Hanssen Adventure: February 2010

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Monster Trucks!

Monster Trucks! A little boys dream! Dale and Gabe had a guys day and went to monster trucks. Dale gave Gabe hints all week about the "surprise" then the day before they heard an interview with one of the drivers on the radio and he figured it out. Tell you what....this kid was soooo excited (and daddy too, of course) :). They had a blast and even got to go down and see the trucks before the show.

This picture is hard to see..but was Gabe favorite. A "dragon" came out and picked up the car and smashed it. Sometimes I don't totally understand this boy thing....but just smile and play along! :)

Various Winter Fun...continued

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!

Feb. 5, 2000

Wow 10 years....we just can't believe it! Looking back on the past 10 years it has been an incredible journey with Lord. He has given us many twists and turns that we did not expect, but looking back we are so grateful for it all. We have grown through joys of getting to know each other more deeply and growing in our relationship, the fun of travel, stretching of our faith in missions, trials of infertility, pain of never concieving, overwhelming excitement of GABE, fun times spent with family in Africa, heartache of leaving friends and family in Utah, adventure of our new life in Peoria, rich friendships in Peoria, blessing of super supportive inlaws, lots of new cousins, blessing of being able to see the new cousins often, working out our work relationship, growing tremendously in our relationship with the Lord, and learning to love each other for who God made us to be!

Thanks Dale for believing in me and loving me like no other!! Can't wait for the next decade with you!!

Out to dinner! (gabe took the picture just before the babysitter arrived :) ). Our real celebration will be a cruise once our babysitters get back from thier trip to Africa :)

Play date to the zoo

FOOTBALL!

Heading out to cut down some trees!
Dales winter project was putting in a wood burning furnace. He says he feels like man and that he is really providing for our family when he can heat our house by himself. So off he goes every week to his parents place (they live on lots of acres with lots of trees) to cut down trees. I must say our house is really warm and our gas bill very small! Despite the occasional coughing attack from all the smoke (maybe an exaggeration? :) ) we are warm and cozy in this very cold winter!

SLEDDING!
Fun time in the snow! It is usually to cold and icy to sled...so when we get the chance we jump on it!
Gabe with his two best girlfriends :) These girls need someone to teach them how to be tough! Might as well be Gabe!!

Various Winter Fun

Even though it has been a cold winter here in Peoria we have found ways to have lots of fun!! We took a trip to Chicago to take Gabe to Winter Wonder Fest (which I forgot to bring my camera...so we don't have any pics of that day :( ) and to the Shedd Aquarium. The greatest part...we rode Amtrak! Fun, fun for Gabe! We had such a great time! Unfortunately it was ranging anywhere from 0 degrees to 2 degrees the whole time so we FROZE and all the time I spent trying to get a hotel within walking distance of Navy Pier was in vain since there was no walking to be had....cabs all the way! In any case it was always a short ride :). Truthfully, we actually did walk sometimes and we were OK as long as there was NO skin showing at all!

Grandma and Gabe on the train.

Gabes new friend....we had to wait hours for our train ride home......our train was frozen (I told you it was coooold!) and they had to wait for a new one.

The whole "Amtrak" experience was surreal...I felt like we were in Africa. No structure, people everywhere, nobody knew where to go, etc...it was crazy! I'm guessing it is not always like that...just happened to be a holiday weekend and cold.

SHEDD AQUARIUM
Gabe got to pet a penguin at the show. I'm telling you this was one incredible place...shows were amazing! (yes the lady is also dressed like a penguin...part of the show :) )