Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I've spent the past week in Utah with the ladies in my family. We've been crafting, shopping, giggling, and kissing babies all week long. It has been woooonderful.

Tonight we're "hiking" "(does it count as a hike if  its about a half mile round trip?) to a waterfall and building a campfire to roast our dinner. Vacations are just lovely.

These little babies are so delicious.

Sister's formerly known as Hansen. Just missing our sister-in-law currently known as Hansen--Tanya! We wish you could have made it.

Jefferson's first ever movie theater experience. Grandma's first ever 3D experience. They both managed to keep the 3D glasses on the whole time.

Oh Daddio

I'm going to tell you a little bit about my Dad today.

My Dad is a cowboy. A cowboy with a PhD in...Animal Science? A really smart cowboy.

My Dad likes to work. He's always working on something, and its usually BIG. A few weeks ago when my parents were in town for my Mom's birthday, I woke Cory up early so we could get on the road. As Cory prepared himself, physically and mentally, for a Saturday of intense yard work with his Father-in-law, I reassured that it couldn't possibly be that bad. Jesse had checked in on the yard the weekend before and did some work, and my Dad had already had the previous day to work on mowing, weed-eating, watering, and whatever else it is that people do with their yards. All the hard stuff was done! It'll be a walk in the park! Cory looked at me like he really, really wanted to believe me, but his eyes betrayed him.

I wish you could have seen his face as we drove up to their house. We round the final bend in the small road leading up to their house, and the first thing we see is a huge tree completely dismembered in the front lawn. Huge limbs were strewn about everywhere. Leaves and tiny twigs flew through the air. My Dad in the middle of it all, wielding his chainsaw with careful abandon.


How I wish I had a picture of it to show you. Needles to say, Cory had a fun-fulled, tree-cuttin' and haulin' afternoon. And he LOVED it, Dad. Really. He did.

My Dad saved my life, at least once that I know of. Probably more. When we lived on the ranch growing up, he would take us with him as he worked with the cows. (Little known fact about me: I've seen a lot of crazy cow related things. A lot. You've never really lived until you've seen your Dad tie a rope to a baby cow and pull it out of its mother.) Anyway, one day my dad angered a cow. It was really mad. I was...five years old? Maybe? And minding my own business. So much so, that I didn't hear the shouts for me to get out of the way of this angry, charging cow. I also didn't see the cow. Somehow my dad got to me before the cow and snatched me up just in time. Thanks, Dad.

Also, it was a really long time before my Dad let me go back on the rounds with him.

It was probably for the best.

My parents 30 year anniversary was earlier this month.

Speaking of the rounds, whenever I did go with him, we would be in the truck driving down the road, and we'd see the prettiest sunrises. My dad would sing a few lines of the Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun" to us, and I (We? I feel like my little brother Sam was there.) would refuse to believe that it was the sun. "NO, Dad." I insisted. "That is an ORANGE."  And he would laugh. But I still say, If the shoe FITS. You know?

Here he is with his first grandson, Master Jefferson, after my wedding.

I'm a lot like my mom. Right down to ALWAYS burning the last batch of cookies and an inability to tan. But I've got some of my Dad in me too. He hides it, but he's got some quirky spunk.  I'll always remember the shock he gave me when he offered to push me around Lowe's in a wheelbarrow he was purchasing. I was 14 at the time, and a little too self conscious to take you up on it, but try me again sometime.

There's so much more I love about my Dad. He built me bunk beds one weekend. He refinished countless pieces of furniture with for me. He steadfastly ate the mushiest, tasteless, over boiled pasta salad that I made for dinner once when I was twelve.  He tried to do my hair for school once when I was in second grade and my mom was teaching early morning seminary. (It wasn't pretty...but it means a lot that you tried!). Also, it had to be said, you can rock a 'stache. And that is no small feat.

I love that he's carrying my Mom's wedding dress and purse in this photo.

I love you Dad! Happy Father's Day!!

My blog got deleted this week.  Thursday afternoon as I typed in my blog address and hit enter, a funny screen came up. It said "The blog at this address has been removed."

I was shocked. Then I tried to deny it. "I must have typed it in wrong" I said to myself. So I typed it in again, this time slowly and carefully. 

I got the same message.

Then I was angry. All our stories were on that blog! I was going to make them into a book so we could remember our first year of marriage. I thought there must be something I can do to get my silly blog back.

I started researching the issue. Seems blogger has been trying to manage spam blogs with an automated system. Something in my blog triggered the spam detector. I initiated a process that will maybe bring the blog back, but it could take a while.

I'm a little bit offended that my life stories could trigger a spam detector, but I've decided not to dwell on that.

 I had wanted to switch over to a new url regardless (lindythehansen.blogspot.com wasn't really up to date), I just never had the motivation to do it. So, I decided to start anew. Maybe someday my old blog will be put back up, and then I can export those posts here. I finally accepted the loss, and was ready to move on with my life.

I can't believe something as trivial as a blog can send me through the seven stages of grief. But I learned my lesson, and will do better about keeping a backup of this journal somewhere safe from now on. And you would do well to learn from it too.

In other news, it's moving month! We had some overlap with our current place and our new place, so we get to move over an entire month.. Hopefully it will be a much better situation that what we're currently in. So far the staff at the new place seem much nicer than our current landlord, so that is most definitely a plus. And there is a window in the kitchen! Right above the sink! That fact alone is move worthy. I'll let you know how it goes. Pictures coming soon.

Cory's little brother will be leaving for his mission (the Tempe Arizona Mission) in two weeks. He went through the Orlando temple for the first time yesterday. 

Four generations of temple worthy Allens!

It was a really amazing experience to be there with him. I can't believe that it was me going through the temple for the first time one year ago.  

But, while the past year just slipped away like nothing, we felt every minute of the four hour car ride there, and again on the four hours back.

Cory's face says it all.

Every minute.

P.S. I was thinking about doing an "About Us" page on this here blog, so I asked Cory how he would describe himself. He said, "Sexy." I told him that was inappropriate. He decided to tone it down. "What about...cute as a button?"

Ain't no party like a drug free party.

Our story begins with a phone call. Two weeks ago, my Dad called me in the middle of the day. This is unusual. He was calling regarding my Mom's upcoming birthday. It seems they would be in town for the big day, and he wanted to have a party.

This shocked me a little bit. My family isn't exactly known for their elaborate birthday celebrations. We don't hate birthdays. We just accept the fact that sometimes, you have to make your own birthday cake if you'd like one. You want something done right, you know?

But, this year my mom turned 50. And that's a big deal. So my Dad wanted to have a surprise party. And when the man who spent a lot of time trying to convince you that you didn't really NEED a wedding reception, requests a PARTY...you plan it. 

And plan it we did.

We told my mom that we'd like to make her a special birthday dinner, while she went on a special birthday date with my Dad. (The date they choose? Going to Wal-Mart to purchase new tires. Thirty years of marriage, and they still keep it spicy.) 

They left the house at 4:30 PM on Saturday, while we nonchalantly went crazy on the inside waiting for her to finally leave. Cory, Jesse, Tanya and I worked like crazy to get everything set up and cooked in an hour and half.

We tried to keep the decorations pretty simple with fresh flowers and pretty banner.

While everyone waited for the birthday girl to arrive (by far the most awkward time in surprise party planning), we had a little game set up (Thanks for coming early, and setting this up Lara!) to pass the time. 

We called it "Can you Gauge her Age?" and whoever guessed the most right ages from the pictures won. It was the perfect way for early guests to pass the time while we frantically set up and then waited. And waited.

But, in the end it all worked out. We were afraid she would see the cars parked out back and give away the real surprise, so...we had to take special measures.

I just love the giggles in the second picture--a whole room stifling giggles at once is pretty amazing.

While the initial laughter couldn't be held in, once the door was opened you could hear a pin drop. Then we yelled surprise, and we knew we got her.

I apologize for the blurriness. It appears my settings were a bit off. But, I just love these pictures of her. She was really, truly shocked. Also, dizzy from the paper bag over her head.She might have been a little bit traumatized from that ordeal. Can't win them all.

We ate some yummy food and chatted.

Then it was time for the cake. And yes, we went there. There were 50 individual candles on that bad boy. Lit the room up like a torch.

She almost got them all in one breath.

Her party was so much fun! Also, she couldn't believe that I was able to keep it a secret. Seems she has little faith in my secret keeping abilities. Now she doesn't know what to believe. I must say, sometimes its more fun to tell secrets.But SOMETIMES it's not. And then, I keep it. Usually. So there.

Cory got a little bit creative with the camera Sunday afternoon. 

Also, Tanya let me borrow book one and two of The Hunger Games series. So, I spent the holiday reading. Whoa. It was nothing like I expected. I was expecting a high school romance a la Twilight. I got an intense life and death struggle with a dash of political uprising. And I really hope she ends up with Peeta. I do believe today's lunch break will include a trip to the bookstore. I just gotta know how it ends. 

Keep your words soft and sweet...

I've been eating my words lately. 

A few months ago I told a friend that I don't like green toe nail polish because it "looks like a fungus."

This will be the only picture I EVER post of my toes.
Well...at least for now.

Yesterday, I couldn't resist this green pedicure. 

I love my green toes. I officially take my former statement back.

Friday night, our Netflix movie came in the mail. The A-Team had arrived, and I was looking forward to a night of mindless action adventure. 

When I told Cory what we would be watching that evening, he said, "Umm...We saw that. We weren't impressed."

I insisted that I had never seen the movie as I put it into the player. He politely disagreed.

I held firm throughout the previews. So did he.

Finally the main menu came up. I watched the opening sequence. 

Then I remembered. 

It's an awful movie.

We laughed, and I quickly took it out of the player and back out to the mailbox. I'm not giving that movie one more second of my life.

You're looking at a steel trap.

So, I take that back too.

Wanna know what I don't take back? My Saturday morning Salvation Army steals.

They wouldn't refund me, even if I wanted to return something. Store policy.

On Saturdays, almost everything is 50% off. Which is awesome.

I've got plans for this stuff in our new apartment. The clay pots are going on the porch, and the wire basket is going to corral our silverware someday soon.

The books were a true STEAL. All hardbacks: $1.00. It was really tough not to just buy ALL of them. But I limited it to these four. 'Cause dollars add up. You know?

The Julia Child gem is going in the kitchen with the other cookbooks in my collection. I don't really "use" cookbooks per say, but... someday I might. And on that day, I will be ready.

But my favorite find (and, at $4.50, my big ticket item), was this paper sorter:

Maybe it doesn't look like much to you, but I've been looking for this exact thing for the past five months.

It was made for my free craigslist desk:

Seriously. I have been looking for that EXACT thing. I love when things work out.

I'm finding more and more that things usually work out. Which reminds of this quote I saw a few days ago, that I just can't get out of my mind:

Can't say it any better myself. Really. 

Let's Make a Deal

Cory had 10 blissful days of summer vacation. Now he's back in classes. 

He works so, so hard on his school work. (And gets the grades to prove it. Who makes 125 on a final exam on Circuits? Who??) 

I guess it's hard for him to find a comfortable position after a few hours at the ol' desk.

Apparently the hours spent at his desk are taking a toll on his neck and upper back, because lately he has been constantly requesting massages.

Turns out, I'm not really a "massagey" person. My fingers are tired after the first 15 seconds of a back rub. Also, it bores me.

But, I have discovered that Cory will do almost anything for a back rub. This discovery has led to a sort of bartering system in our relationship.

We're still working on developing a baseline for what things are worth in the economy of our marriage.

I offered Cory 20 minutes of massage in exchange for coming with me to the grocery store. (That is basically an eternity in massage years.)

He declined.

But he counter offered me one clean kitchen, while I did the grocery trip by myself.

After much inner turmoil, I accepted.

I love to haggle, so I'm pretty excited about this new development.


A few people from our stake went to Georgia this weekend to help with tornado clean up. Cory went with his Dad and brother to help.

It was so weird to have him gone for the weekend. I missed him, and I couldn't sleep without him. The extra seven hours this inability added to my day really upped my productivity. I don't think I've EVER done more in one day than I did yesterday. I hit up a short-lived tennis match, bridal shower festivities, crepetastic girls night out, cleaned/vacuumed the house top to bottom (including laundry!) and finally got around to painting my trashy dresser.

Read the full makeover post on Pile o' Craft, if you want.

 To keep things balanced, today I haven't been productive in the slightest. Nothing but church and bloggin'. And lemon squeezin'.

I got a sweet hookup from my friend Elizabeth this week and got a ton of lemons. Fortune smiles upon me as just last week, I found an awesome jadite juicer at a thrift store.

I felt so, so cool using my strainer.

 I also felt like a huge nerd. The entire time I had quotes of Alice Walker's short story, "Everyday Use" running through my head. I bought the strainer to look pretty on a shelf, "as if that was the only thing you could do with quilts" strainers, but realized I'm definitely "backward enough to put them to everyday use."

Oh Alice.

If you've never read it, you should. Then we can talk about what a wretched punk Dee, excuse me "Wangaro", is, and how the phrase "mossy teeth" makes you wanna throw up.  Click here to read the full text online.

Ode to My Mother

Dear Mom,

You are awesome. You are the perfect mom for me. 

People say that I look just like you. Can I just say, I really really hope they're right?

Photo via Kim Brock

See? You're gorgeous.

Also, you're great with kids. Not only did you raise five amazing (if I do say so myself...) kids, you teach  other people's kids how to be awesome all day, every day too.

Your grandbabies are so lucky. Jefferson can't resist you, even in the most trying
of times.

Thanks for teaching me things. And helping me out when I get in way over my head. I love that you're the first person I call when I find awesome trash on the side of the road...

And then you're always there to help me turn aforementioned trash into something great (along with your trusty husband...but his post will come, okay? Also, you did a really good job of picking him out. Just so you know. Thanks for that. Really, really.)

In fact, looking back, a lot of our relationship revolves around "projects" like that one. You gave me the confidence to try things, and the knowledge to know how to make my crazy ideas come to life.

I always think of you when I go into a thrift store.

I thought of you the whole time I painstakingly filled my metal scoop with vintage buttons in one such a store on Friday.

Yea...I sifted through a giant vat of vintage buttons and hand picked only the very "best" into 1/4 cup scoop the shop allotted. 

Hey, at $2.00 a scoop, I'm only getting the good ones! Just like you taught me.

My definition of best also includes things like Jadite strainer measuring cups and old wooden spools of thread. You taught me that too.

I'm grateful I have a mom like you. Cory is grateful too. He says, "Thanks for making my Lindy!"

Also, he designed a card in your honor. We both camped out at my craft station this afternoon, and made some mother's day cards. Cory picked out the colors, and design. And had a little bit of a meltdown with a glue stick. But redeemed himself by teaching me how to properly fold paper in half. Like, exactly in half.

One for each of our wonderful mothers.

Yours should be arriving via post any day now.

Thank you for being my mom! I wouldn't be the same (or alive) with out you!

Love, 

Lindy

P.S. I currently have poison ivy poisoning. It sucks. And looks like leprosy.