4th of July 2014

Yesterday Ryan turned 40.  My last blog post was about him turning 39.  This makes me want to cry! I have been so determined to keep up on my blog for journaling our family - no one reads it anymore, blogs are no longer the "thing" of social media- but regardless of if any one else is reading it, I am so grateful for all that I have blogged about our family over the last several years and I so badly want to keep up on journaling all the funny and precious little things about the kids.  My problem is that since I've started doing photography for other people, my own pictures and blogging gets pushed to the side.  I do not want this to happen, I have got to find a better way to balance my time.  I love doing photography but I can't let my photos of my kids keep piling up on the computer.  So my goal now is a massive summer catch up!  Here goes.  4th of July 2014...

We went up to Huntsville again for the 4th and instead of getting a hotel 40 minutes away like last time, we found a great place to rent in the Valley.  We rented Martha's basement in Eden and it was wonderful (expensive!  but wonderful).  It was so nice to actually be in the Valley, the home was spacious and clean and she had an adorable play room she had created under her stairs that Madi and Jens loved playing in.

On the 3rd (my 33rd birthday) we took the kids to Lagoon.  My only request was Kneader's French Toast for breakfast and I got that so I was happy.  We spent a very long and full day at Lagoon, with Kate, Bennett and Macy, and the kids loved it!  Well mostly.  Jens was such a little turkey.  All day we tried getting him to go on rides, he was scared of everything and didn't want to try anything.  We finally got him to go on the cars and he loved that and so we went again and again.  Then finally after it was about his normal bed time, he decided to be brave and try some other rides.  He went on the boats with Macy a few times and he loved that.  Then at the very end of the night I finally got him on the helicopters.   Couldn't believe it was bed time before he finally decided to be happy and enjoy the rides, but since he did we stayed until the park closed!   Here are some of the highlights in photos...

Mom insisted on a picture in front of the shoe

 Madi and Bennett

Aunt Kate was great to go on the rides with the kids.  

I ended up having an awful little spurt during the day... I knew I could only do a few of the big roller coasters with Pierce and then I would get a head ache (since I've had kids I can only handle a couple and then I'm done), so Kate's sister in law suggested I take some Dramamine for motion sickness.  I did and it was a mistake!  It made me so tired I was literally falling asleep.  I was so scared walking with the kids feeling like I was just going to fall over!  Finally I found a little spot at the end of the park with not a lot of people around on some grass.  I put Jens and Macy buckled up in their strollers facing each other and Kate and Ryan took the other kids on a ride.  I laid down on the grass and let myself rest and fall asleep for a few minutes.  I probably slept for 10-15 minutes but after that I was fine!  It seemed like my body just had to fall asleep to revolver and then once I did I got over it.  Never taking that medicine again!  I did go on Wicked  and Collossus with Pierce and that was fun, he loves it and gets a kick out of me screaming.  Can't believe I have kids old enough for the big rides.  

 Tay joined us part way through the day!

 Jens finally having some fun!

 He loved these cars so much, he could have ridden them all day.

 Finally brave enough for a ride now that it was dark!

The 4TH

The next morning we were on to the festivities!

 Can you tell someone was enjoying the parade?  Especially the candy!

 I love this face more than I can say.

Katie and kids were in Utah visiting Katie's family (Katie is so brave and drove all the way from Chicago without Steve to visit family!) They joined us in Huntsville for the parade and some fun at the park.  It was so great seeing them!  We've missed them since they've been in Chicago!

Pierson & Anya - they have always been such great cousin friends!

In the evening we joined Kate at the Story's for a BBQ dinner.  The kids loved Chuck and Dixie's backyard.  It is kid Heaven!

Madi on their homemade zip line (I was impressed she even did it!)

 Pierce started with the swing...

 Then got brave and did it without, they had such a great time!
We ended the day with fireworks at the park and were so glad to be in the Valley that night.

The next morning we left Martha's and first visited the cemetary

Madi visiting Grandma Kathy's grave.  I love being here at the Huntsville Cemetery, it is so beautiful and peaceful there.  I love this small space dedicated to my Mom.  I also enjoyed walking around the cemetery for a bit and finding a few graves of family friends.  After that we visited Grandma Harrop, Madi enjoyed picking some raspberries from her garden.

Jens enjoying the berries too

After visiting Grandma we were able to visit Audge and Jared and spend some time at their house.  They cooked us a delicious dinner and the kids loved playing with "Bugsy" and seeing Audge's new baby girl, Arya.  It's always so good to catch up with Audge, no matter how long it is in-between visits we can just pick up where we left off,  a true friendship.

 Jens loved Bugsy's firetruck!

That night we headed up to Logan and slept at a hotel up there so we could be up there bright and early for Mark and Lisa to bless their new baby, Ezra.  Their church ended up getting cancelled because of a water pipe breaking and it turned out to be a great experience!  They were able to bless Ezra in their home and then have a special testimony meeting with all the family that was there.  It was so neat to be in a small room together and bear testimonies as a family, I remember the tremendous spirt that was there and was very grateful for the experience.  It was fun to finally be able to see their little house in Logan too.  We are so glad Mark married Lisa, we just love her.

We had a great trip and the kids really enjoyed it!  It is heartbreaking for me in ways to go to Huntsville, I miss my Mom so deeply and the last two years it has been more difficult for me, I just ache for her!  It is added heartache that my Dad is now so distanced from me and shows no care or desire to see me.  This trip was especially hard, I had text him letting him no we were coming up and wanted to see him (we don't dare just go to his house anymore, since we know Susan doesn't want us there) and all he said to me was "Just come find me up at the park".  Well we did and he talked with us for about 5 minutes and that was it.  He didn't want to spend any time with us at all.  In some ways this hurts more than losing my Mom, she didn't chose to leave us, but my Dad is choosing to not really be in my life.  It is hard, it hurts, and I leave Huntsville in tears.  I miss my Mom so much and am more grateful all the time for my Savior and for the healing power of the Atonement.  Looking forward to the day I can see my Mom again, can't wait to run and hug her!

Our Merry Christmas 2013

Christmas was such a fun one this year!  (Last year I should say since I'm writing this so delayed!)  I had been really excited for the Holiday season this year, at the end of summer I was just feeling excitement and anticipation for the Christmas Season, I was ready to skip Halloween and bring on Christmas!  Which was weird because I really love Halloween, but I have just been so enjoying Jensen's toddler stage and I knew it would be a really magical and special Christmas with the fun of his age.  And it definitely was!  The snow excitement just added to the special season and I just really, really loved the feeling of Christmas with the kids this year.  Here are some highlights in pictures...

Decorating the Tree....

I love when everyone is excited and therefore being nice and getting along!  The kids had a great time helping me decorate the tree.

I hadn't had any luck getting a family picture of my own family (hardest part of being the photographer) so I decided to forget the cute family picture that wasn't happening and go with funny for our Christmas card.  I was so glad I did because it turned out hilarious and the kids loved it!
Here are a couple outtakes that I love...

Pierce and Madi were great sports about me tying them up, they thought it was so funny and Jens thought it was great too, up until I put the tape on his mouth!

But I got the shot!  Success!  Here is what we used for our card...

Here is the finished product...

I was so happy with how it turned out!  (Thanks to  Kathryn for Photoshopping it together for me!)  We got so many compliments from so many people who loved the card and thought it was just so funny!  Now the only problem, what to do for next year?  I don't think I can top the funny-ness of this.  So perfect for our life right now.

Mom forcing them to stand still for a picture in their Christmas Sunday best, which was only made possible with the compromise that they could hold the treats they had gotten at church.  Cute outfits though!

Mom finally gave in and let Pierce get a DS from Santa!  He could not have been more thrilled!

Madi has been wanting an American Girl doll for the last couple of years, she finally made some improvement in the "taking care of and picking up her toys department" and Santa brought her Kit! Love this smile, makes some of those headaches worth it!

Still loves Hello Kitty!

And so it begins...

So in love with this sweet boy.  Love this face and his excitement!

 

 A Christmas visit to Grandpa and Todd's graves.  We sure miss them.  Love you Grandpa!

Opening gifts from Mom and Dad later in the afternoon...

 Not sure what it is,  but it's big so he's excited!

 More Legos! This kid could never get tired of Legos.

 Excited for her Hello Kitty alarm clock!

 

I gave Jens this adorable Superman shirt and cape (and a Batman one also) and it was so funny he put it right on, made the gift opening even cuter.  

 We also gave him some "Mike and Sulley boots"  he was so excited to have his own boots!  Of course those came right on too!

 And that made the gift opening even more cute! Just love this picture! Never want this boy to get big.

 

 Our Sock Monkey loving girl was so excited for sock monkey slippers and a sock monkey BYU hat!  She loves this hat so much it even replaces her beloved Hello Kitty hat as her daily hat to wear during the cold months.  She wore it to school until I convinced her it was too warm!

We gave the kids new clothes hampers, Jens was pretty excited about his, not so much for the place to put clothes...

Can you spy a sweet boy?  We still don't use it for dirty clothes, but what a fun hiding spot!

We had a wonderful Christmas Day!  I love the joy and real magic that it brings to our home and family.  I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, for his miraculous birth and the glorious celebration that reminds us not only of his birth but his perfect example, his atonement and his resurrection.   

In Loving Memory of Amelia Marie Hansen

I had the sweet opportunity to photograph Amelia's viewing and funeral for Ashley and Kurt.  I have never been so nervous about taking any pictures before!  I really wanted to do a beautiful job for them capturing some of the tender moments of this day, but I knew my tears would be flowing freely and I was worried I'd hardly be able to see through my lens.  I did manage to get a few beautiful shots of the day and I'll share some of my favorites that I feel are appropriate for me to share. 

When I first met Ashley, just last summer, she had just moved into our ward and we were assigned to be Visiting Teaching partners.  The first day we met, we went to visit Brooke.  We were having some of the usual get to know you chat and she told us how old her two babies, Amelia and Jet, were.   Amelia was just 1 1/2 and Jet was about 8 months.  I remember specifically thinking to myself, that must have been a whoops, no one in their right mind does that on purpose.  Then she said to Brooke and Me, "and I'm pregnant again actually."  I am sure my mouth about dropped open!  I thought:  this girls is either seriously  CRAZY or seriously AMAZING!  Well, she is AMAZING!  One of the most beautiful and strong women I have ever met. (Literally, I am still geeking out since I found out that before her days of pregnancy Ashley did a FULL IRON MAN!  Are you kidding me?! She told me, "it's just like a long day of exercising."  Ya, that most human beings aren't capable of!   This girl is strong in every way.  I was in complete awe  of her during Amelia's entire viewing and funeral.  It seemed that instead of everyone comforting her, she and Kurt were the ones comforting everyone else.  She has shared some of her thoughts and experiences with me and I know she has been Divinely uplifted and strengthened and I am so grateful for that.  Her faith is rock solid.  I know for sure that Amelia is such a strong little spirit that she was needed on the other side of the veil, she will be there helping her family along through this life, they will feel her love and her presence, she will keep them going when everyday life is hard.  And it will be hard.

During the week of Amelia's passing as Kurt and Ashley were preparing for her funeral I thought often of how grateful I was that Ashley and I had been assigned to be VT partners.  It is one of those moments when you realize how much Heavenly Father really is aware of us, I probably wouldn't have even met her yet if we hadn't been partners, since she had been teaching primary, we don't really see each other at church.  I felt over and over again during that week that Ashley and I were meant to be friends, I felt so strongly that although I have thankfully not lost a child, that because of the losses my family and I have experienced that I could at least relate to her in a way that many people can't, and that I could have a sense of how to help her and support her, I thought she needed me.  The funny thing is, that during that week I kept thinking of how much I wanted to and could help her, but by the end of  Amelia's funeral, all I could think was - she doesn't need me, I need her!  Her great faith, her strength, her goodness, her positive attitude and her gratitude for the goodness of having Amelia on Earth for the time she did, and her sure knowledge of the reality of our Savior's Atonement are extraordinary.  She has been and will always be an inspiration to me.  She was beautiful this day, truly radiant.

These pictures of Jet are my favorite and just melt my heart...

Saying Bye Bye to Sister, breaks my heart