Cousin Zoe Vists the Hansens

After spending Memorial Day holiday with each other, Dayne and her cousin, Zoe (who is 9 months older than Dayne) started making plans for Zoe to come stay with us for a week!

Last Saturday we drove to Nevada, MO (about half way to Zoe's hometown of Joplin)  to pick her up!  They spent the week hanging out with each other, Dayne's friends, walking to the park, going to the pool and just relaxing! 

The girls got along beautifully and would like to plan for Zoe to come back for another week this summer before school starts!

Let's Go Royals! ... again!

Thursday June 7th was our 15th Wedding Anniversary and Graden surprised me with two box seat tickets to the KC Royals vs. Milwaukee Brewers' game!  I really enjoy going to Royals games (even more so when they win!) ... and let's just say it: Graden has it pretty good that he married a woman who celebrates her wedding anniversary with baseball tickets!

I left work early on Tuesday so we'd have plenty of time to get to the game and be able to walk around.  Kauffman Stadium is a beautiful stadium and recently underwent some major renovations!

We arrived a little after 6:00 with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10.  We walked the stadium then found our seats.  We were right behind home plate about 25 rows up.  Our seats were different from typical stadium seats in that they were more like a bar set up.  Including having a waitress!  That was super nice!  Not having to stand in line or miss the game if we wanted a snack or beverage!

Francouer at bat!

At one point in the game Graden was messing with his phone and not really paying attention to the game.  A foul ball was hit and I yelled to Graden, "Look up!  You got it!"  He looked up quickly, scanned the sky and realized he had been duped! :)  Later in the game there were runners on first and third and two outs.  When the batter went to the plate I dared Graden to yell, "Don't leave two ducks on the pond!" but he was a pansy and didn't do it.

The game got over a little after 10 and we came home, talked with the kids a bit and then called it a night!  It was a great, great night!  I wouldn't mind making that our Anniversary tradition (hint, hint Graden!)

my Royal 'Rita!  Mmmmm!

Let's Go Royals, Let's Go!

The 2102 Royals Mantra "It's Our Time". Its more of a catchy phrase than a reality ...

This afternoon at work I got a very pleasant call from Hunter - asking if we wanted to join him and Ashley at the KC Royals baseball game!  I agreed that I would love to join them and cut out of work a little early!

Our view from our seats in section 420!

To make it an even sweeter deal, the tickets - usually $30 - were only $7 on Monday games!  They are pretty high up, but I honestly love them!  A great view of the entire field!  (Only bad part is that every hit looks like it is out of the park!)

Of course, no trip to the ball game is complete without over priced, unhealthy food and drinks, right!?  Dinner that night was chicken strips, fries and a Sprite for me and a Steak Sandwich with a Bud Light for Graden!  I offered that this could be our wedding anniversary dinner, but Graden didn't accept!  ; )

Cutie patootie couple!  10 months strong!

Sadly (but not surprisingly!) the Royals lost to the Minnesota Twins 10-8; but it proved to be a very enjoyable evening out!  Perfect weather for a night at the ball field!

Memorial Day 2012: Grand Lake & The Hansen Family

As with most Memorial Day holidays, the Hansen family traveled to Grand Lake to spend the long, holiday weekend with the Ruestmans and Zoe.

Hunter invited his girlfriend, Ashley, for the weekend get-a-way and after a little coaxing and convincing with her mom ... she was able to join us!  We left Friday afternoon about 5:00 and since Hunter had to work until 8:30, they didn't get away until close to 10pm.  (I was a worry wart with him driving so late and in unfamiliar roads!).  Hunter stopped in Joplin to pick up Donna so she could join us ... he ended up picking her up close to 1:30am and, much to my relief, they arrived about 2:15am.  Finally ... I could go to sleep!

The next morning we all slept in a bit and had a late brunch - our classic lake brunch: fried taters, sausage, bacon, fresh crappie, fruit and biscuits!

My Boys

After breakfast we headed to Wal-Mart to get some rations for the weekend then came back to the house and did lots of relaxing!  Saturday night we enjoyed wonderful hamburgers and brats on the grill and lots of great conversations and many, many laughs!  Each dinner setting is sure to bring a new story courtesy of the Ruestmans: they are never ending, it seems!

Saturday night the adult ladies (and Graden!) stayed up late talking and talking ... while Dayne and Zoe overtook the upstairs watching movies, snacking on treats and watching movies!

Sunday morning, as with Saturday morning, Graden got up super early and enjoyed some fishing.  Hunter joined him and they stayed out till about 11am, then headed in just in time for the usual lake breakfast!

After breakfast, we all prepped for a ride in the pontoon to take the girls tubing for a while!  We took them out toodling around for about an hour: they never grow tired of tubing!  They had a blast, of course!  After we got back from boating, Hunter and Ashley joined us at the dock and took the jet skis for a spin!  The girls swam in the lake while Marilyn and I took in some sun rays -- for about three hours of glorious relaxation!

Dayne with Smoke

Love Dayne's face in this tubin' action photo!

Our Captain!

The Young Couple heading out on the Jet Skis!

After some R&R in the sun, we got ready for dinner: Dick's traditional smoked ribs!  Complemented by corn on the cob and baked beans (which, every year we debate on whether or not they should be runny or baked. Marilyn and I opt for baked; not runny ... each time we are told we are wrong!).

The icon of weekends at the lake!

After dinner we spent a little time chit-chatting and more story telling, mixed in with a little political debate (another staple with any visit with Marilyn - a true politician!).  Sunday night we retired a little early so Graden could get up early Monday morning for a little more time on the water and I could get up earlier than usual to enjoy some reading  and coffee on the back porch, enjoying the cool morning breeze and taking in the view of the lake!

Sunday was spent doing a little more relaxing, reading and entertaining conversations.  We managed to find some free time to visit the Grove consignment store, too!

Love mornings at the lake! (I tried to read this book, but I must not be smart enough to appreciate the writing style of Hemingway?)

As with all weekends at the lake, the end came much too soon!  Hunter had to work on Monday, so he, along with Ashley and Donna, loaded up and headed for home a little after noon.  The rest of us hung back and soaked up every last minute of R&R at the lake ... eventually heading for home about 3:30.

On our way home we stopped in Joplin to see the McGinnis' and Donna -- timing it just right as Mindy had just made toasted subs for dinner! Yummo!  As always, we really enjoyed our visit with the McGinnis', too!

We arrived home Monday evening a little after 8:00 and started our routine to get ready for the work week ahead!

Hunter Hansen: Class of 2012 - All Graduated!

All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder. ~Author Unknown

Well, the big day hath arrived: Hunter is no longer a high school student!

On Wednesday, May 17th at 7:00pm, the graduation ceremony for the Lee's Summit West Class of Two Thousand Twelve took place and Hunter joined 420 of his peers and graduated!

We are so thankful for all who traveled to share this super special day with us! My mom, traveled from Chesapeake, VA; my dad and step mom traveled from New Hartford, IA; Graden's sister and her two kids traveled from Evansdale, IA and Graden's mom traveled from Joplin (where she's been staying since early March to help with the medical care of her sister).

Everyone joined us for dinner (well, everyone except Hunter, oddly enough!) before the ceremony.  We enjoyed grilled pork chops, fresh baked broccoli, corn bread & beer bread, mom's tater salad and deviled eggs!  Perfect 'summers comin' dinner!

My step-mom, Susan, my dad, Paul and me

Me and my mom, Nancy

Hunter and Papa

Hunter and Nanny

Hunter and Nana

Hunter and his Aunt "Gretchie"

All the Cousins

The Hansen Family - Proud of Hunter!

Hunter and Ashley (his lil' lady friend ;) )

After the graduation ceremony, the kids went to "Project Grad" - - a school sponsored/funded "party" for the kids to go to.  This makes sure they make good decisions after their big day .... and have a chance to win prizes! Hunter won $50!

Hunter's Graduation Party

After several weeks of planning, Hunter's graduation celebration party took place on Sunday May 13th.  When I started making plans for the party, I didn't take note that this fell on Mother's Day, but several of our friends and family made the trip to celebrate with us!

We especially appreciated our Iowa visitors who made the 5 hour drive and spent the weekend with us!  Adam and Renee Hermsen from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Graden's sister, Gretchen, and her two kids from Evansdale, Iowa and Chad Mast from Cedar Falls, Iowa.  And we also had several family members from Joplin, Missouri - Rocky, Mindy and Luke McGinnis and Dick and Marilyn Ruestman!  ... and of course, my mom, Nancy Painter, who traveled all the way from Chesapeake, Virginia to celebrate with us!  We have such great family members who we are so proud to call family!

The party started at 2:00 and we offered plenty of food to eat!  Pulled pork sammiches, baked beans, homemade potato salad, veggies, chips & salsa, cheese & crackers, lemonade, soda, fresh pineapple & strawberries, and gourmet cupcakes from a local business, "The Sweet Tooth" that a co-worked owns!  It was a great spread, if I do say so my myself!

Hunter's last day of school was Wednesday May 9th and his official graduation ceremony is Wednesday May 16th.  We look forward to the official celebration and seeing Hunter walk across the stage and accept his High School Diploma as part of the Lee's Summit West High School Class of 2012!

Graden with his Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Dick

The Sweet Tooth table!  Gourmet cupcakes and fresh fruit!

Graden and his best friend, Chad, from childhood

The boys playing 'bags'

The Gang

Hunter Hansen - a "Fine young man!"

Hunter with his girlfriend, Ashley and the Peterson Pup, Tinkerbell

Dayne's Bathroom Makeover!

For quite some time I have known that Dayne's bathroom needed painted and freshened up a bit.  Knowing that we were having Hunter's graduation open house in a couple weeks and we'd have lots of house visitors, I thought now was as good a time as any! 

Despite the fact that I had bunion surgery just two weeks before, I make plans to surprise Dayne with a bathroom makeover!  I didn't tell her what colors I'd be doing ... just that I was going to paint her bathroom.  She had begged me to do black and white and pink, but I was reluctant - - thinking that it's only going to be a year or so and she will be over this color scheme.  However, I caved and went for it!  Black on the one large wall, white on two opposite walls and "First Kiss" pink on the other large wall!  I talked myself into this thinking that when the day comes she is over this color scheme, I can paint the pink red or grey and have an adult themed bathroom!

What made this color scheme especially fun is that the black paint is actually chalkboard paint!  Dayne and her friends commonly use whiteboard markers and write messages on her mirror, so I thought this would be a happy blend!  Some fun, personalized messages from her friends (and mom!) and a fun color scheme she'd been asking for!

Like with most things I get involved in, updating the bathroom colors wasn't without incident.  The mirror she had in her bathroom was 48x44 and easily slid out of the fixtures.  Easy slid out, yes.  Stay in one piece?  I learned that would not be the case.  I didn't drop the mirror, but it did snap in two.  One piece was about 10" in width and the other was about 38" in length.  Doesn't sound that complicated until I specify that I was alone while doing this and that meant that I had to finagle holding each single piece with just one hand!  Sounds easy, maybe ... but it was not!  I had horrible, bloody images of the mirror sliding out of my hand and shaving the front of my front leg off or landing on my still healing feet!  I had about two nanoseconds to decide just how I was going to get out of this mess!  I am not sure how, but somehow I managed to set each piece down gingerly and without any massive blood loss! 

After the paint job was finished, Graden went to Lowe's to get a new mirror.  He gets it all unloaded and ready to hang ... and then I pointed out that it was cracked.  Graden loaded it up and headed back to Lowe's for a replacement mirror.  As he tried to hang it, he couldn't figure out how to get it to be flush with the wall and hang right.  After some creative thinking and hanging techniques, we used some of those easy 3M Snap-n-Lock hangers.  Problem solved.  .... for about an hour.  As we were sitting in the living room watching television, we heard a very loud crash.  Graden checks on Hunter, makes sure he is okay (he was upstairs in the kitchen) ... then wanders into the bathroom to find the new mirror has fallen off the wall, ricocheted off the (newly painted!) wall and shattered.  What a great way to spend a hundred bucks, right!?  Since the frame was still perfectly in tact, we are able to use it and just have a new piece of mirror installed.  So, as of current, the bathroom doesn't have a mirror, but should have one in a week or so.  I am sure Graden will make a different decision on how to hang this one!  Third time is the charm, right!?

All in all, it looks real cute and Dayne loved it!  She really loved the chalkboard idea and, as you can see from the pictures, her visitors take advantage of leaving her a message!

Prom Weekend!

The highlight of this weekend was prom!  Hunter looked "dapper" according to Ashley and Ashley was "stunning" according to Hunter.  What a great combo: Dapper & Stunning!

Hunter holding Grant while Brad & Zach look on.  These are Hunter's closest friends.

Hunter picked Ashley up at her house at 4:30 (I toted along to take pictures at her house) and from there they headed to the Plaza for pictures at the Nelson Atkins Art Museum.  (since I just had foot surgery, I couldn't tag along for that photo session and had to rely on other parents!).

After pictures they, along with 16 other couples, headed to Hereford House on the Plaza for dinner then headed to the dance!

After the dance they all headed over to a friends house to hang out for the night and into the wee hours of the morning.

Sounds like they had a great time!

Besides Prom ... a few other things kept us busy this weekend!

Saturday morning/afternoon Graden worked at Cabela's (part of his sponsorship arrangement) and Dayne had her final volleyball game of the season.  The SwagMasters won all three sets and played a really, really good game.  I think there was more volleying this game than all season!

That's Dayne at the very front, foot just across the white line.

After Graden got home we went to The Other Place in Overland Park, KS with The Boyd's -- Hunter's friend, Zach parents.  They loved the pizza (of course!) and we loved sharing the story of The Other Place and the other locations being so close to "home".

Graden and I sat down and put the finishing planning touches on Hunter's graduation party, taking place just two weeks from today - Sunday May 13th from 2-6 at our house.  I forget how much detail and planning goes into things like that!  It was like reliving wedding planning all over!  Well, probably not nearly as intense, but more so than I thought it would be!

Hunter's last day of school is a week from Wednesday.  So hard to believe.  I think he has mixed emotions about it, too.  He realizes that the easy life that he has known is no more.  After graduation, things get real and every decision is that much more important.  He wants to pick up additional hours at his work, or possibly find a new place of employment that will offer him more hours now and while he is in college as well.  His college, Avila University, is only 17 miles from home,but with the cost of gas these days he can't go back and forth between home and class and work so hopefully he can find something that will make the combination work!  His friend, Zach, is also going to Avila so hopefully they can carpool and save gas money!

We register Hunter for classes in June .... sorta anxious for that.  I have complete confidence in him, though.  He is such a smart kid and I look forward to celebrating all he will accomplish over the next 4-8 years of college.  Right now, he is planning to go to school to be a Pharmacist and the college is attending is well known for it's Pharmacy program.  It's a private university so we are quite thankful that 1) he was accepted (their acceptance rate is only 42%) and 2) they are offering him $11,000 / year in academic scholarships.  He is taking the ACTs again in June and if he can get one point higher (a 27) they will give him $1300 more per year.  They offered him a football scholarship of $4,000 / year, but after much consideration he declined the offer.  We looked forward to watching him play football for four more years, but at the end of the day had to respect his decision.

I head back to work tomorrow after a week off after my right foot surgery.  Right now I have two mummy-looking feet!  I go to the doctor on Tuesday and hope he clears me to resume regular activity and shoes for my left foot!  I can't wait to soak it in warm soapy water!

Here's to a great week full of blessings!

Tiffany

Oh! The torment of a Right Footed Austinbunionectomy!

Gaaah!

I spoke too soon and bragged too much about what "not a big deal" my bunion surgery was.  I firmly believe I am being punished for implying I was tough enough to handle *another* bunion surgery.

On the 6 week anniversary of my left foot bunion surgery, I had my right foot done.  It was supposed to simple -- a repeat of how smooth and (virtually) pain free the left foot surgery went.  I now can appreciate all the horrid comments and stories people felt so inclined to share with me about how awful their bunion surgeries went.  I do vow not to frighten people with mine, though!

Monday morning I checked into the surgical center at 8:30 ... ready as ever for my 10:30 appointment with Propofol - "milk of amnesia", as it's called.  This is the heavenly little concoction that allows one to sleep through scalpels and bone saws and such ...

Given that I was led to believe that the pin that was in my (left) foot could be removed at 6 weeks, I suggested (twice, after my doctor dismissed me the first time!) that he take the pin out of my left foot while he had me knocked out fixing my right foot.  He didn't give the impression that he agreed with my logic, so I was (pleasantly!) surprised when I awoke a little after 11:00 and Graden told me they took the pin out.  That pin had become a pain in my ... foot that was becoming intolerable and making me whiney!

As I was coming out of my *awesome!* nap, Graden sat patiently next to me ... doing his best to cope with the horrible noise coming from the recovery space next to mine.  I was still kind of sleeping when I asked (no one in particular) 'What the {"f"} is her deal?'  Graden tried to shhush me, explaining she was 99 years old and had been intubated and was trying to cough out the tube (that was no longer there).  Even Graden said she sounded like a goat.  I was probably too loud in my initial statement, as well as my follow up comment, "Well, making that noise isn't changing anything."   In hindsight it was kind of rude of me to say out loud, but in my defense ... it was the milk of amnesia talking.

After proving that I could keep my 7Up and Peanut Butter crackers down, I was given the go to go home, along with brief instructions on what to do, not to do, etc.  Namely: don't walk on my foot without my oh-so-sexy "ProCare" boot.

We got home a little after noon and I got settled into the LaZBoy for an afternoon of drifting in and out of naps ... basking in those last few hours of warm and fuzzies that doses of anesthesia brings!

I had planned to return to work on Thursday, but it quickly became evident that that was too aggressive and I would be an idiot if I pushed myself to do that.  Tuesday afternoon I sent my boss an email asking to extend my time off and come back on Monday.  He wished me well and assured me that'd be okay.  And I have such an awesome team of people working with & for me, that I have no doubts they can take care of my business while I am out!  That is priceless!

My friend Beth brought me flowers to brighten my day and I loved all the well wishes text messages and emails.  A girl can be made to feel lucky for all she has with this sort of treatment!

If you are in for a semi-gross, Frankenstein-esque photo of what my foot looks like, see below.  If not ... then politely close down this window!  I am hopeful that this heals quickly so that I am healthy and easily mobile for Hunter's graduation party on May 13th.  Wish me luck and send my foot good ju-ju vibes!

The green ball on my left foot is the top of the pin // The "V" shape will no longer be there after my right foot heals! (normal feet would offer more of an " | " shape).

Happy Birthday to my Besties Baby!

Seems not that long ago Jen and Chris' relationship started blooming ...

then becoming serious .... then a wedding date was set ... then the Big Day arrived ...

followed 16 months later by their best blessing yet: Johnathan James Aswegan!

This past weekend I traveled to Iowa to help Jen & Chris celebrate their 1 year anniversary of being parents, as marked by John's first birthday bash!

The theme, of course, was fish!  "John Caught the Big ONE!"

It was so much fun watching John's family adore him and ooh and aah over him and his reactions to his presents and his cake!  He was in a great mood for the party and managed all that attention very well!

The Birthday Boy is prepped for his cake!

 

John's best gift: a new fish pole and life jacket!  And of course, in Iowa Hawkeye colors!

________________________

After the party festivities, we cleaned up and headed back to the Aswegan home so John could settle in for a nap and Jen and I, along with Kayla "Fishy" Fish, got ready for an evening out!

Our evening started at a local wine bar in Mt Vernon.  A quaint little place called the Lincoln Wine Bar.  It is a very intimate little bar that offers a great selection of wine and unique foods.  We opted for the wild mushroom brick oven pizza with a nice bottle of malbec wine.

Kayla   - - -  Jen - - -  Tiffany

our bottle of malbec at The Lincoln Wine Bar in Mt. Vernon

After the wine bar we went to three local bars in Lisbon (just behind Jen's house, literally!).  We enjoyed fried pickles and interesting conversations at Whitey's before moving onto two different drinking establishments: The Three Finger Saloon and um, can't remember the name of the last one (things got fuzzy at that one!).

We were good girls and were home by midnight.  Chris had to work early Sunday morning, so Jen had to plan accordingly to be prepared to be up bright and early with John.  And bright and early it was!  6:30 seems to be his natural rising hour and Sunday morning offered no changes to that!  Thankfully, I got to sleep a bit longer than that and slept until about 8am.  I had plans to meet my dad and Susan at the Village Inn in Cedar Rapids for breakfast. I had been dreaming of my Ultimate Skillet since I rolled into town Friday afternoon!

We got done with breakfast about 10:30 and I headed home!  That was a particularly long and boring drive ... compounded by my aching foot (I had been on it much more than I should have been, no doubt!).

I got home a little after 4:00 and got things all settled in for the work week to come!  Really enjoyed my weekend with my bestie and her family!