THANK YOU!!!

As 2012 is coming to a close, we really want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of our Keep Smiling Project this year. Thank you so much for all of the cute families out there who scheduled photo shoots with Clay (www.claytonhansenphotography.com). Thank you to all of the moms who supported the Fall Sing and Play group and brought your kids each week!

We also wanted to thank my mom, sisters, and brother in laws, for being willing to babysit our kids when we went out on photo shoots together.  Also to Clay's mom for coming every week to our sing and play group to help with my kids. What in the world would we have done without you!?!

These are some pictures of the darling family that we were able to send to Disneyland this past November!  Can they be any cuter!?!  Thanks to them for being so wonderful to work with and such amazing inspirations to us!  We love you guys! 

We're so excited about things we have planned for the Keep Smiling Project in 2013! If you know of an inspirational family that has been affected by cancer or other life-changing conditions, let us know at thekeepsmilingproject@gmail.com.  

Keep Smiling and a Happy New Year!

The Hansen Family

Clay, Jen, Millie and Brooke

Sing and Play Group

The Mommy and Me Group was such a blast!  I hope all the moms enjoyed it!  Wednesdays seem kind of empty without it now!  I want to thank all the moms from the bottom of my heart for bringing your kids each week and supporting our Keep Smiling Project.  We raised $200.00 and all of this is going to sending one special family to Disneyland in November!

This is a picture from our Halloween Day.  Is there anything better than cute kids in costumes?

Thank You Cafe Rio!!!

Clay works at the corporate office for Cafe Rio.  The people there are the sweetest people in the world to Millie!  She refers to Clay's co-workers as her "friends."

When we started the Keep Smiling Project we wanted to choose fundraisers where the entire family could be involved, and give our kids opportunities to be involved.  One of Millie's favorite things to do is help me in the kitchen, so we thought this could be a great opportunity for her to have a little bake sale and Clay suggested she could sell the items at his work (since Millie has so many good friends there!)  She picked what she wanted to make and helped make every single thing!  We made caramel apples, pumpkin sugar cookies, and chocolate mint cookies.  I wish I would have taken a picture of our kitchen the night before, with cute little Millie right in the middle of everything!

Thank you Cafe Rio!  Your generous support earned $250.00 for the Keep Smiling Project and is going towards the trip we are sending a family on in November!

Magic!

I think "Magical" is the best way to describe the way we've been feeling over the past few days.  On Wednesday we were able to contact the most amazing and deserving family and offer them a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth--- DISNEYLAND!

The family has been through so much and includes two of the cutest kids in the world who have lost 2 parents to Cancer and it's horrible effects.  The family has been through so much and they so deserve a chance to just have fun together and make memories as a new family unit! 

We are keeping the name of this family confidential, but we wanted to post this so that all who have helped us in fundraising can share in our excitement! A great big hug to everyone who has participated in our fundraising projects!  The money we've raised so far will help pay a large portion of their trip and truly made it possible for us to do this.  Hopefully this is the first of many exciting announcements for the Keep Smiling Project!

Fall Photo Shoots

Fall is definitely the most beautiful time in Utah, and definitely the most popular time for Family Pictures. If you are interested in scheduling a photo shoot here are the details.

Pictures are done by Clayton Hansen Photography www.claytonhansenphotography.com
1 hour photo shoot- Around 25 edited pictures on cd with copyright release
Families of 6 and under- $10.00 more for extra people
Price includes an assistant to come to help with kids
Sessions are done on location.  If you have somewhere in mind, let us know- Otherwise we have plenty of suggestions to make sure you get exactly the look you want!
Cost - $150.00 -  As always, 100% of the money goes to helping families affected by Cancer!  Email thekeepsmilingproject@gmail.com to schedule your shoot today!

This is a really popular time of year so if you are interested in scheduling a shoot, let us know soon. Weekends book up pretty quickly!  Thank you so much for your help and support for the Keep Smiling Project!

Last of the Summer Photo Shoots

I just can't begin to thank all of the families who supported the Summer Photo Shoots.  We raised $900.00 with all of your help and generosity.  We have been so humbled by all of the amazing families out there who have shown up to support this cause.  Here are a few more from some recent shoots. 

The Swenson's

The Allred's

If you are interested in scheduling a shoot with Clay, email us at thekeepsmilingproject@gmail.com.  100% of all money earned will go to helping families who have been affected by cancer.

Summer Photography Sessions

I thought I would post a few pictures of some of the Summer Photo Shoots that we have done for the Keep Smiling Project.  Thank you so much to these amazing families for their support.  If you are interested in scheduling a photo shoot send us an email at thekeepsmilingproject@gmail.com.  100% of the money will go to helping a family who has been affected by cancer.

We want to be completely open about how we collect and use funds that are donated... With these summer photo shoots and a few others, we raised $650.00.  We're already working to get this money put to good use... so stay tuned!

Summer Photo Shoots

So, we've been getting feedback that the mini-shoots are a little hard for some families- because, well, we're in Utah- and Utahns have a lot of kids and need more time for a photo shoot.  So I talked to Clay and he said he would open up some other dates so that we could have some regular shoots as well.  Here's the details...

Available through the months of July and August. 

Donation: $100.00  (Clay's normal charge is $150.00)
What you get:
-1 hour of shooting
-An assistant to help with the kids
-Disc of 20-25 edited images with copyright release
-Warm fuzzy feeling knowing that your donation got you awesome family pictures, AND 100% of your donation helped a family "Keep Smiling" through the crappiness of cancer.

Here's a look at a family shoot from last Summer.  Cute right!?!

I'm sure we'll do one more of the photo shoot fundraisers in the Fall, but it will be for Clay's normal charge of $150.00 because Fall is always crazy busy for family pictures.

Why the Keep Smiling Project?

Our family started the "Keep Smiling Project" in memory of my dad, Alan J. Christensen, who passed away from Leukemia in 2006.  Everyone who knew my dad, knew he never closed a letter, phone call, or visit without saying "Keep Smiling!" It was in a way his personal motto and he lived it to the fullest. We know how difficult it is to have someone you love with Cancer and we want to help other families "Keep Smiling"  through those difficult times.  Our "Keep Smiling Project"  will help families fund medical costs, fun family outings, or other expenses.

Please help by participating in some of our fundraising efforts. All time, talent, and goods for the fundraising events have been donated and 100% of the money you donate will go to help these very deserving families.

If you have a family that you would like to nominate to receive some assistance or would like to participate in our current fundraising opportunities contact us at thekeepsmilingproject@gmail.com.

Thank you!  Your support means the world to us!
                                                        Keep Smiling!
                                                                            The Hansen Family
                                                                            Clay, Jen, Millie, and Brooke

*Please note "The Keep Smiling Project" is not a licensed charity or non-profit organization. It's just our family's little way of helping people in honor of my Dad's memory.
100% of any money raised will go to help families affected by cancer and we will be openly and publicly accountable for how this money is spent so that you can share in the difference you are making by your donation.

Family Photo Shoots

Clay has decided to host some Mini Photo Shoot sessions and donate 100% of all the money earned to our Keep Smiling Project.

Here's the details
30-40 minute sessions
12-15 full resolution images on a disc with copyright release
*If you choose to order prints that money will also be donated to the fund
Donation: $100.00

The first of these mini sessions will be held June 9, 2012.  The location is one of my favorites,  we like to call it  "The Poppies"  It's completely gorgeous and just to show you, here's a picture taken of our daughter at this location.

These are the time spots available...

6:00
6:40
7:15
7:50

To preview some of Clay's work, feel free to visit his website at www.claytonhansenphotography.com.
If you are interested in scheduling or have any questions, please email us at TheKeepSmilingProject@gmail.com.