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Yes we are still alive!

Its been a LONG time since my last post. Things have been a little upside down for the Hanna household. Now that we are kinda settled  I can post an update. We moved from the sunny state of Arizona to brave a snowy winter in Big Bear Ca! Since we moved here it has been very snowy! Its definitely a huge lifestyle change. J is still in AZ tying up a few loose ends. I got a job working at the ski slopes in the "Little Bear" ski school. I start tomorrow. Its so perfect considering the girls can come to work with me and we all get free lessons and lift passes. Ive met some really sweet and helpful people since we got here. It was definitely welcoming and reassuring.

J and Jean both got webcams and Skype. It has been so nice to be able to "see" them. Its the next best thing to them actually being here. Barb and her girls came over to use J's webcam today. It was so nice to see them too. B was thrilled to see her best friends! I was happy to see Barb too. I miss our afternoon play dates so much.

Check out B and S playing in the snow and sitting by the fire. So precious!

Quote of the "Monday"......something to help you get through the week...

Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget...

Changed

Some people touch your heart and will leave you forever changed!

The big M-O-V-E

So we are doing it..the big M-O-V-E. It's time. Packing is not fun. J's mom has so graciously opened her home to us while we transition to a new state. The girls and I will move first so that I can get a job before J joins us. Its scary and exciting. We will experience living in the snow for the first time. We are not looking forward to splitting up our family for a long period of time so please pray that I find employment quickly so that J can be with us as soon as possible. We are happy that we are doing this before our kids start kindergarten so we don't have to have them change schools. 

Next week will be my last week doing Daycare. I will miss the kiddos terribly. Jonathon has been with us since he was in diapers...I cant believe what a handsome little man he has become. I'm sure we will keep in touch. There will be many letters and pictures sent so be on the look out Nicole!
B has told Mallika that she will miss her too much and suggested that she let her live in her room!
I have grown very attached to baby Nishaunt (Nishanty Elephantie). I started watching him when he was 5 weeks old. He is now five months...I am sad that I wont get to see him when he starts crawling and walking.

On a brighter note I am looking forward to a winter filled with sledding and building snowmen. I cant wait to put my girls in warm footie jammies while we sit by the fire. It will be just two short hours to San Diego to see my family, and the girls will get to spend some much needed time with their Grammie, who has not gotten to see much of the girls this year. It will be new and refreshing. This has been a trying year for us and a new start is just what we need.

Halloween fun!

I have to admit I was not looking forward to Halloween this year. For the first time ever J was going to have to work. Jean was there to cheer me up though! We went trick or treating at her sisters house with a BIG group of kids. My girls had a blast! B was the cutest Belle ever, and S was a pink and green fairy.

B wore her costume in the Gymkhanna in the morning...It was a last minute decision since the grass skirt (for the luau themed costume) sounded a lot like a snake and I was concerned about Sassy horse getting spooked. Id post pictures but I forgot my camera AGAIN.

Super Fun San Diego weekend!

homemade Christmas

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year now that I have kids. They see a wonder in Christmas that as adults we can't see anymore. The delight in their faces on Christmas morning is something that I look forward to.

Christmas has become so commercialized now. I don't want my kids to start getting caught up in the hoopla of receiving. I have adopted the less is more attitude about Christmas. My favorite gifts are ones that some one has put thought into.

Last year, J's cousin (who is a high school student) made the girls a cradle in wood shop. My kids have played with it every day since.

This year I have started early on my homemade gifts...here is my list:

Home made doll diapers and bibs

flannel board

memory game (made out of family pictures)

Ocean in a box http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2008/09/ocean-wonders-wednesday.html

I spy bags

art smocks

I better get to work on it all....its gonna take me a while! Ill post pictures as they get finished.

I love being a SAHM!

I came across this article on a blog I follow called Anniescupboards. I absolutely love it! I hate it when people without children ask "what do you do all day?". Its not exactly easy to put into words. Being a stay at home mom is a joy and a selfless sacrifice. Its also the most rewarding job I have ever had. I love my little girls and feel privileged to have the opportunity to spend this precious time with them but sometimes I find myself pulling my hair out and wishing I could be the one going to work. At the end of the day, after I tuck them into bed and they give me goodnight huggels and snuggles...I can honestly say I have the best, most important job in the world!

Fall family pictures!

Its about time we had a family picture of all four of us!

Trader Joes

I just love to shop at Trader Joes! Here is a list of yummy things I like to buy there:

garlic chicken stir fry (only needs one pan and 10 mins...so yummy!)

marinated Mahi Mahi (I cook this on my george foreman grill and make the most delicious fish tacos!)

Burried treasure (popcorn with the texture of cheetos, only was better for you...my kids LOVE it)

Pumpkin Pancake Mix (this has been a new discovery for me...we loved them!)

Apple cider

chicken apple sausage

sun dried tomato pesto spread

new york style cheese cake (especially yummy with a can of cherry pie filling poured over the top!)

I also love Trader Joes because my girls always behave there so I can shop. They are super kid friendly. The little carts keep them entertained and the girls know that if they behave they will get a balloon and a sticker when we check out.

crafts

We have been busy doing lots of crafts here at Sweet Surprises! With three four year olds and a two year old around, art projects are a daily event! Usually we have a few neighbor kids over to join in the fun too. It has been my goal to get the kids doing something creative every day. So Last week I accomplished our goal! Our theme for the week was the five senses and the letter "S".

Monday-Homemade bright pink play dough (I added some peppermint extract) The kids lovedit. B insisted that it smelled just like chewing gum. I was going for the candy cane scent but close enough.

Tuesday-Sidewalk chalk rainbow art. I wrote the kids names on the driveway and let them trace over it with different colors of sidewalk chalk. This activity was perfect since it is getting so much cooler outside!

Wednesday-It was just me and my girls most of the day so we had lunch at Mongolian Grill andtook a trip down to Ikea to check out Children's Ikea. They have fantastic art supplies for super cheap. We picked up a few things to store away for Christmas presents.

Thursday-(crayon resist) We have been working really hard at learning how to spell and writeour names. The kids wrote their names on painting paper with crayons. Then we painted over it with water colors.

Friday-find its! We dyed rice with food coloring and alcohol and let it dry for two hours. We then filled plastic water bottles 3/4 full of the rice and added small trinketts. I then hot glued the lids down. B's bottle was filled with hot pink rice, a couple barbie shoes, hair clips and a little horse. The kids love playing with these, especially in the car.

I will try to post some pictures later today.

We had a really fun weekend too. We went to an Equestrian fair where B and S entered in the Little Buckaroo rodeo. They got to use a stick horse to run a pattern, have a flag race, and lasoo a fake cow! B actually roped the cow twice! S totally cheated and just ran up and threw the rope over the horns! It was so cute!

On J's day off we took our girls to see UP at the dollar theater. I was amazed at how long the girls lasted. We almost made it all the way through the movie!

Sometimes I need to remember what my Grandma always told me....I tried to follow her advice this week.

"Life is what's passing you by while you are busy planning for your future."

Its nice to slow down and enjoy my little ones while they are still so small.

Jon's birthday was Friday so we made some cupcakes and sang him happy birthday...B tries to blow out his candles but was unsuccessful!

Yesterday was a fantastic day. J only had to work a couple of hours so we got to have an unexpected family day! I had Jon in the morning so it was a quiet morning. I got some homework done and before I knew it J was home. The girls and J went shopping for a birthday gift for Jon while I went to have my hair done. Bella picked out a really cool Batman car that runs over barrels. Jon loved it. He enjoyed having a toy that was not pink to play with at our house.

Its amazing how good it feels to have a fresh new hair cut and color. Its so satisfying and relaxing. I haven't had any me time in a very long time. It was so rejuvenating! J picked me up after kidnapping our Jiggy so we could all have a family dinner. It was nice to reconnect with everyone. We have all been so busy that it has been a really long time since we have all done anything together. It was a dinner full of laughs, smiles and yummy food. I love the Olive Garden!

We had the neighbors over this morning to make cookies and homemade play dough. We made the fall version. After coloring it orange (pinkish orange), I added vanilla, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. We had fun using our five senses to feel, touch, see, and smell it. It smelled really good but I didn't think it would be a good idea to taste it. I love homemade play dough. Its inexpensive and I don't have to worry about the kids mixing up the colors. If anyone would like the recipe let me know :0)

little rider

Here are some pics of my little cowgirl. Her baby sister is following in her footsteps ;)

My little Cowgirl!

B was in the QCGC horse competition this weekend. She has been riding for some time now. She is so confident on a horse. She is my little Cowgirl. This weekend she actually trotted instead of walking! This was a huge step for her. She is the youngest competitor in the whole club. She was so excited to place second. She was hoping for second because the ribbon was pink lol! Every time we take her to a lesson or show she ends the day with "Mommy I sure do wish I had a horse" and then gives me those big brown puppy dog eyes.

So next month the competition is on October 31st. All of the riders are dressing in costumes with their horses. I was thinking B could be a mermaid and the horse could be the Ocean. Do you have any cute ideas?

Birthday Fun!

So summertime is Birthday season for us. My littlest princess's birthday is in June and J and B's birthdays are both in August. I have so much fun planning super cute themed birthday parties for my little girls.

This year "S" had a teddy bear picnic. It came out so cute. I put out lots of fake trees and fake grass and little picnic tables with red and white table cloths. I also filled goodie bags for the kids with bear themed treats (teddy grahms, bear fruitsnacks...ect.) We feasted on picnic food like watermelon and "ants on a log" It was so fun!

B's party was luau themed....I got really lucky because B's Auntie Jiggy already had all of the decorations we needed. "B" loved her hula girl pinata but was devastated when we all started to bash her with a stick. It was so sad! We played a fun fishing game with all of the kids and danced to the Lilo and Stich soundtrack. A friend of ours made B an awesome cake that looked like a beach. My sister and I also made a cake that looked like a hula girl, It came out AMAZING!

Here are some pictures of us from last year...I am feeling a bit reminiscent ;0)

Nothing means more to me than family, I miss mine so much. When we decided to move to Arizona it was so new and exciting. We have loved living here. J and I were newlyweds and only 20 when we moved here and now we have become a family of four. We have grown and changed in major ways since we moved here and I have loved every moment of it. The only drawback is that we are so far away from our family.

We get to see them every other month or so but it just doesn't seem right. I never pictured raising my children so far away from their grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. I also never thought Id be arguing with J about who's family we'd be staying with for Christmas. Id really like for once, to be able to open presents on Christmas morning in my own home, without missing our extended family Christmas.

The life we have made here will be beyond difficult to part from. The friends we have made will last a life time. I don't know if we will ever have better friends or neighbors. They have become our family away from our family. My children have grown so attached to the people in our lives. We love them dearly.

It looks like change is headed our way. Its scary and hard to feel secure when your not sure if your doing the right thing for your family. But I truly believe that we are being pointed in a new direction. I have found comfort in this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeramiah 29:11