FlorIDA Hansons

My mom has told me me over the years that the place you hold for your first born is just different. Not better. Not bigger. Not more important. But different.  And she's right.  It's something that I can't put into words. It's an intangible.  Maxwell is my first born. He's the first person that was truly a part of me, but that came into this world after me. We'll be connected in that way forever. It's not more love. It's just  first love.   Happy 23rd birthday, my boy. You bring a joy and sweetness to life that is beyond compare.  Love,  Mom 

Big move #1...Henry is settled into his summer place in Florence, Alabama! He finished his (final) final on Friday morning, went shopping for his "working man's clothes" Friday afternoon in Tuscaloosa and moved into his studio apartment in Florence on Saturday afternoon. Matt and I were planning on driving up to help him settle in, but his brother wanted to take the reigns on that. At one point they texted me and said that they were going to buy groceries and then a couple of hour later sent me a picture from a pool hall. As it should be, I suppose.  And they even sent their mom this picture.  Go out and do great things, Henry. With your steel toe boots, your "working man's clothes", and your hardhat, go out and do great things. We'll be watching from the sidelines.  May 7, 2023 Florence, Alabama 

May is for moving, and here we are. 1 May.   Big moves are on the horizon for all of us.  Maxwell and Jordi  Tennessee will soon be in their rearview...

We were able to make one more trip to Tuscaloosa before the move. It was a fabulous Parent's Weekend with the Sammy boys and their families! Roll Tide! Second year roommates and now SAM brothers!  Love these boys! Jack and Cole's moms weren't able to make it so I happily stood in Got to see our other "bonus kids", the VanZyl boys!  One last dinner out with these two... ...here's to working hard and playing hard! And just to keep it real... Matt and I went to a bar after dinner  and my watch warned me that the noise level was too high.  Nothing like being reminded you're too old for college bars by your watch!

Maxwell checked off a bucket list item this weekend. He ran his first full marathon AND finished 6oth overall and 6th in his age bracket with a time of 3 hours and 29 minutes! Super, super proud of you, Moose!! Pre-race with one of his roommates who also ran  Post-race... he and Mateo finished 6th and 7th in their age group! 

You know what the magic of Disney is? When you go with a teenager!  No whining about being hot, hungry or tired. Nope. Take a teenager and you're at the park when it opens and back in the hotel pool by happy hour. You eat at nice restaurants and everyone carries their own water!  Here's to our girl and the true Disney magic! 

  To my Bean.  My kind.  My smart.  My humble.  My dreamer. My planner.   My biggest procrastinator.  My best one liner.  To my middle little.  Happy birthday, Henry. I love you more than you know.  Love, Mom