Hansen's Dairy Farm

In case you wondered... no, THIS Hansen family is not starting a dairy farm! We did however travel out to Hudson to the Hansen's Dairy farm that produces the delicious Hansen's milk and dairy products that our family consumes daily. It was Jaxon's good buddy, Mason's, birthday and we wanted to do something special with him. We decided an afternoon at the dairy farm would be special and fun! The six of us (Jen, Mason, Jillian, Jaxon, Austin, and myself) had a wonderful afternoon together! They offer a "hands-on" tour for a small $5 a kid and it includes milking a cow, feeding a baby calf, making butter, having ice cream, and feeding their pet wallaby's. It really is a pleasant place to visit... the clean, well organized, and very friendly and family oriented environment is a great place to take kids! Here's a glimpse of our field trip :)

The boys watching them clean the barn... twice a day they use a tractor to scoop the poop... yes, the boys were mesmerized by this process. I think it was their favorite part all day! And I'm not kidding!!

Milking a cow... Jaxon kept asking Mrs. Hansen when he could milk a cow... finally it came up on the tour!

Mason & Jaxon feeding the mini kangaroos. They ate right out of their hands. So cute!

Watching and listening so well to the details of just how that milk gets from a cow and into those plastic jugs! Pretty cool set-up!

Feeding a baby calf... reminded me of my childhood farm days!

Good friends!

One of the last things we did was make butter... lots of shaking that ended in a yummy snack for them :)

Happy 5th Birthday Mason! Hope you liked our special afternoon at the farm!!!

On a side note... we started drinking Hansen's milk when dairy products were so high. Hansen's was cheaper then! Since then Austin also switched to whole milk from breast-feeding. Some of you remember that Austin had a bad reaction to dairy products that I was consuming when I first nursed him. (blood in his diapers, extreme spit up, rash) I did not eat dairy for 3 months and then I slowly started consuming it again, but used Hansen's products. Austin can drink Hansen's milk just fine, but when we give him a different brand he tends to spit up this cottage cheesy type stuff for the next couple hours after he's had it. Anyways, Hansen's cows are raised with no added growth hormones and is non-homogenized. Austin can digest this so much better then homogenized milk. Anyways, we're so happy with their product that even now after dairy prices have gone back down we still spend the little extra to have such great quality milk! Thanks Hansen's Dairy!!!

Round-Up Ready!

Yesterday was kindergarten round-up for the Cedar Falls school district. I am still in denial and shock that Jaxon actually participated this spring. I mean, really? Has 5 years gone by since we brought a dark haired, dimpled, and dark skin new baby home? Sigh. Being a parent is so bitter-sweet don't you think? We love love love the little moments with our little ones (and big ones too I'm sure) and while we want to hold on to those moments forever, we also want to see them grow and reach new milestones. I was excited and sad for yesterday all in one! We've had a couple friends have their first borns this spring... and I've been walking through my own memories of becoming a new mom as I watch them experience it all from the very start. I love all their stories of each "new" thing to them and the wonder that their babies bring them. Like being a mommy was created just for them. I think that's how many new mom's feel... like motherhood was created just for them to wear that hat and fill those shoes. It's beautiful. Where did the time go between those moments and today? Well this moment made me realize how precious EACH moment is and what a journey we have to walk with our little ones. I love looking at what has brought us to this moment and it's been a great journey! Through all the emotions that parenting brings, none is better then the feeling of love and pride as you watch your child accept the next milestone in their life. Jaxon was SO EXCITED for the day! He woke up all smiles, put his CF Tiger shirt on right away (his choice, not mine!), and couldn't wait for 9am!! It was so weird to take him and drop him off with people I don't know and with kids I've never seen and at a building I've walked through once in my entire life. Talk about courage... I wanted to run with him a couple times and just keep him in my van til all was clear!! But then he would have missed meeting that nice little boy in his line, he would have missed playing with the new toys in the classroom, he would have missed having that yummy snack he talked and talked about, he would have missed that funny video about principals and puppies and who knows what else! Jaxon was all smiles and only held my hand tight for a little while. Mom here was pretty good too. I only blinked tears back twice and held Jaxon's hand tight for a little while :) It's funny... months ago when Austin was just a newborn and I was up in the night nursing him and weeping over how fast Jaxon was growing I just kept repeating the verse from Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". As we walked up to the school building yesterday morning Jaxon was repeating that same verse out loud, he had just memorized it this week and was telling it to me over and over. I guess God knew we both needed a little reminding that morning... we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

After I picked him up! A future CF Tiger!!

He had this smile on the whole time he was in line and as he walked away... he was pretty happy to be there, but almost too cool to show it!

waiting for directions

Arriving... all smiles from the start!

And what big day can start without a special breakfast, the "You Are Special" plate, and hugs from little brother?

Watch out Kindergarten- here comes Jaxon and we're so excited for him!!!

spring days

It is no secret to those that know us that we LOVE being outside! Once we can be outside, the inside of our house gets abandoned and we set up camp out in the yard! We eat outside as much as we can, usually grill outside daily, have snacks outside, and do everything from dig around in dirt to swing to baseball to bubbles to anything we can come up with in our yard!! Needless to say we love when spring rolls around in full swing. As I sit here the big kids are in the middle of a "baseball game" that started at precisely 10:30 and included team names, fans and gear . I can hear the birds through my open screen doors and cars traveling up on University Ave and an occasional saw as someone works down the street. I love having the outdoor noises travel in the house and the smells of spring like fresh cut grass and lilac trees blooming and camp fire's burning. The Hansen family is very happy to say "Welcome Spring"!! Hope this time of year is just as fun for you! Hope to see you at the local park or bike trail :)

Jaxon posing before a soccer game... Jaxon writes down his "schedule" and has games that he actually tries to make me work his meals and nap around. What a goofy kid!

One of the best parts of spring days is getting so dirty and then getting all nice and clean at the end of the day... my kids always sleep so much better after they've had a good day of playing outside.

Snack time!

The jumpy slide is a popular choice for the big kids on nice days.

And who doesn't love a good ole wagon ride?

a runner in training

Well, well... here I am just finishing week 3 of training. I must say I have surprised myself with what I have been able to make my body do. I've also been surprised with how much I've been learning about the "running world". I ran in high-school, but was a sprinter and this distance stuff is much different! Plus, that was over 10 years ago and I've forgotten so much of what I knew about simple things like stretching, water in-take, pacing, shoes, and so on. For my friends who are runners today, I've been filling their emails and voice mails up with my constant questions and curiosities!! (sorry to those of you that might be getting annoyed with my constant questions!) I have had to prepare myself in every way to become a runner and I'm not just talking about shoes and body training. I hadn't bought a new sports bra in 8 years... after a 2 mile run I realized that bra just wasn't going to make the 26.2 mile trek with me in October! And lets talk about underwear while we're on the subject... underwear stretched out from recent pregnancy should NOT be worn! Get good underwear, checked off the list. Oh, and I've just experienced nice running socks! It's been raining buckets here the last week and my new shoes are mesh on the top so my toes were getting soaked when I ran in the rain. I invested in some "wicking" socks and man, my feet didn't know what they were missing! In the last week or so I've been taught how to place Vaseline in the right places, how to tie my shoes right since the way I learned in kindergarten wasn't good enough, how to do "body checks" as I run, how to place my ipod in my sports bra well enough so I don't have to hold it, how to properly stretch, how to breathe, how to move my arms, and how to count my steps per minute!! Holy running lessons!!! We just had our first group run this morning and I'm pretty excited knowing that after only 3 weeks of training I can keep up with (some) people and finish a 5K...without puking might I add?!?! I am feeling good about where I am and even with a few tight muscles and some burning lungs and some early morning runs...I am still SO SO glad I am doing this! As you can read, I'm learning lots and really making my life be more disciplined which is what I really wanted to work on. It's at the very early steps for both my feet and my heart... week 4 here I come!

(by the way, I'm tracking my weekly training with photos to do a scrapbook at the end and the above pic is week 2. I love coming in the doors and having my kids so excited to see where I ran that day :)

our baby is 16 months old!

My goodness... when did our baby start being so big? It happens so fast doesn't it? One minute you are trying to juggle a baby in your arms while you stir supper on the stove and then next you are letting that same child help you put things in the pot to cook for dinner. Austin is growing so much and each day it seems he adds things to his "accomplished" list! This month he turned the big 16 months...almost a year and a half since he's been here. I can hardly remember what it was like without him in the family! He is getting funnier as he gets older... He has this quiet way about him of causing each of us to laugh out loud daily. He is still a lovey little boy. He loves to snuggle on your lap, lay on the couch with you, or just hang out on your hip :) He's also VERY busy these days. My house is a disaster zone most days. It takes him 30 seconds to fill our floors with anything from dishes, balls, blocks, blankets, shoes, cloths...whatever he can get his hands on and "play" with! I must say that while the constant mess drives me crazy at times, I do love the constant reminder that I am blessed with little ones in my house each day. I know someday when all my things stay in place for long periods of time and I only sweep once a week instead of 3 times a day, that I will miss the days when little hands and feet filled my home. Oh, these are great days! Here are a few pics of Austin during this stage of life! Enjoy!

Each night Austin still has a bottle before bed. He started this routine all on his own. He gets his bottle and instantly takes off for the couch. He crawls up on his own and lays in the same spot every night with his blankie and just guzzles his bottle. Such a silly boy!

This is an example of Austin's new smile! Every time I get the camera out he "cheeses' til I take it! It's so funny and I can never get one with his open these days!! These were the boys at the McIntosh side Easter egg hunt in the barn.

Austin has a new buddy... our next door neighbor comes to our house each day. I started watching Jacob a couple weeks ago and the boys are 2 months apart. They are learning to have fun together! Austin is cheesing again here!!

Our big boy!

Being funny at the dinner table. Rarely a dull moment here :) I'm sure this Hansen boy will be just as entertaining as the first two in the house!!

Chicago Marathon, here we come!

Yes! It is true... I am going to run a marathon!!! Maybe I should rephrase that... "I am going to finish a marathon!". I may run, walk, or jog...maybe crawl, but I am determined to FINISH the Chicago Marathon on October 11th!!! How in the world did I get myself into this you may be asking? Let me start at the beginning...

Recently Don Williams posted a note in our church bulletin about anyone interested in joining the Iowan's for Africa marathon team to please see him. I read it one week and thought about it for 2 minutes... "Hmmm, that would be cool to do...someday." The next week I saw it again and Dave mentioned a certain someones name to me that was doing it and I thought "gosh, if they can do the marathon I should be able to finish it." (mentioning no names here!! :-) I went home from church that week and couldn't STOP thinking about it. You see, deep down I always had this far out goal of doing a marathon someday, but I really thought my opportunity to do this passed when I hit about 25 and had baby #1. Anyways, for 2 days I thought about the marathon...all the hard work it would be, the training, the fundraising, taking time away from my kids possibly to train, the costs, the discipline it would take, did I mention the hard training? After two days I went to bed and asked God as I lay on my pillow to please help me discern if I should quit wasting my thinking energy on this or pursue it some more. I also went to bed feeling like this challenge was way too much work to pull off and leaning much more towards the no side of doing it. The next morning I wake up and my friend, Kris, has emailed me to say she is running and would I like to join her!?!? Ahhhhh! I got all nervous and excited in one! I brought this crazy idea up to Dave whose first reaction was to laugh a bit, tease me, and shrug it off. I don't blame him. I would have done the same thing to myself if I wasn't on what I like to call "the marathon high"! I spent that day praying, calling Don, talking to Kris, talking to Dave some more, praying, googling marathons and running...and finally deciding, Yes, I would do this!

Let me tell you why I decided to do this...
I have a lot of reasons but here are some main ones: I get to run for an awesome cause. World Vision is an organization that is really motivated to make a difference with the poor in our world. I am moved by their work and support them fully. I am so happy to raise money and run for their cause. Another reason is, I am so excited to have a goal like this to work towards and discipline myself to reach this goal. I have been craving for leadership in a way that would motivate me to seek change physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I am so thrilled to have Don Williams coach me and our team the next 6 months. I am also pretty pumped about my team! It is one fun group and not only that but awesome people in general. I'm really looking forward to getting to know some of them better and having time to spend with some of my closest friends. Another reason is I am up for the challenge of doing something outside of my comfort zone and seeing what God has to teach me as I train the next 6 months. One more thing is, being a stay home mom/wife I often tend to myself last...and while I would never exchange places with anyone I would love to have something that I am working towards for myself and a goal that I can look forward to and put some personal energy into. my list goes on and on... but I must say I am so excited for this and while I realize the hours and training and pain and commitment it will take... I am really looking forward to the whole experience and crossing that finish line on October 11th!

I hope to keep you posted as I train... I'm sure you'll hear the aches and pains of this journey as well as the joys and accomplishments. Please pray for me and my team and World Vision and if you feel led...please donate even $10 to this great cause! Check out my fundraising page, as well as meet my team mates at...

http://www.firstgiving.com/jessicahansen

Chicago Marathon... here we come!

Spring Break week = God's Mountain Camp

Spring break week this year was spent about 5 hours south of here in a little community outside Rushville, MO. The two kids and I (Jess) headed down there to spend our week together with a group of high-school students, a few leaders, and my dear friend Becky and her little guy, Boaz. The group of students and leaders went to help on projects around the camp and Becky and I tagged along as "cooks"! I LOVED going on and leading mission trips before I started to have children and this is the first opportunity I've had to go on a mission trip WITH my children! The last trip I led (with Dave) was to Washington DC six years ago and I really wanted to go to serve!!! Though I love to cook and even more so for people, I knew I couldn't tackle this week without a trusty partner and some help with the little ones. My friend Becky and I work so great together and I was thrilled beyond words when she agreed to do this together! She was the perfect partner for this adventure and I thank her for making it go so smooth!! Natalie Patterson (a high school senior) joined the trip and said she wanted to help with our boys and from there on I knew this trip was meant to happen for us :)
The week was filled with many meals being prepped alongside fun and servant hearted students, quality times spent outside surrounded by nature, wonderful converstaions with old friends and new ones, lots of laughter, early mornings, no distractions, and the presence of God. It was a wonderful week for me... better then I ever expected and I'm so thankful I went along. I hope to go back and the boys do to! I think Jaxon and I both shed a few tears when it was time to leave!

Here are some pics to tell a bit about our week... one can never fully explain in words what a trip like this does for one's heart (or any mission trip!), but I hope to do my best to give you some what of an idea. If you've never gone on a mission trip before I really encourage you to try it out sometime. You'll be challenged and changed more then you know!

Dinner time! A very fun and BUSY part of our day! Thank you to all the great small groups for pitching in!

Jaxon was such a good helper all week! He jumped right in and helped where he could and when he couldn't he had fun delivering snacks or just hanging out watching the crew. Thank you to all of you who included him in so many projects! Your actions spoke volumes to him about serving, being kind, and being a helper.

Lots of smiles from these two all week!

I was trying to keep count, but lost track. I'm pretty sure Jaxon played more then 50 games of Guess Who with pretty much anyone up for the challenge :)

There were 5 little ones on the trip total... here are 3 of the toddlers. Boaz, Addelyn, Austin...as close as I could get them to sitting 'together".

Jess, Jaxon, & Austin...Spring Break 2009

Jaxon made a fast buddy with Luke Williams. His parents own and run the camp. Luke is an amazing 14 year old who I hope my boys resemble someday!! He was such a great influence on Jaxon.

There was a family from Minnesota there also who had a van full of little ones! A perfect mix of kids for a fun sunny day!

Austin loved this poor dog! Austin would run up and just lay on Hummer... by the end of the week Hummer would dart for the other direction when he saw Austin coming. :) He was such a good dog!

Some of the girls included Jaxon in their playground painting project. Jaxon got to paint his feet up the steps of the slide... when he was done he was washing his feet and he said "look, I'm washing my feet like Jesus did!". Thanks LaRae and Amanda for letting Jaxon join you!

trees, trees, trees! Jaxon did LOTS of tree climbing all week!

My baby boy turned 15 months old while we were there...

Jaxon was found many times entertaining this group of girls. They were so sweet to him and had lots of energy to keep him laughing too! Thank you for spending time with Jaxon! You helped make his week!

Ellen! She always had a free hand to help with a little one, help in the kitchen, help with my sore throat, or just hang for a good chat! Jaxon and Ellen made some awesome apple crisp for an awesome evening snack one night!!

Addelyn and Austin spent many evenings hanging out outside our apartment building. It got up to 80 one day and these babies got stripped down! Look at those cute pudgy legs!?!?

An evening walk up the big hill!

There was a fish pond and we fed them lots of times during our stay. I really started to wonder about the benefits of raising boys in the country after this week!?!?

Many of our evenings were spent just like this... lots of kids, students, leaders, the dog...anyone just hanging out as the night started to fall and we ended our day in peace :) Oh how lovely it was! It was a beautiful picture of community all week.

And last but not least... i had to post this. My kids were so dirty and worn out by each day... but it was the feel good had a great day kind of dirty! Gotta love those days!

What a wonderful week! The kids were so well behaved, traveled perfect, and things just went so smooth. I returned to a husband who had worked his tail off while we were gone... 12 painted window shutters, a painted kitchen, painted dining room, fixed basement ceiling, painted trim, and a new dishwasher later... and I must say I had one AMAZING week!!! Thank you honey! and thank you to everyone who helped make the week at God's Mountain so perfect!