Christmas

Merry Christmas!

(even if it is a little late!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday. We definitely did.

The highlight of Christmas for me was my darling Grandpa Hanson coming to visit. My birth father passed away when I was 17 months old, and this is his dad. Grandma and my Uncle Thom passed away last year, so he decided to spend last Christmas and this one with us. He has always been very special to me and I am so thankful to have been able to spend time with him.

The very sad thing that happened this year was that Sienna found out about Santa. Unfortunately, at an activity another girl said that her parents had told her the truth about Santa, and an adult said "that he's really your parents?" or something like that. She came home and started asking questions and was very distraught to say the least. She was sobbing and I was right along with her. I was so devastated when I found out as a child and I just felt so bad for her, remembering what it was like. We were hoping to at least have her still believe this year.

I do have to add that we told her that she could help us get the Santa gifts ready for the other kids, and help eat the cookies. It makes it more fun to be involved and she seemed to feel better about that.

We are so thankful for the beautiful Christmas season and the reminder of our Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, and His life and sacrifices for us. We hope that the spirit of the season touched you all and that you had as beautiful of a holiday as we did.

Yes, my son's Santa gift was a toy kitchen. It's what he asked for. What can I say?

Sienna's Santa gift

Madelyn's shirt reads: "Yes we can, Obama '08"

My brother Paul thought that it would be hilarious to give to her for Christmas.

My brother, David, me and Grandpa, and Mad hiding in the background

(notice the Viva Lavida shirt from the fantastic Coldplay concert)

Lily

I just need to post a little about Lily.

I think about her every day lately.

She is in my thoughts constantly.

One week and two years ago today, she returned to her mother.

I don't know if this is harder than normal for me because Madelyn is close to the age that she was when she left, and she is also a bright blue-eyed baby girl, or if I was just distracted more last year with a newborns demands. I honestly don't think that this will ever go away.

I pray she will be able to feel me missing her and know that I love her even when she is in a home of abuse that I can do nothing about. I wish so desperately sometimes that I could just steal her from Cadie and run away somewhere to keep her safe and loved. I do trust in Heavenly Father and I know that things were supposed to be this way for whatever reason. I just wish the state didn't make it so hard to take an abused child out of their home and place them somewhere safe. These are just my thoughts lately.

How lucky am I that I had her as my daughter for 5 months though? What a joy she was in our lives; a treasure to cherish always.

Lily, even if you can't hear me, I will love you forever!

A walking baby, Temple Square, and a tag

Oh my gosh, I can't believe that I STILL haven't posted about Madelyn walking! I am the worst Mother, ever! She walked a month ago, but she is such a silly little girl, she will walk a bunch for a while and then the next day she will act like she can't walk because she is scared. We lost the cord to the video camera so I filmed it on my camera, but the format it is on doesn't work here so maybe someday I will post it if I can ever figure the blasted thing out! Here's a cute picture until I can get that worked out.

This is her favorite cupboard to play in.

We decided to go up to Temple Square to see the lights on Saturday. It was a little nuts, since it was the 1st weekend that they were on, but it was still great to get out and see them. Sienna said she hadn't ever been there before, but it hasn't been that long! We are just making an effort to get out and enjoy all the wonderful things that are in this area, since we don't know how long we will be here. There are so many things that we have taken for granted.

This one is a little nuts, but I thought it was cool so I had to post it.

My Friend Tiffany tagged me so here is that too:

Everything that I have done is in BOLD

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child (this counts to me even though it was never finalized)

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung Karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance [not the patient]

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check [not on purpose]

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

I don't tend to tag people, but if you think it is cool and do it let me know!