This past weekend we headed to Blackfoot and Pocky to see the newest member of the Hansen clan. Matt's sister had Jack Dean Palmer on February 12th. We had a great time getting to visit them and see our new nephew. Bailee loved every minute and Owen just wasn't quite sure what Jack was (a doll, a puppy...who knows) We are so excited for our kids to have a cousin on the Hansen side to play with. 
So we are going to SLC in May to see Dave Ramsey Live! While we are there we have arranged to see our friends the Nielsons. I made a HUGE mistake of telling Bailee that she would get to see Bethany. I don't normally even tell her that we are going out of town until the day before or the day of because she just doesn't have any concept of time yet. Since she has been asking if it is time to leave yet since yesterday afternoon I decided that I needed to do something to help her see when we get to go. So here are the 3 calendars that we will be marking off everyday until then. So far she hasn't asked since I made them...an hour ago. What was I thinking?
The other day right in the middle of dinner Bailee was talking to to us just as normal and then all of a sudden she turned, laid her head on my arm and fell asleep with in minutes. She must have been really tired. Luckily it was Sunday and we were all in jammies already.
Earlier that morning, we were getting ready for church and she found my lipstick... doesn't she look beautiful?
We got quite a bit of snow the end of December and first part of January and every day Bailee asked if we could build a snowman. Unfortunately the snow was powder and not good for snowman building. Finally one day we had a bit of rain, just enough to make the snow wet and compact-able. After dinner Matt took Bailee out to build their snow man. He was taller than Matt and Bailee loved it.
The snow ball for his mid section was too heavy to lift so Matt made a ramp.
Bailee named the little snowman "Owen"
Bailee and Matt with their Snowman.For Valentines Day, our ward had a semi-formal dance. It was so fun. I was on the committee and was involved with the plans from the begining, so it was great that it turned out to be a great success. My friend, Anna was set up to take pictures of everyone, there was a live band and some fabulous food. We had a great time.
This is Owen's favorite place to be. He loves pulling out these drawers and climbing in. I hope that one of these days he doesn't break them. It is so funny how he loves to climb in things. 
One would think that I, the woman with a six month rotating menu, would know what we are having for dinner tonight. I have a confession... I don't know!
While I love my menu system, my distaste for grocery shopping has taken over. I needed to go grocery shopping on Monday and so for the past two days I have been playing the menu by ear and just seeing what we have in the house for dinner. With all of the happenings in our day to day life, the last thing that I want' to do is grocery shop, especially when it is cold, wet, windy or snowy outside. It has been all of those things this week. If only I could hire someone to do the shopping for me...
Christmas Day was so much fun this year with two little ones. Bailee completely understood the Santa thing and was so excited for Christmas morning. Unfortunately for Santa, she kept changing what she wanted from the Big Man. She had said that she wanted a new "big girl" bike and that is what we put on her list, but when Santa came for a pre-Christmas Eve visit she told him that she wanted a puppy. Luckily she was happy when Santa spoiled her with a bike and a toy puppy that barks and wags his tail. Owen still didn't know what was going on but thoroughly enjoyed all of the the unwrapping.
We were all spoiled with gifts and most of all by the great company of our families. We had Matt's Parents, my mom and my grandma (GG).
Bailee loves Tinker Bell and was so excited about this doll.
Matt was surprised with a gorilla pod for all of his outdoor adventures.
Owen loved the xylophone he got.
I have been looking at this way cool spice rack for months and was so excited to get one. I love it! A big thanks to my sister Kristin. ( I actually got two...I really wanted one and told everyone. But Matt's mom took the one she got to use in her own kitchen, we are both lucky girls)
My sister Kristin also gave Bailee this princess tent. She was SOOOO excited and said "I've been begging for this". Which is totally true. She pickup a toy catalog at JC Penny's one day and carried it around for weeks. It had one of these tents in it and every time she saw it she would tell me that she needed one. Leave it to Aunt Kristin to get inside her little mind (I believe that it is a gift she has for gift giving).
Some of our favorite things about Christmas are the traditions we have in our families.
Each year that we are in Boise we have the privilege of going to the Schildan's for Deanne's delicious wedding soup and the great company of family and friends. This year we went with Tami's mom and her grandma. It was a wonderful time.
Owen opening his Christmas pajamas.
Bailee opening her Christmas Pajamas.
Bailee reading stories with GG
Making cookies.The day of the presidential inauguration I decided to turn on the news and watch what I could before I had to go to my meeting. I thought that it would be a good opportunity to talk to Bailee just a little bit about getting a new President. She started hearing "Obama" a lot, as to be expected on the news coverage. She even started to recognize him when they showed him as well. After an hour or so of the news, she came into me and said "Mom, I am done with OBAMA! Can we watch one of my shows?" So I kindly changed the channel to PBS she was able to see about the last ten minutes of a show and a new one should have been coming on. Just then the PBS news broke in with their coverage of the inauguration. Bailee was quite upset and very loudly stated "Mom, I said I was Done with OBAMA!" I just had to laugh and then feel sorry for her, because that sure is a lot of news for one little 3 year old. Good thing it only happens ever 4 years.
