A day at the beach...

Well, it's been a while since the last update, and we've had a few new Hansen Family Adventures! A few weeks ago we were set to go downtown to Portland's Saturday Market...just as we were pulling out of the driveway, we decided to detour and head to the coast...we felt kind of sneaky not telling anyone where we were going, since we were expected back sometime in the afternoon...but in all honesty, we knew no one would really care...but we felt like bandits escaping in the night anyhoo!!!

We spent most of the day at Seaside, then traveled north to Astoria...couldn't help going over this massive bridge (the length of it disappears in the fog) it stretches over the mouth of the Columbia...couldn't pass it up...so we reset the trip odometer and over and back we went...one way was 41/2 miles!!!
John and Baby Carter taking a stroll...it was a perfect fall day at the beach, sunny, a few clouds, cool....and just right for a barefoot dip into the water!

Although our shadows make us look like giants, I still thought this was kind of a fun picture...who can resist writing something sentimental in the sand?!

At the Seaside Carousel mall, taking it all in.

Carter and Mommy on the board walk.

Late Night Drug Run...

Can you see the wild look of desperation in our eyes?!!! Why did we move to this crazy state that requires you to have a Rx to get sudafed? ABSOLUTELY rediculous!!! Since ALL...and I mean ALL of the children have been sick going on two weeks, we've lost all sanity and decided to pack the kids up and make a late night run to Vancouver Washington to get the blessed childrens cold medicine with sudafed in it...we promised AKA bribed them with treats and a movie in the car....perhaps we should've taken it as a sign when the DVD player wouldn't work.....

Autumn and Carter ready for a mini road trip
YES...we should have taken the broken DVD player as a sign, but we ignored it...however we were wise enough to not ignore a burnt-out headlight bulb...while I beat on the DVD player Brook and John ran into Fred Meyer to buy a new bulb...of course, where do we choose to change it...in the parking lot....that's right...it's dark and we're changing a bulb in the parking lot...the hulabaloo we encountered trying to get on the road SHOULD have been a HUGE blinking SIGN... "This is not a good idea!...Turn back now!"

Oh, yes, these kiddies needed the drugs...or is it more for the desperate sleepless parents??

Poor John, being the only adult in the group without hips, he got nominated as the back, back seat companion to the babies...OK, so we bribed him with some ice cream...it always works!!

After finally making it accross the border, we got turned around and around looking for a store with a pharmacy, finally we made it to a walmart, we raced to the cold section...and alas...they DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN'S SUDAFED...we asked and asked if they had it, but the crazy foof haired girl with a disgusting amount of piercings informed us with a blank stare and monotone voice that she thought they had adult sudafed...LAME! When we got back to the car Abrianna was BURNING up with a fever, so we took her shirt off, found a dirty old rag in the van soaked it in water wrapped it around her neck, had her chug some ice water, and raced off to find the next store...we would not end until we could declare mission complete! We finally made it to Walgreens who had just what we needed...one difficult pharmacist...a dose of Motrin and a potty stop later we were succesfully back on the road and headed home!

Of course, the excitement of the eve was not quite complete until Parker popped up with a lava hot fever just a few blocks from home...quite the ordeal I tell you when you've got three adults and a passleload of sick children to get in the door and to bed.....well, lets just cut it short and say after some barfing, linen changes, pajama changes, bribed medicine doses, wet cool rags and deep breaths....we officially declared MISSION COMPLETE!

Sweet little blessings!

We've been battling the sickies this week, or rather just barely surviving! Poor little Carter hasn't been able to sleep day or night, which means neither can John or I...we've been spending a lot of time on the couch with our little one, praying that "Tonight will be the night Carter sleeps longer than 15 minutes at a time!" To top it off I've been sick as well, so it seems Carter and I just go rounds at being grumpy to each other all day...and night...my sister was so kind to offer to hold Miss Fuss, as I was laying pathetically on the couch...Carter wouldn't have any of it...so I eventually pulled it together as mothers do and tried to rock her...but she was so riled up she just kept on a'wailin...she was SOOOO tired, I knew if she would just fall asleep in my arms she would continue to sleep if I held her for a few hours...

Bless my nephews heart...he just loves Cousin Carter....he sat on the couch, said a few words to her and put his finger out for her to hold...she grabbed hold, stopped crying, turned her head and fell right to sleep! He was excitedly watching a movie, and pulled his hand away a few times...of which caused her to wake up and stare at him as if she were thinking "Um, excuse me, I was holding that finger...put it back please so I can sleep!" Again, the only thing that soothed her back into much needed slumber was holding his finger...what a PRICELESS moment!!!
We've noticed that these two have a special bond...baby Carter does love all of her cousins, and the fun entertainment that they provide...but Carter and Parker I think will be bff's! They just love each other, Brook and I are sure they must have had a great friendship in the preexistence!

What a sweet little blessing to watch these two interact...and a HUGE blessing to have had Carter sleep...if only for a little while!

Can't get enough....

Can you hear her laughing?! Just looking at that face brings happy little giggles to mind!

Cousin Abrianna decided her baby needed to play in the saucer too...unfortunately it irked Carter to no end...she kept grabbing at it like she had a growth on her back...it was pretty funny!
My own personal little princess, I think we'll call her sleeping beauty...I love how soft and rosey her skin looks while in a deep sleep, especially so after screaming for an hour before finally giving up, and falling into a blissfull slumber!

Growing so Big!!! Having to wear size month pants when you're only 6 months old is rediculous...but I wouldn't trade those chubby little thighs, and pinchable little bum for ANYTHING!!! It's so funny, because she actually has a little waist, but those thighs just don't fit into anything smaller!

This and that...

Just sittin pretty posing for Nana on the front porch!

Definitely not goin to be a clown for Halloween!!! Actually we're making her into a box of "Scooby Snacks"... baby cousin Autumn will be an actual snack/dog bone...Mommy will be Daphne...Daddy is going to be Fred...Aunt Brook is going to be Velma...Uncle Randall will be Shaggy...Cousin Parker is going to be Scooby...and Cousin Abrianna...well, she couldn't bare the thought to be anything but a Disney Princess...so Snow White it is! We're going to the ward trunk or treat party, and going to decorate the mini-van as the Mystery Mobile...can't wait to get some pictures of Halloween fun this year!!!

Babies must have their own little world and language about them...more and more I find these two looking at and talking to each other... how sweet to watch them grow!


As always...a happy little thing!

Pretty Little Baby...

With how fast Carter has been growing, I'm already singing the "
Where's my little baby blues"! The other day I had her swaddled up after coming in from the nip of the morning air...she just fell right to sleep snuggled with her Momma, she just looked perfect in the morning light, so I took a few pictures...the close ups of her face make her look tiny still....just too precious!
At the Dahlia farms in town

We now officially roll over...one way only though...back to tummy, she still just gives up and rubs her face in the floor when on her belly...oh well, she'll get it some time, hopefully it'll just delay the crawling a little and give me a break before I have to start watching the stairs like a hawk!

Exploring auntie Brook's backyard

We play at the Circus, but live at the Zoo!!

Living with family has been an adventure, we sure love and appreciate the opportunity to be here! We have such fun with the kids and enjoy sharing good food and lots of laughs with everyone!

Happy as a little clam!
The prettiest flower in the garden!

Three little Monkey's all in a row...the little ladies of the house!

The animals at the Zoo...Parker, Carter, Abrianna and Autumn!

Carter LOVES to spend time with her cousins...they are such good entertainment, and helpers...Abrianna is always ready and willing to run for diapers and wipes, Parker's always ready to make Carter laugh, of which he can do on demand...I don't know what it is about him, but she'll smile and laugh for him at the drop of a hat, and when the rest of us try FORGET it...that kid doesn't crack! Carter is very interested in her younger cousin Autumn, when we put them next to each other, Carter grabs at her and tries to taste Autumns little head...I just laugh and pretend that it's more of a kiss...a very wide open mouthed kiss!

Every day is an adventure with our family, even the small simple little things are so grand!