I'm Baaaaaaaaacccccccccckkkkkkkkk!

Soooo, I am back to blogging!
I took a very very very long time off and I have missed chronicling our lives and sharing content that is uplifting and fun!
It would take way to long to update you on the last 15 months of our lives, so I will share the top 5 things from that time and we'll consider you all caught up.  Deal? DEAL!

1.  In August, (so just a year ago) I discovered that the major respiratory problems I had been dealing with for the better part of a year were because of an allergic reaction to my chickens.  Well, not my chickens.  Their POOP! The fatigue, chronic cough, pneumonia, all of it was because of POOP.  It was devastating to learn that in order to get better, the chickens had to go.  After fighting my HOA for months and falling in love with backyard chicken farming, this was a heartbreaking experience.  But, being able to breathe again and climb my stairs without losing my breath has been wonderful.  I miss my chickens every time I chop veggies and have to remind myself I don't need to save the scraps.  They are forever part of my heart.

2. PTO mom! My sweet friend, Rhea, recruited me to be part of the PTO powerhouse at our local elementary school.  Of course, I said yes because it sounded like FUN.  And it was fun being with my friends and doing awesome and exciting things for the students and the school.  What was NOT fun was the moms who decided they didn't like us and who said really mean things about us on social media.  That was NOT FUN.  It actually hurt a lot and knocked the wind out of my sails for awhile.  But being able to raise more money than ever before, finishing two huge projects at the school, bringing a BMX show in for students, putting on half a dozen awesome, family-friendly events with record numbers was definitely worth it.  But, I decided not to do it again.  It is my last year with a child home full-time and I wanted to have the flexibility to do whatever WE wanted when WE wanted!

3. Church service! For those of you who don't know, I am a member of the LDS Church.  We do not have a paid ministry, so all of the operation of the church is done by its members. Last August, I was asked to serve as the Primary President.  This means I have had stewardship over the children's program at church for a year now.  I am responsible for nearly 50 children, their teachers and other leaders in the Primary (about 30 adults).  Guys that is quite the MENTAL LOAD! It has been one of the most fun things I have been able to do for my Savior.  I love being with the children, but it is quite a process and responsibility.

ALSO, do you see a pattern?  All of these things happened/started in AUGUST of last year! Hahaha.  Let's just say last year was a whirlwind!

4. Energy Profiling! If you haven't heard of Carol Tuttle and her work, you need to look her up.  She is changing my life with her books, her social media content, and her knowledge that she is sooo willing to share. In a year of struggle, I have learned that I NO longer need to STRUGGLE.  That I have more power over my own experience than I previously thought.  I am learning to set boundaries and learning to bring my emotional wellness to where I want it to be.  To truly BE ME without apologizing for it! Seriously, look her up and let her guide you to some legit healing!

Okay, I got 4 and now I'm tired, so good night y'all! Please tell me what kind of content you'd like to see on my blog! I would love to hear from you!

Weston is 2!

I spent Weston's first birthday crying the ENTIRE day! I fared much better this year. He is 2 and he is perfect and he is totally a toddler. No denying it!
Weston is talking up a storm and loving life. He is fiercely independent and can even peel his own orange over the trashcan like a boss. And in case you were wondering, he can also open the fridge and thinks he can do almost everything BY HIMSELF!

This year he had an Easter birthday, so there were egg hunts galore. And Candy is one of his newest words! 

He is still very much the baby of the family despite the fact that he is quickly growing up! He wears a size 9 SHOE! I just cannot believe that. The older children continue to spoil him and let him get away with most things. We will be in serious trouble!

Happy birthday to my selfie-lovin, cake eatin, happy koala baby! 

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! It is an especially exciting Christmas for us this year. First Christmas in our new house. First Christmas for baby Weston. We have had many blessings in the past year and are so grateful for our greatest blessing of all, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He brings us joy and heals our sorrows. He brings us peace and gives us strength. He brings us comfort and fills us with love.

Our second greatest blessing is our family! In early Fall, we were privileged with being photographed by Davina Fear (www.davinafear.com). Our good friends, the Dawson's, entered us into a contest and we WON! Davina came and spent two hours with us documenting "normal" life. Below are some of my favorite shots. I told Davina, after sobbing through my slide show, that I didn't have the words to thank her for this gift. I spent most of the last year feeling inadequate in my roles of mother and wife.   These photos showed me that I am doing better than I think I am! 

Enjoy a day in the life of Krause Haus!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I think 2016 is going to be fabulous!

The Cheese Wheel and Sandwich Board

The Cheese Wheel and Sandwich Board (The Wheel) is a little lunch place in St. Augustine, Florida. It is very busy from 11-2 every day. It is a treasure to the natives of St. Augustine and a fun find for the tourists. To my family and me, it is an extension of home.
Last week my Aunt Antje and Uncle Mike closed their doors to enter a well-deserved retirement. They began running The Wheel in 1986 and sold their business this week. The Wheel will live on for the residents and tourists of St. Augustine, but it really won't be the same for me. When I go, I can't enter through the back door. I won't get to enjoy New Year's Eve pizza with my Hesson family. My children won't leave with the free candy Uncle Mike hides in their pockets.  Aunt Antje won't pull up a chair, complete with apron on and towel over her shoulder, to visit.
Some of my earliest memories are from The Wheel. There used to be a farm adjacent to the restaurant. I use the term farm loosely. They had chickens mostly and a few of our guinea pigs that my mom snuck in when she was tired of taking care of them. I loved going to that farm. For a few months we lived in the neighborhood across the street from The Wheel. It was in walking distance and we went on our own to get lunch and chips and candy. Dad seemed to be fixing the ice machine every few months. I was always impressed how my cousin Monica didn't even need to write our order down. I remember when they still did pizzas and delivery in the evenings. On Fridays we'd go down and have pizza night. I'd sit on the counter and eat cold pepperonis and watch the pizza delivery guy, Louie, draw the special for the next day on the chalkboard. He was in high school when I was a kid and was so cool.
Aunt Antje and Uncle Mike threw one last pizza party over the weekend. Ethan and I drove up to bid adieu to The Wheel.

Dad, Uncle Bob, Uncle Mike, and Uncle George. The four brothers who started it all when they purchased The Wheel in 1985.

Tatum, Aunt Antje, Uncle Mike, Monica, and Kelly. Aunt Antje and Uncle Mike took over ownership and management in 1986. They are amazing.

Matt, Jennifer, Lucas, Caden, Jim, Uncle Bob, Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Mike, Aunt Antje, and Kevin. Some of my fondest memories are with these three cousins (Jim, Matt, and Kevin). We are the same ages and spent a lot of time together when the Hesson's got together.

Michael, Brianne, Laurie, Uncle Mike, Aunt Antje, Aunt Alice, Hila, Uncle George, Diane, and George. More family that I love dearly. As a child, Stacey and I would walk to Michael and Laurie's apartment to play board games. They were so cool to put up with us.

Tony, Ethan, Me, Uncle Mike, Aunt Antje, Mom, Dad, Lyla, Logan, Stacey, Joe, and Noah. I love my family!

 

 

 A third generation of Hesson's enjoying pizza! Ethan ate about four slices. Noah thoroughly enjoyed his first slice of pizza.

Dad making a pie.

My family on The Wheel's bench. Many a great conversation happened right here.

All of us out front on Sunday. Aunt Antje finishing up a pizza. The sign that's been up forever, plus a new addition that should have been up forever.

 

Aunt Antje and Uncle Mike thank you for being you and taking such great care of us over the years. I have a lifetime of fond memories because of your generosity and kindness. I am so blessed to be a Hesson. I love you very much. The Wheel may have been an extension of home, but the truth is home is my family. And I'll always have that.

 

The Circle of Life

A week ago we experienced the Circle of Life. We enjoyed a small boat excursion out in the Atlantic with Jared's family: Norb, Sabra, Ralph, Marie, and Brandon. On our excursion we were able to spread the ashes of Grandpa and Grandma Krause (Egan and Hildegard). They died nearly three years ago, but this was the first we were able to all be together. It was a very beautiful, small service. Being on the ocean like that was amazing.
My mom and dad kept our four children so that we could be a part of this event. On our way back to their house, my mom called to tell me my sister was in active labor and we should get to the hospital. I was so excited that I was already in St. Augustine and that I would be able to meet baby Noah so soon after his arrival.
Stacey was amazing and delivered that baby without an epidural. She told me a week before the birth that this was her goal. She nearly caved, but Noah came so quickly (about two hours from the start of labor) she was able to fore go the drugs. Noah is so handsome and a beautiful addition to our family. It is crazy that in the last 6 years, Stacey and I have given our parents 7 grandchildren! Life is wonderful.

My Dad

This post is late! My dad turned 60 on his birthday in July and we had a sweet party for him. I am not creative enough to come up with 60 things to share about my dad, but I do have a few things on my mind that I feel are worth blogging about.

1. My dad is so hairy. I mean he can grow a sweet beard/stache combo. He used to sport one full time as a younger man. Now he just does so from time to time to "check the grays." Unfortunately, I did inherit this trait. Darn those three chin hairs!

2. As young girls, Stacey and I often heard this at church from people that knew my parents, "Ah, from the back they look just like you Becky. But then they turn around and they look just like Drew." My dad would promptly say, "Sorry, girls." I'm not sorry. I love that you know I am Becky AND Drew's daughter. It is certainly a privilege.

3. Some of my fondest memories of my dad are found in the car. Or, rather, the truck. He drove me to school every morning of middle school and I think that's when I started to really build a quality relationship with him. Also, fond memories of driving in the pup truck and sitting four across with him, Stacey, and Tony. Over the gear shift, where there actually wasn't a seat, was the most coveted spot. When Dad said "Go!" you got to change the gear.

4. I love that oldies songs were always playing around the house. I love that type of music and I think Dad gets credit for that one. He still loves to have music on when he's working around the house.

5. Messages of love written in icing on my Toaster Strudels in the morning. Seriously, that was awesome.

6. Receiving cards, especially when I was away at college, that were simply signed "Love, Dad." He's not a man of many words, so when he has something to say you better listen.

 

7. Again, in the car, many moments of healing came for me following my divorce while Dad and I drove all over North Florida to attend Tony's soccer games.

8. The man can cook! Nothing's better than Drew's pizzas or steak  or wings or baked ziti or lasagna or lobster tails. If you've been to our house for some of Drew's cooking you know what I'm talking about.

9. I love that Dad finds popsicle jokes funny. For a time, he'd keep the ones he liked best in a roll of duct tape in his truck. The funniest thing about Dad's humor is when he is the only one who finds something amusing. This, in and of itself, is hilarious.

10. "Think before you speak." An oft repeated phrase I heard growing up. He really was on to something there. Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth and remember this phrase a little too late.

11. This one is actually for Dad and Mom. Today (August 18) is the day I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been 17 years since that day. Thank you to both of my parents for supporting me in this decision. It has changed my life and I believe it has been for the better. Although I was only 16 years old, they trusted me with this decision. I hope I can be as supportive of my children throughout their lives. The love Dad and Mom have for me and my siblings is unconditional. There is no greater gift in this life. I love you, Dad ! I love you, Mom!

In case you didn't see the video my brother-in-law, Joe made for my dad's party here is the link. http://vimeo.com/71195057