After many unsuccessful attempts, we may have found a video solution. Bad video quality is supremely better video quality than NO video quality (which is what was happening with our very good quality camcorder) so we have purchased a Flip Mino. It was our present to ourselves for successfully selling (and closing) on our house. Phew, that part is done with!

Here is some video of Thane doing his animal sounds and counting. Pay close attention to what a chicken says. Mind you, he counts better than what is shown here. He was not in a counting mood.

Animal Noises from Stephanie Hansen on Vimeo.

Ella’s Christening was last weekend and I got to see some of my favorite people in the world and, as Lisa Marie said….”Your kids are going to meet Gail’s kid. How weird is that???”

Ella is a beautiful little girl and she and Thane and even Mara got to play for a little while. The special girl was a little late to her own party (she was napping) but that is her right, after all. Plus, it gave Gail and I a chance to catch up. We had a wonderful lunch at Gail’s favorite restaurant and even sat in the same room where Gail and Stuart’s rehearsal dinner was almost 11 years ago. If those walls could talk, I don’t think they could have prepared us for what 11 years would bring!

Ella was wearing a gorgeous dress for her special day. Maybe Aunt Gail will let Mara borrow it for her own Christening (hint, hint)!

The funny quote of the day was when Gail was holding Ella, looked at me and said, “So Thane was this age when you decided to have another????”

Seating was perfect! I got to sit next to G and Jay got to talk shop next to Gail’s brother Eric. The time together was wonderful but too short as usual. Hopefully it won’t be another year before we see each other again.

Last weekend was the most exciting two minutes in sports and our annual mecca to Steve’s Derby Party.

Amidst packing and packing and packing, we decided to drive up Friday night to stay with Terry and Joann and have Joann meet Mara for the very first time. I think Aunt Joann is quite taken with the little girl! She did not even seem to mind the non-stop spit up game Mara was playing the first night (now there’s a good aunt!).

Traveling with Thane has become quite the challenge, as you remember from our recent Canada trip. He is too big to be confined in a pack and play so now he usually sleeps between us when we visit people. That first night, when we went to sleep (late) and had lights off, under covers, Thane looked over at me and asked…”My House?” as in can we go back to my house so I can get a decent night sleep??? I told him that we were visiting people and that we had to sleep here tonight. His response (as it is most times these days) “Why?” Wow…have we entered that stage already?

Soon after he did fall asleep.

Saturday was spent with Amber for the morning and friends in the afternoon. We had an awesome game of corn hole (have I mentioned I ROCK at corn hole?) and Thane played with bubbles, 3D sidewalk chalk, badminton, and an airplane. It was a cool and cloudy day but we got to spend it all outside. Mara spent the majority of the day in her carrier. With swine flu raging and millions of people there, I turned into paranoid mommy.

At one point, Thane disappeared in the house. I asked Linnette where he was and she pointed to the dining room. She said he came inside, grabbed a plate, grabbed a cupcake, put it on the plate and went into the dining room and took a seat. She was very impressed. I was not so impressed to see the remains of the chocolate cupcake all over him. How does he even know what that is??

All the while, the horses were racing. Thane loved watching the horses. He even got to choose our horses from the bowl each time. We did not play many, but lost each one. Until derby that is.

Thane picked from the $5 pot. He picked the number 8 horse, odds—49 to 1. Jay, the resident Louisvillian, informed me the long shot never wins.

The race started and I think our horse forgot to leave the track. In fact he did not, it was not until the finish when Jay and I looked at each other and realized, hey, our horse, Mine that Bird, just WON!!!! $95!!!

Way to go Thane!

We left the party soon afterwards and hung out with Terry, Joann, and Jessica. We played Wii. Got killed in Guitar Hero World Tour (but the drums are fun and in this world, I am a good singer!) and then laughed so hard we cried watching Terry and my busta move man Jay do a dance face off.

And, for the record, after 37 years of derbies, Jay still has not won, but his not even two year old son and 8 year veteran wife have now each won one!