Picture This.

If a picture is truly worth 1000 words - I should be able to write a novel about these ones - Enjoy the funny pictures I've taken in the various places I've been :)

Do these pants make my hips look big?

Ah yes, my little sister is so much like me.

It was a hard winter...

If you look closely, you will see that there are two people in this picture - and they are not being very appropriate. I was very stealthy in taking it.

Just another Hansen family portrait.

Why the heck is there a monkey in this picture? And what is a chute fall?

The thing that is weird about this is that when there was a moose in the road, the lights were blinking. How does that even happen? Did the moose push a button?

Please slow down cats. You're moving so fast....I just want to pet you....

I tricked you! You've been caught and now you are mine!

Is that dog wearing a helmet?

I've never met a bland Italian.

I don't know what this means, but here it is.

Yes, Matt. Keep paddling.

Little Sisters

When I was 13, my mom told me she was pregnant with a girl.
Up until that point, I'd only lived with brothers. Stephen? Check. Kameron? Check. Keanu? Check. All brothers, all there.
I was fully expecting another brother.

I was so surprised to hear I was going to have a sister that I told my mom to go back to the hospital and have them turn her into a boy, or else.

She told me I wouldn't always feel that way, that I'd see that baby girl and love her. I didn't believe her but, MAN, was she right.

Last night, I was getting a little annoyed with my 10 year old sister. She was talking a lot, and being similar to velcro. I've been sharing a room with her for three weeks, and had been thinking about how nice it would be to be back in my own room, in my quiet space. No clothes scattered across the floor. No stuffed animal mountains in the corner. No weird plates or rocks or things jumping out to attack me.

But, then it hit me, that would mean no more baby sister. As I was lying in bed (HER bed) I started to get a little choked up. There I was, thinking about all these things that were kind of annoying. Things that mean that my little sister is still a little girl. She's still young enough that she thinks I'm the coolest person on earth. She still wants to cuddle on the couch, and draw me silly pictures. She still tells me everything, including really strange jokes. She still likes me enough that she ditches her friends for me. She shares her favorite stuffed animals with me, and plays arcade games with me.

I kind of decided that there is no way I can be annoyed with her little antics. Her picky eating. Her sometimes awkward comments. Not when they're so short lived. She's already grown a full 10 years, and those went by in the blink of my left eye.

Who's to say the next 10 won't happen in the blink of my other eye?

My baby sister is my best friend. My mini me. My little shadow. I'm so glad she wasn't born a boy - and I secretly hope she never grows out of thinking I'm awesome. Maybe when we're 20 and 33, we can still cuddle on the couch and watch animal planet.

Family - Blog 7: My Youngest Brother

I remember the day he was born. It was December 1 - his actual due date. I think he is the only one of us who was actually born 'on time.' I think that speaks volumes to his personality :) He's never enjoyed being late to anything.

Keanu was the cutest little baby. He was totally and perfectly bald. He had a wrinkly face like an old man, and long (but small) little fingers. When he finally did start growing hair, it came out white....and stayed that way for, well....forever. I think he's just now starting to get some pigment in his hair...and he's turning 14 this year.

Time. Flies.

Having a baby brother has been one of the highlights of my life. I didn't even care that I had to help change his little diapers. He has brought light and laughter and joy and all things that are good into my world. And it started at a young age. For a few years, he was my very own little shadow. He even let me paint his toe nails a few times. Even his first full sentence was just for me: "Nikki, you look pretty."

Of course, all little boys grow up to be big boys and he decided hanging out with Kameron would be way more fun. I always had some secret jealousy about that...but I knew it was necessary for him to grow up and be a proper boy ;) Little brothers naturally want to hang out with big brothers...and not big sisters.

Nevertheless, little Keanu definitely played a protective role over me...despite our 10 year age difference. When I had my first "boyfriend" in the 8th grade...Keanu would never leave us in a room alone together...even though Keanu was only about 3 at the time. He would sit between my little boyfriend and I and monitor all conversation.

The best part was...no one ever asked him to do that. He just did it.

Now this little baby brother of mine is a teenage boy. With that comes other fun things: camping, fishing, board games and silly jokes. But in my mind...he is still too young for things of the world: I want him to believe in Santa. I want him to be able to see magic in the world everywhere he goes. I want him to remain ignorant to all that is bad in the world, and live in all that is warm and good - just like him.

I love my stinkin' little brother. And his braces, too.

Family - Blog 3: My Older Brother

The relationship I have with my older brother is strange...to say the least. We struggled to get along throughout our childhoods. I tattled too much. He unplugged the phone when I was trying to talk to my friends. We yelled at each other. I cried. He ignored me, I ignored him. I think we even went a good 4 years where we didn't talk to each other at all (but mostly because we were just so consumed with ourselves that we didn't bother to make the time to try and have a relationship).

But, despite our many conflicts, he has always been what an older brother should be. He got on my nerves (like an older brother should), he had cute friends (like an older brother should), he punched his friend in the face for making a rude comment to me (like an older brother should). He even played barbies with me once. When we weren't fighting, he always made me laugh.

These days he amazes me by his ability to eat 7 adult meal servings in a single sitting...somehow managing to turn all those calories into muscle. He has a peculiar sense of humor and his laugh is contagious. He always has advice if you need it. He's quick to apologize, too. He's a good friend, a handsome son of a gun and exactly what an older brother should be... and I love him!