Happy Holidays From The Hansons ...

More Dancing Houses ...

I have had a few requests for more address of homes with Christmas lights synchronized to music. So here they are:

7040 Darby Ave is the best house. 8080 Red Coach Ave is nice but not as many lights. These houses we haven't been to yet, so I don't know what to expect: 1054 Desert Olive Ct. 1343 Villa Park Ct. 10878 Milbank Ave.

ENJOY!

Holiday House ...

We found one of the best little holidays secrets in Las Vegas. [7040 Darby Ave] There is over 100,000 lights on display that are all syncronized to music. Many people leave donations. The homeowners participate in LBEH (Let's Bring Em Home) they purchase plane tickets for service members to unite with their families during the Holidays.

We spend more that a half an hour just watching the lights and listening to the music. And we didn't even have to hear repeats of any songs.

The Gift Of Lights ...

Since the Las Vegas Speedway is only fifteen minutes away from our house. The whole gang piled in the car for a Friday night drive. A few of the lights weren't working because of the rain, so they gave us a free pass to come back another night.

The whole drive was so pretty. They even sold hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and popcorn at the entrance. It was a nice holiday family drive.

A Gift Of Pixie Dust ...

Today we opened the mail and there was an envelope from Anaheim. Not knowing anyone in Anaheim we opened it with curiosity. Inside was another envelope from Disneyland. Now this really got me excited! There was a note attatched from Justins Aunt and Uncle

"Thinking of you both this holiday season. I know how happy Disneyland makes you both, so here is a little gift to help you enjoy! Love Pam & Nick."

Christmas Treats ...

The other night Justin and I did our Holiday baking. It took almost the whole day, but we got it accomplished. Its always a fun time with just the two of us trying to cut out the dough and decorate the baked product. Justin has an unusual sense of decorating. On the menu: Vanilla Almond Cupcakes, Holiday Fetti Cookies, Sugar Peppermint Cookies, and Gingerbread Men.

Wish Upon A Star ...

I forgot to post this picture from the fireworks at Disneyland. It makes me wanna sing the song ...

When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream No request is too extreme When you wish upon a star As dreamers do

Fate is kind She brings to those to love The sweet fulfillment of Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true

Disneyland Christmas ...

So less than week ago Justin commented that we have never been to Disneyland during Christmas together. I haven't seen a Disney Christmas since 2000, when my whole family flew to Orlando to go to Disney World during the holiday season. I was super excited, I mean my two favorite things Disney and Christmas!

So Wednesday early morning we adventured out to california, checked in at Candy Cane Inn (we have stayed there so many times James the Front Host remembers us and we get "special rates" ;)) and headed straight to "The Merriest Place On Earth"

The tree right on Main Street USA is amazing. My mom would die for that tree. I'm guessing its millions of lights and millions of other decorations towering over a million feet. Okay, so I may be exagerating just a little. But seriously the decorations are AMAZING !!! The castle has snow and icicles all over, and when it starts to get darker more and more lights appear.





Its a Small World was the Holiday Edition and was SO SO PRETTY !!! Of course they sang Christmas music and was decorated to the upmost standard. I'm convinced that the Disneyland people need to come decorate my house.



The fireworks display was BREATHTAKING !!! We had a perfect location right in front of the castle. But my very favorite part was when it snowed.





All in all, this was one of my favorite trips to "The Happiest Place On Earth"

I almost forgot, we walked right onto Snow Whites Adventure and the guy running the ride got really excited and said I looked a lot like Taylor Swift. Justin then chimed in and said I was her sister. He got SO excited that I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't. At least he has a story to go home with.

Lights Are Up ...

We had a busy week putting up the tree, decorations, lights, addressing and posting holiday cards. So happy it's this time of year !



Representing Penguin Avenue LOL ...

Whishing You Joy ...

Day to Night ...

24 More Days ...

Christmas is full of shiny things
That sparkle, gleam and glow;
These holiday pleasures dazzle us,
And yet, deep down, we know...


That Christmas has its special gifts,
But our year-round joy depends
On the cherished people in our lives,
Our family and our friends.

Bobbies ...

Since we all went over to my Aunts house for Thanksgiving, she had all the leftovers still, So tonight we all went back over for leftovers. My friend Kristine gave me the greatest idea ever. I picked up some french rolls from the grocery store on our way over to my Aunts to make Capriotti's bobbie sandwitches. Everyone loved the idea and it was a big hit. We may have to make this a new family tradition.

Thanksgiving Spice Cakes ...

My aunt is hosting Thanksgiving at her house this year and I said I would bring a dessert. My dad really likes my cupcakes, so I decided to take my spice cake mix and make mini ones in cupcake form. I really wanted to decorate them with a single candy corn or candied pumpkin, but none was to be found after Halloween, so I decided to keep them nice and simple.

Aliante Geese ...

We have a big community park here in Aliante and there are a few ponds and waterfalls. Which many birds, ducks, and geese call home. While leaving for a little drive, we encountered a few feathered friends out for a stroll.





I took this picture the other day on my way to work
"Why did the goose cross the road?"

Jager Talk ...

Jager has always been a talker and we always try to capture it on video. Justin was the lucky one who finally got a good video of Jager telling us about his day.

Bristlecone Trail ...

This afternoon we headed up to Bristlecone Trail. It was a little chilly and we walked right into some snow. My favorite spot is where a tree is bent all the way to the ground in an arch. It looked like it snapped so it wasnt as cool as before, but atill one of my favorite spots.

Double Take ...

I was going through old pictures today and came across this one picture with Justin dancing with a mystery little blonde girl, and then I had to do a double take. The mystery little blonde girl looks a lot like me when I was a little girl. Here; judge for yourself.

Disney Bug ...

So Justin and I had lunch together yesterday at work and out of the blue Justin asked if I wanted to go back to Disneyland during their holiday celebration. I was totally taken back, since Justin isn't the biggest disney fan, but takes me since he knows I love disneyland so much. (And deep down I thing he really enjoys it too) So for him to want to go, is so tempting. I did mention that we just went in October, but his reply was, "if i fill up the car and tell you to pack a bag dont ask questions." We have been to Disneyland many many times, but never during the holiday season. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love the feeling that it makes me feel all month long, so disneyland all decked out in Holiday decor is two of my favorite things together.

Ethel Ms Banner ...

I did and I married him :)

Veterans Day ...

Happy Veterans Day to all of the vets past, presemt, and future. God bless you all.



Up above is my grandpa Wallner. He served in the Army and the Navy. He was a radio communication operator stationed in Germany. He was responsible for installing and maintaining radar and radio receiving, transmitting, carrier and terminal equipment. Electricity, mathematics, electronics and blueprint reading. Radio control room technician, radio mechanic, transmitter, radio and TV repairs.

Patton ...

We had a dinner/movie night at my parents last night. Mom and I cooked dinner while the boys started the movie. We were still able to watch the movie since my parents have a big great room. We watch PATTON, its a great movie with an awesome opening scene with an even awesomer speech ...

[The film's famous beginning has General Patton giving a speech to an unseen audience of American troops, with a huge American flag in the background]

Ruffles and Flourishes ... Be seated.

Now, I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. Men, all this stuff you’ve heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball player, the toughest boxer. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. Because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.

Now, an Army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap. The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality for the Saturday Evening Post don’t know anything more about real battle than they do about fornicating.

We have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit and the best men in the world. You know, by God I actually pity those poor bastards we’re going up against. By God, I do. We’re not just going to shoot the bastards, we’re going to cut out their living guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We’re going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel.

Now, some of you boys, I know, are wondering whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it. I can assure you that you will all do your duty. The Nazis are the enemy. Wade into them. Spill their blood. Shoot them in the belly. When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment before was your best friend's face, you'll know what to do.

Now there’s another thing I want you to remember. I don’t want to get any messages saying that we are holding our position. We’re not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we’re not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We're going to hold onto him by the nose and we're going to kick him in the ass. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we're gonna go through him like crap through a goose.

There’s one thing that you men will be able to say when you get back home. And you may thank God for it. Thirty years from now when you’re sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what did you do in the great World War II, you won’t have to say, "Well, I shoveled shit in Louisiana."

Alright now, you sons-of-bitches, you know how I feel. Oh, and I will be proud to lead you wonderful guys into battle – anytime, anywhere.

That’s all.

- General George S Patton Jr.

Red Springs ...

We started out early today to Red Rock Canyon with the dogs. There is a little neigborhood right before you actually get to the loop and in there is a nice meadown with boardwalk around it and then further in there are two hiking paths. Today we did the boardwalk and trail one. Today there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sky was bluer than blue behind the bright red rocks. It was a perfect oppurtunity for some pictures.

Wine Corks ...

Last Christmas my aunt got me a make your own wine cork board. My love of wine was put into over drive trying to have enough wine corks to finish my board. But I am lucky enough to have some fabulous friends that also share my love of wine. So ten months later and 163 bottles of wine later ... its finished !

Fortune Cookie ...

Lutheran Seal ...

I had to share this beautiful picture of the Lutheran Seal made out of stained glass. I zoomed in as much as I could. I just thought it was so beautiful. And here is a little information about what it means.



The Seal of Martin Luther was designed by Martin Luther himself.
He explained his design in the following words:

The first thing expressed in my seal is a cross, black, within the heart, to put me in mind that faith in Christ crucified saves us. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness."

Now, although the cross is black, mortified, and intended to cause pain, yet it does not change the color of the heart, does not destroy nature -- i.e., does not kill, but keeps alive. "For the just shall live by faith," -- by faith in the Savior.

But this heart is fixed upon the center of a white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace. The rose is white, not red, because white is the ideal color of all angels and blessed spirits.

This rose, moreover, is fixed in a sky-colored ground, to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is but an earnest and beginning of heavenly joy to come, as anticipated and held by hope, though not yet revealed.

And around this ground base is a golden ring, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless, and more precious than all joys and treasures, since gold is the best and most precious metal. Christ, our dear Lord, He will give grace unto eternal life.

Amen.
Martin Luther

The Examiner ...

My friend asked me if it was alright if she featured me in a wedding article about our wedding. I emailed her all the details she wanted to know. It was fun reliving the proposal and everything else. Without further ado, here it is ...

The Examiner - Washington DC: Oh, those handsome Hansons

Mini Halloween Apples ...

Tonight Justin and I played Betty Crocker. Mini Halloween apples were on the menu. We made three different flavors: Plain chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter chocolate. Sooo tasty!

Copy & Paste ...

I kept meaning to put Alyssa and my CALIFORNIA pictures together. I kept forgetting and put it back in my mind. I finally got it done tonight and it turned out amazing. I absolutly love how it turned out.

Pumpkin Carving ...

Tonight Pat and Jenny had us over for pizza, drinks, cookies, and pumpkin carving. It was a perfect night with the lightning, rain, the movie halloween marathon, and good company.

Pat's pumpkin

Jenny's pumpkin

Justin's pumpkin

Stephanie's pumpkin

Cathedral Rock ...

Today after it rained a bit we headed out to Mount Charleston to do a little hiking. All the trees were chaning colors and it was so pretty. We haven't done it in awhile, so it was nice to get some fresh air. We found a little waterfall on a broken off trail. You could hear it before you heard it. After we reached the top, we noticed darker clouds slowly rolling in, so we headed back down right away. At one point of the trail we had to stop and listen. We heard something rustling close by and then walking away. It sounded big, but we never got a clear look of what it was. It was defiantly a good refreshing hike.