lullaby

rocking chair in the nursery-

most of the day you sit unused. i apologize for that. it must suck to rarely be needed.

kate doesn't require rocking to fall asleep so the only time you see any action is when we read stories to kate.

and sitting still with a 13 month old lasts for about 15 seconds.

(2 months ago)

but occasionally miss kate has trouble in the night. to be honest, i pray for those troubles.

not that i don't want her to sleep well, but i want to see her, smell her and hold her again.

so i relish those cries in the night.

i scoop her up and bring her to you. we rock her back to sleep. it only takes about 60 seconds and she's out, but we rock for much longer. sometimes a tear leaks out of my mommy eye. what?! i can't get emotional about my beautiful, healthy, safe baby? geez.

kate will squirm after a few minutes and i know she wants to be back in her crib where she can snuggle into a corner and bury her head in her blankie. i oblige her and you are left all alone in the corner to await the next troubled night.

thanks for the kind service. hopefully i'll see you soon.

keys

EMS crew of Engine 117:


i knew that calling 911 at some point in my life was inevitable. the odds of me dialing those horrifying 3 digits increased greatly when i became a mom. i just wish i had made it longer than 13 months...


kate wakes up from her morning nap happy and hungry. lunch is had and we head out the door to run some errands. i buckle katers into her seat and set about putting up the baby shades in the back 2 windows to protect her from the sun's rays. kate starts to whine for her keys (i have 2 sets- one with important keys and one with misc keys for her to play with) i give kate her set. she is not satisfied, she wants my keys. i give them to her and then go back to work, forgetting she has them. i finish what i am doing, close the door and walk around to the driver's door. locked.
i shake my head in confusion and reach for my keys in my pocket. not there. that's when it hits.

i just locked my baby in the car with the keys and my phone.
oh crapper of all craps!!

luckily i had used my automatic car starter to turn on the engine and get the AC running so the car is cooling off. but the timer is set to 12 minutes and then it shuts off- trapping my baby inside without the windows cracked in 80 degree heat. i try to think how long it'll be before it reaches a dangerously high temperature inside. i start to feel the panic. i refuse to cry. i have to think.

i hurriedly approach a neighbor, asking for their cell. brandon doesn't answer the 4 calls i make- it's our code. 3 calls means "i really need to talk" but 4 means "pick up the phone no matter what". only he doesn't have reception in his classroom. and no one else has an extra set of keys.

and then i hear it- silence. the car has turned off. no more AC.

after knocking a few doors to see if anyone has a phone book to call a locksmith (no answers- everyone is at work). the neighbor who's phone i have suggests the police department. duh! they can help...right?? not so much. apparently there is an imbecile who works at the police department- he tells me my address isn't in the city of taylorsville and therefore he can't help me. whatever idiot....i hang up on him and dial 911. it's not more than 4 minutes later when you guys show up. in a fire engine and an ambulance- both with the lights flashing. i'm embarrassed but so very relieved.



it takes you a few minutes to pop the lock but you work quickly and confidently. you are very calm and kind. you tell me repeatedly how cute my trapped daughter is and that everything will be ok. kate just sits there, strapped in her seat, watching you guys work. still playing with the keys and smiling.

check out how happy kate is to be out of the car

i'm so glad that you came promptly and saved my kid from my stupidity.
you guys were so great.

thank you. thank you. thank you.

kate was covered in sweat when we pulled her out. i tried to get her to drink some cold water but she didn't want any. so i just opened up the fridge and let her play for a bit. she deserved it- look at those flushed cheeks. poor thing.

cake batter ice cream w/ brownies.... we earned it today

picnic

katers,

church day.

you despise church day.

it goofs up your naps and meals. you are not allowed to crawl around freely. and it's 3 hours long. it's enough to topple an adult, let alone a 13 month old.

after a quick apres-church nap, we took off for the quarterly seelos/jones/other-people-i-don't-know-the-names-of get together. it was nice being outside and the food was good. at least i think it was...you ate all my food. seriously, ALL of it. and you didn't want to share with me. thanks little one.

and somehow you ended up being nominated to be in the family skit coming up in july. they want you to be held by someone other than your dad or i. for an extended period of time.

snort, snort, laugh, laugh. that's not gonna happen. you can barely handle sitting on your grandma and grandpa's lap. it's going to be awesome to watch. we'll make sure to videotape the torture.

but you did have a good time sitting on your blanket in the grass. it's wonderful that you hate the feel of the grass so you don't dare leave the blanket. it's like a pack and play without walls. marvelous.

cousin brysaac read you a story... until he got bored. then he ran over to the steps, climbed up, spread his arms and yelled "this is my city". you just stared. i don't think you know what to think about him just yet but trust me, you're gonna love him.

birthday wishes/froggy jammies

brysaac:

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY!!!

(YESTERDAY)

you got a new bike and a new helmet. how cool is that?!

when we called to wish you a happy birthday you actually said,

"thanks for calling me"

what 4 yr old says stuff like that?!

other favorite brysaac sayings include:

"I AM THE SKY"- yelled loudly atop a swing-set. sometimes jank has been heard yelling that throughout the house. it always makes me laugh.

"i won't know"- something you started saying when you were still learning how to talk and it's stuck. we say it all the time. pretty sure it's annoying to others but so funny to us.

"no, no Red!" mr scootchies was teasing you something awful the day this phrase came to be

and my favorite: "i've told you a million times" exclaimed in exasperation in a rather adult tone.

we love you mr brysaac. have fun with the new bike!

***********

kevin:

HAPPY 53RD BIRTHDAY. i meant 35th. HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY!!!

hope your day was filled with lazy goodness. and yummy food- because that's important.

thanks for loving me. and for teasing me. you make it easy to be a part of the hansen clan.

i'm so proud of all that you've done. i think you're brave, smart and handsome (and thanks for passing those traits on to your son!!) and i love you lots.

(kevin at hardware ranch: camping and loving the outdoors)

**********

and what kind of mommy blogger would i be if i didn't post some pics of my incredibly cute child??

kate:

you have been a joy lately.

ever since the flu trauma you have been more smiley and much more giggly.

you are usually a content child; you don't mind playing by yourself. but lately you have been much more interactive.

you engage us in games of hide and seek.

you love to find the toys we hide in the couch.

you have ticklish spots (your ribs) which i attack constantly.

you love when we chase you down the hall.

you especially love when we throw pillows at you.

you love our phones. it's so cute when you pick them up, press them to your ear and say "hi"

you love playing on the balcony and looking out the window:




your babbles echo in the parking lot. i'm sure our neighbors LOVE it.

purple and white

brock colton:

you did it.

you graduated high school.

no more homework or teachers.... at least for a little while.

we are so proud of you. you worked hard.

it was so fun to see you walk across that stage and get your diploma. (even if it was just a blank piece of paper)

i don't know if you heard us screaming... ashley and i outdid ourselves with enthusiasm. brandon had to move katers so we wouldn't blow her eardrums. and you should've seen brysaac! oh man was he excited for you. that kid loves your guts! we told him he could scream as loud as he could when they called your name. and he did. it was awesome.

so congrats. we love you and we hope you are proud of yourself.

b+k+k

ps thanks for the excuse to go out to eat... cafe sabor was grand as always.

memorial day

uncle marv and aunt d'on,

thanks again for a wonderful summer holiday. i don't know when the tradition started of us crashing your family pool parties but we're sure glad the tradition exists.

it so nice to feel a part of your family. especially since you always have such yummy food. that yogurt/fruit creamy concoction was awesome- kate loved it a little too much. i think she ate mine and brandon's! and we should pause for a moment to remember the homemade ice cream.. yummmmmmm
i'm pretty sure i ate almost all of the almond m&m's. oopsies. i'll bring a big bag to share next time.

you guys are the best....thanks for the lovely day.


(marv & d'on dancing at the wedding lalapalooza 5 years ago)