New Hair part 2!

I promised everybody pictures of my new haircut too, so here they are. I really like the way it looks. I'll probably have to get it cut every 4 weeks to maintain it, but at least it looks good!

Coke Date!!

When you're married and still in school, sometimes it's hard to find a lot of extra money to go out on fancy dates, but Lauren and I have started having Coke dates, and it's a lot of fun! We just go to Sonic and get a drink, but it gets us out for a little while and we can just laugh and talk and have a good time. And it's cheap! :) Anyway, we had a Coke date last night, so I thought I'd share some pictures.

Here I am enjoying my Chocolate Coke. (I still can't believe Lauren took this picture!)



"Hey Ryan, can I have some of that?"



And Lauren with her staple drink, Dr. Pepper!



Yay for Coke dates!



Ryan

New Hair!

Today, Ryan and I decided that we both needed hair cuts. Ryan's was getting way too long and he was hiding it under his hat all the time. And mine......well, my hair just grows extremely fast and if I don't cut lots of layers into it, it gets really long and stringy really fast, and then I can't do anything with it except put it up in a bun, which isn't exactly the most attractive or professional look. We both cut a lot of hair off, but I do have to say that Ryan probably beat me...which is pretty sad. But I thought I'd let everyone see the change! I'll have to post the pictures of mine tomorrow because it really needs to be washed, dried, and fixed first, but Ryan, being the lucky guy that he is, has wash and wear hair! So here he is!

Before:



And after:



Doesn't it look so much better?! He likes it, so I guess that's all that matters, but I'm glad to no longer have a husband with a mop on his head! :) (Just kidding, sweetheart!)

"Fall" is here!

Well, technically we don't really get Fall, but it's that time of year and I love decorating for the seasons. I don't really care for the traditional scarecrows and other kitschy stuff, but I do like elegant seasonal decor! I saw this wreath at Target and I had to have it! I love how it looks on our newly painted front door! It makes it seem much more warm and like there's an actual family living behind that door instead of just college kids like everybody else in the apartment complex. I really enjoy decorating! Maybe I should be an interior decorator! Haha! Either way, I really like turning blank spaces into a place that really feels like home. It makes it easier to come home after a long day and feel welcome and like this is really home and not just a place to eat and sleep. So, naturally, I had to show off my skills! Just kidding! But honestly making this apartment feel like home has been a task that has been going for over 2 years, and I'm sure it will continue, but I'm really proud of what we've been able to accomplish so far, so please indulge me a bit!
Here are a couple of closer pictures of the wreath:



And this is in our entryway. I found these cute, white letters at Hobby Lobby, and I decided to paint them and make our monogram for the entryway! I love doing creative DIY stuff like this!



We recently bought this foyer set, and I think it looks wonderful! It gave us a place to display some of our wedding pictures (yes, I know that frame is not full yet.) and a favorite Tuscan bowl! It just really completes the look of the living room!



I will definitely be adding more pictures soon, so check back! It's sure to be good!

Lazy Sunday

We haven't really done too much today, just been hanging out and spending the day together. We are really enjoying the church we have been attending, even though we don't get to go all the time. It will be really nice when we both have set schedules and don't have to work on the weekends and can just spend that time together. We've been going to Holy Cross Lutheran in College Station, and it's been really good so far. The members are very welcoming and they have two services every Sunday. One is traditional and the other is more of a contemporary praise service. They also have lots of different small group Bible studies that cater to different groups of people, such as young couples, etc. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get involved in that yet, but hopefully we will be able to soon. Here is the church's website for those of you who are interested! http://www.holycross-cs.org/

Yesterday, I went to Target to get Ryan socks and underwear, which was a little weird because I have never bought men's underwear before. It was definitely an interesting first that made me stop and think, "Whoa....I'm really married." It's funny how it's the little things like that that will make you really think about the changes that have happened. But while I was in the men's department trying not to look too awkward, I ran across a rack of shorts that were on clearance, so I decided to get Ryan a new pair of khaki shorts. You really can never have too many pairs of shorts in College Station. Seriously, most years, you can still be wearing them at Christmas. There are really only two temperatures here: hot and hotter. But back to the shorts...I couldn't remember what size Ryan wears, and I had no clue about sizing on men's pants, so I grabbed a 38, hoping that was right......well, it's a good thing that I kept the receipt because when Ryan got home from work and tried them on, they wouldn't even stay up! Every day I learn something new about my husband, even if it's something as mundane as what size pants he wears! So, we took them back today and got the right size! Here is a picture of Ryan wearing them!


Also, I am really enjoying my new digital camera. I've really gotten into photography and I'm hoping that I can get a job with The Battalion next semester doing photography for them! So, I thought I'd upload some recent pictures that I've taken.



A&M's Water tower




Students studying outside the library.




Cadet walking to class




Waiting on the bus!

Wedding Pictures

I finally got all of the wedding pictures that my uncle took uploaded to Picasa web albums so everybody can view them now. It took a long time, but it's done. I hope everyone likes them!
Here is the link! http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.m.gilleland/Wedding1#5250410935367129266

And here's a preview:

This is me and my great-grandmother Elfriede Bontke. She was born in Germany and lived there until she immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 8 years old.



This is me with my bridesmaids and flowergirls!



Here's Ryan and me!


And our amazing cake! It was lemon cake with raspberry filling and it was delicious!

44 Things about Me!

Subject: 44 Odd things

1. Do you like blue cheese? Gorgonzola, yes. HEB has a really good Gorgonzola & Apple pizza 2. Have you ever drank? of course. My current favorite drink is Seabreeze and I love a good Riesling. 3. Do you own a gun? no, but I want to. 4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Cherry 5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes. I'm always afraid they're going to take my blood. I pass out every time. 6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like them w/chili & cheese 7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's A Wonderful Life 8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Dr Pepper 9. Can you do push ups? not very well 10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding and engagement rings and my pearls from Poland 11. Favorite hobby? reading and finding new recipes 12. Do you have A.D.D.? maybe. I have a lot of things that I enjoy doing, so sometimes it's hard for me to pick one to focus on. 13. What's your weight? not going there 14. Middle name? Marie 15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? What are Ryan and I going to do tonight? Should I make the Funny cake now? I wish I was back in Germany.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Dr Pepper, Riesling, Cranberry juice 17. Current worry? That Obama will be our next President. 18. Current hate right now? Obama and his lies. 19. Favorite place to be? home or Germany 20. How did you bring in the New Year? I think we spent it at home. We didn't do much. 21. Where would you like to go? back to Germany 22. Name three people who will complete this? I have no idea. 23. Do you own slippers? no 24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Pink 25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, I like Egyptian cotton. 26. Can you whistle? Heck no! I've tried....it just doesn't work. 27. Favorite color? Burgundy/ Maroon 28. Would you be a pirate? Not a chance 29. What songs do you sing in the shower? anything....lately it's been Sweeney Todd songs, though 30. Favorite Girl's name? Ava Marie 31. Favorite boy's name? Matthias Shane 32. What's in your pocket? $2.10 33. Last thing that made you laugh? my cat being a ninja and stealing my cheese

35. Worst injury you've ever had as a child? When I broke my wrist playing soccer 36. Do you love where you live? The city, yes....our apartment...eh, it's ok. 37. How many TVs do you have in the house? 3, but one of them is not currently hooked up. 38. Who is your loudest friend? probably Anne 39. How many dogs do you have? 1 40. Does someone have a crush on you? I don't know, but it really doesn't matter 41. What is your favorite book? Mila 18, Farewell to Arms, On Hitler's Mountain, A Girl From Schindler's List. I have lots. 42. What is your favorite candy? Snickers 43. Favorite Sports Team? Texas A&M Aggies 44. What song do you want played at your funeral? Nearer My God To Thee

I'm going to be published!

So I got some awesome news yesterday! I had gotten an email a few days ago from the editor of The Cornerstone, which is the Liberal Arts student online magazine at A&M. Anyway, they were looking for writing submissions for the magazine, and so I sent in my poem Helpless. I heard back from her yesterday, and she said that she loved my piece and that she was going to hold onto it for publication!!! I am so excited! Maybe this could be the start of a writing career! I think I sent the poem out to everyone, but just to be sure, here it is: (Oh, and by the way...if you can't tell, the poem is about a Nazi concentration camp.)


Helpless



Sometimes I have dreams...
disturbing, disheartening dreams.
These dreams are a product-
a product of my history and my experiences.
These dreams are me.

I am standing in a field far away,
surrounded by wooden horse barns.
This field is divided by a train track
with thousands of people on each side.

I hear cries of despair
as families are torn apart.
"Vati! Geh nicht!"
Families' last moments
ripped to shreds by the harsh words,
"Herren zu links! Frauen und Kinder,
Rechts!"

Amid the chaos, I cry out to them,
"Come with me! I can get you out!
Come with me away from this hell!"

I cry out to them, I appeal to their despair-
my pleas fall on deaf ears.

Maybe they just can't hear me
above the noise.

Late that night...
many have already been sent to the gas.
But I do not give in.
I have to help the rest!

I go to them in their wooden beds.
I shake them to waken,
and nothing happens.
I try again...nothing.
I yell at them, "Save yourself!
Wake up!"

And nothing happens.

I am no help to them.
I do not exist.

They say hindsight is 20/20,
that with it, everyone knows the answers.
But sometimes...
not knowing is less painful.

Hurricane, Part 2

College Station is preparing for another Hurricane today, but I think we're going to get steamrolled this time. Luckily, I am not talking about another massive storm system, but rather our football game today against the Miami Hurricanes. Honestly, our season hasn't been stellar so far, and the last time we played against Miami they slaughtered us. It was not pretty. I am really glad that we fired Franchione and hired Mike Sherman. I think he will do a great job with the team, but this is his first year, and many of the players are still Fran's recruits, so that makes it difficult. Also, the team is so used to running the option, and Sherman is trying to get them to play a more professional style of football, which will take time to adjust to. All in all, I love my team and I really hope they surprise me....but I'm not going to be too shocked if they don't. Gig 'Em Ags! BTHO Miami!

Fightin' Texas Aggie War Hymn

Hullabaloo Caneck Caneck!
Hullabaloo Caneck Caneck!

Goodbye to texas university!
So long to the orange and the white!
Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies!
They are the ones who show the real old fight.
The eyes of Texas are upon you,
that is the song they sing so well.
SOUNDS LIKE HELL!!
So goodbye to texas university!
We're gonna beat you all to...
Chigaroogarem Chigaroogarem!
Rough! Tough! Real Stuff!
Texas A&M!

Saw Varsity's horns off!
Saw Varsity's horns off!
Saw Varsity's horns off!
Short! A-WHOOP!

Varsity's horns are sawed off!
Varsity's horns are sawed off!
Varsity's horns are sawed off!
Short! A-WHOOP!

Late one night when the t-sips were in bed,
Ol' Sul Ross put a lantern in their shed.
As he kicked it over he winked his eye and said,
"It's gonna be a hot time in Austin tonight!"

WHOOP!!!

Ryan

Changes

I have noticed some things I have done recently that lead me to the conclusion that I am not the person that I was even a year ago. I used to be the girl that refused to ever stay at home and not work. I hated cleaning. I hated cooking. And I wasn't about to let anybody else tell me what to do. But lately, I've really enjoyed my time off from work and being able to keep our house clean and be able to cook real meals. I've found myself wanting to dust and do laundry, which is so unlike who I used to be. I've also noticed that I am a much nicer person now without the stress of work and rude customers. I'm much more willing to do what Ryan wants to do when we're together because I've had time to do things for me while he is at work, and I really enjoy making him happy and being able to do things that make it easier for him to relax after a long day. I praise God that He gave me the opportunity and the means to take this semester off from work. After struggling so much last year, I don't know if I would be able to graduate without this break. I was so tired, stressed, and depressed that all my body wanted to do was sleep and I couldn't concentrate or focus on anything. This has definitely been a blessing, and I know that God will continue to provide for all of our needs. He knows I truly needed this break, and I am most thankful for it.
Moving on...fortunately we didn't get hit by Hurricane Ike here in College Station. It traveled to the east of us, leaving us on the clean side. We only got about 2 inches of rain and the wind blew about 30 mph. Others around us were not as fortunate, and many are without power for approximately 2 weeks. Our prayers go out to all of them and their families. We hope everyone will stay safe.
Tonight, I made an awesome dinner in our Crock Pot! (Thanks Alan & Kathy!) I found an interesting recipe called Dublin Coddle on www.thenest.com and thought it sounded pretty good, so I decided to try it. Well, it turned out excellent and I highly recommend it. Here is the recipe:

Dublin Coddle




Ingredients:
4 slices bacon
1 1/2 pounds pork sausages (6-8 sausages)
2 yellow onions, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 cup water, hard cider, chicken stock, or beer
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions:
Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and fry for 7 minutes, or until crisp. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain. Add the sausages to the pan and cook, turning frequently, for 10 minutes, or until browned. Using tongs, transfer to a plate. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

Add the onions to the pan and saute, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Spread half of the onions in a layer in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay the strips of bacon over the potatoes. Lay the sausages over the bacon. Spread the carrots over the sausages and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the water. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the vegetables are very tender. Transfer to a warmed serving dish and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve immediately.

About Us

1. Who is your man? Ryan Shane Hanson

2. How long have you been together? nearly 5 years dating (in December), and 3 months married

3. How long did you date? We dated for 3 1/2 years and were engaged for a year

4. How old is your man? 21. He will be 22 on March 9th

5. Who eats more? He does, by far. He loves buffets, but has found that they are totally wasted on me.

6. Who said "I love you" first? He did.

7. Who is taller? Ryan, obviously

8. Who sings better? Me. I'm sorry Ryan! He sounds pretty good singing the Sweeney Todd songs, though.

9. Who is smarter? We are both smart, just at different things. I'm good at history, German and English, and Ryan is better at math and science.

10. Whose temper is worse? We both tend to bottle things up.

11. Who does the laundry? I do it mostly, but sometimes Ryan helps.

12. Who takes out the garbage? Ryan. Always. I hate trash.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are looking at the bed, that would be Ryan, because it is closer to the door, and I always have to sleep farthest away from the door. That way I know if somebody broke in, Ryan would be between me and them to protect me. Lol.

14. Who pays the bills? Me

15. Who is better with the computer? I know how to use most programs, and I am a faster typer, but he is definitely better with them.

16. Who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn. But I can't mow a lawn, so when we get one, it'll probably be Ryan.

17. Who cooks dinner? I do, mostly. But sometimes Ryan will make eggs and such. For some reason, I can't fry eggs without messing them up.

18. Who drives when you are together? I do. Ryan hates driving.

19. Who pays when you go out? It varies, but it comes out of the same account, so it really doesn't make a difference.

20. Who is most stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn, but I guess I probably am more.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? probably Ryan.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? maybe mine, but we really don't see either of them that often because we live 9-10 hours away from them.

23. Who kissed whom first? I kissed him.

24. Who asked whom out? He asked me out

25. Who proposed? Ryan

26. Who is more sensitive? definitely me. I can cry at songs, movies....sometimes even tv shows.

27. Who has more friends? We both have about the same, but I have more here because I've been in College Station longer.

28. Who has more siblings? We both have the same number of siblings, but I have two sisters and Ryan has a sister and a brother. And I am the oldest, and Ryan is the youngest.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Ryan does. I love not having to be in control all the time anymore.

It's raining cats and dogs!

So, just because we're not ready to have kids doesn't mean we can't have a family! Meet our furbabies!

This is Layla:

She is a beautiful, tri-colored Beagle who is almost a year and a half old! (And apparently, that is the cool way to wear your ears now.) Layla came to me at 8 weeks old from a friend of mine, and she has been by my side ever since. Ryan says I can't leave the room for a minute without her whining. She's definitely a momma's girl! She loves to get into everything, and unfortunately we have a hard time keeping her out of the trash! That hound nose tends to get her into trouble. But we love her anyway, and she is definitely a fun girl to have around!

And this, the newest addition to our family, is Verenus:

He is a 5 month old orange and white Tabby cat. We got him a little over a month ago from the Brazos Valley Feral Cat Allies, and he has definitely been keeping us on our toes! Layla's getting older and has finally calmed some, and then we added Verenus to the mix. It can get pretty crazy because Verenus' favorite thing to do is pounce on Layla, but she holds her own against the little one! It has been very good for Layla and Verenus both to have somebody to play with besides Ryan and I, especially when we're not at home! Oh, in case you were wondering, Verenus is named after Ryan's favorite character on the HBO tv show, Rome. Lucius Vorenus was a centurion in the Roman army during the fall of the Republic and Julius Caesar's reign.

We really love our furbabies and are very glad that they get along so well. You just never know with a cat and a dog. Luckily, Layla is not at all territorial.

Hunkered Down!

So, classes were canceled for us today in preparation for Ike. Not a whole lot happened here. It was a little overcast and it sprinkled a little, but it was mostly pretty normal. HEB was crazy again, but by 7:00 tonight, it was starting to look pretty empty around town. People are definitely getting home to settle in for the storm. We got some supplies and we're getting ready to ride it out. Ryan was supposed to work at noon tomorrow, which I wasn't too happy about because the worst of the storm is supposed to hit here at around 1:00, but HEB decided to close tonight and not re-open until 2 tomorrow. We'll see whats going on then and if they decide to continue re-opening or just stay closed for the day. I personally think it will still be too dangerous on the roads, but we'll see. Ike is still projected to travel east of us here in B/CS, so they're projecting tropical storm winds and all-day rainfall tomorrow. We will try to keep everyone up to date!

I don't like Ike!

So, once again the Brazos Valley is preparing for a major hurricane. During Lauren's freshman year it was Katrina and Rita, and now it's Ike. Once again, everyone is going crazy at HEB buying tons of bottled water and gas. Evacuees from Houston and the coast are coming in, and traffic is crazy. They are projecting about 75mph winds and 2-4 inches of rain for us here in Bryan/College Station. I hope that Ike will fizzle out like Rita and leave us with nothing but 30mph winds. I need to talk to my apartment manager to find out if anything needs to be done about our windows, especially since we are on the first floor. We would really appreciate everyone's prayers and thoughts right now. Hopefully it won't hit here and everything will be ok. At least we know we are pretty safe if people are evacuating to Bryan/College Station

Ryan

First Married Semester

So, in the nearly three months that we've been married, Ryan and I have encountered a lot of married firsts. First trip alone together (our Honeymoon), first Fourth of July party married, and first birthday (mine) as a married couple. Of course there will be many more married firsts, but a major one is our first semester of college being married and living together. We're both really enjoying our classes. I finally got into History of Nazi Germany with my favorite professor, Dr. Krammer and Ryan seems to be loving his fencing class. He did say, however, that he would like more time to actually fence, so we'll have to find some way for him to practice outside of class. Apparently 50 minutes twice a week isn't enough. I am also looking for a way for me to keep my energy up. I am usually ok until I get through with classes for the day and make it home, and then it seems like all of my energy has been sapped until later at night, which makes it hard to get things done. Hopefully I will find some way to fix that. We love our apartment! It's not huge, but it's enough for the two of us. It was my apartment before we got married, and sometimes we forget that it's ours now. Ryan occasionally slips and says "your bedroom" or "your couch", but for the most part, we are doing good on sharing things and household responsibilities. I will say one thing, though...sometimes it's hard to remember who is supposed to do what. It is very nice to have a partner in life and for the household things. It's so much better than even the best roommate!

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson!

Wow! So we've been married for almost three months now, and it has been really incredible! Lots of people have asked how married life is, and it's hard to come up with an answer other than just good because it feels surreal, yet normal and comfortable at the same time. We really enjoy living together, and it hasn't been awkward with learning each other's preferences and habits. A lot of times, I feel like we've been married for years instead of months because we know each other so well! I am really excited to see this marriage progress and see what the future holds for us!