My Funny Bean

Hannah would always grab her toes and stick them in her mouth when she was 5 months old... but here she is at 18 month eating her feet!
I've been trying to capture a decent clip of Hannah dancing for ages. Here are a few that actually worked out. The first one she runs away when she sees I'm videoing, the second one is funny cause she's all over the place, and the third is my favorite! She's dance'n and sing'n away! Her expressions are great too

Finishing Our Basement

Nic has been working really hard to finish our basement! It will be so nice to have some more room and especially a room for entertaining when friends and family come over. We started just before Christmas. Nic is doing it himself, learning as he goes, with lots of much appreciated help from his co-workers and boss! Nic has been doing a wonderful job. He is very motivated (seeing as we only have about a month and a half left until his landscaping season really picks up... and if we aren't done it may have to wait a year!) He's got all the framing done, almost all of duct work and plumbing, and he is working on the electrical now. We've got the sheet rock in our basement all ready to go. Whew! Go Nic!

In Memory of our Beloved President Hinckley

Last night at 8:00 pm, I had just put Hannah to bed and Nic was at a Stake Priesthood meeting, I flipped the TV to channel 5 and caught the end of breaking news: President Gordon B. Hinckley had passed away (at age 97). He was the prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The news came as an utter shock. I've been expecting it and expecting it, but when it actually happened I wasn't expecting it at all! I grabbed the phone and called my parents to pass on the news. I needed to talk to someone!

I know President Hinckley is a prophet of God. He did so much good. He's really been serving the Church and the world since 1933, when he went on a mision and then accepted an assignment to run the Radio, Publicity and Mission Literature Committee, he was named an assistant to the Quorum of the 12 in 1958, served in the First Presidency to 3 presidents, and was the prophet and president for, I believe, 13 years. President Hinckley will certainly be remembered for his push and work for building temples. He traveled the world. He is the prophet of the world and loves the people everywhere. He has been on every continent. This wonderful man did so much good to bring positive coverage to the Church. He was open and funny. What a sense of humor he had. He kept us all on our toes! At conferences he would wave his cane. Here is a picture of him "knighting" President Eyring when he was called into the First Presidency. I was watching on TV and didn't know until latter what all the laughing was about.

President Hinckley will be sorely missed. I love him dearly and am saddened by his passing; however, I joy in his life and his great influence. I can't help but think of what a joyeous reception he must have received in heaven! First with his wife, I'm sure both he and she are so, so happy to be with one another again. With our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. With Brother Joseph. With all those blessed by temple work. What wonderful man of God!

Tagged. Nic and Nat.

I was tagged by my sister-in-law, Ashley, to tell about Nic. Here goes:

What is his name? Nicholas Dwaine

How long have you been married? 3 (almost and a 1/2) years

How long did you date? Off and on, and off and on, and off and on... for a year.

How old is he? 30

Who eats more? Nic, when he actually eats. Sometimes he'll come home and hasn't eaten anything all day!

Who said I love you first? I did. Does that surprise you? It surprises me.

Who is smarter? It depends on in/about what. I'm probably more "book smart" but Nic is much smarter in the hands-on, daily things. He really is very intelligent and great at figuring things out... after all he's finishing our basement right now!

Whose temper is worse? Temper? Probably mine. Not that I really have a "temper" but I'm not very patient.

Who does the laundry? Definitely me. Unless of course Nic's work clothes are piling up. He's good about doing those.

Who does the dishes? On a daily basis, me. But again, Nic is a great help. He likes to have a clean house. It bugs him when they aren't done. If you were to ask 'who mops the floor?' that would definitely be Nic.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.

Who pays the bills? I do. (Any volunteers?)

Who cooks dinner? I do.

Who drives when you are together? Nic. He likes having control when he drives. It "drives" him crazy if he's not driving... but I really am a good driver.

Who is more stubborn? We can both be very stubborn! I say he's more. He says I'm more. (How's that for stubborn!?)

Who proposed? Did he or did I? No, Nic did. He wanted to a year before I was ready... I came to him and let him know I was good to go. (Or something like that!)

Who has more friends? I do. I need friends, Nic really doesn't. So, thanks for being my friends!

Who has more siblings? I do by one. But now Nic has 5 stepbrothers/sister.

Who wears the pants in the family? Nic likes to think he does. No really, we work together really well. Just like the Family Proclamation says one for nurturing, one for providing.

I love Nic. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful, hard working husband. He is so patient with me and all my quirks and imperfections. He truly is my best friend.

Okay, I tag Ashley L.

Aren't I the luckiest!

Little Cheeser!

rub-a-dub-dub
Look at those eyes

We made this laundry basket into a bed for Hannah's babies. One day I put her in it; she thought that was the funniest thing!

Today. Her smile is radiant.Aren't I the luckiest! (that's really not a question!)

Whodunit?

Nic and I got all dressed up and went out on the town to dance the Charleston... okay, yeah right! I could never get Nic to do that. But I did convince him to get dressed up for a Murder Mystery party! The party was at our friends' home. They did a wonderful job putting it together! It was set in the 1920's at the opening of a club called The Four Deuces. I was Baroness Ravioli ("yes, you can call me Baroness!") and Nic was the Inspector. We had a ravishing time filled with mystery, deceit, name calling, fun, food, and laughter!

Christmas Morning... and others

Christmas morning was so fun this year. It is so magically to be a mother and see things through different eyes. Hannah was excited about opening and especially with playing with her toys! It was fun with Nic too. Usually he knows everything he is getting... but he got some surprises this year!

Pjs for the Polar Express

Look at all these cute girl cousins in their matching jammies!
They are ready to go to the North Pole.
Aidie, Hannah, Afton, Graysen, Averie
Don't forget Carter!

Roach Christmas pictures

One of Hannah's favorite "toys" during Christmas were some Christmas tins that used to be Grandma Denise's (Nic's mom). She called them her buckets and she would carry them all around the house then set them down and sit on them. Hannah also loved having us help her open them and she'd put toys inside.Here's the memory quilt we did for Clyde and Marj for Christmas. Isn't it fun?!

Karlie, Ryan, Hallie, Dan, Daishan, and Aaron looking on while Clyde and Marj looked at their quilt.

Hannah snuggling with the blanket that Grandma Marj made her!Picture of Ashley and Hannah on Christmas Eve.

Whew!

I'm back! Wow it has been a busy, busy last couple of months! It seems like I haven't stopped since before Thanksgiving. I love the holiday season but its nice when its over too and we can get back our schedule. I'm usually one that's always up for a party, but its nice to be a home too!

Here's some of the things we've been up to:

1. Roach family

• Gingerbread houses
• Aaron, Nic's brother, and his family were in town. We had a wonderful time playing with them (dinners, movie parties...) and wish we could see them more often.
• I took charge of the Christmas gift for Clyde and Marj. I wanted us to give something meaningful from the entire gang Hansen kids and Roach kids alike. I got the idea just after Christmas last year... a memory quilt. Each member of the family had a quilt square they had to make (or have parents help). It was a whole LOT of work, more than I bargained for. But it turned out great.
• We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas breakfast with Nic's family. One thing we do on Christmas Eve is go to the cemetary and put some candles on Nic's mom's grave.
• Roach family pictures (boy, that was an event!)

2. Allen family

• 100th birthday celebration for Grandpa Allen
• My parents took the grandchildren on the Polar Express (Heber Valley Railroad)! Mom and Dad got them matching pajamas to wear. They got to met some elves, Santa, and drink hot chocolate.
• Baird Christmas party (Mom's side of the family)
• I put together a book for my parents from all of us kids. It had a letter from each of the families and was loaded with fun family pictures
• Aidie's birthday party
• Allen dinner and gift exchange
• The other part of our Christmas gift to my parents was to help them with some projects they needed done. I helped organize us into two teams on two different days. We organized and painted...
• New Year's Eve party

3. Callings:

• Nic and I were called to be Youth Conference coordinators for the youth in our ward. (We'll discuss this more later...) It has been busy already and this is just the beginning.
• I was also released as a Relief Society teacher (which I loved and will miss) and was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's organization. I am excited to work with and learn from the young women. Between the two callings, things really have been busy!

Well, those are the highlights in a nutshell. Now do you understand why its been so long... I'll add pictures soon.