My kids--Dallin

To get a little caught up, I need to talk about each kiddo.

First, Dallin.

Where do I start?  Dallin is an amazing kid.  I feel so lucky to be his momma.  He is seven now and turning into such a kind soul.  Dallin loves soccer and is getting pretty good too.  He is so obedient and rarely ever complains.  He has an old soul and is very mature for his age. He is quick to understand when things are hard for us, and he is super understanding and compassionate when he sees someone is sad.  Dallin has a knack for making everyone laugh.  He is a goofball, just like his mom;)  He has endless energy and still won't go to bed until 9:30pm.  He is tall and handsome with curly blonde hair that makes my momma heart leap with pride.  He is caring and such a good older brother.  Dallin loves to play with friends and asks to play with them every. single. day.  Sometimes I wish he would just be content staying at home and hanging out with me, but he's getting older dang it.  I wish it would stop.

Dallin is a believer.  His testimony of his Savior Jesus Christ is already such an example to me.  He knows He lives and he knows Christ is the only way back to God.  Dallin has a soft spot for anyone who might need his help, and is quick to ask "what would Jesus do?"  Dallin is a thinker.  He asks me endless quesitons everyday, why this? Why that? How does this do that?  He is inquisitive, but not to a fault.   He is very observant and is super helpful.  Recently, Dallin has started doing harder chores.  He takes out garbage, including taking the large cans to the street on garbage day.  It's pretty impressive.  He cleans and vacuums his room and the basement.  He clears the dishwasher all by himself and has started learning how to load it.  On Saturday (chore day) is also our go to handy helper and does a lot of the running things around the house for us and putting it into it's proper spot.  He is quick to help and super easy going.  That isn't to say he never complains.  He is a typical kid, who doesn't want to work too hard, but it doesn't take much to convince him that it is fair and we all do our part.

Dallin is very smart. He was top of his class at Challenger, a private school, but has recently switched to a Charter school closer to home.  He is still at the top of his class and might end up skipping a grade, the verdict is still out on if that would be the best thing for him.  He can do math like nobody's business and can diagram a sentence like a pro.  I love to hear him read, he does it so well.  Dallin is overall the best kid a mom could ask for  and I am forever grateful God gave him to me to look after.  I learn more from him each day that I get to be his mom.


And now a gallery of Dallin to make up for the lack of pics over the last three years. Watch him grow.

Wow.

I haven't written on this in over three years.  I used to be so good keeping this up to date.  Then along came Instagram and I found it easier to snap photos and quickly upload it as well as a memory attached to it.  I started to really let my updates here get sparse and soon I didn't post much, then not at all.

I miss it.

I do think I have kept a good amount of memories through other means, but I miss pouring my thoughts out about my kiddos and getting the details of my memories out on paper so to speak.  I think I will start this up again.  I had a couple readers give me inspiration to write again. If they are reading this, they know who they are:)

So, I will begin to make up for lost time.

Since my last post, we have had a lot happen in our lives. We had just moved into our new home and we are still here.  We are loving it.  My twins who had just turned one are now FOUR!! Can you believe it!?  Dallin is now SEVEN! Seven! I can hardly believe it.  And we have added one more addition.  Liam.  Liam Joseph Hansen.  Liam is 2.  And he is the light of my life, that little spunk. He is so amazing, funny, silly and I just can't imagine life without him.  We almost didn't have another.  He was our surprise baby, and I can't believe we got so lucky to have him in our lives.

Joe started two more companies.  Switched partnerships twice.  I have a hernia repair surgery, and Joe had shoulder surgery and a long recovery from another surgery, which he wouldn't want me to disclose...shhh.  We've had ups and downs, and happy and sad moments, but through it all we have had each other and life has been pretty dang fantastic.

One of the things I really want to write about before I forget too much is Liam's birth.  First, I need to back up.  When the twins were just over one, I started to feel a little sick.  I didn't think much of it, for one, we weren't trying, and two, I hadn't planned on getting pregnant so soon after the twins.  We had done fertility to get the twins, and I just assumed we would need to do the same to get pregnant again.

I had a really horrible hernia from being pregnant with the twins that my doctor told me I would need to get repaired soon, which meant, no more babies.  We went back and forth between when I would get it done and if we would have anymore children. But, the Lord had other plans.  On April 11th, I took a pregnancy test after not having a period for two months.  I was pregnant.  I couldn't believe it.  It felt too easy, too surreal.  I told Joe that night and he didn't believe me at first.  He was so ecstatic.  We could hardly believe it, but it was true.


My pregnancy with Liam was hard.  My hernia hurt like crazy and the twins didn't let me rest a minute.  They were crawling around a million miles a minute and I was in pain every second.  It was a long pregnancy, but at 39.5 weeks, Liam made an appearance.

I was supposed to get induced Wednesday morning December 12th.  December 11th, I was getting ready for bed and for the birth next morning. Around 9:30 I finished straightening my hair and got into bed.  Around 10pm I started getting contractions.  I didn't think anything of it, because I had that same intensity of contractions just a few days prior, and the hospital and sent me home with a sore bum from a shot and a heavy heart.  So, this time didn't seem different and I tried to get sleep.  But around midnight, they kicked up a notch and I felt like, "hmmm....these are a bit stronger." I decided to wake Joe up.  I told him I think we needed to go to the hospital.  He asked if I was sure.  I assured him I was.

He got up and got dressed, taking his time.  I on the other hand was starting to get pretty ansy.  I was up like a rocket and in the car.  He stopped to get gas.....What!?? I started to freak out inside.  I didn't think he understood how intense these contractions were getting.  Once he was back in the car I told him to step on it.  He looked at me a little funny, but decided he should speed :)  My the time we were about 5 minutes from the hospital I was feeling so much pressure I was sure Liam was going to come out right then!  Luckily we made it to the hospital, but I could hardly walk in!

I got in and told the front desk I needed to get back ASAP!  They took me back, checked me and I was at an 8.5!! I was rushed to a room and Liam came about 10 minutes later! Whew!!! That was too close for comfort!

Liam was born at 2:35am and was 8 lbs 13 oz. and absolutely perfect!  He was beautiful in every way.  I think because I knew he would be my last, I savored every moment and didn't stress about the little things.  I also, had just experienced twins not too long ago, so one baby felt easy peasy and was so wonderful!  We spent two day together in the hospital, just cuddling and bonding.  It was amazing and so special to me.

Dallin turns 4!!

February to May was pretty busy also.  I was able to plan the twins birthday party and then a few days later I had to start Dallin's birthday party.  It was a lot of fun planning his.  He wanted a robot party and was pretty stoked that I agreed.  I found some really cute decorations and party ideas on Amazon.com and they arrived pretty quickly.  Dallin had a blast putting them all together with me. 

The morning of his actual birthday I hung some decorations and he opened his presents from his Daddy and I.  He had a blast. 

 Seeing his presents

 Pretty excited, I just love his face.  So classic Dallin.  Just seeing these pictures makes me want to kiss his little cheeks.  I just love him.

He was so excited to open his presents.  He had waited "forever" in his words.  It was great.  Next he had to go to preschool on his birthday and his school has requested his parents come for a special treat.  We both took Dallin and got to see his class celebrate his birthday.  It was so sweet and I can tell Dallin felt so special.

 Dallin greeting his daddy when we walked in. SO sweet to see.  I love that he will hug us and proudly kiss us and tell all his friends that we are his mommy and daddy.  He is proud of us and that makes me feel sooo good.

 Getting his birthday crown.

 Daddy reading all the things we love about Dallin to his class.

 His little class mates sang a song and danced around him.  Then at the end Dallin blew them all over, or "out".  They were his birthday candles.  It was so cute.

  Late that night we had my parents over for dinner.  I made Dallin a robot birthday cake and he LOVED it.  It was almost life sized.  Grandma and Grandpa Johnson bought him some presents and he opened them.  He is still playing with the Dragon they got him even now.  We had dinner and cake together.  It was a nice evening.

 Playing with the dragon Grandpa and Grandma Johnson got him.

 Love his face, he was so excited to have his cake.

 Blowing out his candles.

I just had to post this photo of Blake.  This is how messy they get at pretty much every meal.  I do not like cleaning up after them, but it is pretty entertaining.

A few days later we had a party for Dallin with all his little friends he wanted to invite.  He had a blast and I think it turned out really great.  It was so good to see him giggling and laughing and just having fun with some friends.  That is what a birthday party is all about.

 The games at this party were really cool even I wanted to try.  We had a robot car racing game where you inflated balloons attached to the back of the car and when you let the air loose it shot the cars forward.  Dallin won all the rounds and got to choose a robot sticker decal for his room.  We also playing "pin the battery on the robot" and we colored on some 3D paper that when you wore 3D glasses your picture would pop off the page at you.  I think the party was a hit, especially since Dallin had so much fun.

 Opening presents from friends.  He was able to have Will, Tyson, Jocelyn, Brianna, Miles, Harrison, Ashlynn and Calvin there to celebrate with him.  He loved every minute I think.

We had spaceships and rocketship cupcakes and cookies for his party.  When we lit his candles to blow out, it lit on of the spacehip decorations on fire!  OOPS! Dallin blew out his candles, but Daddy had to quickly extinguish the other flame.  It was a close call, but it made it more exciting that's for sure.  He had a great birthday.

Things we love and know about Dallin at age 4!!!!

1. Dallin can read one vowel words.  As long as the word isn't too long, he can sound out just about anything :)

2. Dallin loves robots, dogs, cars, rocketships and ninja turtles.  He also loves pretty much any superhero.

3. Dallin is a sweetheart, he loves his bothers and parents and is constantly telling us, kissing us and showing us how much he loves us.

4.  Dallin is 43 1/2 inches tall.  If we went to Disneyland he could ride almost anything.

5.  Dallin wears a size 12 shoe now.  He is getting too big.  Please stop growing.

6.  Dallin can play soccer really well....I mean really well.  He can kick in stride and slide to a kick like no ones business.

7. Dallin still is a picky eater, only eats bread, peanut butter, milk, organe juice and crakers.  He will eat anything that is chocolate almost, but will not eat fruits, vegetables, meat, ice cream, cake with frosting or pretty much anything that is wet, gooey or too "weird" as he says.

8. Dallin can now get himself ready for bed, he bathes himself, dressed himself, and brushes his own teeth all on his own. 

9. Dallin is so curious. I get asked 20 questions a hundred times a day.  He is learning and absorbing everything we tell him like a sponge.  He often will recall things I tell him days later, as if he has always known it :)

10.  Dallin can count to 20 and most days much higher.

11. Dallin is a great helper. He helps me load and unload the dishwasher.  He cleans his own room and brings his laundry to the laundry room.  He helps me sweep and he loves to help me mop.  He always clears his own plates at dinner time.

12.  Dallin is polite and a gentleman.  He always asks to be excused from the table after eating wether at home, eating out or at someone's house. He insists on opening my doors and does so as often as possible.

13.  Dallin has a contagious smile.  His smile lights up the room and I just adore it.

14.  Dallin now lets me cut his hair without whining or crying.  He is so brave and sits still for me.

15. Dallin loves to play with his brothers and asks if he can play with them often.  They are always together, but he still always asks to play with them ;)

16.  Dallin says wonderful prayers now.  At meals, in the morning before we split off for our days and every night before bed.  He never forgets and will always pray before doing any of these things.

17.  Dallin loves to change his clothes.  Oh my, he can change clothes more often than I change diapers, and that is alot.

18.  Dallin loves to play in the dirt and will do so whenever I let him.  Our neighbor boy WIll and him love to get dirty and play in the dirt hill behind our house.

19.  Dallin has an amazing imagination.  He tells me stories and plays with me in the most amazing ways.  He can imagine up anything he wants to.

20.  Dallin is a total Daddy's boy.  All is right in the world when Daddy comes home.  He prefers his daddy to tuck him in at night, play with him and take care of him over mommy any day of the week.  He adores his daddy and his Daddy adores him.