The tooth

So I've always had this fear of having to pull out a child's tooth when it becomes loose. I don't like to watch it being done and I certainly don't ever want to do it myself. Thank you, Noah, for making the process of losing a tooth a lot easier on all of us.

We took the kids over to a fun babysitting night at the Community Center last night. We sent 3 kids, each with a full set of teeth, and came home with all 3 kids and one less tooth. We didn't even know that Noah's tooth was loose, but it must have been, because it only took an animal cracker to knock it free.

The tooth is still somewhere at the Community Center, which is the only sad part of this whole experience. We hadn't even talked to Noah in detail about the Tooth Fairy (since he's not even in Kindergarten and we didn't know the tooth was loose), so he didn't bring the tooth home with him (nor did he tell anyone that it fell out).

The funniest part is that when we got home, Noah said "Dad, my tooth feels weird. Will you look at it?" Dad's response after looking at the tooth: "Noah, your tooth feels weird because you don't have one."

But, luckily, the Tooth Fairy comes whether you have the evidence or not.



Noah, you are so dang cute with a missing tooth! I can't get enough of seeing you smile!

Lately

I don’t really have a reason for the lack of blog posts lately. Well, maybe I do. September and October were very busy…almost a blur. I am grateful for this early part of November to have a little rest before the holidays.

So…..what we’ve been up to lately…..

My parents came in October to visit for a week and a half. We always look so forward to them coming. We did a lot of our usual things while they were here. Eating, playing, shopping, and my dad messing around with the kids.

My baby started walking. Hallelujah! For those of you who don’t know, all three of our boys have a muscle condition and start walking pretty late. Luke started taking lots of steps at 18 months and is now fully walking at 19 months. I think this is my favorite time with my kids. I told Eph that I just now feel like I’m getting the hang of 3 kids. And no, I’m not ready to have another!

My oven has been broken for a week and a half. The gas valve broke and we had to order a new part. Luckily, we have a neighbor who can fix just about anything. Thank you Leif! I told him not to worry about getting it fixed right away because this gave me an excuse for not making dinners. But I soon realized that there are plenty of meals that can be prepared on the stovetop. Shoot.

I helped throw a baby shower for my friend, Kellie. I made 98 cupcakes and 36 peanut butter cookies. And it was the next day that the gas valve broke on my oven. Coincidence?

Ephraim has kept busy with his job and more schooling. He has started a doctorate program in Psychology. I often find myself competing with the laptop for his attention.

I have kept busy with my little side job…tutoring kiddos in math. I’ve also started an ACT prep course for the local high school kids. I held the first class in September and October. I love it. I have a great job!

Noah and Andy are growing like weeds. Noah is learning how to read and advancing quite quickly in math. He’s already learning fractions! I’m pretty sure I didn't do fractions until middle school. Noah goes to amazing preschool if any of you in the Hurricane area are interested! Andy loves his preschool and tries to keep up with his big brother. Our days usually involve a lot of legos, trucks, motorcycles, and diggers.

One more accomplishment. Andy, who has sucked his thumb regularly for the past 3 ½ years, has finally quit. All on his own! There may or may not have been some bribing involved. And we may or may not sometimes catch him sucking his thumb in his sleep. Regardless, we are very proud of him.

Oh yeah...Halloween. It was exhilerating and exhausting all at the same time. The kids' dressed up so many times that I lost count. Thanks to my mom again for the costumes!

And how cute are these neighborhood kids?...

So other than some fun diversions, life goes on like normal. Which includes me feeding three kids throughout the day, changing diapers, getting kids ready for school, preparing for tutoring, and entertaining a 19 month old. It sometimes can get monotonous, but we love every minute of it...well, most of it.

Happy Anniversary!

8 years of Wedded Bliss

(We are celebrating our 9th Anniversary)


In all reality, I am blessed to be married to such a wonderful man. A great husband, father, and provider for our family. What a wonderful 9 years it has been.

A look through the years...
(I couldn't get any of our wedding pictures to scan...we got married before digital photography got big...boy we're old)


In all our newlywed splendor...


Baby #1...

baby #2...

and baby #3... (obviously we failed to get a
complete family picture here)


I realize this is picture overload, but we got some great shots as we hiked in Zion National Park for our anniversary...

our hotel...



at the top of the mountain...

My Week as a Vegetarian

To be a Hanks is to love meat. Steak, chicken, pork, you name it. But I've decided to switch things up a bit.

Let me start at the beginning. There was a Biggest Loser Club formed at our church at the start of the year. Each week we receive a new "health challenge", which sometimes I follow and sometimes I don't. This last week's challenge intrigued me. The challenge was to eat "no meat."

I was almost afraid to tell my husband of the 7 day adventure I was about to embark on. We both come from red meat-loving families. The Hanks Family used to raise and slaughter cattle (sorry Marc...a story for another time).

This was the breakdown of my week:

My staples:

• salad
• nuts
• eggs
• cheese
• milk

The verdict?

I love meat. I could never be a full-fledged vegetarian.

I am, however, grateful I took the challenge. I realize I eat way too much meat. I thought more about the food I was putting into my body this past week more than I have at probably any other time in my life. There were many times I chose healthier alternatives. I ate more vegetables, fruits, and healthy nuts.

The resolution:

I will eat less meat (especially red). I will cook healthier alternatives for my family (much to my husband's dismay). We will fill our bodies with more good, nutritious, raw foods, and less caloric-dense processed foods with additives.

Please cheer us on. We need all the help we can get.

Postscrip...The family didn't exactly follow this with me. They did, however, eat what meatless meals I made for dinner.

Also, I ate fish. I have a hard time putting fish in the meat category.

And again...

Andy makes up for how careful my other two boys are...




For more info on this, you can click here, or here, or here.

I have a friend (she's a nurse) and I call her whenever I think I may need to take Anderson to the doctor. When I called Kerry about this particular incident, I asked "Does the Instacare in Hurricane do stitches?" Her response: "Is it Andy?"

How can I not eat this kid up?

I love my town...

This is why I live where I live...

Hurricane Weather (click here)

Compare this to where I grew up (sorry mom and dad)...

Springfield Weather (click here)

(of course the rain wasn't in the forecast when I first did this post)

What did YOU do last night?

Our night went something like this...

College? Really?

We just got back from a great trip up to Provo for five days. What a fantastic trip! Thanks Chris and Heidi (and dad)! We had a fabulous time.

I would like to highlight just one part of this wonderful trip we took, because it still has me giggling.

My sister-in-law, Heidi, makes this fabulous bread and taught me all of her secrets while I was up at her house. This bread is so yummy, fast, and easy that we went to the store at 9:30 on a Saturday night so I could procure the rare ingredients that go into baking this delectable bread (and dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, breadsticks,...).

While at Macey's picking up some of the ingredients, I was chatting with the young, male checker (is that the appropriate term?) while Heidi was shooting the breeze with the younger, male bagger(?)...all while the even younger male bagger from the next checkstand was doing a price check for us (he's on the high school track team and is apparently the fastest runner).
Keep in mind that Heidi and I are both happily married and these young men were all in the ballpark of about 16 years of age.

Here go the conversations(roughly):

Conversation 1:
Bagger: Who buys this much flour on a Saturday night?
Heidi: Oh, we need this to make bread.
Bagger: Who makes bread anymore? My grandma used to make bread.
Heidi: I love to make bread.
Bagger: Why are you buying applesauce? There's no applesauce in a bread recipe.
Heidi: There is in this bread recipe.

(How does this kid know what goes in a bread recipe?)

Conversation 2:
(This conversation took place while Heidi's phone was ringing because our husbands were ready to leave for their 10 o'clock movie)
Megan: We're only 2 minutes late and they're already calling us.
Checker: Who, your parents?
Megan: Our parents? No, our husbands. Why, do we look that young?
Checker: I thought you were in college.


Dear Young Man Checker,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. You made our day.

P.S. I graduated from college in 2000

Breakfast

This is how my kids ate breakfast this morning. And I'm not one bit ashamed.

Sharing Time

Noah is a Sunbeam this year in Primary. Ephraim and I are lucky enough to teach the Sunbeam class. But not Noah's class. He is in the other Sunbeam class. Which can be good and bad.

The Good: I love serving in Primary where I am able to watch Noah learn and grow from this wonderful program in our Church.

The Bad: I always want to get up and discipline my little angel during Sharing Time and have a hard time leaving it all up to his teacher (who is great, btw). Some Sundays Ephraim has to hold me down in my seat.


Sometimes Noah takes Sharing Time literally. We have been talking about temples this month in Primary. Last week the counselor in charge of Sharing Time was talking about ways we can prepare to go to the temple. She mentioned potty talk not being acceptable and how we should apologize if we use it. Noah "shared" that his dad uses potty talk at our house and apologizes afterwards. Which is funny, because Ephraim has the cleanest mouth I know.

Yesterday was my turn. The Primary President was talking about temple recommends. Noah informed the Primary that my temple recommend was expired...which was true. But after the laughter ceased, I replied..."And that's why I got it renewed."

I wonder what he's going to share next week.

Our Firstborn

My firstborn (in the wilderness, as Ephraim likes to add...well, he WAS born in Kentucky surrounded by lots of trees) has just turned four. Boy does time fly. Having children has changed our lives in so many ways. Gone are the days of last-minute movies at the theater, quiet, romantic dinners, and a clean house. Now we embrace Diego cartoons, cleaning up food from under the table, and lego injuries (have you ever stepped on one of those things?...ouch!). Eph and I were married for four years before we had kids and I can barely remember how easy we had it.

We no longer sleep in (Andy likes to run to our bedside at 6:30am shouting "It's the morning time...I want some chocolate milk"), we eat cheeseburgers at McDonalds instead of steak at Outback, and we find ourselves reading Llama Llama Red Pajama more frequently than the scriptures.

I remember fondly the day Eph and I welcomed this 9 lb 15 oz butterball into our lives.

I have loved watching him grow from a cherubic infant


To a fun and curious toddler


...and now into such a handsome, obedient little boy. I wouldn't have our lives any other way.

I don't put on birthday parties every year...so yesterday we grabbed a couple of neighborhood kids and took them to Jumpin' Jacks for a couple of hours. And then returned home for some cake and ice cream. Noah had the time of his life.

And thanks to Gma Nona and Gpa Randy for the Birthday Bikes. We now spend our days outside in 105 degree Southern Utah sunshine teaching our boys how to ride.


Happy Birthday Noah!...and bring on the next four years

I think we can handle it.

Funny Things

We've been taking it easy around here after a busy weekend. Lucas was blessed in church on Sunday and it was a wonderful, fabulous weekend.

Since there's not much to report from the Hanks household, I thought I would post a few funny things I've heard from the kids lately.

1. Noah: "Andy, do you remember when you were a baby and you weren't married and you didn't have a child."

2. This conversation took place after Andy passed gas at the dinner table...
Andy: "I tooted."
Mom: "Andy, what do you say?"
Andy: "Dad, change my poopy diaper. Bye, bye poopy diaper."

3. After the kids helped clean up a mess in the kitchen, I told them they could have a pop tart.
Andy: "Hooray, now we get a hot tart."

4. Mom: "Noah, tell me the truth because we always want to be honest."
Noah: "I'll be honest if you don't put me on time-out."

Who needs TV when you've got this entertainment?

Lucas

I've been thinking about how fast babies grow out of the newborn stage...especially mine. The pediatrician called Lucas Hank the Tank at his 2 week appointment. He weighed in at 9 lbs 15 oz and almost 22 inches long.

I don't think it's very fair that during this precious stage in this little boy's life, I'm not functioning quite at 100%. The recovery from child birth, not sleeping, and other issues that result from a 5 foot 3 inch somewhat petite girl giving birth to 9 pound babies. I'm enjoying mostly every minute of this newborn stage (except maybe at 3am). I just can't help but think that nature could have thought this one through a little harder.

I just wish I could keep him little longer.

I AM crazy

I just had a baby last week. The same time my 2 year old decided he wanted to be potty trained. I have been known in the past to take on too many things at one time. Like when we lived in Kentucky...I was 7 months pregnant with Noah, teaching high school full time, coaching the tennis team, and Young Womens' President. I swore I would never do that again.

But here we are.
I'm recovering from child birth, nursing, have three very young children, and am potty training my middle child.
We're half way there, if you know what I mean.

I AM crazy.

The Piano

I started taking piano lessons when I was eight years old. I continued until I was 16. I remember begging my mother to let me quit....but she wouldn't...not even in the summer. And I am grateful. I can take out the hymn book and play any hymn.

I can't believe I haven't had a piano in my house for 13 years. Thank you to my sweet father-in-law for letting my house his for the time being. It has filled our home with joy this past week. And thank you to my wonderful husband (and my great brothers-in-law and Caleb) for delivering it on Valentines Day. What a great gift.

Popeye and an Explanation

So let me explain my Color Code situation to you. We (the Hanks Family) are believers in the Color Code…we don’t base our lives on it, but are believers…we got into it because my husband’s company pretty much runs off of it. I post this explanation because of the comments on my “red” personality from my last post.

I am a red. I was born a red, raised a red, and will innately always be a red. Ask my mom. I have always been very independent, bossy, focused, and goal driven. I used to correct peoples’ grammar when I was younger…not something of which I’m proud.

At one point I must have realized that the strength of my red personality turned people off. The biggest complaint I had from every guy I dated semi-seriously was that I never opened up. Reds are not great at sharing feelings. So I slowly changed little by little. Every day I would try to play down the limitations of the “red” personality in me. But I regressed a bit when I got married almost 8 years ago.

My lovely husband is a white. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Color Code, whites are motivated by peace and have this amazing ability to stay calm in any situation…very self-regulated and diplomatic. These are some of the great qualities my incredible husband possesses. But every color personality has its weaknesses. Whites can have a hard time making decisions, are quite unassertive, and can be very laid-back. Ephraim is so slooooooow in making decisions…very methodical and precise but slow. This has brought back a lot of my red, at least in my marital relationship. Someone has to make decisions, and sometimes quickly. I love that. I know where I’m headed, where I want to end up, and am usually quite efficient at getting there. When a decision needs to be made (and greatly affects me), I’m usually on my feet, making that decision (and many times a darn good one, I like to think). So I am the primary decision maker in the life of my family (after consultation, of course). And Ephraim is OK with that most of the time…except for every once in a while when he remembers that he is the Patriarch of our family and should probably be doing more of this type of stuff. And blue is my secondary color, for those of you who guessed that. I can be compassionate and sensitive when I let my guard down.

Eph and I have had many interesting discussions on this in our marriage. I love that he is a white and has such a calming effect on our family. Many times the balance of our personalities comes together well and sometimes we still have to work on it (ie, me not being so bossy and controlling).

As for “Popeye”, here is the picture. Dad, I hope this makes you happy. I’m not sure why Ephraim is making this face or why his lips are green. But here it is. I think this is the first picture I have posted of me not pregnant. Hooray! Hopefully we'll be having a baby next month.