The History Channel All-Stars Take It All!

I am the proud wife of this year's champion of our family's fantasy football league! Jason's team, The History Channel All-Stars, brought home the grand championship trophy and it is now proudly displayed on top of the bookcase in our family room! Jason's dad won last year and handed over the trophy while we were in California. He actually handed Jason a large Christmas wrapped box that supposedly had the trophy. He opened it only to find a tiny trophy and a large hammer for weight! After a good laugh, the real trophy was handed over much to Jason's delight! It didn't take long for the trophy to be engraved and displayed with pride! Congratulations my love!

Go Blue!

On New Year's day, we went to the Zeider's house for pizza and Michigan football! Jeremy and Carrie are good friends of ours and big Michigan fans! Carrie is from Ann Arbor and Jeremy and Jason have long been fans. So, with the Michigan flag flying outside their house, we all gathered to cheer them on to victory! And, just because we have to, we spent the next couple of hours playing video games! Best of all, congratulations to the Zeider's family on the expected arrival of their second baby in May!
Katie loved Carrie!

Jeremy is showing Jason a new Wii game. They're in their element!

Ella is showing Abby her Wii skills!

Jeremy had this little remote controlled helicopter that Jason, of course, fell in love with. The next day he went and bought himself one. Oh, they make me laugh! Just like two peas in a pod!

A cute pic of Katie! Becky don't you love her bow!

Happy New Year!

On New Year's Eve we went to two birthday parties and a rockin' New Year's Eve bash at the Daukas'. So, first off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH! My sister-in-law's birthday is on New Year's Eve, so we had a family birthday party at their place in the early evening. My family and her family go way back and we have been good friends much longer than her and my brother have been together. So it is so much fun to have her be my sister! I love having you in my family!


Chris and Tara Daukas held a small gathering at their place to roll in the New Year. We are always amazed when we can get 6 kids to sleep in their 3 bedrooms! And we did, and had so much fun eating, chatting, and playing the Wii! Thanks again for opening your home!

Grandma Hansen

It is always a joy to see and spend time with Jason's Grandma. Her and her late husband have both led amazing lives in service of their Savior. After Jason's Grandpa died, Marcella, his Grandma, continued to serve Christ at the seminary where he worked, through the local church, and in international missions. I love to sit and listen to her tell stories about God's work and his faithfulness. I always feel as if my faith in our great God is strengthened after spending time with her. She truly is a good and faithful servant!
This is Grandma Marcella with her great-grandchildren. (except for the Michaud children in PA)

Grandma Marcella is famous for her Norweigan pancakes. She made them for breakfast one morning while we were in CA.

Merry Christmas!

We had lots of fun this Christmas! We started off Christmas morning with just us at home opening presents. Then we went to my parent's house in the afternoon to celebrate with my family. We ended the evening back home with Jason's mom and step-dad to celebrate with them. The next day we packed up the kids and drove to California to celebrate with Jason's dad, Becca, Lina, Grandma, and uncle Allen. John and Jessica also took their kids out there. We are so blessed to have such great families! Thank you all for such a wonderful Christmas!
Katie was so funny! She really didn't care too much about opening presents. She spent most of the time playing with all of her old toys.

Abby on the other hand, had been waiting and waiting for Christmas morning! She just gets cuter and cuter! Especially for Christmas. She was bursting with excitement the whole day!

Katie liked the colorful paper!

This play kitchen was their big present this Christmas! It has a kitchen on one side and an outdoor grill on the other. Jason picked it out and assembled it the night before till 1am! They loved it! Katie just liked to eat all the fake food!

Christmas with my family:
I was overall quite bad at taking pictures this year at Christmas. It was actually quite difficult to do the mommy thing of two little ones opening presents and be the camp photographer! I still need to work on my multi-tasking skills! So here are some random photos. Mom, as usual, had a wonderful dinner complete with a ham from the Honey Baked Ham Company, mmmm my favorite! Abby and Katie certainly got more toys than we have room for! And I was once again so thankful for the family God has blessed me with!
Katie loves her Grandma!

My beautiful sister and her hubby!

My mom found this crazy pizza peel for Jason. It is huge! Now we certainly can't burn ourselves. That is if we can fit it between the kitchen island and the oven!

Christmas Night with Gary and Dee:
We ended this wonderful day with Gramps and Gram coming over for more presents, food, and a little "Bill Cosby Himself." I love my in-laws! Not many people can say that, but I certainly can!

What kids can open presents morning. noon, and night!

Christmas in California:
We had a big family gathering in California this Christmas with Jason's Dad, his wife Becca, her daughter Angelina, Jason's Grandma, Uncle Allen, and the Daniel's family. Overall, we had 8 adults and 7 kids aged 5 and under! Oh, and Homer the dog! More presents, more food, and more memories! Thanks California Hansens for opening your home this Christmas! Becca, you were a great hostess!

Jaden was by far the funniest kid opening presents! She was so hyper and we got some great moments on tape. When her sister was opening a present she said, "Oh look, I told you it was a book! Oh a book about... faces!" There was a picture of a kid on the front. Or when she said, "Oh I love it! I love this... thing!" She was so cute!


Many thanks to our wonderful family for a great Christmas!

Christmas Lights!

Chris and Tara, John and Jessica, us, and all our kids went to see Christmas lights. There is a great street a couple of miles from here that goes all out for Christmas. As usual, the lights were great and the kids loved it!

31 Flavors!

The other day, the girls and I met Jason, my dad, and my brother for lunch and ice cream. My dad's favorite is Baskin Robbins chocolate chip ice cream so we went there. I realized that Abby had really only ever had vanilla ice cream. So here we were, 31 flavors to pick from! I tried to push Rainbow Sherbet, but Abby insisted to have chocolate chip just like Papa! Of course, she loved it! I am not sure who was cuter, Abby or my dad who just thought it was the greatest thing to buy her chocolate chip ice cream!
Mmmm, that looks good!

Oh yes, quite good!

Mmmm, heavenly!

Do I get some?