My Crazy Brother

A couple of weeks ago, it was about three in the afternoon when I got a call from my brother asking me if I had gotten his text. Usually when I'm at home I don't always have my phone right near me, so I don't always get texts right away. So, when I answered no, my brother says, "Well, I guess it's too late then."
"Why? What did the text say?"
"Well, it was a picture of my itinerary. I'm here in Denver on a layover and my plane just landed."
"What?!"
That is so like my brother! He doesn't tell me his is coming, until he is already here. Luckily his wife reminded him that I might be a little bit busy with the kids and can't always look at my phone, and that it might be a good idea to call me. Thank you, Sarah!
Luckily he had a few hour layover and we aren't too far away from the airport. Mike was able to go pick him up so he could come and spend dinner with us before he had to go right back to the airport. We didn't have very long to spend with him, but it was good to just see him at all. We hadn't seen him since his wedding in July, and it was so fun to see how surprised the kids were when he walked in the door. Carter and Taylor weren't too sure about him, but soon enough they'll love their crazy Uncle Donny as much as the other kids do! Thanks for coming to visit us Donny! We love you! Next time you'll have to bring your wife along, and we might even let you stay longer than an hour! :)

Ringing in the New Year, before it's too late

In just a few hours, January will be completely gone, already, and I couldn't let the month completely pass without ringing in the New Year and making those lovely traditional resolutions! This past year seems to have gone by in a whirlwind, and now January is already over and 2011 is well under way. I guess I keep waiting for life to slow down, but it just never does. Of course last year was pretty full for us, as there was always something going on without too much time to rest between events, and this year will probably be just as busy!
This will be a big year for the Hansen's - Sami will turn 8 and be baptized this summer, Gavin and Kaden will start Kindergarten in the Fall, after two years of planning and designing, Mike will be able to move int0 the new ICU wing at the hospital this Spring, my dad's family will be having our very first Bills family reunion this summer, and this is the year the kids will get to have a go at recreational sports. There is so much to look forward too, including all the other exciting surprises that always seem to pop up. So I guess in light of the crazy pace our life seems to be moving at the moment, (which I know will only continue to get crazier) my New Years Resolution is to pretty much hang on and enjoy the ride! I can't keep waiting for life to slow down, because it only keeps going from here, so all I can do is hang on, have patience during the frustrating times, smile during the fun times, just push through the trying times, and take those crazy times a little less seriously, and try to organize the chaos of the house and schedules as best I can. I know I've said it before, but basically just enjoy the journey! This journey only comes along once!

Television might not be a good thing

You know, sometimes you definitely can have too much of a good thing, though in this case, I'm just not sure T.V. can be classified as a "good thing".
I'm sure you've all had this experience; the T.V. is on, you aren't necessarily watching it and going about doing other things. Then you hear, "Mom, look! I want that!", and then the kids proceed to tell you all about the coolest new toy they just saw on TV and have to have. Yes, we've had many "gotta have" toys come through the house, which have since been forgotten. But it doesn't necessarily have to be toys, we've had the same scenario played out with food as well, but lately it is the phrases that seem to be infiltrating our home.
We were getting ready for dinner the other night and the boys were chewing gum. I asked them to spit it out and Gavin tells me, "No, I'm just going to put it behind my ear."
And of course I said, "Ewe! No, throw it away."
"But mom, then I would be a loser! I don't want to be a loser, I want to be a champion!"
If this sounds familiar, yes you would be right, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp.
Or how about, "Mom, you give me the willies!" (Taken from one of the cartoons they were watching the other night.)
And definitely one of my favorites, which came from Sam when she was 3, "You are ruining my life!" Yes, she actually said that to me once after I sent her to time out. Thank you, Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus!
Even though it's actually pretty funny to hear some of the things the kids pick up, at the same time, it's also pretty scary. The things I notice while I am watching, even things that come up on the cartoon channels, make me worry about what the kids see and hear when I'm not watching. Is it any wonder that I won't let my kids watch movies like Matilda? Although it is a cute story, the way the brother and parents treat the little girl is horrible, not to mention the names the "Trunchbull" calls the kids. I really don't need my kids repeating all that.
Right now, I am very grateful that they don't pick up on all the innuendos, and don't get all the jokes yet, but those blissful days of ignorance will be over soon, and then I will really have to be careful. No, I don't think I can completely shelter my kids from things I might find unpleasant or inappropriate, but I can at least control some of the exposure they will have. There are enough things my kids face that is beyond my control, so why not take care of some of the things within my control? The older they get, the scarier it is, and although I know they need to learn and grow, my parental instinct says to keep them close and protect them. I'm sure that will never change, but unfortunately the things they hear from the T.V. are just the beginning. I'm definitely not quite ready for the rest of it yet. I guess all I can do is cross my fingers, and pray all those small teaching moments are getting through.

Stop!

As far as I'm concerned there are sounds, and then there are words. To me "ma" and "da" are just sounds, yes, they are definitely what the babies use when they want either Mike or I, and even at that they don't say them consistently (ok, maybe "ma" they do!). Then there is "uh-oh", this one is a pretty average one too. I'm not really sure why they pick it up, but all my kids did, probably because that is what I say when they keep throwing their sippy cups on the ground, regardless it is still more of a sound than a word. Then of course there are the built-in sound effects that just come with boys - "vroom" while they are pushing cars, "grrrr" when they are chasing each other and being rough, and the fun screaming when they want something or when they are mad. So, as I hear all these sounds daily I think of them as more developmental than something of a mild stone, but I think we've finally got a winner.
While I was feeding the boys lunch the other day, I had the babies in their high chairs with their bits and pieces of finger foods on their trays, and Gavin and Kaden were sitting near them at the table. Of course, as usual, Gavin and Kaden were playing around and in between bites, felt the need to "play" with the babies (play is a loose term, you may also insert bug, annoy, etc.). Out of nowhere I hear this "Stop!". I turned around to see where it came from, and then Taylor said it again, as clear as day, with the "p" and everything, "Stop!". It was the funniest thing, and definitely a word, not a sound! Since then of course we've tried to get him to just say it, but he won't say it whenever, he is very purposeful when he uses it. He will only say it when someone is bugging him, or when you are doing something he doesn't like, such as trying to clean out his nose, change his diaper, take something away from him, or when the boys pick him up and mess with him. I have even heard him say it to Carter when they are crawling and Carter is going a little too fast for him. He even rats Carter out when he is trying to escape from our little barricade in the family room by telling him to "Stop!".
I can't say that I'm all that surprised, with the brothers he has, this seems like a very appropriate first word. And although he is very deliberate about using it and will only use it when necessary, I'm sure you can guess that we still hear it quite often.

Now I'm just curious as to what Carter's first word will be...

I don't usually play favorites...

Today was a pretty good day, as far as my daily dose of chaos goes. I got most of the laundry done and the kitchen is actually all clean. I am even all caught up on the dishes - normal for most of you I'm sure, but a huge accomplishment for me. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself when I noticed that I was going to be late to pick up Sam from school if I didn't leave right then. I rushed Gavin and Kaden into the car and ran up to the babies' room to grab Carter and Taylor from their naps. As soon as I opened the door I was greeted with the wonderful aroma of stinky diaper and a little naked baby lying in his crib. Yes, all the clothes were off, diaper was off and Carter was enjoying life commando style! Upon closer inspection there were remnants of said diaper all over the sheets, crib, blankets, and of course, all over Carter. Well, I was already late, so what could I do? Yep, I put a new diaper on that crusty little bottom, put him back in his discarded clothes and strapped him into the car seat - and nope, I didn't even attempt to clean him up, the bath would have to wait until after we picked up Sam. Of course Sam, Gavin, and Kaden thought it was hilarious, and were grossed out (as they were laughing) when they each ran to the babies' room to check out the scene of the crime. Sure, it's all fun and games - until you are the one who has to clean it all up! (I seem to have to be doing that a lot lately...) Like I said, I don't usually play favorites, but today I think I love Taylor the most.