Just a few things happening...

So...it has been a while again since we have posted any fun times at the Hansens....
Fun times #1) Erik turned 17 in early October and ordered himself a complimentary cake from his local employer...HyVee...which gave him all the rights to eat the entire cake himself, without sharing any of it!! He is about to dive in when the camera man caught him in action...Oh does he ever love cake with sweet icing!!

Fun times #2) Going to watch many of Benjamin's football games, while he is attending MLC. This game was in the Brett Favre field...oh, I mean the Metrodome...and at the end of the game, we all got to go down on the field for some photos...Nicholas liked the helmet--hot, sweaty and all! But the comment of the night came from Benjamin after being asked what it was like to play on the same field that Brett plays on, he replies "it is just another football field!" No fame, but a definite win....and a good time. (Katy is missing from teh photo as she stayed home to make some money babysitting! Way to go girl!)

Fun times #3) Halloween trick or treating...We had a very intimidating Batman, and his side-kick football player! Sam and Nick went out getting treats for 45 minutes, got cold and asked to come back home! What a deal! 45 minutes plus a half bucket of treats equals some boys with happy treat tummies!!

Fun times #4)So, along with dressing up, we find these two in our yard...one young man riding an ostrich and andother cowboy riding a bucking bronco! Anynone know who these guys are?

Fun times #5) Someone else in the family got a complimentary cake from HyVee cause she works there!! i love working in the bakery and knowing what the decorators can do! This is the result of " I want a strawberry cake with whipped icing! The rest is up to you...just have fun with it!" So I came home with a cake exactly to my specifications along with a miniature penquin, puppy, alligator and pig! More fun times ahead...we guarentee it!!

A little blessing from the Lord!

This past Sunday Tony and Cindy were honored to be chosen as god parents for Fiona Leah Poor! Fiona is joined at the baptismal font with her other god mother Sarah, holding her, and Dad (Bob), Mom (Heather) and Big Sister Daria!

Such a little sweetie slept through the service, and most of the party! Looking at this beautiful face, wouldn't you just want to hold her too???!!!???

Included in the snuggling time was Katy! Katy is so good with children! Sure wish we could be closer in miles to Fiona....I think one girl certainly would enjoy spoiling another little girl!

Tony got in on the baby holding too!! So natural...guess he has had a little practice!

Praise the Lord for another child of God written into the Book of Life!!

Graduation!

"Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b. this is the Bible passages that Benjamin's class chose for their graduation passage, and oh so fitting!

Sunday, May 30th, our oldest son graduated from Luther High School and is moving into his next stage of life. It was a beautiful day, with tears shed (by Mom) and many emotions as our firstborn meets this milestone in his life.



LHS principal Wichman gives Benjamin his diploma as his confirmation passage is read off by the Pastors at Luther.


Grandma Hahn and the rest of our family enjoed Ben's day with him! The breeze felt good going outside...as the temperatures were in the 90's during the service.

Ben, our firstborn, as always been a huge blessing to our family! We are proud of him!

Congratulations Benjamin!!

Made the First Cut & On Their Way!!

Hi everyone! It's been a while since we've blogged anything; please forgive us. It's been a whirlwind Spring around here and lots has been happening. This is one of many blogs coming up, so please, keep checking back to see what's next.

First: The Luther High Golf Team

Erik and Josh are #1 and #2 respectively on the team. Yesterday, the team took third place (click the title of this blog to see the link to WKBT's posting of the Regional results) and are on their way from regionals to sectionals in the WIAA Golf Tournament. They played this match at Drugans Castle Mound GC, Holmen, WI, and now will play at Trempealeau Mnt. at Tremealeau, WI, on Tuesday. Josh was medalist for the team, Erik came in a close second.



We thank God for all these blessings and look foward to how the Lord will bless them next week. Here are a few pictures.
1) Team picture... can you find Erik & Josh?
2) Erik
3) Josh








We're glad you checked this out! Off to sectionals!!!! Go Knights!!

New Life

Easter greetings to all our friends and family!! We have been poor in attempting to keep up on the blogs...but be assured...you are all still in our thoughts, minds, prayers and hearts!! Just a few photos of last years flowers to remind us of the springtime beauty the arises from the earth, just as we celebrate our Risen Savior who rose from the dead!!


Every Spring we are reminded of the new life that comes to us in Earthly form, which in turns can daily remind us of the New Life we have through Christ Jesus our Lord!!


Praise to Him who created all, keeps all safe, brings all new life back each year...but most of all has brought us OUR NEW LIFE in Him!!

Have a very happy and Blessed Easter Season, remembering always...

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!

Joys with snow, ice and nature!

Oh the beauty in God's wonderfully created nature!! A cactus plant that was given to Tony's mom last Christmas bloomed beautifully...and with no help from us, except water to keep it growing!! What an awesome thing to see what nature does with the help of our loving Lord!

The end of January, on our first of many wonderful days since, the family headed outside for some fun inthe back yard!! The snow was beginning to melt, but the fun was still plentiful!! Benjamin and Kaska enjoyed fetch over and under and sometimes even attempting through the snow hills!!

Snowboarding is fun too...as Nicholas is demonstrating here. The snow banks that come off of the church parking lot and into our back yard make for some good slopes, but not too dangerous for the beginning boarder!!

In the mean time we discovered that the snow/ice cover on our roof of the porch was melting...right through the celing, and into the porch. Erik climbed up on the roof to find 3-4 inch layer of ice melting slowly, thus giving us the added water inside the porch!! Between Erik and Cindy, we chopped and pried and showed that ice who was in charge, as it was thrown off the porch roof to the awaiting ground below!! Whaalaa...our water-in-the-porch problem was gone, and quite a pile of ice chunks to prove it!!

With the snow banks still high, Katy climbed into a tree in the front yard, and low and behold, Kaska followed her! No surprise...Kaska is usually where Katy is! A girl and her dog...such wonderful joy they have with each other and with us!!

Thus was a warm winter day in the Hansen household!! Blessings to you all!!

Congratulations Katy & Nick!

Over the past few weeks, Katy and Nick have been playing in some baskteball tournaments.

Katy was involved with her school's league tournament and an invitational at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. Her team (7th & 8th grade team - Katy's in 7th grade) didn't do so great at the league tournament at Onalaska Luther High School, but they took 4th place at the MLC tournament. Congratulations, Katy!!

Nick's team was involved in two tournaments as well. His school team played in Lake City, MN, at a small invitational and in Lewiston, MN, at another larger invitational. Nick's team won both of their tourneys! The one at Lake City was a 5th & 6th team effort; the tourney at Lewiston was Nick and his 4th graders playing in a 5th grade division.

(N.B. - Nick and his 4th grade classmates played on the 5th & 6th grade team because the numbers at St. Matthew's aren't "up there" for boys and basketball.)

Way to go Katy and Nick! (We have one set of pics from Katy and Nick).

Nick at Lewiston bringing the ball up the court.

Nick's team picture after their championship.

Nick with his Medal at Lewiston.

Katy's 4th place team (they only one game all year up to this tourney)!! She's #34

Katy and team shaking the hands of the team from Coon Rapids, MN, which they defeated the first day.

The score of the first game!

It's Official!! Two Big Things!

IT'S OFFICIAL!! Joshua is 15 Years Old!
On Valentine's Day, after giving Joshua part of his birthday present ( a Luther High School Hoodie), we took Joshua out to eat for lunch at his new "favorite" place to eat: Ground Round.

It was absolutely packed! While everyone was busy with their Valentine's Day meals, we had 1/2 lb. burgers for a special price and enjoyed sitting at the bar. We needed enough seating for 9 - Erik's girlfriend, Kaitlynn, was with us too! (She's between Josh and Erik on the picture).



Josh really enjoyed his meal! Popcorn, pop, food, and more food from his silbings' plates, and to watch the olympics... a great day for Josh! Happy Birthday, Joshua! We love you!


And..



It's Official!! Ben Will Be Playing College Football!!!
After Josh's birthday lunch, Cindy, Ben and I took off for two school visits. (Erik and Josh played Mr. Moms helped by "Uncle Jim & Aunt Robyn"). One of the schools was in Bismarck, ND - the University of Mary, the other one was in Brookings, SD - South Dakota State University.

After driving for over FIVE HOURS of GROUND BLIZZARD from the NW side of the Twin Cities to Jamestown, ND, on the evening of Sunday, February 14, the weather cleared up and we were able to get to Bismarck by midnight and got checked into our motel.


(Pictures of the SD Roads on the return trip. We stayed Monday night in Watertown, SD, at Katy's godparents. The drifting was awful and heavy!)


We started with the U of M because they had offered a scholarship to Ben in the middle of January. So, before Ben would sign the offer, Ben wanted to see the school. We took the 3 hour tour that lasted 5 1/2 hours, but Ben absolutely loved the school, the campus, the dorms, the FB facilities, the coaching staff and the cafeterias (3 of them). The U of M definitely laid out the red carpet for Ben and seriously wanted him to play for them.

As we were just about to receive the tour of the town and to see the stadium and indoor practice faciliity, I asked Ben quietly, "Do we need to start thinking of heading to South Dakota St.?" He said, "No, Dad. This is even better than them." (He had been at SDSU this last summer for a football camp.)

When the Head Coach, Coach Schultz, had finished speaking with Ben and us, Ben was absolutely sure of attending the U of M. He verbally committed and today, when we got back home, signed the letter of intent and will send it in tomorrow. He will be heading to the Univ. of Mary in August to receive his education (a major in Physical Education) and to play football for the Marauders.



We are so happy and proud for him and especially thankful to our gracious Lord who has answered SO MANY of our prayers and concerns with this scholarship and for this opportunity to attend this school for his education.

We pray that the Lord will keep Ben safe in faith and in health when he heads 8 1/2 hours away from home.

Ben, we love you and pray for the Lord's blessings to you!

P.S. - Obviously, Ben's excited, but add these facts: a fellow WELS member and QB was recruited and attending next year too & two of the Marauders are NFL prospects. A Defensive Tackle and a Wide Receiver. Ben's dream of the highest level of FB is still in front of him.... :-)

Me, co-signing Ben's letter of intent.

Cindy, co-signing Ben's letter of intent.

Me, Ben and Cindy thankful and posing for the camera. A momentous day for Ben!!

GO MARAUDERS!!!

http://www.umary.edu/sports/football.php?team=football

It's February Already

Sorry for the delay in keeping you up with the Hansens, more fun and pictures will be up soon. WE ARE O.K. WE ARE STILL LIVING.

I'm Gettin' Somethin' for Christmas...

There was an old, Christmas song that went something like this, "I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas. Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas. 'Cause I ain't been nothing but bad."


Well, we can't say that all of us have been perfect this last year, or ever for that matter. But, we are blessed by God - first with Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, and then with everything thing else.


Here are a few of the Christmas Eve and Day pictures of some of the material blessings we got from each other and from "Santa."



Cindy opened our home made gifts from our kids. One gift was a really neat, personalized Christmas ornament.



Joshua received a golf skill game - an automatic ball return putting green. It's up and ready to go in his room. He's already getting ready for the new season. Look out PGA. I'd say Tiger, but, well, 'nuf of that.


Erik actually received two hoody sweatshirts. This one of Wyoming University is one he likes the best because NO ONE else has one. He also like the great outdoors, particularly in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming.



Ben received an 'iHome" for his iPod. It's an alarm clock that will play the songs from his iPod. (For those of you, who like me, can be media discerned, and iPpod is a personal device that holds and plays music and other media).




Nick received a Star Wars video game he'd been really waiting for. Of course, he is sharing it willingly with all his siblings. Right, Nick!??



Katy received a musical soundtrack of "High School Musical - 3." I think she's memorized all the songs already.




Yup, Sam's a Hansen. He loves sports and needs to have a ball of his own. His older siblings figure that he could start as the point guard on the 5th - 6th grade basketball team already.


Here's the Hansen Circus playing with an oldie but goodie and NEW Alligator game. This was a game that Sam got from Mom and Dad. Ben, Erik and Josh had one of these in our SD days. Talk about a cool game. The goal is to push down on the alligator teeth, one by one, until the gator snaps down on you. He or she who gets snapped upon, loses. Sorry.



On Christmas morning, "Santa" had left some gifts to open. One of which was the Elf movie. I thought it was going to be really dumb. It was actually a neat movie. Check out the song on the side of our blog. It comes from the movie.


And now, for the Kids to say Merry Christmas to you!






Ah, let's try again.




Merry Christmas to you and Blessed New Year. May the grace and peace of God go with you all year long.