Well Loved

I have been a little MIA from the blog last couple of weeks thanks to yet another mini vacation.

Some people may say I am spoiled, and while this is very, very true I like to instead think I am well loved.

And while I like to think that I am the one who everyone wants to see and love and kiss and hug, I know it is really Miss S they are after.

Since we arrived just a few short days after Stella's first birthday it was only fitting that we throw yet another party to celebrate.

And with our family any excuse to get together and eat is welcomed with open arms.



The cake boss' themselves.

I will have you know there was great debate over what color of flowers went where and if each gumdrop had been placed in the perfect position.

In the end I think everything turned out beyond perfect thanks to these great ladies (plus Grandma J, of course).

Stella wasn't the only one we were celebrating.

My dear Grandpa Hansen was so gracious to share his birthday with Stellar last year. 

He was even more kind to celebrate this year's birthday with pink flowered cupcakes and a little diva who completely stole the show.

Why she still has her clothes on is beyond me.

I had a serious mental lapse as a parent on this one.

Oh well.

Enjoying the spoils of her second round of present opening.

So much love for such a little person.

Doesn't this picture just capture the love of a grandma perfectly?

Stella is so so lucky to have two grandmas and four great grandmas who love her so much.

They are always excited to hold her, kiss her, and spoil her in anyway possible.

Family is simply the best.

Stella also had a lot of fun playing with her furry brother, Dodger.

Wow.  These two are seriously like siblings who can't go five minutes without bothering each other.

If Dodger has a toy then Stella wants it.  If Stella is going up the stairs then so is Dodger.  If Dodger is outside taking a break then Stella is at the window taunting and teasing him.

This picture shows them enjoying a nice dry bath together.

Usually Stella is just standing at the edge yelling at him for getting in without her.

The "real" reason for our most recent trip West was a little visit to this beautiful place.

While the home and the scenery were to die for, the best part of it all was being with these folks.

The Hansen Girl's Weekend 2011.

I know I have said this before, but I really have the best family around.

The older I get the more I realize this.

We love to be together.  Instead of dreading the yearly family get-togethers we do everything we can to find reasons to have another one.

Both sides of my family are very close and I know that this isn't the norm.  Some of my friends don't even know their cousins, and if they do they rarely see them.

I am so lucky to know way more about each of mine than I probably even should!

Did you notice our lovely attire in the picture above?

Besides eating, this group loves to laugh.

While shopping at The Family Dollar in the booming metropolis of Driggs, Idaho we came upon a steal of a deal.

A set of thermal underwear for a mere 6 dollars.

And bonus, they had some in each of our sizes.

Crazy photo shoots and all out laughter quickly ensued.

Besides dressing and acting like crazy people we ate like queens (who were not dieting), learned to crochet (well, some of us did so successfully), watched movies, taught Stella to walk (a little bit at least), played in the snow (and got the manly machines started without any men), and remembered what life is really all about.

The lady who made it all happen.

Isn't she a babe?

I know everyone thinks their mom is the best of the best, but I really think they would have a hard time competing against this one.

When I grow up I want to be her.