Spring Break and Easter 2017

All the kids enjoyed a Cheese Ben with Grandpa!

The kids had a good walk on the river trail with Grandpa and Grandma!

This is what I got when I told Henrik to smile for Grandpa.

Easter egg hunt at Grandma's.

Blowing bubbles with Grandpa on his new cement.

March 2016

From my 2016 Mason Jar Journal:

• 3.9.16 - Jake helped me finish installing the chalkboard mantelpieces
• 3.16.16 - Tammy's wedding shower went very well and was really cute
• 3.20.16 - We celebrated Easter early with the kids; Abbi woke us up early; RaNae came from dinner; I studied the people who were present during the last week of the Savior's life
• 3.26.16 - We celebrated Easter with my family; the girls had a craft night when the boys went home
• 3.30.16 - I went to the 9 a.m. session at the Ogden Temple; I'm so grateful I went and for the blessings of the holy temple
• 3.31.16 - Noah played a season of basketball and started karate

Abbi is preparing for our trip in November!

Easter table set with a place for Jesus.

I gave the mantel a makeover with chalkboards.

Jake and the kids found a fishing boat.

Baymax loves running water, not standing water.

Noah tried a few months of karate.

This sign was in the bathroom of a cute boutique.

Holy Week

To prepare for Holy Week, I studied a book given to me by my co-workers when I left the Centerville D.I.  I hadn't ever read it all the way through and am glad that I finally took the time to do it.  I learned many new things about the events of the Savior's life during his final week.  It also tied a lot of events and passages together to show the symbolism of the Savior's death and ressurection.  After reading this book, I wanted to share it with the kids in a way that would help them know what Easter really is and how much their Heavenly Father and Savior love them.

From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, we talked about what the Savior was doing on that day of his life.  Then together, we made a note or drawing to remember what we learned.  Above the fireplace I had taped up a few dozen pictures of the Savior during his ministry and through his ressurection.  Each night, we would each choose a favorite for the day and say why we chose it.  Then, we would hang it in another place where we could see our favorite pictures all week.

This experience of studying about the Savior helped me feel of his love and my significance to him.  And even better was sharing this with Abbi and Noah.  We had many tender moments where we were able to feel the Spirit together teaching and testifying of our Savior's love for us.  On Friday night, Noah was able to feel and learn from the Spirit.  I've never felt happier or more blessed than when we felt the Spirit together in our home.

Palm Sunday

Abbi drew a Palm leaf, the donkey Jesus rode, and Noah cut out a Palm leaf.

Abbi drew the numbers representing the newly called 12 apostles and a Fig leaf from the story of the cursed Fig tree.

We read some of the parables Jesus used to teach and then made a list of how we can share our blessings and be ready to meet the Savior.

Abbi and Noah drew the evil spirit depicted from a piece of art we saw in our book.  Abbi also drew a pot of oil and spices used to annoint the Savior.  Noah drew oil lamps.

Noah drew the Paschal Lamb to represent the Passover.  Abbi drew the Olive tree and surrounding garden.

With Jake, we learned about the crucifiction.  The best part of the week was watching the kids understand that the Savior would have lived and died just for them.  We ate unleavened (pita) bread for dinner.

Noah drew the rock that guarded the tomb.  Abbi drew the guard.

Easter Sunday, we remembered that Jesus lived again and that is the most important part of Holy Week.  Because He Lives, we can live now and forever, knowing our Heavenly Father.

Best Easter Week ever!

Hansen Easter Party

Tiffani, Henrik, James, Abbi, Elizabeth, Jack, Noah, Marlie

Henrik's first hunt.

Proof that you shouldn't give candy to children.

Anne and Henrik.

Kickball game with Uncle Jake.

Chickens

We got a few chickens to keep in the yard so we could have fresh eggs.  Jake planned out a rotation so we would have some hens for eggs and some hens for eating.  I've never had anything like a chicken around before so this has been a little interesting.  I do like them, but it's still weird.

We go 7 black chickens that Jake had studied out to be good for the weather, good in the yard, and good with kids.  We lost one of them a couple nights in.  It was probably too cold for her.  They stayed in the garage for a little while until we moved them into the barn.  They still have their light to keep warm and still live in a box.  It's been fun watching them grow.

A few days before Easter, Jake's friend sold us 10 meat chickens.  They were about five weeks old so we plan to keep them for about five more weeks before we eat them.  They accidentally sent us home with 11 chickens.  Jake turned the little shed into a coop for them.  We've even added a little door where they can come out into a little pen onto the grass.  They grow so fast and barely walk around anymore because they can't hold up their meaty-selves.

On Easter Saturday there was a bit of an incident.  The kids are obsessed with the chickens and like to go in and out of the coop all the time.  Abbi went in to see them and Daisy quickly got through the door with her.  In less than 30-seconds, Daisy got one of the chickens but ran away when Abbi screamed.  It was injured and Jake acted before remembering his audience.  He was in the coop really fast and snapped the chicken's neck.  Then he stepped out of the coop and smacked Daisy with the chicken carcass a few times to teach her a lesson.  Noah and Abbi were stunned, standing in the yard, and I was stunned, standing in the back door.  The chicken's head flew off while Jake smacked Daisy.  Then, the country boy just walked away, taking the carcass to the dumpster.  Drama ensued, Daisy was bathed in the yard, and Easter went on as planned.

Random Picture Download

I haven't used the digital camera for a long time, until last night.  I figure it's time to download those pictures, some are from Christmas....

Daisy took over the kitty bed.

Making soap on Christmas.

Jake got a hold of the camera.

This is a good one.
Daisy knocked the cat's water bowl down the steps and scooted it to this position.  Then, she went and got her favorite dragon toy and put him in front of it.  She is so thoughtful.

Wild Easter Babies.

Wildness continues...

Abbi helping Jake smile for our picture.

Jake using his own face to smile.

Creative or Alarming?

Noah drew these during church the day after we moved into our new home, March 16, 2014.  I don't know how to feel right now.  Prediction, creativity, improved art skills, evil?  Hmmmm....

In Like A Tiger .... Out Like A Lamb

Does anyone else feel like March was a REALLY long month?  We got all moved and just spent our first weekend home together in our two-bedroom rental.  We are all grateful for the yard and the quiet street for bike riding.  We've met lots of neighbors and loved our new ward.  The kids have met lots of kids on our street.  There are an enormous number of girls on our road which makes Abbi very happy.  She's already been to Activity Days with them and raved about the "lovely church."

To end the month, we played all weekend.  Jake had FOUR days off so we made the most of it!  Thursday, was Grandma Tracy's birthday.  We had dinner with her and then went up the mountainside in Deweyville and shot guns.  This was Abbi's first time using her BB gun Jake gave her for her birthday.  It was my first time shooting anything other than a BB gun.  I have to say, it was really fun to shoot a handgun and I was a really good shot.  Those empty Diet Coke bottles had it coming {for being empty, you know}.

Abbi aced her big science test on Friday!  After school, we went to The Croods which easily became a new favorite, especially for Noah.  We ate movie junk food and loved it.  After the movie, we took them to pick out new scooters and a bike for Noah.  Abbi picked out a plain Razor {but then traded for the pink one at my mom's house}.  Noah originally picked out the Mickey Mouse scooter but after seeing the Buzz Lightyear scooter he changed his mind.  He says the Buzz one is "really fancy."  Unfortunately, we played outside until after dark and were eaten alive by mosquitoes.  Isn't it a little early for bugs?!

The Easter Bunny hopped by our house on Saturday.  Abbi and Noah loved their little surprises and hunting eggs in our front yard.  Jake and Abbi went on a date to golf nine holes.  Abbi loves to drive the cart but ran over a few things this round.  Jake tried to teach her his smooth technique of leaning out of the cart to pick up golf balls.  She tried it but for some reason Jake turned the cart at the same time.  The girl rolled right out of the cart.  They both came home laughing about that.  For our date, Noah and I went to the Kangaroo Zoo.  Elizabeth and Aunt Tiffani came with us.  Noah spent the majority of his time at the drinking fountain.  While getting into a bounce house he accidentally head-butted an already crying kid who returned the favor by biting him at the top of another slide.  Good times.  When we finished our dates, we met at Kneaders for lunch.

Coloring Easter Eggs was really fun.  We used 12 colors which seems like 10 more than I've ever seen.  While they love coloring them, they both complain about eating them.  I know I can't really hold it against them when they don't eat the yolk but on the other hand, they both LOVE "sloppy eggs," which is just an overeasy egg.  Daisy liked to play Easter Eggs, too.

My mom had a BIG egg hunt for all the grandkids.  The group has unofficially grown to 8 and they all had fun.  Plus, Gavin {a borrowed grandchild} hunted, too.  The younger ones are enjoying the attention and fun with the new teenaged grandkids.  We ate and hunted and played.

I had a hard time getting started on Easter Sunday.  I was so sad and worried about my little grandma who had to go to the hospital.  She's in surgery now but is much better than she was yesterday.  After I pulled myself together, we went to our new ward.  We all really enjoyed it.  And, I was happy to have Anne and Elizabeth there, too.  Jakey got sick during our combined meeting and had to leave.  Fortunately, he made it home without yacking on the old ladies he said he was stuck behind when he was walking out.

The kids and I had a yummy lunch with my family and Jake was really happy for the plate I brought home for his healing tummy.  I had a special Easter Family Home Evening prepared to teach the kids about the real meaning of Easter.  It went so well and they both had lots of comments.  Noah learned a lot about Easter during Sunbeams.  When we talked about Jesus going to the temple in Jeruselem, Abbi put it together that we were reading about Jeruselem in the Book of Mormon.  She remembered that in the Book of Mormon, Jeruselem was destroyed so she wanted to understand how Jesus was in Jeruselem.  After we talked about the week before the resurrection, we watched the video, He Is Risen.  I watched it the other night and loved it and was excited to see what the kids thought.  They wanted to watch it again and to find more Bible Videos.  It was so great.  I was so happy to have that experience in our home together.

Now, Spring Break begins and I'm all out of ideas.  Luckily, the kids really love to ride their scooters and bikes up and down the street.  Hopefully, the thunder and lightening will leave us alone for the rest of the week.  And now, a load of pictures.