Then and Now....

Here is what we were doing last December....I have no other comment about this picture! :)

And here we are this December.....
It is 13 degrees below zero right now and the high tomorrow is suppose to be FIVE BELOW! Can we say brrrrrrr....

Next Year I Am Having Professional Pictures Done....

Okay, so every year I think I can take a 'professional' picture of my kids to put on our Christmas cards and here is what happens when I try. Amber where are you???

I did finally pick one but you will see when it comes in the mail that I really should try the 'real professionals' next year!

We Feel So Blessed to Live Close to Family....

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving break. We spent Thanksgiving day with Alan's family. We were fortunate to see my sister-in-laws twins. They are still in the hospital but doing well. Nothing puts you in the Christmas spirit more than holding these two precious babies.


Aren't they cute!!!

We then went onto my parent's house for the rest of the weekend. I was able to go Black Friday shopping with my brother and sister-in-law. It was a blast! Sure beats going alone. I was having so much fun I forgot to take pictures.

Anyway, I just love this time of year! It is crazy busy but so much fun. I love reading all of your blogs, so please keep writing. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

What I am Thankful For....

My sister-in-law has been making these neat little slide shows on her blog. I decided I had to give it a try. So, here is a random group of my favorite pictures that show what I am thankful for this time of year!

Picture Tag....

Tynel tagged me- It's picture tag. I am to show you the 4th picture from the 4th file on my computer... tada...

Okay...so this is interesting... all three kids in hats with guns. Hmmm...why? It isn't Halloween. I think they were just being goofy!

I tag Holly, Kim, Kathyrn, and Marcia.:)

My Wonderful Family...

Okay, so this weekend was my birthday! The kids baked me a cake and bought me some fun presents and Alan took me out for dinner. I had a very nice day. I have such a great family. Thank you guys...I love you all!













Each candle represents 12 years...yikes! Where does the time go?



Me and my beautiful kids!











Thanks Alan for a GREAT birthday!

I am so excited!!

I have been trying to figure out how all of you have get those cute backgrounds for your blogs! I finally figured it out...hurray for me! Now I can finally go to bed.

Happy Halloween.....

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!!! We have two giant bowls of candy sitting on the fridge. I will be trying to ignore them!!


Dale, Gracie, and Abi carving their pumpkins.

Abi as my cute little 'witch' with her dog, Babe.

My two little 'witches' at Grace's school party.

Trying to pretend they are witches.




Dale is a 'rapper', but can you guess what Alan is? Hint: He is what Dale is (a wrapper)! What a creative man I am married to!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE!!

We are very blessed to have Gracie in our family. She is nine today! We want her to always know that we LOVE her and we are very proud of her!

11 Things We Love About Gracie:

1. She loves to go shopping with her mom (even grocery shopping!).
2. That she still likes her dad to eat lunch with her at her school.
3. She loves the piano.
4. She always tries to do the right thing.
5. She and her friend have a dog-walking service.
6. She is a good friend.
7. She is a good sister.
8. She has a sweet smile.
9. She loves to read.
10. She loves her dog.
11. She loves her mom and dad and we LOVE HER!!

Tagged by Marica Mickelson...

My friend Marcia Mickelson tagged me. Here's what to do:

Post rules on your blog.
Answer the six "8" items.
Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.


8 Favorite TV Shows
The Office
Grey's Anatomy
American Idol
Oprah
Desperate Housewives
The Today Show
Medium

8 Things I did yesterday
Got the kids off to school
Talk to my mom on the phone
Exercised on a treadmill
Took Abi to the Carousel for a ride
Took the kids to piano lessons
Made a casserole for dinner
Took Dale and Grace to Achievements and scouts
Put everybody to bed

8 Things I look forward to
Spending time together with my family
Thanksgiving vacation
Seeing my sister-in-law's twin boys
Teaching the kids to snow ski
Getting some furniture for my living room
Abi start preschool or something
The movie Twilight
Christmas

8 Favorite Restaurants
Wendy's
Olive Garden
Applebee's
Kiko's
Joe's Crab Shack
Sizzler
Arby's
Costco (hot dog and drink for only a $1.50, baby)

8 Things on my wish list
Couch and love seat
New Wardrobe
Blinds/Curtains
Take my kids to Disneyland
Trip to Hawaii
Wall Decorations
Patio Furniture
Playset for the kids in the backyard

Tag 8 People
Holly Duenas
Kim Champion
Patty Smith
Dantzel Piercy
Jocelyn Pond
Melissa Larson
Kathryn Smith

Our family is getting bigger....

Ahhh....made you look didn't I?! How many of you thought I was pregnant?

I mean our extended family is getting bigger. My dear sweet sister-in-law just had twin boys. They came a bit early, but everyone is doing well. We are so happy for her and her little (well not so little anymore) family.

We can't wait to see them when we come down for Thanksgiving!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!

I'm Back...

It has been too long since my last entry. Here is what we have been doing the last few weeks. As you read our various activities notice our crazy weather pattern. I am kind of missing wearing my flip flops everyday!

Saturday, September 27th was Homecoming at Carroll College. As part of the festivities was a mattress race. The faculty was one of the groups. Dale was on the mattress and they had to carry him from one end of the football field to the other. Alan is the one in the yellow shirt with his hand in the air. Notice the head-start they had. It turned out that the head-start didn't matter, but they both had a lot of fun participating.
NOTE: LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!!

A week later, Saturday, October 6th we were running to the store to buy snow bibs and gloves so we could play in the snow.

Even our dog, 'Babe' was trying to stay warm. He would run outside, pee, and then come lay by the fire. It was quite funny to watch.


Friday, October 17th Dale and Gracie playing golf with dad while breaking in their new clubs. Thanks grandma and grandpa! NOTE: We are back to sun and short sleeve shirts!

And finally today, Abi is having fun playing at the fall festival!

Thanks Patty!!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eR8gmk3_zkQijux_wQbxVJiKb1q__iP2pwod990IGJTy9BTM7gyGpLyLlHdLoyU7xINBF7Nq_BvNEsFZQOqcmwGBiAjwfgBmPHMeu99VU8qC_Ux26m5BM0bZj21ISVEo3Ei6RvGKQiaX/s1600-h/award.jpg

Thank-you Patty for sending me this award!

Here are the rules:
I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others! This award comes with a list of questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? car
2. Where is your significant other? couch
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? Darlene
5. Your father? Bill
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? happiness
9. The room you're in? living
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? unhappiness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? healthier
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? crafty
15. One of your wish-list items? furniture
16. Where you grew up? Boise
17. The last thing you did? church
18. What are you wearing? red
19. Your TV? NBC
20. Your pet? Babe
21. Your computer? ACER
22. Your mood? happy
23. Missing someone? yes
24. Your car? Ford
25. Something you're not wearing? socks
26. Favorite store? ROSS
27. Your summer? over
28.Love someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Thursday

Those who I think are deserving of this Brillante WeBlog Award are:

Kathyrn Smith
Marcia Mickelson
Jennifer Oliva
Ericka Johnson
Dantzel Piercy
Amber Bright

Tagged by Kathryn...

Here are the rules:
Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my six quirky things:

1. I cannot leave the house if the beds are not made. Really weird but I physically can't do it!

2. I LOVE TV shows that I shouldn't. For example, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives (you get the picture).

3. I love reading but if the book is really good (like the Twilight Series) and I don't have time to finish it I have to cheat and read the last few pages. I will finish the whole book but I usually know the ending first. Really bad habit I know. I can't stand the suspense!

4. If I find a shirt I really like I will usually buy the same shirt in all different colors. It saves time and usually money.

5. I have a secret candy drawer for emergencies.

6. If Alan tells me that the microwave has seconds on it instead of being cleared, I HAVE TO go hit clear or I can't sleep. (He does this as a joke sometimes.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABI!!

Abi is four today. We can't believe how fast the time flies by. If feels like just yesterday that Nicole was in the hospital all day waiting for her to come. She was induced and she didn't come until around 6 in the evening. We remember her birth being a little scary because when she finally came the cord was wrapped tightly around her neck and she wasn't breathing. The doctor was very calm but moved quickly to cut the cord and then it took Abi a few seconds before she started to breathe. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for letting her come to us. She is such an independent spirit with loads of personality. WE LOVE YOU AB-I-DOO!


2005

Abi's first birthday was spent getting smothered in cake while on exile in San Antonio, running from Hurricane Rita. Thanks to the Mickelson's for taking us in and hosting a birthday party!


2006

For Abi's second, we had a quiet birthday party at home.








2007

For Abi's third, we had, umm, another quiet birthday party at home.


2008

Not so quiet for Abi's fourth, with family and a pinata!

Tagged by Kathryn...

Here are the rules:
Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my six quirky things:

1. I cannot leave the house if the beds are not made. Really weird but I physically can't do it!

2. I LOVE TV shows that I shouldn't. For example, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives (you get the picture).

3. I love reading but if the book is really good (like the Twilight Series) and I don't have time to finish it I have to cheat and read the last few pages. I will finish the whole book but I usually know the ending first. Really bad habit I know. I can't stand the suspense!

4. If I find a shirt I really like I will usually buy the same shirt in all different colors. It saves time and usually money.

5. I have a secret candy drawer for emergencies.

6. If Alan tells me that the microwave has seconds on it instead of being cleared, I HAVE TO go hit clear or I can't sleep. (He does this as a joke sometimes.)

Happy Family...

We had a such a GREAT weekend with Alan's family. His mom, dad, grandma and two cousins came to visit us. We celebrated his dad's birthday and Abi's birthday together. The kids just love playing with the cousins. Thank you for coming. You guys are WONDERFUL!


GG (Abi's friend from the neighborhood), Abi, and Chandler (Abi's cousin) eating on the deck!


Dale and his cousin Kyler goofing off!


Grandma Julie and Grandpa Alan taking it easy!


Dale and Kyler with their great-grandma Sylvia!


Four generations of Hansens!

Poor Babe...

Our dog, Babe, was running around outside on Sunday evening when his right hind leg just gave out on him. It is so sad, he has been limping around since Sunday evening. I can't get him into the vet until Thursday. Has anyone ever heard of this? You can twist, turn and poke it and it doesn't seem to bother him, but he will not put any weight on it. He is hobbling around on three legs and it is driving me crazy to see him like this. He is three years old. He sure cried when it first happened. Poor thing!

Soccer and More...

This past Saturday was Dale and Gracie's first soccer game in Helena. How is soccer different from Corpus you ask? The WEATHER...it was so cold! Alan is the coach and he went to the game early and he called me and told me to bring warm clothes as it was really cold. I said okay, but really how cold could it be? Okay, I get there in my not so warm jacket and BRRRRR.... Luckily for me, I have the nicest neighbor and she seemed to know that I wouldn't be prepared (didn't take her long to get to know me) so she had hats, gloves and scarfs and my whole family was wearing her stuff. One of these days I promise to stop talking about our weather, but yes I am completely obsessed with it. I can't get over the difference. The kids aren't sure if they like playing in the cold (which apparently we haven't seen anything yet) but I know how much they hated the heat too so what do you do.

Later that afternoon we went to the football game at Carroll College and it was beautiful and warm by then. The game was a lot of fun. It took me back to my own college days (which was as Dale and Gracie say "centuries" ago).

To My Dear Sweet Friends in Corpus Christi....

I have been following hurricane Ike like I still live there. I guess after living there for seven years some habits are hard to break. Actually, I have been thinking of all you and I am glad to see that that Ike isn't going to hit Corpus directly. It is too bad it has to hit somewhere. Anyway, I just wanted you all to know I am thinking of you and I hope those of you that are still on the road please drive safe! I miss you all!!

We feel like kids on Christmas Morning!!

So we were driving home from soccer practice tonight and we looked over and there were three deers roaming a neighborhood. Of course, being the Texans that we are, we had to go around the block and get closer so we could get a picture of them.

Apparently, the natives here don't think they are that great as they eat their bushes, but we think it is the coolest thing ever. We just get excited seeing all these new things...snow, deer, no one locking their doors!

'Montana is a big freezer'

Dale and Grace have come to this conclusion. It's September 1st, and we had a snowball fight! It's not snowing in Helena, but we traveled about 15 miles to the west, toward Missoula (and the Continental Divide), and we ran into snow.

We found a beautiful lookout (place by the road to stop and view the scenery) by the side of the road, and Abi experienced her first snow. At first she didn't want to get out of the van, but once she plunked Alan with a snowball, she didn't want to get in! We thought about making a snow man there, but without gloves it was pretty cold! We wondered if people were laughing at us, with our van and its Texas plates, playing in the snow. We'll soon get used to living in the snow (we hope), but for right now it's a novelty.

Dale of course thought he would be 'Survivor Man' and tackle the conditions without his jacket.

We topped off the morning with some hot chocolate. Now we're home sitting next to the gas stove. It's 45 degrees! On Labor Day!

Getting Settled

We've been in Helena together for 9 days now. We sure received a lot of help this past summer ... it was a difficult one for us, but the help we received from friends in Corpus Christi and from family in Idaho and Utah made it possible. Turns out that it was a fun summer for the kids! They did all kinds of stuff, and we were able to have a brief visit in July. We also received tons of help from family moving into our new house. So, a big thank-you to everyone! For those who haven't been to Helena, the city sits up against the mountains on the southern end of the valley. Mount Helena City Park is on the southwest corner of the city, and it has a bunch of hiking trails. (It is in the background of the photo.) We climbed it this past Saturday morning, to the top - almost. (We made it to "Hell's Kitchen" - next time we'll try to climb further.) Our house is just north of the city limits, about 4 miles from Carroll College where Alan will work. This coming week we'll continue getting settled and getting ready for the beginning of school. We hope everyone in Corpus Christi, Utah and Idaho is doing well. We hope to keep in touch!