Goodbye mini-van and Eva turns 11

We said goodbye to the mini-van we had for 9 years.  Thought I'd take a little mini-van stroll down memory lane.  Here is my college car I had before trading it ?up? for the van. 

Eva and Travis loved playing in the van.  

One of their favorite things to do was to play in the van with dogs.  Charity and Toni are happy to partake in a pretend trip.    

Tired kids falling asleep in vehicles is funny.  I did let Luke and Marie play in the van... once...they scribbled with pen everywhere, turned on every button they could find, and shredded tissues everywhere.  

That van reminded us of some very scary/sad times also.  Eva's skull fracture, Travis' surgeries....

I know no one seems to believe this, but I was driving down the interstate and my bumper fell off.  I got out and walked down the ditch and picked it up.  My brothers made me a bumper to use when we were home.... and didn't bother to tell me until I noticed people laughing and pointing at it after I had driven around all day.  

"Goodbye stinkiest van ever. You brought 3 of these babies home from the hospital, met the ambulance with one who cracked her head, followed the ambulance when one of them nearly caused me to bleed out after birth, drove me to the ENT when Iwas convinced baby #2 would be deaf, drove me to a bazillion OBGYN appts including some as I lie down on bed rest, helped me collect gallons of breast milk....you were there for pancakes and sausage at 8am, Big Mac, FF, and root beer at 10:30 and a shake at 2:00 each day through my pregnancies. You brought home our four legged dog, and our three legged dog. We crashed into two of Chris' vehicles and a bank pole. We were together nearly everyday for 9 years. I won't miss your smell, but I will miss you."

Chris and I got pretty one night and went to Justin Timberlake.  Nice photo bomb behind us.  

Eva turned 11 and is clearly much more talented at the "selfie" than myself.  

Waterpark at Mall of America....for people who didn't go anywhere tropical for spring break.  Kids loved it.  It wasn't horrible.  

We also went to the science museum with the Evens and stayed with them for a few days.  

And they came and visited us this winter too! Fun times!

More mini-van moments below.  And some Evens/Hansons "Frozen" singing.    

MVI 1554

MVI 1553

do you want to build a snowman 2

Hansons and Evens singing Let it Go

Bison Three-peat

A lego football field was made before the big game. 

We drove with the Syllings to Frisco again.  I drove a good portion of the drive this time while these two talked about Under Armor and Nike Bison/Syracuse/Duke/etc clothing together.

 

The Bromance continues..

Thanks for the clothes Tammi!

Jamie, Jason, Erika, Chris:  Tailgating time. 

There was a large turf problem at the game...

...which lead to one of my favorite signs. 

After the game.  Champions again!

Our neighbors, the Schwabs, sat a few rows up from us and took this picture. 

Luke has a girl on the bus from his class that really likes him.  They kissed once after encouragement from the big kids on the bus (and got in big trouble.)  This is a puppet she made him during Christmas break because she missed him so much.  I asked him if she likes all the boys like this and he said "no, just me."  He also told her that they were only allowed to kiss if they were married OR she bought him a mansion OR gave him a million dollars.  I told him the married part; not sure where he got the other ideas? 

Luke celebrated his 6th birthday with an extra-tall chocolate cake.  

Friends came over for a party on a day that school was cancelled due to weather.  They had a little bit of cooped-up energy. 

 

 



 Toni will find any blanket in the house and do this.  She's lucky she's got three legs and is old and nice because I'm not a fan of dog hair on my stuff.  

We went to Aberdeen to celebrate Halle's 3rd birthday and Eleanor's baptism.  Sheena had a "word hunt" Super Why style complete with capes for the 8 cousins that were there.  So fun!!

Luke is very into volcanos.  We read books about volcanos and he draws and writes stories about volcanoes. 



Luke has studied the words to the new song "Pompei."  So Travis hung this small city of Pompei up next to the volcano Luke made.  Clever....

Halle got to come stay with us Hansons for an entire weekend.  It was so fun!  Eva was the one I caught crying the night she left!  We went to Frozen Fantasy, which is like a wedding dance for kids; without the wedding (and without booze.)  These two are looking mighty fancy.  Notice Halle's pink and purple pigtails! 

Stranded in Aberdeen

We got stranded in Aberdeen after Halle's birthday/ Eleanor's baptism.  These are videos from some of the strandedness that occurred.  Who knew Nolan could sing so well and who knew that they were all gansta rappers in their dorm or bedrooms? 

The "chicken dance" video is mostly of Halle being ridiculously cute at a dance we went to when she stayed at our house.  I realize that it's not the chicken dance, but the hokey pokey.  I do not realize how to change that title....
I realize the title to the song is MRS Jones...ditto on the not knowing how to change that either.