Julia Relle Hansen

She's Here!!! Julia was born this morning. She weighed in at 9 lbs, 10 oz, and is 22 in long. Both mommy and baby are doing very well.

House Update

Well, we may have shattered some kind of record. The bank approved our short sale 9 days (count 'em, NINE) after our offer was submitted. A family in our ward just got theirs approved after nine MONTHS. So we count ourselves lucky! Even though we're supposed to close on May 3rd, a mere 8 days after baby girl is due. Luckily, we can be sure she won't be overdue as we have induction scheduled for April 22nd. And our current lease is up May 31st, so we'll have some time to make the move. ANYWAY.

After some headache we got the home inspection completed today, and the house has a clean bill of health! A few minor repairs are needed, but nothing serious.

A picture of the soon-to-be Hansen residence:


Home ownership, here we come!!

Spring

There were things we loved about the incredibly snowy winter we just experienced. Toward the end of February, though, I was really getting ready for winter to be done. Here's what I love about Virginia seasons. In Utah, fall and spring (the best seasons) last about 3 weeks each, max. Winter lasts 5 - 6 months (at least, in Logan it did!). The seasons here actually last about 3 months each, like they're supposed to! The weather here was nice and Autumn-like until the first part of December, when we got our first snow. By the first part of March, spring was making its way in. Now, at the first part of April, Spring is in full bloom, literally! If you want to talk about "Popcorn Popping" on the trees, take a look at the dogwood trees. This one is right in front of our townhouse complex, and it's impossible to go more than 100 feet anywhere in Northern Virginia right now without seeing one (or twenty). Unbelievably gorgeous.


Brian's sister Laurie and her husband, Dave, are here visiting this weekend and we went into D.C. with them today. It was gorgeous weather, and the cherry blossoms are at their peak. Check this out (and click on the pictures if you want to see them closer up):



I'm not going to lie. I loved California weather, and the fact that 95% of the year I could take the kids out for a walk or hang out at the park. I loved the beach. California is awesome. But I did miss the seasons, and I had no idea what gorgeousness awaited us in Virginia! Winter can be hard, but now that it's Spring...I think it was worth the wait.