Hansen Dispatch
June 2016, Volume 4, Issue 6
Important Dates This Month
21: Melanie gets home from Europe Trip
27: Mom's MoTab Tour begins (ends July 17)
Melanie & Jack
Mike, I met up with Benoit. Love him. I'm so so glad I did. He took us to the best crepe place imaginable. I ordered a crepe with andouille on it, and the server said, "you know andouille is pig intestine sausage, right?" (In French of course) and I said, "Yes, I'm from Louisiana." And he said, it's different. It's not the same. And they warned me up and down that I wouldn't like it. But I did. So there.
I also met up with a few other friends I made on my last trip, Francoise and Maud, and a guy named Youcef. It's been really fun. We left Paris this morning by car and I cried when we left. We had plans to drive up to Bruges Belgium but because of the storms it just wouldn't be possible. More crying. This week is going to be Normandy a Beaches, Bayeux, Mont Sant Michel and then down to Bordeaux. I'll also see Serena next week!!!
Jack took my absence as an opportunity to go see his friends in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He will be back home soon because he is taking a French reading class this summer. I know he'll do great. And I'm a little bit excited because even if he can't speak French by the end of the semester, hopefully we'll be able to pass notes back and forth during church.
Speaking of language, I am having a blast trying out my new French here. I have been really practicing over the past year, listening to podcasts and watching movies and studying grammar. Practicing in front of the mirror. And I am doing so much better!! I have gotten compliments up and down on my accent and my ability to speak and I am thrilled. And I have had no problems understanding anyone, except one guy who was talking too fast and ended up asking me in a confrontational manner why I didn't like him. That was embarrassing.
Marty and Stanley are good. When we are gone they sleep, eat, run around, chase bugs, and ward off evil. Below is a photo of them making sure evil brown crunchies don't disrupt the feng shui of the house.
Love you all!!
The Seine is Flooded
Rouen France
And People are Dying
Maggie & Brandon
Highlights:
- I went to the Harp Festival in Provo with my two little girl students. Not only did they both receive superior ratings, but one received a silver star (for a judge only giving a 1-point deduction), and the other received a gold star (for a judge giving a perfect score.) They had such a positive experience, and so did I, pretending I was a legit teacher with a "studio" in St. George.
- Brandon went on a work trip to North Carolina, where he remembered how it feels to see your co-workers face to face instead of via online messenger.
- We came up North for Allegra Maxfield's mission homecoming, but got to spend time with our family as well. I listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing in the actual tabernacle for the first time and I found it to be very moving.
- We camped for the first time as a family! Quincy was in heaven, hiking the trails all around our campsite, roasting marshmallows, and sleeping on her own little air mattress. The only snag we ran into was scorching our cinnamon roll breakfast. Quincy kept licking the blackened parts and saying, "mmm, dewissis"
- We tried our hand at potty training. Quincy was doing great until it sunk in that she would have to do this every. day. for the rest of her life. She has now boycotted the potty. And while she's at it, she is now obstinate when it comes to every daily routine. I really regret my decision to make her pee in the toilet, because now we are frenemies.
Amelie & Cody
Dad
Love to all.
Dad
Mom
Big (Recent) News is that Sara Lisa Bowers was baptized on June 4 by her dad, Cody Bowers. Amelie led the music for the baptism, and Aubrey played "If You Could Hie To Kolob" on her violin, beautifully, despite having gotten back from a week of Young Women's camp less than an hour before the baptism.
A bunch of the Hansen kids and their amazing spouses got together and threw me a birthday partyon Sunday with a "Celebrate the cupcake" theme. I loved it. The lasagne dinner was awesome, and Vanessa found a new way to raise rolls that we will definitely try again (think dashboard). Julie made delectable cupcakes, and Max, Addie and Ella drew me some unforgettable drawings. I loved the singing in the living room and Mike's concert of all the songs that remind him of me. Thanks for all the cards, gifts, and love!
Mom and Dad went to Yellowstone Park in May. Dad was thrilled to find out he qualified for a lifetime pass to all National Parks for a one-time fee of $10. We spent a whole day in the geyser and hot springs area of Yellowstone, hiking several miles of trails to see a kajillion pools, geysers, mud spouters and cauldrons of steaming hot water. Many were exquisitely colored because of the kinds of bacteria that live in that kind of heat. The next day we spent in the grand canyon of Yellowstone, hiking to see the double falls. The drive was amazing too, and we were super happy we went.
Mom leaves for Motab Tour on June 27 and she will be back July 17. If you have WhatsApp, please confirm contact before Mom leaves. She will have her cell phone with her the entire time, but WhatsApp will be free and texting on normal messaging apps will cost moolah!