Walmart - I Love YOU

Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid. ~Franklin P. Jones

This post was going to be about Batman and heroes (hence the quote) - but really when I see this picture all I think about is how much I wish we had a Walmart close by. I bought these 2 matching Batman pjs at Walmart in Utah for $6 each.

Tom recently gave me a glimmer of hope when he told me he heard a rumor about a Walmart being built in Preston, WA (15 minutes away) - can someone please verify this?

It would make my day.

They even come with a cute little cape.

In The Land of Zoobies - Utah Trip 2009

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success. ~Robert Orben

Marc Matthews graduated from BYU so we headed for a fun vacation to Utah

First Stop - Tom's Favorite - Del Taco
Second Stop - Heather's Favorite - Thanksgiving Point

Look at those beautiful mountains in the background!

This picture is a reminder to me NOT to be so rude to people. A lady asked if I wanted her to take a family picture of us, and according to Tom, I gave her the snobbiest look (you can ask Tom for a demonstration) - me? Really? SORRY It happened 3 times in Utah.

Preston thought this picture was pretty funny.

Aunt Jamie and Uncle Bill graciously allowed us to stay at their house which was the most comfortable, family friendly hotel in Utah.

Texas Longhorn Staredown! I've seen Branden and Preston give the same look to each other.

While the family was at graduation - we headed to another one of my favorites Monte L. Bean Museum

After Marc came over for a picture - you conquered an elephant Marc! (that's corny)

One day we went to BYU and the boys just ran around and played. It brought memories back when I would walk from class to class thinking about what the future would hold. It was strange being there with my kids. Life is better than I ever expected it to be.

Marc's graduation party featured Cafe Rio!!! We were privledge to have bottles (yes BOTTLES) of their dressing. I would have brought some back to Washington and savored each drop, except it was all eaten. I wasn't surprised.

A proud moment captured on camera.

A visit to the Discovery Children's Museum - favorite part was the water tube section. Tom loved the magnet board - maybe Tom should get a job with magnets?

Did you know Aunt Jamie is a farmer? This visit she had horses (I mustn't forget the scare I gave Cricket which resulted in a nice bruise on the leg!) and PIGS - Beyonce & Boomer.

Preston watched the pigs in the safety of a tire.

Fearless Wesley learned how to safely feed the piglets from his hand.

The pigs were Preston's highlight of the trip!

Temple Visit on Sunday

Visit to Grandpa & Claire's

I must also include in this post the amusing visit we had with the Jensons. Seeing 2 guns, tons of toys, a beautiful new house - with fabulous paint colors, and lots of laughs we sadly left hoping one day we would live closer to each other.

See you again in a couple of years Utah!!

THANK YOU UNCLE BILL & AUNT JAMIE for sharing your house, Cricket, Lady, Beyonce & Boomer (and Timmy too!) We shall come again.

Park Day

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

Spring Walk On The Trail

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet

Ahhh - first sunny walk of the refreshing Spring season.

The trail outside my parents house became quite the controversy when the city wanted to turn the old railroad track route into a trail. A week before it opened we 'snuck' on the trail only to be yelled at by a bitter rich old lady who meanly reminded us that it was not open for another week. Paranoid lake people put up chain link fences with serious locks. Only bad could come from this trail they thought.

Quite the contrary.

It has turned out to be one of our favorite things about Grandma's house.

Each house that my parents have owned included a walk that becomes one of our favorite memories.

32nd house - the barcade walk
Sammamish Woods House - the big circle
Longmont - down to the mailboxes & Lagerman lake
Lake House - the trail

Life's good times and bad times are always conversed and sometimes solved on walk.

It's Easter 2009

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

If there is one thing a year that symbolizes how different my mom, sister and I are - it's Easter Egg decorating. Our personalities not only come out in how they are decorated - but the method and complicatedness of the process. It's quite a sight!

Mom is tired from her "ribbon" tying eggs & Heidi from her multiple use methods because she can't choose just one, and me - whatever takes the longest and most complicated would be my eggs. Probably half done - and Heidi will always finish them for me.

And it's wouldn't be Easter without Heidi putting blue Malt Ball lipstick on her lips - this year she taught Preston the tradition. As always - he got carried away.

HAPPY EASTER 2009

Come join us any Sunday Morning for some delicious Belgium Waffles

Setting the Record Straight

98% of all statistics are made up. ~Author Unknown

I read in a magazine that 70% of moms have a favorite child. This statistic bothered me. Do you think its true? It came from an article titled "Things Most Moms Will Never Tell You"

really?

REALLY?

Down at the Lake House one evening, we took our stroll down the lane and I brought this topic up to my mom and sister because I think it is untrue.

I told them I think this "myth" is horrible and untrue. I shared with them how I think you have ups and downs with children, but that to say you favor one child?

And then my mother blurted out: "Well, it's obivous from your blog who your favorite is!"

So to set the record straight -I have no favorite child and I NEVER will. There are mostly pictures of Wesley on this blog because he isn't a stinker about taking pictures (like the other 2 boys). Remember this posting?: http://hmmatthews.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-excuse-for-not-blogging-all-horrible.html

The next Sunday at church a 12 year old boy gave a talk about his mother. He said his mother asked each of her children who they thought was her favorite and each child said, "I am."

This is the kind of house I hope my children grow up in.

And just so you all know - I am my mother's favorite ;)

A True Friend

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad. ~Arnold H. Glasgow

I have found a true friend who loves us despite my teasing husband.

The Moreland Family has been the recepient of several "practical jokes"

And in perfect style has given it back to us.

I opened the door one night to a man sitting in my living room - which made my heart skip a beat.

So Clever!

You can see a glimpse of what I'm talking about here:

http://oursweetcrew.blogspot.com/2009/01/our-delightful-mystery.html

Snakes and Repiles - Yuck!

Because of what happened in the Garden of Eden, real women are afraid of snakes.
~ Hollie Hansen

While Heidi, Wesley and I enjoyed a delicious McDonalds lunch in the car:

Branden, Tom and Preston finally fulfilled their goal of stopping at the Reptile Zoo in Sultan:

Just being in the parking lot made my stomach squirm. I got so lightheaded looking at these pictures.

Yuck! Sick! Ggggrrrrooossssssssss!

(Sorry Aunt Denny!)

Rocket Man - For Mikey

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe. ~Mark Twain, "Roughing It"

We enjoyed a great show every day after lunch at the cabin. 3 days = 9 rockets

The greatest Christmas present ever from Uncle Mikey!
you have created another Hansen family cabin tradition!

Typical Heather in this video :) It would have taken me too much time to edit out my ridculousness!

Hansen Cabin - General Conference April 2009

"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." My favorite General Conference Quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's Talk

While we spend most of the weekend watching General Conference, we were still able to squeeze in lots of fun memories at the Cabin.

Good Hit Preston!

Tanner Already Laughing At Tom

I told Preston to pack 4 pajamas, 4 shirts, ad 4 pants. He replied: "I only need 4 pajamas. Pajamas only at the cabin." And he is right. He usually just wears pajamas at the cabin. Preston LOVES pajamas.
Of course, Wesley wanted to be outside the whole time and would throw a big fit whenever we brought him inside.

Exploring: Finding a Rabbit Hole. Grandma brought a flashlight.

Leaving on a mission to break up the Beavers Dam.

Eating at a restaurant in Leavenworth (Notice Preston in his pajamas - how embarassing!)

Heidi made some delicious brownies!