Flip flops and tank tops

I have been assaulted by summer clothes!!!

I have been putting off getting the summer clothes from the attic for weeks now. All of my kids, especially my 6 year old, have been badgering me daily to "pleeeeeeaaaaassssseeeee get the summer clothes down!!!" So, today was the day.

5 kids, 8-10 bins and bags of clothes...sorting through the ones that fit, the ones that don't have holes or stains...then sorting through drawers and closets for clothes that don't fit to put away...

I lose a year of my life every time the seasons change!

It was a hot dog's-for-dinner kind of a night. I tell you what, I am exhausted. At least we are good for another 6 months.

I don't know how the vacuum ended up in this picture...I sooo did not vacuum today...

mr grumpy pants

Dalin woke up from his nap grumpy today. He actually does this every day. I am really bothered by this. It takes 10-20 minutes for him to "happy-up". Today was no different.

I was sitting on the couch with him today after his nap and it hit me...I am the exact same way. I hate waking up. If I was a 1 year old I would cry too. I feel like crying every time the morning comes, but I am a big girl, and can't throw the fit that I feel inside.

So, Dalin, I am okay with you waking up grumpy. I know how you feel...

New Family Pictures

Another year has somehow passed! How did that happen? As I reflect on 2011 I have mixed emotions. This year has been hard! But, it has also been wonderful! We have had a lot of illness, sleepless nights and trying to figure out what the heck we are doing in life. But, we have grown so much and have had so many good times too.

The kids are loving school. And I do mean LOVING. The Montessori Charter school that they go to is amazing. It blows the education they were receiving at public school out of the water. All three of the older kids are learning and growing so much. Malia and Dalin keep themselves entertained so well as the only ones home most days.

I am very enthusiastic and hopeful for 2012. I am so grateful for the hard times that we had this year because they helped us, as a family grow and learn so much. We are better at somethings and also have a clearer picture of what we need to improve upon.

Here are some of our recent family pictures =) Warning: There's a lot, and they are in no particular order!

Halloween

"Trick or Treating goes against everything we are taught as children: don't talk to strangers, don't take candy from strangers, don't knock on strangers doors..." -Dillon Kinser =)

But it is sooooooo fun!!!! We had a good Halloween. My kids had great costumes this year! We had fun with my parents and my sister, Tara and her family. The weather was warmer than I ever remember it being! Good times! Sugar highs, here we come!!!

Kylee, my zombie

That is Tyler under the werewolf mask. Dalin screamed his head off every time he saw Tyler.

Baily, the cutest cowgirl on the block!

Malia was "dorky" from the Wizard of Oz! There's no place like home!

No pictures of my baby D "panda bear'-he was sick and stayed home with grandma =(

Here's the gang!

Our lives can be measured by Halloweens! Another year down!

Clay in the Masters Hand

Have you ever felt like a piece of clay in someones hand? When clay is first picked up it is cold and hard. Then, as pressure and heat are applied from palming and squeezing the clay it begins to soften, it begins to be pliable.

I have felt like that lump of clay these last couple of weeks. I have had some physical heat and pressure applied, and I won't lie, it didn't feel good. But in the process of all that pressure I have been soften, humbled and I have come to a place where I feel teachable and ready to get back on track and do the things that are required of me.

For the span of a week and a half I had been experiencing severe pain and flu-like symptoms from mastitis, a breast infection. From Day 1-6 I was put on 2 different antibiotics by an OBGYN. I waited the appropriate 3 days for each round, but because they were not treating me for the right bacteria the infection was raging and going untreated. I was getting worse by the minute. Fevers, body aches, anxiety attacks, sharp shooting pain...

We decided to go to the ER on day 6. I was put on yet another antibiotic and pain meds, this time through an IV, and was told to come back the next day for more. But, I was still not being treated with the right Medicine. Day 7, another dose of the wrong antibiotic.

Day 8, this was the worst day. I was praying for a miracle! I was sitting on the hospital bed in agony, when in walks my angel, Dr. Torres (aka: a doctor who knew what he was doing...finally) He took one look at me and knew that I was not doing well. He ordered a blood culture (why this wasn't done in the beginning is beyond me) to see what bacteria was causing the mess. I was finally given the right antibiotic and he tripled the dose! The next day I had improved by 50%.

I was sitting on the bed on the 9th and final day at the hospital. I was waiting for Dr. Torres to examine me again and give me my final dose of IV meds. I was staring at the yellow, blue and green stripped curtain that separated my bed from the door. A tear slipped down my check, but it wasn't a tear from the pain, like it had been so many times before, it was a tear of gratitude. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for my body and that it was healing. I promised then to never take my health for granted. I would wake up each day and fill my lungs with air and use all of my energy to the best of my ability.

I know that that week and half was a small bump in my road. I know that there are plenty of other people who endure far greater challenges, but that experience was enough for me, at least for now, to get me refocused and rededicated to being and doing my best.

I am so grateful that I am safely cupped in the warm, strong hand of my Heavenly Father, who knows my every thought and my every desire. I am so grateful that He knows me well enough to know that a little suffering will be best for me in the long run. I am grateful for the gift of an eternal perspective, because that doesn't always come naturally to me.

I am grateful he has given me the absolute best husband who cares for me above and beyond my expectations. I am grateful for my children who are patient and kind to me. They all knew Mommy had an infection and were attentive to my needs. Baily said to me before one of the last trips to the hospital, "Mom, I want you to get better so we can play again, cause you are the funnest Mom in the world!"

I am hoping that if you are still reading this you will find something to be grateful for. Don't let another moment pass you by without gratitude in your heart.

Check out my other blog, remembering JOY to read more about finding JOY in your journey.

Lets Play Catch-UP!!

It has been so long since I have blogged!!! I can't believe how quickly time goes!

Here are some quick updates of everyone in the Hansen home...

Kylee just started 5th grade!! What??? She is 10 years old going on 20!! Kylee doesn't LOVE school, but she has made some good friends and is liking it okay. She is insanely smart and learning so much. She is my life-savor! She helps out so much around the house. She is so good with her siblings. She makes me laugh daily and I love being with her and talking to her.

Tyler started 3rd grade. This is the best grade in my opinion. They learn so much and so many new things at this level. He enjoys school and is kinda the class clown. He has his daddy's brain and is reading and spelling way beyond his grade level. He loves to play soccer and had his first game on Saturday. He is so full of questions and has the most vivid, lively imagination of anyone I have ever met. He is so obedient and patient with his sisters and baby brother.

Baily is in 1st grade. She made the transition from half day Kinder to full day school very well. Her and Tyler are in the same class and are doing well together. The Charter school that my kids go to is a Montessori School, and they have uni-level classes 1-3 and 4-6. I LOVE Tyler's teacher and knew that Baily would also thrive in her class. Baily is my sunshine. She is constantly coming up with new ideas. She brings so much hope and happiness to our family.

Malia is 3. She will be starting a neighborhood preschool in 2 weeks and she is very excited. Malia is quiet and well mannered, but also very imaginative and silly. We are having a fun time having her and Dalin at home all day. She mostly keeps herself busy watching Dora, coloring or playing dress-up.

Dalin just turned 1!! I really can't believe this! Wasn't he just born?! Dalin is the glue to our family. He is our shiny red caboose! He is so adored by us all. There isn't a laugh, smile or giggle that goes unnoticed by his parents or siblings. He almost fell off the bed the other day and I grabbed his leg just as he was plummeting off. The other kids heard me shout and all ran in to see what was wrong. We were all gathered around him and his scared whimper immediately turned into a glowing smile. He was so impressed with all of us watching him. He felt like a rock star!! He is on the move and is crawling everywhere and exploring everything.
James was just called to be the Elders Quorum President in church and was excited (that may not be the right word??) about that! He is still plugging along at the IRS. It is not his dream job, but works hard without a single complaint to provide for all of us. There could not be a better husband, father or man in all the world!

I am doing good too. The best I have ever been! I am loving being a mom! I find so much JOY in this role. I am also working hard on building my doTerra Essential Oils business. It is a newly found passion of mine. These oils are amazing and are blessing our lives daily. I am teaching classes and sharing them with people AND making some money as I do it. I LOVE it!!! If you want to learn more about doTerra's Essential Oils click here, or send me a note. I would love to teach you more and help you find ways to take care of yourself and your families health needs with these natural, 100% pure oils.

What a MONTH

Wow! We have had a busy month! Dalin had RSV last week, and due to lots of prayers, a priesthood blessing, essential (kick butt) oils, and lots of TLC, he is doing great. He still isn't sleeping well, but I think it is mostly due to getting out of his routine. He thinks he needs to nurse ALL night long. And that just isn't working for me anymore...

Here's a sad, but still adorable picture of him getting a breathing treatment at the doctor.

The highlight of my months was getting to meet one of my hero's, Carol Tuttle . She is an author of some amazing books, that I have been eating up. She is an amazing, inspired woman and I am loving what I am learning from her. I just adore her, and I had the privilege to go down to her see her, at her Center for Living Your Truth in Draper, Utah and meet her. I was completely star struck and didn't have the courage to say all I wanted to her. Darn it! But luckily I will be attending more of the seminars she holds every month, so I will work up the nerve eventually to tell her that she is changing my life. She really is. Check out her books, and see the journey that I have been on.

Here are a couple shameless plugs to my Etsy store (where I am selling some COOL stuff that I have knitted and crocheted) and my new blog, Remembering JOY. I have put a lot of heart and time into my new blog. I am not an expert, and don't claim to know all there is about life, but I share with you some small ways we can start changing our lives and letting more JOY in!