One month down-11 to go...

Hard to believe we are already over a month into 2012!!!  Already this year has been a busy year for our family and if it continues this way then maybe...just maybe this year will go by fast!!  Which by the way I'm hoping for cuz then Josh will be in high school and maybe life will be a little bit less stressful and crazy for him...oh wait, poor guy, hes my son...life will always be crazy and stressful!!   

The month of January had DJ having surgery (he recovered just fine, so no need to worry about him), me heading to Disneyland with my Aunt and cousin (fun fun fun), pinewood derby for Seth (might I add his last one!!), I think 4 maybe 5 major projects Josh needed to do for school (over kill if you ask me!), issues with our truck and the engine we got but now need to return, which now makes us a one vehicle family.  Plus Scouts (they seemed to have something every time we turned around, merit badge stuff), cub scouts (that in itself is a very long story but one I don't think I'm ready to share yet), long work outs with Teresa and it seems like tons of other stuff!  This was just the month of January! Crazy busy month!!   

It really seemed like something everyday and every week during January.  I'm telling you if the rest of the year is like this...I'll be happy that its going by fast...but at the same time I will be stressing wishing for a time to slow down!!

Heres to February!!!  BRING IT ON!!!  I just might of dug my grave with that statement...oh well...BRING IT February!!!

2011 Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends                                                                                                                   December 2011

                You know it happens every year & this year was no exception…The Holidays kind of snuck up on our family!! Every year we say it’s not going to happen & BAM!! Here we are half way over with December already!

                This year seemed to be a more trying year not only for our family but for many of our extended family and friends.  But isn’t it funny the blessings that come from our trials and tribulations.  As we approach this coming year, I hope we remember those blessings.

                This year seemed to be a busy year for us and the kids…and when I say kids that includes Cayla and Craig.  Between Church, work, sports, scouting, military, school…oh and moving, it’s no wonder the year flew by! And that was only mentioning a few things.

                Yes, it was that time again…time to move.  We find ourselves in Goodyear, up in the Estrella Hills.  This meant a new school for the boys and a new Ward for us for church.  We are really enjoying the area so far.  It’s a very active community.  Everyone enjoys biking and running.  Our family has taken up biking, which we are loving.  Suzi has started running, which she hates but it helps her in training for her vertical marathons she does every year. DJ has always been active so this area is great for him.  The wild life up here is amazing…both good amazing and bad amazing!  So far we’ve seen it all (in our neighborhoods I might add)…rabbits (in our yards even), ground squirrels, woodpeckers (which Suzi has a love hate relationship with), raccoons, ducks, turtles, come kind of giant lizard, tarantulas (yes that’s the BIG spider), coyotes, bobcats(living in neighborhoods), mountain lions, and Suzi’s biggest fear of all time SNAKES!

We weren’t the only ones that moved this year.  Cayla and Craig moved to Tempe to live closer to the college and to work.  They have the cutest little apartment.  They love having their own place. Both of them are working hard in school and enjoying married life.  It’s hard to believe that in November they celebrated their 1 year anniversary.  Both of them work for ASU so living right next to the college makes it easy for them to get to work.  Cayla is also teaching dance, which she loves and helping a family friend who takes professional photos. Both of them are currently serving as Ward missionaries in their ward…it seems they can’t get away from that calling.  They had it in their last ward also, but they really do enjoy sharing the gospel with others!

The boys, Joshua (13) and Seth (10) started a new school this year.  Josh is now in the 8^th grade and Seth in the 4^th.  Both of them seem to be doing well.  The school they are attending has a lot of after school activities for the boys so they are very busy with those.  Seth just moved up into the Webelos in cub scouts.  He really enjoys cub Scouts.  For the last few months his mom has been his Cub Scout leader and he’s really liked having her as his leader.  Josh is working hard in the Scouting program.  This past summer Josh was selected for the Order of the Arrow and went through his Ordeal in the fall. He’s also a member of the Jr. National Honor Society at school and works really hard in that.  Both the boys really enjoy sports and keep mom and dad busy when they are playing games. 

DJ is still a Detective with DPS and for the last two years has been serving as the First Sergeant in his National Guard Unit.  He also teaches a class at one of the colleges here in town.  He’s currently serving as a member of the High Council for our Chruch. Between all of these he’s pretty busy but still finds time to get out and go hunting.  This year he was able to go out and he got his Elk which really made him happy!! DJ got to go to scout camp with Josh for the first time. He moved up to the Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow. When Josh completed his Ordeal, DJ went and had them use the sash he got when he was Josh’s age for Josh. He’s getting ready the first of the year to have surgery on his left knee…he forgets he’s not as young as he use to be, so his body keeps reminding him!

Suzi just finished doing a vertical climb for the American Lung Association in November.  She cut almost 2 minutes off her time from last year. She works hard at trying to keep everyone’s life as normal as possible.  When we moved into our new ward she was called to serve as the Bear Leader in the Cub Scout program.  As always if Suzi’s life wasn’t crazy and busy she wouldn’t  know what to do with herself.  But sometimes she dreams of a less stressful life!

As always we hope this next year is less stressful for everyone.  We pray the Lord will bless your family and watch over you always. From our house to yours we hope you have a Merry Christmas and May your New Year be Fun and Happy!

All Our love, DJ, Suzi, Joshua and Seth Hansen

A day feeding the ducks...

We live in an AMAZING place...people riding bikes everywhere, people walking, running, you name it!  But one of the coolest things about this area is the two lakes we have...North Lake and South Lake.  At North Lake you can take small boats out on it and at South Lake you can walk around the lake, fish and feed the ducks...and thats what we did.  We met up with our best friends the DeGraffs and took a walk, played catch and feed the ducks!

Seth and Syd'a are best friends...

They can just sit and talk for hours...

They talk about EVERYTHING...

They follow each other everywhere...

Josh being a pill and chacing the DUCKS...

Fly away duckies, be free...

The kids found this tennis ball while we were walking

and decided to play catch, right over Teresas and my head!

We feared for our lives many times and the ball came sailing at us...

Josh thought it would be fun to throw it right at me...

Austin throwing the ball...

 Brenna getting ready to catch it...

Then the keep away game started...

Teresa proves MOMS are QUEENS of the WORLD...

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, (I sound like Popeye the Sailor), but I really do love this time of year...Starting in October till December.  Life does get crazy but its so much fun!  I love decorating my house for each important holiday!!

I love dressing my kids up for Halloween and doing our traditional night.  The day starts with cooking the traditional meal...Stew and dinner in a pumpkin!  It cooks all day! Then at around 5:00 its time to get the costumes on and any scary make-up that needs to be added. (Yes, I put make up all over my boys)!  Then its dinner, in costume cuz people might knock on the door while were eating and you have to be ready!  Then its off to trick or treat!  We have so much fun going around as a family!  After trick or treating we head home and its time to sort the candy, and of course eat some!  HELLLLLOOOOOO thats the whole point of trick or treating...the CANDY!!  While we are doing that we watch Hocus Pocus!!  We've been doing this since Cayla was little and its all the kids have ever known!! 

The next day its up with the Halloween decorations and the Thanksgiving ones!  And of course its time to start listening to CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!  And watching CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!  I'm not trying to leave Thanksgiving out but there just really isn't any songs or movies that go with the holiday! 

The day after thanksgiving comes the funnest day of all...BLACK FRIDAY!!!  Now I don't go crazy spending money, but I love it cuz I'm with my friend Teresa having a blast...years ago I use to go with Kimmy when we went up to Idaho and it was a blast...when I stayed in town, I'd go with mom and again, had a blast!!  I just love spending it with crazy, fun people!  Oh and best of all "people watching".  Black Friday is the best day to people watch!  Just saying!

Then when I get home and I'm tired and worn out, its time to put up the Christmas decorations!!  I love decoration my house at Christmas time!  I watch the same movies over and over and I listen to the same songs over and over!  ITS GREAT!!! 

For the last 10 years or so we've been taking the kids to the Forgotten Carols.  Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't go!  Its like not having Christmas Music and Movies...and anyone that knows me knows I love my Music and Movies during this time of year! 

Then Christmas eve comes...all the family at my house for the biggest feast you've ever seen!  Just looking at it you'll gain 20lbs but oh is it sooooo good!!  And of course the traditional one gift  that you get to open that night and as always, since I was a little girl, its PJ's!  After everyone leaves its time to set the goodies out for Santa.  Sometimes our family gets a little crazy and we leave things like Rootbeer floats and things like that for Santa.  Don't think he gets tired of milk and cookies all the time! 

But then the part I hate about Christmas...some how I always have good intentions but I don't get the gifts wrapped so I'm up till sometimes 4 in the morning wrapping gifts.  I know you'd think I would learn by now, but I haven't! Someday!!

Then Christmas morning. The kids are always up by 4 or 5 (sometimes I would worry that they would catch us taking gifts down, but so far they haven't).  But they get up and they are allowed to open their stalkings!  Then they can play, watch TV or fall back to sleep till DJ and I get up around 6 or 7. 

Then its time for me to get the traditional breakfast cooking, cinnamon rolls and monkey bread!  Then while thats cooking off to open presents and trash the already trashed house! 

It takes days before we recover from this mess! 

Then its New Years Eve!  Something we started with Cayla and have just kept going...we prepare a meal, like from Christmas eve, with chips and dips and crackers and cheese.  Put a blanket out on the floor in front of the TV...get some movies and we stay up munching and watching movies till after midnight!  What a great night we have!  Its fun to see who stays awake til midnight...then at midnight we pop the sparkling grape juice and toast the new year!! 

Then the sad part really comes...its time to take the tree down (Forgotten Carols)...I try and hold  out for as long as I can...maybe even til Feb 1st but I do try!  I just love my tree so much I don't want to take it down! 

It really is the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! 

Why Women Cry...

A little boy asked his mother "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a woman," she told him. 

"I don't understand," he said

His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally, he put in a call to God. 

When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the women she had to be special.  I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.  I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.  I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.  I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her badly.  I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.  I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strength and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly."

 "And finally, I gave her a tear to shed.  This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed.  You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a women is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a women must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart -the place where love resides."

Let November be a NEW START...

I don't want to complain...(NO laughing- I NEVER complain - I just voice my opinion, LOUDLY!)...because I know what happens when you complain about the trials in your life...they get worst! Yes I said it, so I guess I'm in trouble!  I know the Lord isn't doing it to be mean, its to teach us something!

But October and September were kind of yukky months for our family! So November is a BRAND NEW MONTH and things have to be better, RIGHT?!?!? (Humor me, ok)

I mean really, still no fixed truck, hubby was in TWO...count that...one, two car accidents this month, things going on with the military (don't worry he's not going over seas), another kid possibly might have Asthma now (not sure yet) but hes been sick and coughing like crazy (I think his lungs might fall out), plus lots more...............BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING CUZ I KNOW HOW THAT WORKS!!! 

Training Time...

Teresa and I have been training for the Vertical Marathon again...or its real name~"Death to your body".  We started biking everyday at 5:30 5 miles...sometimes more!  Not just biking but biking the major hills around Estrella. They are so big. I LOATH these hills! 
We are kind of like the little train that says "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!" Then when we reach the top and we coast down we yell "I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.!" 

This is so hard but we are sticking to it...we might die doing it!!!  The other day we saw a coyote that could have eaten us and last week we saw a scorpion (SCARY) that was so big...DJ was driving by and saved us!!  We have heard a pack of coyotes as we ride by an area barking away!  One day we ran into some scary guys...but that was the day we cut 3 minutes off our time...those guys were scary!  There are always a ton of bikers and walkers out...and they don't seem to be having any problems...but not Teresa and I, we've had our chains come off both our bikes (different times of course) during the hardest part of the ride...up that stupid hill!! 

My body may not survive  (every part of my body aches...even my butt...I know too much info but you need to know all the gory details) but so far we've biked OVER 100 miles...it may not seem like a lot to all of you BUT that's a ton...hey we could have been to Gilbert by now!!!