1-The leaves on some of the trees around our neighborhood are starting to turn yellow. I think it is because people gave up on watering, but none the less they are turning. On the way to my moms (she lives in a canyon between mountains)the mountains are all covered in orange and red trees. Fall is officially here. I am breaking out the cookie cutters and baking pumpkin bread. I can't wait!

2-Pumpkin Bread is seriously my favorite thing of all time. I anxiously await this time of year so I will have an excuse to make it. Not far behind are pumpkin bars. They are sweeter and just as delicious, but you can eat a lot more bread without the guilt!

3-My baby is 4 weeks old yesterday and 1 month old tomorrow. It is the in betweener celebratory day! HOORAY CLARK! So cute and so sweet. I know I keep saying it but he really is precious.

4-Teacher Inservice Day. I know by all accounts I really should not like these days (this Thurs and Fri) because all kids home and working husband. You know like normal people in the summer. But I am so excited to NOT GO ANYWHERE all weekend long! No school, no preschool, no dance, if I time it right, no errands and because of conference, no church! I never thought I would be bothered by being busy, but since school started I feel like I have not been able to catch up. I did have a baby along the way so that I am sure contributed to the falling behind feeling. But I am looking forward to a weekend "off" or at least out of the car.

5-General Conference is this weekend and I am looking forward to it a lot. In Colorado we got to dress up and watch it at the church or listen on the internet. But now because of DVR we can record it and watch it over and over. Don't think I am all churchy, I just have a short attention span so 2 or 3 talks are my limit--not to mention the interuptions from children can be paused! I really am excited to watch and listen to the prophets. It is going to be a great weekend I already know.

6-I got a bladder infection and the only reason I mention it is I bought the antibiotics today. So technically by tonight I should feel better! Cross your fingers for me!

7-I have added 4 new friends to my list of bloggers since last week. The revolution has started. 2 of them are brand new blogs that I like to think I inspired. Pretty soon everyone I care about will have a blog. That is my goal. Someday...

8-My friend called me and offered to bring us dinner. How great is that? The benefits of having a baby have not worn off yet. Another ward member brought me a pack of diapers the other day too. People are so sweet! I love the way service works. I always like to bake something yummy and share it with a friend. And every once in awhile, when you least expect, a great person will do something for you.

9-Baby swings are my friend.

10-Jill has been internetless for almost a whole week. No email, no blogs, no anything. How annoying and painful. I'm grateful we live in town and actually have a working connection. She does get to go on vacation today though so I don't feel that bad for her.

A new haircut and a dead camera

Oh one more thing. I went and got my hair cut yesterday and my eyebrows waxed. Honestly have not been to a salon since I found out I "might' be pregnant. I deserved it don't you think? Anyway, it doesn't look any different, just healthier, but I thought I would pass that along.

I would add a picture but my camera died. Something about the part that absorbs the battery power is not attached right so it thinks the batteries are always dead or dying and I can only take one picture if I am lucky before it shuts down due to "batteries depleted". Sad I know. So pictures will be sporatic. Ry has several at school for his program so when he has a spare to bring home I will take advantage of it until I can get a new one. Any suggestions on which kind would be appreciated. My dead one is an hp. Not horrible but not the best one I have used. It does have 5 mega pixels though which was pretty good when I got it 3 years ago.

Ham Soup

A couple years ago I made up my own version of Corn Chowder and it has become a favorite amongst my kids. "Ham Soup" is what Ally calls it, so everyone else does too. One day I was looking through a recipe book trying to decide what to make for dinner and I came across a recipe for Corn Chowder that also called for bacon. I didn't have bacon but I did have ham. There were a few other ingredients I modified to make the Ham Soup. Every time I make it I am amazed at how much they will eat. It is super simple, but I thought I would pass along the recipe since my children love it, maybe yours will too. I like to make rolls to go with it too. This is yummy bread bowl kind of soup.

Ham Soup

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 small onion, diced

3 cups milk

1 cup chicken stock

2 cups ham cut into small cubes

2 cups corn ( I like frozen the best)

4 oz. cream cheese, cut in small pieces to melt quicker

Melt butter and saute onions. Don't let butter brown. Add flour and whisk quickly together. Add a little milk and mix quickly to prevent lumps. Add rest of milk and whisk together. Add chicken stock. Let heat through for a few minutes, not to boiling. Add ham and corn. Let cook until corn is hot. Add cream cheese and stir until creamy. When it is just starting to boil turn the heat way down. If it boils, stir quickly to prevent from scorching milk on bottom of pan.

You can make it without the cream cheese, I only use it if I happen to have it around. It makes it a lot creamier, but it is still good without it.

Trying something new

My former roomie Shelley has a great idea. She posts her "10 for Tuesday" on her blog every week. I thought I would never have enough to talk about to use the idea, but sitting here trying to decide what to write I have a ton of ideas running through my head so I think I might try it. Don't be surprised if I don't make it clear to 10 though.




1-I have gotten super attached to blogging lately. Even if I don't write something, I check everyday to see who is writing. It has become habit, just like checking my email. I look forward to the blogs more than the email though I must admit. Every time I check I think of people in my life who don't blog but I wish they would. How can we start a blogging movement to get more people to start? I think once they do they would keep at it. Like I said, I love it.



2-My baby is starting to look more like a human than a squashed raisin. He looks 85 but the old man look is kinda cute. Ry said tonight that our kids are cuter than other babies he knows. I think he is biased but who wouldn't be. I do think we have cute kids though. Clark is also starting to look around and even smile occasionally. Not at us, probably at passing gas.



3-Luke has become a good little student. Granted he is still a little boy and can be rambunctious at times, but he is really enjoying pre-school. Jill, his teacher, is so creative and smart with her ideas to teach about the kids. I am super impressed with everything he has learned already. It has only been 2 weeks. Luke has even started saying "I am smart" whenever he tells me about what he is learning. I confidence is noticeably growing. He tries things he normally wouldn't and doesn't want too. I love it.


4-You may not be aware, but Emma is also super smart. She says the most random things that I really wonder where she heard it or how the thought arrived in her head. Of course I cannot think of one right now when it would be a good time, but I do have a thought about it. I am considering starting a new blog all about the funny things kids say, mine and others-cousins mostly. We are always sharing the hilarious things that come out of their mouths so I thought it would be a great way to keep it all written down. Let me know your thoughts on that. Good idea or not?


5-I love the fall! The weather took a super chilly turn these last few days. I can usually handle the chill and really prefer it, but I found myself regretting the lack of a jacket when I took the girls to school yesterday and today. The leaves are changing and starting to fall off the trees. Fall harvest foods are so delicious. Squash, pumpkin, zucchini, not to mention all the other fresh fruit and vegys that are ready. I made stew and homemade rolls for dinner last night and it made me excited for all the other soups and stews I get to make over the next few months! I know things like that get me super excited when most people think I am just crazy. What can I say, I am a cook at heart. No matter what else I do it is what keeps me going deep in my soul.


6-Ok I am going to say it. I love TV. I know I really shouldn't. It can be a total waste of time, especially when the house needs attention. But the season premiers have been this week and I love it. All the shows I love are coming back on. There are a couple new ones I have started watching also that I am happy about. So that is my vice. BUT the big benefit is the nursing the baby factor. I have something to do while I sit and wait for him to eat. It takes a long time when they are so small and it feels like they eat all day long. But that might just be because I love to hold him even when he isn't eating. He smells so good!



7-Those of you who live near me know that a prominent figure in our community died over the weekend while he was snorkeling. His name is Wayne Richards and he was on KLCE 97, a local radio station on the morning show. I knew him a little bit. I got to record a few commercials with him several years ago for a job I had. My point is this. His partner on the radio show Liza is in fact a good friend of mine. She had to wake up Monday morning and tell everyone that Wayne was dead. She had a bad day. The hardest part was listening to her all morning and crying with her. We were able to go spend the evening with her family last night. They are such great friends we have been blessed to have them in our life.
Liza at Christmas time. Not the best pic, but the only one I could find.

There are better ones here.


8-About 5 years ago Ryan and I decided we needed to get a better handle on our finances. We cut up all our credit cards and started the process of getting out of debt with the help of an outside consolidation company. This week marks the first great milestone in our progress. All of our credit cards are officially paid off. We do have student loans to tackle, but we have really made progress. It makes me so happy. *Pat on my back*


9-One positive thing about being married to a teacher and making a small salary is the instant pay increase each year. We almost forget it is coming, but it does. It is never a huge amount, but it is a nice surprise when payday comes around this time of year and there is a little more money than we thought we were getting. Didn't realize it until earlier today but it made me smile and sigh a little too.


10-I am gaining a stronger testimony of tithing. These past few months have been really tough monetarily for various reasons, but we have been blessed in ways we could never have imagined. I know it is because we have tried to be faithful in paying our tithing. I am always amazed at how learning something you thought you already knew just proves how much we really do have to learn in this life. This week some things have happened that prove that to me again. And just in case you just stumbled upon my blog and are curious about my beliefs you can read more about them here.



Well there it is. I did it and it was actually not as difficult as I thought it would be. Hope you enjoyed my first 10 for Tuesday. Not sure if I will do it every week. We will have to wait and see.

3 Weeks Old!

Clark is 3 weeks old today! I can't belive how fast he is growing.

Not the best day...

Clark had his 2 week check up yesterday. He is 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 1/2 inches. The doctor said they like them to be back to their birth weight by now. He is just 3 oz. shy of a whole pound bigger! No to mention a whole inch taller too. I think the cute little baby rolls will be here before we know it! Occasionally he cries for no apparent reason. I think he already has growing pains.

He has been super congested these past few days, to the point of waking us up from the heavy breathing in the night. We found out that he officially has his first cold. Poor guy. At the doctor he also had PKU testing done which involves pricking his foot and making it bleed for a while. He also was circumcised. I got to watch. I am kind of sorry I did. I tried to focus on the keeping him calm part rather then the rest. Don't worry I am not going to post a picture of that, but here is a glimpse of how he has been spending the past 20 hours or so since it happened. Needless to say, I didn't sleep a ton last night.

Picture courtesy of Luke. He is super short.



Ryan has been calling me the Kangaroo Mama. I do love this wrap though. They are super awesome. I have heard some funny comments the few times I have worn it in public. One man thought my arm was in a weird sling. Another lady thought it was a strange shirt and that I was still pregnant. I have also had several women stop me and ask me where I got it because it would be perfect for their daughter who is having a baby or just had one. So in case you are curious here is where it is from. http://www.mobywrap.com/ This is one of the lesser expensive ones I found too. I did a lot of research because I knew if this baby was ever going to be held it had to be hands free and user friendly to having 3 older siblings. I have had to wash it twice already and it is great.



We also had some professional pictures taken earlier this week. I will try to post a few when I get them as long as the photographer is ok with it. She is amazing by the way. Check her out. http://www.expressionsbyaimee.com/

wow...

When it comes to kids 1 is fun. 2 is company. 3 is a crowd. So what is 4? Well after this week all I can think is 4 is CRAZY. I know it will get easier, mostly when the baby gets faster at eating so I don't spend half my day nursing him. Seriously though I never realized how out of control things can get in such a short time.

I sneak in some cleaning and get things looking a little better in between feeding the baby. Then the next time he is done and I can sneak back into reality, it looks like I never did a thing. All I have to say is thank heavens for a husband who cares. Ryan is amazing! Not only is he more than willing to clean up around the house, he is super good at it too! Much better than me that is for sure. I do have to admit, I am getting better at it. Just like anything, practice makes perfect and trust me when I say my kids keep me in plenty of practice! (on a side note, who was the smart person who created carpet that shows EVERYTHING??? Did they want to make sure we didn't forget to vacuum?)

Back to Ryan though. He is more than I could have asked for in a husband. These past couple weeks helped me realize that again and I wanted you all to know what a great man he is. As of this minute, there is only 1 laundry basket with dirty clothes in it. The bathroom is pretty clean (I have a 3 year old boy, how clean can it stay?) And this is the best, I opened the microwave this morning to warm up a cookie and it was sparkling clean! He rules! What husband does that? This week is back to reality I am afraid though. Life with 4 kids is permanent. I will find a way to make it work while keeping my sanity. At least my 7 year old has been acting surprisingly mature for the most part. She still cries with no notice and no reason, but she has been a great helper and loves her baby brother tons. And she has not been fighting with the other 2 which is the best gift anyone could ever give me.

Quick Question

I was just wondering, because I just realized it today, did anyone happen to notice that my little blurb at the top of my blog is a line from a Hannah Montana song? How dumb am I?

Happy Birthday!

Today is my sister Gretchen's birthday. She is 28. Happy Birthday Gertie.

It is also Clark's 1 week old birthday. Happy Birthday Clark. He is crying as I type this so I am not going to write much. Just know we are doing well and he already has a double chin so he will be a fatty in no time!

Even more

Some more pics of Clark

Baby Clark is here!

Hey.

This is Ryan.

After three hours of pretty intense labor, Lisha gave birth to a beautiful boy. We decided to name him Clark Thomas Hansen. Clark because we have liked that name for a while (not because of Clark Kent) and Thomas because that is Lisha's paternal grandmother's maiden name. It just fit.

He was born at 9:25 a.m., Sept. 1. Lisha had a regular delivery -- a feat because we were praying for no C sections! He was 8 lbs., 6 oz. and 20.5 inches long. I guess everyone says he is big, but I'm bigger than him so I don't have a great perspective...

Lish is doing great. I love her so much! She is a wonderful mother and such a WOMAN! She didn't have an epidural, but she did say, "Quit looking at me like that!" as I gazed at her with sympathy and worry. That was really the only outburst. She had one stitch and is doing great. She's pretty tired, though.

We'll post more pics when he is not so ugly. And by ugly, I mean he's blue because his face got pretty bruised comin' out.

Now it's my turn to run the kids around and take care of my beautiful wife. Thank you for all your support, concern and love! We love you, too!