Introducing Miss Kloee Mae

Our newest, cutest, niece made her entrance today. 7# 6oz 21 inches long.

 Miss Kloee Mae Hubbard

 Janalee has always wanted to know what going into labor on your own would be like. Her first two children did not oblige that goal but Kloee, she was an obedient little girl.

 
 

 Janalee looks pretty good for just having had a baby a few hours earlier wouldn't you think. I am sure she is super happy to see this shot but she knows I love her! Really, Janalee, it is a good picture of you.

This shot of my girls holding the baby makes grandmahood feel not that far off. Girls don't have a baby yet OK. I am not ready to be a granny.

 The hospital had a policy that  children under 14 were not allowed in the rooms unless you were immediate family. So Corby and I took turns watching the savages. You ask what they did to entertain themselves while the older sisters googly eyed their newest cousin. Let me show you. I am sure the nurse at the front desk just loved me for allowing my children to play on their furniture.

Welcome Kloee to the family. We are wild and crazy and you'll most likely fit right in.

Spartan Beast...what was I thinking!

After I completed my first half marathon my workout buddy,  Joani, signed up for a race titled Spartan Beast. I trained with her and even considered signing up until I realized it was over $200 for an entrance fee. So I cheered Joani on from the sign lines, from my comfy home. 
After she completed the race and raved about how fun/hard it was I was determined to check it off  my bucket list. There was a window where entrance fees were $40, so I jumped on the deal and didn't think twice about it.
Misty, Joani and myself received workout tips and we attended cross fit classes Saturday morning in lieu of preparing ourselves for the race. I have to say I had no idea what I was in for.
June 29th arrived and Misty picked me up at 6:30AM. we traveled to Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. Our heat began at 9:30 so after registering, stretching, and mentally preparing ourselves, we lined up and waited for the gun to go off. The course was 12 miles  with 25 plus obstacles to overcome. Now, if you were unable to achieve an obstacle you would replace it with burpees. You ask what a burpee is? torture I tell you, pure torture. Each unattained obstacle was 30 burpees. I had to do 5 sets of 30 burpees, not bad considering I expected to have to do more. I only saw one lady fall from the monkey bars  compound fracturing her leg and arm. Another gentlemen dislocated his shoulder and I witnessed many many calf cramps along the way. I have to say, my team did not suffer any injuries minus Misty falling down the steep mountainside and scraping her shin. She almost took both Joani and I out along her fall. Thank goodness for branches that were strong enough to hold us.
This adventure was so much harder than I mentally trained for. The obstacles were tough, don't get me wrong, but I was able to do most of them. The obstacles I failed to complete were the javelin throw, completely missed the haystack, did not train for this type of obstacle. I wasn't able to complete the two rope climbs or the monkey bars. Honestly, with the monkey bars, after seeing a compound fracture, I opted to just do burpees, they looked less painful. I was overwhelmed with happiness for the obstacles I was able to complete. Did I mention we were in over 100 degree weather and were covered in mud from a mile in? It was the toughest thing I have done thus far, as far as races and competitions go, that is. 
Such  a great feeling when I jumped through fire and ran across the finish line. I can do mentally challenging as well as physically challenging things, go me! Even a week after I would find bruises. People ask me why I would do this to myself.....my answer because I can. I am pretty proud of the fact that I am 43 years old and I am doing things 20 year olds can't. Go me!


I love this shot of before, we have no idea what is about to happen to us. Misty is sharing her strategies and I am making sure my bangs look good. Anyone who knows me knows that my hair is super important to me. I never go out in public without doing it first.

Most loved Joani's shirt. Potty mouth girl!

I am about to give up here, I lost my footing on the other side and just about fell. I was so tired but pulled myself up and over. Whew, so glad the judges didn't make me do burpees!

Nothing better than up and over.

This was where I wanted to puke. You had to roll under barbwire for miles, OK, it felt like miles, being sprayed with a fire hose every so often. The ground hurt so bad and bruised me everywhere. I got so dizzy but I finished.

I was so excited when I actually accomplished this obstacle.The logs were different heights and different spacing so it was hard to keep your balance. With each obstacle, you only got one chance. I was relieved when I made it to the end without falling.

I love this shot. I look like what was I thinking, that about sums it up for how I was feeling through some parts of this insane race.

We made it! We are Spartan tough!

Rain Rain Go Away

Caught Malia being so cute in the Rain. Don't ever not play in the rain, it cleanses your soul.

Father's Day

Every June it is Father's Day. Every year I have high hopes to surprise Corby with something fantastic and every year time gets away and I end up with just make shift gifts. This year is a new day. 

Corby loves Baklava, it is a Greek dessert. I found a friend who knows how to make it and the plans became motion. After a crazy hectic morning of basketball and piano recitals I went to my friend, Melissa, to use her kitchen. I had purchased the necessary items beforehand. Malia helped me create this masterpiece. Corby was curious why I had to be gone for several hours but he soon quit asking questions that were not resulting in answers he was seeking.

I have to say the process isn't hard, just time consuming steps and some steps are so finicky that one mess up will ruin the entire item, talk about stress. With the help of Malia, Melissa, and a thorough recipe we succeeded in my first attempt at Baklava.

Corby was amply surprised! Check one off for a successful surprise

Piano Recital

We have been taking lessons from the same teacher now for the past 9 years. She is incredible. We love her style so much. She is a great musician and plays multiple instruments, writes her own music and even sings. She is the most flexible woman you'll ever meet. She expects the girls to progress but doesn't come down on them so hard that they hate their lessons. Win win!

Malia is taking piano and voice lessons. Sierra is taking guitar and piano. Teesh quit this past year but was learning organ and piano. Sue doesn't do a lot of recitals only one year. I think it is good for the girls to have to work towards something, but having too many recitals with everything else on my girl's plate makes for a stressful life.

Thanks Sue Hardy for being so wonderful!

Sierra wasn't able to attend due to work, but if she would have been able to come she would have entertained us with a guitar piece as well as a duet on the piano.

Malia memorized her piece and was the final performer of the recital. She was suppose to sing a solo but just didn't feel like she was quite ready yet. Hey, Malia guess what, I'll never be ready so way to go even considering the idea. You are amazing.

 Malia played "Yellow" by ColdPlay

Fabulous 4

I can't believe I have been blogging for an entire year. My how time flies. I started this journey when Ada turned 3 and today she is 4.
I have been waiting for this glorious day to arrive. Frankly, I don't enjoy 3 year olds as much as 4. 4 and 5 has to be my most favorite age of all time. So cute. So innocent. So reasonable. So many less temper tantrums. The list goes on and on.
My baby is 4. She is such a little miracle in my life. I have felt so incredibly blessed to be this amazing little spirits mother.
A couple of days before Ada's birthday we asked her what she wanted for a gift. Bria was coaxing her into saying a real puppy. Ada promptly declined and said I want a real cell phone and ipod. We all laughed so hard. Yep, that is what you get from a 4 year old who lives with teenage sisters.
Following tradition, we decorated her door and provided her the entire day to her planning.

 

 

 Ada woke to this hanging from her door. She loves pink and blue. For not being all that creative I was proud of this display of love!

 For breakfast we enjoyed pop tarts and chocolate milk. We enjoyed playing with play dough and other activities before breakfast. The pop tart Ada is eating is called Cookie Cake, appropriate don't ya think?


After breakfast we headed to Gold's Gym. I gave her the option to stay home or go to daycare. She chose daycare to see Jaxon and Shelby. Ada was so proud marching in with her Happy Birthday Tiara.
After the gym, we headed to Sugar House Park to feed the ducks and play on the way cool equipment we have eyed every day I pick the older girls up from Cross Country. Sierra was taking her drivers test so we hung out playing for an hour and a half. Sierra passed! We ate donuts at the park and had a jolly ole time. Teesh came with us, how I love her company. While we were at the park there are a lot of runners there. When we pulled into the park, Bria said really loud, by the way, "Mom, I see a man without a shirt, I really did mom. He was wearing shorts but no shirt. It was gross". I informed her that  she would probably see many more and that it was ok since they were boys. We were swinging away and every so often Bria would yell, Mom I see another one. I am sure they wondered what the crazy little girl was talking about them. It made for a laugh for Teesh and I.
When Sierra was done, we headed to Seven Peaks to spend the remainder of our day. Corby surprised us and came a long.
We have passes to Seven Peaks so we go weekly but to go on such a special day as this made it feel as though it was a once in a life time opportunity. Cindy, Kaylen, Talia, and Gelsey met us there. So much fun to spend time with fun family members we call friends as well.

After several hours of fun in the sun we came home to crepes and gift opening. Kaylen, Jaren, Gelsey, Talia, and our friends the Hoyts came over for cake and ice cream.

 Ada opening her gift from Grandma Hansen, who wasn't in attendance. Grandma gave Ada a pair of roller skates, markers and a balloon that said Birthday Girl. In her card Ada also got $4.00

 Barrett gave Ada a princess with magnetic dresses and purses. So so fun!

 We were going to get Ada what she requested which was a cell and Ipod but then puzzles and books won out in the end. She seemed to be OK with that!

 See my awesome white baby horsey cake that aunt Cindy produced for me. Let me tell you it is a good connection to have you call 1-800- Cindy and she makes all your girls dreams come true. So so thankful for her talent and her willingness to share.

 Thanks for entertaining me and allowing me to journal who came to celebrate with Ada Rae. Scott, Stephanie, and little Crosby.

 Goofy Uncle Jaren!

Ada requested crepes for breakfast, poptarts for lunch and fish sticks with fries for dinner. Delish! We had to change her menu up a bit to fit our schedule but in the end she seemed to be one happy little 4 year old. Love you little miracle child, ADA RAE HANSEN

Swan Lake

Malia takes ballet twice a week. She is a member of En Pointe Academy. She has been so diligent in practicing that she was moved to pointe in only 3 months, no small task that is. She is an amazing young woman. So talented and kind to everyone.
Her ballet group has been practicing and preparing for their big performance of Swan Lake all year. I have seen many hours go into this production. So when the performance day finally arrived, excitement was thick in the air. Malia performed at a neighboring middle school. I had to pay a recital fee which in turn allowed us to invite all our friends and family free of charge. Jaren, Cindy some of their girls, Grandma Hansen all came to show their love and support. Avery and her mom also came to support Malia. Couldn't ask for better family and friends.
The performance was incredible. It was a little long for the little girls as it was just shy of 3 hours but all in all I thought they handled it well. I was so proud of Malia up on stage. I wasn't able to take photos but I did catch a few after the performance.

So proud of you Malia and your incredible accomplishments. You were the most beautiful swan out of the bunch!

 Malia Ruth

 Avery and Malia. so glad they found each other. Two peas in a pod!

Not a great shot of really anyone but I wanted a pic of Sierra running her fingers through her hair. She is constantly doing it. She has beautiful long hair!

 

Here's to the next performance Malia, you are awesome!

Someones official

Happy Birthday Leticia Elizabeth Hansen.

You have arrived. You are an adult. You get to be 100% responsible for all your actions. You get to pay all your bills. You get to live on your own. You don't have to do chores. You get to attend Relief Society. Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter both inside as well as out.

You go girl!

Per tradition, Leticia chose our daily routine (kind of, there things on the schedule that we were not able to avoid so she mostly got to choose the routine) Sorry Teesh, that is what happens sometimes when we grow old. We tried to make the best of it though I think.

We ate a yummy breakfast and headed down south to Trafalga, an amusement park, in Lehi. It was a beautiful day. We could only stay for a little more than an hour but we made the most of it. Teesh braved some of the rides and the girls were cooled off with the boat ride. Love our pass of all passes making this park free of charge thank you very much.

 

This lunch is my two oldest favorite meal. Their cool aunt, Janalee, prepared it for them one summer and it is the most frequent request. You take French bread cut it into thick slices, grill ham with melted pepper jack cheese on it, then layer with crispy french fries, and coleslaw with Italian dressing. Top with other slice of french bread. 

 All the girls seemed to enjoy themselves.

Malia had a dress rehearsal for her swan lake performance the following evening so while Corby took her and the other girls to that, while I stayed home and whipped up a batch of homemade pizza dough.

Teesh wanted everyone to make their own pizza. I asked which toppings she wanted me to provide she promptly replied, hot dogs! Such a funny memory of Grandma Ellis and her substitutions.

Looks kind of professional doesn't it!

Leticia decided on brownies instead of cake this year, excellent choice little love bug.

Malia looking scared because of the flamage going on in our home with 18 candles burning.

Teesh I hope it was a great birthday, one that will go down in history as one of the best. We all love you and are so so proud.