It's year 26

Last Friday was Daniel's 26th Birthday. I was thrilled it was on a Friday because he doesn't have work that day.... meaning all dayer with the hubby.  I had a great idea of giving him little presents that would represent the actual gift so for instance I got a golf ball, toy fish, and the batman toy BUT on thursday night dan said we have a date on the golf course tomorrow morning so he ruined the surprise I was wanting to give him and basically it was a lost cause after that. So if you need a cute fun way to give your gifts to someone find little objects that correlate with the actual gift and wrap them up with a cute poem attached.

At 7 am we (the trio) headed to the golf course. I pushed Calvin in his stroller while daddy played golf. I did get to hit a couple of times and I got a hole in one my first try... Bah i wish. 

Later I gave him the rest of his gifts.. New jeans (since all his got holes or ruined) and new Garments. wooohoo I've never seen someone so excited about Garments. I was going to take him Fishing or go swimming at the Lake with a lovely picnic but we decided we should wait on a day we could spend more time there and so Calvin could sleep some. So if you're around and want to come a long hit us up. Later for Dinner we ate at Sweet Home Chicago Pizzaeria. It was real Chicago style stuffed pizza = Delicious! 

It was huge too. We ordered a small and could only eat 1 slice and pretty inexpensive. 

We put Calvin to bed at Grandma and Grandpa's while we went to see the New Batman Movie. 

We both loved it and we finally could use our megaplex gift cards we've had since forever. 

Calvin has been having constipation problems so his Grandma gave him black licorice to help give him the runs... this is was the result.

I love this little boy so much. I love when he stares at me and then we both start giggling.. I love it when I say my prayers with him in the morning and I say it in his ear and he starts giggling because it tickles.  When I nurse him I try to read.. try yes try he somehow always knows I have a book and will reach his hand back to grab it. I tend to only get in a few sentences maybe a paragraph if I'm lucky. ha I love his facial expressions, his cute cheeks, and his fun personality that keeps me on my toes. I'm a lucky momma. 

A fun outing on the 24th with the Hansen Family.. We went hiking to our usual spot and had our picnic by the river. I love the mountains I sure will miss them while we are away in Texas. 

I collect heart rocks on every hike I go on. I have quite the collection now from all over. I don't think it is coincidence that there are heart rocks. I think God placed them here on the Earth to give me much joy and satisfaction and to remind me how much he Loves me.  To always love my neighbor. Think about this

"Love is the most powerful force in the world."  -- Elder Dallin H. Oaks 

May we all strive to love one another a little more, because as we do I know that love will spread far beyond any thing we can imagine. To all you who are reading this... I love You.  

I read two great talks about love this week one by Elder Bednar you can find here and the other Pres. Uchtdorf found here. 

Summer Bliss

I can't tell you how much I love the summer time.  I love the heat and love being outside.  I can't wait till Calvin gets older so we can play outside together.. To think i can be a kid again and play.. ha ha. 

This past week was fun as part of the fam went down to City Creek to check it out.

It really is a pretty mall with the creek and natureistic (made up word) atmosphere. 

Got to love Disney.. 

The next adventure of the week was going Camping in the Uintahs with Daniel's Family.

The rain rain rain came down down down but we still had lots of fun... (name that song)

We still got to go fishing and play by the river, play games (rook, horse shoes, uno) Another favorite thing of mine to do is camp, I love being up in the mountains, it's so peaceful and calm up there.  I can't help but reflect on how blessed we are to have so many beautiful surroundings. We didn't get to have a fire which was a disappointment but we did enjoy a gas fire... Its still not the same as a regular fire but at least we had something we could all sit around and stare at. And of course we didn't smell like smoke. Calvin slept better up there then he does here at home.. hmm. He loved the river and loved all the attention he got from his cousins, aunts and uncles and of course grandma and grandpa. We had a few cousins ask if they could take him home with them and bring them back in 3 years. I told them I wold miss him way too much and I would cry everyday. So instead they asked well how about we babysit him for a day.  

Before the trip I wanted to get Calvin some shoes that would cover his feet so bugs wouldn't get his toes.. Daniel and I wanted to find cowboy boots so badly for him and so we checked out the D.I. we found some cute sneakers for $3. Then my sisterinlaw Asher told me about Kid to Kid and well we made a trip over there and I was thrilled!! there were cowboy boots and in his exact Size. I was so happy and they were only $4. Now he's ready to go camping and he'll fit right in at Texas. 

My cute little cowboy

 Calvin catching his first fish with Dad

My sister-in-law makes adorable bows for her cute 3 girls and Daniel was teasing her and asking why you making bow ties.. and we both looked at each other with pure excitement in our eyes as we both were thinking the exact same thing. A bow Tie for CALVIN!! 

Now my goal is to learn to make these and even make some ties for him. 

Happy 4th of July

Fourth of July is one of my favorite Holidays. It's on the top 3 for sure. I love celebrating our Nation and reflecting on our freedoms and the Great Country that we live in. How truly blessed we are to live in such a place.  I've been reading the book 10 virtues by Gordon B. Hinkley and in it he talks about how we should contribute more to society to bring about good and to support our local leaders, to help make a difference. I know I tend to think, 'oh what can i do!' But there really is so much we can do. And of course the BBQs, family bonding time, and wearing Red, white and Blue. 

For the fourth we did the annual Hansen tradition and went to Pepperwood. 

It was fun to play and watch everyone in the different tournaments they had:

Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball

and of course we swam till our little hearts content well until it was time for Calvin's nap time.

Calvin loves to swim, when he gets into the water he curls his lips and goes ooh ooh.. it's pretty adorable if I say so myself. 

We had a very tasty BBQ and game of bocce ball. 

The rest of the night we relaxed and watched fireworks right on the back and front porch. We had a great view of all the fireworks around the neighborhood. 

Oh and I was a mom to 5 kids this past week. These are my darling little nieces who I got to watch for a week while there mom went on a honeymoon with her new Husband. They are such fun girls. Maryn  (the dark haired) is 14 almost 15 and we are closer in age then I am with her mom. 

Funny story: 

I took the girls swimming at McCall and JDs place and there was an older man in the pool with his kids and he was talking to Chloe (in the glasses) if she was Sophie's (pink shorts) mom. She looks at him disgusted and says are you kidding me I'm her sister and I'm only 12 he replies "oh i'm not very good at guessing age! Pretty pathetic. Then he asks Lexi if she was Calvin's mom.. 

 Father like son.. they even had matching shorts.

 calvin doesn't look too happy in this picture but he really was enjoying it he just saw me and wanted to get to me. haha 

 Calvin is catching up... pretty soon he may over take Emree 

 Team 1 Kelsi, Mccall and Jason. Team 2 Me JD and Parker

TEAM 2 WON! 

Hope you all had a fun 4th of July. I sure am going to miss our Family Tradition.