Wheels

Sometimes I feel like a post with no pictures is like a cake with no icing but tonight I'm too tired to download any-sorry. The Hansel household is on the move. We've found a house in TH and are zeroing in on our two closing dates...which is exciting and scary at the same time. It's a little stressful thinking of all the details involving the two moves but I'm sure with lots of prayer it will all fall into place. Decker is getting closer and closer to walking. Today his new thing was to stand and walk holding onto his big Tonka truck. Speaking of trucks (and cars, campers and buses for that matter)...this is his new infatuation. I asked a friend if this behavior was normal and she said it just sounded like a boy to her! Very often throughout the day he grunts and points out the window and is not happy until we go sit in the car for a while. Sometimes we stroll down to the end of my parents road to look at the traffic on the highway-we can get some good digs on the semis that way. Brady and Deck have been having guy time on Monday nights at a music class at ISU for toddlers-Decker really likes it and every time we sing the songs he starts to bounce and clap! Todd thinks he may be the next DMB.

Bloogie "Take II" #1 Bday

Deck had a great first bday. He got to celebrate twice-first at a joint party with his cousins a couple weeks ago and then over at the Hansel's on the 1st. He got lots of special toys including a cool learning farm center that Brady and I picked out. He enjoyed his first taste of sugar but I have to admit that the banana cupcakes I made were healthy and low sugar. I just couldn't stand the thought of my little guy being exposed to the cane yet-as I know how addicted I am to my after dinner dessert. In addition to the celebration of our little guy turning one we can also celebrate the fact that our house sold-although we must get through the inspection process which starts on Tuesday. Lots to be thankful for and most especially the love of family and friends.

Bloggie Video "Take I"

This is my first try with posting a video from our new Bloggie -thanks to Todd and Mom and Dad for a sweet anniversary gift. We have lots of material to record and just in time for Deck's 1st Bday that is coming up soon. Tomorrow we have a 3-way early party with the cousins who have bdays in July and August. Brooklyn is 5 and Coy is 3!

where do we live?

Moving from place to place each week has become tiresome and we're never sure if we are coming or going but with that said we continue to press forward and try to stay in the present and patient at the same time-it's hard some days. We have had a little summer fun in between working weekends at the house in hopes that something we do will turn a buyers head. Mom, Deck and I went to the TH 4th of July parade and also to the farmers market. Terre Haute is turning out a great market for those who haven't been. I bought some yellow plums that I didn't know what to do with-they were a little tart to eat on there own. We house/dog sat for a week. Brady enjoyed the cable and I enjoyed the naughty snacks-girl scout cookies and cheetos! And our latest-a wedding in Jasper with an overnight stay at a hotel. Decker is proving to be a good traveler which may mean a vacation may be in our future especially if we never move-ha! Decker is crawling like mad and even pulling up. It's fun letting him get dirty-he loves to pull up grass and leaves. We are trying to learn "no eat". Hey God make dirt and dirt don't hurt right? I finally trimmed his wings-people kept thinking he was a girl.

Bottom of the Hill

This week we are at the bottom of the hill-a potential deal looks like it has fallen through on our house. Apparently a family of mice decided to bid there final farewell at the bottom of our stairs in the basement and all the rain has left our basement in a soggy mess creating what one looker called more of a cellar than a basement! So either this mouse thing was a stroke of really bad luck or God is continuing to teach us to be patient and wait on His timing. But we still have much to be thankful for-Decker and our families to name two of the biggies! Here are a couple pics-one was from a recent outing to the outdoor art park at the IMA. I was pretty intrigued by the folks living on the floating pod! Check it out if you haven't.

Berry Much Fun

Yesterday we celebrated Brady's 34th birthday. I'm so thankful to have him. He's such a great husband and daddy to Deck. They have a very special bond. I love watching them play together. Saturday night we had a cook out and get together with our family of friends in honor of Brady. People keep asking if we miss Indy-and the main thing we miss are the people. We are so thankful to have such a wonderful group of friends. I also want to report that we have a super harvest of strawberries this year. I have been trying for 5 years to get some good berries and looks like the season they have been neglected seems to be their best yet. So maybe a berry business is still in my future!

Tough Love or Mamby Pamby

Yesterday being my first Mother's Day I told Brady that I think I'm starting to feel like a real mom. Most of the time I feel like it's a surreal experience like I'm watching someone else be a mom-I guess because I never thought I could be a mom. That being said I also never thought I could love something so much-I remember my mom said that one reason to have children is to expand your capacity to love and that is so true. You don't know how much you can love until you have a child. But a part of this mother child bond I'm learning is tough love which is the not so fun part of this love thing. We started sleep training this week as Deck has been keeping us up til almost 11 most nights and this requires a lot of tough love. He is crying himself to sleep for nap as I write this. As Brady said we don't want to raise no mamby pamby (aka pansy, sissy, mamma's boy). Decker does seem to be responding to the training which is great news but I don't want to jinx ourselves. I'm still prepared to fail. I just pray each day that I don't fail at motherhood! We had a wonderful Mother's Day. Brady made a special reservation for lunch at Traders Point Creamery and our good friends Amy, Chris and Kaylin had us over for a cookout in the evening-here are some pics from the day.