The Hannig Home

Benjer, Eryn took this picture of you while you were at her store last night - and I posted it to Facebook stating "This guy definitely has his own style."  It's getting quite the reviews and comments.  People I don't even know are seeing it and sharing it with others.  Swim shoes, sweatbands around the ankle (usually you have 3 or 4 on at one time), Meredith's headband in your hair (or is that your batman mask?), only undies on the bottom, and the glasses and necklace.  Yowzers!  So cute I can hardly stand it. Somehow a woman (Shelley ThoeleBecker Anderson) from Cold Spring saw this picture on Facebook through one of my friends' Facebook pages.  She posted it on her own Facebook page.  (Boy, if Facebook isn't around when you are older it might be hard to understand what I'm talking about.  But I will worry about that later).  Shelley shared the photo as did Judi Brisse (and Judi I DO actually know.  She is a friend of Grandpa and Grandma Dold's

Lots and lots of beautiful weather this weekend makes for lots and lots of FUN!  Planting and projects and biking and bonfires.  Here are a few pictures of the fun: Swing-set fun!    Pizza for breakfast! Golf cart ride to see the little horsie down the road.  Benny -I mean Superman - loved it! Somebody loves spaghetti.  All the way up to the armpit.  Yowsers. Removing ugly old rock landscaping, planting more veggies.  Kids getting rides in the wheelbarrow in between hauling rock. A bike ride to the grocery store to buy hot dogs for the BBQ at the Bell's.  Meredith's first time in the bike trailer.  She SQUEALED with delight the entire ride!  Lukey had his arm around her shoulder most of the ride.  It was so sweet.  Paul pulled these two monkey's.  Mom pulled Ben in our other bike trailer.  On the way back home, we stopped at auntie Eryn's store and were randomly surprised to see Dave and Ann drive up, too.  Fun! Bonfire and BBQ at

Meredith is sitting on her great-grandpa Tony Dold's American flag.  We are honored to have his flag.  We are thankful for our freedom.  As our pastor said today, "Thank you, God, for wiring us all differently.  Thank you for those men and women who are wired in such a way that they willingly go to remote and foreign lands, to fight for our American freedoms.  Most of us would turn and run the other way, but these amazing, brave men and women run right into the fire, the shooting, the war....for us...for our freedom."   We do not take our freedom for granted in this home. Thank you to my uncle Al "Porky" Backes for his service.  Thank you to his son and my cousin, Gary Backes, for his service.  Thank you to Gary's wife and children who all serve our country.  These are just the few I know by name.

We moved into our Spicer home in late July of 2011, right after Benny was born.  There was a garden box out back.  That first summer we happened to benefit from the prior owner's planting, and one head of lettuce randomly popped up among the weeds.  In 2012, Lukey and me (Luke was just 3) championed the garden, planting tomatoes and green beans and basil and carrots, and even cantaloupe!  The cantaloupe looked great, but didn't end up tasting so good.  Luke and I both had a blast seeing the beans and tomatoes grow.  It was so satisfying.  We couldn't eat the tomatoes fast enough - we had SO many.  In 2013, we took the summer off, as I was 9 months pregnant with little Meredith and didn't have the energy to plant a garden. Well, folks, it is 2014 now, and we have a 5 year old Lukey (farmer Luke), and a 3 year old Benny (farmer Ben), and a 10 month old Meredith (farmer Meri, who loves to eat dirt).  We just planted our garden, and we had SO MUCH FUN!  Benny loved the pr

Paul rarely travels for work...at least overnights.  This week he happens to be in Miami Beach, FL.  I wish I was with him!  He left at 5am Monday morning and comes back late Thursday night (it is currently Wednesday afternoon).  That is a long week for this mom - but mostly just because Ben and Meredith happen to be sick.  It is the first time Ben has been sick all year.  It is Meredith's first ear infection.  It is Paul's first overnight work trip in 2 years.  Bad timing.  Between sleepless nights, coughing, fevers, doctor appointments, antibiotics, missing naps b/c of doctor appointments, preschool drop off for Luke - it has been exhausting to say the least.  It gives me new appreciation for single parents.  Having a partner in it all, even to have support in simple ways (i.e., "Paul, feel Meredith's forehead, does she feel warm?  I don't think the thermometer is working."), is invaluable.  Not to mention having support for the bigger things - like getting