Christmas

I'm pretty sure I say this every year but Christmas really did go by WAY too fast this year!  I can't believe it's already come and gone.  Wow!  It just goes by faster and faster each year.  We were fortunate to be able to go to Utah for 2 weeks this year for Christmas.  We packed in lots of fun while there.  It was so fun to hang out with family and friends while we were there.  Livvy had a great time playing with cousins and getting spoiled with attention from 2 sets of grandparents.  She loved opening presents...didn't matter if they were hers or not.

Some highlights of our trip were:
Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert with my sister Kynda and her husband Eric
High school friends party
Attending a baby shower for my good friend Kristen
Going to Sherlock Holmes and We Bought a Zoo with family
Christmas Eve program with Matt's family
Driving around with my mom to look at Christmas lights
Shopping
Niels' ward Christmas program on Christmas Day
Game night with my family
New Year's Eve tradition

Halloween 2011

Halloween was so much fun this year!  It's exciting to see Livvy old enough to understand what holidays are and get into the spirit of it all.  She loved going to the store and seeing the decorations.  On Halloween night it was absolutely adorable to see her knock on a door and say "twick 'r' tweat".   

We also had fun before Halloween decorating cookies with friends.  I think Livvy put that entire container of frosting on one cookie.

You won't see a single turkey there

Last weekend the Hansen trio went hiking at a place called Turkey Run.   Even though the name suggests there to be wild fowl scuttling about, disappointingly enough there was not a single turkey to be seen.  I'm not exactly sure how the Indiana naming system works, but I think it goes all the way back to the Indians.  100 Thanksgiving Days later we are left with no turkeys, but still have a stunning state park.  That's my guess anyway.  Weird name aside, Turkey Run is a beautiful place and the weather could not have been more perfect for hiking.  

Summer highlights

The summer of 2011 went by much faster than expected.  I can't believe it's already over!  Despite the fact that Matt had to take a few classes this summer, we were still able to pack in lots of fun and lots memories.  Here are just a few highlights:

Wicked Weekend - Finally saw "Wicked"!  It was an amazing production.  I'm so glad I was able to see it with my mom, sister, aunt, and cousin.  We went to garage sales (of course), out to breakfast, saw our cousin Olivia as a beautiful bride, had a Wii dance off, and never tired from saying the phrase, "this is wicked fun"!

Columbus, Indiana - Columbus is about an hour south of Indy.  It was ranked #6 in the nation for architectural innovation and design, which was completely surprising to me.  It's a neat city, with plenty of architecture and antiques for all.

Visit from Big Ma - We always love visits from Big Ma.  Livvy loves all the attention she gets from having her here.

Visit from Chloe - My niece Chloe stayed with us for a few days in July.  She was so nice to watch Livvy while Matt and I went on a date.  We also went swimming, to an ice-cream social, garage sales, and I'm pretty sure we watched almost the entire 1st season of "The Middle".  

Lots of water - Livvy is definitely part mermaid.  She is completely obsessed with all things water!  Touching it, drinking it, playing in it, splashing it, squirting it, looking at it, etc.  

Plenty of dress up - I think Livvy gets her fashion sense from me.  I didn't know until at least high school that it wasn't okay to wear a bathrobe with a tutu.  I love these pictures of Livvy.  This girl just makes me smile!

A trip to Chicago - To celebrate our 5 year anniversary, coming up in September, we took the opportunity while Matt was out of school to spend a few days in Chicago.  We had a fabulous time!  My favorite part of the trip was Navy Pier and Millennium Park, but I know Matt's favorite part was eating Italian beef sandwiches at Mr. Beef.  He's still talking about it a month later.   My mom was so nice to fly all the way from Utah to watch Livvy for us.  I know, my mom is the best!  

A trip to Shamu - We went to San Diego with Matt's parents and brother Jason.  Livvy had so much fun playing in the "be-ocean" and watching the dolphin show at Sea World.  We also went to Seaport Village, Cabrillo, and Old Town...just to name a few.  We had such a great time!

And just a bit of working - I refinished this dresser and also a couple of nightstands for our room.  I really love refinishing furniture.  It's a delightful feeling to take something old and make it new again.

Before

 After

Dirty Shoes & Bubble Laughs

Some cute videos of Livvy for your viewing pleasure!

Parkin'-It Up

For me, it was a complete misconception to think that when I had kids I would feel old.  Quite the contrary.  Of course Matt & I  have more responsibility...but old?...no way.  I totally feel like a kid again!  I love playing outside, pretending to eat plastic food (also very figure friendly), and even having a good cry when things don't go the way I think they should.  I even catch myself, from time to time, completely engrossed in a good old episode of Max & Ruby. Yep, being a kid is pretty great.  

Just look how fun the park can be!

We are loving the warmer weather!  It was a very long cold winter but spring has sprung and we are having a great time playing outside again!

Livvy turned the big 0-2!

It was great to be in Utah for Livvy's birthday.  It was definitely the icing on the cake (haha, funny punny) to be with family.  Livvy was very into all the birthday hoopla this year.  It was fun to see her so excited about everything.  She LOVED opening her presents and was pretty disappointed when the present opening came to an end.  For the next few days she walked around the house saying, "Presents...presents...where's the presents?".  I say the same thing after my birthday but it just doesn't come off as cute.  

Livvy loves "Max & Ruby" right now, so of course a Max & Ruby cake made the party complete.  Livvy was a little distressed though when we started cutting Max & Ruby's house into pieces.  I can't believe that Livvy is already 2!  It goes by so fast.  I'm fully expecting this upcoming year to be filled with some "terrible two" moments but with Livvy's spunky, sparkling personality I'm pretty confident there will be plenty of "terrific two" moments as well.  Happy Birthday Livs!