July 7, 2026

A Weekend We'll Never Forget

A Weekend We'll Never Forget

A weekend filled with everything that matters most—family, laughter, fireworks, weddings, birthdays, and unforgettable memories. Myia Hanson shares the joy of celebrating a future bride, a Fourth of July cookout, hilarious family moments (including the now-legendary yogurt fight), and a birthday surrounded by the people she loves most.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.679
Have you ever had one of those weekends where, when

2
00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.000
it's finally over, you sit down on Sunday night and

3
00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:14.320
realize your heart feels completely full. Not because everything went perfectly,

4
00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:18.519
not because the house stayed clean, not because there wasn't

5
00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:22.480
laughter echoing through every room, dishes piled in the sink,

6
00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:26.079
or someone making a mess that you'll be cleaning up

7
00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:30.320
for days, but because every single moment reminded you how

8
00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:33.960
blessed you really are. This past weekend was one of

9
00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.880
those weekends. It started with celebrating two people we love

10
00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.439
as they prepare to begin one of the biggest chapters

11
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.520
of their lives. It turned into a Fourth of July

12
00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.880
filled with family, friends, food, games, fireworks, and one unforgettable

13
00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:53.759
yogurt fight that had everyone laughing until our stomach's hurt.

14
00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:57.039
Then it ended with one of the greatest birthday gifts

15
00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:00.920
I could ever ask for, not presents or cake, but

16
00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:05.079
simply being surrounded by people that I love most. When

17
00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:08.480
life gets busy, it's easy to forget these moments matter.

18
00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:13.760
But someday these ordinary weekends will become the stories our

19
00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:18.159
family tells for years, and this this is one of

20
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:22.159
those weekends. Welcome back to we are the Hansen. I'm

21
00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:26.000
Maya Hanson, and if you're new here, welcome to our family.

22
00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:30.640
We're a big family that believes life's greatest adventures usually

23
00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:36.200
don't happen on expensive vacations, are perfectly planned trips. They

24
00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:40.799
happen around the dinner table, around the backyard barbecue, around

25
00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.599
a card game, around fireworks lighting up the summer sky. Today,

26
00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:49.959
I'm taking you along for one incredible weekend that reminded

27
00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:53.359
Jeremy and me just how blessed we really are. So

28
00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.159
grab your favorite drink, pull up a chair around our

29
00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:01.000
family table, and let's relive the amazing weekend together. Friday

30
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:04.599
morning felt different. There was excitement in the air from

31
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.240
the moment we woke up. This wasn't just another Friday.

32
00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.680
We were getting ready to celebrate Kate. Her bachelorette party

33
00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:16.759
was happening at our house and we couldn't wait. Meanwhile,

34
00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:21.599
Logan and the boys had their own plans. Their bachelor

35
00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.400
party was taking them to the casino for a night together.

36
00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.680
It was funny thinking about how the weekend was beginning,

37
00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:31.840
with everyone splitting off into their own celebrations before we'd

38
00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:35.159
all come back together the next day. Jeremy laughed as

39
00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:39.360
everyone started talking about their plans. The guys were already

40
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.400
joking with each other before they even left. You know

41
00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:47.800
how that goes, Lots of teasing, lots of laughs, probably

42
00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.520
a little too much confidence about who was going to

43
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:53.439
come home a winter. The girls, on the other hand,

44
00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.120
were focused on making sure Kate had a wonderful evening.

45
00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:02.800
Watching someone prepare for marriage is always special. There's something

46
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.120
beautiful about seeing two people surrounded by friends and family

47
00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.759
who are excited for their future. Kate has become such

48
00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.400
a wonderful part of our family. Seeing her smile throughout

49
00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:17.479
the evening reminded us just how quickly life changes. It

50
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:22.680
feels like yesterday everyone was younger. Now we're celebrating weddings,

51
00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:28.000
building new families, creating new traditions. The house quickly filled

52
00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.479
with laughter. Music played softly in the background. Conversations happened

53
00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:38.520
in every corner. People caught up on life, wedding plans,

54
00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.400
funny memories, stories from years ago. Every now and then,

55
00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.680
someone would burst into laughter so loudly everyone else would

56
00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.840
stop and ask what happened. Half the fun wasn't even

57
00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:56.400
the answer, It was simply watching everyone enjoy being together.

58
00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.599
Those are the moments I treasure, not the decorations, not

59
00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:07.400
the snacks, not whether everything looked pinterest perfect. It's watching

60
00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:12.960
people relax enough to simply enjoy one another. Meanwhile, somewhere

61
00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.560
at the casino, I'm sure Logan and the guys were

62
00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:20.120
creating stories of their own. If I know that group,

63
00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:26.120
there were probably plenty of competitive moments. Someone probably claimed

64
00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:31.079
they had a winning strategy, someone probably lost faster than expected,

65
00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:36.600
someone probably blamed the slot machine. And someone definitely came

66
00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:40.519
home with stories that got bigger every time they told them.

67
00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:45.319
That's just how family works. Everyone remembers the same event

68
00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.800
just a little differently, and honestly, that's part of what

69
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:53.519
makes those stories so much fun. Friday came to an

70
00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:58.199
end with smiles all around. Kate had been celebrated, the

71
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:01.319
guys had enjoyed their night together, and we all went

72
00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.920
to bed excited because we knew Saturday was going to

73
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.360
be even bigger. As the house settled down Friday night,

74
00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.120
Jeremy and I did what we always seemed to do

75
00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.079
after a busy day. We looked around at the aftermath.

76
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.639
A few cups still sitting on the counter heres that

77
00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:22.439
needed to be pushed back in little reminders that people

78
00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.279
had been there laughing only a short time before. I

79
00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.800
smiled at Jeremy and said, tomorrow's going to be a

80
00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:34.279
busy one. He smiled back because he already knew. Fourth

81
00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:37.160
of July at our house is never just another day.

82
00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:41.519
It's one of those holidays that seems to bring everyone together,

83
00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:46.439
and honestly, that's exactly what we love about it. Saturday

84
00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:50.560
mornings started early before the first guest arrived. There was

85
00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:56.000
already plenty to do. The kitchen became command central, counter

86
00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.920
slowly filled with food. Serving bulls came out of the cab,

87
00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.600
Drinks found their place in coolers. The smell of summer

88
00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:08.680
cooking started drifting through the house. Jeremy was already getting

89
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.680
everything ready for the grill. If you've listened to our

90
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.160
podcast for very long, you already know Jeremy loves being

91
00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:19.800
behind the grill. There's just something about cooking outside that

92
00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:24.680
feels like summertime. Every flip of a burger, every laugh

93
00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:28.800
from the backyard, every kid running through the grass, it's

94
00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:32.279
the kind of scene that reminds you why holidays become tradition.

95
00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:41.920
One by one, everyone started arriving. Morgan Madison Horn Annlin, Tristan, Keenan,

96
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:51.240
Sophie Colin, Kate Logan, Johnny Connor, Ailey, Dan, Aaron and

97
00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.920
his girlfriend, and of course Jeremy and me. Every arrival

98
00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:02.040
brought another hug, another conversation, another It's funny how quickly

99
00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.480
a quiet house becomes filled with life. One minute you

100
00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:08.879
can hear birds outside, the next you can't hear yourself

101
00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:13.839
think because everyone is talking over each other. Honestly, I

102
00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.720
wouldn't trade that noise for anything. It's a sound of family.

103
00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:21.160
The grill fired up, and before long the smell of

104
00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.800
food filled the backyard. Everyone naturally found something to do.

105
00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.079
Some gathered around Jeremy while he took Others caught up

106
00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.160
with people they hadn't seen in a while. The younger

107
00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:36.120
ones laughed as they wandered in and out of conversation.

108
00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:41.120
The best family gatherings don't usually have a schedule. They

109
00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:45.600
simply happen. Someone starts telling a story, someone else joins in.

110
00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.399
Before you know it, ten people are laughing over something

111
00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:54.000
that happened years ago. Those moments can't be planned, they're

112
00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:57.720
simply created by spending time together. That's one of my

113
00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.120
favorite things about holiday. Nobody is in a rush, nobody

114
00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:06.000
is watching the clock for just a little while, life

115
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.040
slows down, and that's something we all need more of.

116
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.319
Isn't it amazing how food becomes the center of almost

117
00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:19.920
every family gathering. Someone always asks, so, what's ready? Someone

118
00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.720
else sneaks a bite before everything is finished, and there's

119
00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:27.680
always one person who insists they were just checking if

120
00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:31.199
it was done. We all know what that means. They're

121
00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:37.080
taste testing. Every family has that person. The backyard smelled incredible,

122
00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:42.519
flights started filling up. Everyone found somewhere to set Some

123
00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:47.639
stayed outside, some wandered back into the house. Some plates

124
00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:51.639
on their laps. While they kept talking. The conversations bounced

125
00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:57.200
from weddings, vacations, to work to funny memories from years ago.

126
00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.919
It's amazing how one story leads to another. Before long,

127
00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:07.960
someone remembers something completely different, then another person adds details.

128
00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:13.080
Soon everyone is laughing because nobody remembers the story exactly

129
00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:19.279
the same way. Those conversations are priceless. They're impossible to recreate.

130
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:23.759
They're the moments that happen naturally when people simply enjoy

131
00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:29.879
being together, and honestly, those are my favorite kinds of memory.

132
00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:35.399
Sometimes people think memorabilia. Weekends have to be extravagant, you

133
00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.320
have to travel somewhere, spend a lot of money, plan

134
00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.519
every minute. But weekends like this remind me that isn't true.

135
00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:47.039
Some of the best memories are made in your own

136
00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:53.320
backyard with people you love, sharing simple food, playing games,

137
00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:59.200
laughing to tell your face hurt, watching fireworks together. None

138
00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:05.039
of those things are expensive, but together their prices. Jeremy

139
00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:10.320
and I spent several moments just looking around, watching everyone interact,

140
00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.919
watching conversations happen between people of different agents, watching cousins

141
00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.879
laugh together, watching friendships continue to grow. Those are the

142
00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:25.919
moments parents never forget because one day the kids grow up,

143
00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:32.200
schedules become busier, life changes. So whenever we have weekends

144
00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:36.840
where everyone can simply be together, we soak up every second.

145
00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.559
As the evening got closer, someone asked the question everyone

146
00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:46.639
had been waiting for, so what are we playing? Immediately

147
00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:51.080
the competitive side of the family woke up. Everyone suddenly

148
00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:56.679
had opinions. Someone wanted card games, someone wanted board games,

149
00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:02.080
someone wanted team games. One thought their idea was the best.

150
00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:07.200
Eventually we settled in and started playing. The area filled

151
00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:12.799
with cheers, groans, friendly trash talk, people celebrating victories that

152
00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:17.759
really didn't matter except in that moment, and somehow those

153
00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:22.679
little victories became legendary family stories. You know exactly what

154
00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:27.080
I mean. Years from now, nobody will remember who actually won,

155
00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.799
but everyone will remember how much fun they had. That's

156
00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.919
what matters. And before we knew it, the funniest moment

157
00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.519
of the entire weekend was about to happen. The laughter

158
00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:43.440
around the table was getting louder with every game. At

159
00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.799
this point, nobody was really worried about who was keeping

160
00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:51.639
score anymore. The conversations had become just as entertaining as

161
00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.799
the games themselves. Someone would make a funny comment, another

162
00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:59.440
person would try to top it, and before long the

163
00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.519
entire room would be laughing so hard that the game

164
00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.679
had to stop for a minute. Those are the kind

165
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:09.200
of nights I love. Nobody was looking at their phones,

166
00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.759
nobody was in a hurry to leave. Everyone was simply present.

167
00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:18.399
In today's world, that's becoming more and more rare. It

168
00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:21.720
felt like we had all pressed the pause button on

169
00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:26.279
life for just one evening, and honestly, that's one of

170
00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:29.320
the greatest gifts we can give each other our time.

171
00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:33.240
Then come the moment that nobody saw coming. If you've

172
00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.799
ever spent time around our family, you know things can

173
00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:44.200
go from completely normal to absolutely hilarious in about three seconds. Somehow,

174
00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.440
some way, yogurt became involved. To this day, I don't

175
00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:53.200
even know how it escalated so quickly. One minute everyone

176
00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:57.279
was talking and laughing. The next minute, Tristan and Maddie

177
00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:01.240
were looking at each other with those things Russians that said,

178
00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:04.559
are you really going to do that? You could almost

179
00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:10.000
feel everyone else stop and wait. Then it happened, a

180
00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.759
little bit of yogurt flew. That should have been the

181
00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.320
end of it. It wasn't, not even close. Before anyone

182
00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.799
knew what was happening, the two of them were in

183
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.240
a full blown yogurt fight. People were laughing so hard

184
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:26.720
they could barely catch their breath. Someone yelled, not in

185
00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.080
the house. Someone else was laughing too hard to say

186
00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.320
anything at all. Jeremy just stood there shaking his head

187
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:38.159
with that look every parent know, that look that says, well,

188
00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.639
this wasn't on today's schedule. Even Tristan and Maddie couldn't

189
00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.679
stop laughing. It wasn't about being messy, it wasn't about

190
00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:50.399
who started it. It was simply one of those completely

191
00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.480
unexpected family moments that become part of the family history forever.

192
00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:59.279
Years from now, someone will casually say the word remember

193
00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.080
the yogurt, and every single person who is there will

194
00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:07.000
immediately start laughing all over again. Those are the memories

195
00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:10.600
you can't buy. You couldn't script them if you tried.

196
00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:15.559
They simply happen, and they're usually the stories everyone remembers

197
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.639
the longest. As the sun slowly began to disappear behind

198
00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:24.000
the trees, everyone started making their way outside. There's something

199
00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:27.080
magical about the Fourth of July. Once the sky begins

200
00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:31.840
to darken, kids get excited, Adults suddenly become kids again.

201
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:35.519
People gather together and look toward the sky, waiting for

202
00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.639
that first firework. Then boom, the first bright furst lit

203
00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:45.759
up the night almost instantly. Smiles spread across everyone's faces.

204
00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:53.919
Red white, blue, gold, purple. Every explosion painted the sky

205
00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:57.639
for just a few seconds before disappearing into the darkness.

206
00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:01.080
It's funny how fireworks never seem to to lose their magic,

207
00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:04.759
no matter how many years pass, no matter how old

208
00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:08.600
we get, watching fireworks still brings out a sense of wonder.

209
00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:12.799
Everyone stood together, pointing out their favorite. Some were loud

210
00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:17.480
enough to make everyone jump, Others sparkled quietly before fading away.

211
00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.159
The younger ones watched with wide eyes. The adults smiled

212
00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.559
as they watched both the fireworks and the reactions of

213
00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:30.000
everyone around them. Sometimes that's even better than the fireworks themselves.

214
00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:34.879
Watching the people you love experienced joy that never gets old.

215
00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.000
Standing there beside Jeremy, I couldn't help but take a

216
00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:42.679
mental picture, not with my phone, with my heart, because

217
00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:47.279
those are the pictures that last forever. Our family, our friends.

218
00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:54.000
Everyone gathered together, laughing, talking, watching the skylight up. It

219
00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:57.360
reminded me that the greatest blessings in life aren't things.

220
00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:01.200
They're people. People who choose to spend their time together,

221
00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:05.159
people who show up, people who become family, whether they're

222
00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.679
related by blood or simply by love. As the final

223
00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:13.679
firework faded into the night sky, nobody rushed inside. Everyone

224
00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:19.039
lingered for a little longer. The conversations continued, the laughter continued,

225
00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.960
because deep down, I think we all knew this was

226
00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.639
one of those evenings we didn't want to end. Eventually,

227
00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.919
hugs were exchanged, goodbyes were said. Hearse slowly pulled out

228
00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.840
of the driveway, the house became quiet once again. Jeremy

229
00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.879
and I looked at each other and smiled. What a day,

230
00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:43.600
I said, it really was, he responded, Little did I know.

231
00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.960
The weekend wasn't finished blessing us just yet, because Sunday

232
00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:53.480
would become the perfect ending to an already unforgettable weekend.

233
00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.360
When we woke up Sunday morning, the house felt different.

234
00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:01.440
Not quiet in a lonely way, quiet in that peaceful

235
00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.640
way that comes after a weekend full of laughter. You

236
00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.640
know the feeling, the kind where you walk through the

237
00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:10.480
house and you can almost hear the echoes of the

238
00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:14.160
conversations from the night before. You see a stray game

239
00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.680
piece on the table and smile. A lawn chair still

240
00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:21.839
sitting outside, a cooler that hasn't quite made it back

241
00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:26.039
to the garage, little reminders that life happened here. Those

242
00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:29.799
little reminders have become some of my favorite things. They

243
00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.240
tell the story of a home that is lived in,

244
00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.000
a home where people gather, a home where memories are made.

245
00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:39.200
As I poured my first cup of coffee, I found

246
00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.400
myself thinking about everything that had happened over the last

247
00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.519
two days. Kate's bachelor at party, the guy's heading off

248
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:52.000
for Logan's bachelor party, the cookout, the games, the fireworks,

249
00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:55.599
and of course the yogurt fight that I'm pretty sure

250
00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.720
will be talked about for years to come. I couldn't

251
00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.680
help but smile. What a weekend it had already been.

252
00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:05.960
Sunday wasn't just another day. It was my birthday. As

253
00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.880
I've gotten older, birthdays have changed. When I was younger,

254
00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:14.759
birthdays were about presents, parties, and wondering what surprises the

255
00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:19.279
day might bring. Now, the greatest gift is something completely different.

256
00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:24.559
It's time time with people I love. Time around the table, time,

257
00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:29.599
hearing everyone laugh, tim making another memory together. Our kids

258
00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.839
came over, along with our nephew Johnny and our friend Dan.

259
00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.880
Before long, the house was full. Once again. There wasn't

260
00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:41.839
anything extravagant about the day, and honestly, that's exactly what

261
00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.480
made it so special. Sometimes the best birthdays aren't the

262
00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:49.400
ones filled with big plans. They're the ones where everyone

263
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:53.680
simply comes together because they want to celebrate with you.

264
00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.559
Those moments mean more than any repped gift ever could.

265
00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:01.839
We spent the afternoon talking about the weekend. Everyone had

266
00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:06.440
their favorite moments. Some laughed about Friday night, others couldn't

267
00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.240
stop bringing up the games, and every single time someone

268
00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:13.759
mentioned the Oogre fight, the room erupted into laughter all

269
00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:17.799
over again. That's the beauty of family stories. The more

270
00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:21.680
they're told, the funnier they become. At one point, we

271
00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:24.759
started talking about summer foods and I shared one of

272
00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:28.319
my favorite simple recipes. If you're looking for an easy

273
00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.720
snack to bring to a cookout or family gathering, this

274
00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.559
one is always a hit. You will need one baguette,

275
00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.880
one block of cream cheese, softened, one packet of ranch seasoning,

276
00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:46.839
one cucumber. First, slice the baguette into thin rounds. Lay

277
00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.720
the slices on a baking sheet and bake them until

278
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:54.240
they are lightly crispy. You don't want them hard like crackers,

279
00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.359
just enough to give them a little crunch while still

280
00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.519
staying soft in the middle. While the bread is baking,

281
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.119
mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch seasoning until

282
00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.880
it's smooth and well combined. Next, heel the cucumber and

283
00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.759
slice it into thin rounds. Once the bread has cooled

284
00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:17.000
just a little bit, spread the ranch cream cheese mixture

285
00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:20.680
onto each slice and top it with a cucumber slice.

286
00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:26.519
That's it. A simple fresh summer snack that's perfect for cookouts, holidays,

287
00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.880
or just sitting on the porch with family. Sometimes the

288
00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:34.920
simplest recipes are the ones everyone asks for again and again.

289
00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.319
I think food tastes even better when it's shared with

290
00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:42.319
people you love. As the afternoon slowly turned into evening,

291
00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:47.039
I found myself taking one last look around, the conversations,

292
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:51.720
the smiles, the people gathered in our home. I realized

293
00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.839
my birthday wasn't really about me. It was about gratitude.

294
00:20:55.880 --> 00:21:00.799
Gratitude for Jeremy, Gratitude for our children, Gratitude for family

295
00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:05.039
who continue to show up for one another, Gratitude for

296
00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:08.359
friends like Dan who have become part of so many

297
00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:12.480
of our memories. Gratitude for another year of life. When

298
00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.759
you have a large family, life is rarely quiet. It's busy,

299
00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.160
sometimes chaotic, sometimes exhausting. But weekends like this remind me

300
00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:26.799
that all the noise is worth it. Every laugh, every conversation,

301
00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.759
every hug goodbye. Those are the moments that make a

302
00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.079
house feel like a home. As we wrapped up another

303
00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:38.119
incredible weekend, my heart couldn't have been any fuller. We

304
00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:42.599
celebrated a future bride, We watched family make memories together.

305
00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:47.400
We grilled good food, played games, laughed until we cried,

306
00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:52.720
watched fireworks light up the summer sky, celebrated another birthday,

307
00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.319
and thanked God for every single person who walked through

308
00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:00.000
our front door. Life moves quickly, the kids grow up,

309
00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.960
schedules get busier, the weekends seem shorter every year. That's

310
00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.440
why we've learned to hold on tightly to these moments,

311
00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:12.599
not because they're perfect, not because they're real. They're the

312
00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.440
moments we'll tell stories about years from now, the ones

313
00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.799
that remind us just how blessed we've been. Thank you

314
00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:22.680
so much for spending part of your day with our family.

315
00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:27.559
If this episode reminded you of your own family traditions,

316
00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:31.519
your own backyard cookouts, or those weekends you wish you

317
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:35.039
could relive just one more time, we'd love to hear

318
00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:39.359
from you. Until next time, Keep making memories, keep loving

319
00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:43.440
your people well, and never underestimate the power of gathering

320
00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:46.799
around the table. From our family to yours, have a

321
00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:49.599
wonderful week. We'll see you next time. On We Are

322
00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.359
the Hansens.