To Alaina on her birthday

Dear Alaina,

Today you are five years old. Now you can stop saying you are four-and-a-half and finally tell people you are really five! A whole hand! It really is exciting.

I will be honest with you, my Lainy-girl: Sometimes it is intimidating to be your mother. You must have a lot of your Daddy in you, because (like him) you are so much better than me at so many things. Like the way you effortlessly make friends and start conversations. You always say something witty or charming and totally win people over. Or the way you are always up for an adventure and don't even think about it being a little scary or intimidating. You just go for it, girl, and I love that about you.

Sometimes I look at you and I think about the baby you used to be and the young woman you will become someday. You will be beautiful, I am sure. It's bound to happen with those bouncy curls and incredible blue eyes. I think you will also be kind and brave, like you are now. I hope you will continue to love learning and love a challenge. I hope your faith in the Savior will grow and grow. I hope that life will be good to you. I feel so blessed to witness it all, not as someone just passing through your life, but as your mom. That is pretty amazing.

Most of all, I hope you know how I love you. From the tips of your toes way up to the clouds and back.

Happy Birthday, baby girl.

Love,
Mommy


P.S. Is it okay that I'm sad you are going to Kindergarten? I'm excited for you, I promise, I'll just miss having my Lainy-girl around all day. But don't worry, you're going to be great! I promise to have yummy snacks and big hugs for you when you come home. It will be our new adventure. x's and o's

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?

 

 

 

Is that what you do? So do I.

Olympics

"Guess what, Mom," Lainy tells me every morning on our way to swimming lessons, "I'm going to swim like Michael Phelps today!" Then she adds, "Or maybe Missy Franklin."

Leah has learned to do somersaults (if somewhat awkwardly), then stands with her arms up in the gymnastics finishing pose and says, "I'm a gymnastics!"

We are loving the Olympics, if you can't tell. I've been letting the girls stay up later than usual to watch them - partly because Brad is working nights and I like the company, but mostly because I think it's good for them. And here is why.

The women in the Olympics are incredible. Particularly the U.S. women in these Olympics: Missy Franklin, Gabby Douglass, Allyson Felix, Sonja Richards Ross, the women's soccer team, the beach volleyball teams, the water polo team, the rowing crew...all gold medalists. These women are strong, they are healthy, they are disciplined, and to me they are more beautiful than any model or actress. More beautiful and inspiring than any other women on TV. I want my girls to see them and their healthy, strong bodies. I want my girls to admire them and want to be like them. We all need to see more women like that.

Strong is the new beautiful, and we love it.

Go U.S.A.!

On Residency

4th of July Fireworks on Lake Coeur D'Alene

I think I'm finally all caught up blogging. The important stuff, anyway.

We've been in Spokane for almost two months now. I'm still getting used to the blaring sunshine every day. Maybe it's crazy but sometimes I find myself wishing for a nice overcast day and a little rain. But only sometimes, because the sunshine has been pretty awesome. I haven't been this tan in years! (4 years to be exact.) Our house is starting to feel more like home - especially once we got all the pictures up. And I've had fun doing little projects for the girls room. (We got rid of the crib and toddler bed during the move and replaced them with bunk beds.) Plus, there are definite perks to being out of school. A paycheck for one! Brad was so excited to pay tithing last week. Cute, hu?

Speaking of Brad, he's a doctor now. For real. And getting lots of practice. This intern year in Spokane will be broken up into different rotations (like the last two years of medical school). Last month Brad did Pediatric Ophthalmology, which he enjoyed (obviously). This month he is on "Night Float", which means he is one of three doctors running the hospital at night. It's a lot of pressure and a little scary at times, but he is enjoying the challenge. I love that he is doing something he loves. It makes the long hours worth it when he comes home with a smile of satisfaction and a job well done.

The girls and I have been busy making friends. We discovered our first week here that there are 7 other interns with families. 3 of them are in our same ward, have kids our age, and live within a few blocks of us. They are all really cool people that we have enjoyed getting to know. Lainy quickly made friends with the kids her age, and Leah is happy to play along too. I'm enjoying talking with fun, interesting women who are in the exact same position we are in. It's nice to feel understood.

So, life is good here with the Hansen family. We are happy and healthy and excited about residency!