Tour de Cure

My family has decided to participate in the Tour de Cure bike race in efforts to find cures for diabetes. My brother has diabetes and we wanted to do something fun as a family to support this wonderful cause in funding research for diabetes. Each rider is committed to fund raise $150, so if you would like to donate please visit tour.diabetes.org and click donate, then enter my name in the search for rider box. The donations can be any amount, and any amount helps get me to my goal. Thanks! You can also visit our family blog at www.rideforjavin.blogspot.com

www.tour.diabetes.org

Michael Jackson GNO!

Don't be jealous that I have so many fun neighbors. We had our Michael Jackson party in February, and it was so fun! We all brought our own take out dinners and had a MJ trivia game and found out that one of my neighbors knows a little too much about MJ. Yes Laurie, I am talking about you. She is the one wearing the pink sweatshirt that says I love MJ. My friend Daniella rocked the MJ 80's look and I am always wondering where in the world she finds this stuff! Look at the classic green jelly shoes! After the trivia game we walked next door to Michelle's house (she's got the ginormous screen) and watched "This is It". It's always fun to spend time with friends and laugh a lot! Thanks gals.

Rub a Dub Dub, four kids and dad in the tub!

Yes, their father is just a bit on the crazy side. :) The kids were having bath time and he walks into the bathroom and says "I want to take a bath too." Then he climbed right in with his clothes on!

Family Skate Night

The elementary school offers a free family skate night a few times a year, so we like to join the crowd and head over to good old Classic Skating. We had a blast with all of our friends. Casey won the men's speed skate contest, and Hadlie had fun her first time skating. We brought along one of Ryllie's friends, and Hailey had fun getting her groove on. Near the end of the night the crowd started to leave and pretty soon we had the entire skating rink to ourselves! We let the kids skate and ride their scooters a little too late that night considering it was a school night, but we did not regret one second. It was so much fun!

Go Cougs!

Casey & I took the kids individually to some BYU basketball games. I had forgotten how fun the college sporting events are. It has been years since I'd gone to a game. Maddux ended up going with dad and his buddy so no picture of Maddux. :( We had lots of fun spending one on one time with the kids. Hadlie is still too young for the games so she spent a few evenings with Cuckoo and loved it!

Sledding at Tibble Fork with the Whitakers!

Hadlie Hoo Hoo is Two Two

Hadlie turned 2 on January 17. We had the Hansen family come over to celebrate all the many birthdays that were in December, January, and February. Happy birthday to grandma Lori, aunt Noelle, aunt Julie, grandpa Mike, Maddux, Casey, Hadlie, Summer, and Rory!

We sure feel lucky to have this spunky little gal in our family. 2 is such a funny age, and she makes us laugh everyday. Hadlie talks a lot and is very loud, but we just don't know what in the world she is saying 90% of the time! She is very independent, and can definitely hold her own being the youngest. She has many nicknames; Hoo Hoo, Hooders, Isa, and poopsy love are the favorites. We love you Hadlie!

Don Franklin Hansen

I have put off writing this post for 2 months now, simply because I knew how difficult it would be for me to write. When I married Casey, I was fortunate to become the granddaughter of Don & LaRayne Hansen. Both have been an extremely important part of my life, and we were sad to have to say goodbye to grandpa on January 8, 2010. Grandma and Grandpa were the perfect example of how to love your spouse. They are truly soulmates and the PERFECT couple. :) Grandpa doted on grandma like I've never seen anyone dote on their wife. Grandpa was friendly and outgoing and had such a good memory (with

grandma's help too). He never forgot anyone he met, and was friends with everyone! (It was no surprise to see the line of people who came to pay their respects at his funeral, it stretched clear down the sidewalk and around the building!) He is Casey's best friend, and we knew saying goodbye to this jolly old man would be extremely difficult. One year ago he suffered from cardiac arrest and was gone for 7 minutes and we thought we lost him without being able to say goodbye. We ended up being able to enjoy one more year with him, and the year was full of joy and memories that I will never forget. He helped Ryllie pull a tooth, he let Maddux take naps on

lap, and let the girls do his hair in funky mohawks. He put clip on earrings on with Cy, and played the harmonica with him, and would snuggle with Hadlie. I got to hear him call me dear heart for one more year, and listen to him sing his silly songs, and tell some funny (and a little crude) jokes. :) He got to talk sports with Casey, and have some wonderful heart to hearts. During his last few days with us, he became unable to speak and open his eyes. As we were visiting him we knew we needed to say goodbye. I will never forget after Casey gave him a blessing, grandpa with all his energy wrapping his arm around Casey and telling him he loved him,

and he told us all that he loved us. I have never had an experience like this in my life where I was able to to say goodbye to someone before they passed on. I am forever grateful for that opportunity and for the Spirit. I am so grateful for the past 10 years of my life with grandpa. He is the BEST!

Pictures included are of grandpas siblings, grandma and their 3 sons, the grandkids, and the great grandkids.