Two Little Hensons

A few weeks ago my Pa had surgery on his knee.  He spent some time doing rehab on his knee and finally came home yesterday.  While he was still doing rehab, I took the kiddos to visit him.  He was doing physical therapy when we got there.  AC and Charlie liked walking up and down the stairs in the PT room.  They told the PT to be nice. 🙂 My Ma was by herself while he was in the hospital.  She traveled back and forth every day to see him.  We stopped by to visit her one day.  The kids love reading books and she read “The Three Little Pigs” to them.  I remember reading that same book with her when I was little.  They talk about the wolf every day! 

Today my Meme had surgery on her hand.  It has been bothering her for a while now.  Even with the troubles she has had with both of her hands, she still took the time to make ALL (except the ones in the kids’ rooms) the curtains in my house the past few weeks.  🙂 All went well with the surgery.  Since it was outpatient she is home now.  Here she is at our house playing with the kiddos one day while Big Papa was helping Devin work on his new storage building in our backyard (pictures of that project coming soon).

Unfortunately not everyone gets a chance to get to know their grandparents, but I have lived near and have very special relationships with all of my grandparents.  I am so thankful my sweet babies have a chance to get to know these very special people.  🙂

The past couple weeks we’ve enjoyed some nice weather.  We’ve had to pull out the sunglasses. Charlie has found a love for hammering. Anna Claire LOVES to swing.  Here she is with her baby Tasha.  We’ve had picnic lunches. They helped their Nana plant flowers.  Aunt Mel Mel spent the night two nights and we really wanted her to skip school and go to the zoo with us because it was so pretty outside, but we couldn’t do that.  We still had fun while she was here! Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been as nice the past couple days so we’ve spent most of our time inside.  Even though it is cold and rainy outside, when I come into the room and see my sweet babies sitting reading a book together, it makes a dreary day so much better!  On a side note…I spent last Thursday-Sunday in NJ with Rebekah, Justin, and my precious niece Gracie!  There is nothing like snuggling with a newborn.  🙂

Moms and Dads, have you ever had one of those days when you question why in the world God chose you to be a parent?  I mean…your children don’t listen, they act like they’ve never been told no or don’t even know what the word means, they have trouble obeying, they bother each other…anyone had those days?  Well, that was today for me.  We went to Target to get cat litter this morning.  The kids would not stop bothering each other in the buggy.  Charlie wouldn’t sit in the back.  Then in the car they kept messing with each other.  Anna Claire kept taking off her shoes and socks.  Charlie’s speech therapist showed up early and he was a crazy man during the session (however he did repeat 100 words!  Yay!)  After nap I let them watch a cartoon so I could jump in the shower for a few seconds (yes…I didn’t get a shower until 3 today 😦 ).  While I was in there, Anna Claire came running in and said, “Mommy, Charlie lotion no no!”  I quickly jumped out and ran to the living room and found my son STANDING on our glass coffee table with my face cleanser.  He took the top off and was shaking it EVERYWHERE!  After I cleaned up and got dressed we headed to the park with some friends.  I seriously cried all the way to the park…asking God what I was doing wrong.  I try to teach them right from wrong.  I show them love.  I provide for their needs.  I listen to them.  Why can’t they obey??  Well, tonight I put the kids to bed while Devin was tutoring.  A few minutes later Charlie called me and was having trouble going to sleep.  So, even though I was so fed up with him, I picked him up and rocked him.  Normally I would rock him for a few seconds to calm him down then put him back to bed.  Tonight we just rocked.  We rocked and I prayed.  I prayed for patience with my precious babies.  I prayed for them to listen.  Then I started thinking…all those things I was talking to God about earlier today are probably the same things He thinks daily…He tries to teach us right from wrong, He shows us love, He provides for our needs, He listens to us…why can’t we obey?  Next thing I knew, Charlie was literally snoring.  I’m thankful for forgiveness and a brand new day tomorrow. Thanks for listening to me decompress.

I thought I’d share some pictures Devin’s sister took of the kiddos Saturday.  Aren’t they just the most darling little two year olds you’ve ever seen? 🙂  Moments like these make this whole parenting thing all worth it!

March 7th was Anna Claire’s and Charlie’s 2nd birthday.  When you ask them how old they are they answer with a loud “TWO!”  (However, when Charlie’s speech therapist asked him the other day, he said he was two but Anna Claire said she was five…)  Also, when we ask them to tell someone “Happy Birthday” they say “Happy Day!”  So, Monday was their “Happy Day”.

We started with a trip to Chick-fil-a for breakfast.  They got to play in the car with their travel Aquadoodles they got from Trevor at their birthday party the Saturday before. (pics of that day coming soon!) When we got there we ate then they hurried to go play. The rest of the day was spent playing at home with Mommy and Daddy.  (Daddy is on spring break the week of their birthday EVERY year!)  That evening we had breakfast for dinner then enjoyed birthday cupcakes.  They did great blowing out their candles and eating their cupcakes.  We ended the evening with a walk with them riding in their wagon then came home for bath and bed.

I seriously can’t believe they are TWO!  It seems just like yesterday they were itty bitty like this: or this: or this:  My how time flies.  I am SO incredibly thankful that we get to spend everyday with them…watching them grow and learn and just love life.  Thank you God for our two little miracles. 🙂

Anna Claire and Charlie are proud to announce that they now have a cousin…the beautiful Grace Anne Brazell.  Not to mention that Devin and I think it’s pretty cool that we are now Aunt Kathy and Uncle Devin! 🙂 She was born this morning, March 16, at 7:53 am weighing 9lbs and is 21.75 inches long.  Uncle Justin and Aunt Bekah are already so in love.  (Doesn’t her mommy look pretty amazing for just giving birth?!) We are so thankful for our precious Gracie!  How can someone look at those precious hands and not just be amazed at how incredible our God is? AC and Charlie can’t wait to teach Gracie how to play with all her toys, have spend the night parties, play out side and make special memories!  🙂  We love you Uncle Justin, Aunt Bekah, and Baby Grace!