Our new arrival!!

Sophie Marie Hansen was born December 4th, 2012 @ 9:44am.  She was 5 lbs. 12 oz. 19 inches. We are so happy to have her in our family. Her brother and sister adore her. The first few days were tough because the hospital has their winter visiting restrictions so they weren't able to come see her. Jason found a window in a hallway that they were able to look in so he brought her to that so they could at least look at her. I had to have a c-section. But luckily everything went smoothly. I was even able to go home a day early. We had a bit of a concern with Sophie one night. When they weighed her for her daily assessment they said ah had lost 9 oz. Now that may not seem like much bit since she was so small that's a lot. They told me.to supplement with formula that night and they would reweigh her in the morning. So we side. She didn't really eat much burner jn the morning she had somehow gained 5 oz. So I think there was something up with the Wales the night before and her doctor agreed. He said since she was so active and alert that there was no concern, especially since my other kids were about the same size. She is such a sweetie and a good baby so far. The first day she was home, Ian wouldn't let anyone else hold her. Both kids argue over whose turn it is. So I have a great bargaining tool.....if they want to hold the baby, they have to be good and do what I say. I can't wait to see the personality that she has. She is a.definite blessing in our lives. Welcome to our family, Sophie!!!

Halloween.....a little late

The kids had a fun Halloween. Ian was super excited to be iron man and Brenna loved being a twilight fairy. We went trick or treating by Jason's brother's house. The kids got 6 lbs of candy in their bags!!

Pumpkin painting =)

I have been a slacker with posting lately.   Don't worry, I won't be such a slacker when the baby comes so you can all see cute pictures =)  

My favorite time of year of year is fall.  I think it's because I get to wear hoodies =)  One thing that goes along with fall is of course pumpkins.  I got some small pumpkins for the kiddos to decorate.  They had lots of fun and were super proud of their masterpieces =)  We will be carving pumpkins soon so I will get some pictures posted of that as well.

Monster Blanket

I have been trying to a little better at sewing and making my own things lately so here is one of my latest endeavors.   I figured since there aren't very many things that you can do to boys rooms that I would share my ideas and hopefully it will help someone else with getting their little boy some cute cool decorations. (I am not allowed to call anything of my little boy's cute....he gets very mad because he is cool and awesome, not cute! =)  )
 As I was contemplating how I wanted to decorate my little guy's room I wanted either dinosaurs or monsters.  I decided on monsters =)  So I then tried to find some cute bedding.  He would be moving from a toddler bed to a twin sized bed so he needed a new bed set.  All of the monster themed bedding was not exactly very cute...and I didn't want Monsters, Inc stuff either.  Then I thought "How hard could it be to just make a blanket?"  I had made several receiving blankets so I figured it wouldn't be much harder to just do a big version.  It turned out that the sewing part wasn't much harder, but it involved a bit more math....yuck!  So here is what I did, and I hope I can make it clear as mud for you =)

First of all, I had to order my monster fabric online.....and it was $10 a yard!  and I couldn't use a coupon =(  So I just got a yard and a half, but if you want to use a bigger piece, it doesn't really change how to make the blanket so go for it =).  Then I had to find my matching fabrics.  I was just going to sew my monster piece onto a plain piece of fabric.  If you are really good at sewing you could probably just piece some pieces around as a border....but that would have taken me using my brain and I wasn't feeling it....so I just slapped it on a big piece of fabric.

For my big fabric, I got 5 yards of fabric.  I wanted it to be about 68 inches wide, and the fabric was 44 inches so i was going to have to sew 2 pieces together.  My original plan was to  cut the 5 yards in half, then sew those halves together and then trim the sides to 68 inches, but leaving a few inches for the hemming.

Then I realized if I cut the fabric into thirds, measured 68 (actually around 68 1.2 for the hem/seams) inches, and then cut. and then just sew the tops and bottoms together, It would look better having horizontal seams rather than a vertical seam.

So them I just had to trim my length, which I wanted it to be around 90 inches.  If you do it that way, you can probably get away with about 4 yards of fabric.

Once I had the big fabric sewn together I need to place my pattern piece on it.  I measured the sides and tops and centered my piece on, and then pinned it tightly in place.

I then sewed it on.  I just did a regular ol' zig zag stitch.  When you want to mark your spots, I just used some chalk to mark my places since it wipes off really easily.

The next step was doing my bottom piece.  I had to sew the fabric like I did the top piece.  Once I had it sewn together and trimmed to the size I wanted, I then put the rights sides together with my top piece and pinned the edges together.

Use lots of needles so you can get it flat and not bunched up.


I'm not sure the exact measurement of the seam I did, but it was to the 2nd line on my sewing machine (I'm still new to the sewing world so I don't know all the terms and whatnot).

I sewed 3 sides, leaving the top open.  I then turned it right sight out.  I got my quilt batting and put it inside.  They had the stuff that was already measured out to fit a twin sized comforter so that make it nice and easy =)  It was also iron on so once I got it in place, I ironed it so It would move around while I was sewing the rest.

 I then folded the top and ironed the hem and then was able to sew it.  I then did a zigzag stitch around the whole thing just give it a bit of a design on the edges.

I knew the batting wouldn't stay in place when we had to wash it (and since this was for a 3 year old boy, I knew we would be washing it).  Then I got some yarn, and just tied it like a regular ol' quilt.  It was super easy.  I just did them in random places because I didn't want to measure.

I know this isn't the greatest of tutorials, but I just wanted to show that even a beginner can make a big blanket.  Now just a warning....if you are wanting to make a comforter hoping to make it cheaper than buying one....it probably won't happen.  Even though I used coupons on everything but the monster piece, it was still a little bit more than buying a comforter.  I think it was about $50 total.  But it was worth it to me because I got exactly what I wanted and this will be a blanket that will be special to my little guy =)

It was hard to get the full blanket in the picture, but you get the idea.  I would have liked to have had the monster piece bigger, but at $10 a yard I was lucky to do what I did.

Ian is pleased with his blanket.  He slept with it before I even had his room done to put it in.  His sister even thought it was nice and warm.  I will be doing a similar blanket for her to match her new sister's.....but that will probably be around March......

New rooms for the kiddos!!!

I decided  that I needed to switch my kids' room to make room for the new baby. My little girl's room was painted purple, and my little boy's room was blue and green....so if I wanted to switch I would have to repaint everything!!!  When I first started out, it didn't seem too bad....but then after the first room and having to do 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of white to cover the blue and green up, I was ready to cry......and being 6 months pregnant at the time didn't really help matters much. ( if you want to do a room overhaul, make sure you have help doing it and that the person who said they would help actually shows up.....)  I just wanted to post some pics of the befores and afters and then show off the cute technique I did for one of the walls.

This is a before picture of my little boy's room (soon to be the girl's new room).  We had a Buzz Lightyear wallpaper border in the middle.  I found some great stuff at Home depot that I sprayed on it and the stuff came off so easy....my daughter was actually able to peel most of it off.  It took 4 coats to get those bright colors covered!

This was when I was done painting.  All the walls were white and them I painted the purple on with a feather duster.  Yes, a feather duster. =)  To recreate that look here's what you do:

Put your paint in a wide bowl or paint tray.  Lightly dip the edges of the duster in the paint.  I would suggest getting some scratch paper and just trying it out before attacking your project.  Then just lightly "dust" the paint on the surface.  I had mine barely touch the surface and then i sorta swirled it around to get some lighter spots too.  If you want to do multiple colors, (which looks really neat!) apply the darker color first, let it dry and then just go over with the other color.  I wish I would have taken a video of it because it would be easier to show, but seeing as how it's hard to video and paint at the same time and my only other option was having the 3 year do it....I didn't think it would work out too well.....but believe me....it is easy!  If you can dust, you can do this!  And the best part is that it takes hardly any paint.  You could get away with about 1/4 of a pint of paint....or you could easily get one or 2 of the sample paints and just use those.

Here's the up close shot.

See what a simple feather duster can do?

I can't really get a wide shot of the room, but Brenna is quite pleased with her new room, beds and everything =) It looks completely different! The other walls are all white but I found some super cute wall decals that were flowers and butterflies to put up, plus I have a cute picture I am going to make for one of the walls. (so stay tuned for that)

This was Brenna's old room.  A nice bright purple.  By the time I finished the other room and was getting ready to start this one, my hands were killing from the roller and my back was killing (remember, I'm 6 months pregnant while doing this.....)  Lucky for me I have a sweet husband who helped a bit.  He got out his paint sprayer for me to use.  I couldn't in the other room because the primer had filler in it and would clog the gun.  I was using a different primer here.  I was told by the guy in the paint department at Lowe's that the primer I got would cover this in 1 coat and that the white paint/primer combo would cover in one coat.....he lied!!! the paint/primer combo was the one I used in the other room and I needed 2 coats.  So just plan on doing at least 2 coats to cover up bright colors.  Anywho....as I went to use the gun, it wouldn't work.  I was on the verge of a meltdown because I didn't want to roller paint it all.  My hubby came in while I went to pick up my daughter from school to see if he could get it working.  When I got home he had a discouraged look on his face.  He told me "Well.....I made a mess in there trying to fix it."  I almost threw myself down on the floor and had a tantrum. (hormones!!) So he took me to the room and showed me his mess....while I was gone he got it working and painted the primer on the walls for me.  Yay for an awesome hubby!! So then all I needed to do was wait for it to dry and then do the white with the sprayer.  I was much happier =)  

I did the same feather technique on one wall in Ian's new room.  He is super happy.  When I showed him his room his eyes got all big and he had a big grin "My room is green!" I am decorating his room in "silly monsters."  So I wanted something bright.  I also couldn't find a blanket with cool monsters anywhere (everything was Monsters, Inc) So I made his comforter for his bed.  I will do a post later about that.  I am also going to do some canvas painting of monsters for his walls, so that will be another post.

 I'd say all the hard work paid off for the smiles my kids had.  

I know this isn't really an tutorial, but maybe it will give you some ideas the next time you decided to paint a room.  

I am a slacker!

I have been a total slacker about posting this summer!  It's been a crazy summer though.  I was taking online classes through Weber State (Chemistry, Physiology, Geology, public speaking)  They kept me pretty busy. This summer totally flew by too!!  I want a redo!!  I didn't get to d any of the fun stuff I had planned to do.  Darn classes!  But I think the kids had a lot of fun just being able to hang out and relax.  We went swimming a few times, they played in the sprinklers outside, went to the park a few times.  We didn't get much of a chance to do a sumemr vacation but we did go up to Idaho in July and see some of our best friends, Alan and Kanani.  We stayed a night with them and the kids loved playing.  One really exciting thing is that we found out we are having a little girl.  ( I posted all of that stuff on facebook and totally forgot to blog about it).  I go in December 4th for my c-section and then we'll have our little Sophie join the family.  We haven't decided on a middle name yet.  I am super excited for another girl.  When I was going through some of Brenna's old baby stuff it felt like Christmas again.  I forgot how many cute dresses and shoes she had.  I love that I can reuse them.  But poor Ian....gets to be tortured by sisters the rest of his life....I think he'll handle it.  Brenna is way excited for a sister and doesn't even mind that she has to share her room now.  Speaking of which, I ahve been repainting and switching the kids bedrooms this week.  Ian's old room was just a little bigger and better arranged for bunk beds so I turned that into the girl's room.  I am almost done with teh painting in Ian's new room so as soon as everythingis situated i will post some pictures.  Just a word of advice to everyone.....don't undertake painting 2 bedrooms when you are 6-months pregnant.....not the easiest thing to do.  But luckily I got to use my husbands spray gun for one of the rooms and that made it a ton easier because I was on the verge of tears (darn hormones!) because it seemed like a bunch of things kept happening to get in the way.  

Here are a few pictures from this summer:

This was on the 4th of July.  We went to wyoming and hung out with Jason's cousin Amber and her family.  The kdis had fun shooting guns, riding 4-wheelers, playing in the dirt, and having fun with their cousins.

Ian got to hold a snake at the fair.  He was soooo excited to hold it by himself.  no fear in this child.

When it's just too hot for just a popsicle....you eat it in a pool of water.

We went to East Canyon and the kids had lots of fun swimming in the mud.....forget the lake....they had more fun in the mud pit =)

Hanging at the beach with Sasha =)

Fun times a the Treehouse

During the summer, Weber county sponsors free activities on Saturdays at various places.  Since I am el cheapo, I take advantage.  There are usually about 5 or 6 things to choose from each Saturday and they are usually different each Saturday.  Last Saturday's adventure was at the Treehouse Museum.  My kids love this place but I am usually too cheap to fork out the $6 per person, plus parents have to pay.  So we went and had some fun for free =)  The kids ran around from thing to think and every time I tried to get a picture, all I got was blur.....they had tons of fun!!!  They really loved the music room, my head, not so much.  But I love how much the kids can learn about different cultures here.  They have a Chinatown, and Indian village, a farm, medieval set, a section on the presidents, and a doctor's room

Ian is being a superhero!  He's go the pose down.

Brenna tried to pull Excalibur and be the next King of England.....it didn't work out for her......

My lil cowboy on a bucking bronco =)

This was my cowgirl on her prancing horse. (she didn't want to be bucked around)

With all the fires going on I figured we would be in need of some firefighters so I started training them early.  I'm not sure if the truck would make it to the fire with Ian driving.......

And this is my big kid........

Caution: Wild Animals at Large!

We had fun at the zoo a few weeks ago.  Some of our really good friends, Alan and Kanani, invited us to tag along with them and their family.  It was so nice spending time with them.  She is pretty much like a sister to me =)  Her mom has even offered to adopt me.  Whenever we all go out either Jason and Alan get mistaken for brothers or me and Kanani get mistaken for sisters so it all works.  The last time we had went was when i was bout 2 months pregnant with Ian.  He was so excited to see all the animals. I think hi favorite was the polar bear that kept doing flips off the window.  Brenna loved the baby elephant, especially when she did a headstand =)

Here was my train buddy.

Here's proof that they love each other =)  They sat next to each otheron the train

No DNA test needed here......

He's as big as a female orangutan.

She about as big as a female gorilla.

He was kinda an ornery looking guy.  But then again, I don't think I would be happy stuck in a cage either.

This is the new polar bear.  She kept coming up right next to us and the would flip onto her back.  She was being very playful that day.

The kids were loving watching teh bear swim and the walrus swim around.  The little boy on the left is Tyson (green shirt), then it was Jamison (blue shirt) then Kona (brown shirt, and his due date was the exact same day as Ian's =)  ), then Ian and Brenna.

Isn't she such a pretty poser?

When we went to the rhino exhibit he said he wanted to ride the rhino......the real one.....but I made him settle for the metal one.

Brenna could have stayed all day watching the baby elephant.