YES CAMERON! THERE IS AN EASTER BUNNY!

My sister and I went to Sam's Club on Saturday and were greeted by an "Easter Bunny". So for charity I donated $5 for Primary Children's Hospital and we got a picture with the Easter Bunny. Enjoy these crazy cousins Scotty and Cameron.

I FEEL SO BAD!!!

I feel so bad for not blogging. Okay, here is the thing. I don't have a good reason for not keeping up on my blog. Other than my computer crashed and now I'm not able to (easily) add pictures. There isn't a slot for an SD card. So, now I am going to have to figure out how to hook my camera up to the computer. So, I will do that soon. I have lots of pictures to add from my trip to South Carolina.

For now, I will just catch up on what is going on. NOTHING! Just kidding. Troy is busy with work and now trying to raise money for the Annual MS Bike Ride in June. So, if you are interested, you can find "Team Bintz" on Facebook and become a fan. And if you feel so inclined, donate a few dollars to help find a cure for MS. I am so proud of Troy and my daughter Mallory for riding in this event every year. We also have lots of friends who ride for Team Bintz too. It's awesome. Since I can't ride, I am there for support.

Michael and Mallory are still working and going to school. Michael is now going to the best school, The "U"! He transferred this semester. He even made the Dean's list last Semester. We are proud of him for that. He is still living at home which is best for him because he can hurry through school and not have to worry about rent and other expenses. Mallory is still going to SLCC continuing her studies in photography. She has done some amazing work. She has also done some engagement pictures and just recently took pictures for a wedding. I'm proud of her. I will be so sad when she moves out next month. :( Yep, she is moving. More information will be coming regarding that.

Cameron is now 16 years old and that in itself is very scary. Where did my little boy go? He has also grown a foot in the last year. He and Troy have been working on a Toyota Cruiser (with a lot of help from our friend Scott Smith). They have been having so much fun with it. Now it is drivable. So sorry neighbors! Soon, Cameron will be driving that cruiser to school and hopefully to work. HE NEEDS A JOB! For MANY reasons.

So, now that I caught us up a little bit, I will try and get some pictures up here that makes a blog so much more interesting. Don't forget TEAM BINTZ!!!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - MEMORY

Okay, no pictures with this flashback. I was just thinking about some of the funny things my kids said when they were little. One of the funniest had to be Mallory. Mallory was probably 5 years old and we were driving home from somewhere and she said (very seriously)"Dad, I think I'm going to Kupe." (She meant to say "Puke") It was Priceless but funny. We didn't laugh because we knew what she meant and we didn't want to hurt her feelings. But we did get her home in time. She didn't "Kupe". She just has car sickness once in a while. She often made us laugh. Actually, she still does. :) We do love to tease her occasionally about that. Just another day in the life of "The Hanson's". More memories to come.....

HAPPY "2010"

As you can tell by the time of this post, I've been awake for about 40 minutes. Yes, I REALLY slept in. Isn't that what you are suppose to do on New Years Day? I had a rough night. My legs were shooting off fireworks again so I didn't get to sleep until probably 4:00 a.m. But that's okay. We had an small, quaint, little dinner with friends and of course Troy cooked the traditional Prime Rib Roast. (Well, I actually baked it, Troy just did all the seasoning and got it ready). It was a team effort and it turned out awesome. We ate, and ate and until we were ready to die. We played "Apples to Apples", the younger kids played a game on xbox. "Modern Warfare" or something like that and it got quite loud. But I think they had a good time. Then we talked while waiting for the big ball at Time Square to drop and welcome the new year and kiss our sweethearts. (Actually I think our dog Abby got a kiss from Troy before I did) Just kidding. It just appeared that way.

Now, I should write down some big time resolutions like "Lose weight" or something for this year but I'm not going to because I will just be depressed at the end of the year because I will have accomplished NOTHING on my list. So, I will just make some easy resolutions: Be a better wife, be a better mother, be a better sister, be a better friend. I think these are do-able. There is nothing like a new year to give you a clean slate. My prayers for the new year are: Continued good health for me and my family, continued happiness for me and my family, and continue our wonderful relationships with our friends. We have been blessed with such great friends. Especially here in the neighborhood and ward. We have found long lasting friendships. There is nothing better than to have strong relationships with family and friends. To know that there isn't anything we wouldn't do for each other. We have been truly blessed in this way. I hope you all know how much we love and appreciate you. We want the best for you all in 2010.

GOOD INTENTIONS

I posted this on my facebook but I thought I really should post it here too. I really had good intentions on getting Christmas cards sent out but alas the keyword is "intentions". I didn't do it and I am going to try not to beat myself up over it. So, I'll just say to all of my wonderful family and friends out there, Merry Christmas! I hope you all enjoy these precious days with your loved ones and make memories that will last a lifetime. May the new year bring peace on earth and in our hearts. May we all be healthy, happy, and able to enjoy and endure what 2010 brings.

ONE LITTLE PIGGY STAYED HOME

Well, Cameron is sick! Don't know if it is the "Swine" or not but he has all the symptoms of it. I'm keeping him down for the most part and giving him plenty of liquids. Not to mention Advil, Mucinex, and lots of tissues. He is miserable. The headache and congestion are the worst. I called the doctor and they said that if the fever lasts for more than 3 days to bring him in. If the congestion lasts more than a week to bring him in. Or if he just gets worse in general to bring him in. So, I'm guessing there really isn't much they can do until he is really bad off. That is scary. Anyway, I am trying to keep things sanitized wherever he goes and touches. I've emailed all his teachers to let them know what is going on and to see if they will email his assignments. (Not that he would do them anyway, but it was his idea so what the heck). So, all of our wonderful friends and family might want to stay away from our house for a little while. Sorry, I think we were going to have FHE here tonight. Better reschedule that one. I hope that you all can stay healthy and if Cameron has been around you I am so sorry. This didn't come on until Saturday night. I hope that no one was around him to catch it from him.

NEW MOON

Okay, I know that a lot of people are sick of hearing or reading about "New Moon" so this will be the last time I mention those two words on this blog. (I hope). But, I saw the movie twice and when I saw it the first time I came away liking it. Not loving it. Then I went to see it again and I liked it more. I stopped trying to compare it with the book and decided that the movie was better than the book. The special effects were amazing. Jacob might be really cute and as Bella said, he is really "Buff", but I am still Team Edward. I wish that he would work out a little more. Work on those abs like Jacob did. So, if you are still debating on whether or not to go and see the movie? I say DO IT! It is better than Twilight. You will be entertained for a couple of hours and please don't forget the popcorn with extra butter. :)

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN HIM WITH ME...

WHY I SHOULD NEVER TAKE TROY SHOPPING....

One of my favorite passtimes is to shop....unfortunately, it's not one of Troy's. He prefers to go in and get out without wasting time! I however like to browse and have begged him to accompany me on my shopping trips. Target happens to be one of my favorites as I can shop for food and wonder around in other departments for other treasures...until today, when I received this letter.....

Dear Mrs. Hanson,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Hanson, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

15. October 25: Asked a cashier, while holding several boxes fleet enema's, "where's the restroom"?

And last, but not least:

15. October 27: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out.

Sorry, we know the holidays are just around the corner so we ask that you please, please, please, shop at Walmart.

THE HELP

I am reading this book that Cookie gave me for my birthday. I can't put it down (although I have to). Here is a synopsis of the book and a review from the Washington Post.

"Synopsis

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women:

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town...

The Washington Post - Sybil Steinberg

Southern whites' guilt for not expressing gratitude to the black maids who raised them threatens to become a familiar refrain. But don't tell Kathryn Stockett because her first novel is a nuanced variation on the theme that strikes every note with authenticity. In a page-turner that brings new resonance to the moral issues involved, she spins a story of social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide."

We had a sweet lady who was our "help" while I was growing up and her name was Pansy. We loved her so much. I know she loved us too. We were not among the "White, snobby society" that was obviously there in the south. Pansy died many years ago and the last time I saw her was at Cookie or Lorna's wedding reception. A long time ago.

Thanks for the book Cookie. I really have enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

Tell Me Why -

My sister Kay sent this to me and I thought it was amazing and wanted to share it. "This is a video of a 13-year old boy singing a song for which he wrote the lyrics and composed the music. Incidentally, he also has a very nice singing voice, into which he puts all of the nuances of emotion, pathos and passion that he can muster at his tender age. This boy gives this song, which has a very strong message, ALL he has in his presentation. Bravo! Enjoy!"

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - Halloween 1994

Here is a picture of Michael (8) as a Ninja, Mallory(6) as Fairy Princess, and baby Cameron (8 months) as a bumblebee. Aren't they cute?

Cameron's School Picture

I love technology.... (I'm not going to sing the song). Anyway, this year I ordered the CD that came with the picture package. So all I had to do was copy it to my hard drive without having to scan it. They put the pictures in color, black and white, and Sepia. They are so cute I have to put all three on here. He actually looks like a High School kid. That means he is growing up. What a happy day...... :)