Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, Tomorrow!

One more sleep until DISNEYLAND!!!!! Those of you who know me know that I can't get enough of this place. This will be the boys' fifth trip and they'll be six in May. We have gone every May since they turned two, and we love it. It really is my happiest place on Earth--when it comes to vacationing with my family. I honestly think I could go every other week and still love it.

So, today looks like laundry, changing sheets, cleaning bathrooms, book exchange for the kindergarten classes, primary presidency meeting, store for last minute items like sunscreen and snacks, and packing.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sophie Love!

We love this girl! She and Lucy are less than a month apart. Sophie has always been happy, easy-going, smart--and she used to be a little on the chubby side.

We hope your day is happy, that your brothers and sisters spoil you, and that your mom doesn't make you take a nap! :)

Happy Birthday Zak!

Shea's little brother is 30 today. Man! I'm glad I'm not that old! :) We hope you have a great birthday, Zak. (My picture of Zak won't load, so no photo today.)

Also, I need some packing advice. We leave for Disneyland on Tuesday. I have that figured out. But...what items should I NOT FORGET when I pack for Israel in the next week or so? What do you have to have when you travel? What are some nice things to make a really long flight more comfortable? Any and all advice is welcome. (I have traveled long distances before, but I'm ready to maximize my comfort level and try to get some sleep on the plane.)

Candace and Kelly, I may have to borrow Great Expectations. Does anyone else have good book recommendations?

Happy Birthday Aunt Kelly!

To one of the most amazing, compassionate, strong, stable, happy, optomistic people we know...we hope you have a wonderful day! Some of our favorite memories are Disneyland, being in the same ward for so long, NYC, any and all Sunday afternoon chats, movie nights at our house, St. Patty's Day, and soon Israel!

Spring Break so far

We had a great Hansen family party on Saturday. Annually we get together for an Easter party, but Shea's aunt in charge decided to do it when the weather was nicer. It was a beautiful day, and we all had a great time. The kids hit a pinata (they were very hesitant to start beating a pink pony), found treat bags, made bug jars and darling purses, hula hooped, played games, and ate good food.

Sunday we had church and Uncle Cam over for dinner.

Monday when I asked the boys what fun thing they wanted to do for Spring Break, they both answered, "go to Carl's Junior." Yuck. But it's their break, so that's what we did. After letting them play for 30 minutes, I ordered lunch and we went to the park to eat. Shea joined us and we had a good afternoon running and swinging. That evening I had to get a new phone. Lucy had ruined mine...and she'd been working on it since it was new 18 months ago. She is not allowed to touch my new phone, and it has to stay in its case to protect it from my clumsiness. I don't know why, but I've gotten less graceful over the years. (I need some of you to call me so I can get your phone numbers again. My old phone wouldn't even turn on to transfer my contacts. Pain in the behind! Julie, Andrea Brown, Heidi, Renee, Ramee call me!)

Tuesday was a stay-at-home and hang out day. You would think I would have accomplished something, but you'd be wrong. I hung out too. We did go to Max 'n Cheese for dinner. It was fun for the kids and the food was pretty good. I was surprised at how expensive it was though. I guess I didn't expect to spend $36 that night. It was worth it to try, and I would definitely go back for a girls' lunch to visit while the kids play.

Today...phew! We made up for our lounging around yesterday for sure. We went to Backyard Adventures and played on their inflatable toys and indoor swingsets for 1 1/2 hours this morning with some neighbor friends. After, most of us went to Ikea for lunch and shopping. It was a cheap lunch and great company. My kids were in heaven. We got to drop the big kids off in the babysitting area so we could shop for an hour in peace. Lucy and I found some fun plastic dinnerware for her and the boys. I also invested in two new garbage cans to replace the nasty ones in our upstairs bathrooms. I'd rather replace than scrub who knows what out of the bottom--think abc gum.

After a brief stop at home, we headed to the Thanksgiving Point Dino Museum to meet my friend from high school, Ashley, her hubby, and their three adorable kids. We let the kids play while we chased them and visited. We grabbed some dinner together at the cafe and ice cream parlor. It was fun to be with them, and our kids got along really well together.

Now, the boys are in bed, Lucy will be as soon as I sit next to her, and I'm ready to crash!

Happy

30th Anniversary to my wonderful parents! They are lucky enough to get to spend this day in NYC with Matt and Marc. How romantic! (Sadly, these are the only pictures I have with both of my parents in them. I'll have to fix that.)

Birthday to Todd! What a great oldest brother for Shea and the rest to admire. You are a fun dad and a wonderful brother (in-law.) We hope you have a great day--and that your taxes are done! :)

I'm a super sleuth!

So, Camden and Cooper are in the habit of taking off their pants and underwear when they go in the bathroom to do their business. Today was no exception. Cam finished and was getting redressed for school. He came out and asked me where his underwear was. He and I quickly looked everywhere. When we couldn't find it he went to his room and got a new pair.

I just changed Lucy's diaper and look what I found!

I can't get the picture to rotate, just tip your head to the side.

What a darling little trouble maker!

Friday funnies

Here are a few funny things the boys have said lately...

Camden, while helping Shea count the tithing money a while ago and seeing a few hundred dollar bills-- "Dad, Heavenly Father is rich, huh?"

Camden, while not being able to find both church shoes at 8:55 a.m. (with me trying to get myself and all three kids ready)-- I told him he could just wear his brown Puma sneakers for that day. He asked me so sweetly and with much concern in his voice, "Mom, will Heavenly Father be mad at me for not wearing my church shoes?" We have talked recently about dressing up for church to show respect and to make the day different from the rest of the week.

Cooper, after scoring a goal in his indoor soccer game and being congratulated by his teammates-- As he ran to Cam, who was playing goalie, he made sure I was watching and had seen his amazing feat. I was yelling at him and he had the most beaming, happy face! He ran to Cam, hugged him, and yelled, "that was SO EASY!"

When Cam told me he wanted the Tooth Fairy to bring him "a million hundred thousand kajillion dollars," Cooper looked at him and in all seriousness (and sounding a little too much like me) said, "you have to be happy with what you get, Cam. Huh, Mom?"

Sometimes I worry about that kid. He is so much like me; it's scary. Camden, on the other hand, reminds me so much of Shea. I realize they are identical twins, but I'm talking about their personalities, likes and dislikes, sayings, and even movement.

In other news, we leave for Israel in one month from today! I am so excited to finally be able to take Shea and show him some of the places that mean so much to me--the places that I see in my mind while I read the scriptures, listen in church, and sing the hymns. It is going to be amazing!

The information in this post can only be used for flattery or compliments. No blackmail allowed.

Where did you go on your first date? Our first first date (don't worry, we dated twice) was dinner at Macaroni Grill, a stop to watch the BYU rugby game (or was it lacrosse? I was too interested in the "getting to know you" questions we were asking and answering to watch much), and seeing Johnny B the comedian at his club.

How long have you been together? married 8 years this coming August and we dated for real (not counting the two or three months or about 5 dates in 1999) from February until June when we got engaged.

Who eats more? sweet stuff--me, everything else--Shea

Who said I love you first? I don't remember, but I do remember having a conversation in his truck where I said that I wasn't "as in control of my emotions as I would like to be." Yeah, I'm pretty lame. Come to find out, he was thinking of breaking up with me that night because #1 he was afraid of commitment and #2 my parents were being a little psycho about letting their only daughter/oldest child go.

Who is taller? Shea

Who is hotter? Shea for sure.

Who sings better? that's a relative question. I love to hear Shea sing, and we both sing a lot. I have to be careful not to sing too loudly in the car though, since that is one reason he broke up with a previous girlfriend. That, and her make up was stinky. His words, not mine.

Who does the laundry? Me. With my new appliances, I actually enjoy it! I don't enjoy folding and putting away, but I do it anyway. Shea uses the "I don't want to ruin anything" excuse, but I've ruined enough by myself for that to actually work.

Who pays the bills? we both have, and we would both have the other one do it. Ignorance is bliss, you know? He has bills that he pays, and I have a few that I pay from our personal account. With your own business, there is so much that can be written off.

Who mows the lawn? Shea. He LOVES yardwork. I never had to mow the lawn growing up, but he has let me do it once or twice. I think he redid it after I finished though.

Who cooks dinner? Mostly me, but Shea does lunch and breakfast a lot. He also likes to tweak whatever our main dish is. He adds garlic, pepper, or hot sauce and thinks I don't know.

Who drives when you are together? I try to make him drive; he tries to make me. He has a better record though, so usually he drives.

Who is more stubborn? We can both be very stubborn at times. He would say me, but I wouldn't admit it.

Whose parents do you see the most? Since we live 5 minutes from each set, we try to be very fair. Personally, I think it is pretty even!

Who kissed who first? Shea came 90; I came 10, but I was definitely asking for it! It was part of a bet with my dad. I got a new dress out of the deal, but Shea didn't know that at the time. He does now though, and it's a family joke.

Who proposed? Shea--what a great day!

Who is more sensitive? me for sure.

Who has more friends? me, but now they're all our friends. Shea gets along really well with my friends' husbands, and most of his friends are not married or live across the country.

Who has more siblings?Shea is 5 of 8. I am 1 of 6--the oldest and only girl!

Who wears the pants in the family? Shea...we really want the same things, so I always get what I want!

Jerianne, have you done this yet? If not, you're it.

Jenna and Debbie, you too!

Happy Birthday, Eli!

Darling Baby E is 1 today. What a handsome kid. I can't wait to see this slender boy since he and his fun mom are here visiting for a while. Yea for me!

Lucy is still miserable. Her sores are getting much better, but the poor girl hasn't eaten since Thursday. She has had maybe 10 oz. of milk a day and a little water, but that's it. I hate feeling so helpless. She and I have been stuck to each other for the last four days. It's a good thing the boys were in St. George since I haven't been able to do anything but try and comfort Lucy. They had a great time and are still telling me everything they did. All I can say is, Adam, you and I need to talk. You're in trouble.

Now I have to figure out how I'm going to go to the school and do the take home reading book exchange. Hmm. It may take longer than usual with a baby on my lap.

Sick babies and canceled plans

I've said it a million times (and especially with twins)...it is the hardest thing in the world to have a sick baby.
Lucy started being really grumpy yesterday. She is usually the happiest kid and so easy-going. Of course I didn't suspect anything until I found sores in her mouth. Last evening I finally called two doctors' offices and both nurses suggested alternating Tylenol and Motrin every three hours. The poor baby had hand, foot and mouth disease last June and I feared another round of that. We had a miserable night with her crying every time she swallowed, and with both of us waking up with a wet pillow. I checked the sores when we got up and they were huge! It's no wonder she couldn't sleep. They cover her tongue and the sides of her mouth.
We had planned to go to St. George with my family for the Conference weekend. I had been looking forward to swimming, eating out, 75 degree weather, and a change of pace. With Lucy as sad as she has been today, Shea and I decided to send the boys with my mom and Olivia thinking that we would come down a little later.
I took Lucy in to the doctor hoping for some bacteria and an antibiotic. I was also secretly hoping the doctor would tell me she wasn't contagious (yeah right.) Unfortunately, Lucy has the herpes virus which 98% of people carry. It's nasty the first time it attacks the body. Most other times it just shows up as a cold sore. The worst thing is that all I can do for my sweet daughter is give her pain medicine. Iwish I could just trade her places. I would gladly suffer through the not eating and feeling horrible so I could have my sweet, pleasant baby back.
Having a sick baby is hard...and having to cancel fun plans is life!

For a great time

play Simon Says, Mother May I, or Mr. Fox, What Time Is It? with your kids.
We were all laughing, and it didn't get boring as quickly as a lot of other games I play with the boys. Lucy was into it too--my favorite was to say, "Simon says...shake your booty!" and watch as all the kids and Shea danced around.
I love my little family!