Isaac

Playing catch up...

October 30th... Pumpkin Patch

He really liked feeding the animals until this guy nibbled on his had a bit too much!

It's all fun and games till someone gets bit...

Isaac and Sophie

 Our buddies Tori and little Miss Eliza

Eliza and Isaac

He ended up with a fever that night :(

November 6th

Just because pics... 

  

He LOVES balls. Footballs are his favorite. He takes it very seriously. It's so funny to watch him get ready to throw... He twists his body, gets a "focused" face, then lets loose... the ball usually lands behind him or hits him in the face!! After he has thrown the ball, regardless of where it lands, he VERY excitedly yells, "I did it!" 

  

Winding up...

 He was cracking me up with the ball bin. He dumped all the balls out then leaned in... a little more... a little more...

 ...then got stuck, "Mamma, hep peas!" His head was literally smashed in the corner..

November 7th

The Arboretum with the Qualls.

Noah.

This boy has a very special place in my heart. I've posted about him before. He and Atticus were buddies. He is my window to what my Atticus would be doing. I soak up every minute I have with him. He is so good to let me hold his hand while we walk, lets me give him squeezes and lets me ask him a million question. I miss those conversations. I miss talking to Atticus, I miss smiling at the silly things or shaking my head at the clever things. I miss having the inquisitive sometimes pestering voice of a 4 yr old around. Thanks to Noah I get a little taste and we  have some pretty good conversations. It's always a bit emotional being with him, I always have to fight back tears, but I love being around him. I'm not gonna lie though, I do get a bit jealous of sweet Jocelyn, having her two boys together.

 Isaac was playing the pumpkin like a drum!

 "cheese!"

 The boys had an absolute ball in the "about had it" hay maze.

They played in the hay for quite some time. Isaac loved running along the hay stacks and "falling" down. He was so happy. It was really fun to hear his giggle and his constant shout for "Noahhh!" 

 He did a pretty good job at keeping his balance.

Question.... When did this

turn into this?! He's so BIG and BLONDE!!

 He would "fall" then laugh and laugh...

 ...again

 ...and again and again!

Hansen Family "Thankful Tree"

Two years ago we started the "Thankful Tree" with Atticus. Every night in November, before we went to bed, we would each say one thing we were thankful for, write it on a leaf, then put it on the tree. I remember as clear as yesterday the very first thing Atticus said in 2010, "I'm thankful for Halloween treats!" In 2011 he was very good at helping Isaac think of things to be grateful for: sleep, medicine to help him feel better, graham crackers... I'm still in shock. That he's gone. 

Not to sound lame or anything but I really debated whether or not I wanted to do a "Thankful Tree" this year, because,  lets be honest, this year has really really sucked. Last Thanksgiving, Atticus was my sous chef. He and I listened to christmas music and prep cooked all week long. We prepped stuffing, peeled yams and potatoes, made pie after pie... We looked forward to writing on our leaves each night. We would call Daddy at work if he wasn't going to be home before bedtime.  It doesn't feel right.

So November 1st came along and we didn't start it. November 2nd came along, and we didn't start it. November 3, 4, 5.. nope. I had a rough "Miss Atticus Day" on Monday and spent a lot of time crying, a lot of time sleeping (Isaac was with Leah), and a lot of time at the cemetery... this is the conclusion I came to: Yes the last 9 months have been torture. Yes we have a decent amount of things to be UNgrateful for, BUT, this is the month of thanksgiving, and a time to reflect on blessings. SO... November 6th came along and I made our 2012 "Hansen Family Thankful Tree."

The heart on the trunk is for Atticus with a gold cancer awareness ribbon. He will ALWAYS be in our hearts and we will ALWAYS be thankful for the time we had with him and will have again.

I had 6 days of "Thankful's" to catch up on...

1. ETERNAL FAMILIES

2. DADDY

3. ATTICUS

4. ISAAC

5. LOVING DOCTORS AND NURSES

6. STRANGERS THAT ARE NOW FRIENDS

You, Mr. Atticus are at the heart of our "Thankful Tree" this year. We love and miss you sweet boy. xoxo, Mom