I GUESS SUMMER IS NOT TOTALLY OVER

Last weekend we went camping in Arches National Park with a few families from our neighborhood. We had a blast. Evan and Collin ran around in the sand and climbed the rocks and the Whites had us hiking ever arch they could think of. Tim, Melanie, Abby and Matt are like energizer bunnies...... they just keep going and going. It was fun. My favorite hike was to Delicate Arch (the one on the Utah Plate) Matt said we have hiked it before but I honestly don't remember. Weird! Don't you think if I had been there before I would have taken some pictures and or at least remember the very distinctive slick rock hill we had to hike up? Well I will remember it now. It was cool. On Sunday we hiked around in Devils Garden and that was cool to. It truly is amazing that I really have not been there and it is pretty much in my backyard. What a beautiful state we live in. Thanks Tim and Mel for the invite we had fun!

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID "THIS" SUMMER

The Hanson Family summer is Go, Go, Go..... I really like everything that goes along with summer like Swimming (lots of swimming), Canyoneering with friends, Climbing, Baseball, Lagoon, Oakley Rodeo, Picnics in the Park, playing with the kids in the front yard, staying up late, BBQ's, (new to my list this summer was a couple of Triathlons) yeah, road trips, camping at Lake Yuba, having the top down on the jeep, singing on the front porch with my sisters and her Georgia Boy Kevin. We have managed to fit almost all we wanted to do in this summer Matt even got to climb Mt. Rainer and he finally got to canyoneer through Heaps canyon in Zion. (We will do a seperate blog about that). AMAZING! Here are a few pictures of how we spent our summer.

I will say even though there is a lot about summer that I love, I am also ready for it to be over (almost). The kids go back to school, the kids go to bed early, my shows start back up, I seem to be able to stick to a work out schedule when it is cold outside, ski season begins. I guess what I am getting at is that we live in a pretty awesome state. When you are sick of winter, spring and summer show up and when you are sick of summer, fall and winter are here again. How great is that. To top off what a great state we live in we also live in the best neighborhood ever. Friends all around for us and our kids a brother next door a sister across the street a mom (both our moms) less than a couple miles away, and big and little cottonwood canyon right out our front door for all our outdoor needs. How Great is That! Now that I have finally updated our blog lets bring on the SNOW!!!!

I have been tagged???

Ok to be totally honest I was not sure what being tagged meant but I looked it up (yes I googled it) here it goes Jess. Five things about me that most people don't know. That is a hard thing cuz I am an open book.

1) I really like to take baths - You can find me most nights in my tub after the kids have gone to bed. I usually have a book to read. I also usually have my Dr. Pepper in there with me. HA HA Sometimes if I don't have a book to read I will bring my ipod in there and just relax.

2) I have to put lotion on my feet before I go to bed. I am not sure why but I don't like that dry feeling on my feet in the sheets. There have been times where I hop in bed and forget to put on lotion and and think.... oh I don't need to tonight I am to tired but I always end up getting out of bed to put lotion on. I usually have the lotion on my night stand.

3) I like to eat cucumbers cut up and soaked in vinegar and I also like Rice a Roni the Sanfransico Treat (San-fran flavored kind) I only like it super hot right from the pan.

4) I loved teaching kids how to ski last winter..... I hope that I get that opportunity again this year. I am not sure if it was the teaching or that fact that I really improved in my own skiing. Either way it was all good!

5) I love being with my family - I guess that is not something that no one knows.


Ok so there you have it...... I am boring aren't I? In 5 years from now you can tagg me again I the list would probably be the same... Well if you are perfect there is no reason to change anything right! HA HA

MY TRIP TO CHICAGO!

I went to visit Matt in Chicago while he was training for his new job. What a fun place to visit. Here is what I got to do.....

Thursday.... flight arrived at 9:00pm

Friday.... slept till noon while Matt was in his training classes when he got back to the hotel we took the train into downtown Chicago to meet some friends of ours and put in for a drawing to get "Wicked" tickets at $25 a piece... and we all got em. What a sweet broadway play.

Saturday.... took train back into downtown and went and ate lunch up on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building overlooking Lake Michigan which is a huge lake by the way. They say the best view is from the women's bathroom so off course I had to check it out. In the first picture that is Oprah's condo complex she lives in.. (sorry mom we did not see her but we did walk outside her building)

Next we went to Navy Pier... (it felt like you were on the ocean it was so big) We took a boat trip that goes up the city river wow those buildings are huge...

This was a light house off the pier. It was really cool.

We next went to Wrigley Field! Home of the Cubs. They were playing the White Sox and won all three games. It was way cool to just be around the field. We did not go to a game but I would love to try and hit this series next year.

We really had a nice time in Chicago.

WELCOME HOME DADDY!

Yesterday was a good day :) My husband and Evan and Collins daddy returned home after a long 2 1/2 week training in Chicago. For all those single parents out there, I had a small taste of what it is like. It takes a strong person to handle your own life and manage a couple of kids and a job on your own. When ever I started to get a little down and complain about how hard it was I would use a few women I know who do it everyday and really make it look easy and i would use them as my inspiration and drive to keep going. I know I only had to endure for a couple of weeks and some people have to do it for longer and I am so blessed and grateful to have Matt in my life. He is a wonderful husband and an awesome kick butt DADDY! I am not sure if I am the only one that sometimes think that my husband really was not a huge help with kids etc. but after he was gone for a while I realized how much he actually does.... for example
* Put kids in Jammies
* Reads kids stories before bed
* Brushes kids teeth
* Changes stinky diapers (without complaint) I hate to do this task!!!!
* Rough Houses with the kids
* Teaches them how to catch
* Teaches them how to ride bikes
* Plays video games with Evan
* Works on the yard
* Works hard to support our family
* Makes sure that me and him have special time together
* Teaches them the importance of church
* Does all that I ask of him (unload dishwasher, put clothes in dryer etc.)
*Oh yeah and somehow after all that finds time to rock it on his ski's and climb big mountains.

I don't think I tell him or show him enough actually how much I appreciate him and all he does for our family and for me. I love every minute I get to be with him and enjoy watching him love on our kids and our family. I am so proud of him and who he has become.

I love you Matt

My SECOND TRIATHLON

I just finished my 2nd Triathlon (yes 2nd). I competed in the Utah Summer Games with sister and brother-in-law Heidi and Will. They took place at Sand Hollow Resevoir in St. George. It was really fun ( I Know I must be crazy) but it feels good to accomplish something that you did not think was ever possible. My mom and dad and kids came and supported me at the race. It is great to have family cheer you on at each transition, I could not have done it without them. Evan ran with me the last little bit and crossed the finish line with me. That made it all worth it! I think I might just take it easy now but I know the pressure is on with my wonderful neighborhood women who push me to try harder and just keep going.

A BLOG ABOUT US!

Hi, ok so here goes nothing...... a few people in our neighborhood have set up these blogs and I am not sure I am up for the task but I can't let them one up us.... SO HERE IT GOES!!!!!

Welcome into our family... enjoy the ride YEAH

Stay Tuned for pictures.....