Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Oh Remember, remember


I was just visiting my friends Matty and Lindsay's blog and all of the sudden I was pulled into a time warp and remembered some things:
  • That i love Hawaii
  • That I HATED being pregnant... and the inevitable postpartum that set in from moving to a new place 7 weeks before delivery and then being smacked with a hurricane so no one came to visit.
  • That I would do it all over again so I could have Jaedyn Maliana.
  • That I would change her middle and her first name. Switch them
  • and lastly, I remembered what is what like to live in a house rather than an apartment. One day I want this.
Until then, at least we are able to rent it out right.
ps- i want the fireplace, not the sign (but i would take both) And I am not shallow.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

All I want for Christmas

...is world peace. And this book. Notice the title

And not that I am shallow or skipping Halloween and Thanksgiving but, i could use a:
  • water bath canner
  • small crockpot
  • hand mixer
  • sewing machine
  • and world peace


Friday, October 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Pictures

On our steps. I love the urban-esque feel this creates
I feel that this one captures her fun loving spirit

This one makes me smile. She loves to laugh and run
and I especially love the action shot
One of two cakes I made. She just sat there. I love
how here hands are folded and that the cake gets to be shown off
One of my FAVS! I want this printed really big.
She is having her first and last lollipop. It was s tactic to keep her sitting
and it turned out better than I thought it would.
Up close her eyes are so blue and the polka dots really pop
She is one focused girl here. This was before she realized
there was a flower in her hair. I love her two little hands protecting
the little cupcake of hers
I love her eyes in this one. You can get an idea that this in an 11x13
would be really dramatic because of her incredible eyes

She is such a great photographer! Thank you http://melphotography.blogspot.com/
I actually loved all of them but that would be much to many to post. So here are my top favs

You tell me... what should I make? First.


What do you think I should start with first?


Baby+legs=$12 a pair



Yep. To buy a set of baby legs it will set you/me back $12.00. Seriously. I have decided that 2010 is going to be my year. I mean, I already am a pretty incredible mom/wife/friend/daughter/everything so in order to make 2010 my year, I need to start NOW on making these particular goals a habit.
Let me back up. My friend Megan taught an enrichment (read Relief Society) class a few weeks ago on traditions. She made the comment that traditions=habits and we have everyday traditions. Well, that go me thinking and I came to the conclusion that, while I am a pretty big deal, I can improve.
I can't believe what I am about to say. I want to be more crafty. I want to be a lot better at a lot of things and in 2010 I will be honing in my inner Martha Stewart/everything-else-that-needs-improvement-persona.
I am not about to broadcast over the world-wide-web what I need to improve on. I know, you will have to just go along keep thinking I am just about perfect. However... I am going to make Jaedyn a set or lots of set of baby legs. Here is how. Thank you to NannyGoat, whoever you are.

Here goes: (warning: 1 million pictures!)



All you need is, KNEE HIGH SOCKS, SCISSORS, SEWING MACHINE and THREAD.




Make the above 3 cuts in your socks.



Now make your last cut as shown above. Cut more or less off the bottom to make a bigger or smaller cuff (for older or younger bebes).



You will now take the larger piece and flip it so the right sides are together.




Take that same piece (soon to be your cuff) and close the open edge with a zig zag stitch.





Your cuff is well on it's way. Now turn the long part (leg) inside out.








Start to turn your cuff right side out... but not all the way.





Just till it is exactly in half. (folded edge towards the leg, unfinished edge toward the toe).




Simply slide the leg up so it is even with the cuff.



Move that cuff closer to the leg.



Even closer, till it is inside the leg.



In a little more.



And just a touch more so all the unfinished edges are together.



Move that same piece to the sewing machine, place your foot on three layers of fabric (2 cuff, 1 leg) and sew all the way around (line up the right edge of your presser foot with rough edges).



Since the cuff is a little smaller than the leg, you can pull on the cuff to stretch it a bit while you sew. (Don't stretch the bottom layer.)





Once you have made it all the way around, go around one more time, this time sew right on the rough edge.



This is what it will look like.




Flip out that cuff.



Now turn it right side out.



Toss those little scraps and WALAA!!!
And now you can make your own too! Just think of it as celebrating the 80's :)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Happy Birthday Hubby



McKay once told me to not call him Hubby.... you can see that I struggle with obedience. :)

I was half-waiting for McKay to post about this but here I am because I am impatient and the signature says my name. I am sure I am not the only impatient person out there, In fact, I am absolutely sure of it. Do not fret, I will not be naming names. yet.

Oh how I love the seven days of birthdays (you thought I was going to say McKay huh). Well, I do love him as well but that just goes without saying. This past week has been great and me and my impatient self actually started a day early because, well, I think I already mentioned my weakness. Jaedyn talked me into it and those who know me well also know that is probably a pretty true statement. We made a special birthday banner with some paint. My little budding artist

It was full of tennis, car washing, t-shirts, tools and books. Not to mention the fab gifts from family and the HUGE breakfast I cooked on his birthday (yes, this day also happens to be the same day as weigh-in for The Biggest Looser at work). The very best part you ask? Well, it was making these and surprising him at work... and then HE took ME (and Jaedyn) out to lunch at this great Vietnamese place.

Oh I almost forgot.... Jaedyn now wears leg warmers and even had a side pony in honor of his birth being in the 80's. I knew that style would come back around! Please bless the M.C. Hammer pants never resurrect.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sexting and the like

Yes, there is a term for provocative images/texts. I was reading in Parents Mag on an article about kids and parents and what is discussed regarding morality. The results: Parents are really falling behind and are underestimating the kids. In a poll by Readers Digest, 52% of parents do not know what that term means.
And there is more. Vermont had a big vote on whether it should be legalized. (read more)

Lawmakers there are considering a bill that would make it legal for teenagers 18 and under to exchange explicit photos and videos of themselves – an act that's come to be known by teens as "sexting."

Under the current law, teenagers could be prosecuted as sex offenders if they get caught sending graphic sexual images of themselves, even if it was consensual.

A state House committee will hear more testimony on it later this week.
In a recent study, 18 percent of female students nationwide say they've tried sexting.

New York City student Stefanie Garcia is only in high school, and says sexting happens all the time

Enter now myself, a parent. Not to a teen but to a toddler. I am a beehive teacher though and todays lesson was on Self Mastery and virtue. We read Elder Hollands talk "Personal Purity". I was not sure how or what to say to my little group of beehives so I let Elder Holland do it.

Wow. That is how I felt after. If only the millions of other people understood how precious our bodies and our agency are. And how devastating the consequences can be. I was chatting after the lesson with a friend of mine who talked more about this particular talk. Some may be better recognize it as "Of Souls, Symbols and Sacraments" by Elder Holland. One of my most favorite parts is this:
"...on why we should be clean, on why moral discipline is such a significant
matter in God's eyes. I know that may sound presumptuous,
but a philosopher once said, tell me sufficiently why a thing should be done,
and I will move heaven and earth to do it.
Hoping you will feel the same way as he and fully
recognizing my limitations, I wish to try to give at least a partial answer to
"Why be morally clean?"

I would like to think that I will be a mom who answers all the questions right, who can read minds and know what needs to be said and done before the child even knows what they need to hear or feel. I am sure every parent has felt the same desire as me. I have been reading in The Book Of Mormon about Lehi and the differences between Nephi and Laman in particular. Same family, different results. And it boils down to the why. I would like to think that, just as Nephi had the desire to learn "why" and was able to experience an incredible vision from God, if Laman had only had the same desire to know "why", things would have been different.

And that is what I think about this sexting epidemic and all of this other filth that is masked to look desirable and good. We need to take a stand with our families and help them understand the "why" to being morally clean; both in action and in thought. My rebuttal to those who think that it is ok to sleep around or to have a child outside of wedlock? God has given us the opportunity to give and to take life. When someone commits or attempts to take a life, it is followed by heavy punishment such as life in prison etc. Yet we, as a society, think NOTHING on the matter that children are being brought into the world in conditions that are not ordained by God.

And, I would hope I am not the only one who thinks like this.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Hidden Mickeys

There is a blog called Couponing to Disney. I like that idea... saving money, winning in the margins--towards a goal. I want to go to DisneyWorld just to go to Epcot. We got a deal and McKay and I will be going in Dec. BUT.. I would like to take Jaedyn when she is 7 or 8 and stay for a week at one of the resorts. Y'know, go all out. Maybe it is the saver/tourism major coming out. Anyhow, Below is one thing I am looking forward to doing. **I really do not like Mickey or the Disney Princesses etc but, Disney does know how to entertain and I can appreciate that.


Can you spot the Hidden Mickey above? The Imagineers at Disney have literally hidden thousands of these throughout Disney World, Disneyland and even Disney movies! They have so much fun hiding them and seeing if anyone can spot them.

Well Steve Barrett did just that. He has just published his 4th edition of his book Hidden Mickeys. His book lists the location of every spotted Hidden Mickey at Disney. If you are looking for something creative for your family to do on your trip, you should pick up his book.

You can also visit Disney's Wilderness Lodge for a free Disney organized Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt. Just stop by the front desk and ask for the clues.

We will be signing up for the free day at Disney in 2010. Do you know about that?

Friday, October 16, 2009

She is gonna be famous


My sis-in-love Lexi is a lot of good things. I could go on and on about her. I will say this... she is GOING ALL THE WAAAAYYYYY!!! (crowd cheering in background, anyone else remember that commercial or song or whatever?)

Anyhow, Lexi is a Freshman at Bingham High in S. Jordan. And she is in the Varsity Tennis team. She just recently started playing tennis. I recently started to play tennis too, wait, nope, that wasn't me.
They were on the news here. Watch out tennis world!


Monday, October 12, 2009

welcome




My other blog is having issues. So.. here is the Houston Hansen's 2.o blog. Sorry for the confusion. It makes me want to switch to Wordpress or go on a computer vacation like my friend Megan.

Things I never knew

  • like that i could be too busy to blog
  • that baby barf looks a lot like cottage cheese.
  • that I can not eat cottage cheese know from said baby barfing
  • how much I really do like hot weather
  • that getting mail truly does bring me joy. Real mail from real people. Not bills or "current resident".
  • how great families are. truly
  • that visiting teaching is oober important and its time to repent
  • halloween is a great holiday. I think i have fallen in love with pumpkins
  • ...and i have fallen in love with gummy worms
  • ...and with Stein Mart.
  • it is almost impossible for me to be happy when I don't get sleep
  • Murpheys law: when I go to sleep, everyone else wakes up.
  • my true long lasting love for book and vanilla cocoa will be my downfall

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Our Day at the Beach

Jaedyn Maliana loves animals... as long as they stay far away. This dog was no exception
This is in honor of the Hansen Family Traditional Beach shot.
Family picture

I mentioned that I don't like to be cold. We are about 60 minutes from the beach. I thought I posted these but I didn't. We had a good time. I hope to go twice more before the end of the year

Of One heart. Joseph and Emma




I won these. Nice huh? I love church history. I should specify. I love stories about crossing tht plains and about the women.

The Saints had fled to Far West hoping for a rest from their enemies, but the growing mob violence resulted in the imprisonment of Joseph Smith at Liberty Jail and the slaughter at Haun’s Mill. Driven from their homes in the dead of winter, the Saints began the long journey to Nauvoo.

Emma was among the saints forced to cross the frozen Mississippi River. Can you imagine the faith it must have taken to step on that ice carrying an eight-month old baby and two year old son, while the others clung to her skirts? During those dark days, Joseph wrote, “Oh God Where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?”

I thought of the pain and sorrow both Joseph and Emma were laboring under at that moment and realized that for Joseph and Emma, though separated by distance they were truly of one heart.

At those times when I feel alone and forgotten I look at this painting and remember that nothing in mortality can place us beyond the reach of divinity.
I am realizing that this is mostly me, (makana) you get to read about in this blog. Hmm... well, lucky you! :)