I love my boys..all 4 of them!

In light of the Josh Powell story and the horrible loss of his two sons, I wanted to post my love for my boys..all 4 of them! I have 3 sons and a wonderful husband. Two of my boys are so close in age to the Powell boys that is hit too close to home. I can't imagine losing any of my boys now..especially in such a tragic way!
I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and great in-laws who love and support us. In-laws have their quirks, but who doesn't?! At least they are not extreme and genuinely care for me and my boys.
Rest in peace Charlie and Brayden Powell, may you find joy in your reunion with your mother!

One of my pet peeves :)

Okay, I have to vent somewhere so I will vent here. One of my pet peeves is when people who took 1 class or are taking one class of ASL and list ASL as one of the languages they know on facebook. Really? I saw one of my former students do this and this particular student could barely introduce themself!
You don't list the language unless you are fluent in it.

My firstborn is 8!!!!

I cannot believe it has been 8 years since my firstborn came into this world making me a mother!
Fisher is the cutest little boy and is growing up so fast! He will be baptized soon!
We love you Fisher and are glad you are part of our family!!!

He's here!!

Cooper William George was born August 3, 2010! He weighed 8 lbs and was 20 inches long. He is such a good baby! He definately belongs in our family and looks a lot like his daddy and brothers!
my hard drive if full so i can't load my pics from my camera onto it. I will try and get them put on a CD and then onto the blog.
We are doing well and thank everyone who has helped!!!

ammend my last post

So I saw the doctor yesterday and he told me two weeks. What?! that is what he told me a week ago! i am just so uncomfortable i don't like the thought of going any longer than needed. I guess this baby will be born either the last week of July or the 1st week of August.

the latest

I saw the doctor yesterday. My lipase level is still high, although it is lower than last time. The doctor examined me and told me i would be having a baby in two weeks. what?! He doesn't want to chance anything with my health so if i don't go on my own, he will induce me. I knew it was coming, but not this soon so it is kinda crazy! I didn't have these problems when I was pregnant with Tucker but did with Fisher. i guess the real count down is on. I am 36 weeks today.

To fill you all in.....

Ok today i am 34 weeks pregnant. Some of the signs of pregnacy induced pancreatisis are back so my doctor is monitoring me closely. He checked my blood and the lipase level was higher than normal so he is watching me. i don't go back to the doctor until July 8th so if it does get higher not sure how he'll treat it; most likely with steroids as long as it is safe.
We decided on the name Cooper. Steve is picking the middle name so he is still pondering that one. it was fun to see a 4-d ultra sound picture of him and i think Cooper will fit!
Aside from the pregnancy discomfort i am fine. will keep you informed.

Fisher lost his first tooth!

Fisher lost his first tooth yesterday! He didn't really know what to think about the whole thing. He had been telling me for a week or so that his tooth could move, but whenever I tried to wiggle it,it didn't move much.
We were at Steve's parents house last night when Fisher came up to Steve holding his own tooth..it was out! Fisher looked a little bit worried, but a little excited. I told him it is normal and even fun to lose your baby teeth and a new, bigger one will grow in. He then got excited and saved his tooth for the tooth fairy.
My six year old has lost a tooth..I cannot believe it!

A little announcement

For those of you who may not know, we are pregnant! We are 22 weeks and 3 days and found out we are having another boy! I had my ultrasound yesterday. It was so cool, this Dr. does 3-d and 4-D ultra sound. We got to see his face. One picture looks like Fisher and the other looks like Tucker so he may be a good mix! I will try and scan in the utlra sound so you all can see. Our official due date is August 4, 2010- August 8 2010.
We are excited to have another little one. I am the only girl in the house..including our dog!
That is okay we love our little boys!

Long time no posts...explanation

I have not posted for about 4 months...I will explain! My hard drive on my desktop is full and I can no longer upload any photos; to add to that I think our desktop got a virus.
I will try to blog on other computers when I get the chance.
A few updates....
We had a good, but small Christmas..no one missed out on anything, but due to the economy and other factors we scaled back a lot in 2009.
We are pregnant. As of today we are about 22 weeks pregnant with another boy! He is due August 4, 2010. We are still considering a few names. We would like to stick with tradition and have an e-r name, but have to find one we both like.
Steve is going to be doing a bit of a different thing for his employment. He still has Riverside Electric Systems the residential division, but will not be doing much of the day to day stuff with that. He has joined forces with Dave Forsberg of Riverside Electric and will sell, install and maintain security systems for mostly commerical oufits.
He is liking the change but has a lot of learning and training to do along with it.

In January, I was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's presidenceyof the Morgan County Special Needs Mutual. It is a great calling! I have met and interacted with some great children of our Heavenly Father. There is something special about anyone with special needs. They are so loving and honest. The other women I work with are wonderful as well!

Our boys are getting big. Fisher is now 6 and in Kindergarten at Utah School for the Deaf. He is progressing well and getting so smart!
Tucker is 4 1/2 and goes to preschool 4 days a week at Utah school for the Deaf as a tuition student. Because he has a deaf family member,he can go there. He is a funny little boy and is awesome at ASL! Many of the extended family members call him the "little interpreter".
I am busy being a mom, wife and teacher and love it. I am lucky to have a great family and a job I love that allows me to spend a lot time with them while still working part time.

We celebrated St. Patrick's day Hanson style. I bought Lucky Charms for breakfast and everyone dressed in green...me included! We had a fun day and I made corned beef and cabbage for dinner then we watched "Darby O'Gill and the Little People".
This is only the 2nd year my kids have seen it and love it.
Thanks mom for teaching us fun traditions!

Cinnamon, the ultimate defense!

Today I was making Amish bread and had to add cinnamon. Tucker asked me what it was; I said Cinnamon. He asked, does scripture power keep us safe from that?
it took a second for me to understand what he was getting at..sin!

Halloween Costume award!

okay, I am so proud! Today the student body president of Morgan High School came into my room to present me with an award (a court jester's hat) for the funniest faculty costume on Halloween! If you cannot tell I am a true "billy bob hick" ! Do you see my teeth? You may have to click on the actual picures to get the close up look you need!

Here are the rest of our costumes. Steve's costume scared a lot of the little kids they wouldn't come get candy from him.

Tucker is a ghost and Fisher is Spiderman!

We had a fun Halloween!

suppport ASL as a candidate for Sterling Scholar

I got this email from a fellow ASL teacher. Read and if you agree, please write a letter!
Dear ASL Friends,

We are ASL teachers in Granite School District who have a potential candidate for the Deseret News Sterling Scholar Program this year. The student applied for the Foreign Language Sterling Scholar and was denied because the Sterling Scholar Program does not recognize American Sign Language as a foreign language. Many of you have probably had similar problems so we feel like we need to come together to address this issue so ALL of our ASL students, now and in the future, can rightfully qualify to become the recipient of the scholarship available through the Sterling Scholar Program. Our own ASL students have put together a petition that we are going to send directly to KSL and the Deseret News to encourage them to change their position regarding ASL as a foreign language. If you are comfortable, we encourage you to join us by printing off the attached petition and having your students, and any other individuals who would like to support us in this cause, sign the petition and then mail it back to us at Skyline High School c/o Teresa Owino at 3251 East 3760 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109. This can be done through regular post or through interoffice mail. If any of you would like to take further action regarding this situation, please feel free to do whatever you deem necessary. Also, if you know others who might be interested, please feel free to forward this email onto them.If we all work together, we really can show the Deseret News and KSL that there is a strong ASL community here in Utah and that our students have the right to compete with other foreign languages.Thanks for your support and we look forward to making a change for our students!!Teresa Owino & Jody Lynn Tolley Skyline High SchoolASL Teachers

I couldn't get it to attach so if you want to join us in this fight write a short note explaining what you are doing and start a petition then send it to Skyline High School or the Sterling Scholoar program.
Thanks!

Tucker's funny prayer.

Tucker said the dinner prayer Wednesday (10/7) night. It was so honest and sincere I have to share it. It went like this:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for the food. Please let Jesus come if there are monsters in my room.." and right in the middle of the prayer he burped. Without skipping a beat he said "...excuse me if I burp or fart or have to change my underwear, name of Jesus Christ amen". I had to bite my lip so i wouldn't laugh out loud! At least he learned to talk to our Father in Heaven like a friend!

I need to take more pictures!

I really need to take more pictures! My Grandpa Hanson died last month, and I was looking through my pictures to find some of him...I didn't find many!
My problem is I either bring my camera places and forget to take pictures or forget to bring them. New goal: take more pictures!!

The joys of teaching high school in the technology age!

Ok.. so here is a joy (or not so much!) that happened to me today. It is school policy that if any electronic devices (cell phones, mp3 players etc..)are on or even seen in class I have to confiscate them and turn them into the administration.
I have gone the whole year and not had anyone violate this, except today. One of my students had one out during a test today, (I heard and saw it) so I took it away. This student was so mad at me that they stormed out of class! Now not only does this student have a school rule violation, but they also have a truancy as well!
yeah..the joys of teaching hs in the technology age!
I really am a nice teacher, but do you know how distracting it is to me and other students if there is an electronic device in use while class is going?!

Goodbye Grandpa Glenrd Hanson

Today I lost my Grandpa Hanson. He lived a good long, life..87 years. Hopefully (my parents told me they think he did)he went pain free, that is how he wanted it. He wanted to go to sleep and not wake up one day. That is pretty much how it happened. He had a bad heart and has been fighting various illnesses. One finally got him today.

I have many fond memories of my Grandpa Hanson and am so glad I had the chance to make them. He loved Bear Lake. Every summer, all the Hansons would go camping there together. This July was his last Bear Lake trip. Lucky for me, I went. The last two years I missed it. This year I didn't. I got to spend some time with him and take a few pictures.

I will always remember our 4th of July sleep overs at Grandma and Grandpa's house then walking over to Grandma Greats with him. fun times!

I spent many a fun boating and water skiing trips with Grandpa, he came to many of my violin recitals and hosted great family parties. His family was his pride and joy. You are mine Grandpa!! I love you!

I remember being on the subway in New York with Grandpa Hanson and a really rough, scary looking guy sat down by us. Grandpa flat out asked him something like..do you think I should be afraid of you? I am not! They went on to have a pleasant conversation, even laughing with each other.

He held nothing back but at the same time did not offend anyone!

I also remember being in the Smithsonian with him looking a the World War II exhibits. With tears in his eyes he told us of some of his experiences at war. A stranger overheard him and thanked him for his service to our country. I am so glad I got to have Grandpa (and Grandma) come on that trip with us!!!

It was on that trip that we saw many of the church history sites. He bore his testimony to me at seveal of the locations, testifying that the gospel is indeed true. When we we in the sacred grove he told me he knew for sure that Joseph did see God the Father and Jesus Christ.

We had a fun time together on that trip. I was preparing to serve a mission and was glad I got to spend that time with him.

When we went to Gettysburg, it was a Sunday. He told us all he could feel the Spirit there of the many soldiers who lost their lives in pursuit of a free nation. His love and pride for his country was evidenced there.

I am so glad my grandpa came on that trip with us. I got to see my grandpa in a different light and feel his love and pride of his family.

Grandpa I love and miss you ,but am happy you are enjoying a healthy body without pain or any physical trouble. You also get to see your baby Phillip again!

To my Grandpa..I love you!

Holly

some things not to forget

Every now and then i have to post some of the cute things my kids say or i will forget. During spring break i took the boys to the zoo and they bought a back scratcher in the gift shop. it looks like a tiger and is very cute. they still have them and Tucker calls his a "scratcher backer". Every now and then he will ask me to get his "scratcher backer" and make it feel good. :)

i know there are problably sevreal other things that are cute, but now that i am in front of the computer I cannot think of them.

Tucker has been so exctited all july for woodbadge. he didn't really know what is was except for camping. He didn't understand that Dad would be in the training and Tucker wouldn't actually be part of woodbadge, just family camp...nevertheless, he had lots of fun! During family night they opened all the activites up for families. Tucker and Fisher loved the BB gun range! At first they didn't want to wear the protective eyewear or ear protectin, but once they got shooting they loved it! With Fisher i didn't really want to push the ear protection thing, because hey he's already deaf(!), but it was camp rules to wear them or no shooting, so we made him.

summer camping trips

some Bear Lake fun. i will post a separte post of all the bear lake pictures.

getting ready to iniate the fire pit steve got for fathers day

some of the George kids at our "campfire"

This is a cool picture right after the rainstorm we had in Morgan

the double rainbow we saw while having a "campfire" in our backyard

It's about time I posted something. It has been about 2 months since my last post! well. the month of July has been all about camping. Before we left for all our camping trips we thought we'd set up the tent and make sure it all fits. Steve got a fire pit for Fathers day so we tried that out as well.

Steve started the first week off by going to camp stiener with the varsity scouts of our ward. When he got home (saturday afternoon)he unpacked his stuff from the scout trailer and put most of it into our truck to leave for Cascade Lake Sunday morning. We spent sun-thursday at the 4H camp at cascade lake with Steve's stepmoms family reunion. Her family is so big (14 siblings all but one married with kids) that about the only place big enough for us now is a 4h camp. it was beautiful scenery and all our meals were taken care of so that was really nice for me! From there we drove to Bear Lake (thursday evening) to stay until Saturday night for the anual Hanson reunion. We were in a tent again here. Poor Steve only got to sleep in bed once in the last two weeks so far. Bear lake was lots of fun and surprisingly warm and calm for Bear lake.

We got home and washed all the clothes and aired out the tent for a week then left for Camp Barlett in Idaho for Woodbage/family camp..more scout training for Steve. This also was tents.

i have really come to appreciate my toilet and running warm water. Camp Bartlett has KYBO (keep your bowells open) and 6 showers for the whole camp.

While steve was off in training the family got to have fun. The kids were separted into age groups and did different acitivies daily. i was part of the spouse group and got to do several fun things like archery, shot gun range, minnetonka cave, horse back riding, and several other options. It was lots of fun, but i am glad to be home wiht running water and my own bed!

7 years and no itching!

Sunday (June 7) Steve and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we took a trip to St. George without the kids. We had a fun, relaxing weekend (Friday-Monday) with each other. It was fun just to be together without work or kids. As part of our Sunday there, we saw some of the church history sites in St. George i.e. Brigham Young's winter home, tabernacle, Jacob Hamblin home and the temple of course. I forgot my camera, so the only pictures I have are on my blackberry. As soon as I figure out how to get them off the phone and onto my computer I will post them.
We did a temple session Saturday morning and were lucky enough to be the witness couple. Its kind of funny, every time we have gone to the temple out of town we end up being the witness couple. We have been lucky enough to do that in the Nauvoo temple, St. Louis temple and St. George. We must have that glow. ha ha!
We cannot believe it has been 7 years since we got married! It has been a great 7 years full of adventure, learning, growing and bonding. We have accomplished a lot in 7 years and have two cute little boys from it. I love Steve and am so proud of him. He makes me laugh daily and is fun to share my life with. to Steve ...1-4-3!