Chandler is in BUSINESS!!

Entourage Photo Booth makes its big debut today at the Bridal Extravaganza at La Caille. What a great job Chan and Ty have done getting ready for their first bridal show!!

The booth looks great - they have made it so it can easily be customized to match any color or theme (The polka dots are just for this show). The owners are charming!

The marketing is spectacular. Here's hoping you book your first weddings today!! We are proud of your efforts - you deserve much success!

Whew!! What a Holiday!!

The holiday season is behind us and with it the whirl of excitement and fury of preparation is past. I had so looked forward to 2009 - the year when we would all be back together again - and I must admit that the togetherness was definitely the best part of the holiday.

I maintained from the beginning that everyone had already received exactly what he/she wanted without any presents at all. Chandler got to go snowboarding after two years. Haley got to talk to Elder Benjamin Woolf after a long six month dry spell. Easton, well, I am pretty sure Easton has kissed a girl this year. And if he hasn't, it isn't because he didn't have plenty of opportunities! Kali got to enjoy December with few painful soccer workouts. And Teagan got word that the cutest girl in the fifth grade likes him!!

Will we ever outgrow matching pajamas on Christmas Eve?

The girls love their pj's (especially when they pick their own)

Only Haley still gets to cuddle with Teagan

Regardless, we did all of the usual things. We baked cookies, had friends over, spent time with family and exchanged gifts. I got to go to the Mannheim Steam Roller Christmas concert with Kari. The Tabernacle Choir Christmas performance was the usual high point, and the absence of school and homework pressures were an added bonus. Yet, this year was even more special.

Dessert Night at the Hansen's

We cruised to Mexico with my family (Sharps, Perrys and Tuckers) the day after Christmas which was a blast!! We enjoyed good food, relaxation, and great company. The sun shone most of the time; however, it is never hot enough for me!

Setting Sail on the Elation

Hansen's Cruising!!

Easton had fun slicking his hair back for formal night

I wonder how many pounds you can gain eating big meals every night??

We played on the beach and rented jet skis. We toured the beautiful coastline of Cabo and shopped the flea markets for killer deals.

Great deals are found on rainy days!

The kids went out into the ocean as far as they dared (way beyond the Cruise ship) on the jet skis where they tipped over, lost the key to the jet ski, and were temporarily stranded. Of course, no one could see them way out there but, no worries! They rigged the machine with a hair pin and hair elastic and were back on shore within the hour.

This threesome is a recipe for disaster...lucky for the hairpin and elastic!

Teagan got a "Jumpman" tattoo - it just didn't handle the water too well.

Hang on for dear life...Easton is driving!

Our return on New Year's Eve was perfect as we were home just in time to attend and participate in Savvy's baptism on January 1. What a sweet and special day! The entire Hansen family was in attendance which always makes for a wonderful event. I loved having Chandler there and know that it brought back sweet memories for him.

We had our annual Gift From the Heart evening on January 2. While I love to complain about the time and effort that goes into preparing for the night, I have to admit that it is always a memorable event. In spite of the considerable thought that goes into the gift giving, it is not the gifts that makes the night so fun. It is the goofing around, the laughing, chatting and playing. (Cyd, I think the addition of a dance competition would be awesome!)

Now comes the most challenging part of the year. Now I face the challenge of trying to do better in 2010. Why does it seem that I am always revisiting the same goals every year. . . better scripture study, more frequent Family Home Evening, better eating habits, more consistent exercise, and the list goes on. In addition to the old favorites, there are also new goals . . . develop greater faith that all will be well, exercise hope in the future, take pride in the successes of my children and appreciate their challenges and weaknesses, pray more fervently, love my time spent in the temple, and the list goes on.

As challenging as the start of the new year seems, I suppose it is more of an opportunity than anything. I will forever be grateful for more time . . . because it is going to take me an eternity to get things right!!

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!

Thank Heaven For Teagan

Teagan doing 'the kick-stand'

By way of disclaimer, let me just say that I recognize that I live a pathetic existence! I ought to have better things to do than run around for my children. Needless to say, this is the only thing of which I feel competent at the present time. Unfortunately most of my children are either no longer in need of my services or would prefer not to have them. Hence this post . . . Thank heaven for Teagan!! What a tragic thought to realize that without him I would probably not be needed at all!!

Sweet football 'running backward' moves he learned from Ben

It is overwhelmingly depressing to admit that the things I have mastered over the past several years. . . i.e. reviewing spelling words for Friday's test, completing school projects, driving to lessons, fixing after-school snacks, being the 'kool-aide' mom to dozens of friends, and preparing healthy nightly meals. . . are no longer in demand. All I can say is . . . I am not good at this phase of life!!

It does me no good to complain that "I liked it better when . . ." So instead, may I just say that I find great pleasure in the energy, interests and activities of a ten year-old. I love watching Teagan (with ipod in hand and headphones in ears) practice his latest dance moves. I love hearing him belt out a tune in the shower. I love seeing him blush when the fifth grade girls call. I love the marbles, lacrosse sticks, footballs, basketballs, monopoly games, and air-soft guns left lying around. I love that he still asks, "What matches these shorts?" and "What should I wear today?"

Dodging the water spouts at The Gateway

Even more, I love that I have learned not to insist that he wear a coat or boots when I know that he does not want to. It's amazing that I have actually made a few small steps toward letting some things go in this effort we call parenting. Maybe someday when Teagan is an adult child living at home I will actually know what I am doing!!

Happy Halloween!!

Cave-woman Kalinee!!

Chandler and the gnomes!!!

Peace, brother!! Teagan is a Hippie!

Easton and his 'tribe'

and . . .

Al is all ready for the Blackout Game!!

He wouldn't really go to a Utah game wearing that, would he??