turning 22

Woke up to the most precious kiss ever from the most amazing fiance ever. slowly dragged out of bed to see a bouquet of white roses, a book, and an envelope on the table. opened the envelope to find tickets to see the US National womens soccer team. shrieks of excitement! A Red Sox jersey from his parents. SO happy. shower, get ready, and dance party in the car. Call Me Maybe was the first song on the radio, my response: "this is a sign that it's going to be the best birthday everrr!" Then it was off to lunch with my soon-to-be sister in law, and my soon-to-be niece and nephew. Chili's chips and salsa always make me happy. homeward bound to make welcome home posters for my cute aunt and cousins coming home from Italy after two years. A new purse, maxi dress, and shirt waiting my arrival. Whipped out my high school banner making skills. Blow gun competitions with the little brother. Shot an egg with the first dart. nbd. Fashion Place Mall kindly provided me with a new swimsuit. (complements of mother, of course). bought my first fedora. Way too excited not to have to do my hair when it's greasy.. instant solution: fedora. long shorts and skirts that are "G" approved were added to my wardrobe as well. A quick nap, and off to another wedding reception for my cute friend Aubrey. Hustled home and hustled even more to make it to the airport on time. Waiting and waiting. Ammon holding the sign that said "YAY". Hilarious. And big hugs and happy tears after hugging my cute Aunt Cyd. even bigger hugs for my two cutest cousins Halle and Savvy. (remember when i stayed with them while i was in Italy?) Laughs and funny faces at "Scripture Boy"..their nickname for Am. A drive to grandmas, and Happy Birthday songs sang. The best Nothing Bunt Cake ever. Halle's impersonation of the "Italian Momma's". Lots of laughs and funny stories shared.

22 might have just been the best birthday yet. LOVED seeing the Dixon's.. even though i was lucky enough to go see them in Italy.. Nothing beats having them home and close. Am treated me like a princess and my mom and dad spoiled me. Chan even got me a gift.. batteries and corn husk holders. Awesome story behind that gift.

best birthday ever.

I dare you not to laugh

lights with the fam

Every year my family has a tradition of going down to see the lights at temple square. It always ends up being an adventure.. i mean we are talking about the Hansen family here. Tonight was no different. Mom forgot to put the SD card in the camera, which left us with only Kali's iphone to take pictures. We were all a little disappointed cuz i mean, isnt that the reason you go to see the lights anyway?..to take pictures?.. We still ended up having a great time. We later came home and had Tim Tams for dessert. HEAVENLY. it was the first slammin sesh i have had this year, and i am glad i waited. Kali's commentary provided some great laughs.. "if i'm gonna slam i'm gonna enjoy it!" no sexual innuendo intended. Gosh i love my family.

farewell little brother

It's official! I have the cutest missionary brother on the planet. We took him to the MTC on wednesday and although a little rough, i couldn't be more proud of the kid. He is a hard worker, dedicated, smart, loving, hilarious, trustworthy, and dependable. I already miss our late night chats about boys, girls, family, drama, or the gospel. I cherish the nights when East would knock on my door and come lay on my bed while we just talked about life. We laughed (mostly at Kalinee sleep talking), we cried, we got mad, and we laughed some more. But he taught me so much, and still continues to teach me. He is so mature and has more faith than anyone i know. The people of Guatemala are seriously sooo lucky to have him.

We got our first email today. He is doing sooo awesome and i couldn't be more proud! He said he keeps preparing himself for that awful, horrible, terrible, day everyone said he would have, and he was happy to report it hadn't happened yet. Good news right?! He said he is staying busy and working hard to learn 'this spanish stuff'. hahah His companion is from canada.. to which he responded.."Canada eh?!" it was hilarious and made all of us laugh. He will be in the Provo MTC for about 3 weeks, and then he will head to the Guatemala MTC for another 6. Yay for missionaries!

A Sunday of mixed emotions

Today was the dreaded day.. My sweet 'little' brother Easton had his missionary farewell. I know i didn't do a particularly great job of telling you when he got his mission call.. my goodness that was 5 months ago! He actually opened his call while i was in Africa... and with the miracle of technology i was able to listen in from the middle of the African dessert as he announced he would be serving in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He did an amazing job speaking today, and drew quite the crowd of teenage girls to my house this afternoon. One thing is for sure.. he will be greatly missed and wednesday is going to be roughhhhh. i love my dear brother and am so happy he has a desire to serve the lord!

cute elder Hansen

Today was also a big day in Kali's life. This morning she received her patriarchal blessing! I was so excited she let me share that special moment with her. I know i don't say much about my sweet sister, by let me tell you: She is one amazing girl. She has quite the life ahead of her and i am so proud to call her my sister. Not only is she super freakishly intelligent, but she is nice, caring, funny, and gorgeous along with all those other things. I love her and am grateful for the spiritual experience i got to have with her along with my other siblings and parents this morning.

Daddio. Kali. East. Teag. Chan. Haley. Mom.

It's official. i have the best family around. sometimes life is rough, but my family is a family of strength and encouragement. I love them all dearly and i am excited to see where the future takes us all.

Happy Anniversary

A big shout out to my dear parents. Today marks 25 years of marriage for them! I couldn't have chosen better parents and i love them dearly. Honestly i am going to have to do another post about them later cuz i just don't have the time right now. Check out my mamma's blog in the mean time. She is so awesome and i just lover her and my dad so much!

Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Well being that it is November, i have to admit that i have been super self centered lately and haven't really thought too much about what i am grateful for. It seems as though Thanksgiving has absolutely snuck up on me this year and for that i am grateful! 

I am grateful for.......in no particular order...

my family (near or far)

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication with the Hansen side of the family.

The day chan got home! not the best picture but still...


my amazzzing friends 
(seriously i have the best friends in the world)

Brookie's wedding

Cody's Homecoming

an education

Utah Football game

my health and the ability to exercise 

wakeboarding summer '10

 My Siblings

on the beach of Cabo San Lucas

my parents

How adorable are they?

a lovely boy in Africa 

(who is now at the 17 month mark eeek!)

Mistaaa Benjamin :) 

my old roommates 

Best group of girls i could have ever lived with.

my talents 

Dixie Soccer 2008

The opportunity i had to go to Kenya

Visiting the Village of the Masai people

My experience at Dixie and my wonderful friends down there

Shooting on the AZ strip

Halloween with the team back in 2008

my cell phone

my comfortable bed

my car and excess means of transportation

and the most important..

My Savior and the blessing of His gospel in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! :)

Fall Break

How many posts can a girl do about how much she loves St George? I don't know.. but seriously the place never gets old. I headed down there last week for Fall Break and it was great. My family even came down for a few days!

Thursday we spent at Zions National Park hiking and hanging out. OH my gosh it was so gorgeous! i have always wanted to go and it was better than i ever imagined. The hikes were easy and not too strenuous, and the views were AMAZING. Seriously if you havent been.. i highly suggest it! 

So glad that Ammon came along with me, Teag, and my parents. There were so many pictures to choose from so i had to condense them into just a few.

Friday was spent up at Dixie Rock and the Crack with my family. Whit tagged along too. We helped my mother overcome her fear of claustrophobia when we forced her to go through the tiny slot up at the crack. She was flipping out and it was hilarious.

Dixie Rock fun

Whit and I pretending to be Cheerleaders. I think we could do it. Dont you?

Friday afternoon my roommates, ammon, my family, and I decided that we were going to go play some baseball. We use to go play last semester with the baseball boys a lot, but we hadnt gone for quite awhile. We all borrowed some of Ammon's sweet Dixie baseball hats and headed off to the field. We all took turns hitting and being out fielders. I love how my roommates are freakin all star athletes.. i swear they could play any sport. And ammon?... Ok freakin LEGIT ball player- but we all already knew that. 

Just posing for some pics! looking good right?

My absolute favorite picture from the weekend. we look so hard core!

 A bunch of us also went camping! Actually i should say we just got together and had a fire cuz only 2 people of the 15 decided to stay the night.. wow we are party poopers! hahah it was so fun though!

Camping out in the red sand.. love it.

Well Fall Break was definitely a great weekend. But the one down fall was that it was SO hard to get up and go back to school yesterday morning. blah. but soon it is Halloween.. my absolute favorite! yay!!

Burfffday celebration

My birthday turned out to be AWESOME. I honestly have the best friends in the world and they made the day so great. i had a little 'get together' at my house and i was quite surprised that people showed up! It was so fun to celebrate, mingle and catch up with both new and old friends! Thanks guys :)

My mom made the BEST food... and seriously look at the ADORABLE cake that she made! i lovedd it.

Just missin Miss Brookie who's in Ecuador!

I was so excited when these two showed up.. Both of them went to Brighton and we have known each other all while growing up. Skwig (left) and i played soccer together back for Celtic, and me and Scottie (right) use to be roommates at Dixie! They are crazzzy girls and make me so happy!

Jessica Mero, Jaimie Watts, and me :)

Me and Joshua Durrant.. we have been friends forever.. he was my first 'Dance date' back in 2006 to homecoming!

Lindsey Canfield! friends since PRESCHOOL! love that girl

Good ol T.J. Richards.. we have an on-going joke that we are going to get married on Aug. 20.. The day before his [sister] and my [best friend]... Brooke's wedding!

Flowers from Mozambique wishing me a Happy Birthday :) boy do i love that boy!

Happy Mothers Day!

Alright i know i am late.. but i have to wish my mother a Happy Mothers Day and just as importantly a Happy Birthday! She is the best mom anyone could ask for and i am so grateful for her! She is an amazing example of humility, love, temperance, and patience. I love her so much and i am extremely grateful for the friend and mother she is to me!

Easter week

Wednesday my roommates, i, and some other girls from the soccer team, decided to drive up north and watch the USA vs. Mexico soccer game. What a cool game to attend! it was freezing but definitely worth the horrible weather, and 6 hour drive home that followed!

On thursday we had friends over to dye Waster eggs! We had so much fun making each other eggs, and playing April Fools day tricks! hahahahah.. and there were definitely plenty of laughs! I think Whitley takes the prize for making the best eggs though.."Quality Eggs" as she would call them.

Friday i went home for the weekend and spent soo much time with my family! It was fun to be home and it was especially fun to have all my cousins from out of state in town!

The Annual Hansen Easter Egg hunt. I think i have set the record for consecutive years of finding the coveted "golden egg".. i think it is 4 years running now? i dare you to challenge me.

so happy about finding my egg.

Cutest little cousins! I am so sad they are moving to Italy this summer! What a cool experience though.. It is adorable hearing them practice their italian!... i am seriously considering going to nanny there next spring if my aunt can find me a family!

It is weekends and times like these when i realize how important family is. I love my family so much and i love spending time with them! I am excited to have the Andrizzi's closer to home.. They will be moving to Newport Beach this summer!.. and they better expect visitors!

Oh the month of Love!

Wow! it is already March!! So glad that i made it through February. I havent blogged in quite awhile soo.. i have a lot to say and a lot to catch you up on..

My little brother Easty and his friend Stevie came to visit over Valentines Day weekend and i was so glad to have them around! They are both total studs! I miss my little bro so much and it was fun introducing him to my friends. They all LOVED him! .. even his tacky Gen-X gangster shirt, bull cut, and all!

Sad to see them leave.. but it was such a fun weekend to have them around..COME BACK SOON! love you!

Cruise anyone?

Over Christmas break my whole family had the opportunity to go on a short 5 day cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was so fun to be with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins on the Tucker side of the family. I wouldn't have traded the time spent for anything. It was sooo nice to finally get to spend some much needed time relaxing with my family.

There were too many pictures to upload all of my favorites, so sorry the pics are soo small. hopefully you get the idea of what we spent our time doing. :)

This is the first day we were on the boat.. it seemed like it took forever to finally get to San Diego. By the time we got on the boat i was soo worn out!

The second day on the ship was a day at sea. we spent our time playing ping pong, laying by the pool, and exploring the ship.

Finally we made it to Cabo! The only crappy thing was that is rained the whole time we were there! Bummer! It wasn't cold though so we grinned and bared the flooded streets and the slippery sidewalks. --you are probably wondering why Easton's hair is slicked back like it is.. Oh goll this boy loved surprising grandma on formal night with that lovely hair do.

The second day in Cabo was a completely different story! It was warm and soo sunny! thank goodness. We rented some jet ski's for the day.. and after kali, me, and chan got stranded in the middle the ocean (literally.. we tipped over and the key to the jet ski flew off Chans wrist..) we decided that it was probably time to take a "glass bottom boat" taxi drive around the coast of cabo. Ahh Lovers Beach was BEAUTIFUL!

The rest of the week seems like a blur.. but reguardless of what we spent our time doing, i was seriously just so grateful that i was with the ones i love most.. my lovely family :)