Watch Out Lee's Summit Road Patrons!

Hunter got his driver's license a few weeks ago and this past weekend Papa & Susan visited and were so kind as to deliver his truck (we bought it from a friend in Waterloo who owns a car dealership)!

While Hunter is an "okay" driver, it still frightens me to think of him driving all by himself ... without me there to boss him around! I have to remind myself that I wasn't *always* a perfect driver, right!? : )

It will be nice that Hunter is able to take himself to school on days he needs to go early ... or go to a friend's house and, eventually, take Dayne to a friends house!

Isn't She Lovely?

My pretty little lady!

Valentine's Day 2010

Graden and I had the opportunity for a weekend away for Valentine's Day weekend! Donna is staying with us until mid-March so she was able to stay with the kids!

Graden had to take his boat to the Ranger factory in Flippin, Arkansas to get a wrap put on (basically a big sticker on the boat, for one of his sponsors - Cabela's). So, while we were down that way we thought we'd make the most of it and stay in Branson along the way! Since he used to travel a lot for work, he has a lot of points for Marriott so we were able to stay at this resort for free as well!

Not only a great, romantic weekend away .... but it was all expense paid, too!

The resort we stayed at. Very nice!

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And to make the weekend that much better, this is what I came home to: A Valentine's Day present from my wonderful daughter!

Happy New Year from the Hansen's!

This year we brought in the New Year by celebrating at a friend of a friend's house! Gretchen arrived just in time to be able to join us! While we did make it slightly past midnight, we had to be "smart" with our choices since I had to be to work *EARLY* the next morning. (Prescription benefits start over on January 1st of each year so people want their medications right away!)

Here is to a great 2010 to all our friends and family!

Love,

The Hansen Family

Hansen Christmas 2009

For Christmas this year we celebrated Christmas at home (some years we travel to Iowa) and had Donna, Gretchen, TJ and Kylie visit for a while!


Unfortunately, I had to work so I didn't get to spend much time with everyone, but it was great for the kids to be able to spend Christmas with their cousins!


Santa brought Dayne a moon chair she'd been eyeballing (she says she will read in it!) and Santa brought Hunter money. What else would a 16 year old want? He will use the money to pay off his XBOX.


Sadly, I don't think I took any pictures of the kiddos opening presents (or if I did, I have mis placed the memory card!). No "Mother of the Year Award" in my future, I guess!

Christmas with Papa & Susan will take place in a few weeks!

Wishing Nanny & Patrick were closer so we could enjoy the season with them as well!

My Best Friend's Wedding ... Or Should I Say ...

OUR best friends' wedding?

My Best friend, Jennifer, and Graden's best friend (AKA his fishing wife!) Chris met just over two years ago and got married on December 19th! It was a gorgeous, perfect wedding and we are very happy for our friends! We sure do wish they lived closer so we could watch their marriage grow!

Dayne had a house picked out just across from ours ... she thinks they should move there, have a baby right away and Dayne can baby sit! I second that plan! .... then, if we could just get the Benham Family moved here too - life would be wonderful! Ah ... a girl can wish!

Thanksgiving 2009 @ Papa & Susan's Home

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled to Iowa to spend the long weekend with family!

We stayed at Dad & Susan's house and BOY! was it a full house! Susan's kids - Jeff, Tyler and Katie - also spent the long weekend at the house. It was great spending time with everyone and getting to know my step-brothers a bit better (I feel like I know Katie plenty well! :) )!

It was another reminder of all the things I miss about "home" - being close to my friends and family!

Also while we were "home" we went out for an evening of fun with the Benham's, Chad Mast and a few other locals! It was great to see everyone!

The kids playing on Papa's "Big" Tractor!

Hunter on the "little" tractor ... summer 1995:

Hunter on the "little tractor" ... November 2009.