Summer Chp.6- End of the Summer Backpacking Trip

I am sure you are tired of reading about last summer. But for posterity sake, it must be done.

The weekend before school began Martin and Greg took their oldest kids on a hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Left to Right - The hikers, as relayed by Parker, are:

Lowden- AKA "The Squito Master" because he barely got bit at all by mosquitoes

Martin- AKA "Sweaty Yeti" because....why? I don't know why.

Parker- AKA "The Sneakster" because I'm good at card games.

Morgan- AKA "Captain Morgan" because she was usually in the front of everybody

Olivia- AKA "Sweet Veins" because ALL the mosquitoes were after her.

Greg- AKA "The Huckle Hunk" because he really really, really, liked huckleberries!

Here are some highlight pictures:

Um....no one told me my kids would have to cross a river?!!

Is that a bear cub in the tree? No. It's PARKER!!!

And look it's the bear cub's older sister!

I'm with Morgan. The shore looks warmer!

Might as well have a snack while your waiting!

Only YOU can prevent forest fires!

Don't Worry Honey....I've Got Everything Under Control

Our Little Reader!

I've been noticing for awhile now that Bennett has been recognizing words.

I didn't really think much of it until I started reading "The Happy Lion" to him the other day...

I am reading along and he starts interjected words....the right words, as I am reading to him.  So, I stop reading and instead point to the words to see how many he can recognize.

He shocked me with how many words he knew.

Here is the paragraph and I will BOLD the words he read:

"His home was not the hot and dangerous plains of Africa,
where hunters lie in wait with their guns.
It was a lovely French town with brown-tile roofs and gray shutters.
The happy lion had a house in the town zoo, all for himself,
with a large rock garden surrounded by a moat,
in the middle of the park with flower beds and a bandstand."

I clapped when he finished!  Then, I just had to kind of blink and take that in for a second because he's my fourth child and, to be honest, we haven't spent much time teaching him to read. 

When Greg came home, I had Bennett read the same paragraph for him and Greg said, "We should totally take credit for this!"  Which, again, references the fact that we have no idea how he learned this skill!   But, we sure love him!

What Are The Hansens Up To?

Lauren drew this picture a few months ago.   Little did we know that it would be prophetic of times to come.

We will now be seeing a lot of this at church.......now that Greg has been given a new calling.

Two weeks ago, Greg and I were celebrating our 14th Anniversary at one of our favorite local eateries. We were eating dinner when we got a call from the Stake President.  When he found that out we were eating dinner, he told Greg to call him back when we were finished.  That was really smart since I don't think Greg could have eaten another bite of food after what the Stake President had to tell him.  After dinner, we called him back and he asked to see us the next morning in his office. 

After wondering what that meant most of the night,we found ourselves in his office the next morning.  At which time, Greg was called to be the new bishop of the Santa Clara Fourth Ward. Greg was very humbled that the Lord felt he was ready to serve in this way.

Last Saturday, Greg sat the kids down and told them about his new calling and that he would be sustained the next day at church (Sunday, January 18th).  As soon as Greg told the kids this news, Lauren asked in a sweet voice, "Will we see you anymore daddy?" Greg assured her that she would. 

Parker quickly asked then, "Will you still play with us?" And again, Greg assured him that of course he would still play with him! We just all love him so much...we can't help asking questions like that!

I took this picture before we left for the church yesterday afternoon before his calling was made official. I will have to compare it to what he looks like when he is released.

After sacrament, Bennett marched into Primary and announced to his Primary teachers that his dad was the new prophet. (Which he is not.) But it's cute all the same.

When Greg got home last night, we played the Apples to Apples Jr game together.  While playing, Lowden turned to Greg and thoughtfully said "Now that you're the bishop, I hope I can still look at you in the same old way I have."

We are all very proud of our, as the kids fondly call him now, "Bishop Dad"!

Welcome to the Family...

to our newest nephew,

Sione Lowry Tyler Setefano Kaveinga Hansen. 

It's super fun having a Tongan in the family to give us such interesting names for our nieces and nephews! 

Congratulations Tyler and Mele!!! 

He's absolutely stunning.

Buddies

Bennett and Christian got to play together today.  Not only are they cousins, but they are also true buddies .

While driving in the car, I asked Bennett and Christian what we should have for lunch.  Then, Bennett said to Christian:
Bennett: "Can you calm down! I'm trying to talk to you."
Christian:  (Quietly looks at Bennett)
Bennett:  "Hey Buddy!  Do YOU like peanut butter sandwiches?"
Christian: "No."
Bennett:  "Have you tasted them?"
Christian: "No."
Bennett:  "I bet you'd like them if you tasted them!"
Christian: "No."

When it was time to get out of the car, Bennett unbuckled Christian and then said:
Bennett:  "Ok.  You are free to go now!"

After I took off Christian's jacket for him, Bennett turned to Christian and said:
Bennett:  "That's a nice shirt you got!"

But true bonding happens over lunch...
Christian:  "I burped 2 times!"
Bennett:  "I burped 3 times!"

At lunchtime, I asked Christian if he wanted a sandwich afterall...he was still solid as a rock on "no" sandwich.  So, I offered some toast and he agreed.  I added some cheese and a little juice and he seemed pleased.  After he left, Rachel texted me with Christian's analysis on his stay with us:
Christian:  "Der's toast at magwet's house!"

Christmas Eve

We had a nice evening together at Grandpa and Grandma Hansen's house for Christmas Eve this year along with Martin and Rachel's family.

The kids played Apples to Apples with Grandma which she also gave us for Christmas.  It's super fun!

Rachel had to give Parker a tackle hug since he didn't willing comply at first.  I don't think he minded.

Olivia, Lauren and Morgan enjoyed sitting by each other for Christmas Eve dinner.  Grandma made her yummy rolls, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, applesauce, and we had a Honey Baked Ham.  YUMM.

Morgan taught Lauren how to call my cell phone and leave messages.  Rachel taught me how to delete them.

Baby Delaney was an absolute joy to be around!

Bennett decided to try to put a red candy into his ear.  Thankfully, it didn't get stuck there.

Rachel and Martin were in charge of the kid's activities.  They all had fun rolling in frosting making gingerbread houses.

Christian ate as much candy as he put on his house.  He is a born leader ...we all followed in his footsteps!

This is Bennett's "cheese" smile!

And what were the dads doing in the other room....

Yeah.

Moving on...

Greg and I were in charge of the circus program.  We were going to have our annual talent show but remembered too late that Karen has the piano now in Idaho.  So, everyone was spared from seeing how Bennett can burp 10 times in a row.  (It really is a talent!) 

We were able to have our family nativity.  It was not as reverent as it probably felt when the Savior was born.  But it was a valiant effort.   

Bennett was the shepherd.

Martin was Samuel the Lamanite.

Lauren was Mary.  Delaney was Baby Jesus.  Christian was Christian Joseph or as Rachel quoted him, "I don't wanna be Phoseph. I Christian!"

Do you see the Heavenly Glow coming off grandpa's flat screen tv?  We TOT-ally planned that.

Morgan was the angel and held the star.  Lowden and Parker were wisemen.  And, Olivia was the wisewoman. 

Baby Delaney decided her understudy could take her place.  So, Bob stepped in.  (I will have to ask the kids or Rachel....I think his name is Bob.)

Awwww......

Baby Delaney was happy to let me take her picture and I was happy to take many of them.

Proof that I was at this family event since I am normally behind the camera.