Wednesday, March 28, 2007

It's A Girl!

Today we all had a new member join our family.

Kenton and I just met our one and only niece. Judah met his first girl cousin.
Kenton's step-sister Tara and her husband Scott welcomed little Audrey Kay in to the world this morning.

She arrived right on time and is as beautiful as can be.

Since the gender was a surprise Judah sure didn't know what to think of a baby girl. "Girls are hard to play with."















"She's too small." Was the only other statement he had after they met.
She is very precious and we're so happy to have her in our lives.

Welcome Audrey!

Audrey Kay Norris
Born: March 28, 2007
Weight: 7lbs.
Length: 20 inches

Monday, March 26, 2007

Aye! The Luck of The O'Hansen's!

As you all know, or should have known, last Saturday was St. Patrick's Day. Something about these little holidays that always makes me happy. I don't know what it is. As a child all it meant was wearing green, eating corned beef and cabbage with green milk for dinner, and the sugar loaded parties at school. (Hmmm... I wonder if the connection between all the sugar and the holiday has anything to do with my excitement???)

While all these activities were sufficient to make all my St. Patrick's Days enjoyable, seven years ago another event took place that has now become my greatest joy in regards to this Irish celebration.
I was 18 years old. Finishing my last quarter of my senior year. I was hanging out at a friends house. It was a Friday, and I was wearing green because it was March 17th, 2000. The doorbell rang and I offered to go up and answer it, knowing that an expected guest was arriving. I opened the door to let said guest in only to find she had brought along a few friends. One of these friends was a very tall boy. He had dark rimmed glasses, blue eyes, and the largest mop of curly hair had ever seen in real life. "What did he say his name was?" "His name is Kenton."
And so it began.
As these past seven years have seemed to race by, I still cherish my special memory of the day I met my best friend. I would have never guessed that by just opening the door I was welcoming my future in. (awe...take a moment to exhale adoringly... go ahead, it's okay... no one will know why you're doing it, they won't laugh... well they might, but go ahead anyways.)














This was us a few weeks after we met.









And this is us on March 17th, 2007.
It's safe to say we've changed just a little.

We spent our St. Patrick's Day taking in all the Irish festivities that this Mid-Western city could offer. We began by making sure our attire was appropriate for the day.


Check!
(Man, we all could afford some lessons in picture posing!)

Judah's Auntie Lindz came along with us too! Bonus!



We headed out to the Delano District watch the parade. Judah got into the spirit too. His Meme had just sent him shamrock stickers in the mail that morning and he eagerly gave them away to kids along the parade route.











I was really proud of him. I was such a frighteningly shy child and I know it never served me well, so to see him approaching strangers and offering them a sticker, really showed me what sort person we're dealing with.









Wichita sure does it's best to put on a parade. A for effort. But as you know this Irish rich community only has so much to work with. We saw plenty of men in kilts and heard our fill of bagpipes.









Judah was stoked to get a ruler from some construction company. Lindsay was hit on (hand kissed and everything) by one of the Renaissance players. We all tried to find somewhere else to look when the scantly clad belly dancers giggled by. As the street sweeper concluded the brigade, we joyfully headed for the car.

Next up, we were off to The Artichoke Irish Sandwich Bar. This was the location and starting line of the annual St. Pat's Run and Party.

We met up with a few other familiar faces too.








Jeremy was back home for a few days due to a funeral and decided to run with his wife. I guess my Dad had nothing better to do. Ha! He joined at the last minute and we all warmed up or chatted, however you see it for our four mile race.

The whistle blew and we all set in to our own strides and met up again on the other side of the line.








Our chilly morning turned into a HOT afternoon. We all crossed sunburned and sweaty.



The fickle friend of running always leaves you surprised. I was feeling great and Wendy was feeling horrible. She shooed me on when her run was leaving her lagging.
I reluctantly accepted her offer to leave her behind, and managed to finish with my fastest 4mile time yet. Despite her frustration, she crossed with a personal record too.
My Dad pulled closely behind us with a great time and Kenton and Jeremy finished within one second of each other. Kenton says, "I totally beat Jeremy!" HA!

Official Stats

Lacy 33:04

Wendy 34:12
Randy (my Dad) 35:52

Kenton 37:07

Jeremy 37:08

Judah and Maddy lined up next to give the kids race a go.
Judah had been so excited about his run for days. He said he and Maddy were going to be the winners. You can see he was flashing his "I'm number one" while waiting at the line.












Two seconds before the race starts Judah got upset that his number was crumbly and as the whistle blew he reverted to a typical three year old and was not cooperative.


With his head down and back turned all the other kids raced by him and he pouted at the line over his crumbly number.


His Mother was ticked, his Dad was steaming and some how we made it through.

He was the last to cross the line dragging his heels and crying. (we felt it was important he finish..regardless of his opinion on the matter.)


All in all it was a great day. We hang around for the party. Ate Irish stew, Kenton had his green beer (uk! Beer is not my post-race choice, but whatever), then we headed home to nurse our sunburns.

My, my how time can fly! I never imagined this seven years ago...who knows what will happen in the next seven!


Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Side Note: My mom was behind the camera all day and she and Lindsay spent the afternoon chasing Judah around...many thanks to them!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

My Old Man

Well, it's official. There are no spring chickens left in this Hansen house. Kenton finally caught up with his old lady and hit the big quarter century mark last week.
As the rest of the country was commemorating National Women's Day, Kenton celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his birth. (He always gets a little rubbed that "they" chose his birthday to observe such a cause.)
We began the celebration with taking him to Z Pizza. It's a great place and the only place in town you can get whole wheat crust and organic sauce.







After they brought out the cheese and olive pizza (A Hansen favorite) Kenton was serenaded by Judah. It was the best rendition of "Happy Birthday" I've ever heard. It was put forth with such diction and maturity!
Once the melting candles were blown out, the pizza quickly disappeared!






As if pizza weren't enough..oh yes, that's a certified NASA pen, just like the astronauts use! Is there really any other way to say, "Happy Birthday?" I think not.











I suppose there is another way to say Happy Birthday.
You tell your husband to wear particular clothing and be ready to go by 6:45 on Friday night.
You tell him to go into Whole Foods and load up on his favorite snacks.
You drive him out to no man's land and blindfold him.









You cause him to lose his orientation and hear him say that he thinks you're taking him out west to paint pottery. (Paint pottery..are you kidding me?)
Then you tell him to take off the blindfold and go inside because his friends are waiting.And then you go home and watch TV all night awaiting his victorious return.


With his first place rank, the other guy (ah..the 13 year old) celebrating his birthday was totally put to shame by Kenton.


Age before beauty..or something like that, right?


Happy Birthday Kenton!