Hansons in Houston

Monday, May 31, 2010

Milwood's 25th

April marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the church we attended while we lived in Austin, Milwood Baptist Church. They had a lot of activities on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the weekend of April 25th, so we went up for the weekend and stayed with our good friend Steve Dobblestein. We got up there Saturday afternoon to hear our old pastor, Lashley Banks speak on Saturday night and catch up with a lot of our old friends at the dinner.

Here is Lashley with his oldest daughter.

And Neil and Julia with Lashley's wife Stacey and their youngest daughter.

This is Ed and Jennifer Wilson, and their oldest son Chandler (can you believe he was 6 or 7 when we left Austin)? The baby in Jennifer's arms is Stacey's.

Here Michelle Evans is watching Julia for us. Michelle was one of the middle school student in the group we worked with the year before we left Austin.

This is at lunch on Sunday after church. We got to catch up with Jerry and Joyce Leonard.

Someone gave Julia a balloon to play with. You can tell she had a lot of fun with it.

Between church on Saturday night and Sunday morning, we had a good time just hanging out with Steve at his house. Here Julia is playing with the "ball of whacks". They were fun to whack.

Steve got a good shot of Raquel and Julia just relaxing on the floor together.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Julia at 8 Months

Julia turned 8 months shortly after we came back from Washington. The best pictures I could think of to show her at 8 months are these of her taking baths in Charlene's kitchen sink - she fits just right.

Bath time is always fun. Daddy is her bath buddy. He always bathes her at the end of the day before she goes to bed.

No matter what the duck is always safe.

Sometimes I come into the bathroom to check on what is going on.
These two can make a lot of noise talking and splashing around.

Grandpa's Birthday - Part 3 - Going Home

It was a quick trip but we are really glad we made it. Here are some pictures of our last day in Washington.

Amy made us delicious lefsa while Grandma Hanson supervised.

There were lots of loving hands to care for James while his mom was busy

And Gary kept an eye on us all, making sure we didn't get in trouble.
I wonder what he was thinking as he looked on this busy bunch.

After all the morning fun, Gary and Becky drove us to the airport. Julia did great - she never cried (and never slept). She loved flirting with people and checking out EVERYTHING.

In-flight service was a hit.

She even shared it with her doll.

Forest Gump moment - Do you think these two are related?

Grandpa's Birthday - Part 2 - Celebrating

After John and Amy arrived we had dinner together and the kids had an Easter egg hunt. It was good to see all the Gary/Charlene Hanson family together. Goofy faces aside ....What a beautiful bunch ... and I don't think I am partial. God IS good.

Neil had too much to eat

Just hanging there

They were praying so they wouldn't look like Neil

The most beautiful kitchen counter ever!

Down to business ... the mash potatoes was all theirs

Now on to the main event
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!!!!

He is very pleased with his handy work. Becky went easy on him.

He thought he got a shirt make out of tissue paper.
I think Alaina was ready to dance to it.

Gary is now set with a new digital camera.
Are we going to see a new Hanson blog starting?

Grandpa's Birthday - Part 1 - Getting Together

Easter day was also Gary's 65th birthday. So we headed to Washington to be with family and celebrate!

We arrived very early in the morning on Friday and Grandma arrived later that morning. John and Amy joined us on Sunday. Julia did great during the trip, but Neil and I were so tired/sleepy that we hardly took any good pictures.

Everyone was looking their best on Sunday. The girls looked lovely on their dresses and hats.

John and Amy arrived after church and joined the fun

Sewing with Mama

I spend a lot of time up here in the home office and Julia is always eager to help me out. Somehow no matter what toys we have up here for her she always prefers to hang out with me or play with something that she shouldn't.... she's too sweet to get upset with her yet.