Found this picture and it expressed my fantasy world quite accurately. I mean, add some context to it. Imagine that right outside those doors is a beautiful swimming pool with comfy lounge chairs all the way around. And probably like a swim up bar or something along those lines.  And all of this is in sunny 85 degree weather. That's what I dream about. And whine about, and say i need. Just a week of it. But you know what? It's kind of depressing but perhaps I'm more of a realist than I like to admit. Because I know this fantasy world doesn't exist. If you go with kids, there is no laying out by the pool, sipping a beverage and relaxing. You go without the kids and you miss them and think how much they would love to be there. Not to mention you go home and they make you pay for having left them. So, now I'm left with no escape- not even a mental one! But at least Porter has his escape. This is him this summer in San Diego. Fell asleep on his coral themed pillows watching TV.

This picture on the other hand is real and does exist and is heavenly! I received this edible arrangement a couple months ago and every single piece of fruit on there was simply perfect. The pineapples dipped in chocolate may have received extra points, but come on- add chocolate to anything and it's going to top the rest.

From the second I came out of my mama's tummy, I was a handful. I came out just a screaming and who knows when I stopped. Maybe when I turned 21. My dad says I was the fussiest baby of all. My mom terms it in a slightly more political way but basically is saying the same thing...I was a pill from the time I made my debut. This knowledge has done nothing but haunt me. I've heard pay back often comes when raising your own children.

So, this pregnancy has been absolutely amazing. Slight discomfort the first couple months, but operative word is slight. In fact, when I was going to the doctor for the first time at 14 weeks, I was preparing myself for any type of news. I just wasn't as confident that this was a normal pregnancy. But contrary to my worries, everything was great. Baby looked healthy, had a strong heartbeat. And the following weeks continued in the same pattern. Just a grade A pregnancy. Everyone wanted to talk about gender. Another boy? Can you possibly have 4 boys? But at the same time, can you possibly have a girl after having 3 boys? I know...very deep thoughts. I started to get a little nervous- with how well the pregnancy was going I couldn't help but wondering, "Is this a baby girl, and therefore, the calm before the storm?" Was a baby girl going to give me 9 months of rest before she hit me with 20 years of hell? This thought came in and out of my mind many times.

At 17 weeks, I went to a new doctor and the cards were stacked in my favor- I was getting an unexpected ultrasound.  I laid on the bed, a little bit giddy, a little bit nervous, and mostly excited even though I reassured myself they probably weren't going to be able to tell the sex! But that wasn't the case. Doctor was quickly able to identify. "It looks like you have a daughter." My immediate reaction caught me off guard as I got a little emotional. Did I want a baby girl more than I was willing to admit? Or did I just never think it possible? I don't know, but right away I felt like, "Of course it's a girl. 3 boys and a girl. That's our family." It wasn't a reaction of surprise. Immediately, it just fit. That being said, I quickly questioned the doctor, "Whoa whoa whoa, now are you just saying that because you don't see a penis or is it for surely a girl?" Bless his heart, it was our first meeting and he didn't know that this baby was preceded by 3 older brothers and mistaken information could be traumatizing to some. But he did more extensive investigating, pointed our certain parts to me, and reassured the both of us that it was a baby girl. And, with that, evaporated the thought of this little thing torturing me for the next 20 years. Maybe I'm wrong, but at least now I'm not scared!

So now all we have to do is wait. The boys are excited for a little sister. I feel like Deeter even knows something is in the works as he often times demands on lifting up my shirt and touching or laying on my belly. And I'm trying to take in more of the attitude of just being grateful and not questioning why good things happen to me (ie. an easy pregnancy!) And I can rest easy knowing my mom never wished any kind of revenge on me for being a hard kid!

I'm telling you for the last time.....

I'm pregnant! Baby Hansen numero 4 due the first week of February. I say the first day, the doctor thinks a few days later so- for my mental state- we'll settle on "the first week".

Today the boys and I headed up north on a little "road trip"- at least as our weak family knows them to be- to Santa Barbara. That's right... a full hour and a half in the car. And don't worry, that was long enough to get McDonald's, go through a drive thru for a milkshake, and ask 98 times how much longer til we're there. The only thing missing was the junk food load up at the gas station. So maybe it only almost classifies as a road trip. Anyways, it made for a fun day. Gotta love the Santa Barbara zoo. Complete with the ant hill made for sliding down. Now the last time the boys went, which was about 16 months ago, they stuck to the conventional go-down-on-your-booty method. From experience I can attest that this alone is a thrilling ride. But it a mere 16 months, it was no longer acceptable. They needed to bring it to the next level, which meant progressing from the booty to the stomach (head first) as captured above, and then- to the feet. You shoulda seen these kids just loving it, flying down the hill, testing their balance, and laughing in spite of failure. Good times.

On the way home, we called to check in with Daddy. He had made it home and with his extra time conceded to run to the grocery store for me. I had a list:
-blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
-bread
-yogurt
-Deeter's milk

Well we get home and Yosh entices the boys with a milkshake as I put Mista Deetz down. After my task is finished I come down to sneak a bite or two of some ice cream- I don't know maybe Moose Tracks or Rocky Road or something lame like that- that they were using for shakes. Well I open the freezer and you can imagine my utter shock as I see this staring back at me.....

Whoa. I had my pick of deliciousness, but there's no way I was escaping that Oatmeal Cookie Chunk. The whole Rocky Road idea was immediately out the window. So was that idea about just one or two bites. I leaned against the counter with my spoon and dug in and enjoyed until every last Oatmeal Cookie Dough bite was gone. That's right- I'm "one of those." I only eat the cookie dough bites and leave the leftover crap for the runner up. It's a shame, I know but I'm probably not going to change. And this is why we love when Yosh does the grocery shopping. A perfect ending to a good day.

The bad news is...... I am once again left with a HUGE canvas of a wall to fill.....

The good news is....... I think I'm in LOVE with the new wall

Guaranteed the only thing Yosh is going to see in the change....

the holes in the wall. whoops, don't know how to patch.

Wow, the attempts to get a decent Sunday picture. Take note that this was the first day I did Deeter's hair and thought it appropriate to document it. He thought is appropriate to document how he will be feeling the next 5 years as we go through the hair-doing bouts. I'm kinda worn out- he might have already won. And did I strategically dress my boys? Well, it depends how you define strategy. I saw the tie Yosh had on and secretly went with it. I compromised with Porter to let him wear his green, glow-in-the-dark alien shirt as his "secret shirt" under his purple shirt. (I have to say though, the green shirt went perfectly with the green chucks that he wore!) Minimal strategy! And a decent Sunday. Our night ended with a dance party. I should upload some of the video footage as it is quite hilarious. But I think I'll settle for a few pics that only kind of capture the rage of the moves!

And if you're wondering if those boys and Tessa (must say, the Superman costume legitimately threw me off for a minute!) are doing the worm, the answer is YES!

Resisted the urge to send these characters out trick-or-treating to the neighbors....

I think I might be getting in trouble. I'm a little afraid for the boys to go to sleep as I think I just might get a talkin to. Dallin has skipped summer camp two days in a row. But I mean he did say his tummy hurt last night. And then again this morning. Can't send a kid to camp like that. Maybe last night he would have loved to sleep in my bed. And just maybe today I did take the boys to Hurricane Harbor which was AWESOME. Highlights of the trip would be the wave pool and the lazy river, where we practically took a family nap (on the nice double raft we rented before an unsuspecting innocent mom claimed it as her own.) But there's a big difference between camp and Hurricane Harbor. Don't really know what it is, but definitely a big difference. Today (and apparently yesterday too) is why I am not a believer of summer camp. I like chillin. Believe it or not, even with my kids. And if the sun is out and strong there ain't no stoppin us. The other day this is how I found my boys when they asked if they could watch a show.

Kind of epitomizes summer.

A more recent pic of our monster. I'll tell you what...baby #3 will go to all extremes to be part of the group. And he is strong and determined. It's been pretty entertaining to watch. He has yet to take even a single solo step but has managed to scale and climb anything and everything.

A little family pic at the San Diego Zoo. Didn't see any mating of animals this year. Saved us from one of those funny conversations with a three and five year old!
--Yosh's edit: We did happen to meet up with a family from Dallin's t-ball team.  Dallin and Cooper are both confident, talkative boys.  Anyway, they encountered a zebra who was just standing there fully aroused.  They couldn't help but SCREAM their observations...."What? He has a fifth leg. Oh my gosh ... His fifth leg is broken in half!! GROSS!!!  Look at that everyone, it's broken!.."  They drew plenty of attention from the crowd; I was bent over laughing, completely incapacitated.  No further explanation needed, it was simply a broken leg.






Here's to more summer adventures and only one more day of summer camp! if we make it...