New Beginnings

The best thing about starting a new year is taking a moment to reflect on the year that just ended.  2012 was one of those milestone years in our lives.  Dave and I celebrated 10 years of marriage and I turned 40 a few months later.  In true Dave style, he made these events incredibly special for me.  I will never be able to say enough about that man!  Our family also had some awesome travel adventures, including 2 weeks in Hawaii in February.  We commenced our 3rd season at The Pumpkin Ranch and started developing a new business.  It was a good year.

As I get older I realize how much faster time goes, how precious life really is, why we need to count our blessings, and why thankfulness just might be the healthiest human emotion.  As I look at 2012...I.AM.THANKFUL...for these babies, for this man, and for the hope and promises I have in Christ.

December 2012, our house

June 2012, Breckenridge

February 2012, Maui

Maestro!

This holiday season we had 4 Christmas performances in the Handsaker house.  Layla's all school concert, both kids had a piano recital, their performance at church, and Cooper's class concert.  I'm always amazed how wonderful these all are in spite of the fact that our school and church are so small.  This says a lot about the adults who create, organize, and pull it off.

I learn so much about my kids when they are put under pressure.  Layla wants to do all of these things, but always has a little panic attack right before she performs.  She does not like everyone staring at her, but she finds total exhilaration in having faced her fears and completed the task at hand.  I always give her the option not to perform, but she has never taken me up on it.

Cooper is all about performing (gasp, shock).  He is completely in control, knows every little thing that needs to be done, the order in which to do it, and is surprisingly focused.  The biggest difference between his performances last year and this year is that he stayed focus throughout all of them.  No wandering mind, no pretends dragons to slay, no adjusting of the pants, tucking in the shirt, untucking the shirt, jumping on the stage to see how loud it sounds in the auditorium, no checking out the girl next to him...you get the idea.

Cooper Lately

Cooper tolerates school.  Usually, by the third morning of the week, he's over it.  He loves his teacher and his friends, but I think it just cuts into his imaginary world too much.  Cooper has discovered a new love...wrestling.  He goes once a week with Dave and works with a group of kids and dads.  The first time he went he sat and watched with tears in his eyes.  He wanted so badly to wrestle, but was scared of being "embarrassed".  The second time, he knew he wasn't going to miss out again.  Now, he asks me daily if he gets to go to wrestling. He is in love with the sport, the comradery, the hard work, and vast amounts of sweat he produces.

Cooper wears his cowboy boots everyday and when he's not in a school uniform, it's jeans with a short sleeve Iowa State t-shirt.  E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.  He still loves being outside, super heroes, and Lego anything. And, he continues to think his sissy is the best creation on the face of this earth.

Layla Lately

We are on day 2 of no school due to snow and day 3 of Dave being in bed with the flu.  I have everything caught up but this blog and housework.  Anything to avoid housework....

Since my last blog, Layla has started first grade and Cooper goes to 4 year old preschool 3 mornings a week.  Layla pushes herself academically.  It's very rare if she ever brings work home that is not perfect.  Cooper goes to school and works really hard at not running everywhere and learning his letters.

My firstborn still doesn't adjust very easily to leaving us and getting back into the groove of school.  This year, to add to the complexity, she is starting to deal with E.M.O.T.I.O.N.S.  I'm told by all of my friends who have gone before me that this is normal little girl stuff...which I remember!  So, our focus in first grade has been accepting the things in life we cannot change and changing the things we can.

One of Layla's favorite ways to decompress is to write stories and scripture verses in her journal.  She's always thinking, feeling, and processing deeply.  On our way home from school one day, while looking out her window, she said, "Mom, do you ever stop and think how amazing it is that God made me and I'm here, on this earth, without even knowing I would be?  I mean he knew that he would make me from the time the world began, but didn't make me to live here until now?"

Her favorite thing to write about is horses.  Her favorite thing to do is ride.  Her favorite thing to talk about...horses.  I learn so much about her by her stories.

He's Your Son

"Mom, which guitar should I play?"  Cooper asked as he held up an electric in his left hand and an acoustic Buzz Lightyear in his right.

"I like the Buzz guitar" I say.

"I like the electric guitar.  Isn't it cool?"

"Sure, but I like Buzz."

"How about you say you like the cool electric guitar?"

"OK, I like the electric guitar."

"It's OK if you like the Buzz guitar.  Do you want me to play Buzz?  Just say you want me to play Buzz."
"Yes, I like Buzz.  Why don't you play Buzz?"

"Well, actually, when you say you want me to play Buzz, it means you want me to play the electric guitar."

"Coop, do you really need me for this conversation?"

"I don't know.  Should I wear my hunting hat when I play or this one (a fedora)?"

His daddy is in sales and his mama likes to control things.  Is there any wonder? 

{ 7 }

7 years ago tonight, I was 2 weeks overdue with my firstborn. Dave and I ate Chinese for supper and then headed to the hospital for me to be induced. My labor was quick and easy and before I knew it, a little girl was placed in my arms. She had blue eyes, her daddy's features and the craziest hair I'd ever seen. She had a blood blister on the back of her hand and as soon as she was born she started sucking on that spot. She must have been doing the same thing in the womb.


Dave and I didn't have a named picked out, but we had a few we liked. We gave the list to the nurses and they picked Layla Faye (the other names were Celia Faye, Faye Marguerite, Leona Faye).

My girl is so much like me that I feel the need to apologize to her! Despite my influence, Layla has certain character traits that I admire so much! She amazes me how she will try anything once. She always greets her friends with a compliment. Layla is faithful, kind, and compassionate. She is organized and always thinking 10 steps ahead of me (which makes me crazy at times).

When she grows up she wants to be a doctor, a mom, and a person who sells wedding dresses. He favorite color today is lime green. Her favorite places to eat are Chick-fil-A, Buffalo Wild Wings, and my kitchen. She's so tall for her age and is starting to get curls in her hair (again, sorry!) She is one of my favorite people in the world!

Happy 7th Birthday Layla Faye! You are extraordinary!

Pictures from Layla's Birthday Party Last Weekend

Layla filling her plate.  She chose smoked pork loin, potato casserole, cabbage salad and watermelon for her party meal



Layla and Addie



Layla and cousins Elias and Katelyn.  The twins first birthday party!

Three of Layla's favorite Winterset girls!  Emma, Addie, and Tayia

Epic Mommy Failure #13678

We recently found out that Cooper has had sand packed waaaaayyyy back in his ears for the last 6 months.  How did I not know this?  Because my boy is not a complainer.  He just goes through life, dealing with whatever comes his way.  He's tough, brave, flexible and easy going. 

Coop told me about 4 months ago that he thought something was in his ear.  He said it once.  I didn't think anything of it and on we went with life.  Last week, he told me again, plus he had a cold, so we went to have his ears checked.  That's when we found the sand in the left ear.  Dave and I worked on flushing the ear without much success.  Yesterday, Cooper said he still felt the sand in his ear.  Today, we went to the Dr. for help.  They flushed it and eventually had to PICK IT OUT!  My sweet boys sat perfectly still with no complaining.  Eventually, big, quiet tears started falling.  I about lost it as he sat there, still not complaining.

Then the Dr. checked Coop's right ear...and guess what?  It had sand in it too and it was totally infected!  And yes, one time last week he told me that ear hurt too and I ignored it.

When will I learn that when this child tells me something is wrong it probably is!  Epic mommy failure #13678