Six Flags continued

Here are Johnnie and McKay on an airplane ride!

Here are Mom and Johnnie on a hot air balloon ride the went high in the air as you can see from the next picture.

Johnnie decided to go again with his dad and McKay.

Six Flags over Texas

Went spent a day at Six Flags when we went to Texas. In the morning we took Johnnie on the kiddie rides. After lunch we dropped Johnnie off at his grandparents for a nap and Courtney and I went back and rode the adult rides. It was a lot of fun. It wasn't very crowded; we didn't have to wait in line because there really weren't any. It was a Tuesday and 103 degrees outside. We had to drink water like crazy. Here is Johnnie with his dad and cousin McKay on the trucks ride.

Mom took Johnnie on this ride where they bring you up to the top and drop you a couple of feet at a time. Johnnie and I had fun on it as you can see on our faces.

Johnnie went on this swing ride all by himself!

The Rangers Game

Here are Courtney and Johnnie in front of the Ballpark at Arlington getting ready for their first Texas Rangers game.

Kriston and Johnnie in front of the field.

Here are Courtney and Johnnie enjoying the game. That lasted for about 30 seconds. Johnnie was more interested in finding out what the stadium had to offer him. Johnnie and I roamed around the stadium for a while checking out where the box seats were and where all the consession stands were. We came back to our section just in time for the top of the seventh inning. We watched the game for a couple of minutes, and then unfortunately the heavens opened up and it started pouring rain like crazy. The game was rained out. We ended up soaking wet, but it was fun.

Riscky's BBQ

On the first night we arrived in Texas, McKay said, "Kriston you are in luck we are eating Tex Mex tonight just for you." I almost thought it was a joke and started to laugh (those of you who know how I feel about Cafe Rio and the like will understand). The joke was on me because he wasn't joking. He thought I liked Tex Mex or Mexican food (I don't--I know I am affending a lot of people by saying that, but I just don't like it). On the second night we went to Riscky's BBQ. Here is the classic Riscky's table pose. Johnnie wasn't interested in eating all he wanted to do was see what was going on in the stockyards.




Here is Sydney eating her steak. Holden is helping her out.
















Here are Carly and Melanie enjoying their french fries.














Sydney, Holden, and Gavin posing for the camera!

Our time with Grandparens and Cousins

The Hansen Grandparents and Tara's family came out for Holden's Priesthood Ordination. We stayed overnight in a hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 7th. It was Holden's 12th birthday. We all met up in Scranton. We had fun swimming in the hotel pool, going to Denny's for dinner (p.s. they do sell chocolate milk there for those who have boycotted it), and having a present opening party for Holden and Johnnie. Holden got a lot of money, and Johnnie happily got a lot of books, as well as a cute sock monkey! This picture is Johnnie with is grandparents and cousins.

Holden and Gavin showed Johnnie how to sword fight! The cousins went to Valley Forge earlier in their vacation and picked up these wooden swords.

Johnnie, Carly, Holden, and Gavin

Everyone had a fun time playing together. We can't wait to see them again when we go to Texas!

Holden's Priesthood Ordination

Our nephew, Holden, turned 12 on July 7th. He and his family as well as Grandpa and Grandma Hansen came all the way from Texas to ordain Holden to the Aaronic Priesthood in Harmony, Pennsylvania, where the Priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith. Holden's Dad grew up in Binghamton, NY and this is where he was also ordained.

This is everyone who was there that day. From left to right: Johnnie, Kriston, Holden, Grandma Hansen, Courtney, Carly, Grandpa Hansen, Gavin, Tara, and Jeff.

This is our family in front of the monument there.

Hiking at the Pawling Nature Reserve

We wanted to go hiking one day in June and found a place close to our house. Up on Quaker Hill there is the Pawling Nature Reserve. It has several trails that hook up to the Appalachian Trail.

Courtney carried Johnnie on his back most of the way.

Johnnie got out and walked for a while. In this picture he is helping me hold up a fallen tree that went across the trail.

The trail brought us over a stream that eventually flowed into a water fall that Courtney and Johnnie are looking at in this picture. We did stop in the stream and put our feet in to cool off. We had a fun time hiking, talking and enjoying the scenery.