Do you think they are ready to come home!

With all of the packing, the girls found their swimsuits. There have already been a couple of days that I have given in and just let them wear them all day! They have been talking a lot about coming home, everyone they are going to see, and, most importantly (to them), swimming!

Then and Now

I know that "time flies" in every year of life, but this year, being at the PC, Jason and I have talked a lot about how much the girls have changed since we've come. Which makes me think of all the babies back home. I can't wait to see them all. Some of whom were just born right before we left.
So a then and now...
Last Summer Family Shot


Present Family Shot

There are a lot of "lasts" going on around here!

Well, today is Jason's last day of class!  Yeah Baby!  I am so so proud of him!  What an amazing job he has done working hard at school and at home!  I am so thrilled to have watched him this year grow and learn (and learn and learn!) and so thankful for how well he has chosen his priorities this year.  Although this is the end of an incredible year, it also feels like an exciting beginning!  We are itching to get home, to family, friends, and our amazing church.  We love our church!  And still can't believe that we get to serve alongside some of the most godly and humble people we know!  We plan to be arriving on the 18th.  And I know it is super hot there right now... but bring me home baby!  To the valley of the sun!  

So lasts...

We have already had our last monthly ladies meeting, our last care group at the Ricucci's home, our last fellowship group times, our end of the year open house at the Purswell's home, our last gym day, our last ladies night out, the last guys night out, our last picnic at the Lockhart's, our last trip to Butler's orchard, our last hang-out time with the Wassinks, and... I am sure more things that I can't think of.  

So, as you can see, much to much to blog about, so here are some pictures...

My fellowship group

Group shot outside of the Ricucci's at our last care group

Our fabulous night at the Purswell's open house

Hanging out after our last gym day

Ladies Night out

Strawberry Picking at Butler's Orchard

Double date with the Wassinks

Lasts, lasts, lasts!  Bittersweet!  Tomorrow night is our end of the year dinner, Saturday my parents arrive, Sunday is Graduation, Monday we drive out!

Our 7th Anniversary!

Seven years!  I can't believe it!  Time truly does fly so fast!  Jason planned a wonderful day for us to celebrate!  He emailed me the night before and told me to be ready for family day the next day by 8am.  Well that was my first clue that something was fishy, because I have never been ready with the kids by 8am!  The next morning, Jason snuck out while I was blow drying my hair and went to pick up Mariah and Christian to babysit.  The Slack family is just a whole other story!  I have met few people who love to serve like them!  Anyways, I was stoked!  A whole day with my hubby to explore the city!  We took the Metro down by the Zoo, which is this really cute and quaint part of town.  He had found a locally acclaimed breakfast place that was delicious!  If you ever want breakfast in DC, you should try it.  They had this indoor outdoor patio and we got a table right by the window with the little flower bed.  I had an amazing chai tea and we talked about, well everything, for two hours!  I loved it!  
Next we headed down towards the National Mall.  Jason had just finished Manhunt, about John Wilkes Booth, and so he wanted to go back to the Ford's Theatre one more time.  It was really interesting listening to him tell me all of the extra details of the infamous day.  Jason and I both love the theater and have mentioned several times how we would love to actually see a production in Ford's Theatre.  But we never really found the right play at the right time.  Well, the day we were there, they were offering free showings of this two man production about the day that Lincoln died.  Perfect!  It was actually really good, much better than we were expecting for a free performance.  This was definitely a highlight from the day.  

Our next stop was the Library of Congress.  It was one place I hadn't seen yet and wanted to just pop in.  You can only get in to the main reading room if you register for research.  I am trying to convince Jason to go down there and study for a day.  Wouldn't that be awesome!  

To finish the day, we grabbed a mid-afternoon lunch at a great Mexican food place right off the mall.  

I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God to give me this man!  He loves God more than anything and I have been truly blessed to follow him these past seven years!   I love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a beautiful sunny day for Mother's Day! Jason began the day by making me a yummy breakfast and giving me a book that I have been wanting, Radical Womanhood, by Carolyn McCulley. Thanks love! After church we headed over to the Wassinks house with the Lockharts for our last family BBQ this year. It was also Hannah's birthday, so we had fun making her favorite, Taco Salad, and we had a big chocolate chip cookie bar cake! It was such a peaceful day chit chatting and watching the kids run around in the grass. I can't believe that I get to love and serve this amazing family that God has given me!  

I am not sure what Abby is doing in this picture.  It looks like she is pleading with her shadow for something!  

My Katie Bug!

How it is in the Wild

Okay, so it has seriously been raining and cold here for a week!  Tuesday to tuesday!  And it is supposed to rain again tomorrow.  But Thursday is forecasted at 79 and sunny!  Two weekends ago it was beautifully warm here and we took the girls to the zoo!  Our first time back since the fall.  Everybody thought it was miserable at 93, but us Arizonians were soaking it in!  While we were there we had this great teaching moment with Abby.  It happened while we were observing the gorillas.  They have several gorillas, including one mother who just had a baby girl a couple of months ago and a ginormous Papa silverback gorilla.  Seriously, this beast is massive!  The keeper was throwing these big popsicles out to each gorilla.  Knowing the social structure of the animals, she was trying to make sure the Papa didn't interfere with the Mama getting her popsicle.  Well that didn't work.  Twice the Papa gorilla swiped the popsicle from her.  Quite forcibly too!  The people watching were mad and booing at him.  All the while, Abby was watching.  Then she turned to me with this sad look.  "Why did the Daddy gorilla take the Mommy gorilla's popsicle?"  It turned into this really neat teaching opportunity to share with her how God created animals differently than He created people.  That people were created in God's image.  Lately, it has also served as a great picture of selfishness!  I love how she is getting older and asking more thoughtful questions!  

 

This was inside. One of the orangutans was playing some type of computer game. It was kinda neat!

Mommy and her baby!

Look at her little foot!

Jason captured this great shot of the mommy reaching out to ask for the popsicle.

The Big Man Himself

About to Pounce!


Their eyes are peeled!

Love, Love, Love the SUN!

Winter is finally over here in Gaithersburg, MD!  And the Hansen household is bursting with excitement about it!  Spring, spring, spring!  I feel like dancing around the family room here right now because I am so excited about it!  Here are some beautiful sunny pictures from our day at the park with Megan and her little Izzy.

"Can I push you Abby?"
Kate, Izzy, and Abby



I thought this sign was hillarious!  Make sure you don't play golf at the playground!  Technically there is a little field next to it, but still.  
Megan took this picture.  Isn't Katie's face so funny?
Here's to more sunshine!