Ada:  Mom, do you know what's inside these raspberries? 
Me:  What?
Ada:  Superhero powers!
Me:  What kind of powers?
Ada:  I don't know.
Me:  Can they make you fly?
Ada:  No....
Me:  Can they make you jump really high?
Ada:  No....
Me:  So what kind of powers?
Ada:  Just something medium.  They can make me jump medium.

Cheating

 Because I'm so far behind on updating this blog, I've decided to cheat and just put up as many photos as possible in one post.

This collage puts us all the way back to spring break, when we met the Higbees/Trowbridges for a long weekend in Carefree, AZ. We went to museums, train parks and spent time entertaining the girls around the hotel.  It was a nice break from the cold in Flagstaff.

After a few days back home, we headed back to the Phoenix area for Ada's eye surgery.  Luckily, Grandma and Grandpa Hansen were able to meet us and help out with Clara while we dealt with the pre- and post-op procedures.  Ada recovered quickly and we were able to spend the rest of the weekend visiting the aquarium, zoo and (again) train park.

These are just random photos from April, including Easter and Bryan finally shaving his beard.

Ada's still been going to "school" at the YMCA and at the end of the school calendar year, they had a "graduation" for the older kids.  We were all invited to come watch the program, which was exciting for us.  It was our first time seeing her sing with her class and she even did an impromptu dance solo after one of the songs. 
Aunt Lauren also graduated, although from a little more reputable school- UofU Law.  We decided to go up to Utah to see her walk, hang out with family and introduce Clara to Utah.

The trip included a stop for a few days in Escalante.  We were able to stay at our house and see friends and by the end, we were almost convinced to move back.

Next, we spent some time in Flagstaff- visiting parks, festivals, and making trip to Phoenix to see Carol, Mike and Ellie.  As you can tell from the big picture, Ellie loves her new cousin.

Ada (and we) has been itching to go camping so we decided it was about time to take Clara.  We visited Fossil Creek for a hike.  It was beautiful, and since we left home at 5:00 a.m., we made it before the crowds and were able to have some of the water to ourselves. Instead of camping at a low elevation (i.e. 90+ degrees), we decided to drive back towards Flagstaff while the girls napped (we have to plan around these things now) and find a spot in the forest.  We got far enough down dirt roads to be away from other people and we set up camp and relaxed.  The girls had a lot of fun in the tent, which is lucky because the gnats were so awful.  After an uneventful night (uneventful in a good way), we woke up and walked to the rim of West Clear Creek Canyon to explore a little.  We have a running list of places we want to go once we can all start really hiking, and this is one of them. 
On the way back to camp, we were shocked to see a bear run in front of us.  We looked at each other, afraid that it had been at our camp since we left the garbage hanging in a tree.  Luckily, it hadn't, so we decided to relax and eat lunch before we had to drive back home.  Just as we were laying out the blanket to eat, Bryan got a look of terror on his face and I turned around.  A different bear had been coming towards us and decided to turn and run away when it was less than 100 feet away.  At that point, we decided to eat our lunch in the car on the way home.  We knew it was technically bear country, but we never expected to see one, let alone two bears!

Ada is officially three years old. I can't believe it.  She's still small for her age, but she makes up for it in intelligence!  It's amazing how much she learns every day and how much she seems to understand about the things going on around her.  She's a great big sister and in Clara's eyes, she can do no wrong. 
Clara's also hitting some big milestones.  She is now eating solid food (loves apples, pears, sweet potatoes) and is sitting up like a champ.  It's possibly the easiest parenting stage right now, because she'll sit in one spot and entertain herself with her toys for long periods of time and can't move around to get into trouble.  She's a really happy kid (except when she's not) and loves laughing.
It seems like these two already have a bond as sisters and I can't wait to keep watching it grow!

The last piece of news to catch up is that Bryan has finished all of his coursework for his M.S. degree and before the semester was over, he got a job offer.  He will be the GIS specialist for Lava Beds National Monument in northern California, and we will be moving to Klamath Falls, OR in October.  We're pretty proud of him and he is happy to find a job that he's excited about in a place that should be interesting.  It will be an adventure, as we have never been there before, and we are sad to leave Flagstaff, but I think we're all ready to move on to a new phase in our lives. 
And that's it!  In a few days we will be heading up to Utah to see family, then on to Yellowstone and Island Park for a Hansen family reunion.  So hopefully we will get around to posting before too long!

Catching Up

We are still adjusting to our new family dynamics, but at least that now includes getting out every once in a while.  It also helps that the weather has been occasionally nice. 

 We took Clara on her first hike.  It was over 50 degrees in January- paradise!

Kris and Nate came down for a short visit and Ada tried her hardest to convince them to start having kids.

After living in Flagstaff for 1 1/2 years, we finally made it to the South Rim.  Unfortunately it was too windy and cold to take the girls hiking and they didn't enjoy getting in and out of the car to look at the Canyon as much as we did.  Maybe next time.

We also took a quick trip out to Petrified Forest National Park.  It was pretty impressive, even if we didn't get to see as much a we wanted.

 It was worth it just to see Ada get excited about the exhibits in the visitors center.

Clara is growing so fast we can almost see it happen if we look hard enough.  We had her 2 month appointment a few weeks ago and she had grown about 5 lbs. and 4 inches since birth.  I asked if it was normal and the doctor didn't seem too worried. 

 We still joke that she will soon be bigger than Ada, but maybe there is some truth to that!

 

 

We still don't leave the girls alone together for too long (Ada can be a little "overwhelming" to Clara) but it's nice to watch them from a distance and see them being sisters.  

Watching movies together

entertaining each other

 and reading library books together.

 Ada got to experience Valentines Day this year.  We had fun making (and taste-testing) brownies for her schoolmates.

While Bryan and Clara just hung out.

Then, for dinner, we made heart-shaped pizzas to celebrate.

And this is just a cute picture of Clara.  She was taking such a sad nap.

Post Christmas

 The day after Christmas, the Hansen side of the family came down to see us in Arizona since we couldn't make it to Utah. 

 As always, there were amazing dinners (this one of locally raised food).

 Mustache time.

Cousin Ellie's newborn outfit borrowed just for a picture.

Still can't tell what color Clara's eyes are.

And we made it to the new year!  Our family is complete with the newest addition and we are excited to think about what this year will bring.  Ada is talking and talking and talking now.  She was starting to act out a little from the lack of attention from us, but we are all finally finding a balance.  She is so smart and funny and still one of the happiest kids we know.  She has another eye surgery coming up in March, but it is nothing we will worry about right now.  She is still having fun at "school" and talks about her friends and teachers there.   
Clara is rapidly gaining weight- I still feel like I'm feeding her all the time and we think she might soon catch up with her big sister!  She is smiling at us as soon as we walk into the room and we think we may have even heard a laugh!  I forgot how much fun this stage is. 
Bryan and I are still not getting enough sleep, but as it was pointed out to us, we don't expect it for the next 18 years or so.  Everyone is slowly adjusting to the new dynamic, so it's only getting better!
 

Christmas Day

This was our first Christmas staying home instead of traveling to see family.  While we really missed seeing everyone, it was nice to have quiet time as a new family of four. 

Ada helped Clara unpack her stocking from Santa.

 This was Ada's first Christmas really getting excited about it all.  And she LOVED it.

We are hoping she will take after her dad and have more artistic ability than I do.

 Dad helping open the presents.  He was possibly as excited as Ada.

Clara spent the whole morning like this.

So of course, we had to mock her.

Here are a few pictures from the first couple of weeks.  Slowly catching up.

 Clara really wants to go home from the hospital.

 We still have no idea what color her eyes will be.

 Ada loves helping with her baby sister.

 Clara smiles as much as Ada did.

 Grandma getting some baby time.

 HUNGRY!!

 Keeping Ada entertained.

The first real bath.

 Sisters.

 Snow for Christmas!

 :)

She already loves the sun.