Lowden the Marine Biologist

Me, A Marine Biologist

by Lowden Hansen

When I grow up, I want to have the exiting occupation of a marine biologist. I will be able to go around the world, studying marine animals. I will learn a lot about the ocean. I get to do things for the animals in it.

I will travel the world, studying animals from jellyfish to blue whales. I will search the seabed for new life. I'll see things few get to experience. I'll have lots of fun.

I will learn a lot about the ocean. I may learn things impossible to imagine. The ocean has many secrets, if we search for them.

I will do big things for all marine life. I might save a very rare species of fish.

I could stop whales from dying of poison. These are all the things I could do as a marine biologist.

We are all VERY supportive!

Souvenirs

I went to the coast this last weekend with some girlfriends. I brought the kids a few souvenirs (not beach-like souvenirs...just things I knew they would like).

Do you think Bennett likes his?

My two monkeys! He named it "Cutie Monkey". I'm sure Cutie Monkey will make fast friends with Cutie Bear and Cutie Dog.

Here is Lauren with the sleep mask I bought her. She's slept with it on every night since!

I'll try to post some pictures of the other boys with their goodies later.

Also, the boys are feeling better...and have went back to school. Greg's still on the mend.

Another Sick Day

Lowden and Parker were visited by the barfing blues last night. They are both home sick today. Greg seems to have picked it up too and didn't get much sleep last night. I hope they feel better soon!

Grandma Lynda Came to Visit!

We were all so happy to have Grandma Lynda with us for the weekend!

We've all missed her so much. She took us out to eat on Friday night at our favorite restaurant.

Thanks Grandma!!!

She played games with the kids, convinced Bennett to try out Lowden's old bike (with training wheels of course), and made us some yummy Grandma food!

We were all sad to see her go this morning...

Meet BOB

For Christmas, Parker was very excited about the tadpole habitat he got from Santa Claus. Especially since his fish, Betahead, slipped away into fishy heaven a few months ago. With the habitat, came a free tadpole (after shipping/handling) included. We ordered his tadpole on December 25th and we just received it on Friday, February 15th.

He was VERY excited that it finally came...

I was excited because it meant he would stop asking me, "When is my tadpole going to be here?"

Here he is swimming in his little test tube. Having come all the way from Alabama! Can you see the brown dot at the bottom of the tube? That's Parker's tadpole friend. He received a little certificate that said his tadpole was hatched on February 1, 2008.

In preparation to put his tadpole in his new home, we filled the habitat with water and treated it with declorinator. Then, we rested the tube in the water so the temperatures could acclimate. While waiting, he deliberated about what to name him. It came down to Parker Jr. or Bob. The final decision was Bob after deciding it would be too tragic is Parker Jr. kicked the can.

After a few hours, Parker was MORE than ready to introduce his little squirmy friend to his new home.

Meet Bob! (Brown speck at the bottom of the water well)

Disclaimer: I am aware from reading other people's blogs that this seems like a good idea at first. But, becomes a bit of a pain as the tadpole becomes a frog and begins to eat insects. So we'll see how it goes...

Funny Mr. B Quote and a Visitor

Bennett saw a man smoking a pipe yesterday. He asked me "What's that man got?" I told him it was a pipe. He said "And he blows bubbles out of it...he's a mystery man."

The other night Bennett kept saying over and over "I want... I want... I want..." Then, he stopped and thought about it and said "I don't know what I want!"

Bennett also had a visitor yesterday. His cousin, Christian, brought him a valentine and a lollipop. He was very happy to have it and mostly carried it around and showed it off. Although, it never made it in his mouth. Some possesions are too precious to eat!

Quick Quote

February 2008

Lowden: At the dinner table, he is rubbing his forehead with his fingers and says "I think I used too much expression today!"

Girls Afternoon Out

Lauren and I went for a "girls afternoon out" on Saturday to see the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. She loved it!!! She kept saying how she'd never seen a 3-D movie before. She kept taking her glasses off to check what the screen looked like without them and assuring me that it was best to keep the glasses on. We had a lot of fun together and it was nice to get out with...just the girls!

A Trip to OMSI

Parker's third grade class took a field trip to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science & Industry) in Portland yesterday. Greg was able to take the day off from work and go with him. They had a great time together visiting the dinosaur exhibits and the Omnimax theater! Parker enjoyed it so much that he couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had when he got back!

Unfortunately, Parker is home from school with a tummy ache today. Here is how he describes his trip, "My favorite part was the motion simulator ride because it was fun. You get in the ride and sit in it. There's a screen inside the simulator that shows what's on the screen like lava inside a volcano. It didn't feel weird at all because I knew it wasn't real. I also liked the Omnimax movie. I would like to go again when I feel better." We are going to be getting out the 7-up to see if that will help his stomach. Glad he didn't feel sick yesterday. Isn't that every child's fear to miss their field trip?

It's Sad Really.....

Here lies what is left of Carter the snowman. Much enjoyed by the hansen family. May his snowy whiteness rest in peace.

Bennett's Proposal

Last week, in church Bennett was staring at his friend, Emily. Emily proceeded to show him her pretty hair "ponies" and her dress. Then she said, "Are you going to marry me?" I looked at Bennett and asked him if he was going to marry Emily. And he said, very resoundly, "Yes!"