Zoo Trip

I am not a big zoo person but Jeanette asked me if we wanted to go to the zoo before the kids go back to school. It was a really fun trip. Finn and Erik joined us for a while. I think this was the best trip I had to the zoo.

Everyone together weighs 982 pounds the same size as a baby elephant.

Memorial Day Weekend

This memorial day was incredibly relaxing! My mom rented her time share up in Park City and we spent the weekend up in Park City! I did a lot of flower arrangements. It was a wonderful way to spend the weekend. For the first time in a long time I didn't have huge amounts of arrangements to do I just had some basic arrangements. I wasn't stressed at all with this years flowers. It also helped that a friend ordered flowers from the wholesale house for me! So it was one stop shopping! I love the flower wholesale house. I could spend hours and thousands of dollars in there. Kimmie's birthday didn't fall on Memorial weekend this year like it has in the past so we weren't worried about birthday party anything either. So the weekend went like this....

Saturday- we got up got ready did a couple flower arrangements went to the cemetary for Erik's mom and my aunt Ann and went to Park City. We did dinner, shopping and the swimming pool and went to bed.

Sunday- we went to church at the visitors ward in Park City. The kids did great through the one hour church and I even forgot the church bag with the snacks and things in it. We went back to the condo and I fell asleep. Erik took Johnny for a walk and my Mom taught Kimmie how to crochet. We did dinner and played phase 10 until bed time.

Monday- got up did more flower arranging. Erik started cooking dutch oven for lunch. Went to the cemetary did more flower arranging at the cemetary. Went back to the condo Erik had lunch ready, my aunt Jo, Glenda, my cousin and her husband and son came up. We had lunch sat and talked, took the kids to the playground. We took Jo back to the cemetary and walked around for quite a while.

I got sunburned with all of this although it was a weekend that was worth while. I will have to add some flower photos and some photos of the kids on the playground later. The weekend was so calm and relaxing I wish every Memorial Day was as calm as this one was.

Christmas Recap

I have been a little busy working on things for Crop and I haven't updated about our Christmas fun! We were so excited to have Erik's sister Lara come and stay with us for a couple days during the holidays. Christmas eve has always been a nightmare were our families are concerned. I love both families and both of them have their traditional dinners on Christmas Eve. Well with it being my birthday I feel really torn. A few years ago I determined that I was not going anywhere and they were going to have to come and see me. So this year my Mom did the Palmer party at her house the Saturday before Christmas (see Nativity post). That was really nice. On my birthday we had my traditional birthday breakfast with my family. Then we went to Hansen's for a Danish traditional Christmas dinner. I have to laugh at how cute Finn (my father-in-law) was about the whole thing. I can't believe how much he got into making sure that everything was just right. My kids enjoyed dancing around the Christmas tree the most. I am sure that this will be a Christmas they will remember for a long time. Then off to home and bed. First thing in the morning Santa had been to our home and brought lots of presents. Thank you to the extra Santa's for the extra goodies. My kids were really spoiled! The funny thing is that when Kimmie sat on Santa's knee this year she made sure to tell him that Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Lara would be at our house Christmas morning so he needed to make sure to bring stocking gifts for them too. Thank you to Mervyns sale I found really cute new stockings for the extra family to ensure that Santa could bring them something too! She is so cute to think of everyone. That is until Christmas morning. She torn through everything like a little tasmanian devil. Anything that had a letter K somewhere on the tag had to be for her. So she ended up unwraping my gifts. We braved the elements and took the normally 45 minute drive to Grandpa and Grandma's house in about an hour and a half. I was really relieved to actually arrive there. I felt a little guilty unwrapping presents and leaving only a little while after we got there but the roads were so bad getting there I didn't want to get stuck. Although we did a little of that too. We got stuck coming out of my parents house we couldn't get up the street. So thank you Erik, Mike and Dad for pushing my heavy minivan up the hill. I was really grateful to get home and spend a quiet evening just to our little family. Thank you everyone for making this a really nice and calm holiday.

Photos: The Palmer Grandchildren (minus Scott and Laurie) , Kimmie in her Tutu made by Grandma Marijo, Erik in Kimmie's tutu, Johnny with a few of his gifts Christmas morning.

Nativity

I have to tell you that my Dad's family (the Palmer's) are not really big into the Christmas thing where religion is concerned. I don't remember very many times even hearing the Christmas story out of the Bible with Palmers. But this year Grandpa and Grandma had a party at their house. The grandkids did a nativity. Thank you to my aunt Susan for the costumes. The kids had a great time and Kimmie has been trying to talk everyone she knows into doing the nativity with her. Johnny and Kimmie made great a great Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus was played by my cousins baby Timothy.

This years Christmas letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, Erik quit his job of 12 years at Target, we sold our house, pulled the kids out of school, and are moving to a commune in Montana to grow organic food, raise animals, and live in peace with the universe. Ok, maybe not . . . we changed our minds once we realized there was no indoor plumbing. Truthfully, we sold our home and moved to another home in West Jordan. We are still in boxes (therefore no cute homemade Christmas cards this year) but we are enjoying more space. We wanted to start this letter with something more interesting than "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" (It still got in!).

For those of you saying "but Kris, your Christmas letter is the most exciting part of my family's Christmas celebration and we look forward to it with joyful glee and anticipation" - OK . . . this section's for you . . . the usual facts/stats about kids, etc. - or, as Erik says, "the blah, blah part."
You are welcome to skip this section and jump to the "with love" part if you want.

Hansen family 2008 facts and stats (read in a monotone, it gives you the full effect).

Erik: is still at Target and after 12 years he got demoted then promoted and now is back in charge of electronics where he loves it! He is missing our calling as the Young Single Adult reps in our old ward and is looking forward to new experiences in our new area.

Kris: Still works for Intermountain Power Agency part time. I am also the President of Epilepsy Association of Utah. I am still enjoying the working with the summer camp and Crop Because You Care. I have had the opportunity to speak in a few different places this year and am scheduled to do a lot more speaking next year. I also worked really closely with the legislatures to pass HB361.

Kimmie: Is now doing well. She is now in 5th grade. She is learning to read and is now “large” seizure free for the past eight weeks (knock on wood here please). The doctors are really impressed at how well she is doing. We had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Chiron from France in August at the International Dravet Education Conference in Chicago. Aunt Lara came the last couple days of the conference to play with Kimmie. They had a great time. We are incredibly grateful for the friends and family that did so much to get us there. It has made a huge difference in her life the past few months! She is also starting to read!

Johnny: Is now in Kindergarten, and is doing well. He has a few girls that he likes although no girlfriends yet (he is way too young for that). He is loving being in school and learning. The teacher tells us that he is incredibly tender hearted and amazingly smart. He is incredibly shy at school although none of the rest of us see that side of him. He is looking forward to a full day of school next fall (Mom is looking forward to that as well). He is also learning to read and is enjoying helping his sister with the reading process. He started playing tee-ball this past year and loved it. He can’t wait until spring so that he can try soccer.

Ok . . . now before you go to sleep we do wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2009!

With Love and Affliction,

Erik, Kris, Kimmie and Johnny

Black Friday

Yes, I am one of those crazy shoppers that went out on black friday!!! Erik had to work it and Bethany and I wanted to shop so Jarin took care of all six kids. Thank you Jarin!!! We brought him pizza as a thank you! Bethany and I had a great time. I got so many good deals! I am almost all the way done. I have a few things left to get for my kids but not much. I also have only three individuals of the 15 we buy for between both families left. We weren't crazy enough to go out at 4 or 5 am. Although Erik had to be at work at 4. This year he was not harmed in anyway execpt being overly tired by working Black Friday for 13 hours! About ten years ago when a certain elmo was the rage he got in the middle of two Grandma's fighting over one. For some reason this years madness seemed to be worse than in years past. I don't know if the economy being so bad spared people to run over a individual and kill him or what.

Then my evening came! Once a year my family gets together to honor my aunt Ann and we go do sealings at the Temple. This was a far cry from the shopping I had done earlier in the day. It was an amazing experience like it always is. Thank you to my family for having such a neat tradition. Ann is definately watching and smiling at all of us!

Family Photos- November 2008

Laura came to visit this last weekend as I said in my earlier post. She hasn't edited these photos but I couldn't wait to share them (sorry Laura).

Dating Advice from my kids

It has been a very interesting week this past week. Last Tuesday I went to the 100 celebration of Bingham High. Which I am very proud to say I attended and graduated from in 1993! Anyway it was amazing thing and I will have to write more about it later because this post isn't about that. Erik graduated from Brighton in 1989. So he is coming up on his 20 year reunion. So he wanted to go to homecoming. He took Johnny and his Dad and went to the football game. He arranged a babysitter and asked me to the dance. So I agreed mainly in disbelief that my husband arranged the whole thing and wanted to take me dancing. I love to dance although he is not the most graceful person in the world and hates it. So I agreed thinking he would never actually go. Low and behold he really planned on taking me to Brighton's homecoming. We got all dressed up and went! I had a great time although many young people kept looking at us old people on the dance floor and pointing. I couldn't decide if I had something in my teeth or hanging from me or it was just cuz I am old. Anyway, as I went to pick up Erik from work and get ready for the dance my kids started asking me questions. The conversation went a little like this...

Kimmie: "Mom are you going to kiss Daddy while you are dancing tonight?"

Johnny: "No that is gross, she wouldn't do that."

Kimmie: "Mom so are you? The price always kisses Cinderella while they are dancing. (I don't know which Cinderella she is watching, but I liked the reference to Cinderella).

Me: "I don't know we will have to see." (thinking I really don't want to discuss this with my children)

Johnny: "Good cuz kissing is yucky."

Kimmie: "I think I like it and I will kiss my prince charming some day."

Me: "yes Kimmie." (thinking I hope this conversation is now over)

Kimmie: "Mom"

Me: "What?"

Kimmie: "If you plan on kissing Daddy tonight please make sure he doesn't eat jalapenos with his dinner. It makes his breath stink, and that is really icky."

Me: (trying not to laugh because she was so servious) "You will have to tell Daddy I don't think he will like that very much from me."

Johnny: "Yeah, don't tell Daddy what to eat, that is Mommy's job. (thinking) but it does stink."

Kimmie: "I will because he can't be a prince charming with stinky breath."

Erik gets in the car. I start laughing.
Erik: "What is so funny?"

Me: "Kimmie why don't you tell Daddy your advice for kissing Mommy tonight?"
Erik puzzled

Kimmie: "He won't be prince charming if I have to tell him everything. "

So my evening was fun and we had a great time. I got wonderful advice from my kids. My kids had a great time at KFC and bowling with Grandpa and Grandma!

Stock Car

I have never been a big race fan. Although I after watching the movie Cars and Herbie Fully Loaded about a million times I have started to learn a few things. The building I work in also houses the World Financial Group that is the main sponsor for Carl Edwards. Apparently he is one of the best. Looking at his stats I was pretty impressed. Anyway they brought the stock car out to show off and let the kids sit in it. So here are my kids with Carl Edward's stock car. Kimmie thought it was cool but that was about it. Johnny on the other hand couldn't stop talking about it. He was so incredibly happy it was so cute.

Football Time

Every year around my anniversary it starts... FOOTBALL SEASON. When we got married I didn't understand just how serious this football season thing is. Although over the last thirteen years I have gotten use to most of the football stuff. Even leaving for the BYU games four hours early. My Dad for my birthday about eight or nine years ago gave me a sign that says, "We intrupt this marriage to bring you Football season." Boy is that the truth in my home. To Erik's defense things have gotten much better over the years. He now only checks the scores of most games and watches certain games. Then he listens to the after news sports programs and sports talk radio to catch anything he has missed. Only when I am not with him that is. But I thought we would have a few years before these type of photos would show up. At least until Johnny was old enough to play. For our yard sale we had football pads given to us to sale. I don't know what ever happened to them the day is still kind of a blur. But here is my daughter in football pads.

Anniversary

This year is a little weird for Erik and I's anniversary. On Monday we will have been married 13 years! I can't believe that we have made it through some of the toughest times in our lives and have survived! With Kimmie and I headed to Chicago next week we can't really do much for our anniversary. We are still trying to work it all out. But honey I just want you to know that I love you and appreciate the husband, father, and friend that you are. I LOVE YOU!!!

Party

My Dad turned 57 this month. He got sick and so we had to postpone his birthday party. So this last weekend we got together and partied. Happy Birthday Dad!!! The kids had a water party and played a few new fun water games. Including water volleyball. Here is a picture of Laurie, Kimmie and Adrianne playing against Johnny and Brad. I don't know where Zack was?

Then we got out the ATV's which Johnny has named one of Grandma's ATV's Lightening McQueen. He was to scared to go on a ride although would put the helmet on and take a photos. Erik took Kimmie on a ride and I wasn't nice about it. I hate it when my husband makes me be the bad guy. We had decided that she couldn't ride the ATV's and all of a sudden Dad says yes and Mom is the bad guy. So she ended up going. Although she looks cute! She had a good time. But we over did her night and she had some seizures. But she had a great time!

HONK

My sister-in-law Jeanette and my niece Lizzy were in HONK! The musical telling of the Ugly Duckling story. I got a few photos! They did a wonderful job. I was really blessed and got to see the show twice! Lizzy is the second one over on the left in the group photo. Jeanette is on the end in the back. She played a great mommy duck. Although she is an amazing mom so that doesn't suprise anyone that she can play a part like this it just is natural. Kimmie was the one we were worried about taking to this play because Lizzy has to make fun of "Ugly." Kimmie doesn't like teasing and Lizzy doesn't have a single mean bone in her body so I didn't know how this was going to play out. But suprisingly Kimmie did really well. Johnny had trouble. He was crying when "ugly" flew away with the swans. He couldn't believe anyone would leave Aunt Jeanette. "Ugly" returns and all ends up happy but Johnny just cried. He is so tenderhearted. Great job Lizzy and Jeanette!!!

About Me

I received this e-mail from my sister-in-law. You are suppost to place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not. Then fill out the bottom questions. So I filled this out for me...

( X) Gone on a blind date
( X) Skipped school
(X ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
( X ) Been on a plane
( X ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , D.C.
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X ) Sang Karaoke
( x ) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
( x) Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (and other places)
(X ) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( x ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the movies

01. Any nickname(s) Krissy
02. Mother's name.. Betty
03. Your favorite drink? Diet Coke
04. Tattoo? NO
05. Body piercing? ears
06. How much do you love your job? I REALLY like it although I wouldn't say love.
07. Birthplace? Scottsdale, Arizona
08. Favorite vacation spot? anywhere
09. Ever been to Africa ? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Yes (MORE TIMES THEN I WANT TO ADMIT)
11. Ever been on TV? Yes
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? No
13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
14. Drive a 2-door or a 4-door vehicle? 4-door
15. Favorite salad dressing? French
16. Favorite pie? Cherry or Apple
17. Favorite number? 2
18. Favorite movie? American President, Cutting Edge, any chick flick really
19. Favorite holiday ? Christmas
20. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream
21. Favorite food? Italian
22. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Victoria Secret
24. Favorite tooth paste? Aim
25. Favorite smell? a flower shop cooler, the air right after a spring rain storm
26. What do you do to relax? Watch movies
27. Dad's name? Randy
28. How do you see yourself in 10 years? I don't have any idea
29. Furthest place you will send this message? Tennessee
30. Who will respond the fastest? ?
31. Who would you want to have your back in a fight? My family (including my wonderful sister-in-laws), Laura and Bethany

Billy's Wedding

We have had a few busy days at our house lately. One of these days I will get the photos on here of Kimmie's birthday party. Although I need to edit them so they are taking more time. But yesterday my cousin Billy got married to a cute girl named Melissa. The bride and groom looked wonderful and they are very happy.

The reception was really nice but my daughter thinks that my cousin Julie's husband is her boyfriend (don't get a big head Bo she has four others from school). Anyway she had a need to dance with Bo every time she sees him. Thank you Bo for playing along and being so good with Kimmie. Also for letting Johnny be in the photo. I think these photos are just sweet.

David Scott Hill III

I have a new nephew! He is the sweetest thing. Shelly is doing well. She even looks beautiful just after delivering! Things went well... She delivered at around 9:45 this morning or so. He is 8 pounds 4 ounces and 20 inches long. He looks a lot like Adrianne. She is so excited to have her new baby brother! He is already a very busy baby!

Congrats Shelly!

Erik

I was reading a friends blog and she had written all of these nice things about how wonderful her husband was. Then I started to feel guilty. Yes I know that you are so suprised at this idea. Me with guilt. Erik had a bad week a work last week and did some changing to his work schedule and pay and things without consulting with me. I spent all of last week really MAD. I don't know that I was even reasonable in any sense of the word. I really calmed down when he said...

"...this decision has brought me more peace than any other decision I have made in the last three months. I hope you can understand this."

I started to calm down. Things really weren't as bad as I was making them to be. Yes I am very inconvienced by his decision and it makes by life a lot harder but he is at peace. Okay maybe he can regain some of his health that he has lost in the last little while. The doctor said if he kept going at the rate he was he would die in the next 10-15 years. So maybe I needed to calm down. I am still not really happy about the changes to work but I would rather have my husband's health and him here than the 50 cents an hour he is loosing.

With that all being said. Erik has done some amazing things for me lately. I don't know if it is to make up for missing my Birthday or if he just wanted to remind me that he loves me. Heaven knows he will never forget my Birthday again.

Yesterday when I wanted to be up at the capital building early he took off work an hour and got the kids off to school. He even commented on how I looked and found my missing shoe as I was trying to get out the door. He didn't even whine about missing or changing his schedule he just made the changes and kissed me good luck.

He has brought me roses four times in the last two months. He even arranged them for me. One of those times I was stressed getting ready for crop and he put a single red rose on the seat of the van so I would find it when I ran out the door.

He took great care of me while I was sick.

He never said anything about all the crop stuff all over the house for a full month and remaining things still in our garage.

Last night to celebrate my work he took me for dinner. He even said he would go where ever I picked (which is not something he usually says). Although we had the kids with us so I picked a family friendly place.

He arranged a babysitter last Saturday and took me out. I know this sounds really stupid but after fighting all week we needed to get out just the two of us. We used some left over gift cards and just the two of us went out for 3 1/2 hours. The main point is it was his idea and he arranged the babysitting!

Just incase I haven't said it enough lately thank you for being you! I love you.

Idaho Trip

We went to Idaho this last weekend to visit the new Rexburg Temple. We had a wonderful time. The kids loved the temple! I loved to hear their responses as they went through the temple. Erik and I felt like it was one of the top experiences in our parenting. Kimmie started to sing "I love to see the Temple" as we started driving up the hill close to the temple. Johnny and Laura's kids joined in. I started to cry. Johnny liked the movie, the elevators, and the painting on the wall that Erik's old bishop did. The mural was
totally amazing. I hope that they have him do one at the Oquirrh Mountain temple. Kimmie loved the eternity mirrors and the baptismal font. She thought the whole thing was really cool.




Laura took some family photos of us while we were there. There are a couple of them that I absolutely love! I am posting the family 8x10 that she did and the B &W of the kids. I can't wait to have them all printed.

Happy New Year and Christmas posting

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas was wonderful at our home. Thank you everyone for your love and kindness that you brought to our home this Christmas season.

The kids top picture is from the Palmer party at Grandma's on Christmas day. The second isn't a great picture but is from Christmas with the Hansen's I thought Johnny looked too priceless. I can't wait to get copies from Lara's camera.

Kimmie had a great Christmas and got everything, plus everything else that she wanted. Her excitement has been over her "little sweetie" she got a princess baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa that she has named Emily. She has been taking it everywhere with her. The doll wasn't even on her original shopping list so it is nice to see that she is loving other things than what wasn't in the Target toy ad.

Johnny had a wonderful Christmas. He is overjoyed about his Leappad learning system. He got four books and I saved a few more for a latter date and he has been playing with them so much I may give him the new books earlier than I expected. This wasn't on the toy ad shopping list either. He is loving every minute of playing with it. I am loving that he is watching less TV and playing something educational. He was really cute Christmas morning. He kept looking for things with his name on it. He even managed to open the gift from him to Kimmie. He just ripped through his gifts and was done with all of it in no time flat. Kimmie had to wake him up in the morning but it didn't take long for him to realize it was Christmas morning and get out of his usual morning funk.

Erik is still getting out of trouble for forgetting my Birthday and Christmas gifts. I am not real nice about him forgetting something like that. I am really good about him forgetting mother's day and our anniversary but not Christmas and my birthday. So he was feeling really bad to open gifts from me and the kids and have nothing to give me for Christmas.

New Years was rather uneventful. Usually we have had family over for the holiday and no one was able to come. So we went to bed early. I know that is showing our old age.

So back to the usual work and school days.

Crop is only one month away now and I am already far behind where I want to be on it. If you are interested in coming be sure and click the link to the right and register!