macy's Halloween

Macy had a fun time going trick or treating. She was Angelina Ballerina. By the end of the night she understood she had to say "trick or treat" and then the nice person at the door would give her candy. She was funny when the person at the door would let her choose candy because she would take forever picking which candy to have.

We had a fun time riding four wheelers at our friend's cabin. It was a fun relaxing weekend and we learned how to play a new card game.

Thanksgiving Break

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving Break. Its just two weeks away. Grandma here I come. My roommate is coming with me. So we are driving down Saturday the 21st and dropping a roommate off at the airport and then continuing down to Vegas. She has never been before so I'm showing her the sites. It has been a really long and stressful semester. And it is coming at the right time for me. My show has to be done before I leave. Because I can hang it the day we get back. I do have three days to hang it so if I need to print one more picture that will be ok. And my printmaking assignment that I'm doing right now will be finished by then. Most of my portrait class assignments will be done. So after Thanksgiving the only thing left (which is still a lot) will be my last printmaking piece which I have to make an edition of (one for everyone in my class so we can have a print swap which I'm really excited about); My portfolio and my executive style portrait for my Portrait class; My final book for Book Arts (which I'm hoping to work on during Thanksgiving); my business plan and video for my Business class and maybe buy a new outfit for my open house reception for my BFA. But that will be fun homework that I gave myself. This semester is flying by. Less than 40 days until graduation. And no I still don't have a clue at what I'm doing after. I had tithing settlement yesterday and my Bishop was talking to me about graduation. I said that college doesn't prepare you for after. It doesn't help you make decisions. He agreed. College doesn't even let you pick which classes to take. It's four years (or more for most) of schedules set for you. Then they let you loose and I don't know what to do.

Missing one

Thanks for visiting us, Chelsea & Macy! We just needed Toby and it would have been one happy set of squished Hansen cousins. (Macy is smiling under there...Evan was a little cranky, but he moved from the cutest position of all three on Oliver's lap when I walked in the door). Don't we have a great family(as in the whole Hansen clan)?

Halloween Family Time

We were privileged to have Mom for the last few weeks and Beth joined the party for the weekend. We spent some time at the Red Barn of Southridge Farms in Santaquin, then traveled down to Mona to the Young Living Family Farm. Later Beth came with Ryan and me while we knocked on the doors in my buildings for trick or treating and ended the night with some Olive Garden. From my perspective, it was the best day ever because there was no crowds, no lines, no waiting for anything and we had great company and lots of smiles. Here's some proof.

Dad, can I have some more apple cider slush?

Beth chasing the boys who each have a mind of their own.

They are so much alike, both enjoying the little pond.

Grandma with her babies before going to visit the newest baby.

Evan showing off his huge grin even though I was far away.

We had to go visit the "wild, do not feed or pet" animals.

All in all, a great day!

Fall Break in the desert

by Oliver

Friday morning we loaded up the trunk full of camping gear and headed south on I-15 even though we still hadn't decided excatly where we were going. I had Friday off from School, so Megan took the day off and we headed south. I was getting bummed from the last few weeks of stormy fall weather and decided we needed to get some sun.

Usually on road trips, we are on the way to visit someone or someplace specific and I try to get us there with as few stops as possible. This time however we had no where to go and plenty of time to get there.

We stopped first at Filmore, the kids needed to get out and run around a bit, and we had never seen the old state capitol building even though we had passed Filmore several dozen times. So I pulled off and drove through town following the signs....and all the sudden we were on the other side of Filmore and no capitol building! Some how we passed right by it. So we stopped at some little park instead and the kids ran around a bit.

We took off south again and ended up in St. George. One of the places on our list of possible stops was Snow Canyon. After getting some last minute things at Walmart in St. George, we followed signs up hwy 18 through Ivans and found the entrance to the state park at Snow Canyon. The campsites were all full though so the ranger gave us directions to Gulock state park. About 15 or so miles further west.

Gunlock state park is about 3 feet wide and consists of a boat dock and a few picnic tables. When we pulled in there wasn't another person in view. We set up our campsite, ate some tin-foil dinners and roasted marshmallows. This is getting kind of long so I'll try to wrap it up.

We had a crazy night with the wind almost blowing our tent over several times and kids ending up not sleeping in their pack-and-plays. It was still too windy in the morning and our stove kept blowing out so we didn't get to cook our pancakes and eggs. In spite of a few random annoyances, we were so excited to be out in desert of southern Utah on an adventure to let anything ruin our spirits. We followed some back country roads through Washington and Iron counties, at some "famous" pie in Veyo, found the Meadow Massacre site, saw a lot of beautiful country, birds, and a few crazy hunters. We made it back in town in time to watch the 2nd half of the football game. What a great weekend. Thanks Megan and boys for the fun times!

Elder Oaks Devotional

Tuesday Elder Oaks spoke at devotional. I was fortunate to receive a ticket to go. My school cannot fit into our auditorium so when an apostle comes you have to get a ticket to go in the auditorium otherwise you have to go in the overflow area. Well it was a good devotional. But not one I expected. I think some of you would like to read it. It was about the constitution and the freedom of religion. I could see Oliver and Dad and I discussing it for a while. Just like some of our good talks on the way to the airport Oliver. Well you can find on the first page of lds.org. But here is a link right to the full talk if you would like. http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/apostle-says-religious-freedom-is-being-threatened

New Baby

I'm excited for Jen and Chris to have their baby! Any day now!!!! Come on little Tobe.