The Hansens

I Love A Good Deal!

2010-07-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

So, I have been procrastinating on buying Jarekah new clothes. I noticed many of her clothes and shoes are getting small. A few days ago, I was in a hurry to get out the door and grabbed her favorite shoes to put on her feet. They were way too small, so I decided to make the trek to the outlets to see what we could find for her. Children's Place is one of our favorite kiddy stores. I was pleasantly surprised to see just how great their clearance racks were! I got all these clothes and two pairs of shoes for only $20.41! I just love a good deal!

UPDATE

2010-03-21T01:21:00.001-07:00

So, it has been a LONG time since I have posted anything. I wanted to give a quick update...back in November we moved from Vancouver to Independence. Eric received a promotion at work and it sent us packing to Independence. We knew it wasn't a permanent move for us and that someday we would have to move again. Well, who knew that someday would be RIGHT NOW?

Yes, folks, after only 4 months in Independence we are moving AGAIN! Eric just received the news that we are being transferred to Portland. This will be a permanent move (unless something goes wrong, but we do not anticipate anything going wrong) and we are very excited about this new opportunity. Eric received another promotion, only bigger this time. He will be managing more employees and is being transferred to the 2nd busiest store in the company. I am so proud of my hubby for being such a hard worker and so dedicated. At least this time we got more than 3 days notice...we move in a week!

Our Crazy Christmas...

2009-12-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

So, we have many families to visit for the holidays. We picked up Eric's girls from their mother and on Christmas Eve we visited Eric's father and step-mother first. After there, we headed to Eric's mother's house. The girls received so many presents we could not fit them into the car. We had to go back and get more, and we still have another trip to make before we get the rest of them. (A little spoiled, you think?) We came home and opened our presents to each other. Christmas day we headed to Astoria to my parents' house. We had so much traveling, but it was nice to see everyone.

I am a bit melancholy after how this Christmas went. I am the type of person who enjoys watching others open their gifts. I think it just didn't go as I had hoped. Upon much reflection, I know it is because the focus was too much on presents and not enough on why we celebrate Christmas. So, next year I am going to focus more on the celebration of Christ and less on the giving of presents.

Here are some of our fun family pictures...

Happy Birthday...

2009-11-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

...to my wonderful husband! Today is Eric's 35th birthday! Happy Birthday daddy, we love you! So glad you have today off so we can celebrate together. Eric is the best husband and father and we are so lucky to have him! To celebrate, we did the traditional Red Robin Birthday Burger. So yummy!

Oregon Coast Aquarium

2009-11-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we woke up and decided to venture out to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Eric's Dad gave us one year memberships, so we plan to go more often. It was a stormy day, but when we arrived the storm passed long enough for us to see everything we wanted to at the Aquarium. There were not many people there, so it made for a very nice trip! We saw some fish that we had never seen before. Jarekah had a blast and so did Eric and me.

We Moved...

2009-11-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

...AGAIN! Can you believe it? We just got finished unpacking from the last move when we learned that we were being transferred to a little town called Independence. Eric got his promotion that he has been working so hard for. I am so proud of him! We were given 3 days to pack up and move about an hour and a half away to a whole new state. We made the move and here we are! We actually love it here. We are so much closer to Eric's daughters and mom too. Here are a few pics of the new house...more to come when we are finished unpacking.

The Girls' Bathroom

Girls' Bathroom/Laundry Room

Kitchen

Living Room

Backyard

Halloween - Late

2009-11-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

I am so behind on my blogging...we have had a lot on our plates! But I wanted to post some Halloween pictures. I took Jarekah trick-or-treating with my sister, brother in-law, and niece. Eric actually had to go to Utah for a store grand opening, so he missed it.

Jarekah was so adorable in her Dorothy costume!

Camping...

2009-10-16T01:04:00.000-07:00

...in the living room is so much fun!

Eric and I found this really cute indoor tent at IKEA and as you can see it is a big hit! Jarekah has been having a tough time with the crib to toddler bed transition, so we searched for something that would help and came accross this tent. She loves it and will actually go to sleep! The last picture is one I just threw in from the next day when we went to my parents' house in Astoria.

A Day At The Park

2009-10-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

Last week on one of the last nice days, we decided to take the kids to the park. So we met up with a very good friend of ours and her two boys as well as my sister and niece Paisley. As you can see, the kids loved it!

The Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we ventured off to the pumpkin patch in Woodburn called Bauman Farms. We have been going to this pumpkin patch for years. They have so many activities for the kids including a petting zoo where you can feed the animals. We had such a good time!

Mama...

2009-10-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

...this pudding is DELICIOUS!

Where did my baby girl go? Oh, there she is hiding underneath the pudding!

CAN (part 2)...

2009-09-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

You guessed it! I was able to get some more canning done today and will finish tomorrow.

So far:

Peaches

Pears

Homemade Applesauce

Tomatoes

Salsa

Left to do:

(More) Homemade Applesauce

Pickles

Pickled Cucumbers/Onions

CAN...

2009-09-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

...you guess what I've been doing?

It's that time of the year again! I am so excited that I was able to can this year. I missed the last two canning seasons, so it has really been fun to get back into it. So far it has been peaches and pears. Next comes the homemade applesauce and pickled cucumbers.

To the Oregon State Fair...

2009-09-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

...we go! I can remember going to the Oregon State Fair since I was a little kid. I even worked there for 3 summers. Saturday we took Jarekah along with my parents, sister, brother in-law, and niece. What a fun time we had. We were worried about the rain, but decided that if we were to let a little rain spoil our fun that we would never go anywhere! (Let's face it, it is Oregon!)

We had some very yummy food including elephant ears, scones, and funnel cake. We took Jarekah over to the rides and she wanted to get on some. We were shocked. She is our little dare devil, that's for sure! We were able to see a sea lion show, a magic show, and of course we went to see the animals. There were the cutest little piglets! These are what memories are made of!

Chuck E Cheese's...

2009-09-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

...where a kid can be a kid! We celebrated Jarekah's two year birthday on Saturday. Since Jarekah loves Chuck E Cheese, we decided to just have it there. Unoriginal, but she loved it!

This was taken at the end of the night...she was exhausted from having so much fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my beautiful baby girl! Mama and Daddy love you so much!

Jarekah Is A Big Girl...

2009-08-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Jarekah is officially a big girl now. Over the weekend, my parents came to see us and my Dad and Eric took Jarekah to IKEA to pick out a big girl bed. Our baby is a big girl now! Jarekah loves her new bed and we hope she has many a happy night sleeping in it!

Just because...

2009-08-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

...is the name of the game! Random pictures from the summer. Enjoy!

Madison...

2009-08-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

...had a BIRTHDAY! I am so behind on my blogging due to my little venture to the hospital for a few days. I have been on strict bedrest and decided that I hate it, so I am up today! A little over two weeks ago our Maddie celebrated her 8th birthday. Happy Birthday Maddie! We drove to Salem to see Eric's mom, Carol, and it was 107 degrees that day. We made the best of it and had a lot of fun! Here are some of the pictures we captured at Gramma Carol's...

Jarekah's two-year birthday...

2009-07-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

...is just around the corner! So to mark the occasion, we took her to Picture People in the Vancouver Mall for her two-year pictures today. Jarekah was so adorable and did everything her photographer asked her to do. Eric and I are very happy with the results. We only bought three poses to start, but we have a year to go back and get as many as we want. Here are the three poses we chose in both color and black and white. I cannot believe our baby is going to be two-years old!

Which Is Which...

2009-07-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

...I cannot tell!

I got this CPK for Christmas several years ago (before Jarekah was even a thought) from my parents. As a girl, I always wanted one. It had been in the box all this time, sitting on a shelf in Jarekah's bedroom. A few days ago, Jarekah saw the "baby" and became so excited. When I told her she was just to look at, Jarekah cried and cried for her "baby." I finally gave in and opened the box. Before I could even take the doll out of the box, Jarekah was already clapping and trying to pull it out of the box for me. Jarekah and her "baby" have been inseparable ever since. She loves her little dolly. What's funny is that when I picked it at the store, I had no idea that someday I would have a little dolly of my own that looks just like it! Precious moments are so much fun!

Happy Fourth!

2009-07-05T01:10:00.001-07:00

We headed to Astoria for the holiday along with my sister and her family. This was an extra special holiday for Eric and I because we were able to have his two daughters visit us. This is the first time Eric has had his girls on the Fourth since his divorce.

Sorry no pics - I forgot my camera at home! I am so bummed about it too...I really wanted to have some pictures for memories, but I know it is something Eric and I will never forget. Hope everyone had a very happy and safe holiday.

This time of year is especially significant and has great meaning for us. We appreciate all our troops are doing to ensure we are able to continue celebrating our freedoms. The show was spectacular this year and I really think it was the best one so far. We have been attending the Astoria fireworks show for many years now and I can honestly say it is my favorite. I love the closeness being in that part of the state brings. Here's to many more holidays to come!

Happy Anniversary...

2009-06-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

...to my wonderful husband! Today is our anniversary and I just wanted to tell my hubby how much I love him and look forward to many more years together! Eric came home from work and cooked me an amazing steak dinner with all the trimmings. He also brought me a very sweet card on his lunch break. We just spent a week in Las Vegas, so I was not expecting anything. I am truly blessed and feel that I am the luckiest woman in the world. I love you Eric!

Vegas Vacation

2009-06-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

We decided that we needed to take our first ever vacation together. Jarekah is a little older now, and she is a great traveler, so we ventured on a very long road trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. What beautiful country it is and the drive was just amazing!

Some of the beautiful sites along the way:

Had to capture Eric driving...

Our little munchkin after having her first ever "In N Out" burger...she only had a couple of bites, but she downed almost an entire small strawberry milkshake. I let her splurge because it was so hot and she refused to eat.

This was on the way home...she has a giant strawberry marshmallow in her mouth. She didn't actually eat it, but she loved playing with it!

We finally arrived at the resort!!!

First thing after unpacking, we headed to the pool for some relaxation and to cool off. It was over 100 degrees in Vegas!

Jarekah and Mama at the pool...we spent a lot of time there!

We walked down Las Vegas Blvd and found M&M World...what a place! They had over 20 different colors of M&M's and several flavors.

Eric & I at M&M World...

Jarekah with Daddy...M&M World

Jarekah and Mama at the Shark Reef inside Mandalay Bay

Shark and Sawfish...we were actually underneath them as they swam above us!

Here comes JAWS!!!

RAY...again it is swimming above us!

This is one of the most poisonous fish known to man...

The touch tank...we actually got to touch these RAYS!

This is a Komodo Dragon!

I love this picture because it actually looks like Jarekah is touching the jellyfish!

Jarekah and Daddy inside the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Jarekah listening to the remote...every person gets one when you go into the Shark Reef. That way you can get all the info about each animal on your own pace. (It is called the "Self Tour"...so that an actual tour guide does not have to accompany you.)

I think this is my favorite picture. Eric took it just as the sun went behind the Statue of Liberty. This is at the New York, New York hotel.

I took this picture of the Tram...I love the view, it is so gorgeous. On the right is the Luxor Pyramid Hotel.

This is the Excalibur Hotel...I love the look of the outside!

Hard Rock Cafe on Las Vegas Blvd.

Coca Cola World...Las Vegas Blvd.

Harley Cafe...we ate here!

Waiting for the food to come...Harley Cafe on Las Vegas Blvd.

For all you Jon Bon Jovi fans...this is his actual leather jacket. It was right above our table at the Harley Cafe on Las Vegas Blvd.

Advertisement...just thought it was funny

The Luxor Hotel...yes, it is a pyramid and, yes, it is an acual hotel that you stay in!

Titanic show inside the Luxor Hotel

New York, New York Hotel lit up at night...very beautiful!!!

This is the Bellagio, I think...

The Eiffle Tower outside of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel

Inside the Paris Las Vegas Hotel...you can really get the feel that you are walking in Paris!

Jarekah passed out when we returned to our resort

Inside the Luxor Hotel:

We had such an awesome time...of course I would like to post more, but I could go on for days! Everyone has to go at least once. It is extremely family friendly and we were amazed at all the free exhibits and fun things to do. You don't have to gamble or be a drinker to experience a good time in Las Vegas!

Father's Day...

2009-06-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

...happened while we were on vacation, so I missed the opportunity to post. I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband and my wonderful dad a very Happy Father's Day! I did remember to call my dad from our hotel on Father's Day. We were fortunate to have a full kitchen in our hotel room, so I cooked Eric a special Father's Day dinner.

I am so blessed with an amazing husband and I truly know it. He is the most loving, caring, hard working man I have ever met. He does so much for Jarekah and me. I love you so much and look forward to many wonderful years together!

Our Weekend...

2009-06-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

...was a busy one! Friday we picked up the girls in Wilsonville for their first full week visit. Now that they are out of school, we will have them for a week at a time for their visits. Eric has to work a 10 day stretch so we can go on vacation, so I am on my own with all three girls.

Saturday morning we woke up early and drove out to Hillsboro to see my sister participate in a half marathon run. She did such an amazing job and I am so proud of her! The girls did great! I was so proud of them for staying near me and no one got lost. There were so many runners and on-lookers that I was afraid someone might get lost.

After that my dad took us all to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch...our favorite place! Then we went to look at houses. My parents are wanting to buy a house in Vancouver for when they retire. We met Eric at home after he got off work and made dinner. Then we relaxed with some popcorn and a movie.

Sunday we woke up extra early so we could go to my sister's Ward in Orchards. I wanted my parents to see Jarekah in the new dress they bought for her and they stay with Matt and Kendra when they are in town, so we ventured over to their church services. After church, we all had a BBQ at their house. Yummy! My brother came too.

Can you believe all of this and I didn't take one picture!?! I kept forgetting my camera. Ugh! Anyway, we had a great weekend and only a few downfalls. Jarekah got lost at Sweet Tomatoes. Talk about almost having a heart attack! I thought she was with my parents, but she ran off. We searched the whole restaurant and could not find her. We were out in Beaverton, so it was not a familiar area for her.

This nice man kept his eye on her for me and when I got a little closer, he told me where she was. I grabbed her and held her so tight. That was my first taste of a lost child. Nothing like this has ever happened before. I am usually OVERLY careful about her. With all the chaos, I assumed what I shouldn't have. After all, it is my responsibility to make sure she is safe! :)

Fun In The Sun

2009-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

This comes a little late, but...two Saturdays ago we had some friends and family over to go swimming in our pool. We had a blast and are really looking forward to all the swimming we will be doing this summer! Here are a couple of pictures courtesy of my sister...

Jarekah having fun in the new swim boat Gramma Carol bought her

Madison and Jarekah (with me on the side)

Zoo Trip

2009-05-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

We decided to take Jarekah to the Zoo today. It was a blast. She fell asleep about half way through, but Eric and I had fun looking at all the exhibits. Here are a few picts from our trip...

Jarekah and Daddy in front of the elephant exhibit

This snake can actually grow to over 26 feet in length and 400 pounds!

The batting cages...literally! (Yes, it was creepy!)

This guy looked so sad...

Is this a line-up?

These primates were so tiny...you can't really tell from the picture.

The monitor lizard...can anyone say ewww?

I love giraffes!

Lazy days in the zebra exhibit

I saw this flower and thought it was pretty

This was my favorite exhibit at the Zoo...mama and baby elephant. Daddy was not far off, so we were able to see the whole family.

Jarekah passed out about half way through...cutie pie.

Zuckerman's famous pig...that's "some pig!"

We were laughing so hard at this one...even the primates were enjoying the sun. This guy was sacked out while sun bathing.

MEMORIAL DAY trip

2009-05-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

Eric had to work this morning, so we decided to venture out this afternoon. After tossing around ideas, we decided to head up to Multnomah Falls and then see where it leads us. Surprisingly, we were not able to actually stop at the Falls because it was so crowded. There was no parking and there must have been several hundred people, if not more. We were bummed that we could not get in, so we decided to keep driving.

Eric has been wanting to take me to Hood River because I have never been there. He loves that area and used to work there. We drove to Hood River and stopped. It is such a great tourist town. We also went to Bingen and White Salmon. I forgot my camera, so I was very disappointed. Oh well. It was such a nice afternoon!

Sunday At My Sister's...

2009-05-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

My sister let us all come over and raid her house. We had a great time! We took the kids to the park and then we had a big BBQ. It was nice having the whole family together at once. We haven't done that since Christmas 2007. We need to do it more often!

My brother, Claire, Mom, and Jarekah

I knew my mom was strong, but the hulk?

I took this in the morning before we left...so cute!

Another one before we left

On the slide with her cousins Finn and Scout

Cousin Max and Jarekah at the park

Cousin Finn and Jarekah

This is one of my favorites...Uncle Jarek and Jarekah at the park

Finn and Jarekah

Cousins Scout and Max

Cousin Judah

Finn and Claire

Jarekah liked the slide so much she wanted back on

Jarekah is scared of the bark chips...weird, I know.

A cute one of Scout and Jarekah getting ready to go down the slide

More Fun At The Coast

2009-05-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some more random pictures from our coast trip...

A cute one with Grampa

Aww...I love this one!

She's not a baby anymore

Cute Cousins

Longbeach...

2009-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

with the family is a really great time! Since Eric had to work, (what's new, right) I decided to rent a car and drive to the Oregon Coast to see my family. My sister was already there with her family, so I decided to venture out.

The drive was very beautiful and Jarekah slept most of the way. When we arrived at my parents' house, we decided to take a trip to Longbeach because it is one of our favorite places. It was very cold and windy in Longbeach, but we had a blast. They were giving out free horse carriage rides. I think that was the highlight of the trip. I am glad I decided to go!

You can see the horse and carriage here

Jarekah and I on the carriage

Another one on the carriage...it was so windy and cold!

Here is our horse...he was such a trooper!

Poor Baby...

2009-05-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

is sick again! Jarekah woke up with the beginning stages of pink eye this morning. I thought maybe her ear infection never went away, so we took her to the doctor. No ear infection. The doctor checked her throat and it looks like her tonsils may have to be removed! The doctor suggested taking Jarekah to a specialist after her pink eye clears up. Needless to say, we are not looking forward to our baby having surgery!

A Poor Little Birdie

2009-05-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

...crashed into our window!!! So yesterday I was fixing dinner when I heard a loud crash that sounded like it came from one of our windows. I ran to see what happened and when I looked out the window, I saw feathers stuck on it. A little bird slammed into our window. Poor thing! The picture is not the greatest, but you can see the blurry patch of feathers...

Mother's Day Projects (late post)

2009-05-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

So I know this comes late, but last week Jarekah and I started some Mother's Day projects for both Grandma's and Auntie Kenny. I finished my mom's and Eric's mom's and almost finished with Kendra's.

Eric also did one for me! Mine is done in plaster and the others are on just plain white plastic-coated paper plates. I love how they turned out! It was something fun and easy to do.

This is mine (done in plaster)

This is Grandma's

This is Kendra's (a work in progress...almost finished)

Mother's Day Fun

2009-05-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

So Eric had to work on Mother's Day and since I did not want to be alone, Jarekah and I took a road trip to the beach to visit my parents. I love the drive and decided to leave extra early so we could attend my parents' ward. We arrived with plenty of time to spare and enjoyed their service.

After church we went back to mom and dad's where my brother was waiting for us. We had a huge lunch that my parents prepared. We had bbq ribs, pineapple shrimp, green salad, bbq baked beans, homemade potato salad, rice, and a few extras. Needless to say, we were all very full.

After lunch we ventured out to the beach where it was VERY cold and windy. Jarekah fell asleep in the car, so my mom stayed with her. I went out for all of about 5 minutes and nearly froze to death, so I went back to the warm car. My dad and brother played with some kites and then we went back to the house to enjoy a dessert of blackberry pie and ice-cream.

After that Jarekah and I had to make the treck back home. I hated to leave, but Eric was preparing a special Mother's Day dinner for me and we had a long two hour drive back home. All in all, it was a very fun mini trip and it was nice to spend some time with my family.

Mom, brother Jarek, and Me...EXTREME close-up!

Mom and my brother Jarek

My brother joking around...

Still goofing off...

This couple came by on horseback...the horses were so beautiful!

Dad and Jarek got their kites up!

Jarekah had a nice long nap...she missed the whole time at the beach!

PASSED OUT!

She finally woke up and Uncle Jarek entertained her...and us for that matter!

Jarekah broke out the Propel...thirsty girl!

I Often Go Walking...

2009-05-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

In meadows of clover

And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue

I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over

Dear Mother, all flowers remind me of you

Dear Mother

I give you my love with each flower

To give forth sweet fragrance a whole lifetime through

For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking

I learn how to love them, dear Mother, from you

The primary sang this song in Sacrament meeting for Mother's Day while I was visiting my parents' ward in Astoria. It made me think of my Mom and how she is an avid lover of flowers and gardening. She passed that love on to me and to this day I cannot see a field of beautiful flowers without stopping. Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and I am glad Jarekah and I were able to come and spend the special day with you. I love you Mom!

I could not do this tribute to Mothers without giving credit to my wonderful Mother in-law. She is truly like a Mother to me and I love her deeply. She does so much for us and never lets a week go by without checking up on us to make sure we are okay. She always has the best words of advice for me and I can talk to her like a best girlfriend. She raised a wonderful son who has love and compassion and knows how to treat a lady. So here's to you this Mother's Day. Thank you for giving me a wonderful husband and for being the strong, beautiful woman that you are. I love you Mom!

Vacation Suggestions?

2009-05-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

So Eric has been working A LOT of overtime lately. He has vacation time coming in June and we are deciding where to go. Does anyone know of a cheap and fun place we could get away for a few days? We're taking suggestions!

Extra Prayers Needed

2009-05-05T03:19:00.001-07:00

Well, we just got back from the ER where we took Jarekah. It is almost 3:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. We have been struggling with sickness, but tonight Jarekah took a turn for the worse. She woke up with pink eye yesterday and so I called her pediatrician. They said they needed to see her before writing a prescription because she has been sick.

Anyway, long story short, my sister said she had some eye drops leftover from when Paisley had pink eye. I decided to try it and see. Well, not the smartest thing I have ever done. Jarekah had a massive allergic reaction to the eye drops and started bleeding pretty badly from her eye. Of course I freaked out.

I tried to call the advice nurse and after waiting about 20 minutes, Eric and I decided to take her straight to the ER. After several hours, they finally released her with numerous medications. Oh, and she has a really bad ear infection now too.

She is screaming as I write this, poor thing. Daddy is walking with her and trying to comfort her because my efforts went without success. I feel so badly for her and it really got me thinking how precious life is. All I could ever ask for is that my family be happy and healthy. Please say an extra prayer for her. We could really use it.

Early Birthday

2009-05-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my birthday a little early yesterday. We made some food and my parents bought a ginormous carrot cake from Costco (my favorite!) My brother and his girlfriend, Claire, came. I hadn't seen Claire since New Year's and it was so great to see her. My sister Kendra, brother in-law Matt, and niece Paisley also came.

I wasn't expecting anything, but was surprised to get a Costco membership (renewal), a gift card to Red Robin (YUMMY), and some spending money. Thanks guys for making my birthday so special.

I think the most memorable was when my hubby came home from work and had stopped along the way and bought me this huge vase of flowers with a balloon. I also got a beautiful card (yes, I shed a tear or two) and another card that Eric had signed on behalf of Jarekah. I am very blessed.

...now if we could just get well!

Fun At The Museum

2009-05-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

We took Jarekah to the Portland Children's Museum with Auntie Kenny, Uncle Matt, and Cousin Paise. We had a good time running around. As you can see, Jarekah had a great time. There is lots to do!

Trying to get a picture

Washing your hands is very important

Learning how to put pipes together

Ah, the slide! Who doesn't like that?

Good Picture Moment

Building blocks with total strangers

Farmer J

Paisley decided Jarekah's bucket was better

Learning about locks and latches

Brushing Gator's Teeth

One toothbrush just wasn't enough!

The Supermarket

Picking out fresh (plastic) produce

Checkout. This poor kid was trying to check out his groceries and Jarekah kept grabbing everything. He was a trooper. Sorry poor kid we don't know...thanks for not getting mad.

Out front of the museum with Daddy

...and the HITS just keep on coming!

2009-05-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

This is part two of yesterday's bragging rights revoked. One thing that I worried about in the back of my mind, when she had her accident in the bathtub yesterday, is that she could get pink eye. Well, this morning she woke up and I think she has pink eye! I am just waiting for the time when we are done being sick. Hopefully that day will come soon!

Bragging Rights Revoked

2009-05-02T19:42:00.001-07:00

So I have heard horror stories from friends/family about their kiddos having an "accident" in the bathtub. I would always chuckle and then sort-of brag about how Jarekah has never had a poo-poo in her bath. Well, my bragging rights have been revoked as of today. Jarekah had her first accident in the tub. It was bound to happen and it has officially shut me up. I sit a humbled woman.

Talking, Being Sick, and Tunnel Vision

2009-04-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

So our whole family has been sick for a few days. Of course no one likes to be sick. Yesterday I spent part of the afternoon fixing everyone some homemade chicken noodle and jasmine rice soup because I felt a little better. Well, I think I may have overdone it because for the rest of the day and evening I was resigned to my recliner.

Poor Eric has been working overtime through being sick and had two finals to boot! He is attending the University of Phoenix Axia BA of Business program and it is a full-time job in and of itself. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there have been many obstacles blocking the way.

On a more positive note, Jarekah is talking a lot more. She is singing more as well. We are trying to teach her the ABC's. She says some of the letters and really loves singing. She is also counting to 3. She is such a little angel and brings so much joy into our lives.

Jarekah and I are looking at pictures on the computer. I am thumbing through them when we come accross one with Eric's mom, Gramma Carol, in it. She sees it and calls out "Gramma."

Jarekah loves to play with Daddy. They play peek-a-boo and get-a-way. It is so cute to watch them play together. Eric is such a wonderful husband and a great Daddy to our Jarekah.

Scripture Promise

2009-04-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

So Eric and I made a promise to each other that we will read at least one chapter of the scriptures together each night before bed. At first, we were bad at keeping it up and our longest streak was like 4 nights. I am happy to report that last night marked our longest streak ever at 15 days! We will hopefully keep it up and it really makes me feel better when I read. It gives Eric a chance to feel closer to Heavenly Father since he is not able to attend church every Sunday due to his job, and we feel closer as a couple when we read together.

Sunny Day Trip

2009-04-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

We woke up this morning and decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunny weather. We thought a trip to the Bridge of the Gods would be fun and it is a gorgeous drive. It's only about 45 minutes from our house, so we ventured out.

Jarekah in the car on our road trip

Another one of Jarekah

We're almost there!

We're there!

What a beautiful view!

Another beautiful view

We drove over the toll bridge from Washington into Oregon

The trail

We drove around in Cascade Locks, OR

This is a picture of a mural underneath the Bridge of the Gods

Another view of the mural

Close-up of the mural with a replica of the Bridge of the Gods

An old wagon or something that was sitting on the side of the bridge. I thought it looked pretty cool, so I took a picture.

Another trail

Jarekah and Daddy...she is pointing at the mural of the animals.

A view of the Gorge

Another one of Jarekah and Daddy

View under the bridge

Another mural on the bridge post

Jarekah loved the mural...she called this wolf her "baby"

Touching the wolf's nose

Lazy Sunday 4-19-09

2009-04-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

We came home from church yesterday and had a lazy Sunday afternoon. After lunch we went to the park, but of course the camera's batteries went dead. Here are a few photos to capture the memories...

Flowers for Mommy

2009-04-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

I have such a thoughtful and amazing husband. I wasn't feeling well, so he brought home flowers and a pizza. What a sweetie!

SUPER DIAPER DEAL...For All You Mommy's Out There!

2009-04-15T22:01:00.001-07:00

So last week my sister let me in on a really great deal on diapers. I normally buy Luvs because we have tried every diaper brand known to man and they seemed to work the best for our daughter and at a reasonable price. So a box of 80 Luvs brand diapers costs around $20 in the stores. (Depending on sales and if you have a coupon.)

The Web site http://www.diapers.com/index.aspx has most brands of diapers, including Luvs, and I received a really great deal! I ordered the diapers for the first time yesterday and received $10 off my first order. You also get free shipping on orders of $49 or more. I bought 1 case of size 5 and two packages of the same size of Luvs for a total of 210 diapers and it came to $49.97. The trick is to type in the code BCTODDLER into the promotion box to get $10 off your order. When you check out, there is a promotion/referral box and if you could please type in my code ERIC8548 then I would greatly appreciate it.

For those of you who have babies that require a smaller size diaper, the total of diapers will actually increase for you for the same price. For example, someone with a baby that wears size 3 diapers would receive a total of 284 diapers. Someone with a baby that wears size 2 diapers would receive a total of 328 diapers, and so on.

So to summarize, I visited the http://www.diapers.com/index.aspx Web site and filled out a short order form. Upon checkout, I entered the promotional code BCTODDLER into the promotion box and received $10 off my order. So I received 210 size 5 Luvs brand diapers and only paid $39.97 total. There was no shipping and handling and they did not even charge me tax.

It is definitely worth the few minutes of time to fill out the order form and I got my diapers delivered to my doorstep the very next day. Let's face it, anything that saves us moms time and money is greatly appreciated and well worth the effort! If you do it, let me know how it works out for you and if it is a better deal than your normal diapering routine. Also, don't forget to enter my code ERIC8548 in the promo/referral box and tell all your diaper-buying friends to do the same. Once you order, you will get a referral code and you can tell all your friends that you referred to enter your code. You will receive $5 off your next purchase if you do!

Twinkle, Twinkle

2009-04-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

Jarekah is playing with her reflection in the mirror at first and then she finds her book. Her favorite song is Twinkle, Twinkle. Can you tell?

Happy Easter and Other Fun Stuff

2009-04-13T22:49:00.001-07:00

So Eric was scheduled to work Easter Sunday, but on Friday his boss called and said he could take the day off after all. We were so excited! Eric has not been able to attend church in quite some time due to his job.

So we woke up early Sunday morning and we started getting ready. We gave Jarekah a bath and put her in the beautiful Easter dress Gramma and Grampa Wall bought her. So adorable! We were almost ready when we heard the phone ring...Eric's boss! He called and said that two of their employees called in sick and they needed Eric to come in. I was devastated. So there is good news and bad news.

The good news is that his boss said he could come in a little later so Eric could attend the first two blocks of church services. The bad news is that after that he had to work for about five hours and missed Easter dinner with my family who were visiting. Of course we saved him a big plate of food and he was able to join us later on. Hope everyone had a wonderful and happy Easter.

I had to get a picture of Jarekah after her bath. She came running into our bedroom looking so dang cute!

This is the first picture we tried to take with Jarekah in her Easter dress. She was not too happy and wanted a bottle. We have really been trying to stop that habit and she mostly drinks from a sippy cup or cup. I need to hide the bottles better!

Jarekah wants her babies that are in her crib.

Daddy gave her the babies

Show-off

Our little baby

I can't get over how big she is getting!

Playing with mama...she is running from me

Our little pumpkin!

The end of the night...she fell asleep in the car on the way home from Aunt Kendra's house. We were there with the rest of the family after church. She woke up around 9:00pm and we fed her some dinner and let her have some of her Easter candy. There were only 3 things she could eat from her Easter basket. We bought one of those premade ones from the store. Next year I will make my own. She did get a huge ball, so that was good enough for her!

Growing Girl

2009-04-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

Jarekah had her Wellness check-up scheduled for yesterday, but after some work issues for Eric we had to reschedule the appointment for today. We took Jarekah for her check-up this morning and she did such a good job. Of course she cried and did the usual things babies do at these appointments, but overall she was great.

Jarekah is 34 inches tall and weighs 28lbs. 8oz. Her head measures 49cm. What a big girl! Her pediatrician said that Jarekah is doing great and is displaying advanced developmental milestones. That is always good to hear and makes a mama proud.

Only one vaccination was required at this visit, so that was a blessing! Clean bill of health and we were able to bundle her back up and take her home. I am so grateful for my growing girl!

Fun Day

2009-04-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

My friend Tiffany invited us to her son, Carson's, 2nd birthday party on Saturday. The kids had a blast! Tiffany rented a play gym at our local community center that just happened to be like a block away from our house. I couldn't believe we had never even been there. We will definitely take the kids back, now that we know about it. They had so many fun activities for the kids. They also have a huge indoor pool complete with water slides for only $4! We will be taking advantage of this place often.

Jarekah going down the slide

There were balls everywhere. Jarekah loves to play with all the different balls.

The staff were great. Here is one of them pulling Madison, Carson and Taylor on the wagon.

They pulled everyone over to this giant parachute, where we all had a blast doing various activities.

Jarekah really liked the fort.

Here is Jarekah on one of the many toy trikes.

Aww...she really had a lot of fun!

Pushing the tractor.

On the tractor.

Singing Time

2009-04-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

One of Jarekah's favorite nursery songs is Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam. This is the latest and greatest of Jarekah.

I gave Jarekah a piece of grapefruit for the first time and had the camera ready...

This picture was taken shortly after she licked the grapefruit. She wasn't too sure about it. It took her a while to process.

So after a few minutes, Jarekah decided to go for it! She put a chunk in her mouth and this was her reaction. What you don't get the pleasure of seeing is the aftermath. Jarekah pulled the grapfruit out of her mouth and threw it accross the room. I was laughing so hard and wish I could have captured that on film!

Jarekah's favorite food for the moment is spaghetti. She also developed a new face earlier this week. Enjoy!

It looks like Jarekah is laughing, but she is not actually making any noise. This is her latest "face" that she makes. It is hilarious to watch her.

Grampa's Missionary Scriptures

2009-03-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

I started a new tradition in the Hansen Family a while back of reading one verse from the scriptures to Jarekah after breakfast. This morning I came accross my father's scriptures from his mission in Taiwan. I couldn't help but feel proud and so blessed that I have such a wonderful father who set a good example for me and my children.

I remember when my Dad gave me his scriptures. I was 14 years-old and having a hard time with just being a kid. He sat me down and talked with me about "stuff." We were talking and eventually came to the part where he asked me what I liked doing and what about my life had special meaning or significance to me. I remember telling him that I loved music and singing and that was all I felt I had at that time.

He opened his scriptures and turned to Doctrine and Covenants 25:12. I remembered this because it was one of my favorite seminary scriptures, "Worthy Music." We read it together and then he said he wanted me to have his scriptures and read them often.

I must admit that throughout the years I have made a lot of bad choices and hard regrets, but they always led me back to this set of scriptures. They are old and worn and may not look like much to other people, but to me they are worth more than any other treasures one could have. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for what it has brought to my life. I am grateful for a wonderful family who had the best of intentions for me. I am grateful for my beautiful daughter that I will pass these scriptures on to someday. Her precious spirit is so awe inspiring.

Everything we need is right here in the scriptures. All the answers are right in front of us if we just read them. Heavenly Father has given us the tools we need.

Teaching Our Tots

2009-03-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Jarekah's second time going to our ward's nursery at church. She just turned of age three weeks ago. The first week she was able to go, we visited my sister's ward and she went to nursery with her cousin Paisley. She absolutely loves going and has so many little "friends" to play with in our ward. It is great because on Wednesdays we have Mommy and Me playgroup, so Jarekah knows the kids and leaders from her playgroup.

I have to give a shout out to our nursery leaders. They are so wonderful and really make everyone feel welcome. There is structure and it is not just little kids running around bumping into one another.

They have play time where they are able to play with various toys together. After that is snack time. The leaders really go out of their way to provide a lot of snacks that the kids really love. After snack time, one of the sisters comes in and has singing time complete with props. The kids really love this part!

After singing time, there is a lesson of some sort. Yesterday we ran out of time, so they had story time instead. Jarekah is so comfortable in her class and very blessed to have such wonderful nursery leaders. I think next week I am going to try and sneak out so I can go to my wonderful classes...we will see if Jarekah agrees.

My Wonderful Husband And Father Of Our Little Jarekah

2009-03-27T11:33:00.001-07:00

Eric just called me from work where he is doing some updates on personal information. Things have been very hard on us lately because of the custody battle for his two daughters from his previous marriage. Long story short, the courts ruled that "it is bad in her household, but not bad enough for the children to be moved."

Anyway, things are finally starting to get back to "normal." I really feel the justice system did a great injustice in Eric's case, but at the same time we have to trust Heavenly Father's plan and realize that everything turns out for a reason.

We had a visit from the Elder's Quorum President and First Counselor this week. Eric was so happy and it was extremely emotional for him. Since being converted and his baptism 16 months ago, Eric has not really been able to attend church services. Unfortunately, in his line of work he is requested to work most Sundays. We have been praying hard that something will happen that will allow him to attend church on Sundays. We are working to get Eric ordained an Elder and working toward the ultimate goal of being sealed together as a family.

I love my husband with all my heart and appreciate all he does for us. He is the hardest working man I have ever known and loves his family. Although he is a convert, he is more spiritual and appreciates the Gospel more than anyone I know. I find myself in awe of him most every day. I have never known such love before. He is a wonderful father and head of our household. Please pray for us that he will be able to attend church services more often. We appreciate all our friends and family and your support.

A Day In The Life Of Jarekah

2009-03-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and heard a little girl laughing and talking in her bedroom. She is so funny! I got up and went into her room and there she was lying in her crib entertaining herself. She had her favorite stuffed animal "Blackie" in bed with her. Blackie is her black stuffed little puppy dog that Daddy gave her for Valentine's Day.

I followed our morning routine and changed her diaper before making Jarekah her breakfast. Jarekah knows the routine and walked over to her high chair. I picked her up and put her in the chair. I gave her some yogurt bites and turned to make her cereal and get her milk.

This got me thinking...it has been so long since I was a small child. I look at Jarekah sometimes and wonder what is going through her mind. You can see the clockwork turning in her head. She is so smart and is trying new things. I can't help but feel so blessed and so lucky that I have this little girl in my life.

What a little angel! Jarekah is trying to take the keyboard away so she can type.

Jarekah got into the bathroom and grabbed the little cup I use to rinse her hair with in the bathtub.

I don't know if you can see it, but she is giving me the thumbs up sign.

I was in the kitchen making breakfast and noticed my little rockstar. We just got a new game for the Wii and Jarekah loves it! She watches Mama and Daddy sing into the microphone and decided to sing Twinkle, Twinkle before breakfast.

I was making dinner and all of a sudden it got quiet. I went to where Jarekah had been playing and found this...she was so tuckered out she just crashed on the floor.

Blogger Fun

2009-03-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

So, I finally figured out how to change the look of our family blog. I have been meaning to do it for a while now, but finally broke down and did it today. I am so much happier with the new look. Thanks for the inspiration Jaclyn!

SUNRIVER TRIP - March 13, 2009

2009-03-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

Eric and I decided we needed a little vacation. It was more like a long drive, but it was great nonetheless! Sunriver, here we come!

This is the resort

View from the resort

Another view from the resort

This was taken right in front of the registration desk

We went for a walk at the resort...this is another view

Jarekah and Daddy outside our lodge

This picture was taken from our lodge room deck

Another view from our deck

EXTREME close-up (I was bored and it was a long drive!)

What a beautiful drive! There was so much snow!

Another gorgeous view on the drive

Eric snapped a picture!

One of the lookouts

I snapped a picture of Eric driving

The little monkey was exhausted...can anyone say, "Are we there yet?"

Another boring moment in the car

Jarekah getting ready for bed

Daddy decided to help her

Jarekah is the queen bee! (She decided to sleep with us and not in her crib!)

Jarekah in the lodge...she was getting into everything. Luckily, nothing broke.

Jarekah scouting out the room while Daddy is finding a movie to watch.

She was getting ready to snag the alarm clock off the end table.

Jarekah and Daddy outside the restaurant in front of the rental car.

Jarekah LOVED the restaurant. It had stuffed animals EVERYWHERE! We had never been to this restaurant before. It's called the Black Bear Diner. Apparently there is one in Beaverton, so we will have to go there.

Aww...she didn't want to let go.

Jarekah and her pal, Big Bear.

There were bears everywhere!

Our Little Baby Is Growing Up!

2009-03-17T10:15:00.001-07:00

Our baby is growing up so fast! Every day is a new challenge, a new adventure and a new look. She is so beautiful and such a good baby, I mean little girl, and we are truly blessed.

Close-Up!

Watching her favorite cartoon

Giving Mama the "thumbs up"

Telling me that she NEEDS something

Zoo Trip - March 10, 2009

2009-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

We're going to the Zoo! My sister Kendra called last night and said she wanted to take the kids to the Zoo. I was a little worried because of the weather and Jarekah has been so sick lately, but I decided to bundle her up and go. I am so glad I did! Jarekah loved the Zoo and seeing all the "babies." Jarekah thinks all animals are her babies. She loved the monkeys the most and wanted to hold them like her stuffed animal monkeys. We encountered snow and it was VERY cold out, but we were able to see a lot of the animals. All in all, it was a very good trip and you can't beat the $2 special price for the day!

amur leopard

My favorite animal...the tiger!

He stood up for us!

Aww...twin polar bears!

Jarekah is trying to find a familiar face!

LUNCH!

Jarekah and Mama in front of the elephants

The primates!

Sea lion caves...they were massive and beautiful to watch.

Our first picture...yep, that is snow!

Seaside Trip - February 26, 2009

2009-03-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

So we woke up this morning and decided to take a day trip to Seaside and then to see my folks in Astoria. We got up early and headed straight there. We spent the day playing in Seaside. It was very cold and windy, but we ventured out anyway. The beach was beautiful! What a great day!

Jarekah and Mommy pointing at the birds

Jarekah with Daddy

A local store owner had this new little puppy and let us hold him. He was so cute! Jarekah fell in love with him!

Mommy was brave and gave Jarekah her own ice-cream cone. She did such a good job!

The Month of Love-February Randomness

2009-02-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

I woke up to this beautifully laid out Valentine surprise!

February 14, 2009

Chocolates, roses, gift basket and card

Jarekah coloring Valentine's pictures
I can't believe how big she is getting! She will be 18 months-old on March 3rd!

Jarekah looks so cute!

We took Jarekah to Chuck E Cheese last week. She had a blast!

Jarekah and Chuckie

February9, 2009

With my Girls

February 8, 2009

Clowning around
February 8, 2009

Eric with his Girls
February 8, 2009

Jarekah wearing her Valentine's dress from Gramma Carol
Febrary 8, 2008

I love this one! Best Buds...Jarekah and Maddie
Febrary 8, 2009

Jarekah is looking older!
February 3, 2009

Taylor's Tenth Birthday-January 19, 2009

2009-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Taylor turned 10 years old today! (January 19th) I can't believe how much she has grown since I first met Eric. She was only 7 when I first met her! We had a party for her on her actual birthday. We got together with Eric's Mom, Carol. Gramma Carol bought a cake and ice-cream and then took us all out to dinner to celebrate Taylor's birthday.

Taylor's cake

Getting ready to light the candles

She blew out her candles!

We held Taylor's birthday party on Saturday, January 24th at Chuck E Cheese. Taylor's mother's family were able to attend, which made us very happy. Her grandpa Dennis and grandma Arlene (maternal) as well as her auntie Kandee and auntie Alesha also attended. Alesha brought her friend Amber and Kandee's husband, Aaron, (Taylor's uncle) also came. Of course Aunt Kendra, Uncle Matt and cousin Paisley also came.

Aww...Taylor, Jarekah and Daddy

Aww...Madison, Jarekah and Daddy

Eric is cutting Taylor's birthday Cake

Taylor blowing out her candles

Taylor, Madison's head, Alesha and Amber in the background with Kandee, Aaron and Arlene.

Arlene, Madison, Kandee and Aaron

I think Taylor had a good birthday. She got a lot of presents! I think Taylor's favorite present is her new turtle Destiny Bob. We are not positive on the gender of her new turtle, so Taylor named it Destiny Bob.

Taylor also got a gift card to Bullwinkles from her relatives on her mom's side. Aunt Kendra and Uncle Matt got her an electronic High School Musical diary. Gramma Carol got her a lot of new clothes, art supplies, fashion art set and new shoes. My parents got her clothes, Lite Brite and Hannah Montana jewlery.

The Latest and Greatest - December Moments

2008-12-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

We are so excited that Jarekah has finally entered the world of walking. She has been walking along furniture and with toys for several months, but would not walk without assistance. Eric finally figured out that if we bribe her with something she wants, she will walk!

Eric bribed her with little pieces of a ham I cooked for dinner.

She is really walking now! We didn't even have to bribe her to walk.

Here are some fun photos to capture the month:

We took Jarekah to the picture studio...our little Santa Baby!

Our three girls at home on Christmas morning. Eric and I were so excited we had all of them together.

Taylor and Madison goofing around on Christmas morning.

Jarekah loved unwrapping her gifts. She was so careful and cute about it. She averaged about 10 minutes per present opening them, until Eric "helped" her.

We went to Eric's Dad and Stepmother's house first...Taylor got playing cards among other things.

Eric's Dad and Stepmother found the cutest dinnerwear sets for the girls. The plates have children saying "Merry Christmas" in different languages from around the world.

Madison is showing Jarekah the plate with all the children and the different languages.

Next we went to Eric's Mom, Carol's, house. Carol bought the girls so many things!

Taylor is modeling a new outfit from Gramma Carol

Carol has a room dedicated to grandchildren that is full of toys. Jarekah loves the kitchen the most.

Madison is modeling her new outfit from Gramma Carol.

Jarekah loves to ride the horsey at Gramma Carol's house.

Next we went to Uncle Jarek's house. Jarekah loves her best buddy, Uncle Jarek! It was so cute...she was so excited to see him.

Next we went to my parents' house in Astoria. Jarekah loves opening presents!

Jarekah can pretty much feed herself now. This is Christmas dinner in Astoria.

More unwrapping at Grampa Ron and Gramma Michelle's house. Scouty was there too!

Finn and Judah are opening presents that Gramma Michelle is handing out.

Kendra, Matt and baby Paisley are surrounded!

This picture was taken when the snow first hit. We got Jarekah all dressed for the snow and adventured out. As you can see from the picture, Jarekah was a little annoyed with us!

Our snow baby!

Taylor loved playing in the snow

Madison also loved playing in the snow

Jarekah's first snow!

Jarekah is off to pre-Preschool

2008-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

I thought this was hilarious. I was doing dishes in the kitchen and Madison (Eric's daughter) put Jarekah's backpack on her. Jarekah loved it! It made me think of how fast Jarekah has grown and soon she will be off to Preschool.

Jarekah's Pet

2008-12-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

We found this hamster in a ball (toy) at KB Toystore. Jarekah has so much fun chasing it around. We can't stop laughing! As you can see, Jarekah thinks it is real and even tries to kiss the hamster through the ball a couple of times.

Bye-Bye Snow

2008-12-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Jarekah is eating her breakfast and the snow stopped falling. She is saying "bye-bye" to the snow. (12-14-08)

Talking about the snow

2008-12-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

Talking about the little bit of snow we received 12-14-08

More December Fun

2008-12-15T10:53:00.001-08:00

We woke up to a bit of snow! (12-14-08) This is the view from our master bathroom window.

This is the view from our master bedroom deck

I caught Jarekah playing in her favorite kitchen cabinet again

Just woke up and having some breakfast

More walking

2008-12-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

12-15-08: She loves to walk!

Getting Over Being Sick

2008-12-14T23:58:00.000-08:00

So, as you probably noticed, I have not written in a while. Things have been very crazy for us since early October. Eric and I started a new business adventure for a company called Nutty Guys. Basically, we distribute dried goods and nuts to a grocery chain. Eric still works full-time as a manager in-training for the meat department at WinCo Foods, so we do not have much time for other activities.

We moved at the same time we started Nutty Guys, so that was a big ordeal in and of itself. We are still here in Vancouver and love having a bigger place. We are in the process of suing for sole custody of Eric's two daughters from his previous marriage. We have been going through this process for over 6 months now. We are hoping to resolve this issue soon.

We have all been sick the past couple of weeks. It seems when one of us gets well, the other one gets sick. We are still getting over being sick, but it looks like there is an end in sight!

Eric is half-way through his Business Management degree program at University of Phoenix. This keeps him busy as well. We have a full and crazy life, but we are happy and hope all of you are healthy, happy and that you have a very wonderful holiday season!

2008-12-14T22:39:00.000-08:00

Jarekah is talking a lot nowadays. I can actually have a mini conversation with her. This video was taken this morning (Dec 14) right after she had her breakfast. She is crawling like crazy, but only walks with assistance from Mama, Daddy, furniture, or toys. She is so much fun!

December Fun

2008-12-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

We just couldn't resist...we gave Jarekah one of her Christmas presents early. As you can see, she loves it!

Jarekah Is One Year Old!

2008-09-14T01:09:00.001-07:00

So Eric and I still cannot believe our baby is one year-old already. She has grown so fast and we have enjoyed every single minute of it. Yes...even the early morning feedings, burpings, dirty diapers...EVERYTHING! Jarekah is not our little baby anymore, even though she will always be our baby, she has grown into quite the toddler. She says more words now, like "Daddy", "Mama", "Baby", "Ball", "Go", and more.

We had Jarekah's birthday party on Saturday, September 6th. She was so fun to watch. As you will see in the pictures, she demolished her birthday cake. I made her a cake of her own, so she could have at it! She is so much fun and we love playing with her. She has started dancing to different music. She loves dancing around with us and it is really cute. We started putting her in the crib at night and letting her cry verses rocking her to sleep every night. That was a hard thing to do, but after only a few nights, she figured it out quickly that it was sleepy-time. That was over a month ago!

Jarekah has eight teeth now and has a molar coming in. She has been somewhat fussy the past two days, but that is to be expected. We found out on September 9th at her one year check-up that she measures 32 inches and is 27 pounds! That's our little ham! Her head measures 48 centimeters now. She is a big girl!Jarekah is very mobile now, but still refuses to crawl the "traditional" way. She scoots all around the floor. She is more interested in walking than crawling. She can stand all by herself and can take a step or two before she realizes we aren't holding her and she freaks out.

I know I should write more and I promise to give it the good ole' college try!

Beautiful Birthday Girl

"1" Year Pinata

Monkey Theme (Everything was "Curious George")

The Cake I Made for Jarekah

Jarekah's Curious George Cake

Snagged Grapes When No One Was Looking!

Playing With Her Sissy Taylor

Cake!

Mmm...this isn't bad!

Getting Better!

Sugar Coma!

Demolished!

Jarekah With Her Buddy, Uncle Jarek

Opening Presents With Daddy's Help

What Does It Say, Daddy?

Jarekah's First Birthday

2008-07-16T14:17:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

We wanted to let you know we will be having Jarekah's first birthday party on September 6, 2008. I can't believe she is going to be one year-old soon. It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. They grow way too fast. I will be sending invitations out soon. I may need some of your addresses though!

Long Beach Trip

2008-07-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Eric and I took Jarekah to the beach for the first time. It was so windy! Jarekah loved watching the seagulls and was very happy to have her first taste of ice cream. We spent the night at my parents' house in Astoria the night before. It was a perfect day!

New at this

2008-07-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone...we have wanted to start a family page for updates and sharing photos for a while now, but just had not done it. Well, we finally sat down and started one. We are looking forward to keeping in touch with friends and family.