Memories of My Grandpa Hansen

My Grandpa Hansen was always ready for an adventure and always had a story to tell. He was a true artist - capturing what he saw with oil on canvass and creating pictures in our minds of the things all around us. He was a fun grandpa. It is hard to know that he is now gone. My grandpa Hansen passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

When I was little he was the grandpa with the scary bear head and huge deer head hanging in his office. He was very into deer hunting and camping. Camping with grandpa meant riding in the top of the camper - watching in all directions as we drove to Dinosaur land or Lake Powell in the orange truck. It meant brushing my teeth from a cup and learning how to relieve myself in nature.

Grandpa Hansen meant golfing and driving up to Hobble Creek canyon. Roasting marshmallows and wading and throwing rocks in the creek. He even let my drive a few times - way before I was sixteen!

I remember him playing the accordion and the harmonica. He was also a whiz at yodeling. He had a dog named "Otto." He had plastic gloves over his hands for many years because of extreme eczema. He loved to show us magic tricks (pulling off his thumb and making his finger stretch). He knew Morse code and was always on the radio. There was always a project going on. When ever we came over to play we would get out the huge box of Lego's and play all day.

As I got older there were more trips to Lake Powell with plenty of cousins to share in the fun. Grandpa always had a boat (even since my dad was a kid). He was a pioneer in boating and water-skiing. He taught hundreds of people to water ski - including me. He often forgot to bring his swim suit - but that didn't ever stop him from getting in the water or skiing himself. Being out boating always reminds me of my grandpa.

I was amazed at how he could strike up an interesting conversation with total strangers no matter where we were. He could always tell you the history of something and share with you the science behind it.

He loved family - I learned the importance of being a part of a family and part of an extended family.

Grandpa was king of ice-cream. My kids loved that great-grandpa Hansen was always offering them ice-cream. But beware - once your plate was clean of something he would fill it back up again whether you wanted more food or not.

I love you Grandpa Hansen!

My grandma and grandpa Hansen at our last family reunion in July 2009. My brother, Carl, is holding the bear head that used to scare me to death. It was used as part of a skit we put on for them.

The kids enjoying playing around with their great-grandpa. July 2008.

Doing Dishes the Old Fashioned Way

When it rains it pours. Since December things around our house have been dying. First my vacuum cleaner, then the iron, then the downstairs TV, two bathrooms need a plumber, then my mixer, then my piano bench, then my dishwasher. And the grand finale - having a section of our fence fall down after the big wind the other day.

Luckily Santa Clause helped out with the vacuum and iron. We have been surviving with one TV so far (no problem for me but my husband is dying!). We do have a third bathroom - thank goodness. I glued together most of my piano bench - but it is still going to need a cover.

Doing dishes the old fashioned way (as my children call it) has been the worst. There is nothing like having to spend even more time doing household chores, not to mention wrinkly fingers and split fingernails. My dishwasher stopped working over a month ago now. I haven't even had time to look around for a new dishwasher yet. (Although I did make it over to Sears quickly to see some over priced, "not going to work for me" dishwashers).

I was going to head out today for some more looking - but the plans for my day changed as soon as Sean started throwing up at 3:00am last night. Thank goodness my washing machine still works (knock on wood!). I've spent all day cleaning up two beds (his own top bunk, and all the puke that exploded down onto Chad's lower bunk), the bedroom floor and the living room floor (after he camped out on the couch).

As for the fence - I am not even going to think about it. If I do I will probably go over the edge and totally lose it.

Hopefully my next blog will be on a happy little place known as Disneyland.

Firsts for Sean

My baby is not a little boy any more. He started kindergarten, loves to read and do math, and is actually getting more helpful around the house. (Yes he still is the best destroyer - but at least now he can help clean up the messes he makes).

In February he lost his first baby tooth. He was a little scared when it first came out and not sure if he was supposed to cry or not. But once we got him on the phone to call his Grandma & Bompa and his Nanny and Grandpa he was one proud little boy. Something that Chad and Halle had done multiple times had finally happened to him. He was also pretty excited for his first visit from the tooth fairy.

Sean also wanted to follow in brother's footsteps by trying out basketball. So we signed him up for his first basketball experience. Unfortunately the YMCA totally messed up our paper work. So by the time Sean was placed on a team they had already had one practice and the team is a "left over" team. Only five players - so they all get to play all the game. The coaches have been great but the team chemistry has been hard. Two of the players really know how to play well and have the ball 90% of the time. So Sean gets a little discouraged and bored out on the court. Hopefully next year he'll get a little more aggressive and more focused on the game. But, he is having a great time and thinks he is so cool.

Another first for Sean is with the sleeping arrangements. He and Chad switched beds. And as we have bunk beds it means that Chad is now on the bottom bunk and Sean is now on the top bunk. Again - he thinks this is way cool. He also likes to take all his toys up there now and have his own little play area.

It is fun to see such simple things make my Sean smile from ear to ear.

Showing off his first lost tooth.

So happy to actually have the ball in is hand.

Spiritual Thought

I finally got a hold of the January Ensign to read (Chris usually steals it first and then I can't ever find it). I read a few articles and then was just glancing through when I noticed this quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

"One's life . . . cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free . . .

"Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share They joy!' . . .

"Real faith . . . is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process."

Needless to say after reading this I felt like someone had just slapped me in the face. I so want to be both faith-filled and stress-free. But after reading this it reminded me of our purpose here on Earth and how all my experiences so far have made me the person that I am. I know I could never feel worthy of living with Heavenly Father again if I got to just "glide naively through life."

I know things are going to happen - that is life! Now I am praying to have the faith to get me through these experiences - and not just take the experiences and trials away.

Date Night With Chad

I had a fabulous day today! It started out with going to a baptism of one of Halle's primary friends. Then I got to play the piano at a wedding. In between the two I snuck a peek at Sean's first basketball game.

After lunch I got to take Chad to a birthday party and then hang out all day with him. I love that Chad! But I'm also at the stage where I am not quite sure what to do with a 9 year old boy. Halle and I do lots of things together because we like to do girly things together and Sean is still a mama's boy and my baby so I still get hugs and kisses from him. But Chad is growing up and not so into his mother smothering him any more. So today was good.

His birthday party was at Roller Valley with a bunch of school friends. It was fun to see this mob of boys use up their energy running everywhere, jumping everywhere and skating, skating, skating. After the party we went to IHOP for dinner. Chad is very into food and loves eating out so it was fun to treat him (I don't mind eating out either). And then we went to a movie at the Garland. Again, since it was his special day with mom I let him pick the treat - he passed up the usual choice of popcorn for a big red slushie. And of course we talked and joked and just enjoyed each other's company. It was a very great day.

Free Pizza - Well Earned

Dinner was divine last night. Free Pizza Hut pizza. Two of my kids had the "Book It" coupons and I have a $20 credit at the Pizza hut store. So dinner was easy, easy, and easy. (I love easy dinner nights.)

But, I do want you to know that the $20 credit was well earned!!!!!

Last month I went to pizza hut - to again redeem my kids' coupons. I wasn't feeling good (horrible head and sinus cold) and just needed something easy to do. So I called up pizza hut to place my order. They said it would take 15 minutes. I waited 20 before I even left my house to get the pizza (we always do carryout - Dave Ramsey would be proud we never waste our money on tips for delivery.)

When I arrived and told them my order I was told it was not ready yet. I was a little disappointed - after all I had given them an extra 15 minutes to get it ready. But I sat down like a good little costumer and waited.

While I was waiting several other people came in to pick up there orders - they all had to wait too. So I wasn't feeling so bad that I was the only one.

I waited and waited and tried to entertain Sean (Chad and Halle had stayed at home with dad). I got a little nervous when I heard the phone order people now telling their phone customers that it was now a two hour wait for delivery.

My hopes picked up when everyone else around me started getting their orders. But, just in case, I asked about how much longer my would be - the answer - just a few more minutes.

So, I waited and waited. Now 40 minutes had elapsed and I still had no pizza. I was going mentally insane and just wanted to go home and lie in bed. Then one of my favorite families walked in the door - It was Kari Ann and her gang. We talked for a few minutes and then I joked about how slow service was and was ready to place a bet on who would get their pizza's first, me or them. Guess what - they won!!!!! I was still waiting for pizza!

Again I asked about where my pizza's were. The answer? They lost the order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was fuming mad and ready to cry - again I'm not feeling well and all I want is to be back in bed. I want to just leave and run to McDonald's but the manager comes over and assures me he can get my order out in 10 minutes and will give me a 20% discount. I trust him. Why not - my family needs food.

So I wait, and wait, and wait again. Apparently 10 minutes in pizza time is really 20 minutes in real time.

Finally I have my pizza in hand and head back home.

Meanwhile my husband is totally worried about me. I have been gone for an hour and a half. (Two hours since I called Pizza Hut.) He's tried my cell phone but can't reach me because it is on vibrate - I haven't thought to call because I am literally going insane with waiting and being sick.

After I told him the whole story my husband was not pleased with the 20%discount. He called the manager up and gave him a few words (Dave Ramsey style - "Is that the best you can do?!") The manager apologized and gave us a $20 credit.

So yes, free food is great - but boy did I earn it for us. Next time I just want my pizza on time!

Too Busy to Blog

I keep trying to make blogging more of a priority - but so many things still keep getting in the way. How does life just get busier and busier?

Now that I am actually sitting down and typing - I can't think of a thing to say.

At least I tried!