Ho Ho Ho

Christmas day has come and gone but what a fantastic day it turned out to be. And what a great month December has been. I love the time spent with family and friends and the magical feeling in the air. I love the Christmas tree lights and the excited kids. Everyone in our house was extremely spoiled.

Max got a Nintendo DS and the Battle of Endor Star Wars legos along with numerous other small gifts and the Super Mario Brothers Wii game. One of his most played with toys so far is the Nerf basketball hoop that hangs on the door.

Klein got a new doll stroller and her own version of a DS along with lots of little animals as well as her own Dora Wii game.

Preslee got some of her own toys- hopefully Klein won't take everything away from her and say "it's mine."

I was completely spoiled and got pretty much everything on my wish list- a Flip camera, a Powershot camera, a golf cart, ski boots and pants and a coat.

It has been a great holiday season and a wonderful year. As always, I plan to get everything done earlier next year to avoid last minute stress.

Jason got lots of golf stuff- new irons and a range finder and his own Tiger Woods Wii game. After Christmas we decided to use our money and buy ski helmets and Jason got new goggles. Max also got all new ski clothes and a new helmet.

Christmas Eve festivities at Grandma DeeAnne's

The Santa Beard game... cover your face in vasaline and dip into cotton balls. Max won the contest- this is just for show.

Klein loves her cousin Karlie

Christmas Morning Smiles

Engrossed in the games...

One of my favorite pictures of the day

The lego building begins... Jason spent hours on Christmas day building the "Battle of Endor" for Max. Max did help but it was a pretty complicated task with thousands of legos to sort through.

One of the many intense Nerf basketball games that have already taken place...

Tired but happy parents
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4 Month Stats

Preslee had her 4 month well check yesterday. She is a healthy little girl who is definitely growing. She grew three inches in two months!

Length: 25.5 inches (90%)

Weight: 13.7 pounds (46%)

Comparison Numbers

Klein at 4 months

Length: 26.5 inches (99%)

Weight: 16.2 pounds (93%)

Max at 4 months

Length: 25.5 inches (75%)

Weight: 17.1 pounds (90%)

Me (maybe 2 months)...

I wish I had one of Jason but I don't have any baby pictures scanned of his...

Jr. Mustang Basketball

This was Max's first year of playing basketball and he absolutely loved it! We desperately need to put in a hoop this spring because he always wants to practice. The weather isn't ideal right now but if it gets above 35 with no rain or snow, Max goes to the neighbor's house to shoot. He got to play on a team with many of his ward friends. It was a great experience and he really improved throughout the season. He scored a few baskets which is really important at this age. It is still a struggle to pass and move the ball but he was starting to catch on. Part of me wishes there were a few more weeks because everything is starting to click but now we are heading into ski season...

Christmas Dresses

I wanted to get a really cute picture of all three kids in their Christmas church clothes...

This picture cracks me up... Klein was having a moment but look at sweet Preslee and Max the trooper. He got to change after a few tries. He looked cute too but his church clothes are the same every week so I wasn't very worried about getting his picture. I really wanted the matching girl Christmas dresses and got ONE okay shot but you can't really see the dresses... oh well...

I did get some cute individual shots but Preslee was intent on eating her dress and Klein smiles but won't look at the camera. Trust me- they are beautiful little girls even if they don't cooperate for pictures.

Party Time

We have been busy with parties as we get closer to Christmas. Last night was my Grandma's annual party with Santa and last Saturday was JayDee's company party at Beaver Mountain. Klein didn't want to sit on Santa's lap at either party. Preslee didn't really care and Max was just excited and curious about the whole thing. Hehas been asking a lot of questions about Santa lately and hopefully we have answered them correctly. The other night he even included Santa in our family prayer... "please bless Santa not to put me on the naughty list."

JayDee's party was fun but it is a chore to get everything to Beaver Mountain and keep everyone happy in a foreign place as well as keep getting them dressed and undressed with their snow clothes. Max got a special treat- a long ride in the snow cat/groomer. He was terrified of the snow cats when he was younger but was so excited when the driver offered him a ride. He told me they went to all kinds of secret places that he couldn't tell me about. He was gone for a long time and I started to worry but he was very excited. Unfortunately, Jason lost the keys to his truck-- the only set that he had so we had a crazy Sunday trying to get a new key made and Jason ended up going to Beaver to look again. Since I didn't have a car, my dad came and picked us up to go to College Ward. I was disappointed because they didn't have a Christmas program and I look forward to that every year.

We have tried to stay focused on the birth of Christ this season. Every year we only have one gift under the tree until Christmas morning-- our gift to our Savior. It is a good reminder about what is important.

Ugly Sweater Party

Every year, our friends Steve and Cami Liechty have a Christmas party. Usually there are white elephants gifts but this year they added the "ugly sweater/retro ski wear" theme. I searched at the DI forever but there were not any sweaters for Jason or me. I ended up buying some ugly shirts but on Friday one of my students had on an awesome sweater that she was willing to let me borrow. I typically don't share clothes with students but Bri is a volleyball player and probably the only student in my classes that I would dare ask to borrow her sweater. We had a hard time deciding who would wear the prize article but it ended up being me, even though Jason looked great in it. He ended up wearing a not so ugly sweater borrowed from my dad. I was very impressed with some of the sweaters/outfits at the party-- a man in a woman's Christmas sweater does look pretty funny. This was the year of the "Snuggie" white elephant and a random miniature hamster also made an appearance. I was glad to only be saddled with a very handy notebook set and Jason got some lip gloss but gave away his Justin Bieber poster. It was a great night--lots of laughs and visiting with friends.

Thanksgiving

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving! We are so blessed!

Picture Attempt

I was really hoping to take a cute picture of the kids for Christmas cards last Sunday so I could get it finished and out of the way but I didn't get the shot that I wanted. Max was the worst one because he didn't want to do it or he wanted to strike his best "peace out" pose. These are some of my favorites...

10 Blissful Years

Jason and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary last week. Our plan was to go to Hawaii but we had Preslee instead. We settled for a night at Little America and some Christmas shopping. He is an amazing husband and I love being married to him. Here is a list of 10 things I love about him (there are many more but I don't have all night).

1. Jason is a wonderful dad. He is so good with the kids and doesn't mind changing diapers, playing baseball all night after a long day of work, and getting kicked out of our bed when they all want in, which, unfortunately is almost every night lately. I love his dedication to being Max's biggest fan (he turned down golf quite often this summer so didn't miss a single baseball game) and I love his tender side with the Klein and Preslee.

2. Jason can build anything-- he has built us two beautiful homes already and is always willing to do the numerous tasks I force him into. Now if he would just finish the basement...

3. Jason is a hard worker. I love that he keeps our yard looking so beautiful and helps me around the house too. He is quick to get the snow off the driveway (which is what he is doing right now) and he keeps my car clean and full of gas.

4. Jason has the "street smarts" of the relationship (I, of course, have the book smarts). He keeps me from being too naive and keeps me "in the know" when I come home with phrases from the high school. He often comments "the students said what?" and then laughs at me for not getting it.

5. Jason and I have pretty opposite personalities, which works very well for us. He loves to talk to everyone and I am shy around people I don't know, so things balance out. He can come off pretty gruff at times and looks intimidating (some of my students refer to him as the "viking") but he also has a soft side. Jason loves muscle cars, heavy metal, baseball and ESPN and has converted me in all of those areas. I have converted him to Grey's Anatomy, mini Cadbury eggs, and Lady Gaga but still not to Pride and Prejudice.

6. Jason is always ready to protect me. I have to laugh when he wants to come to school to talk to the kids who are giving me trouble. He is also much better at saying "no" than I am which helps me from getting in too far over my head.

7. Jason makes me laugh. He is always ready with a quote from a movie or a good line to keep things light. There was also the manure incident when we were dating...

8. The thing about Jason that I loved from the very first was his deep voice. When he called to ask me on our first date, I just wanted to keep talking because his voice was so sexy. He doesn't believe me but I do remember thinking on our first date (as he was making no bake cookies- a Hansen family favorite) that "I could totally marry this guy." Our first kiss wasn't until five months after our first date but I was really hooked after that.

9. I love how our relationship has grown. It is amazing how quickly ten years can pass but when you are spending it with your best friend, it is a great thing. I love that we have grown together and created a home together and brought three amazing kids into our family together. I love planning for our future and contemplating our options.

10. Jason is an amazing husband and I have loved every moment of our 10 years together (12 if you count dating)

My favorite wedding photo...

Mustang Football

Last Friday night, we headed to Salt Lake to cheer on our Mustangs in the state football game. Now this is where I need to go off for a minute...

I love being at teacher at Mountain Crest. I have some really amazing students and coincidentally, I have quite a few football players. As I looked over the roster, I counted at least 18 who have been in my classes or are currently in my classes-- which is pretty significant because I teach AP English. As I watch these boys every day in class, I am so impressed with them. They are great kids. I would love to have Max be like any one of those boys. Which is why I was so devastated when they lost. They deserved that win. But life goes on and they will all be better because they know how towork hard and be successful and cope with a tough loss.

My problem isn't with the loss, unfortunately, someone had to lose. My problem is with everyone who thinks they know what should have happened or wants to bash MC on anonymous comment boards or make horrid facebook pages or anything like that. Really, it is obvious that people only hate you when you are winning.

Another thing... I would NEVER let my son play football under a coach like Mike Favero (sorry, I know I am preaching to the choir here). What I know of Favero does not paint a nice picture of him. Mark Wootton, on the other hand, is one of the nicest men I know. We lived by him in Nibley and he was so cute with Max and to this day still asks about him. The example he sets for the football players is one worthy to live up to.

I get so upset when I read the Herald Journal comment boards. I have been stewing about it for most of the football season. There is one person who comments under the screen name Nomar/Ramon who I would love to punch in the face. The things he says are atrocious. I really shouldn't read those comment boards because it makes my blood boil but it is like a car accident and I can't help but look. So I decided to write a letter to the editor and I sent it and now I think I regret it... oh well, I do feel better.

One last thing and I said it after the state baseball game... Max may not be able to play sports; I just can't handle the nerves. I was physically sick during most of the game. I had to walk around. I couldn't sit there. Jason thinks it is funny but I am a wreck when it comes to intense games. I just might have to be medicated if Max is ever playing at Rice Eccles Stadium.

Max doing his favorite pose... the only picture I took at the game. Of course, as I look back I wish I had taken more but I was too nervous.

Halloween Pictures.. Better Late Than Never

Max choose to be a Star Wars Bounty Hunter and Klein opted for the hand- me- down monkey which was fine with me. Preslee had two costumes- a skeleton and a ghost.

On Friday night, my mom had her annual Halloween party with all 18 grandkids present. It was very chaotic but always fun.

On Saturday we participated in our ward's trunk or treat and visited Grandma's and then called it a night.

I am not a huge fan of Halloween but the kids had fun...

Just a few of my favorite pics...