Hanson Crew

Our crew brought in the New Year with some good friends from church and work this year!  We played games, had pizza, and a lot of good snacks.  It was a really fun time.  Our prayer for this coming year: To love one another more, be more dilligent in our family worship time each night, devote Wed evenings to family game night, and keep up with our weekly date nights. The kids all want to get in shape this year and go to AZ sometime this year again. We look forward to 2014 and are very excited to say goodbye to 2013!

John is slowly creeping to 40...Happy Birthday!

The kids and I decided to take a short road trip to Pueblo, Colorado where I grew up for my grandma's funeral. We drove 10 hours the first day all the way there. We watched tons of movies and took many short breaks at rest stops and gas stations :) We had a little time while we were there to visit important places to our family. Here are a few fun pics we took along the way or when we made it!   Caleb was super excited when we crossed the border! When they saw the mountains, they were in awe!  It was a little funny because we knew they has seen them before (3 years ago), but this time they loved them.  They kept taking pictures and videos of them over and over as we drove by them.. One of our first stops was to see the church where we were married in 1998 in Pueblo.  The kids were so excited to see it in person even though they had seen it in our wedding album. We drove by the duplex where we lived when Ashlyn was born.  We showed her...

We found out a week before Christmas my grandma had died in Colorado.  She was a fun, sweet lady who suffered from Alzheimer's the last 7 years. I hadn't seen her since she got sick, but had some great memories of her growing up.  Because we are on Christmas vacation and we hadn't been back to CO in 3 1/2 years, the kids and I decided to drive out there for the funeral.  I was nervous since I hadn't done the 11 hour drive without John in many years, but packed up the car and prayed for safe travels there and back.  We left the day after Christmas and returned on John's birthday (the 29th).  It was so nice to see my stepdad's side of the family and see my sisters and dad.  We took many pictures while we were driving.  The kids LOVED the mountains this time.  I don't remember them loving them this much 3 years ago.  They also loved the hotel and food we ate while we were there.  Here is a picture of them with their cousins.  My older ...

We have always looked at each child each year to determine what education system we will use that school year.  Ashlyn went to a private school K-5th grade where she went to school MWF, and then was home on Tues/Thurs.  We homeschooled for 6th grade full time and she is currently loving public middle school for 7th grade. Joshua attended the same private school from K through now.  Caleb attended public school for K to help with Speech and then that same private school for 1st and 2nd.  He is now loving the same public school he went to for Kindergarten this year for 3rd grade. He is done with Speech Therapy, but getting a tons of Reading help during and after school because of the delay caused by his Speech impediment.  We started Jonathan at the same public Caleb attended with every intention to send him to the private school like we did for Caleb in 1st grade.  Because he was also receiving Speech Therapy there and because Caleb was going back there ...

The kids made homemade ornaments and gingerbread cookies yesterday.  It sure made a mess in our kitchen, but was so fun!  This is what was left this morning.

Joshua's began Wed at noon. Ashlyn's begins today at 10 am. Jonathan begins at 11:15 am. Caleb begins at 11:15 am. We are a little more than excited around here to sleep in, bake, wrap presents, and have no real schedule for 2 weeks!!!

 Jonathan and Caleb had their Christmas programs this past week at Line Creek.  They did a great job!  Caleb had a speaking part in his 3rd grade musical as a snowman.  His good friend Mateo was Santa Claus.  We missed FCA's Christmas program with Joshua because he was sick and couldn't get out of bed.  I am also happy to report that we recently bought a digital camcorder and got to film this event.  We are hoping to do that more often this next year...

Ashlyn and I hosted a Mother/Daughter Ornament exchange this Saturday morning. We were blessed with pretty snow outside too. We invited her friends and their mothers to a brunch and white elephant exchange. We missed Hope, Faith and Robin, but enjoyed great fellowship and food with Ashlyn's other friends.Here are a few pictures from our fun...

I just received our 2012 blog book in the mail and was so excited to complete our collection!  When 2013 ends, we can print this year, which has been my hope going forward.  We have 2006 to 2012 printed now.  If I ever get free time to scrapbook pre-digital photos again, I have to finish 2002-2005.  I am most excited for the kids to enjoy looking at them.  They love them so far and laugh at old stories...Feel free to look over older posts by clicking on the year in the right column below under "Blog Archive". 

Joshua made his very own turkey this past week for dinner. He had told me he wanted to make one for Thanksgiving so we bought one when they were on sale and then let him go crazy.  He looked up recipes, watched many videos, and helped shop for all his ingredients.  He even tried out a dry brine the night before.  It turned out delicious!  I didn't take an after picture, but it was picture perfect.  Great job Joshua!

Our crew decided to try buying a forth of a cow this fall.  We picked it up this week and now have four crates of meat - mainly hamburger.  We are excited to see if it helps with meal planning as well as quick meals.  We will keep you posted...

My best friend was blessed with a little girl Nov 22nd.  She is so sweet and little.  Her name is Micah Shay and she weighed 7lbs 7.5oz. and was 20.5 long. I enjoyed preparing her nursery for her arrival and am so thankful for her birth mother.  I can't wait to watch her grow up. 

This was such a fun day with Lisa!  She took pictures of just John and I, which was the first time in a really long time.  John has lost about 15 more pounds since these pictures, so we want to take more soon.  Maybe our whole family this time around.

The kids were very excited this year to decorate for Christmas. We moved our tree to a different wall in the fam.ily room, which I really like!  We also put lights outside again, which I will have to photograph for you soon.  I love Christmas time!  The twinkling lights are my favorite in the evenings while we are hanging out together