Santa "Troy"

We had our Annual Christmas Party for Troy's mother side of the family tonight and good ole Troy was Santa for the night. It was hilarious! He had everyone sing two Christmas Carols before he would start handing out presents. Here are a few pictures of the good Santa. He actually did a pretty good job. After handing out presents, he had everyone sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas". This was very surprising because we all know that Troy is a "Grinch" at Christmas. (At least he pretends to be). I love you all and hope that you are having a great Holiday Season. We'll see you soon at Barry & Belinda's home for the Annual Barry's Bonanza yada yada yada Extraordinaire . I can't ever remember what it is actually called. My Bad... Sorry Barry!

Funeral

Today was Bryce Brown's funeral. It was a very beautiful service. There was even a group from the Tabernacle Choir who sang 3 hymns and Jon Longhurst played the organ for the choir and played the prelude and the postlude. They were amazing. I wanted to try and talk to one of them and ask them if they knew Belinda and Barry but I didn't get a chance. (I'm sure they know them, who doesn't?) Anyway, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy also spoke at the funeral. Elder Robert Garf. His talk was wonderful and I know very comforting to the family. It was wonderful to hear about Bryce's life. There was laughter and tears as we heard the many experiences that Bryce has had in his short life. It was obvious that Bryce was very loved. There were so many people there. It almost looked like Stake Conference. Bryce's valiant battle with Cancer and Tammy's unrelenting support has had a profound effect on many people throughout the country and the world. Just reading their blog is proof of this fact. Tammy and Danika will continue to be in our prayers, as well as, Roger and Jeen. I hope they know how much they are loved and how grateful we are to be a part of their family. We are all so blessed.

MELANOMA STRIKES AGAIN!

Troy's cousin, Bryce Brown, died yesterday afternoon about 3:25 p.m. Bryce died due to complications from melanoma. He was first diagnosed about 7 years ago and he beat it then. They thought they caught it early and removed it all from his leg. Well, last July, he started having difficulty breathing. He went to the doctor and he several scans done and they found tumors in his lungs. From there the tumors spread to his brain and to his intestinal area. (Similar to Jennifer). He gave it a good fight. He and his wife and baby daughter Dani fought with all they had to try and beat this. You can learn more about his story by going to his website. Just click on his name in my favorite blogs. I know you will be touched. His story is beautifully told by his wife Tammy. She truly has a gift for writing and she puts you right there in the room with her with her writing. Our prayers go out to them and their families. If Bryce could leave any words of advice with all of us it would be to stay out of the sun. If you are in the sun, please wear sunblock. Make sure all of your loved ones wear sunblock. Do all you can to spare your family the pain that Melanoma inflicts upon them. This story hits very close to home for us and we have no excuses for not doing all we can to prevent this awful cancer from inflicting itself on one of us again.

BRYCE D. BROWN


DANIKA BROWN


TAMMY'S BIRTHDAY DINNER


BRYCE'S NEW HAIRCUT


BRYCE, TAMMY WITH ERIN HERRIN AND HER TWINS


CUTE FAMILY PICTURE


BRYCE IN HOSPITAL



BRYCE READING TO DANIKA


BRYCE & TAMMY WITH ROGER & JEEN BROWN (BRYCE'S PARENTS)


THEY ARE A FOREVER FAMILY!

Poor Kobe

We had to take our little Kobe to the Animal Hospital last night because somehow he got a really deep cut on his chest where his leg meets chest. It was a really big gash and he was bleeding bad. It was so sad. We couldn't pick him up without him crying. So we put him on his little bed and carried him to the car in that. He had to be sedated so that he could be stitched up. He has about 15 - 20 little stitches. We are trying to keep him from bothering the stitches. We had a cone around his head but he did not like that at all. He slept from the time we got him home about 8:30 p.m. until about 6:30 this morning. It was so sad. But he started feeling better as the day went on. He is still tender and we have to be careful not to pick him up near the wound. Whenever he jumps off the couch or off the bed, he yelps a little bit. He is on pain meds and antibiotics so we hope he will have a clean bill of health in a week or so. He gets the stitches out in 10 days. Yay! We have no clue how he cut it but I know that he will probably be more careful when he is running around outside. Afterall, he runs about 180 mph in the back yard. It's pretty funny. So, I thought you might want to to know the little drama we had at our house. Other than that, we are all doing just fine. :)

Kobe's Slideshow

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Summer at Bear Lake 2007

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Holiday "Cricket" Inn

Our 2nd night we stayed in Paris, Texas. This was the day of the funeral. At the cemetary there were so many crickets I was afraid one might jump up my skirt. I knew I would scream if one did. Lucky for everyone around us, the crickets didn't invade me. :) I have never seen so many crickets in my life. They were everywhere. David kind of enjoyed the crunch sound as he stepped on them as we walked to and from the room. Poor Cookie didn't realize that she had the big cricket over her bed during the night. Hehehe!

 

 

 

Visit with Kay and Angela

We took Kay and Angela to Dinner at Chili's and then they came back over to our motel and we talked and took pictures. It was so great to have this time with them. Jeff went with his cousins that night.

 

 

 

 

After the Funeral

These are the pallbearers taking Ronnie's casket to the hearse. They worked with Ronnie and in his honor, they wore their hardhats.

 

 

 

 

A Day at Thanksgiving Point Gardens

Dad and Mona are in town and we thought it would be fun to go down to Thanksgiving Point Gardens. Dad and I were in the golf cart we rented and this photo opportunity was too much to resist. Enjoy!





DADDY IS SO BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS!! :)



AREN'T THEY A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE? WE LOVE YOU DAD AND MONA!


THE VIEWS WERE AMAZING AND WE WANTED TO GET INDIVIDUAL PICTURES WITH DADDY AND MONA. I DIDN'T HAVE PICTURES OF LORNA AND ANNETTE WITH THEM BUT LORNA HAS THEM ON HER CAMERA.



THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF MONA WITH THESE YELLOW ROSES BEHIND HER. SHE LOVED THOSE ROSES AND WANTED A PICTURE OF THEM. I'M GLAD SHE DID.



DADDY STEALING A KISS IN THE "SECRET GARDEN". HE GAVE ALL US GIRLS A KISS FIRST. ISN'T HE SWEET? WE LOVE YOU DADDY!



WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN IN THE SPRING WHEN IT IS THE TULIP SEASON! WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY WITH DAD AND MONA AND THEN WE MET BARRY AND BELINDA, ERIC AND BROOKE W/BOSTON AT "CHADDERS" IN AMERICAN FORK AND THEN WE WENT OVER TO DESERET BOOK TO SPEND MORE MONEY AND HARASS OUR LOVING BROTHER BARRY. IT WAS FUN. I MUST ADMIT, WHEN WE GET TOGETHER WE REALLY DO HAVE A LOT OF FUN!

Primary Stress & Life at this moment

Okay, we are in the midst of practicing for our annual Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation. We have had 2 practices so far and I think it is finally coming along. All the children are adorable and they are really trying to do their part. I know that the day of the program, we will have ministering angels with us to help the children with the singing and I know that it will be great. Right now I am just stressing because I have to keep updating the program because of new kids moving in and trying to write them a part at the last minute. But it's okay. I have had a wonderful group of friends who have helped me to do this. So many wonderful friends who are willing to be my legs and do things on the Stand that I can't really run around and do. I appreciate so much their help. I am being watched over and I know that Heavenly Father knows my needs and knows that I hate to ask for help, but somehow these people just show up and ask how they can help me. It is wonderful and I love these people for their friendship and willingness to help me as much as I need them. We have the program on the 30th of September and then my stress level will be so much better. Yahoo!!! Life will be good then. I am feeling relatively well. I can't complain too much today. I had a nice nap which I must have needed and it felt wonderful. Troy and all the kids went to visit Granny and Grandpa and I fell asleep on the bed. It was awesome. Love you all! Wendy

Birthday Cake for Mallory

We weren't able to have birthday cake for Mallory up in the Uintahs while camping so we had cake and homemade ice cream for her on Sunday the 9th. It was fun. I made Burnt Almond Fudge Ice cream (yes it was homemade) Impressive huh?

This is the "WILL YOU FORGIVE ME?" cake from Gabe because he missed the little party the day before and Mallory was a LITTLE upset with him.

More Camping Pics

We did a little "clay pigeon" shooting and the dog didn't appreciate the noise. (Croall's dog Oakley). Mallory & Gabe, Michael & Carson enjoying the beauty of the Uintahs. It really was beautiful up there.

Moose on the Loose at Camp

Well, we were all sitting around the campfire on Sunday evening and we had just finished dinner. It was starting to rain a little so I don't think we were going to sit out there much longer. While we were enjoying the warmth of the fire, I noticed a big animal in the distance. (Maybe 50 yards away, not sure exactly). Anyway, the more I looked at it and told everyone else about it, we noticed it was a hug Bull Moose. It came around some trees and was rubbing his Antlers on the tree. (I think he was a little frustrated). Well, at this point he turned and saw us at our camp. He started walking toward us and then he started running toward us. All of a sudden, everyone cleared out in a hurry to get away from this running moose who was headed toward us and he didn't look happy. I was sitting in a camp chair and it isn't easy for me to just get up and start running. So, the last thing I heard was the sweet and endearing words from Mallory saying, (as she was running as fast as she could to the trailer to save herself), "Dad, save Mom!" I was trying to hurry the best I could and not daring to look back to see where the moose was. Well, Troy slowly and nonchalantly came and helped me to the trailer like it was no big deal. (However he was impressed that I was able to move as fast as I did). He had noticed that the moose had stopped and turned around and went back into the trees. We heard another moose back there with him so it was a little frightening because I have heard that Moose can be very mean and will charge at people if they feel threatened. So, that was the big adventure for our weekend. But I will never forget the words, "Dad, Save Mom!" as Mallory and Gabe ran to the trailer saving themselves. I will NEVER let them live that down. Later, Gabe felt really bad for running into the trailer before me. He wa so fast that he ran smack into Michael with an umbrella. Michael and Carson witnessed the whold thing from the trailer. I guess now we can laugh about it. I wish I had pictures of the big moose but it all happened too fast and it was almost dark anyway. So, enjoy another episode in the life of the Hanson's. Never a dull moment. :)

Trailer Trash Seen in the Uintahs

First of all, let me just say, I was no where around when these pictures were taken. I was at Church when there was a big rain storm up at camp. Apparently my husband and Mallory and Gabe decided it would be a great time to wash up. So, as embarrassed as I am to show you these pictures, it will also give you a little laugh and a glimpes of the silliness of my sweet and demented family. Please don't love us any less because of this white trash moment. :)