Back in the Days

Remember back in the days when there weren't near as many laws, or at least if there were, we weren't aware of them and our parents didn't make us abide by them? Let me give you a for instance... Growing up, we had a grande van. And I don't just mean a grande van, but a bien grande van. So in the leftover space in the back, we had put up four lawn chairs that we used. They were great. Any little bump that we hit sent us flying. The real big ones, you actually hit your head on the ceiling, which was an even bigger thrill. Loved it. Running out to the van, we would all be calling, "I get a lawn chair." Riding in the car was great fun.
Well today the boys and I were at Target. After doing our shopping, I first put Dallin in the very back of the car (the trunk space in my Pilot). Of course he liked this little spot and said, "Mommy, I no go in my car seat. I sit right here." I loaded Porter into his car seat and decide to give in and let my little man have a "walk on the wild side" and not ride in his car seat. Of course the whole ride home- the less than half a mile on a subdivision street- I'm paranoid as all get out. Is someone going to hit us? Am I going too fast? etc, etc. Meanwhile DB is in the back enjoying every second of it. "That was a good one, Mommy. I go bounce, bounce." Just loving it and making sure to let me know. I couldn't have given him a bigger treat had I spent tons of time trying to come up with something.
So his "walk on the wild side" was also my "walk on the wild side" for the day, and I'm still second-guessing myself as to whether or not I made the right decision! Now 15 years ago, maybe not even that many, there is no second-guessing. In fact, there probably is no thought, period. Now we're all chained down with these safety laws that make us feel like any little illegality (is that a word?) is criminal behavior. Don't know how I feel about it....!!!!

Anyway, here are the Halloween costumes. We had fun nights trick-or-treating. Dallin kept telling us how much fun he was having, so it was totally worth it!!

So let's be honest... how many times have you checked my blog looking for an update before you were pleasantly surprised to see a new post? Why do I ask this question? Because I know the routine... you sign onto your blog and begin the monotonous process of going through your list of friends, trying to remember to click on their list of friends that you religiously or maybe only periodically stalk. As each blog begins to come up you look for the old blog posting (because you've looked so many times that you can assign the post with the blog) so that you can just as quickly go on to the next disappointing blog that hasn't been updated. Therefore, when someone does have a new post, it can be- believe it or not- almost exhilarating. Thankfully you always have a few faithful ones on your list that post consistently and frequently, therefore the irrational and all too frequent blog stalking is validated and gives you no reason to change your behavior. Yes I have clicked on each and every one of your blogs only to be disappointed by no new post so I'm thinking maybe the same has happened on mine.

That being said, I'm updating my blog!!! Yeah. So what do I have to give you? Mucho. These are my handsome boys all ready to go to church. I'll tell you what, in my eyes, they are quite the lookers. I was laughing though, because we get all ready to go to church, we get there, sit down, and I swear all hell breaks loose. Both boys are squirming out of my arms trying to get to the aisle where freedom awaits them. I tackle Dallin down, give Porter a bottle and feel like maybe things have settled down. Well, they did... for about 5 minutes. After Porter finished his bottle, he was on a mission. Porter's personality is just that by the way... he has a mission. So when he gets his mind on something, it isn't easy to deter him from accomplishing it. And today there was just no stopping him. I take him to the back of the room to stand and listen, but that wasn't cutting it. I finally take him to the foyer where Dallin has somehow joined us. At some point the white flag was raised. Do whatever you want kids, just stay alive and don't bother me!! Ha ha, just kidding. But it was definitely one of those hours. If they could only behave as nicely as they look, things would be well!!




So on Friday we were watching TV when a Sonic commercial came on for their new Chocolate Malt Shake. They give a very solid advertisement, leaving your mouth watering. (Did I mention the closest one to us is like an hour away? I think it is pretty cruel for them to air those commercials here,but that's a whole different story!) Anyway, they give their ending line, "Sonic's got 'em, some don't" or however it goes. Well upon hearing that, Dallin turns to me with big ole eyes and says, "Mom... I want a chocolate shake." The intonation in his voice was perfect. I was like, "Absolutely, who wouldn't after that!" After Yosh got home from work, we all loaded up and went to Mel's Diner for a fantastic chocolate shake.

The funny thing is we ordered one shake for us all to share. Dallin maybe took one sip. When we would ask him if he wants a drink, he'd say, "I'm just drinking my water." I think the boys might have pulled the old bait and switch on us because Dallin wanted none and Porter literally had that cup empty in 5 minutes. That is pretty quick for a little one year old.


Last but not least, I know those of you that know I got braces but haven't seen my have just been dying for a pic with the new gear!! Ha ha, but here it is.....


The end result better be worth because as of right now, I just feel like all of my teeth are going to fall out. Let's hope that is not the case!

Anyway, stay tuned for the much anticipated Halloween pics. My little Cookie Monster and Elmo are a cute little match marching around!

So the crying starts somewhere around 12:30 am. Who knows, maybe it was really 12:45. You know how things seem SO long when you are trying to sleep and are interrupted. Well, that is how it was. I decide I am playing hard ball because Porter has been waking up at odd times for the past three or four days and he needs to learn to sleep through the night as he was previously doing. Finally at 1 am I give in. Maybe he just NEEDS his mommy. I go and get him only for him to continue thrashing and throwing a fit. Ok, maybe he doesn't need his mom. Maybe he just needs Nyquil. Wait a second, I gave him Nyquil before I layed him down. So why the heck is he awake?! Now, I'm fired up! I give him water and he calms down and falls back asleep. I lay him in his crib only for the fit to continue right where he had left off. As I lay down again, I remind myself that I am playing hard ball. The crying continues and after 10 minutes, he wins. He finds himself a comfy spot right next to me in my bed which leaves me in some awkward position with one arm looking for a place to go and the other trapped under me. What ever makes you happy, Porter! "At least maybe he'll sleep in tomorrow," I tell myself as I look at the clock at 2am. Who knows, maybe these days 6:15 is considered sleeping in.............. I guess I'll have to wait for all my kids to be at of the house before I really get sleep. Who needs sleep anyway?!

Fun-filled weekend

This weekend we had muchos family dates, which made for quite a fun weekend. Friday, the boys and I met Yosh after he got off work and went over to The Grove. We actually had a decent dinner with the boys at the Cheesecake Factory (of course, this meant sitting down and immediately ordering the food, hoping to be in and out of there before they realized what we were doing to them!) We took a ride on the little trolley that runs along there and then took advantage of the outdoor music. They had a band that started playing right around 7. The boys absolutely loved it. We could all just dance and be kids again. It was so fun.
Sat morning I got up and ran a 10k at Manhattan Beach. I had never been there before. Now that I have, I feel like maybe we should move there! (That happens quite often down here when I go to a new city!) It had a smaller town feeling and was obviously right on the ocean! A lot of fun. Later that afternoon, the fam went up to the galleria where the boys could run around and enjoy some fresh air.

They have a little water show at The Grove and the boys were fascinated by it.

Porter enjoying the flowers!

Yosh and Dallin on the trolley (Dallin called it a train, of course!)

The boys and I at the Galleria. Take note of the excellent long sleeve T I'm sporting. That was the t-shirt for the 10k. It is the best long sleeve ever. I think I'll be running in the race every year just for the t-shirt.


Other top moments:
1) I walked in the house after coming home from my run and Porter was just as happy as could be to see me. He kept putting his arms around my neck and giving me open-mouthed kisses and then just laughing.
2) Dallin thinking he was taking pictures of birds and telling them to scoot back and chasing them around trying to get them to pose for him.
3) Dallin feeding Porter these huge grapes with a fork.
4) Porter trying to have at least 4 grapes at a time in his mouth.

A Tag

ABC TAG

Gay

A- Attached or single: Attached

B- Best Friend: nunya

C-Cake or Pie: probably chocolate cake and then any other pie

D- Day of choice: Saturday

E- Essential Item: my keys

F- Favorite Color: blue

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Gummi bears

H- Hometown: Fenton, MO

I- Indulgence(s): going out to lunch

J- January or July: July

K- Kids: absolutely

L-Life is Incomplete Without: my 3 boys

M- Marriage Date: December 19, 2003

N- Number of Siblings: 3 brother, 3 sisters

O- Oranges or Apples: apples

P- Phobias or Fears: that something will happen to my kids

Q- Quotes: "Save the drama for yo mamma cuz we don't want none"

R- Reason To Smile: life

S- Season: Fall (I used to say summer, but I think I'm converting.......)

T- Tag Three +: Laura/Matt (good luck on getting Matt to contribute, Laura!), Kelie/Matt, Rachel/Spencer

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I grind my teeth

V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Meat

W- Worst Habit: chewing my tongue

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasound

Y- Your Favorite Food: freshly grilled meat and vegetables and pineapple

Z- Zodiac: Cancer

Yosh
(As becomes quickly obvious, Yosh actually filled this out himself.! I only had to trick him a little bit.............)

A- Attached or single: Attached

B- Best Friend: I think I am my own best friend, I talk to myself more than anyone else
C-Cake or Pie: Pie
D- Day of choice: Friday
E- Essential Item: California King Mattress
F- Favorite Color: Blue
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms
H- Hometown: SLC
I- Indulgence(s): Dried Mango package from Costco, Double Stuf Oreos, Papa John’s Pizza, Weinhard Root Beer
J- January or July: July
K- Kids: Yes, 2 sons
L- Life is Incomplete Without: A good wife to take care of me
M- Marriage Date: 12/19/03
N- Number of Siblings: 3
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P- Phobias or Fears: Cockroach infestations, rock climbing
Q- Quote(s): Socialism is the ideology of envy - unknown
R- Reason To Smile: DB and Porter P
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag Three +:
U- Unknown fact About Me: My dream job is to work for the perpetual education fund as whatever, secretary, janitor, mailboy, doesn’t matter
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Meat
W- Worst Habit: Nosepicker
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: X-Ray, not sure what this implies
Y- Your Favorite Food: Steak
Z- Zodiac: Sagittarius

The Cutest Boys ever... set to music!!

The little ones had their pictures taken the other day. Here is a few of the favorites at:

imagesbyaida.com/hansenboys

I couldn't be happier with these two little guys and am especially pleased with how their personalities came through in the pics!

Please excuse my leave of absence....

So I probably should post something considering it has been forever. I am still way into the blogging thing, and no, life has not gotten so busy that I haven't had time to sit down for a few minutes. The truth of it is I'm in deep denial. I guess I lost my battery charger for my camera even though I'm only convinced it is misplaced instead of lost. Because I am in denial, I subconsciously am avoiding anything that reminds me of this. Of course, all is not lost. I could always just buy another one. But first I need to convince myself that it is truly lost. I actually did cave the other day and set out to buy another one ($60 I might add for a simple charger) but they weren't at Best Buy, Target, or Wal Mart so now I have to order it online. Of course I wanted it right then and absolutely did not want to wait and not being able to get it right away has somehow weakened my incentive to get on the ball and buy it on line.
Anyway, big happy news is that Porter turned one today. It is absolutely crazy. How did a year pass already? He is such a funny little guy. I love how he always greets his dad with the biggest smile when he gets home from work. It doesn't matter how long it takes Josh to pay attention to him; he keeps the smile on until he gets it! I love the way he laughs and plays with Dallin. No one cracks Porter up like Dallin does. He is Dallin's number one fan and supporter. I also love when he steals Dallin's binky and stuffed puppy and walks around with them as if he owns them! I love the sound he always makes. He loves to move his fingers across his lips and make that one sound (you all know what I'm talking about!) His little temper cracks me up... he is such a firecracker (making his nickname "Pistol" very fitting!) He gets fired up when I'm changing his diaper, taking his clothes off, putting his clothes on, putting him in the car seat, etc etc! He gets mad so quickly and just screams. Thank goodness, he recovers almost as quickly! Anyway, he is such a joy to have around. Kids to me are the epitome of great joy for hard work. They require so much but there is nothing that compares to those precious moments they give us when we remember that is all worth it!! Happy Birthday, Porter P!!!