Spring Catch Up

Why do I let time get away from me like that!  Let me catch you up to speed on how life has been in the Hahn household for the past few months.  Since I have so much to catch up on, I thought a few snapshots of the recent highlights would be helpful. 

The weather allowed us to pull our bikes out of storage early this year. So excited for our first ride, I held Henley in the kitchen as Brandon brought one bicycle up at a time, with Henley's bike trailer last. With a little girl clinched to my hip, a giant smile on her face we anxiously awaited, that was until we heard a thud...silence...and a big ut oh.

Up from the basement crept Brandon, with a bleeding head! It had me thinking we were skipping bikes and heading straight to the ER.  Sunglasses on top of your head and a shorter ceiling can equal a head injury.  With some time spent in the bathroom, several paper towels later he convinced me that he didn't need medical attention.  Actually his phrase was "this is not going to ruin our Sunday fun day."  So back to our first intentions, our first years ride to the park.

 This is the elementary playground she will one day claim - thankfully we are 2 1/2 years away

 We returned back home for more fun and a few Underdogs!

I figured she was responsible enough to hold and complete her first ice cream cone - she did a mighty fine job.  Love special treats like this - yum!

Marshmallow gun hand crafted by her father - 2 bags of mini marshmallows later

We started dance back up, welcoming two boys to class - looking forward to the summer session.

Side Note: look at her face - such a googly expression!

Tiny dancers = best buds

Jumping Jane's - a warehouse that housed 6 huge bounce houses. 

One was this 25 ft drop slide called the Titanic. 

We spent a weekend away in Galena celebrating Grandma Teri's birthday and making memories with all the cousins.  This water slide was a hit - we cannot wait to go back

 Henley and I were invited to a Tea Party at a local church raising money for a new building. 

How can two ladies deny such an invite?!

Coloring and eating treats

March of Dimes walk with our good friends

It was chilly this morning, so bundled up we got

In between all the above, we have spent quality time with family, friends, celebrated birthdays and births.  Time continues to roll and life is good.  You should ask my husband he is pretty proud of his first home brew.  It may look like we have a traveling meth lab - coils, glass jars, tubes and hoses, but don't let that scare you, he says he knows what he is doing! 

Apparently there are several different stages to fermentation - he plans to debut the brew in the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned, he is creatively thinking of what to name his first batch.

Power 9

Happy February!  Just the other day in the mail, I received the annual Winter catalog from Blue Cross Blue Shield.  It's full of keeping well in the colder months, wholestic well being and even a healthy recipe or two.  I usually just thumb through and it eventually ends up in the recycling bin.  This issue however, really caught my eye.  It laid on the nightstand for a while and I thought what I had just read must be shared. 

Power 9 Are Key to Longevity

1.) Just Move - we can get more physical activity naturally if we live in walkable communities, de-convenience our homes and grow gardens.
2.) Know Your Purpose - people who know why they wake up in the morning live up to seven years longer than those who don't.
3.) Down Shift - to reverse inflammation related to every major age-related disease, find time each day to meditate, nap, pray or enjoy a happy hour.
4.) 80% Rule - it takes your stomach 20 minutes to tell your brain it is full, causing most people to accidentally overeat.  Stop when you feel 80% full.
5.) Plant Slant - eat mostly beans, nuts and green plants.  This is consistent with the USDA's MyPlate recommendations to make fruit, vegetables and grains the majority of your intake.
6.) Wine At 5 - if you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, one to two glasses of wine daily could help add years to your life, especially when consumed with a healthy diet.
7.) Family First - living in a thriving family is worth six extra years of life expectancy.  Invest time in your kids, nurture a monogamous relationship and make your aging parents a regular part of your life.
8.) Belong - recommit or reconnect to your faith community, or explore a new one.  No matter which faith, studies found that people who devote time to their faith community four times a month live an extra 4-14 years.
9.) Right Tribe - your friends have a long-term impact on your health and longevity.  Take stock in who your friends are and expand your social circle to include healthy-minded, supportive people.  This might be the most powerful thing you can do to add years to your life.

There are so many facts listed, take away from it what you wish.  We all know that eating well and exercising is right, blah blah blah, BUT the time spent with those who bring positive and joy into our lives are those people we need to take care of!  It is often Brandon acknowledge how lucky we are to have amazing family along with our closest friends who feel just like family.  At times we do not discriminate, we care for them all the same!

Let me also add laughter...if we didn't have that in our house it would be way too boring, even if its at the expense of others!

Hard Two Believe

On the eve of Henley's 2nd birthday,  Brandon and I sit here watching last years video, remembering each and every emotion from the day we brought her home, to the idea of our new found family, to an entire year of firsts. She continues to teach us patience while reminding us she is only this small for so long.

This second year however has brought independence, resilience, personality, spunk, comedy, learning, teaching and love...a lot of love into the mix!  This little girl of ours is the most incredible being we have ever laid eyes on and every day we are just in complete awe of her.

Happy 2nd Birthday Henley!

Henley Take Two

(click to view video)

A Message From Santa

Santa sent Henley a very special message via email this year!  If it sounds like Santa is referring to Henley as Honey, it is true, he had a tough time finding a name that was similar to hers on his list!

Henley's video from Santa
(click to view)

Henley recognized Santa and her picture!

Speaking of videos that make you smile, I must share the following,

The Christmas Story

(click to view)

It's the sweetest thing ever!

Merry Christmas!

Congratulations Rachel

I would like to send a HUGE congratulations to my sister Rachel! This past week she graduated from Hawkeye CC as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).  We are so proud of her accomplishments and know what lies a head for her is full of excitement and new beginnings!

Rachel and her beautiful daughters Jasmine & Naomi. 

They were so proud of their Mom!

Sisterly Love with a side of Henley

We say hooray and scream with delight!!

We are so proud of you and know how important your

roles will be in the lives of others!

Seasonal Update

Wow I have been off the radar for some time!  Making the time has been a task lately I'm not going to lie.  Since having a direct connection to Facebook from my phone, I have been relying on that to post pictures of what we have been up to...its just easier that way.  But I do love being able to return back to the blog for old photos and details so its time I get back on the bandwagon!

The house has been decorated since the day after Thanksgiving!  The feeling the Christmas tree gives throughout the house is the best, I wish I could have that glow all times of the year.  In each of the bedrooms I have mini trees set up - Henley makes sure each of them is plugged in.  If I don't get to them before she wakes, its "ut oh...lights."  She is very proud of her pink tree and often gives it kisses.

The other day, I found her in her room trying to place a tu-tu on the reindeer! 

In fact, monkey wears a tu-tu sometimes too...

Her love for tu-tu's and skirts is because we are staying busy at Dance With Me dance class through Epic Steps on Monday nights.  What a blast we have together!  A typical night will find us learning a little bit of traditional dance, first position, pleas, stretching and even the splits...but the rest of the time we get to act like animals, dance around the room together and laugh a lot!  We share this night with our good friends Kirsten & Lila which makes it easier to laugh at ourselves!

We are starting to feel the hustle and bustle of the holiday season - our calendar is full of pending gatherings and I was out and about this weekend (along with everyone else in Cedar Rapids) finishing up last minute gifts.  Its hard to believe Christmas is just next weekend, I think a lot of people are struggling with the idea that is here already!  It could be the lack of snow, and although not having a white Christmas just doesn't feel right, we have places to be and roads that need to be clear to get there!

Until I log on again, everyone have a very Merry Christmas!

Carving Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins reminds me of when I was a kid and since I still love acting like one, I get so excited!  My  fondest carving memories are from when we lived in Minnesota, and by the time we worked the tops off the pumpkins, the seeds were frosted and our fingers were numb. The slimy thread like guts, ooh-ooh ah ah! Every year we worked at making freaky faces that were sure to scare, but my my sweet, tooth missing, triangle eyed face never quit had that effect on other kids.  So, we have started the tradition with Henley, and she likes the guts too!

Tools are very necessary,

tasting is not,

however teamwork is encouraged!

Ta da!  I know what you are thinking, it looks like the work of a child?!  Since we all know Henley cannot play with knives, it only leaves Brandon and I to claim these beautiful pieces!!  They are just perfect!

Notice the color change...pretty sweet huh?!

Good night!