5

I couldn't let too much time pass before sharing a few thoughts on my husband. Last weekend we celebrated 5 years! It has flown by like a breeze, but we have had so much fun on the way. Thank you Steve for being such a loving, hard working, funny, charming husband. Love you!

FIESTA!

Owen's Fiesta (that happened what seems like a year ago) was lots of fun! We had easy finger foods like taquitos, quesadillas, chips, dips, and colorful cupcakes. I had my aunt bring maracas from Tijuana to give all of the kids as party favors. As you can see, Owen loves his. He got lots of great gifts, one of his favorites was drumsticks from his "Bee Bop Band" It is pretty funny to see him with them, because he hits the dog with them, shuts the door with them, does whatever he can with them! He didn't exactly dive into the cake, but he was happy to sample the sugary frosting. Many thanks to all of our family for coming, and especially my mom and Steve's mom for all of their help!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Book Club

1. It forces me to read, on a deadline.
2. I am forced to read books I may not have chosen for myself, or may have never heard of before.
3. It is a great excuse to just get out with the girls.
4. We have real conversations about the books and I always walk away feeling like I learned something.
5. I get to know people I would not have otherwise met.
6. I get to know the people I already knew a even better!
7. It's an excuse to go to people's homes and steal their cute ideas...AKA Brooke.
8. I feel like I learn more about myself.
9. It makes for a great Christmas party!
10. We get to vote on other people's books so we don't wind up with anything crazy..sideways stories from wayside school anyone?

We had a fun Christmas party this week and we voted on the book selections for the upcoming year. I am excited for all of our new selections! I don't even remember what books made it, but I'm sure if you check our book club President's blog (rachel) she may have it posted. haha.

Bare with me...

it feels like an eternity. An eternity since I last posted on my blog, an eternity since I caught up on everyone's blogs and an eternity since I have had the internet (a whopping 4 days!!). Miracle that I survived, I know. Ha! A lot has happened in the last week, so be patient as I catch up!

FIRST THINGS FIRST! Owen is WEANED. I have heard horror stories. Tales of the pain, the drama from the child that just really needs it. Not so for Owen and I. I will admit, he is still adjusting to the milk, but he likes it more and more each day. I was apprehensive that he wouldn't sleep through the night without mommies milk, but that is not the case either. It has been almost a whole week since he has nursed and I have not had one lifting of the shirt or any fits of any kind. Also, at 1 wk before turning I cut down to once a day and then just quit at about 1 and one week (a fever gave us a little set back) but I had no pain whatsoever! Thank heavens. I was DREADING another bout of Mastitis. ouch. More to come, but I just wanted to share with my fellow nursing mommies.

Single Ladies

I really like the new song by Beyonce. It is catchy and upbeat, but mostly I think it is because I think of this everytime I hear it...



You just can't go wrong with an Andy and Justin combo. Looking for the perfect Christmas present? Try this...(I'd rate it PG-13)



love it!

Not Quite as we pictured it...

The day started off with pancakes and bananas. I thought Owen would be all over this. NOPE. Generally, He loves bananas! Not on his birthday. He just wasn't in the mood. I think the majority of what was missing from his plate was given to Pedro. (Owen really loves to share). My mom then tried to give him a bath. Usually he is happy in the tub and enjoys a good splash. NOPE. not in the mood. I think the only thing he WAS in the mood for was a nap a nice 2.5 hour long nap. I had bought some whole wheat mac and cheese. I thought what a tasty healthy lunch. NOPE. not interested. We had already decided we would go to the aquariam. Lots of visual stimulation, you know? Not so interested. He just wanted to be held and cuddled by his daddy. In my mind I had imagined showing him how to dig into his gift bags and find something new inside. NOPE. just wanted to snuggle. After having some tylenol, his fever dropped and after a little power nap in Grandpa's arms, he popped up and was all of a sudden his usual peppy self. He got to check out a couple of his toys and then was ever so happy to go to bed. We are hopeful for his upcoming "birthday fiesta."

It has been an amazing first year with you Owen! You are the biggest blessing in our lives and we couldn't ask for a more beautiful loving son! Happy Birthday!

The Sweet sweet smell of corn dogs,

people screaming profanities at complete strangers for wearing the wrong colors
the guy in front of us stating all of the obvious
the marching band
enjoying the fall weather
college atmosphere
walking through my old campus
the sea of red
fans rushing the field after pretty much every game
a fun excuse to get out with my husband
the guy behind me yelling "YOU SUCK...." to whomever playing, depending on if we are ahead or not.
wearing my utah apparel
and of course the concessions food. Everything I do revolves around food.

These are some of the things I will miss now that the Utah Football season has come to a close.
until Next year..........GOOOOOOOOOOOOO UTES!
btw...Ouch, cougs, ouch.

My favorite Movies, A-Z, a good tag.

Sophie had a good tag and I got so excited I jumped right in!

A. About a boy...you will laugh, you will cry
B. Baby Mama
C. Children of Men
D. Dan in Real Life
E. Emperor's New Groove
F. Finding Forester
G. Get Smart
H. Harry Potter (all)
I. In Good Company
J. Jane Austen Book Club
K. Keeping the Faith
L. Life is Beautiful
M. Mean Girls
N. Notting Hill
O. O Brother Where Art Thou?
P. Pirates of the Carribean (all)
Q. Quigly down under
R. Ratatouille
S. Saving Silverman
T. To Wong Foo, Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar. haha.
U. Uncle Buck
V. V for Vendetta
W. Walk the Line
X. The X-files, deep down I love sci-fi
Y. You, Me and Dupree
Z. Zoolander

Tag, you're it!

SERIOUSLY, so blessed!

haha. Well another year older and wiser? hmm. Well I will say this. I am blessed to be surrounded with friends and family that are so thoughtful, loving and caring...for me and others. As my birthday came to a close yesterday I just thought of how there isn't one thing I would change, in fact it was the best birthday yet! Having Owen a part of my life all day everyday is such a blessing and made for the best day. Thanks to everyone for all of your warm wishes. It means the world.

BLACKOUT!

Oh the glory! I will admit the first 3 quarters and 10 minutes I was FREEZING and a little bored. But it was so worth it to see the UTES pull through! We love UTAH! This is how we "blacked out" last night. Steve had his beanie made. haha. Wahoo! GO UTES!

some fall fun

I was feeling like a bad mother. Fall started out with colds, then Owen got the Flu, then Steve and I got the Flu, then we got more colds and Steve left town. And here I am at the end of "Fall Family Pic Season" almost caught up on all that. So this weekend we took a quick stop at Mabey's Pumpkin patch as suggested by Heather. Steve took the one of Owen and I. Quite impressive I must say. Its just a matter of time until we are a husband/wife team in the biz...haha.

2 thoughts (kind of related) put into 1!

1. On Saturday I heard a talk that stuck out to me the most of all given this last weekend at General Conference. L. Tom Perry spoke of Henry Thoreau and how he left his luxury life behind for two years to live in a very modest cabin. He wrote, he studied the wild life that surrounded him and he pondered life. What I really got from this is living a more simple life.
2. I just had book club last night and I'm sad it is over because it was such a good book! The Glass Castle was the book about the author's childhood...a crazy one! Her parents were at times: neglectful, irresponsible, careless, carefree, the list goes on and on! You will be amazed to read these outrageous/endearing/saddening stories and see how the Walls children actually survived their childhood.

NOW how my thoughts combine...Henry Thoreau lived a simple life...he had all of the necessicities in life...shelter, clothing, food, knowledge. I felt sometimes the reason I found myself so angry with the Walls parents was because they did not want to be bothered with the necessities (FOOD for their children, sometimes a shelter). I have been told I will always have the necessities in life, and thus far, I have! I know I find myself wanting more (thinking I NEED more) clothes (me and baby), furniture, whatever! But really why should I? After reading the Glass Castle I have felt so blessed to always have whatever I have needed and I feel fortunate that I am able to do the same for my child.

Brooke hosted last night and she certainly is the "hostess with the mostess" GEEZ! Thanks Brooke!

The changes one season will bring

At the beginning of the summer Owen was working on sitting up all by himself and would lift up on all fours with out moving in forward or backward. He crawls, sits up and moves all over the place and pulls himself up on everything!



At the beginning of the summer he was a blabbering baby as usual. Now, he still blabbers, but there is a definite "Mumum" or what sometimes sounds like "OMMOM." This is all said while crawling to ME! he also says "dadadada," what sounds like "lidlidle" and yesterday he repeated "go" after I read him "GO DOG GO"



At the beginning of the summer he would fuss and cry when he didn't like something or was mad. Now, he is really nearing a tantrum, but I can't help but laugh. Does that make me a bad mom?



At the beginning of the summer he would make a few faces if I prompted him. Now he is the man of many faces and tries to get a reaction out of me. I love it, what a cutie.
















9 months+ how crazy that my baby is getting so big. I thought about posting a few pics, but this one sums it all up for me :)

A little music review: The Ting Tings...

I was fortunate enought to drive to Manti then Provo then Gunnison and then home all in one day. You can imagine the time I had on my hands to listen to the radio or the one cd I had with me since I forgot my ipod adapter...so after many many times around I decided I would share my latest music purchase...The Ting Tings We Started Nothing. You may remember a little ditty "Shut up and let me go" featured on an ipod commercial. When I heard it I remember liking the song: its fun and has a great beat. (The fact that they are headed by a female vocalist definately helps) Then I saw the music video, and I was in LOVE. I am fascinated by music videos and this one was beautiful. FUN. COLORFUL. 80s RETRO. BEAUTIFUL. So I purchased the album and was not dissapointed. I will say that I have a top three for the songs on this album and they go like this

1. Great DJ

2. Thats not my name

3. Shut up and let me go

this is a fun album that I did not tire of after 6 hours of driving in one day and then some. That's not my name is reminiscent of a bratty teen girl and I could swear the intro of Shut up and let me go sounds like Franz Ferdinand...but that is good. I rate it 4 out of 5 because (a) at only 10 songs I felt I need a little more. I think you can buy if from itunes for only $7.99. Definitely worth the purchase! See the video and listen here.

Once upon a time we went to Bear Lake

We played in the water

Owen loved grandma Cyndee's froggies.

He played with the froggies in the sandhe ate the froggies
We ALL went to LaBeau's in our matching shirts...Hanson, with an "O"
Owen chilled with Parker
Daddy and Owen played in the water some more
Owen and Avery shared

he loved grandma's tent, but was NOT about to take a nap in it.
And he said, "I want Maya to hold me." At least that is what she told me.
And we said THANKS A MILLION Brian, Brook, Ian and Brianne for being so great!

We love bear lake...I think for different reasons....Steve Golf's Morning and Afternoon so I'm no sure why he likes it....It is a fun annual tradition with the Hanson clan. We play at the beach all day long, eating treats, making crafts, reading mags, and listening to Scotty's Jimmy. By night we must have milk shakes from LaBeau's, play games by the fire and visit on the deck. Great times and to make even more memorable this year Owen was there for his very first of many more trips to come!

Welcome Jaslene...

My sweet cousin Lauren had her baby girl last Monday. I am an only child, so she is about the closest thing I have to a sister and I am so excited for her and her little girl that will be in the same grade and just a few months younger than Owen! She came in at a teeny tiny 6 pounds 10 ounces and not quite as much hair as we expected. She has the most beautiful rosy red lips I've ever seen on a baby.

I love this picture because A. Owen looks so big! and B. Owen looks like baby eating monster.

Memories....please.

Time for some memories! Here are the rules.1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is most memorable. If you don't have a blog and don't know how to sign in, please comment as anonymous.2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you... either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!3. If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all!

and of course...the 4th of July

The fourth was tons of fun. We went swimming, and Owen was just chillin in his shades...thanks to Grandma Cyndee and Grandma Great for inviting us!

We hung out with my mom and the "tias"

Had a BBQ at Steve's Bro's (many thanks MattJules)

Owen was hypnotized by the fireworks display (once again, thanks mattjules)

I posted this pic because my little niece got glasses! Sara? Heather? Cas? Doesn't she look familiar? ("You Stink Justin Matisse!")

And to make the day EVEN BETTER Owen started crawling! What enticed him you ask? A coke can. like father, like son.

Summer so far....

I love summer!! It really is the season of family get togethers and lots of fun!
We went up to Millcreek Canyon a couple of weeks ago and had a little fire and such...


Owen went for his first swim! He loves the water and loves to splash! We went to Park City for a night and had fun swimming, shopping ....

and randomly rode on a carousel (the lady behind me is a neighbor from 4 years ago I bumped into her and anyway...)

We have gone to Ruth's Diner a couple of times. I love this place! There are three really good things about it...1. Over the top rolls with their homemade jam (yes I am salivating now) 2. the patio in the back is so nice and shady and 3. Thursday nights "the Stoddard Brothers" are there singing and it is also BBQ night so it is like a fun party. I love it. As a warning to all, apparently they do not combine numbers 1 and 3. I was a little bummed, but I moved on.

I am looking forward to many more fun times in these next two months, but just wanted to share!