Blogging Rut!

Ok so it is true, I am in a blogging rut. Not sure what to write about. Not sure I have anthing worth reading. If you all must know this is what we have been up to lately. Evan started 2nd Grade and loves it. He has so much fun walking to and from school with his Cousins and neighbor friends. He would pretty much walk (or ride his scooter) rain or shine but sometimes he does get a ride for my dear sweet neighbors. (Thanks Suzanne and Jess) Collin started Preschool at Adventure Preschool in Sandy. It is the same school that Evan went to. He really has a good time and loves seeing his friends and loves learning. I love this preschool and so glad it is still in business. (They were talking about closing the school since it has been around for 30 some odd years and Miss Shirley might like to retire someday..... she can when Collin is finished. Just one more year)

When November arrives my family starts thinking about what we need to do to get ready for the upcoming ski season. The skis come out the snow gear comes out and we start sizing up the kids and see if what we need to aquire for them so we are ready to go on Day 1. I am on my 3rd season teaching skiing at Brighton Ski Resort. I love it and mostly it makes skiing affordable for my family. Evan is awesome and loves to find little jumps all over the mountain that he can "catch air" on. Collin is pretty much right on Evans tail. They are both so fun to watch and I think that for me is the best part of skiing these days.





























Also when November arrives I start thinking I should get my Christmas lights on the house before it snows and Hang up my U and begin the taunting to my byu lovin brother. I was able to go to the byu / utah game with my brother and his family thanks to their extreme generosity and there was fun to be had by all and even though the Utes lost it was still a good time. This November I also spent a week in Mexico with my friends Wendy and Amber. It was a great relaxing week that was very much needed. We layed by the pool, walked on the beach, played Tennis, Learned how to make guacamole and slept in (well at least I slept in). The day we arrived home it was Snowing. It could not have worked out more perfect..... sun and tanning all week to jumping right into skiing! SWEET!





























Now that we are well into December and I am kinda BAH HUMBUG this year. Not that I am not excited about Christmas it is just all the craziness that goes along with it. It seems I do not have a free day till well after Christmas and I have vowed that when the kids get old enough that we will be spending our Christmas in Hawaii or Cancun or somewhere else that we can actually relax and be able to reflect on what is most important during this season. There is a couple things that I do actually love about this time of year 1 - My brothers Christmas lights and 2 - My Christmas Tree and I could add a third this year. I was able to go to "The Forgotten Carols" by Michael Mclean with my Young Women and I loved it. Not sure they all did but I definately will try and go to that every year. I always feel the Christmas Spirit during that peformance and I think so far that has really been the only time I felt it this year. And now with Christmas a week away I will try and get in the Christmas Mood. I will let ya'll know if it happens and until then I do hoope that you all have a Sweet Christmas and an excellent New Year...... BRING ON 2010 (New years resolution for 2010 - *Learn to Slide a Rail on my skis*

SUMMER FUN - HANSON STYLE

As usual our summer has been busy. Right before school got out Matt and I sat down and went over the calendar for the summer. We are booked solid. So Fun! Here is a list of what we have done so far.......

1 - Cottonwood Heights Rec. Center - Pool ! We have been at the pool any free moment we have. And as good parents do we have been bribing Evan to jump off the diving board. We tried everything. We bought him Batman Lego game and said he could have it if he jumped (no deal), we told him he could basically have whatever he wanted to eat or a cool toy (no deal), then the new Transformer movie came out (that did it) he jumped off about a dozen times and also did a front flip. After that Matt had plans to get him to go off the high dive....... but to our surprise my sister took them to the pool on Tuesday and he decided since the low dive was closed he would go off the high dive so 3 times he jumped. He is crazy.

2 - Matt spent some time with long lost friends in Zion National Park doing some canyoneering. He had a nice time rappelling and swimming in the freezing cold water.

3 - I spent a couple of evenings up at Girls Camp. The weather was perfect and the girls looked like they had a good time.

4 - I went to Logan with my parents to participate in the MS Bike Ride - 75 miles to raise money for the MS Society. It was great to ride with my dad who by the way rocks. I know he took it easy on me and I really appreciate it.

5 - Rock Climbing with the kids and my nephew Chandler. We took the boys up to storm mountain to let them climb. Evan and Chandler rocked it to the top and then Collin decided he wanted to try so we got him roped up and off he went all the way to the top which left the next problem how to get him down :) He survied the trip down and had alot of fun.

Coming up we have the Oakley Rodeo and of course the 4th of July festivities. Then on to Balboa California for a week long beach trip with Matts' family. Beach, Sea World and hopefully alot of relaxing. Then on to the Spudman Triathlon in Idaho with friends and family. Did I mention we also have a boating trip, a river trip, a weekend of camping, swim lessons for Collin on Tuesday and Thursday and a 6 weeks puppy kindergarten class for Razzle? It soon will be time to get my skis tuned up for the winter season. I guess we don't realize how busy we are till we put it all down on a calendar. WE LOVE OUR BUSY SUMMER! IF WE ARE EVER HOME FOR LONGER THEN 10 MINUTES SAY HI OR WAIT TILL SEPTEMBER AND WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.

MY NEXT BIKE ADVENTURE.....

I have decided to try this out....... I am going to ride 75 miles on Saturday June 27th with my dad to help raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. I have never gone that far on my bike so we will see what happens. I promise a cool post to follow of pictures of me and my dad and hopefully I will still be standing upright when it is all said and done so below I have inserted my plea for donations. I only have 7 more days to raise the money so please consider donating. Wish me luck I am really really going to need it.

Dear Friends and Family,
The National MS Society is kicking off Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride campaign. I am planning to be a part of that event in June 2009 and I am asking you to join me in the movement to end MS by making a contribution to support my effort.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with MS lead more fulfilling lives. I believe in the work they do, and I invite you to see for yourself all the good they've done for the MS community. More than 400,000 Americans live with MS, and your support can and will make changes in their lives.
Please help by making a donation - large or small - to end MS. Or, why not join me at the event? Become a participant and side by side, as teammates, we can work together to raise the funds to make a difference.
Whatever you can give will help! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,
Kristi Hanson
Paste this into your browser http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=6908978&pg=personal&fr_id=9532 to get to my personal page and make a secure, online donation.
To send a donation: Make all checks payable to: National MS SocietyMail to: 7882 South Oakledge RoadSalt Lake City, UT84121-5821 or you can just deliver them to my house just need to have them by Thursday sometime because I will be heading up to Logan on Friday for the race.

SUPER FUN BIKE TOUR

A few weeks ago I participated in the Salt Lake City Bike Tour with my brother and Suzanne's family. The ride followed the Salt Lake Marathon route. It rocked! You did not even have peddle until you got to Sugar House Park. It was great. I rode most of the time with Nanette's awesome mom. We just rode and chatted and enjoyed the early morning ride with no stopping till we got to the gateway. At that point Nanette's mom just hoped on trax and went back up to the U of U where we started and I crossed the finish line and received my medal followed by some great pictures of the group at the finish line. My sister participated in the 5k run and it was also great to see her at the finish line and Suzanne was running the half marathon and she also rocked it. I will for sure be participating in this ride next year. The best part about it was that I got to do this with my brother. As a kid I was the annoying little sister that just followed him around and wanted to be where ever he was. I have always looked up to him and now I am still wanting to be where he is so much so that I live right next door.(haha) I am glad I was able to do this with him. Way to go Jason! What a fun day!

COLLINS' FIRST T-BALL GAME

Collin had his first t-ball game last Tuesday. Besides the fact that the parking lot was a complete and total joke and that it was super freezing. Collin loved it. He was so proud of himself when he hit the ball and if it weren't for a parent standing at each base Collin (and almost all the kids) would have no idea where to run to. Even though he really liked batting all he wanted to do was actually hold the ball but since the kids in the field have no concept of the game, whenever the ball got hit it turned into a race to see who could get the ball first and since Collin is tiny he never got the ball. He decided to take matters into his own hands..... this is how it went down. Collin got up to batt, he hits the ball and runs to first, next kid gets up to batt and hits the ball between first and second, Collin on his way to second base picks up the ball and throws it first and then continues on to second base. Bottom line - T-ball is just something for us parents to take our kids to in hopes that they burn off some energy. He might be good one day but as for now I am putting on hold my dreams of him becoming a pro baseball player.

SKI KARMA?

After enrolling my son in a ski school class (since teaching him ourselves seemed impossible) and watching him learn to love skiing, I decided to become a ski instructor myself. I went through the necessary training and paid my dues and Brighton Ski Resort hired me. I was so excited to teach and also improve my own skiing in the process. Season one was a complete success, no injuries, had fun teaching, improved my own skills, increased my drive to learn and teach and become the best I could. Naturally I was looking forward to Season two. I got the call that I was on for another year and was geared up to teach again. Winter hit Utah early and we were off. My kids (6 and 3yrs) were excited about getting their first season passes my husband was enjoying the perks of me working at the resort and I was excited to teach again. My schedule was one day a week (Sunday afternoons) perfect. Plenty of time for me to ski for fun and get the kids up. January 18th changed a lot for me. I was teaching a lesson with 2 kids who were having a ball, finally getting it, learning turns and smiles all the way when out of no where my world came to a stop. I was taken out at the base of the hill (next to the slow sign) by an out of control snowboarder. I was completely knocked out and when I came to it was like a dream. My head was spinning and my face was bleeding and my left shoulder hurt. I saw the look on my kids’ faces and hoped that this would not scar them for life and I hoped that they would return to the hill. Patrol got to me pretty quick and asked me what happened and who did this and to my surprise the person who hit me was no where to be found. A Hit and run on the hill! What, people actually do that! I was taken to the hospital with a concussion (even with a helmet) and a broken collar bone and a busted up face. I had one thought - Karma! Will it come around for that guy…… who knows? I am not one to wish bad for someone but COME ON at least have his board stolen or broken and his pass yanked! I can’t ski now for two months so he should not be able to ride that long either. That kid needs to learn his lesson. As an instructor we are taught to teach about Safety, Fun, Learning. That kid needs that lesson.