergarten class with the hope that she wouldn't have to stay in the class for that long. Oh, and I paid for a trimester which ends on 11/14.

Things at Urbandale worked out -- the coaches came back, the program is thriving, Katherine loves it. It's perfect. Oh, and the kindergarten class at Chow's is super elementary and Katherine is bored. Really bored.

Now -- the events of the last two weeks....

I found out that Chow's would be evaluating the rec girls (Katherine's class) in the next couple of weeks to determine if they were in the right class or if they were eligible to move up into a different class. Since it's impossible for me to talk with Katherine's teacher before or after class, I decided to call the gym. In a nutshell I wasn't given a good answer -- they had to talk to her teacher who wasn't in for a few days, and then the following week she had a substitute, so any questions I had couldn't be answered at that time. So I spent the past two weeks waiting for them to call. Today, I decided I was tired of waiting, and called again.

The girl I talked to told me that she had been meaning to call me and that yes, Katherine could be moved up to another class. They suggested that she be moved up to Beginner girls 1, but all the classes were full, so she'd be put on a "wait list". Not cool. Really not cool. Katherine is bored out of her mind in the rec class she's currently in, and paying $60/month for her to crawl through nylon tunnels isn't a good use of time or money. She didn't know when a spot would open, but would keep us in mind. Since I wasn't happy with the fact that Katherine could end up in the same rec class all year long, I decided to feel her out about any other options we might have. She told me that she'd do some checking and would call me back before she left for the day.

45 minutes later she called. Li (Chow's wife) wanted to see Katherine tonight and wondered if 7 would work for us. UUUUUMMMMMM, yea!

When we got there, Li was working the front desk, so I went up to introduce myself. I told her my name, and she instantly said, "Oh, yes! Katherine's mom. I hear she's very talented". A few minutes later she took Katherine into the gym while Matt and I watched from outside.

Literally, Katherine was in there for about 7 or 8 minutes. Li had her do the splits, a bridge to kick over, cartwheels, backward roll, handstands, walk on the beam on her tiptoes, a pullover on the bars, pull-ups on the bar, as many leg lifts as she could on the bar and then asked Katherine what the hardest skill she could do on the beam was. Katherine told her a somersault so she lifted her up on the high beam and let her have at it. Li gave Katherine several high 5's and when they emerged from the gym, they were both beaming. Li told me that Katherine would be a great fit for their talented and gifted (TAG) team and that she was super strong and flexible. I get the feeling that Li really didn't care what she could do skill wise ... she was more concerned that she was strong and flexible and that if she was, everything else would fall into place. She also made a point of telling me that this class was by invitation only, and that Katherine was exactly what they were looking for. Wow... Just wow. Katherine is elated. Literally she's on cloud nine, and hasn't stopped smiling yet. She told me that this is her dream..... I know I've said this before, but honestly, there is nothing in life more rewarding as a parent than finding your child's passion in life and allowing them to chase that dream. I don't know too many kids her age that have truly found what they love at 5 years old, but she has, and that is such a blessing. So as long as she wants to chase her dream, we'll support her -- physically, emotionally, and financially.

So... that leaves Urbandale. I have so many mixed feelings about it. Urbandale is where Katherine fell in love with gymnastics, it's where she's met so many wonderful people, had great coaches and made wonderful friends. It's where her confidence grew and her gymnastics skills improved. So if we decide to leave it's definitely bittersweet. In many ways, it's like breaking up, and I'm so not good at that....

Happy Halloween!

It must be a Des Moines thing, but every year, the kids trick or treat the day before Halloween. It's called Beggar's Night, and the kids absolutely LOVE it, regardless of the actual day it falls on. Tonight before the kids scoured the neighborhood for their annual loot, we had a pizza party at the Jacovin's house (one of our neighbors) and the kids got to show off their costumes and play in the backyard together before they got wrapped up in the candy frenzy. Oh and what a frenzy it was!! Katherine and Caleb returned home with more candy and goodies than they could eat in an entire year -- or more than I'll let them! I'm sure they'd have no problem polishing off the bag in a week or so!! LOL!!

Today was also a big day in another way -- it was Andrew's four week birthday. I was looking at him in amazement today ... my sweet, cuddly, innocent little boy who has filled my heart with love and joy in ways I never know possible. He's such a wonderful baby.... so content.... so sweet ... so happy. In some ways, it seems like this past four weeks flew by and he's growing so quickly, and in others, it's hard to remember life without him. It's as if he was with us all along.

Katherine's dance studio is right next to the Hospice where my Grandma stayed the last weeks of her life. When we were on our way home from class last night, she mentioned that she missed Grandma Krekow and wanted to bring doughnuts for the people who were in there now. (Isn't she sweet and thoughtful)???? She started talking about Heaven and Grandma being there and then asked if she got to hold and play with Andrew before we did. Wow... Just wow... What a complex concept for a little 5 year old girl.

Katherine and I picked out this little pumpkin costume for Andrew and I couldn't wait to put him in it today. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best fitting costume in the world, but it's still cute anyway!

Happy birthday to my baby boy!!

The costume wasn't working out too well, so I took it off and got a few in his regular clothes. Oh, and do you notice anything that all of these pictures have in common??? If you said, "he's sleeping" you win!! That's right, my little Sleeping Beauty is getting lots of rest so he can play with his Mommy all night long! LOL!

Not to be outdone by their baby brother, here's the Halloween costumes!

Katherine as Shawn Johnson. Oh, and a little funny... She sat me down today after school and needed to have a *serious* conversation. She was all concerned that her friends wouldn't recognize her. That's right... she honestly believed that everyone would really think she was Shawn. AAAAHHHH, only my Katherine would be truly concerned about that....

Gotta show off the gold baby!! Isn't that medal adorable????

Caleb -- our little Hawkeye. When we were over at Rick and Danyel's house last weekend, they gave him this uniform as they are die hard Cyclone fans, and have no use for anything black and gold. Caleb was more than happy to take if off their hands for them!!

I have to laugh when I look at this next picture of Caleb. It's so him ... such a little charmer, a total showoff, and a complete ham. Oh, and tonight instead of yelling "CHEEEEEZZZE" every time he saw the camera, he started yelling, "I looooove you, Mommy"! totally out of the blue. Man, do I love that kid! He's so stinkin' sweet!!

Katherine just couldn't help herself - she had to start tickling Caleb!

Morgan, my sister's little girl, also came over to trick or treat with us. It was hilarious -- Caleb was terrified of her face paint, and really didn't believe it was Morgan. He wouldn't stand close to her for the longest time! Actually, he really didn't get the whole costume thing at all. Instead of calling someone by their name, he'd only call them the name of their costume. So instead of saying, "Collin and I ......." he'd say, "the lion and I .......". It really freaked him out. It was like he didn't get that all of his friends were dressed up as something else. Thankfully, Katherine wore a leotard, so he had at least one "safe" person tonight! LOL!!

If you look closely, that's Caleb's head behind Katherine. He wasn't warming up to the costume thing very quickly!

A group shot of the kids after we ate pizza. Too fun!! Let the trick or treating begin!!

Oh, and if you're still reading -- my medical mystery is solved! My lovely rash was getting out of control and literally getting worse every time I looked at it. So, I had to make the trip to the doctor today. After blood work and strep culture I finally have an answer.... Remember when I had mastitis? Evidently the good doc thinks that I was allergic to that antibiotic, as it really couldn't be anything else. So yea, fun times! Oh, and yet another drug I can't take or am allergic to!