And We're Back.....Happy 2015

Ok, I realize it's 2015 and we've basically been M.I.A (missing in action) for quite some time on this blog. My hope is, with improved technology around this place, that we will get a few more posts to keep a lifeline for those of you peeking in from time to time.

This holiday season flew by, filled with much joy and sorrow.  After this last special visit in the hospital during our Thanksgiving visit (pictured below), Grandpa Ernie passed away from complications after a broken hip and replacement. I'm super grateful for this special last encounter with him and that I was able to tell him I loved him and give him kisses. His memory will alway be with me. He was celebrated and honored well by family and friends together in mid Dec 2014 and he will be greatly missed by many!

In our mid Dec visit to SD we were healthy enough to spend time with all the family in town for the funeral including the newest member, Reggie! Addie was so excited to snuggle him and is looking forward to future "babysitting!"

 All the kids had Christmas programs at school this year! Kai had a special speaking part in his 1st grade program in which he did EXCELLENT memorizing and performing with hardly any practice at home. Addie practiced her songs over and over before the program at home, in the car, in the bath and while playing!! She knew them VERY well! Unlike Kai in pre-K (who focused on NOT making any eye contact), Eli smiled and made proud faces at us all through his preschool Christmas program! He had one proud happy momma! His class had a party for Jesus with treats afterwards as pictured below.

 The "girls" (Scout and Addie) sprawling on the new IKEA rug together in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. It is always so cozy!

 Eli posing on Christmas morning while opening gifts! He's sporting his new penguin sk8 pjs he got at an earlier Christmas celebration!

 It's all business with Kai and his new MEGA Nerf gun on Christmas morning. Thanks Aunt Kelly and Uncle Reid and Olen!

 The pic below is attempting to catch the Christmas outfits after church on Christmas Eve. I always forget. What a good looking crew in their assortment of red plaids!

We were able to celebrate Christmas on multiple occasions this year! We "faked" Christmas with gift exchanges on both trips to SD between Nov and Dec. We had a special Unrein family gathering and meal at Uncle Chad and Aunt Jenna's house right before Christmas and then gathered with extended family on Christmas Day in Denver. It was great to be able to spend Christmas Eve at home with friends from CA to just hang, play games, and enjoy new friends!

Happy 10th Anniversary!!!

Derrick and I ended up doing a "staycation" for our anniversary due to weather but enjoyed every second together without kids and chaos! We enjoyed Melting Pot fondue (thanks to Papa and MooMoo), movies, our first but hopefully not last couples massage, coffee together and good books. Can't wait to see what the next 10 years holds.

Merry Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Fall 2013

I love Fall. 

It was a beautiful season this year around here....sun, leaves, warm days and crisp nights. We grew 3 small pumpkins in our garden this summer, actually that's ALL we grew. The pumpkin vines took over our garden AND yard. However, the proud kids of the "homemade" pumpkins on our front steps was well worth it! Mind you, these pumpkins pictured here are bought from our neighborhood farm, the grown ones were much, much smaller!

Carving pumpkins for our porch

These two enjoying the front yard swing together, with no arguing, yelling, or sass. It's days like this moms live for!

Sharing the swing, problem solved.

Addie started dance class this year at preschool. She is LOVING it! She is especially fond of her ballet outfit she changes into for each class. It is no easy task looking this beautiful and prepared for class in 5 minutes after school is out, especially when daddy is in charge of helping with tights (however, he IS amazing like that and it gets done)!

Addie ballerina in her proper attire

Derrick and I took a vacation together without the kids for a WHOLE WEEK since...........well, never. We attended the Action Sports Ministry Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for a few days and then stayed an extra 2 days together in addition. The conference was super encouraging and refreshing! It was amazing in all ways. Need I say more.

Florida sunrise. Just wanna go back.

While in Florida, we got to see some long lost friends who maintain a beautiful yacht......yes, that is their job. It was a whole new world for us. So fun to catch up and eat REAL seafood!

Attempting the "high life" on a yacht in Ft. Lauderdale.

My brother, Reid and sister-in-law, Kelly had Olen Quinn in September. Our kids got to meet their new cousin while staying the week with grandpa and grandma in SD. Addie especially bonded with him and gave him some love!

Addie lovin' on new cousin, Olen Quinn.

Hansen grandparents dive into babysitting all 4 grandkids together!

Kai turned 6 this fall! Crazy that that is even possible. He is psyched on his new bike! It has come in handy riding on the trails near our house and riding to and from kindergarten that is 2 blocks from home.

Kai's 6th birthday gift...new bike!

He also is sold out to skateboarding since attending camps with dad this summer. He has been practicing in the garage and taking every chance at hitting the park with dad. He wanted his birthday party at the skate park.....his daddy is tickled about this passion.

6th birthday party at sk8 park.....including new camelback

There couldn't be a more perfect father/son day.....Broncos game! Derrick enjoyed the time together!

Derrick and his dad at the Broncos vs Redskins game!

We all spent Halloween in SD meeting Olen and hanging with family (2 trips in 1 month)! We trick-or-treated several blocks, which is the farthest we've ever gone. We got 3 pumpkins full of candy.....shesh! Great times!

My 3 "scouts" for Halloween in Rapid City.

Kai ready to earn some real badges as a boy scout.

We found girl scout and boy scout shirts at the thrift store, but then added our own patches we picked out from Hobby Lobby. Addie had not-so-traditional patches with pink princesses and a castle and the boys went with a more 'military feel' to their patches. Very fun to jazz them up though!

Wouldn't you buy cookies from this girl scout?? Addie's Halloween costume.

My lil homies hangin' at the sk8 park 

Just love that they enjoy hanging there. Watch out peeps....we got some lil rippers.

Put on your seat belts.........it's a ride through summer with us!

Since I can't seem to get it together and keep up with this blog.....here comes (& goes) our summer in 

a pic blog! These start in Sept and go back through July. Buckle your seat belts........

TODAY!

Kai got his cast off today after 6 wks! Thank goodness, that thing was barely green anymore and smelled aweful! He will wear this black brace during "activity" for 3 wks.

 LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

Annual Balloon Classic on Labor Day weekend! It's our favorite Gaw family and glorious donut breakfast!

Addie and Mom enjoying the bright colors on the balloons.

Camping at Manitou Lake near Woodland Park 

Addie and Eli practicing walking the slack line....Eli's galoshes  are helping him keep his balance :)

Man and man's best friend.....Scout joined our camping trip. She did surprisingly well. She was just glad to be with us!

Hiking at Cheeseman Resevoir.....the water was like a mirror and you could see an amazing reflection!

The kids were fully experiencing the outdoors.....Addie was filing her stick with the Gerber tool.  She looks a little too devious for my liking.

Kai got a supervised lesson with the axe. Sometime he's a bit TOO confident with dangerous tools! Yikes.

First Day of Kindergarten 

Kai is attending James Irwin Charter Academy. It is 2 blocks from home. We walk to and from school most days. He has consistently resisted the idea of school all summer.....but surprisingly he is loving it! He dresses himself, packs his own snack, does his homework and changes out of his uniform as soon as he gets home, and has had a great attitude about hard work and focus and the learning/growing process. All is new and he comes home exhausted after 1/2 day. He stated this week "mom, sometime I wish I could just go back to being 1 It's so much easier" LOL

Yes, Kai wears a uniform to school. 

A goofy out-take.

Preschool Prep

Addie starts preschool! She met her teacher, Mrs. Roth (same as Kai), explored her classroom, and found where she will hang her backpack. She is thrilled to start next Tuesday and I have no doubts she will be an excellent student!

Annual Father/Son Campout

This is at some friends property "the farm" and is all church friends. Eli got to go too! I am convinced it is burping, farting, eating who knows what, and minimal rules.....a boys dream!

Eli getting aggressive with his smore.

Lots of boys, sticks, and fire. Glad the dads were supervising on this one!

My cowboys!

My lil SK8ers. Watching at the Rocky Mtn. Rampage.

Buds. A very nurturing big sis.

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo

4 cowboys and a skater :)

Gotta have our cowboy/cowgirl gear on when we head to the rodeo! Great day! My kids have been WAY into wearing their hats, boots etc all summer.

Olympic Training Downtown

Colorado Springs put on a free event downtown to feature all the sports in the State Games. Almost all the Olympic sports had hands on activities, stickers, tatoos, pencils etc. The kids did trampolining adn they even had a sand volleyball court in the middle of Tejon St. Very cool.

Eli the Olympic weightlifter.

Kai the Olympic boxer.

Eli was quite a hit at the dentist's office! Too cute.

Mud Run

Derrick talked me into doing 2 different 5K runs through the mud with him! One we did with the YMCA and the other with our church, Alethia.

Big Dog Brag. Not bragging :), but we ran walked it twice. Once together and once with our Y students.

Dirty Dash

Kai started Tae Kwando. It stresses character, respect, responsibility, and concentration. Kai really likes it and is practicing his moves at home. He also has to keep track of the above stressed areas with a little weekly report card.....motivated by some rewards from his instructors.

So there you have it......I know I missed a ton of stuff but I'm officially caught up for now :)