Stuff

Just lazing around with daddy...

In hate this growing out the hair stage. Sarah often looks like cousin It because she doesn't like having anything in her hair for the most part. We had the same problem with Shelby, but that seems like a long time ago. Hair, please grow quickly!


Playing dress-up. This is Shelby's idea of a crown. She made it out of a tambourine, recorder and one of my headbands. Cute, no? And I also have to explain the shirt. This is a size 2T that I was getting out for Sarah to wear this spring/summer. Shelby has had a fascination about it in old pictures of her ("the rainbow shirt") so when she saw it, she just had to spend some time wearing it. It was tight all over! This may be a pic to keep for embarassment purposes later!!

Shelby made us some Play-doh cookies and Sarah is just messing around. What she mostly likes to do with it is cut it into tiny little pieces that fall onto the floor and get mushed in. Fun for me !

Well, spring break is just about over for us. I go back to school on Monday. I can honestly say I got everything done that I realistically thought I could during break. Some extra cleaning (those dreaded mini-blinds), cleaning out closets, cabinets and drawers and getting some winter clothes put away and spring ones out for the girls and I. That and the girls and I got to spend some good quality time together. I know that I am not cut out to be a stay at home mom on a permanent basis, but I love that I get weeks like this, Christmas and of course summer to get a little taste of it. It is always very hard to leave the girls those first couple of days back after spending so much time together.

Speaking of stuff, while cleaning out all of those drawers, cabinets and closets this week, I realized that we have A LOT of STUFF! Between all of the girls things and Nate's stuff that he refuses to throw out no matter HOW LONG it's been since he used or wore it, it's enough to make a girl crazy! I gave him a pile of old pants and shirts that I know either don't fit or he hasn't worn since we lived in this house (6 1/2 years) but he couldn't bear to throw more that 3 pieces out. Such a pack rat!

We Survived!

As you can see to the right, we survived picture day in the Hansen house and lived to tell about it. Actually, Shelby was a peach. Amazing considering she told me on the way into Sears she didn't want to have any pictures taken. She turned into a regular ham bone once we set foot in the studio, however. Sarah was not so cooperative, but we did manage to get some good pics of her anyway. I have to say after this experience that I may not wait another almost 2 years before setting foot back in a picture studio.

Easter was fun for all. The girls (especially Shelby) really enjoyed hunting for eggs around our house and again at Nana and Papa Hansen's. They also enjoyed the goodies recieved by all. They were both piling all the candy they could into their mouths yesterday before I could get it all away from them to ration it. So now we have piles of treats on top of the fridge. Some of it may have be donated to the teacher's lounge at school next week when I'm back to work.

Shelby on the hunt for eggs. Girl was on a mission!

Sarah says, "This is MY treat! You can't have it."

Yep, that's us

You know those families in the restaurant who have the child that SCREAMS and CRIES while you are trying to enjoy you meal? Well, we're that family right now with Sarah. She has decided that the best way to get her way is to scream loudly and hysterically for it. No matter where we are. That means during the fireman's breakfast last weekend when she wasn't going to finish the last of her pancakes because she had been playing with those last 2 bites for 20 minutes but when we threw them out, all hell broke loose. Or in Culver's one night last week where she hadn't touched the last bit of her grilled cheese sandwich for quite a while, but acted like we were beating her up not just wrapping it up to bring it home with us. Lots of fun. Really it is. NOT!

It majorly stresses Nate and I out. We hate the stares (some sympathetic and some not so much) and the noise. It's embarassing.

At home, it's not such as issue because we give her a timeout for crying for no good reason or throwing a tantrum. She can get up when she stops. That works pretty well.

Nate and I also disagree about Sarah's use of the pacifier. I want her to only have it when sleeping or at the very worst in our home, but he would bring it along and give it to her whenever she is upset just to keep her quiet. I can sometimes see why that might make life easier and quieter, but... She speaks in 2+ word phrases and I don't think she should have it. It has always annoyed me when I see children in stores who talk through their paci. I don't want to be THAT PARENT. He says I am just worried what other people will think if they see my almost 2 year old with a pacifier in public. I am.

So, I am going to be taking out my copy of Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp and giving it a second read. I think that mostly she doesn't know how to communicate what she wants and gets frustrated. Although she is very verbal for her age, she just doesn't have all those words yet and she can't get herself together enough when she's upset to stop and tell us what she wants. That, and I think she is a little bit like her dad in that she wants what she wants and she wants it NOW.

This is my payback for having an easy first child (and telling other moms that she way easy). Shelby can be a sassy smart aleck at times, but she has always been relatively easy. Sarah, not at all.

Anyway, wish me luck and send your motherly advice if you have any to give.

Also wish me luck on Monday when I take the girls to have their pictures taken for the first time since just after Sarah was born. I have been taking my own because I am always disappointed in the results, but have decided that it's time to give it another try.

This is Cinderella, I mean Shelby. She love, love, loves the movie and now has taken to dressing up and having us pretend to be the mean sisters (wicked step sisters) and wreck her dress so the fairy godmother can give her a new one. I tell ya, the imagination on this one just doesn't stop!
Here is the family (minus the picture taker) just after bath. They love to run out and have daddy wrap them up in blankets and towels while they wait for me to comb hair and put on lotion. I just love pictures of them all together!

Back home

I'm back! I survived my first trip away from the girls and had a really fun time in the process. Oh and I learned a lot too. As always happens at a conference like that, I came back with a mind full of things to think about and many more things to read and think about.

I got back around 9 last night so Nate let the girls stay up late to see me. That was great, but we have been paying with a super crabby Sarah all day. Thankfully, she is asleep for the night now and maybe tomorrow will be better. I must say, the break from the constant busy times here at home was nice. I could relax during dinners, not watch cartoons, and as one friend reminded me, not cut someone else's food into small pieces before being able to eat my own. I forget what it's like most of the time to not have school kids or my kids around almost always. I told Nate that I am already planning for next year's conference.

He and the girls seemed to do really well together as well. I think he was dreading this whole thing, but actually ended up enjoying it. He even kept up on laundry and kept the house neat while I was gone. I was totally impressed. And now, he's still helping with laundry! Wow, I'm feeling a bit spoiled!!

Mom 2 - Family 0

It's working...my recipes from the Deceptively Delicious book at working so far on the whole family. After Nate figured out secret in the lemon blueberry muffins, I made sure to make the banana bread when he wasn't home. Good thing because you use cauliflower in it and it smells when baking and cooling. Luckily, by the time he got home the smell was all gone. The next day, I asked him about my "new" recipe and he LOVED it! Muaahhhhhhh! (that's my version of an evil laugh) The girls love it too. I am going to try something else this weekend I think. So far, I have only tried snack foods, but I'll work up to the real stuff soon.

If you read this and talk to Nate DO NOT give away my secret. He will never eat anything I cook again!

Very special gifts indeed

You are looking at 2 blankets that my grandma was working on for Shelby and Sarah when she passed away. For some reason, of all the things that were so hard about losing her, it really upset me when she passed away that the girls would never have that special gift from their great-grandma. My grandma made wonderful quilts. Always unique and of course full of love! So, I was bummed that I didn't have the talent to take them and finish them myself for the girls, but fortunately, my Aunt Karen does have the talent and she did finish them. We just got them last Thursday. What a lot of work she put into them! They are beautiful, special and just as my grandma would have done them. I couldn't be happier to have them to pass on to the girls. I hope that I will be able to help them realize someday what a special gift they really are.

Pictures, food and ramblings

Yes, you get to see some pictures of everone, but first I'll make you listen to my ramblings! We are all eagerly awaiting spring in the Hansen house. The snow is melting and the gravel driveway is a mess. I have to wear my nasty, muddy boots out to the car every day, change them for the day and then change back when I get home at night. I feel like Mister Rogers! I have been frantically getting ready at school to be gone this week. I am leaving Wednesday after school for the Illinois Reading Council Annual Conference in Springfield and won't be home until Friday night. A perk of my new job this year... I have always wanted to go, but never have until now. I have mixed emotions about going. On one hand, I am THRILLED for some time to myself among adults doing my professional thing. On the other hand, I am sad to be away from the girls for so long. I have never been away except for when I had Sarah and was in the hospital. I know they are in good hands with Nate and they will do well on their own, but I like to think that they won't get by quite as well without me!

On another note, I have been the cooking queen lately (well, for me anyway). Nate has been calling me Betty (for Betty Crocker -- that may be a stretch) we have been trying new things and I've been planning my meals which helps me not feel so disorganized and crazy when I get home between 4 and 4:30 every night. I have been spending more time in the kitchen and even kind of enjoying it, which isn't always for case for me. In my quest to try new things, I have been trying to think of things the girls will eat. I am a picky eater, but they make me look like I would eat anything. Bless my parents for putting up with my eating quirks growing up because I now know that it can be maddening! They pretty much eat pizza, peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, noodles, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, breakfast foods, and fruit. Everything else is "icky." So, I tried a recipe from Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook where you hide healthy things in yummy food. I made the lemon blueberry muffins (with yellow squash). The girls and I love them. Nate did too until he found out what was in them --talk about picky. I think I'll try the banana bread tomorrow with cauliflower and not tell Nate what's really in it. Hahahahahaha!

Yes, I finally got some pictures of my family. Shelby is chillin' out and watching her new favorite movie, "Cinderella." It's all about the princesses right now. I have to say, I didn't see that coming since she's always been a bit of a tomboy, but true it is. Her favorite color is also pink.

Notice the blanket on Bailey --Shelby thought she might be cold and want to snuggle up like her. So, she covered her up with the blanket Nana S. made for her (for Bailey that is). We don't give it to her much since we're afraid she might eat it! Shelby's blanket is also courtesy of Nana S.

A little wink from Miss Sarah! She loves to pose for the camera at home. We shall see if that carries over at Sears. I plan to try taking them during my spring break at the end of the month. Wish me luck!

More posing for the camera...this time with a more serious look.

This is Nate's shout out for a blanket that actually covers him. Really, he has one that my mom made him but it wasn't handy at the time. He asked me to take this pic to show everyone how rough life is for a tall guy. Awwwwww!

Battles

Well, I had a snow day last week (again -- so much for being out of school nice and early this year, now we're going past Memorial Day) and still didn't manage a post. The girls and I baked cookies and hung out with our bonus day together while Nate battled the snow and then came home and slept. I am still a loser when it comes to picture taking. I did get a cute one of Sarah today that she posed for after telling me "picture" and pointing to the camera. I should have less excuses for not taking pictures because I got a camera phone with a nice camera on it as a belated Valentine's gift from Nate. That was our gift to each other, new cell phones...mighty romantic I know but it made us happy.

We have been battling with the girls lately for some control. Nate will tell you that he always has control, but sometimes I think he just has a bigger mouth while I prefer to quietly let the girls know what I need (most of the time). Shelby is still the queen of talking back (all that language backfiring on us) and Sarah has taken to screaming and crying when she doesn't get her way. Shelby is doing a lot of repeating what she says in a nicer way and Sarah is sitting down to think about it when she has a tantrum until she is done. I will say and Sarah's solution was Nate's idea and it works well most of the time because she doesn't like to be left out and will usually straighten up to join the rest of us again. I am learning that both girls have very intense personalities and want what they want! Guess who they take after?

More on battles later...