Birthdays All Around!

Everyone is having a birthday! Not only did the babies have a birthday, but we also had the chance to celebrate two more birthdays within the past week.
September 17th is special around our house for 2 reasons; one, it is Mike's mother's birthday (we will keep her age a secret), and two, it is my little sister Katie's birthday who would have been 31 this year.
It's amazing how we remember the ones who pass on as eternally the age they were at death, even though our lives continue to move forward. As I was thinking about her the other day, it was so hard for me to think about how her life would be today. How many kids she would have, where she would live, what her husband and family would be like. Of course the more I thought about her, the less I was able to hold back the tears. As hard as it was for me to imagine her in a life similar to mine, the fact that she didn't have those things was also very difficult for me to think about. I have been able to experience so many wonderful things in my life that my sister has missed out on. She was taken at a time when her life was just beginning, and had so many dreams yet to be realized. I miss so much being able to call and talk to her. I miss being able to see our children play together. I miss seeing who she would have become and the journey that would have taken her there. As much as her absence in my life hurts, I feel so comforted in the knowledge that although she wasn't able to experience these things here, in this life, that she won't miss out on having all that and more in the next. I know that she will feel the joy and blessings of family, and I will be with her again. I know the blessing of eternal families is real. I feel it each time I look into the eyes of my children, and feel as if my heart will burst from my chest with the love I hold for them. I feel it each time I think of my sister and feel that sweet peaceful calm that overcomes me. I am so thankful for this knowledge, as it helps me get through each Sept. 17th from one year to the next.

So, as we do every year, we sent a balloon off to Katie to wish her a Happy Birthday, and hope it reaches her in Heaven!

As for our other Sept. 17th celebration, since Mike's mom never wants us to make a fuss, we decided to keep our plans a secret. Last Thursday we headed down to Colorado Springs and surprised Grandma with a few birthday goodies. Mike and the boys arrived first with a few balloons and flowers, then Sam, the babies, and I followed soon after once Sam was out of school with a yummy Lion House peach pie from Deseret Book - one of Grandma and Grandpa's favorite places. Grandma was super surprised, and of course the kids always love being in on a little secret. The boys of course yelled "Happy Birthday" as soon as they walked in the door. We were able to stay for dinner and let Grandma and Grandpa enjoy the kiddos for a little while. They have an old little ride on horse that the kids love to play with, and the babies love to explore the house - as far as Grandma will let them get anyway. :) They are always amazed by how much the babies grow between visits. Just before we left we were heading outside and found a mommy and baby dear right in their front yard! The kids are often able to see deer and foxes at their house, but it's still exciting for them, especially when they come so close to the house.

We love visiting Grandma and Grandpa, and unfortunately just don't get down there as often as we'd like. Thanks so much for letting us invade you for an afternoon! Happy Birthday, Grandma Hansen! We love you both tons and are so grateful for all your love and support!

Then and Now

On Friday, we finally closed on our old house! What a relief to be finished with the whole process! It was many, many months in the making, but so completely worth it to be where we are now. All that's left to do now, is finish unpacking and get settled into our new house...oh, and get the back yard put in...oh, and put the fence up...oh, and find some furniture for the babies' room, oh, and finish the basement...oh, and...well, I guess the list is never ending! At least we have a while get it all done!

So, here is to our first home and wonderful memories ... A walk down memory lane!

Our little family when we bought the home in 2005.
(No, I wasn't exceptionally large, I was pregnant with Gavin and Kaden.)

Our family 5 years later when we sold the home in 2010.

A Daily Glimpse

A small glimpse into an average day....

With the help of a bagel, now Sam has lost both of her top teeth!
It definitely isn't an easy job for the Tooth Fairy around here, especially when a certain little girl keeps waking up whenever the Tooth Fairy tries to visit. I had to get creative with the answers when she would catch me and say,"Mom, why do you keep reaching under my pillow? Why do you keep taking my tooth and my notes for the Tooth Fairy?"
"Oh, I just wanted to check and see if she came yet. I"m excited to see what she brings you!"
"What's taking her so long, mom? Why hasn't she come yet?"
"She probably has a lot of stops to make tonight. A lot of kids must have lost teeth today."
By about the third try around 3 in the morning, the Tooth Fairy was finally able to visit, due to some very stealthy work! (And yes, Sam woke up that time too!) I don't know how it is at your house, but this Tooth Fairy is pretty defective!

Well, I admit it, we just aren't that creative around here. We still think (and play the Wii) INSIDE the box! Oh well, at least we are Super Heroes!

Tay was definitely not a happy camper when he woke up from his nap today!

At least someone was happy to see me!

Finally Reconnected!

It's amazing how long it takes to get things up and running after a move! Yes, we have finally moved into our new house! Yeah! We closed on the house on August 17th and that Saturday made the big move. We were expecting it to take pretty much the whole day, between emptying out the house and our storage unit, but people started showing up first thing in the morning and by about noon we had everything moved over. It was amazing! So many people came to help! We had friends, neighbors, missionaries, and family helping out from watching the kids, to moving our stuff, and even doing a little cleaning. After the move, I've even had some friends come over to either help me unpack, or even watch the kids so I could do the unpacking. We truly are blessed to know so many amazing and wonderful people! Thank you so much to everyone for all your help!
Of course we still aren't completely moved in, and there are still boxes to be opened, but we will eventually get there. I am just amazed at how much stuff we have! How in the world did we ever fit it all in our old house? The hardest part has been trying to get every thing hooked up and connected. Just a few days ago we finally got our phone and internet hooked up, and the TV a few days before that. Just yesterday we started receiving our mail again, which was not an easy task. Don't worry, we were able to get the Wii up and running within our first few days here so the boys didn't have to go through too much of a withdrawal period. :) You never realize how dependent you are on those kinds of things until you don't have them. They are definitely modern conveniences we have come to heavily rely on.
This house definitely already feels like home, and I love seeing the kids have plenty of room to play and be kids. The babies even have their own room! I have to admit, one of my favorite parts is the basement! The kids will disappear down there for hours and all play together. They are loud, it is a complete mess, but they finally have a space of there own and I don't constantly have to tell them to keep their voices down. It's great!
The kids all miss the old house, their old rooms especially, but I know they are happy here too. That was really the only home they've ever known. Sam turned 2 just after we moved in and all 4 boys were born while we lived in that house. It was our first home and definitely holds a lot of memories for our family, and I have to admit I get a little emotional every time I go back there. In 6 days, on Friday, September 10th we will finally close on that house and it will no longer be ours. It will definitely be a bitter sweet day; the answer to so many prayers, but also the end of a wonderful chapter in our lives. We are so grateful for that chapter, as well as for the new one we have just begun, one that we will enjoy for many years to come.

At it again...

I know I've said it before, but my kids are truly hilarious. Almost every day they say or do something that just cracks me up, and If I don't get these things down, I will most definitely forget them. So, once again, here is another installment of "kids say the darndest things"...

Sam is all about losing teeth right now. So one day she asked: "Mom, is the tooth fairy real? What about other fairies, are they real?" And my reply was: "Well, I've never seen a fairy before, so I'm not sure if they are real or not. What do you think?" Then Sam says: "Well, I believe in magic, so I believe in fairies too. They must be real!"

While playing with the babies, the boys say: "Hey mom, look! Carter and Taylor have Popeye arms!"

Just after getting a pair of new pajamas (and if you've seen the movie "Tooth Fairy" you'll understand this one) Gavin comes to me, sticks his bottom out and says "Do these jammies make my butt look big?" And of course my reply was: "Yes! Huge!"

During dinner one night Gavin didn't want to eat his beans so Kaden told him: "Gavin eat them! They taste good, they're good for you, and they make you toot!"

While watching America's Funniest Home videos (one of the kids favorite shows) the kids saw someone wipe out and Gavin says: "Ooh, that's gotta hurt. That's gonna leave a mark!"

During a bath, I told the boys it was time to get out and to let the water out. Gavin lays down and tries to grab the water and says: "No, not my precious, precious water!" (Ok, I just had Lord of the Rings flashbacks!)

Again at dinner, Gavin was complaining about eating some of the almonds in his salad. I told him that they were good, they had sugar on them. Then he says: "I don't like sugar." So I said, "That's good to know, then I don't need to worry about getting you guys any cookies, fruit snacks, or treats." So then Gavin looks at me and says: "Ok, you got me. I do like sugar!"

After putting on my sunglasses, Gavin turns to me and says: "Hey Mom, I look fabulous!"

And my favorite: On the way home from picking the boys up from school after I told them they could play the Wii when they got home they both said: "You are the best Mom I ever had!"

Yeah, I know!