If the PJ's fit...

It's dance time again! Last night was Jordan High School's Christmas Dance. Clad in footie pajamas, Easton and his group of friends embarked on another night of fun. A cozy fire, a cup of hot cocoa, and the roar of teenage music set the stage for the evening.

'Breakfast for dinner' was served prior to the dance at Jordan, and then it was off to Noah's for fun with friends. The evening capped off at Nick Buchan's retreat before returning home tired and content. The only casualties of the evening were three broken zippers on those footie pj's. Do you think that maybe a boys size XL isn't quite big enough for 17 year-old boys?!!

Why Do I live in Utah??

We just spent Thanksgiving in San Diego, and I am just sitting here wondering. . .Why in the world have I spend my entire life living in Utah?! I hate the cold, am a below-average skier, and am not a huge outdoors-woman. My only real Utah qualification is that I am a 'Mormon,' and I am pretty sure I could be one of 'those' anywhere!!

San Diego is warm and beautiful, and it has a beach!! What could be better? Seriously, though, I am not foolish enough to believe that it is the weather alone that makes me love San Diego. The company there is unmatched anywhere!! Cyd, Damon and the girls are wonderful hosts that make you never want to go home. I love visiting Cyd! She is happy, positive, fun and easy going. She makes you feel like there is nothing she would rather do than spend time with you. It is a gift that I wish I could acquire. The Dixon's will be moving to Italy this summer, and they will be greatly missed!! We will miss the visits, the late-night chats, the shopping sprees, the trips to the ocean, and breakfast, lunch and dinner at the beach.

While I am not a fan of the latest technology, I suppose I could step into the twenty-first century for a change. I may even have to read my email more than once a week!!

The Halls are 'Decked'

The holiday season is upon us, and I am thrilled to have all seven Hansen's in the same state! I love almost everything about the season. I love the warmth, the decorations, the music, the friends, the cooking, the smells and the togetherness. I even like the snow if I am looking out the window at it from a cozy, warm room. I will always hate the cold, and I can't say that I love the shopping. Every year at this time I am reminded how much I miss my old buying job at Nordstrom. . . Not because I miss the wild, crazed shoppers or the 70 hour work weeks. But I have to admit that getting paid to spend someone else's money has got to be the epitome of a dream job!

I love having everyone home without the pressure of homework. I love seeing friends and family. I love fixing food that I only fix once a year. I love making sugar cookies on Christmas Eve, putting up the Christmas tree covered with hundreds of homemade ornaments, reading Christmas books each night, and watching the old favorite Christmas specials on TV. There's nothing better than the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert every year, and I absolutely love listening to the Christmas playlist on my ipod!!

What do I want for Christmas?? Just a home filled with family, fun, friends and laughter. I love it when Alan's sisters come to town and we have little kids around. I hope they want American Girl dolls again this year, because I love them as much as the little girls do!