Phrases in our house

There are many ways to describe my life with three active kiddos. A few phrases that are commonly heard by people describing a common day in our house:

• "Never a dull moment,"
• "Don't know what's going to happen next,"
• "An adventure around every corner,"
• "The crazy thing we call life."

Then there are the those phrases that you are amazed that they came from your mouth...

• "Keep your spit to yourself."
• "Stop tickling your brother, he can't breath!"
• "Stay in the bathroom until you have clothes on."
• "Don't lick the ___."
• "Please stop singing We wish you a Merry Christmas, it's March."
• "If you lick someone else, you will be grounded."
• "No, you can not have fourths. Three plates of dinner is enough."
• "Yes, you can have an apple instead of cake."
• "Cheesy green beans (aka asparagus) are my favorite to have with dinner too."
• "No, we have to have white pancakes, I don't have any spinach to make green ones."

Apparently, we talk a lot about spit and food.

Lately, though, it is the things that come out of Beth's mouth that have been the most entertaining. I truly never know what she will say next. For instance -
Last week, I had been waiting for a YLEO order to arrive. When we got home on Friday, I had Beth open the front door to see if a box was out there. She comes back in, shaking her head, with her hands on her hips. I say "I guess our box isn't here yet. Maybe tomorrow." And her reply was "That mailman!! He is taking forever! I'm going to turn him upside down and stick him in the trash can!"

Oh, boy, we are in trouble with this one... Makes me leery of taking her anywhere. Most days, I feel like I am paying for Michael's raising with the boys. But with Beth, I am certainly paying for mine!

Fruits and Veggies

A large part of the food that I have always eaten has been fruits and veggies. I remember growing up and there always being two veggies with dinner and always an assortment of fruit on the counter and in the fridge. And it wasn't just the apples and bananas, we had all different kinds. I can also remember almost always having a garden growing up, with lots of ready-to-eat produce just calling my name.

Somehow, the green thumb, that seems to run in our family, missed me. I  just don't seem to grow plants. The plants that I've tried to "garden" either don't grow at all, or die before it is time for them to produce. Even non-produce plants don't survive in my care. There have been several times, over the years, that a thoughtful person has given me a plant. Every time, I take it graciously, all the while thinking - "Oh, poor plant, it doesn't know what it's in for." It will suffer along for a while, then eventually shrivels up. I have one plant at the office. If it wasn't for my wonderful co-worker, it would have been tossed ages ago.

So, for many years, I just bought produce, like many others, at the store. Now, I am probably one of the most produce picky people out there. Maybe, it's from growing up with such wonderful fruits and veggies readily available. I'm not sure. But, I am one of those people you see in the produce section, inspecting every tomato before putting it in the bag, and searching through the bananas to find the "just right" ones.

Four years ago, my sister-in-law was so kind to tell me about this wonderful co-op that she participates in every week. It sounded so great to get a variety of produce for a fraction of what it costs in the store, and so much better quality. I was super excited. Then, upon investigation, there was no branch of the co-op in Oklahoma. Thanks for getting my hopes up. What a bummer!
Then, just a couple short months later, she called me again. There was a site that opened up a little over an hour away. Whoo Hoo! I participated at the first chance I got, and was hooked on that very first experience. I began training right away, and was the second site in Oklahoma to open up. I've been enjoying our site here in Clinton for almost three years now. It is such a blessing to fill my kids with such a variety of good produce. We enjoy the experimenting with trying new recipes and new ideas with common items, and the search for suggestions on the rarity of something new that we've not had before. I've discovered that my favorite fruit is persimmons, something I had never had before the co-op. And, it is still amazing to me that my oldest asks every time I come home with our haul if we got spinach to make green pancakes. What kid does that? Apparently, mine!

The best thing about our experience over the last three years, by far, has been the wonderful people that I have met! From that first experience with the coordinator in Altus, to our awesome volunteers and participants here in Clinton, I love you all! We have a great time socializing over fruits and veggies every other Saturday, and I wouldn't trade it!! **A huge thank you to all my awesome volunteers, whom I couldn't live without!! I appreciate you SO much!!**

As I prep for another basket weekend, I am like a little kid on Christmas morning. The excitement of the surprises of what we are going to get, what friends I will get to see, and what new friends I will make, makes my heart happy. And, the look on the kids' faces when I get home, is priceless. Thank you, Bountiful Baskets, for helping this black thumbed mom bring affordable, wonderful, healthy produce to our table!

For more information on Bountiful Baskets, to participate, or to find a location near you, please visit: www.bountifulbaskets.org

Pumpkin Pie

Beth and I have a little canter that we have been doing since before she was even born. I tell her "I love you" followed by a nick-name, and she responds. We do this many times a day, and a lot of the times the nick-name and responses are different.

For the first two years, the nick-names varied with Bethy, Bethy Sue, Boo Boo, Sister Lou, and Sis, to name a few. And the responses varied from her with Mommy, Mommy boo, Mommy Sue, and so forth. Sometimes, we'd get silly and call each other funny names like silly goose, goober, and other funny titles. She'd like to repeat the silly name with Mommy added at the end.

Many months ago, I started calling her pumpkin. I have fond memories of my mom calling me pumpkin, and it just so easily rolls off of my tongue with Beth. Around Thanksgiving, Beth discovered that my favorite pie is pumpkin. So, she has decided that is now her favorite as well. Now Mommy has a new nick-name, pumpkin pie. I LOVE IT!

As I have been spending more one-on-one time with each kiddo, it has really struck me how much I take for granted the little things. This is one of my favorites with Beth. I hope, when she is a mommy, she can look back and  remember and have fond memories of being called pumpkin.

"I love you pumpkin!" "I love you pumpkin pie!"

Date with Boo

Beth and I started having wonderful little "dates" on Friday afternoons a couple months back, and it is wonderful!!

Since I get off from work early on Fridays, I am able to pick Beth up from school. This has been awesome Mommy-Daughter time and we have both enjoyed it so much! Usually, we go to Sonic for Happy Hour, and Beth gets a slushy.

However, this Friday, it was cold, and she already had a sucker from school (two actually, thanks Miss Karen!) So, instead we decided to go to the library. It has been a good while since we had been to the public library, and oh, what fun! After playing in the play area, she picked out books, a Play-Away movie, and we picked out both boys a chapter book. (Oh, and I picked out a book while she was playing.) As we were checking out, Beth spotted the TV with pictures rotating on it, and found herself and her class. She was so excited! "There I am with my friends and MS.KATHY!!" It was so cute!!

It is so great that she loves to 'read' already, and it made me so grateful for all of the librarians that the kids have had over the last several years. They have all played a huge part in their love for books. I so LOVE that the kids have a love for books like I do. It is so great to read with them and discuss the plot and all the details.

I look forward to many more "dates" with each of my children, and to enjoying many more books with them as well!

New Year, New Goals

The start of 2014 has been great! The kids have been pretty healthy; they are excited to go back to school and are counting down till Monday; they are playing pretty nicely with each other and seem to love each other again. Work has been very relaxed and stress free this week. Even my day in Elk City was pleasant, with no yelling/angry customers. I've been able to work out twice already this year, and it's only the 3rd.

So, with all the positives going on, I decided I should document some goals for this year:

• First, personal goals:
• Double the 500 mile challenge, making it 1000 miles in 2014
• Consistently work out 2 times a week
• Eat healthier snacks
• Blog once a week
• Journal more consistently
• Read daily
• Finish Beth's baby book and 2011-2013 family albums (digital scrap booking)
• Have a me date and a hubby date, both at least once a week
• And, family goals:
• Spend individual time with each of the kids, every day, even if it's just a few minutes
• Have a date with each kid, at least once a month
• Work with Nick on his scouting activities
• Consistently have story time every night
• Limit our eating out to once a pay period
• Let the kids spend more time in the kitchen helping out
• Increase our fruit and veggie eating to eat two BBFC baskets a cycle
• Learn more about essential oils to help keep us all healthier

Hopefully, I will have more motivation to accomplish more this year. Looking back over the list, it appears that consistency is going to be the key.
What are your goals, resolutions, or dreams for 2014?

Tis the Season

It seems that time is going faster and faster. Here is a recap of the highlights for 2013 for each family member:

Adam: Still working at Schlumberger, but has taken a new position. He is now able to be home most nights, and every other weekend. He also has most Sundays off, which is a pleasant change. He seems to be liking the change much better, and seems to be working with some much better guys. He went hunting with my dad again this fall, and was able to shoot a bigger deer this year. He was pretty excited. He's already planning for next deer season.

Me: I have now been at ONG a full calendar year, and love going to work! I work with some great people. My biggest stress about returning to work has been getting the kids taken care of after school. For now, we are settled. Hopefully it can stay that way, till school starts next August, when they will all three be in school and ASP (After School Program.) I have also started using Young Living Essential Oils, and they are really helping improve our families health. We have made fewer trips to the doctor, gotten over colds and illnesses faster, and are doing much better health-wise this year. Yay! This was my third year as coordinator for Bountiful Baskets in Clinton. What a great thing my sil introduced me to! www.bountifulbaskets.org for more info.

Nick: Turned 8 this year! He was baptized in October, and has such a sweet strong spirit. He is in the 2nd grade and knows everything and is quick to tell you so. He is reading at a 5th grade level, and is still at the top of his class. His teacher this year is great, and is really challenging him. He is a student tutor, and a group leader in his class. He started cub scouts in October, and is really enjoying it. We are a lot alike, still, and tend to butt heads a lot. He is my biggest challenge. But, I find great joy in teaching him things and getting to talk about big kid stuff. I love that he comes to me with questions, and he doesn't hold anything back.

Zack: is 6 and in the 1st grade. He has the same teacher Nick had last year, which he thinks is wonderful. He is the quietly smart one. You have to drag info out of him. He loves to read as well, and his favorite is to read to his little sister. His teacher brags that he is always the good example. "Everyone should be doing ___ like Zack." He is still my big eater, and eats more than I do. He is taller than Nick, and is as strong as an ox, but has the sweetest, softest personality. (Unless you are his sibling and you offended him!) Zack is still my cuddler and he loves to crawl up on my lap during story time and family scripture time.

Beth: is 3 and in her last year of preschool at Pop N Tot. She is learning to write her name and shapes. She is recognizing most of the letters of the alphabet, and will randomly say "I see a P, that's for Paisley. I see a S, that's for Scarlett!" Her newest thing is to read to her brothers. She picks a book, and tells the story, picture by picture. It is so cute! She knows all her colors and shapes. In May, she started gymnastics at Gold's Gym, and is loving it! Her favorite things are to hang upside down on the uneven bars, and to bounce on the tramps.

We made two trips this year, one to San Antonio to visit the Bittel's and the other to Branson. Had a great time at each place, and look forward to going back to both. We have a BIG trip planned this year at the end of school, so stay tuned for that!

Hoping you and yours had a wonderful 2013, happy holidays, and have a blessed 2014.
Love,
The Hansens

Thankful

As 2013 comes to a close, I have so much to be thankful for. I've had a lot of emotional stress and self inflicted emotional weight on my shoulders this year. But, I have also tried really hard to count my blessing each day. So, before I write my traditional yearly recap, I want to take a minute to relay all the many things that I am thankful of:

• A loving Heavenly Father, who forgives all of my faults if I will just bow my head and humbly ask.
• The gospel in my life.
• My Savior, the perfect Example, Jesus Christ.
• The wonderful missionaries who knocked on our door 8 years ago.
• Our tireless church leaders, both general and local.
• All of the many church members that have listened, served, and been there for me and our family.
• Extended family.
• My hardworking husband.
• My 3 beautiful, challenging children.
• Our home and the spirit that abides there.
• The handful of close friends that have been there for me through thick and thin.
• The two most amazing women, who have listened to a lot this year, and have never once judged me or not had time for me. Love you girls!!
• My job and the wonderful people I work with, including the best boss one could have.
• Kind teachers and babysitters that have made going back to work an easy transition.
• Reliable transportation.
• A small group of girls in OKC that I can talk to, who understand exactly what I am saying.
• Essential oils, and the girls that introduced me to Young Living.
• Improved health.
• Bountiful Baskets, for so many reasons. The participants, volunteers, founders, and the variety of produce that has entered our home.
• My church calling as Relief Society President. It is a challenge, but I have learned a lot in the past year through it.
• The sisters I am blessed to serve with in Relief Society.
• The Primary program, and the sisters that teach my children every Sunday.
• Cub scouts.
• Visiting Teaching, and especially my visiting teachers and home teacher.

And much more that I'm not remembering at this moment. I am truly blessed.