The Birthday Girl and her cake.
David and Shannon (her mom & dad)
Robert checking out the view of the valley from Dave's house.
Erin & Sienna
Madelyn and Papa
Tyson & Aidan
The newlyweds Paul & Kelsey
The other newlyweds Robert & Michelle
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Savanna's 3rd Birthday Party
Today, Dave's little daughter Savanna celebrated her 3rd birthday. She's getting SO big!
The Birthday Girl and her cake.
David and Shannon (her mom & dad)
Robert checking out the view of the valley from Dave's house.
Erin & Sienna
Madelyn and Papa
Tyson & Aidan
The newlyweds Paul & Kelsey
The other newlyweds Robert & Michelle
The Birthday Girl and her cake.
David and Shannon (her mom & dad)
Robert checking out the view of the valley from Dave's house.
Erin & Sienna
Madelyn and Papa
Tyson & Aidan
The newlyweds Paul & Kelsey
The other newlyweds Robert & Michelle
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Price of Children
My Dad forwarded this to me, and I just had to share it.
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
• $8,896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month, or
• $171.08 a week.
• That's a mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
• finger-paint,
• carve pumpkins,
• play hide-and-seek,
• catch lightning bugs, and
• never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
• keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
• watch Saturday morning cartoons,
• go to Disney movies, and
• wish on stars.
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
• retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
• taking the training wheels off a bike,
• removing a splinter,
• filling a wading pool,
• coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
• first step,
• first word,
• first bra,
• first date, and
• first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
• $8,896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month, or
• $171.08 a week.
• That's a mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
• finger-paint,
• carve pumpkins,
• play hide-and-seek,
• catch lightning bugs, and
• never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
• keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
• watch Saturday morning cartoons,
• go to Disney movies, and
• wish on stars.
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
• retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
• taking the training wheels off a bike,
• removing a splinter,
• filling a wading pool,
• coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
• first step,
• first word,
• first bra,
• first date, and
• first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Visit to Michigan (and Visitors from Michigan last year)
I've been messing around making a video of the June visit last year of Ed's brother and his family plus Ed's Aunt Mary and cousin Mary Jane. Well, we ended up visiting Mary Jane and Aunt Mary at MJ's house in Michigan this last weekend. So I put our most recent visit on the back of the video and both are here.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Paul & Kelsey's Wedding
We're flying to Chicago in a few hours, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes and post a few pictures from the wedding today. It was lovely!
Paul before the ceremony.
Robert, Brady, Paul, Adam (in a suit--unbelievable!), and Kevin
Kelsey and her father.
Their first married kiss.
It was a Casablanca wedding (until the Metallica music started playing),
Family Picture.
Paul before the ceremony.
Robert, Brady, Paul, Adam (in a suit--unbelievable!), and Kevin
Kelsey and her father.
Their first married kiss.
It was a Casablanca wedding (until the Metallica music started playing),
Family Picture.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Coming Wedding
Wow, it's hard to believe that Paul's big day is Saturday! It's been a long time coming, and they've been feverishly (at least Kelsey has been!) getting everything together. Grampa Hanson is driving in on Friday, so he'll be here for the wedding & reception. Paul and Kelsey decided, practically at the last minute, to have a get together on Friday, so everyone can meet. I've met Kelsey's mom a few times and her twin sister, but we haven't met her dad yet--his name is Ed, too! I guess they're having a BBQ. I'll post pictures later.
We're flying to Chicago on Sunday for a work conference. On the 23rd we'll drive from Chicago to Nauvoo where we have reservations for Memorial Day weekend. I've never been there, and I'm excited to see it. We'll have to drive back to Chicago on Tuesday and catch a late flight home. While there, we have tickets to a Harry Potter exhibition. One of the Leaky Lounge mods (Abbey) lives there, and she's going to go to the exhibition with us.
I'm starting to get excited . . . maybe. This is going to be a VERY busy couple of weeks.
We're flying to Chicago on Sunday for a work conference. On the 23rd we'll drive from Chicago to Nauvoo where we have reservations for Memorial Day weekend. I've never been there, and I'm excited to see it. We'll have to drive back to Chicago on Tuesday and catch a late flight home. While there, we have tickets to a Harry Potter exhibition. One of the Leaky Lounge mods (Abbey) lives there, and she's going to go to the exhibition with us.
I'm starting to get excited . . . maybe. This is going to be a VERY busy couple of weeks.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day Serenades & Dances
I made a video of the songs/dances of three of the grandkids who were visiting today:
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Mother's Day
As Mother's Day is approaching, I thought I'd post a little bit about the day. I express appreciation to my own mother, who died when I was 14. I loved her dearly, and I know she loved me dearly in return. As I made the journey of being a mom myself without her there, her absence over the years has been keenly felt.
I want to express my love and gratitude to my daughter Erin and my daughter-in-law Shannon for the wonderful mothering jobs they are doing with my grandchildren. These are two very noble, very human women doing their best to raise Heavenly Father's children. *hugs*
On a lighter note, here's a job description for a mother:
POSITION: Mom
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Must provide on-the-site training in basic life skills, such as nose blowing. Must have strong skills in negotiating, conflict resolution and crisis management. Ability to suture flesh wounds a plus. Must be able to think out of the box but not lose track of the box, because you most likely will need it for a school project. Must reconcile petty cash disbursements and be proficient in managing budgets and resources fairly, unless you want to hear, "He got more than me!" for the rest of your life. Also, must be able to drive motor vehicles safely under loud and adverse conditions while simultaneously practicing above mentioned skills in conflict resolution. Must be able to choose your battles and stick to your guns. Must be able to withstand criticism, such as "You don't know anything." Must be willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
Also, must have a highly energetic entrepreneurial spirit, because fund-raiser will be your middle name. Must have a diverse knowledge base, so as to answer questions such as "What makes the wind move?" or "Why can't they just go in and shoot Osama Bin Laden?" on the fly. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
I want to express my love and gratitude to my daughter Erin and my daughter-in-law Shannon for the wonderful mothering jobs they are doing with my grandchildren. These are two very noble, very human women doing their best to raise Heavenly Father's children. *hugs*
On a lighter note, here's a job description for a mother:
POSITION: Mom
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Must provide on-the-site training in basic life skills, such as nose blowing. Must have strong skills in negotiating, conflict resolution and crisis management. Ability to suture flesh wounds a plus. Must be able to think out of the box but not lose track of the box, because you most likely will need it for a school project. Must reconcile petty cash disbursements and be proficient in managing budgets and resources fairly, unless you want to hear, "He got more than me!" for the rest of your life. Also, must be able to drive motor vehicles safely under loud and adverse conditions while simultaneously practicing above mentioned skills in conflict resolution. Must be able to choose your battles and stick to your guns. Must be able to withstand criticism, such as "You don't know anything." Must be willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
Also, must have a highly energetic entrepreneurial spirit, because fund-raiser will be your middle name. Must have a diverse knowledge base, so as to answer questions such as "What makes the wind move?" or "Why can't they just go in and shoot Osama Bin Laden?" on the fly. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
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