Who am I trying to fool?

This is what Kate wanted for breakfast.
I am not a morning person, so this is what Kate got for breakfast. (Or she would have started asking me questions and talking incessantly... but it is the whining I feared the most this a.m.) I like to start conversations around 10:04 a.m. She gets up too early.

This is what I wanted for breakfast. No, not in a dirty way. I just really hoped he had gotten my request for home help and would be here bright and early to, you know, help. Good Morning, Ty.... sigh. AND... uh...good morning to you too, Wil. I LOVE YOU, HONEY!!!!!

Oh Martha-help me, guide me

Martha has provided me with a new bible. The HOUSEKEEPING HANDBOOK. It's probably been out for some time, but I found it today and I am on a mission to prepare my home for the day when M.S. comes to the HIDEOUT to do an on-site interview with the Fabulous Saying It Simply sisters. (that's us.) I am ready to be famous and famously clean and organized. I want monogrammed napkins and linens for every occasion. I want my towels to absorb like they were born to. (Martha sent me an email today and explained why my towels aren't soaking up the liquids anymore. Go here to learn for yourself : http://www.marthastewart.com:80/good-things/towel-tune-up?xsc=stf_MSLO-GOODTHINGS) I'll make her proud by exemplifying the image of a Housekeeping Handbook student.





Sidenote to cleaning and organizing...I am currently without children (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.) and I am finishing up some orders and attempting to make SIS a living space in the dungeon. But I need some serious help. Does anyone personally know my TV boyfriend Ty Pennington? If so, will you please tell him Kristine has a clean pallet on which he can work his magic? Come on baby, show me your power tools! However, the dungeon still needs power run throughout it, so TY, bring along an electrician... I'm tellin' ya, the more the merrier I'll be. Oh yah, Joel had to go into work, so right now is a perfect time to come over...

tu tu cute

Sorry if you are catching the double posting from 'SIS' and the Hideout.
This was just too much fun to make yesterday I had to share it as much as I could. I made it for a niece who asked if I could make anything. And I said, "Yep." (You'll have it soon, Tess!) I think I used 5 yards of purple tulle and pink tulle each! It measures 20" from the waste to the hem. I am hoping it hits Tessa's legs about mid calf. (my good friend Tayler helped model it - she's about 6" shorter than my niece.)

ohhhhhh..... It makes me want to twirl just looking at it. Isn't it cute?!?!?!?

How many toes do you have?

Came across this pic today and loved it too much to keep to myself. Would you check out the blondies?!?!?! I can't wait for summer!

Easter Brunch

We're forgoing the typical Easter Dinner and enjoying a large filling breakfast/brunch.
Puff Pancake, (aka German Pancake) Spiral Cut Ham (cooked in crockpot over night-delish), Hashbrowns, Orange Smoothie

Puffy Pancake Recipe (Thanks, Grandma! Yum!)
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt 1/2 cube butter in 9x13 pyrex dish. I like to melt the butter in the pan while the oven is warming.

6 eggs
1 Cup milk
1 Cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
Use hand mixer and blend well. Pour into 9x13 dish ~ over melted butter. Bake for 18 minutes. Kids will love to watch this cook, because the pancake sides rise higher than the pan sides.
Serve warm. Top with powdered or granulated sugar, strawberry jam, fresh fruit or syrup. We use a homemade syrup that tastes like melted marshmallows. I just can't remember the recipe and I am desperately attempting to reach my Dad and Marian to get a copy.... Help, DAD!!!

GOT THE RECIPE!!!!
Buttermilk Syrup
1 1/2 C Sugar
3/4 C Buttermilk
1/2 C Butter or margarine
2 Tbs Light corn syrup
Stir and bring to a boil
then add:
2 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Baking soda (this will make it rise up quite a bit-make sure you use a larger pot)

Happy Easter, All.

Info from the Prez

If a HiDeouT member has a personal issue, please know that the office door is always open.

Case in point:

Setting: Evening meal ~ pastrami sandwiches, french fries, fruit of choice

Members present: Joel, Kris, Jack, Luke, Kate

Members completing said meal: Joel, Kris, Jack, Kate

Member with issue: Luke

Fifteen minutes after being told he must take at least one bite of his dinner, Luke (Hideout Factuary) entered the family room silently crying and profusely saying, "I'm sorry". When questioned what he felt sorry about, (my mind is thinking he must have done something to dinner and knew it was inedible, thus not partaking of the dinner in question I had devoured), he cried, "I broke my tooth." Clarity. His first loose tooth. Pretty darn loose, too, I might add.

"It hurts. I should have brushed more." Tears, anguish and worry changing his features.

We tell him everything is fine. It's supposed to do that. It only hurts a little. Your big tooth is pushing it out...

"Oh. O.K." Facts clear in his mind, he leaves.

5 minutes later, new tears. New worry. "It's bleeding!!!" We notice it is reaaallllllly loose.

We asked, "How long has it been wiggling?"

"Only 7 days exactly." He's been counting? Where have I been? Before Jack lost his first, he sucked it in and out repeatedly. Drove me nuts!

He leaves again.

39 seconds pass and the whole brood stampede downstairs screaming that it's out.

Luke says, "Once I knew it was supposed to come out, I pulled."

Looking back, I acknowledge that it has been 7 days he has refused to eat. Duh.

A GIVEAWAY!!!

We're doing it again! Go to www.sayingitsimply.blogspot.com and enter to win this reversible sign!

I love working with my sisters. Lucky me to be with 2 people who make me laugh; celebrate the same way I do; have the same family emergencies; and (because we spend so much time together) know I am not faking if I call in sick!

Don't you want to be part of this madness? We're always welcoming honorary members to our fam.

Lucky Us To Believe

I freakin' love holidays. Every Holiday!

We are lucky to have an annual visit from a Leprechaun at our house. His name is Ned Farley. He brings the kids a treat and causes mischief as he attempts to avoid the searching eyes of Jack, Luke and Kate. He's just left his surprise at the door and the kids are frantically looking for him. (They have some serious plans for that gold.) Turns out he's lost his coat again and needs it for his journey back to Ireland. (Why he spends the holiday in Utah, is way beyond me.) Ugh. Gotta make this short. Kate and Luke have just gone outside in search of the crafty fellow.

Lucky me to see magic through the eyes of my children. Thanks, Ned.

My Kate

How much longer will she hold to my apron strings? How much longer will she need my help to do up buttons and how much longer will she ask me to brush her hair?

We had a beautiful evening out together. Her whispers and giggles tickled my ears on the drive to Salt Lake for the show. "I'm so excited we're going" she said to herself. She held my hand all night and kept saying "thank you."

Kate loved the Princesses, dinner and shopping. I loved every minute we had- just the two of us. Thank you , Joel.

(a special thanks to my cousin, Audrey for capturing a memory. Nov. 2007-Grandma's gravesite)

GNO!!!

Surprise Kate! The King of the Hideout surprised us with tickets! It's a girls nite out!

I told Katey I had a surprise for the two of us. Her shoulders slumped and said, "I already know-we're painting." (Seems mommy tries too many crafts as a fun, family activity.

I responded quickly with "Nope. We're going somewhere. No boys allowed."

She started to giggle and cry at the same time. "Is it Disney Princesses on Ice...?" Hope seeping from the question.

How did she know? I couldn't deny the hope. Quickly responded with a yes. Tears of joy brimming and spilling from her gray eyes. You know it's special when tears come from happiness at such a young age. Well, I'm off to primp and prime my princess!

See you there, Jess, Tayler and Rylee!!!!

Spring FEVERS

HiDeouT Business... I want heat!!!! I want Sun!!!! I want a vacation!!!!I want to play outside!!!! I do not get up for school!!! I do not want to do homework!!!! I do not want to get sick!!! so says the PRESIDENT.

The Recruiter is ready to start her Spring Marketing campaign for HIDEOUT initiations. This will include chalk drawings on the driveway; a small parade around the neighborhood in her camo-green, jeep, all styled in the latest hip decals-provided by Saying It Simply. (Santa brought a Go-Diego-Go power-wheel vehicle, but The President has made it an oh-so-cutesy cruiser); there will be a daily fashion show for summer's hottest swimwear; and she can be found sporting tanks and shorts almost everyday. It breaks my heart to tell her a storm is brewing...
The Factuary, poor guy, stated this morning he will not be able to further his education today on account he has a headache. I wish it was only a headache-he's down for the count. I KNOW there is something wrong when the WII does not bring about a smile.
The Entertainer gave a stellar performance during his oral report on FABLEHAVEN yesterday. And this was without notes. I found his prompting cards on the kitchen counter shortly after he left for school. I was able to get them to him around 11 am, only to find out he had opted to retell the tale to his classmates without the cards. Mrs. B informed me, he did perfectly and received, I think, 95% on the project. Way to go, Jack!
The King and Queen of the HiDeouT absolutely hate daylight savings time. Experiencing the most difficult adjustment period to date. My eyes see 7 am but my brain, stubborn as it is, knows it is/was 6am. That is much too early to wake up happy.

How does this keep happening to me?

I actually do like having something to write about... This was harder than I thought it would be... and it is rather lengthy....go ahead and skim, but you better let me know you looked at it! Sorry for the typos...

20 years ago: i was much younger! wandering aimlessly in st. george; 14.... uh..... wanting a boy 3 years older than me and driving him crazy with always being around, sorry Bry; seriously goofing off with April and Zann; really can't remember much more...
10 years ago: ohhhh 24. just bought our first house (holy crap) in surprise, az; working for the post office and keeping joel from school work as much as possible; got tattoo'd (do you know where it is?) for our 3rd anniversary; got myself knocked up with Jack-ok...it's almost 10 years to impregnation; loving the heat in AZ.
5 years ago: mother to two boys; bought our 2nd house in pleasant grove; volunteering at a preschool so Jack could go for free; sporting a super sweet scar across my neck where half of my thyroid was removed; convinced I was a complete woman with my 3 guys;
3 years ago: THIS IS ACTUALLY A 3-4 year reliving, Found myself pregnant again and swore up and down it was an accident, but truth be known.... Kourtney had called to tell me she was with child and I caught the bug~ kourt figured my cycle and OOPS, Joel-katey's a comin'... got myself a girl. she was due on halloween. Not wanting to screw up my very most favorite holiday, I scheduled to be induced 6 days early. (see, I am so selfish) As soon as she was born, we put our house up for sale for a move to Omaha ~somewhere in middle America... but moved to Minnetonka, Mn, instead. Made my first grown-up BFF's. Tammy, Myriam, Jen.... miss you more than you know.
1 year ago: ok....1-2 years ago....Bought ourselves our 3rd house, back in Utah. (we go where Joel is desired); on a whim and I mean by the seat of my pants, started Saying It Simply with Kourt, my bestest BFF ever. Need I say more?
So far this year: emailed potential customers for saying it simply; started blogging; became seriously addicted to blogging and checking for comments~ come on, peeps, let me know you are out there. even if you don't know me at all. we could be friends~; happy to have "IT" (from saying IT simply) back home~welcome back, kell! made a new year's rez to attend anything I am invited to... met my new BFF's Jennifer, Jennifer and Jessica (didn't know you were, did you girls?) broke my Nikon d50:(
Yesterday: emailed potential customers for saying it simply; brain busted with Kourt on up & coming goodies for S.I.S.; listed orders for S.I.S.; dinner w/dalley's and g'pa and g'ma hartung; worked hard at helping Jack on a book report; talked to April for 1 minute about blogging-
Today: emailed potential customers for saying it simply; hoping to get an A on a book report for jack's 3rd grade class; shooting the breeze with Jennifer for 20 mins about Scentsy and stuff (yum);saw Bevany @Target; bought Katey a super-styled hoodie; tried to saw wood for major orders in the IN box; picked up the snow shovel from the middle of my yard-we are so white trash wanna-be's; bought a new pocket camera so I can update the blogs.

Okey dokey.... April, Rachel, Erinne, Kelli, Chrissy, Marian and Dad, Christina, Jennifer, Jennifer, Jessica, Woo and whomever may want to... I want you to leave comments that you ARE doing this for me! If you don't have a blog- get on it! gracias.

I don't wanna do this... but I will

I'm it AGAIN. Thanks, Kookie! This is how it goes....One word. First word that comes to mind. No explaining. Not as easy as you might think.
And you'll notice, I even break the rules in this. I cannot be told what to do. I am a serious control freak. Signed, the VOICE

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your hair? sad
3. Work? busy
4. Your father? cookies
5. Your favorite thing? joel
6. Your dream last night? crazy
7. Your favorite drink? coke
8. Your dream car? vespa
9. The room you're in? disaster
10. Your fears? $$$
11. What do you want to be in 10 years? successful
12. Who did you hang out with last night? Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy
13. What you're not good at? obeying
14. Muffin? banana
15. One of your wish list items? paint
16. Where you grew up? haven't
17. Last thing you did? emailed
18. What are you wearing? smile
19. What aren't you wearing? shoes
20. Your pet? died
21. Your computer? busy
22. Your life? unorganized
23. Your mood? cluttered
24. Missing? everything
25. What are you thinking about right now? dishes
26. Your car/truck? carwash
27. Your summer? yard
28. Your relationship status?lucky
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When is the last time you really laughed with meaning? craftshow
31. Last time you cried? 12am
32. School? done
33. Least favorite weather? none
34. Soup? olivegarden (let's go, kookie)
35. Movie? fun

The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks

While wandering aimlessly down cyber- lane, I happened upon this picture at

The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks (there are quotes around the word EggPlant painted on the glass)

NOT MADE OUT OF EGGS

While these cafeteria sandwiches may or may not be made with eggplant, they are still vegetarian (hence the (V) below). I don't like eggplant, but maybe "eggplant" will do it for me...

Picture with me, if you will, while I am stating the following paragraph, that I am making the in-quotes gesture. You know the one. I look at you sideways like I have a conspiracy theory; hold up both of my hands, pointer and index fingers on each hand at the ready. But will I break out in a crazy rendition of two little BUNNIES Foo-Foo? Oh no I will not! Before they can start hoppin' and boppin', I quickly bend my fingers twice in unison to draw attention to "the point".

Oh friends, you "must" (maybe it's a requirement. maybe it's not.) check this out. How often do "you" (not necessarily You, I "could" be speaking figuratively) use quotes around words you are trying to "emphasize"? (do I really mean that? or am I not quite sure?) And how can they be misinterpreted by "others" (my obscure reference to people not of this world).
This blog site is classic. Either I am seriously sleep deprived or my sense of humor is "deeper" (so not true- I am totally shallow; or am I?) than I thought. Look at me. I am expanding my horizon daily.

Let me tell you. I USED to put quotes around words, (in fact, I would have and had to fight myself not to use quotes around the word USED) but I fear now I will find my blog entries on the above site. Wish me luck in my endeavor to rid my world of "unnecessary" quotation marks. It is going to be an "up-hill" battle! (did I really mean to use: up-mountain, instead? or was I actually insinuating down-hill?) Now I am questioning everything...

Presidential Decree

We are officially lowering the bar!
There will be a mandatory meeting this evening (probably in the car on our way to the JAZZ game) which all HIDEOUT members are required to attend. (Our marketing director is excused from this gathereing as she will be at Aunt Kookie's, undoubtedly telling all secrets of HIDEOUT members; selling our ups and downs-primarily the PRESIDENTS, I'm sure.) We will be discussing and setting attainable goals; that means easily reached. The PREZ is tired of going to bed and thinking of all the things she DIDN'T accomplish. We hope this will BOOST morale among all members.

So, lurking blog readers, the PRESIDENT would like you to know of the 4 lowered bars in her daily olympics:
1-Showering daily/Putting on clean clothes (guest and emergency preparedness)
2-Feeding children at the table in a timely manner (Nurturing and domestics-decreased whining)
3-Making beds (domestics)
4-A shiny kitchen sink (domestics and guest preparedness)

Now, challenge us! If you've read this, ask if I will climb into bed with my shoulders straight and a smile on my face for reaching my goals. And I WILL answer yes, proudly. For I have lowered the bar.
(HIDEOUT MEMBER goals will be posted as they are decided)
***I cannot take credit for this brilliant idea. While wasting numerous minutes, that eventually turned into hours, in cyberspace, I came across a thought provoking blog. I had to grasp her concept and share it with you my family and friends. It is the work of a genius.

What bar can you lower for a restful sleep?

From Bliss to Havoc in 10 minutes at the HIDEOUT

While reading the book, "My Perfect Playhouse" I asked Kate if she'd like a playhouse in our backyard. "For me and my friends?" she asked.

"Of course," I replied. "We could make a little house for you to call your own. It would have windows, a door and a table to eat lunch at."

She asked excitedly if she could have dishes and plant flowers. I told her she could pick them out herself.

"And at Christmas time, we'll have your Dad hang lights on the roof like he does to our house and we'll even get you a mailbox for letters from your cousins and Mommy will send you Valentine's." My mind, thrilling at the idea of this home of her own, caused my eyes to begin to spin and I overlooked the anxiety creeping into Katey's peepers. "We'll plant a little garden next to it where you can grow carrots and pumpkins for Halloween.... OHHHHH... you can have trick or treaters come in their costumes to YOUR house! And maybe we'll be able to go to Kate's Cottage for your birthday and Thanksgiving!!!!"

Kate begins to cry. "I don't want a play house! I don't want to move. I like my room and your food!"

I took it too far. My adorable, cozy cottage is now my daughters own personal HOUSE OF HORRORS. I think that SHE thinks she's being evicted. The pictured playhouse is owned by Dan and Kendall Drake. (no personal ties, just the coolest one I've seen)

What's on your nightstand?

Our RECRUITER is also our FaSHioN eDiToR & STyLiST, at age 3 and surounded by a mom who loves power tools, a dad addicted to sports and computers and 2 BROTHERS (do I really need to elaborate on what brothers like?) is fond of anything and everything FAB and POSH.

In her booknook... Fancy Nancy. The tell all book for those in need of what's fashionably acceptable.

Our FACTUARY, at age 5, has come to his own realization that books with pictures and 3 word sentences are in his words, "Seriously Stupid". Within the past 2 weeks he has finished 7 Magic Tree House books.

Our Entertainer, is prepping for a written and an oral book report. FABLEHAVEN is the page turner he recently finished and is about 50 pages from finishing book 2 in the series. His plan for the oral report is to invite Author Brandon Mull to be his visual aid. (Jack is actively attempting to contact Mr. Mull via the internet. And would like me to extend the invitation via this blog, so heregoes...)

"Hello Mr. Mull. My 3rd grader firmly believes if he shows up with you for his oral report on your delightful creation, FABLEHAVEN he is sure to impress his classmates and teacher. If you have any time available the week of March 10th, please contact Jack via this blog to arrange his 'Show and Tell All'. Most Sincerely, Kristine Hansen President and Voice for the Hansen Hideout"

Our Financier, always wanting to be apprised of that which our children are burying their brains, is also devouring the FABLEHAVEN series. He turned to me last night to share that they are in fact, "Pretty Darn Fun".

And for me, (still unable to perform Self-Help alone, (would you consider that to be contradictory?) I am half way through Feelings Buried Alive Never Die. I am actually quite found of the phenomenom, The Secret, and this book shares many of the same teachings.

So there you have it.... The HIDEOUT is deep into reading. Any suggestions on what we should read next?