Locks of Love

McKayla has been growing her hair out now for two years! Last week she said she wanted a change..maybe even a short hair cut, when I asked, "how short?" She said, "short enough I can donate it to someone who doesn't have hair, so they can feel good!"....so here are the before and after stylist photos! I think she looks amazing! she can wear it flipped out a little, or under, she is loving the quick dry haircut and that she can style it herself! ME TOO!

Ma & Pa Torgersen

Tonight Tom & I were asked to go on a Pioneer Handcart Trek in August. We will be a Ma & Pa for the youth at church. How fun! I have got to sew a dress and an apron and a bonnet! I should grow out my hair to have a braided bun! Wait, do the bonnets go over the buns? And what about the boys and Tom? They'll need pioneer shirts, suspenders and vests! Tom went last time without me, that was 5 years ago. Our Bishop told Tom they wanted him to go and be the paramedic again, he remembered I didn't go. I said something like, "last time I had a baby and couldn't go but this time I don't have a baby." He nodded and agreed I don't have a baby. We will need to make arrangements for our 3 youngest to stay home. Then I was sad I don't have a baby. Tom said the Ma's have to carry a doll the whole way. So now I get to dress that in pioneer clothes too! I think I will be sewing a lot. Can you tell I am super excited to dress up like a pioneer! Haven't thought much about walking in the dusty sandy trails yet.

Helllllooooooo......Anyone there?

Why does it seem I'm the only one posting anything on here? Oh, because I AM!! LOL. Where is everyone? I want to hear what's going on with your lives. I feel so.......far away. Come on now, help me out here! I AM on the right site....right?

We are doing good. Jessica slept in her own room last night in the crib. She only woke up once & then slept until 9:15am. I feel so much more rested today. I hope it continues! She is such a happy baby. Everyone that sees her says how adorable she is. She has the longest eye lashes & is so smiley & playful!! We love her so much!! She's just perfect...well, the sleeping thing is not so perfect, but.......you know?

Emily is excited to start her music class tomorrow. I think I'm just as excited as she is! She'll have a blast. I told Craig he's gonna have to take her while I'm in Utah (we have to go in the last 15 min of class & sing & dance with the kids) I told him the letter from the teacher said "check your self-consciousness at the door & come have fun' He told me she may be 'sick' that day!! I told him he'd better take her. LOL It's a battle. I guess there's not much I can do about it if I'm clear across the country. huh?Oh well.

The boys are doing good. This week is Mid-terms. They've been studying like crazy, so hopefully they do good. It's been RAINING here for the last few days with flood warnings in effect!! Yes, in January!! Crazy. I think if it were snowing, we'd have 7 feet of snow by now!!

Well, no word on our property yet. Part of the owner's family is holding things up. If it doesn't work out, we'll just build behind our house. Not a big deal. Craig was looking at it as an investment, but it MAY not happen. We'll see.

Hopefully I hear from some of you soon. Please let me know if I'm on the wrong site!!!!! I love you all & hope you're all healthy & happy!

Hugs from NY
Lisa

Me Want Food, Me Want Food!

Jessica is loving this 'real' food stuff. She is just starting on solids & likes everything she has tried! Surprise, surprise. She hasn't had any allergic reactions to any of them either. Emily loves to feed her. I put Jessica in her little seat & give the jar & spoon to Emily & she feeds her!! Emily doesn't even play with her dolls anymore. Why would she? She has a real doll that actually eats & poops!! Yes, Emily has changed her diaper for me (without me knowing). She actually does a good job. It's not on backwards anyway....Eric =)

So, the other day I snapped this picture of Emily feeding Jessica. I thought it was cute!

Oh, yeah, the bib got too dirty, so Emily went & got her apron & put it on Jessica. LOL She doesn't like it when she's messy!!

Disney on Ice 'Princess Classics'

Emily & I went with some friends to Rochester to see 'Princesses on Ice'. We went with 7 other little girls & their mommies. We had so much fun! It was so cute to see their faces. They were so mesmerized with it all! They all dressed up like princesses & most of them brought their own magic wands (so we didn't have to be sucked into purchasing one for $25 when we got there).

They told the stories (very basic) of the 7 Disney princesses-Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty & the Beast, Mulan, Aladdin, Little Mermaid & Cinderella. During Mulan all of the girls all of the sudden were hungry, tired, bored- that wasn't exactly their favorite. But, they loved the show & we recommend you see it if you can. During Cinderella, the guy who goes around trying the glass slipper on all the women tried it on a few of the little girls in the audience in the front row. I bet they were so excited!! It was pretty cute.

Here are some pics that I took:

Pretty Princesses

Emily is second from the left, front row


Emily as Snow White

She was a little worried because she has 'yellow hair' & Snow White has black hair. So, I told her she can just be a blonde Snow White tonight & she was OK with that.

Whew! I wasn't dyeing her hair!!

Snow White biting the apple

Cinderella (Emily's favorite)


7 Dwarfs (so cute)

All the princesses & princes together

(of course these were their wedding gowns, not their 'normal' dresses-lol)

Happy Birthday Mom (Mammaw)

Our Mom Is amazing!  She is beautiful! She is Talented! She is a great friend! I love to have her visit, and I love to go visit at her home too! She is always making something for someone, and she is really good at everything she does! She can  make anything! She loves to try new techniques, and doesn't really like making the same pattern twice, so she will mix it up and change it! What talent! She can arrange flowers, and she has a very green thumb, she is an amazing cook, and knows how to do so many things, and lots of handwork! She is a beautiful seamstress, she makes fabulous baby blessing outfits and gowns, wedding gowns, winter coats & dresses, she knits socks & sweaters, she crochets the most amazing baby booties, afghans and doilies, she tats, she does beautiful Brazilian embroidery, she does ribbon embroidery, regular embroidery, she smocks the prettiest dresses, she makes fancy ukranian easter eggs, she paints, does ceramics, and has a great imagination when it comes to decorating, and fashion. 
The thing that I find most amazing about Mom is that she is always doing a project or two, reading a book or two, and is willing to teach someone how to do the amazing project she is working on, just come on over and she will show you how! Besides knowing how to do so many things, she is actually VERY talented at these things! She has not hid her talent under a bushel, what she makes, she gives as gifts to her children, and grand-children, and great-grandson! Like I said, she is amazing!
 I Love Mom, she is always willing to lend a listening ear, and she loves each of us unconditionally! 

Emily's snowman

We woke up to about 7" of snow the other day. Emily wanted to play in it while Craig plowed. She built a snowman. The snow was very 'fluffy', so it wouldn't roll in a ball. She came in & told me she needed a carrot. All I had was a baby carrot, so that's what she used for the nose. She had buttons for eyes, but lost them in the snow & couldn't find them with her mittens on. She couldn't find any rocks, they were too deep down in the snow. She was very proud of her snowman that she built all by herself!

Cowgirl Jessica

Emily took this picture of Jessica the other day.

I thought it was cute!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is mom's birthday!! I wish I could be there with you to celebrate! I love you so much & I am so glad to call you mom. Thank you for all of your love & support. You're the best! I Miss you!

Happy Birthday!!!

(Emily made grandmas hair pretty for this picture!)

"Snow" Much Fun!

Robert bought a "Sled" so he could pack the snow down around our yard and prevent the field mice/Voles from nesting under the snow..... I think they are having way too much fun preventing rodents!I tried it, and it is hard work, I may have to take over the job....

You are going to have to come and help me out...lol! It is so FUN!

I did it!

Yeah!! Finally.... I tried for a long time to access this & finally tonight it worked. I have no idea what I did different, I'm just glad it worked.

Emily has had the stomach flu all day today, since 4am. She still isn't feeling well & I'm tired. I hope she feels better in the morning & nobody else gets it. Yuck! Poor thing.

Adam & Matthew have basketball games tomorrow. The boys are also going to see 'Avatar' on the IMAX with Uncle Chad tomorrow too. Fun! They're pretty excited. Other than that, we are laying low.

Love you all
From NY,
Lisa

Wahlquists 26th Wedding Anniversary!

Today, Robert and I have been married for 26 years! We are still in love, and still like each other! We still sneak off to the Pantry for a quick kiss, just to make the girls giggle, and they do! We love spending time with each other, and talking, we like to take walks, ride the tandem bicycle,-my favorite, and hike mountains. We love to go to the beach and stay in a yurt,  we love staying  in Park City, so FUN! We have enjoyed many trips around the states and abroad including Rome, Israel, Egypt, France, and Russia. This summer we are headed to England for a tour of church history sites(there are 11 people in our home these days!) We love to go to the Temple together, and try to go once  a week.

We have endured 7 moves, building 3 homes, 5 pregnancies, 3 adoptions, an associates degree, a bachelor's, a Masters, and a Doctorate, poor health, and sick babies/children,multiple surgeries,  plus many other trials. Each trial has made us stronger, I have learned that when you work hard at something, it makes you appreciate it even more, and when you work side by side with someone, enduring life and trying to make the best of it,  you appreciate them even more than you can imagine, and your love grows stronger and stronger and deeper! I am so grateful for Robert, he is the best husband, and I am so happy to be sealed to him for all Eternity, I truly feel blessed to be his wife and companion!

Torgyboys tape

Kevin & Tristan learned this technic in their art class. First you wrap the packing tape around sticky side up, so it's NOT sticking to your skin. Then the next layer is sticky side down. Cut it off and tape back together. Together they made Trevor's body. Then of course they wrapped Curious George. Trevor's best friend. Tristan got all this tape for Christmas.

From Lisa..

We are doing great!! Craig & I are in the process of purchasing 100 acres down the road from our house ( about 1/2 mile away) We call it the 'Hundred-Acre Woods'. We are excited to build a new home on it starting this spring! We haven't closed yet, but hopefully in the next month or so that will happen. We're very excited about it! We have found a house plan that we like & have an architect that will draw it up for us & make the few changes that we would like. It's not anything fancy, but it's the space we need. It's about 4000 sq ft & has 5 bedrooms & it will also have a full basement. It's a big step for us, but a much needed one as we out-grow the home we have now. You can check out our plan on http://www.ultimateplans.com/ plan #151025 We are changing the master bath/closet into a smaller one & part of it will be a bedroom for Jessica. We'll also make it look more lodge-like with logs for the pillars in front, etc. We have a few little things to do on the house to get ready to sell. We are in the process of adding on a mud room to the back of the house. We are hiring it out. It's cold outside!! The footers are in, & they'll start the framing once it gets above 10 degrees!!

Craig is busy at work, but we like the flexibility that comes along with working for yourself. It's nice that he can take a day here & there & just go fishing or hunting or out to lunch & shopping with me. Someone stole his boat motor off his boat a few weeks ago, so he won't be fishing for a little while.... Whoever stole it, left a flashlight in the boat, so we're hoping to get some fingerprints off it. The Sheriff's department has opened an investigation on it. It's over $1600, so it's a felony. We'll see where it leads. In the meantime we're pretty upset that someone would come on our property & take something of ours. Scary! He bow hunted on our property this year & got 2 bucks. He's never bow hunted before, so he was pretty proud. I think he was feeling a little like Nephi. LOL Craig is the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric & is keeping busy with that. He is enjoying it, but we miss sitting with him on Sundays. He does a good job with making sure everyone feels welcome at church. He's good at that. He's such a people person!

I am doing good. The last 5 months I've been tired. I'm too old for this 'up all hours of the night' stuff. I think things are starting to settle down though. At least I get up & STAY UP in the morning instead of going back to bed after the kids get on the bus. I actually get things done during the day! Craig & I have joined the YMCA & have started working out together. That has helped me have more energy too. The kids love to go swimming there while we work out. I also do the bookwork for our business. So, that's time consuming. I am Activity Days leader at church too. We have our first activity tomorrow, so I'm not sure about it yet. I'll let you know how it goes. I am healthy, alive & happy!! I am so blessed in my life. I couldn't ask for a better husband who holds the priesthood, supports us & is so loving to me! I love him!

Adam just turned 13 & is in the 7th grade. He is doing really well in school. He plays basketball & this is the first year to have a child on a team that actually travels around to different schools for games. He missed his first game.....No, I wasn't home, Craig was supposed to get him there & he forgot about it too. Oops! He felt pretty bad. Adam is getting 2 teeth pulled on Thursday to make room in his mouth for his large teeth. He will need 2 more pulled after this. I feel so bad for him. Yuck! He loves his new ipod that he got for his birthday & his face is usually glued to it most of the day. He is such a big helper with Jessica! He has even changed a few diapers!! He is a Boy scout & loves the campouts that they have. He's a great kid.

Eric is 11 1/2 & in the 6th grade. He suffers through school. He would rather stay in his jammies all day long (who wouldn't?). He is in an after school program to help him with his homework & it seems to be a good thing. Eric is the only one besides me that can get Jessica to sleep easily. He asked me why she liked to put her face in his armpit to go to sleep. I told him it was because that's how I nurse her, with her face near me. He calmly said 'oh gross.' He is so good with her!! He has also changed A diaper......the next morning after he changed Jessica, she was all wet. I went to change her & her diaper was on backwards! LOL It was pretty funny! I asked him what happened & he said 'I thought something was weird about it' Eric has lots of friends & loves to play outside! He is also a Boy Scout, but doesn't really like it....yet. He loves LEGOS & XBOX. He's a good boy.

Matthew just turned 8 years old & was baptized on his birthday. It was pretty special! He is in the 2nd grade & likes his teacher a lot. Matthew can make anyone smile. His laugh is hilarious. It's like a mix between a chipmunk & a hyena. It's so cute!!! When we hear him laugh we can't help but laugh too. He loves Jessica. He is so cute with her. When he comes home from school he wants to hold her & play with her. At night, he says 'love you Jess'. It's really very sweet. He just joined Cub Scouts & is liking it. He hasn't been there enough to determine if it's really fun yet. Matt doesn't ever want to get in trouble, he doesn't like it. So, he doesn't. He's such a good kid. His teacher says she brags to other teachers about his penmanship. It's like perfect printing. I think he's only missed one word out of all his spelling tests this year too. He's so happy & loveable!!

Emily.....where to start....... She's like a whirlwind!! I thought my boys were busy!! Holy Cow! This girl doesn't stop. She'll sing songs that she's made up with made up words ALL DAY long!! I could spend all day, cleaning up after her. She has a 'post-it' note fascination!! We find them stuck to everything in the house... all with E's on them, for Emily. It's like she's made her mark!! She is a sweet girl, if she's had a nap. If not, STAY AWAY!! Emily just turned 4, but acts like she's 24. She has inherited my old purses, makeup & cell phones. She always has her purse with her. She forgot it one day & asked me to go back home to get it! No, I didn't. She was helping Craig find his deer that he shot in the woods & she also had her purse then, walking through the mud. She is very creative & loves to draw, paint & make crafts. She is so smart too. She goes to preschool M-W-F, but we also do some preschool at home. I'll teach her a letter & she can recognize it, write it, say words it starts with right away. She catches on really well. She is starting a program called 'Kindermusik' in a few weeks. It's a singing & story time program where she'll get to use different instruments, sing & learn about rhythm. She's really excited about it. She is our little princess, that's for sure. She is such a cutie! I love her!

Jessica is 5 months old. She has just started grabbing toys & will stay entertained with them for quite some time. I've had to leave Relief Society a few times because she's so HAPPY! She screams & squints her eyes like she doesn't know where that noise came from. It's cute & I'm glad she's happy. She has had a rough start. She's already had 3 ear infections, strep, reflux, thrush & a yeast infection. It's been crazy! She is finally healthy..... wait a minute while I find some wood to knock on... Ok, found some. LOL She really is a sweet girl. She likes ME though. Sometimes ONLY me. Craig can't seem to calm her down when she's upset, so that's hard for him to understand. She smiles at him when she sees him, so we know she likes him, she just knows what she wants when she's mad. MOM. She weighs 18 lbs & wears size 9-12 mth clothes. She has, I think, 4 rolls on each leg. She is so chubby. Emily calls her 'chunky monkey'. Jessica is really a joy in our family. It's funny because she really has been our most difficult child-not her fault with all her sickness, but we love her SO much. I believe that our trials help us to grow & this has definately been a trial & we have really grown. We wouldn't have it any other way!!

I love each one of you SO much. I wish we could all live closer & get together more often. Craig's family is not very close. So, it's hard to be here when I know they don't really get along with each other. I feel like I'm pretty close with my family & I can't be with you as often as I'd like. So, that's hard for me, knowing that we're here & not even with his family much-except his parents. I WILL try harder to keep in contact better. I feel like I'm really far away sometimes & it makes me sad to know I'm missing out on your families lives. I haven't even met Riley or Shelby!! I feel so bad!

I am looking to buy a ticket to fly to Utah on February 4th-9th for Anne's wedding. I am so excited! I will bring Jessica with me. I am so excited that you can meet her before she's much older. I am so blessed that I can fly out there. Craig is so supportive of me going out while he stays here to take over the house. He knows I need to see my family more often & be closer with you.

Sorry, this is so long! It won't be as long next time. I just feel like many of you don't even know my kids very well so I had to go on & on about them!! I love you. I hope to see you soon! Keep in touch

Lisa

OK...how do you drive this thing?

If you got this far, pat yourself on the back.

If you need help writing a note to post on the blog or adding a photo to share, please call Michelle and she will talk you through it.

OK, OK, I might help too if you can't reach her.

On the Dashboard, click on "New Post" and you get to this screen here.

Then type your message and click on "Publish Post". It's that easy!

This is going to be a very cool tool to keep us all closer! Please try your best to let us all know what important things are happening with your crew.

Love ya...Peace out!

Deaner

Happy Birthday Poppi- January 3, 2010!

Dad's Birthday was yesterday! He is an amazing man, he is a great father and a very hard worker!

He even helped Robert take down our Christmas lights while he was here on a "vacation"! What a good guy! When I was a little girl, I remember being so excited when Daddy came home! He would lay on the floor and play with us kids. He loves to fish, he is great at fixing things, building things and making things.

When we started building our  own home in Vernal, Utah, he and Mom came up to help when Robert had an Anurism, and was in the hospital for over a week, and sick for a lot longer.( He couldn't bend over or he flet like he would pass out, and he was weak.  It was a very difficult time for me, I had 5 little kids, 13- 1 year old, a sick husband, and a house that had been started...and Dad just dropped everything to come to Vernal, in the middle of nowhere, to help build our home. It makes me cry just thinking about it! Honestly he is the best Dad ever! And when it was time to lay the tile in our home, Dad's knee was killing him, and he sat on a bucket, and talked me through laying the tile! He taught me how, and since then,  I tiled all of the showers, and floors in two homes! What a gift it has been! There are many other things he has taught me, and I am grateful for all he has helped me with and the great example he is to each of us! This photo was taken in our completed home in Vernal, Utah, with Mom and McKayla

The Hansen Family Blog is Official!

YEAH!

This is going to be FUN! I hope we can use this blog to keep connected, share stories and events in our lives, and post photos! I really feel like we can help our children know their cousins better by posting often and sharing with our families!