Birthday Fun!

February marks a lot of birthdays in our family. Bachan, Farrah, Jalon, and Aria. We had a great time celebrating each of them.



We headed over to Bachan's to celebrate her and Aria's birthday. Tim and Sharon made a nice dinner and we had cake and ice cream. Aria had a great time devouring her cake. And of course opening presents.

Jalon and Farrah's birthdays are just a couple weeks apart so Lisa had a giant celebration at her house. The kids had so much fun playing with all of their cousins. They also got so many cute presents. Of course my favorite present was the pretty dress I got for Farrah. I absolutely love shopping for little girls.

Click here to see pics from all the fun.

Chinese Food and Windmills

It was a beautiful (almost) Spring day, on Saturday, February 21st. Brian had been wanting to take us to a Chinese hot pot restaurant down in Provo. He called Mark and Molly and they were able to come too. Mark and Molly lived in China for a while and were familiar with this type of place. They also were able to bring their cute nephew, little Xander. It was pretty funny because he was so shocked that there was another Xander besides him. We had a great meal and it was a lot of fun. Definitely a place to go with family or friends. It would be awkward to fish food out of a pot with people you barely know. I love that our kids are so willing to try and usually like different types of food. It makes our job as parents a little easier.

After lunch we decided to go on a drive to soak up the gorgeous day. Brian had been wanting to take the boys to see the giant windmills at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon. So we decided to take a drive. The windmills were not turned on and I forgot to take a picture... but they are really BIG! Brian decided he wanted to get a great family picture somewhere in the canyon. So we kept driving, and driving, and driving. I finally had to mention that we were only about 15 minutes from Price before he stopped. We may have made it all the way to Moab if I didn't say something. We were able to snap a cute picture and head back down the canyon.

I always enjoy talking with the boys and goofing around on our car rides.

Auntie's Visit

Brian's Great Aunts (Utako, Hatsumi, and Kiku) from California were all able to come out the week of Bachan's birthday. It is always wonderful visiting with them. They are all so much fun to hang out with. We love hearing stories about their family's in California and everything they have been up to.

I made dinner one night while they were here and took it over to Bachan's. Just to give everyone at Bachan's a break from cooking a big meal. We were able to go over the next night too and visit. Then they were able to go to Lisa's house for the kid's birthday party. It was so nice to be able to spend so much time with them while they were here. And it is obvious how much Bachan loves having her sisters around.

The Great Sickness aka Valentines Day

This year's Valentine's day was marked by the great sickness in our household. Josh was the first one to get sick, right after our trip to Vegas. Next the sickness spread to me, Brian, and Xander respectively. Josh rebounded very quickly with just a day of fever and a few days of congestion and cough. Xander had a fever for about 3 hours. Brian and I were not so lucky. Here is a copy of my personal blog post on the day:

Here are the ingredients for a wonderful Valentine's day:
1-You and your spouse wake up in the middle of the night (at separate times) with raging fevers. 2-Feel a little better in the morning determined to carry out your day's fun plans.
3-Find you 11 year old has also caught the nasty cold that is travelling through your house.
4-Cancel your plans because you don't want to be over 2 hours away from your sick child.
5-Have a stroke of genius and decide that a movie is in order to salvage the day.
6-Take some more cold medicine in hopes to keep your fever down. Remind your husband to also take his meds. And make sure your 11 year old is also medicated.
7-Go to the movie and proceed to be jabbed in the side by the gentlemen sitting next to you.
8-Make up snide comments in your head about said man who is at the movie all alone.
9-Realize your fever is coming back and think that your stroke of genius was really just plain stupid.
10-Barely make it to your car because your whole body aches.
11-Take some ibuprofen and head straight to bed after seeing that 11 year old was feeling better.
12-Tell your feverish hubby to also go to bed on your way up the stairs.
13-Sleep for a glorious 2 hours until a little voice tells you that dinner is done.
14-Come downstairs to a lovely meal of rib-eye steaks, baked potatoes, and corn.
15-Remember that the only semi-healthy person in your house is 13 years old and cannot drive. 16-Know that your very sick and feverish husband went to the store and prepared a delicious meal instead of resting.
17-Notice your husband also bought your favorite steak sauce.
18-Get a cute little stuffed animal from your very sweet kids.
19-Your husband bought you a box of "Turtles" because one of your favorite phrases is "holy turtles".
20-Become humbled and grateful to have such a fabulous family that will put aside their own ailments to make a special night for you.

Anyone that knows me also knows I am not a touchy feely mushy lovey dovey girl. I do not require love notes, chocolates, flowers, or hearing "I love you" all the time. I haven't heard the words "I love you" once today, but my family's actions make that very apparent. I always say actions speak louder than words. Even though it was not conventional, and we are all sick, I wouldn't change a thing. It really was the BEST Valentine's Day ever. Thanks to all my special guys! I love you!!!

Viva Las Vegas!!!

We have been so busy lately that we decided to take a break and head to Vegas for the weekend. I talked to Brian about going on Wednesday and we left on Friday. Brian decided we should keep it a secret from the boys so we could surprise them. Thankfully we only had to hide it for 2 days. I couldn't keep it a secret for much longer than that. I was far too excited.

We left our house right when Brian got home from work. Took Taffy over to Mark and Molly's (thanks again guys) and were on the road. We left Marks house at about 6:30 pm and were on the open road. The road trip went without a snag. I had packed up lots of snacks and drinks. The boys brought the laptops to play games. And we had plenty of music. I LOVE driving into Vegas in the evening/night. You can see the glow from the city from over an hour away. And there is just something magical about driving over that last hill and around the bend to see the city. It amazes me every time we go.

I was able to find a great deal on a hotel at Sam's Town. It isn't on the strip but it is just about 10 minutes away. It is a great place to go with kids. They have a bowling alley, movie theater, arcade, and a fantastic atrium area. It really exceeded our expectations.

We woke up the first morning and ate a quick breakfast. (I packed cereal and milk... all part of our super budgeting) We all headed down to Tix 4 Tonight to try and get into a show for that day. The boys wanted to go see Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at Planet Hollywood. We were able to get tickets for half price. After that we went back to our hotel and went to the arcade. Xander spent all his tokens trying to win a DS Lite. Josh was a ticket fanatic and earned about 900 tickets. He got a hacky sack, magnetic bearded cowboy, disappearing ink, a bunch of army guys for Xander, and a whole lot of candy. We then had a great lunch of PB and J, grapes, and chips. (packed our lunch too) Like I mentioned, the hotel had an awesome atrium with a giant rock waterfall with animitronic animals. They had a water and laser show several times a day. We we able to catch an afternoon show and evening show. It was really awesome. Almost like a mini-Bellagio water show.

We showed up at the show about an hour early and we the 4th group in line. That was pretty exciting because it was general admission seating and we really wanted good seats. The show the boys picked was great. There was juggling, pet tricks, and dancing. It turned out to be so funny. We all giggled for most of the show. The animals were so hysterical. I find it amazing when people can train animals to do those kind of tricks.

It was dark when we got out of the show so we decided to drive up the strip and enjoy all the lights and signs. Brian did a time lapse video of us driving the strip. It seems as if we drove the whole strip in a matter of a couple minutes.

All the boys love buffets so we decided to eat at one for dinner. The hotel had a really nice buffet that we enjoyed. We we all pretty tired from a busy day so I am not sure if the boys ate to their true potential. The food was great and it was nice to talk about all the fun activities we had done that day.

We woke up the next morning and packed up to head out. Brian made another time lapse video heading down the strip in the daytime. Our first stop was the world famous Las Vegas sign. They have parking there now so it makes it easier to get a picture. We then stopped by the Mirage. It is a very pretty hotel and the GIANT aquarium by the front desk is really cool. Plus the parking garage had a great view over some of the strip and we able get a great family picture. Our next and probably most important stop was China Town to pick up pork buns. We got quite a surprise when we headed that way. They were celebrating Chinese New Year and the place was PACKED! We couldn't find a place to park anywhere. Brian dropped me off and I ran in to get the goods. They were all out! OH NO! We were able to get 4 chicken buns so it wasn't a complete loss. But we are definitely going to order our buns the night before and have them put on hold.

Driving home was pretty uneventful. We were all excited to get home and see our little dog. Taffy had a hard first day when we were gone. But by the second day she was a little more relaxed and enjoyed herself a bit more.

It is so nice to have been able to get away and recharge. And Vegas is probably one of our favorite places to do that.

Check out our fun here.

Date Nights

Brian and I have never really gone out on "dates" that often. We probably went out 3-6 times a year on average since the boys were small. Everyone with little ones knows how difficult it is to find time to get away and find a babysitter ect ect ect. Now the boys are older and we are getting out of the house a lot more. I would say in the last 5 months we have already gone out 6 times This is a huge record for us. We have been able to see grown up movies, go to quiet dinners, and just hang out. It has been wonderful. It also makes us appreciate our family even more. We have actually found we prefer to take the boys out to dinner with us. Take them to the grocery store. And all the other things that sometimes seem tedious and annoying. We are blessed with great kids that have manners and social skills that allow for us to take them out with minimal worries.

We are definitely going to still have grown up date nights. But just remember how fabulous it is to have as much family time as we do and have had in the past.

Brother Time

Brian loves spending time with Mark. He really enjoys when Mark invites him to come help with his businesses HanImports and Local Sound Studios.

Brian has helped Mark build a ramp to unload the furniture containers and has helped him unload the containers 1 or 2 times. Brian said he really loves working with his brother and doesn't even think of it as work.

Brian has also got to help build a couple of walls for the music studios. He is so impressed that Mark has learned to do all of the construction work for the studios. It has inspired him to do some future projects around the house.

Here is a link to some pics and video from a couple weeks ago when Brian, Shay, and Richard all came to help out.

Freezing Boys

Brian, Richard, and the boys took the 4-wheelers out a couple times in January. Yes, it is crazy to all of us who enjoy being warm. However, their love for 4-wheeling supercedes the need for warmth.

Brian and Richard took the first trip alone on 1/3/09. Brian got to test out his new coveralls and they didn't disappoint. I say that because he came home with both his legs. Here is what Brian posted about the trip...

My Dad and I took a short trip to Five Mile Pass ATV Recreation Area on 01/03/2009. We arrived at about 11am and left at about 4pm. We rode nearly to the top of Eagle Peak. Temp at the truck was 19F. I don't know what the temp at the top of the mountain was but I could only stand to have my gloves off for just a minute before my fingertips began to go numb. We also had to make sure to turn some sweet donuts in the parking lot before we left.

A couple of weeks later the boys went along for the 4-wheeling fun. They love riding the ATV's ever since they got their permits. They do a good job following the rules and I think they are now up to going about 20 miles an hour.

It is so great that 3 generations of Hansen men can go out and enjoy a Saturday afternoon.

Check out the pics and video of the trips

Busy Boys

I really should stay more up to date on this blog. Then I wouldn't have to spend an entire afternoon updating.

The boys are so much busier as they get older. With school, homework, scouts, karate, and their other special interests they never have time to be bored. (Well that is not what they say. Of course they are always "bored") Maybe I am the one who is never bored keeping up with their activities. I am getting slower in my old age. hahaha!

The boys started Karate the first week of January. We were really lucky to find a karate studio we liked with excellent instructors. The boys have already received their white belts and first colored belt tip. They come home sore at least once a week. I am sure they are stretching some muscles that they didn't even know existed. It won't be long before they can start sparring and competing in tournaments. I am really excited for that time. I find that as the boys get older I am valuing the small amount of time I have left with them. (yup, cheesy I know)

Josh has recently become very interested in stop-motion videos. He started out using legos and has quickly moved to clay, humans, dishes, and really anything he can think of. He has spent hours planning out making these short films and enjoys it so much. Mark even was able to take Brian, Josh, and Xander to a local stop-motion animation studio. The boys were in heaven and soaked up the experience. They asked so many questions and gained so much from the experience. Here is a link to a few of the videos Josh has made in his spare time http://www.viddler.com/explore/jhans/

Xander loves to make Linerider tracks in his spare time. He has created a youtube account to share his tracks with other Linerider addicts across the world. Xander is always telling us how many views his account gets from China. That is very exciting to him. Here is a link to his YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/xadr123 .

We Love to See the Temple!

I cannot believe I forgot to post about this. And I apologize for the less then glorious picture of the temple that I snapped with my cell phone.

We had the opportunity to go visit the new Draper Temple on February 4th. Richard, Vicki, Mark, and Molly all attended the tour with us. The building is nothing short of amazing. Just as you would expect. The wallpaper, paintings, flooring, and light fixtures were all divine. I have to say my most favorite piece of the temple was the giant chandelier in the Celestial room. It was probably one of the most amazing light fixtures I have ever seen. Truly stunning. The boys really enjoyed seeing the baptismal font. It was nothing like simple font they were baptized in. The font is very beautifully sculpted and probably the most original one I have had the opportunity to see. It makes me excited to see the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple that is literally 2 minutes from my house. Not sure when that one opens but it will be fun to go to that open house also.

As a side commentary... I really love that the LDS Church opens their temples to the public before the dedication.

After the temple we went to dinner at Chuck-a-Rama with Richard and Vicki. How Utahn of us. The boys are all about buffets so they of course didn't argue. It was a great way to top off the evening.