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 Gra...

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 ...

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 M...

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...

Dear Ben, Tomorrow you will turn three.  But today, right now, at 9:33pm, you are still my two year old boy.  You are my 41 lb. two year old!  My big little guy. Three years ago, right now, Grandpa and Grandma Marcy and Ernie were speeding to the Cities, to be with Luke, because you were definitely on your way.  I had my first contraction around 6:30pm on a Saturday night, April 30th (you were due on April 24th).  We were at a hockey game for your cousin Jonathan in Plymouth.  I went to the bathroom there, and when I started to sit down, a sharp pain shot through my belly.  I was already a week overdue, so I knew you would be coming soon, however, I wasn't convinced it was a contraction at that moment.  It felt very different than how things started with Luke (that's another story!).  So I somehow got myself in and out of the bathroom and headed back out to your dad and Luke.  The hockey game was over, so we headed to the little golf co...

Luke, I was emailing with (your classmate) Isaac's mom to see if he could come to your 5th birthday party.  In one of the emails she wrote this:   Btw - I stayed and helped in the classroom last week and played Crazy 8's with Luke and some of the boys.  Luke was so polite and helping one of the younger boys.  So sweet.   Have a good day, Krista I couldn't be more proud of you.  I know you are a kind and sweet boy, but it is so neat to hear it from- and have it observed by- someone else.  I pray you continue to treat people with kindness always, and that you understand that you are sharing the love of Christ when you do.