Celebrating As A Girl Should

Jan 2012 arrived and Miss Sassy Pants decided that it was going to be a Birthday WEEK! Right on sweetie, as it should be! And so this is how we celebrated...

Monday Layne spent the day shopping at Coral Ridge with mom and Grandma. We did a little Victoria's Secret and a little Build-A-Bear. Made everyone happy, really. Okay, so she doesn't look super thrilled here, but that is just because she was mad at me for capturing the excess of lipstick that she had on, in addition to mom's face powder!

Tuesday after coming home from school, Alayna found that a birthday present was delivered early. A new bed and dresser set AND Hello Kitty sheets! What could be better!? She was a happy camper to finally transition from the crib to a twin bed. (Okay, so I know she is 4 now, and was still in a crib size bed... whatever.)

And I thought she'd look so big in this bed... oh no! Not when she brings her whole toy box to bed with her!

Wednesday was a tougher day for celebration, because we spent about 2 hours at an optometrist getting her eyes checked, dialated, and examined. Sure enough, she has astigmatism at 2 diopters, which is a moderate level, but requires corrective lenses.

Thankfully, she got to spend the rest of the day with her Nana and Hello Kitty sunglasses. I hear she was pretty bossy and deliberately gave directions as she saw fit for the day! Thanks Nana for putting up with the princess! :)

Thursday was finally the big 4th birthday! We had walking tacos and ice cream sundaes at the house and she enjoyed lots of fun time with her family she loves the most!

Friday was a very special day. After getting picked up early from school, Aly and mommy ordered the Hello Kitty cupcakes that have been talked about all too highly for the past month. Next stop was the Optical Shop to pick out her first pair of specs!

Biases aside, can she really get any cuter?

Saturday was low key, but we had fun finishing off her bedroom, putting all the fun new clothes away, cleaning out the toy room, storing old baby toys, and making room for the new. Oh, and of course she had to go shopping with Grandma for a new coat and baby (as though Christmas and birthday hadn't brought enough! And did I mention that we were just cleaning out the toy room? Oh, pardon me, it's her birthday week!) Plus, she insisted that we bake cookies and paint our nails... with sparkles of course!

Sunday brought the actual birthday party for friends at the Play Station. 10 little ones joined Aly for a big celebration of her first four years! Cupcakes, tunnels, presents and slides -- everyone had loads of fun.

Although, she wouldn't thank anyone for the gifts or for coming, she really did appreciate all her friends being there. We're still working on the snotty, entitled, sassy attitude that hits at the most inopportune times. But, as you can see she did have an awesome time and crashed hard once we got in the car.

In all, she knows how to raise our blood pressure, but she also does pretty well at melting our hearts. We couldn't be more happier to have this little princess in our lives. Thank you Alayna for all that you are to us, the patience that you create and expire, and the love that you bring to our family!

The Toast

As usual, we headed to our friends' for New Years. This year though, it wasn't about potlucks, pizza for kids, a little confetti and grab a horn. Oh no. This year the sitter was hired (to stay the night), the boys did the grocery shopping (and cooking), and we were treated like kings and queens in the Fortune's beautifully remodeled home. Just a quick glance at this feast, and you'll know that we had a good time.

We exchanged gifts and even had a few mean games of Left, Right, Center. We kicked off a dance party that lasted through the night. It was good to see that at we all still have our moves, even after climbing past 30!

There was plenty of bubbly to share, which brought toasts to good friends, times to remember, nights to forget, and years to come. And it wouldn't quite be New Years without the confetti!

Here's to wishing all of you a fortunate, healthy, and meaningful 2012. With all our love,

Sweet Miracle

Being a mom is truly the best job in the world. With kids you get hugs and kisses when you're having a rough day, you see their smile and hear their silly questions, you watch their intuition drive their activities and interests, you are continually teaching them life's worth and instilling your own values. Then, there comes a moment when you sit back and watch the choices that they make, coach as often as you can, let them explore, provide guidance, witness their learning and always protect them. Having children has taught me all about sharing and giving, negotiating and probing, leading and following, loving and teaching. Most importantly, it has taught me never to take a moment for granted.

Being an aunt is even more. It's all these things and friendship; it's about role-modeling and mentoring. Kids search beyond their parents for that idol because they realize that their parents are interested in safety, not popularity. But aunts and uncles provide an acceptance, a sounding board, and a realistic opportunity to ask real-life questions and accept real-life answers. I know because of the impact that my aunts had on my life.

In just four short months, I'll be an aunt and it'll be my chance to give back all the insight and friendship that I was given. And as my baby sis and her hubby await this sweet miracle, it's their opportunity to feel all the emotion that parenting brings. It's a true love that you can never fully explain.

Little One, you will be the sunshine of their lives. You will change lives, and you will be forever loved... not only by them, but by us too. We can't wait to hold you in April.

A special birthday

Grandma, you really are the best we could ever ask for! Happy happy birthday to you!
As Caden put it, Grandma and Urlacher are both 54!!!

'Tis the Season

I'm typically the one who kicks off the season in August, requesting and developing wish lists. Things were different this year. Between getting two kids in school, starting a new job and moving the family, we didn't get started until after Thanksgiving. Not all bad though. We surely lived up the moment of thankfulness in 2011. But come 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening, I grabbed my shopping plan, called my girlfriend, and we headed out for 12 hours of Christmas shopping. And, so, Black Friday became the kick off to the season. We slurped a Starbucks, our eyes went cross-eyed, our feet were in pain, but we stuffed the van full of gifts for all!

The next day, our family headed out for the traditional choosing and cutting of the Christmas tree.

This experience dates me back to my childhood, year after year. I remember trudging through the tree farm in snowpants bundled so tightly that I could barely walk, helping mom and dad pick out the BEST tree around, and then feeling like I was really helping to cut down the tree. Now my kids are doing the same thing...

After lugging it back to the car, tying it on top, and driving home wishing I could see it from inside the car, we were always anxious to get it in the house to see if it really would fit. Funny how the same thoughts and excitement run through my little ones as well.

After the dreading task of getting the dumb tree to stand straight in the [insert every cuss word you can think of] stand, we begin the decoration process! As children, the hubby and I each ironically received a Hallmark ornament relating to our interests each year. Today, we have our 31 years of memories, plus the beginning of Cade and Layna's collections as well. It makes for a good story each season, and even a few jokes about Jarin's pink car and cardinal bird ornaments!


This year, during our day of decorating, Odie showed up. He brought with him a book explaining his existance and the mission that Santa charged him with -- to watch over the kiddos each day. The little imaginations ran wild with questions when they found out that Odie has magical powers to fly to the North Pole each night to share his observations.

Then it was on to the outside of the home for a little skill on the ladder! Very proud of my husband for reaching all the peaks. He's such a dare devil! He even wooed the little man by letting him pick out a lit reindeer for the front yard. And for all of you who know my style... you probably also know my thoughts on that!

My task was to design and order the Christmas cards. Okay, so the reality is that the photo was the work of Images by Miss Kate, and the card design was completed with the ease of Shutterly. So maybe I can't take full credit, and neither can I promise that they'll reach all of you in time for the holiday. However, here's a sneak peek just in case!

Surprise of a Lifetime

It's the time of year when we all thank our stars above and count our blessings for the incredible moments and people that surround us every day. And after this past weekend, I am beyond grateful.

Now, let me back it up just a little for you. Shortly after moving back to Cedar Rapids, I caught up with some of my best girlfriends...

It started just as dinner, and ended a little crazy, but the best part of the night was a booked trip for Trisha and I to New York. Yep! Little did the hubby's know, they were set for a weekend with the kids. Alone. Of course, there was a little planning on our end... when should we go, how long should we stay, what was too much to pay for airfare, can I get the time off work... oh, and should we tell Kendra we're coming?

The emails started flying, and her hubs was on board with the plan. We were booked for a weekend getaway in upstate New York, the spa reservations were in place, and Kendra knew nothing of it. C'mon, what could be more fun than your two college roommates showing up on your doorstep after not seeing each other for 4 years? Right, and so we waited for two months, patiently stirring plans, thinking it through and doing everything in our power to not have conversation with Mrs. Rossetti.

Finally, Friday morning came and I picked Trish up at 5 a.m. to board the plane. Still unsure what we'd do once we arrived in New York, we took advantage of the fact that it was just Trish and I. A day without two husbands and five kids. Done. We were ready to rent a car and live it up!

We waited in line at Budget Car Rental, and they set us up with a Ford Fiesta. Rolling high was not our biggest priority, so out we strolled to the parking lot, popped the trunk to gage the space for our shopping bags, and BAM! the ungodly stinch of rotten-old-lady-perfume rolled out of the car. It was terrible enough that Trish stompped right back inside to let them know a new car was a must.

We swapped it out for a new car that stunk just as bad, got lost on the expressway because we were too busy in coversation instead of focusing on the Navigation Winch, bought enough pairs of shoes that we considered paying to check an extra bag on the way home, searched for Fungus Fix for my toenail that popped off, enforced the zapping of coupons off our phones in every store, drank way too many Starbucks, got giddy and anxious, thought about picking up drinks and snacks on our way (but we were too late), still made time for a make-up touch-up, snapped a picture quick and went knocking on Kendra's front door at 5:15 p.m.

Roughly twelve hours after leaving our house that morning and there we were, ready to yell SURPRISE when she opened the door! We scurried our bodies as close to the front of the house as we could, so that we wouldn't be in sight from the picture window. And after the third door bell ring and fourth knock, no one was coming to let us in... We laughed a lot while standing out on her porch, before finally texting Lou to open up.
He came to our rescue and led us to the basement where Kendra was playing with her precious 2-year-old little man, Owen, whom we had yet to meet.  As we tip-toed down the basement stairs, she had her back to us, and no one said a word. Then, Trish tapped her shoulder, and we watched her reaction as she turned around....

It was pretty crazy to say the least! Poor girl didn't know what to say. She was stunned, and rightfully so. After 4 years of calling, texting, and facebooking, we were in her home 850 miles away, unannounced. And from there, the weekend continued full of laughs, memories, and moments that I will treasure for eternity.
Owen made friends with us quickly; he fed me grapes and helped us decide what to drink right away! And we even had the opportunity to attend his last soccer drill practice of the season.

We spent Saturday afternoon at Spa Del Monte taking in deep tissue massages, hot apple cider, fresh fruit, pop culture updates from US and People (which may not mean much to those of you without kids hanging on your side all evening long!), and amazing showers with five jet streams of hot water blasting all around my body (okay, so the shower was my favorite part!).

We shopped some more, because seriously, the selection of stores is much beyond the Cedar Rapids offerings. And then we dressed up and headed out for some amazing metropolitan cuisine at Next Door Bar and Grill, tasteful dessert at Good Luck, and a few glasses of wine out.

Of course, our three days together passed by way too fast, but there is nothing that I'd change if I had the opportunity. It has made me realize that there is never a length of time too long to not rekindle. While I often find myself promising to never take for granted my husband, kids, and family, all too often I forget about those I don't get to see and talk to every day. This trip was proof of so much. The chance to be together, the way we picked up where we left off years ago, the comfort that we still have in being together, the lives that we want to share but feel we can't because of distance, and the realization that these two girls bring some of the deepest laughs to my soul.

And to think that it was all a surprise! In Trisha's words, "We are pretty cool."

Crappy quality, but I love the photo.

Ah, nuts!

It's been 2 1/2 years since we learned the hard way that Miss Alayna's little bod couldn't handle peanut butter. I remember sitting at my parents, on Memorial Day 2009, and watching her lips swell until they were touching her nose, eyes nearly close, and body slowly become covered with hives. We reacted quickly that day with Benadryl and prayed that nothing would swell on the inside of her precious mouth. The months following consisted of needle pricks and blood tests until we got the confirmation that she had an allergy to peanuts. It was hard to determine if she'd live with it for the rest of her many years, or how severe it really was. And after lots of reading and research, the suggestion was that we steer clear of any product of the nut family.

She has since had outbreaks of hives from amoxicyllin and other random items. And we've dealt with it until a couple weeks ago. I picked her up from school on Friday and once again she was covered in welts from her neck to her toes. Benadryl finally kicked in after an hour, and even then it took two doses to clear her up. The school and I investigated every piece of what she ate that day, and couldn't make the connection.

We decided then to have her fully examined by a local allergist. On Tuesday, we spent two hours determining what the best step was for her, and decided to perform a skin test. Look at this peanut just minding her own business while we talked about the situation.

Before pricking her with 44 different allergins to identify her sensitivity, the doctor warned us that many kiddos get pretty worked up during the process. So, I held her tight in my arms, and the test was quick. And what did she do? She GIGGLED!!! She thought the pricking on her back was someone tickling her! The nurse was shocked, and with just a few stickers and a blue sucker, she waited 20 minutes for the reactions to take place.

Happily for Jar and I, we learned that she is only allergic to peanuts. Whew! A relief really.
The Doc also fed us Peanut Allergy 101, which was eye-opening.

• Grocery items produced near peanuts are not clear for her.
• Just because a food is safe one day, doesn't mean that it's okay the next time you shop. Often brands will change the factory where food is produced to (or from) a peanut-free factory.
• Therefore, every label needs to be evaluated, every time you shop.
• Only 15% of children will grow out of a peanut allergy compared to 85% who grow out of other food allergies.
• Your immune system completely shifts every 7 years, so she should have a full skin test at least that often to be knowledgable of new allergy sensitivites.
• We should have an action plan at the school in case she comes in contact with peanuts.

So, we have our work cut out for us to keep her healthy. Like I've said before though, there are a million other diseases, sicknesses, problems, and scares that we could be dealing with. We are blessed that it's just peanuts.

Makin' Mama Happy

The other day, Jarin and his buddy Jon were arguing about at what age the kids would have cell phones. Jon guaranteed by 3rd grade it'd happen. No way! For Pete's sake, it was just this week that I finally, for the first time, have wireless internet in the house. And Cade will have a cell phone in three years? I'll be the first to admit that my kids whiz right through my phone screens and have games loaded before I would be able to. We are a techno-saavy world with loads of opportunities to connect through machines. And so maybe that is a perfect justification as to why I've been feeling disconnected since the move... until now that is.

So, I spent tonight catching up on Miss Kati Davis' blog, which she composes with the simplest of stories, highest of skill, deepest of truth, and best of laughs. Really, just click on the link to check it out. She puts this little family blog to shame, but hey, it's been rolling now for almost four years, so I might as well keep plugging away.{Plus, Kati did admit one day that she was inspired to start her own from reading this thing (and millions of others blogs, I'm sure.)} Anyway, the story goes that four years of writing includes the transition between three cities, three homes, completion of a master's degree, a few birthday celebrations, the birth of a child, and two jobs ... all that I've chosen to share. And in the end, the best stories have been those with pictures, videos, and memories. So, now that we're connected again, let's keep it rolling!

-------------------------------------

October 1 we moved into a new, beautiful home. This is more than Jarin and I could have ever dreamed of. I really feel that the move was perfectly flawless, the house is spectacular, the kids have fit right into the neighborhood, and mom is loving it all. I remember growing up, my dad would say, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." It's kinda telling. And I'm happy.

We're taking our time with hanging pictures and decorating, but furniture was first on the list. Me and the hubby took a day-long road trip to Nebraska Furniture Mart (which is about the only thing that NE is good for) and came home thousands in debt and nothing to show for it. Thankfully, the fillings for the home were delivered last Tuesday, and all fits well and looks appropriate. I'm proud to say that it only took 6 days for the kids to give the dining set a true Hansen welcome. The gorgeous table top is now gauged and scratched in numerous places. Good for them, table runners are in.

Then we were on to window treatments. Unfortunately, it's hard to pick out ugly blinds to cover beautiful natural light. But, thanks to the great people at MAKA Blind, I think we chose something that will be appealing. Only 3 more weeks until they arrive, and until then we're living with the acordian-syle, paper, temporary ones.

Stay tuned for more pictures. And as for tonight, it's a pretty good feeling to sit in bed, watch the news, eat jalepeno popper dip, and be connected. Ah, the luxury of our own home!