Andrew's First School Program

Tonight marked a milestone in Andrew's elementary school career.  He had his very first school program.  There were 96 little Pre-K kiddos excitedly buzzing through the school's auditorium surrounded by hundreds of loving family and friends.

It is just amazing to watch your child grow up so much in front of your eyes.

From the moment we walked into the auditorium, Andrew was high-fiving, waving and talking with boys and girls all over the place.  He certainly is a social butterfly.

He was pretty excited about what the evening was going to entail.  I kept asking him throughout the day what he was going to perform during the program and he would produce a sly little cock-eyed smile and say "It's a surprise, mom.  Don't ask again, you'll just ruin it for you."

It was a very cute program that lasted 45 minutes. They sang about 8 songs with hand motions and all. It was a "rock star" theme. The "PreK Rocks" t-shirts they wore said "AB/CD (like the AC/DC logo) Future Rock Stars of Marlow Elementary."

We knew that he was going to have some microphone time while saying his name and what he was going to be when he grew up.  If you have ever had the side-splitting opportunity to watch Andrew in any of the past church programs, you understand how nervous this made Mike and me.  And yet again, Andrew would not tell us what he was going to say.  This could be bad.  Hilarious without a doubt.  But very bad.

Whew!  I am glad to say that we made it through without so much as a hiccup.  He spoke very loud and clear.  He stated his name and then said "I am going to be fighting fire when I grow up."  We hope he meant he wanted to be a firefighter.  Fingers crossed.

The Celebration of Two's

Most of you know that my baby turned two in January.  Unfortunately, the timing of our big move didn't allow us to celebrate little Ryan's two years of life appropriately.

Call it procrastination, call it laziness, the feeling of being overwhelmed with life or just plain neglect, but we JUST had a birthday party for Ryan on Saturday, three months almost to the day of his birthday. 

Andrew really started the party planning on Saturday morning.  He came into our room bright and early and announced with his nose pressed against mine as he woke me up excitedly, "Mom!  It is a party day!  We have to have a party today, I can feel it!" 

I responded saying, "Yes, you know what Andrew?  I think you are right.  It needs to be a party day today."

So we unpacked the box filled with Ryan's wrapped birthday gifts that had been sitting outside the boys' rooms since we moved in, we called to invite my parents and sisters over to join in the festivities, and we went to the store to let Ryan pick out his birthday cake.

When we were in the grocery store, Andrew and Ryan were sitting in the "truck" together.  They were so cute snuggling together in the shopping cart.  Andrew kept patting Ryan and hugging him saying, "Happy Birthday, Ryan!  Happy Birthday, little Buddie!  I love you.  Bubba loves you, even though mommy is tricking you and it REALLY isn't your birthday today!"

Nothing like having a five year-old to keep you honest.

Ryan was very strategic about the order he opened his presents.

What could it be?

Digging in!  "I like it, Ryan!" was the exclamation from the approving two year-old.

Yummy tractor cake!  Ryan sang Happy Birthday along with us...

and we lit the candle and sang to him after his request of "AGAIN!" three times!

We all figured after waiting for three months he deserved

three rounds of happy birthday and wish making.

And the night couldn't be complete without a little Smurf Dance Party competition!

Ryan's favorites are "Go, Go, Go Get It" and "Who Let the Smurfs Out".

(Aunt LaLa and Mommy were getting down with their boogie!)

Happy Birthday (Belated!), my precious little handful!

Thinking of Others

I really don't know how to start this topic. 

I have thoughts involving selfishness consuming my mind.  They have been constant these past couple of weeks and I just need to get them out.  I think that it helps to write them down as a process to clear my head and begin to look at them from different angles, or just to forget about them for a while and then come back to them fresh so I can deal with them rationally.

Moving hasn't been as hard as I thought.  Leaving behind a great church family, wonderful friends and awesome co-workers was not going to be easy, and it hasn't been so easy, but it hasn't been all of the tears and heartbreak I thought was certain to come flooding to the surface.  (Mike has even made several comments about how well I have handled things, apparently to his surprise too.)

Until now... things are starting to settle in a little bit more and I am realizing more and more each day how inward focused I am being.  My thoughts have been consumed with situating our new house to reflect our taste and personality.  All of a sudden I have been struck with a feeling of shallowness.

I revolve the days that I am not working (5 out of 7 days a week) around shopping, painting and playing.  The playing part I am not concerned about, but I feel disconnected not contributing to the betterment of society by being involved at a church or organization.

Before we moved, I was running myself ragged because I never said no - at church or the other civic duties I was involved in.  There has to be a balance.  I feel like I have moved from one extreme to another. 

I know how to plug myself in at a church and get going, but this is something we as a family are not ready for since we are still searching for the faith community we are supposed to be a part of here.

I just need to add in some "outward" focus to combat all this inward selfishness.

I need some guidance on getting involved in a new community, but keeping a good balance with family life.

Working on Our Playroom

We are so fortunate to have an awesome space for the boys to call their own. 

Our new home has two rooms and a full bathroom upstairs along with a room that spans the length of the back of our home.  The two rooms each have a door that opens up into this room.  It couldn't be set up better!

I am currently working on sprucing it up and adding some character as well as much needed organization.

Here's what it looks like now:

The room facing north.

The room facing south.

I just bought the little red, solid wood table at a store locally.  The owner goes out and salvages all kinds of furniture and upcycles it giving it new life.  Her prices are extremely reasonable and her work is beautiful.

I have BIG plans for this room.  Here are some pictures of inspiration that I found on Pinterest.com.

http://pinterest.com/pin/16325617368994019/

This picture shows the theme that I am going for - crisp, clean and nautical.  I love the cubby seating and want to do the same under the middle three windows in our playroom.

http://pinterest.com/pin/16325617368994013/

I love the wall border.  I don't know how I would incorporate it, but I am going to try!

http://pinterest.com/pin/16325617368993967/

I am establishing an arts and crafts area in our playroom and would love to have a wall o' chalkboard.

http://pinterest.com/pin/16325617368994025/

This is a great idea, and I have just the spot for something similar!

http://pinterest.com/pin/16325617368993950/

Now, this is just completely a pipe-dream but isn't it the coolest thing?!  I would love to have this in the reading corner that I am planning!  We'll see what happens!

I am currently painting all the trim white and will be painting the walls "Stone Lion" from Sherwin Williams.  With all those windows, there is ample trim.  Trim painting party anyone?

I'll fill you in as progress takes place!

Rosie, My Lovely Cookbook

I dare say that in this new life as part-time mommy, part-time professional working gal, I have had a little bit more time to organize our home life.  I have been inspired by the numerous binders that others have put together to organize their lives, such as my friend Megan from Tales of the Trees. 

I started slow by making a binder I created to hold our most favorite, quick and easy recipes as well as organize our weekly meals and grocery needs list.  I thought this was pretty good.  I was very proud of myself and impressed that I kept it up a whole month.

THEN, I went to this great kitchen store in my new, old community.  And found something insanely similar to what I created on my own BUT prettier, sweeter, cooler, sugar-coated, jeepers-creepers and SO much more awesome than what I had thrown together.

I was instantly in love.

There is something about a DIY project.  And the idea of saving time, money and resources to do it yourself.

But WHY I ask?  Why! when it is all right there gleaming up at you from the shelf saying "Look at me! I am so pretty!  I can make you so much more organized than that piece of junk you have sitting on your self at home!"

And oh how right she was.  Yes, she...  She does have a name - Rosie.  Rosie the Hansen Cookbook.

Say "hi", Rosie...

She has so many assets and is voluminous in so many ways.

She came with her own sheet protectors.  This is where I keep my weekly meal planners. 

I just slip the new one for the week in front of the previous week's.

I place the recipe cards that correlate with the meals of the week in front following the weekly meal planner.

Aren't they so pretty!  Gosh, it makes me want to whip up a recipe right now!

She came with this darling folder to store those recipes you clip from magazines as well as lovely tabbed dividers to separate all of those recipe cards.  I simply swap them back and forth from the ones I am using that week. 

Could she be more brilliant?  I don't think so!

I'm completely in love...

You can find ones just like Rosie HERE at Distinctive Decor.

Please note: I purchased my cookbook at Distinctive Decor and was not asked to give a review of any kind.  I just really love this idea and thought it was so brilliant I had to have it for myself!

Tried and True Recipes

It is amazing to me how much I LOVE being at home with my boys 5 days a week...although we are still working on that routine.  So it doesn't quite feel like we have really gotten to have a "normal" week yet.

And in the midst of it all there is eating to be done - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I am a HUGE advocate of the dinner table and family meals.  I think the falter away from sitting down together as a family without television, phones, Ipods, and other distractions is a huge reason why America's younger generations have the problems they do.  But we won't get on that soap box...at least not tonight.

We our schedules still being in flux, I have relied on two tried and true, easy-peasy recipes that are quickly as scrumptuous as those you slave over.  (And you will find absolute freedom in my kitchen!)

This first recipe comes from a cook book my Premier Designs Jewelry sisters put together and the company sent to everyone as a Christmas gift several years ago.  Fast, easy and super yummy!

Creamy Enchiladas Verde
1 (10.75oz) can Cambell's creamy chicken verde soup (I can't find this any where, so I have been using Campbell's Nacho Cheese soup.)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped (This week I used chicken fajita meat that I found in the freezer section at Target.  It was SO good!)
2/3 cups Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
8 (6 in) tortillas, warmed
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375F.  In a mixing bowl, mix half of the can of soup, garlic powder, chicken and 1/3 c. cheese.  Spoon about 1/3 c. of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, roll up the tortillas, and place them seam-side down in a 2-qt. shallow baking dish.  In a small bowl, mix the remaining soup and milk and pour over the tortillas.  Top with the remaining cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes, or until the enchiladas are hot.  Lip-smacking good!

The second recipe is one I am very proud of because...drum roll please...it is my very own recipe!  The reason I am proud of this is not to be boastful.  It is quite simply because I am good at following a recipe, but rarely, oh so rarely, do I ever just try to lay the cook book aside and "wing it."  But I did once, and here is the fruit of my labor.

Chicken Zucchini Pizza
I pkg Naan bread
1 to 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce (Your favorite.  I like four cheese or anything garlic.)
1 cup chicken, cooked and shredded (A can of chicken white meat works too.  Come on, really who has time to boil and shred?)
zucchini, thinly sliced
tomatoe, thinly sliced
Italian seasoning, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup mozarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place bread on baking sheet.  Spread spaghetti sauce onto the bread as much as desired.  Top with tomatoes, zucchini, chicken, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

Note:  Tonight I used a jalepeno loaf and a rigatto cheese loaf from the grocer's bakery section since I couldn't find any naan bread.  It was super, duper yummy, and something that I will repeat to add a little variety.

There you have it, some of the Hansen's favorite meals for the moment.

The Morning Grind

Update: I have fixed the link so you can now see "Andrew's Good Morning Checklist."

When I was basically living as a single parent for 7 months, I had to rely a lot on Andrew being a little more self-sufficient than a normal 4 year-old and then 5 year-old. 

The biggest task that I sought from him at his ripe little age was getting himself ready in the morning.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I did lay out his clothes every night for him and I set out his breakfast for him every morning.  But I had to ask him to get dressed, make his bed (in case I received the infamous call that we were going to have a showing), brush his teeth and eat breakfast all by himself.

We started by making a game of it - a competition of sorts.  Can you beat mommy getting dressed?  Can you be the first one to be done brushing your teeth?  But do a good job!  Can you beat mommy by making your bed first?  Ready, set, go!

The novelty wore off FAST.  I got props for about 2 weeks.  Then, nothing.  Nada.  He just didn't care.

So, I decided to incentivize our morning.  I made this - Andrew's Good Morning Checklist.



A checklist was the perfect solution.

He could remember what he needed to do to stay on track.  And if he was able to do all of his tasks above the thick black line, he could play until I was ready to hit the road.  If he got to play, he put a sticker in that box and then at the end of the week he earned a quarter for each day he had a sticker in all five boxes.

This worked beautifully! 

In fact, since we have moved we hadn't been doing the checklist...until today. 

Andrew looked at me this morning as I was laying his clothes out on his bed.  "I can do this all by MYSELF, mom!  I just really have to have my checklist."  If you could only see the glare that went with this statement.  I said okay, walked downstairs and printed off a checklist for him.

He was ready in five minutes.  Brilliant!

Battle: Geeks vs. Jocks

It honestly is a blessing from God that Mike and I are married...that we even started dating...that we even met.

You see, my doting, loving and constantly appraising husband has reminded me on numerous occasions that it is very fortunate that we met in college because he NEVER would have dated me in high school.

This is where the battle of the Geeks versus Jocks comes into play.

He was the jock.  He played three sports extremely well at one of the biggest high schools in Oklahoma.  There aren't many people that can say that they went to a high school with over 1,000 students in their class and competitively played baseball, wrestling and golf.  Unheard of.

And while I played sports - basketball (my fav), softball, track, golf (if you can call one year's worth really playing...but Mike did and then landed a golf scholarship to play on the college team), and cheerleading - I also was on the speech and debate team, served as an officer on the National and Oklahoma Honor Societies, and played the saxophone in the band.

Yes!  I was a geek, a nerd, an ugly duckling as Mike fondly says, and follows that comment up quickly with "who grew into a swan."  He is a smooth one.

You know, just when you think that the "dork-iness" has left you, you find yourself painting the entry hallway of your new home.  Minding your own business, painting away, listening to some of "today's top hits" on the TV. 

There might have been some rockin'-body JLo moves and once or twice the paint roller might have turned into a glitter microphone.  Who can resist the urge to dance to "I Like It Like That" by Hot Chelle Rae?  All in the privacy of your home...right? 

WRONG!

I completely forgot about the front door standing wide open while I was "hmm, hmm, rockin' that body" (along with killer robot dance moves.)  All of a sudden I get that creepy feeling that someone is watching me.

I look over to the open door and standing there watching me is our 10 year-old neighbor.  His mouth agape and I know he is contemplating whether or not it is too late to duck and run.

Satisfied with the knowledge that the geek never leaves you,  I nonchalantly walk over to the door and let him in to go upstairs and find Andrew.

The only thought that ran through my mind was - "Man, this is going to be SO MUCH FUN when Andrew and Ryan are teenagers."

We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo...

With all the fun we had last weekend visiting two zoos, we are all - or at least I am - looking forward to a wonderful weekend of nothing.  Yes, nothing at all sounds SO good!

Here are some memories from The Weekend Full of Zoo.

Dallas Zoo (Dallas, TX)

The Alligator

He is lining the waters edge.  Big guy.

Ryan's favorite animals were the elephants.

Andrew's favorite animals were the camels.

We even got to ride one!

Oklahoma City Zoo (Oklahoma City, OK)

Andrew and his BFF, Sarah.

Yes, the one who makes his heart beeps faster!

(If you missed this story, click here.)

Couldn't tell you what they were looking at, but aren't they so cute!

Ryan and Sarah held hands the entire time he wasn't in his stroller.

The bears were very playful and so much fun to watch.

Everyone loves watching the baby elephant.

Another great day at the zoo!