Merry Christmas!!!

Chandler has become obsessed with Ben 10 recently. Don't ask me, I have no clue. But Matt and the boys will spend hours playing with their Ben 10 guys down in the basement. He completed his set on Christmas morning and was thrilled.
Gabe was so excited about his pirate set he got from Santa. I let out a scream, whoop, and hiphiphooray when he saw it sitting next to the tree.






Morgan got these cute little princess figurines from her Grandma Christensen. (if you haven't guessed yet, Morgan loves Princesseses)

Ward Christmas Party

Grandma managed to snag Santa and he took a quick picture with the kids at our Ward Party.

Our family took part in the Christmas Program for our wards party this year. We sang Three Kings from the Christmas Carols. Considering we were all nursing colds, I think it went ok. Even the kids took party and sang the chorus.

Christmas Eve with the Carters

Morgan insisted on looking at little Ethan's baby toes every couple of minutes. Poor Jess would just get his feet back in, and buttoned up, when Morgan would want to look at them again. Thanks Jess...you were such a good sport.
Cousins Jayme and Morgan cuddling cute little Ethan.



All the girls with Ethan. Jayme looks like a deer caught in headlights, and I look like I've had one too many eggnogs.

Goosebay's Christmas Program

Chandler playing the "orff" in the ansamble of over 35 instruments for the 2nd grade program. They played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....very well I might add.

Chandler and his favorite teacher...Mr. C. Chandler's had Mr. C. for both first and 2nd grade.

Twas the week before Christmas...

Our cheesy little baker. Gabe loves hammin' it up for the camera. Of course we're not showing the face he made when his gingerbread man didn't turn out just right. (Our little perfectionist)




Morgan sure enjoys her banana bread dough. What can I say? My cooking's so good, the kids can't wait for it to be cooked.



Chandler's advice on making a good gingerbread cookie? "Be one with the dough...the dough is your friend."

Our First Baptism

I am the worst mom every...Chandler was baptised on the 8th of December, and we're now just posting about it. Well, it was wonderful. Chandler was very excited, but a little apprehensice about going all the way under water. (being in Alaska, we're not exactly out swimming in the pool every day in the summer) And the fact that Chandler had to be submerged not once, but thrice...we were just glad when he finally made it. The funny thing...when he was walking back up the steps, he turns to Matt and says: "hey, that was fun...lets do it again" That's our Chandler.

Our beloved Bishop Hobbs conducted, and made some comments at the end, and Aunt Karin gave a wonderful talk about Baptism, even with all of Chandler's comments, and anticdotes. Then Grandpa Christensen talked about the Holy Ghost. We're so greatful for our family, they're always so supportive. And we're also very proud of Chandler for making this important decision in his life. He is definately a blessing in our family.

We've also included a picture of Morgan. Not for any reason...just because she's so darn cute!

pizza and cupcakes with grandma

photos of Chandler handing out cupcakes to all his friends at school...he has a lot of friends. And Grandma brought pizza to top off the day!

thankful gift

Here's the cute little wall hanging I got at our Christmas Exchange. Mandy always makes cute things, and I definately lucked out this year with this one.

Homemade Stockings...Jenn's way

Okay, so those of you who really know me...know that I HATE to sew. Especially using a pattern. If I can just sit down, and stitch things together, no measuring, no ironing, no patterns, then I can swing it. So that's what I did, using Sherrile's stockings that she made as inspiration. I didn't even spend a dime. I went through my fabrics, found coordinating colors, different patterns, and then ransacked my mom's fabrics for some additional material. Then I took a stocking that I bought last year at the after Christmas sale ($2.00 at Walmart) and used it as a pattern for the shape of my stockings. Then I just went to town. My mom also has an embroidery machine, so I owe the cute name stitching's to her. Thanks mom. All in all, I'm quite pleased with the way these turned out. Please excuse the quality of my picture...it was taken with my camera phone.

Relief Society Christmas Party

Last night was our Enrichment sponsored Christmas Party for Relief Society. I think it turned out really good. There were about 45 people there. (not bad at all) Everyone brought a gift, and we drew numbers and exchanged them. I got a beautiful wall hanging for fall. Hand embroidered, and stippled. It was gorgeous. I'll post a picture later. We had a raspberry vinaigrette salad (mom made) that was sooo good. And some toasted baggettes, and chocolate eclairs. Everything was good, and so pretty. Then we had everyone quiet down, and we started our program. I used Jeremy and Renae's CD of Pictures of the Savior they made last year, and put it on the large screen for a slide show. Then as it was playing, I had one sister sing A LONG TIME AGO (one of my fav's) Then my dad and Matt sang MARY DID YOU KNOW (Kenny Roggers usually sings it) Then my brother Jeremy joined them and sang O LORD MY REDEEMER. And we ended with Jeremy reading the words to THIS IS THE CHRIST as I played the accompaniment. (words were written by James E Faust) It was a wonderful night, and I think everyone went away feeling the true spirit of Christmas, and what it is really about, which was my goal. I wanted people to remember why we celebrate the holiday in the first place.

What they must think of me!

Tomorrow is Chandler's 8th birthday, so I sent cupcakes in with Grandma, who was going to the school to have lunch with Chandler. Its a big deal, and they kids all love it when Grandma comes to see them at school. Traditionally they get to pick what kind of lunch they want Grandma to bring, and Chandler loves Pizza. So Grandma went by Pizza Hut and got some personal pan pizzas, and decided to get the little bottles of root beer, (the brown, glass ones). Chandler was so excited about his special lunch, he told everyone he saw, "MY grandma brought me pizza and beer for lunch! The first teacher kind of looked at Chandler, then my mom, and said, "you mean ROOT beer, right?" Chandler: "Ya, root beer". Then he went to his speech teacher, "Hey Miss Drinkwalter, look, my grandma brought me pizza and beer!"
"Chandler, its really important that you say, 'ROOT' beer" She said. Finally, he went back to his home room, and told Mr. C. "Mr. C., my Grandma brought me ROOT BEER for lunch." Totally putting emphasis on the word ROOT so that there would be no mistaking it. I was very worried what all the teachers at Goose Bay Elementry would be thinking about the Stastny's. But my mom was sure to tell everyone, Chandler's never even seen a bottle of beer.

Our version of frogger

I found this on a friend's blog...it creeped me out, but Matt thought it was great. I'm thinking Chandler and Gabe will get a kick out of it in the morning when I show it to them. The frog follows your mouse when its in the green box...and if you click on the mouse, it drops flies for him to eat. EEWWWW! I know, but anyone with kids, it's something to keep them busy....while your trying to finish up those pesky holiday projects...Katie.

IT NEVER ENDS!

So, last night we had to go to the church to set up Christmas trees as part of the COmmunity Messiah production. One of the other ward's RS presidents was there, and asked me if I was on the decorating committy. I laughed, and said "I am the committy". (Princess Bride fans: "I am the brute squad") that's what I sounded like in my head. We haveone lady in the stake who's the Activities Chairman, (she's in charge of the music portion) and then there's me, her committy. And I'm in charge of pretty much everything else. Decorating, invitations, posters, refreshments, setting up chairs, (ooh, I still need to call the elders about that one) and having priesthood there. Did I forget anything? Oh, and the cute little ornaments I must make for everyone to take home as a momento from the evening. This year, it's a little bell, with a card on it that says: In olden times, a bell was placed upon the neck of sheep so that the shepard could hear his sheep and know where to find them. Our Savior, even Jesus the Christ, is that shepard. Merry Christmas! Community Messiah, 2007

So last night, my lovely husband helped me out with one of my jobs, which was setting up 6 large Christmas trees at the stake center. He hauled them in, helped me put them up, and then he helped strand the lights and fix the broken sections. He's truly my hero!

FINALLY, we got our family pictures edited, and back from Photworks, already to send out with our Christmas cards...now I just have to finish those darn Christmas cards. Race ya Katie! ;)

This is my snowman ornament that I'm giving out to various people. It was made with that liquid gel stuff you get in the floral section. It looks like water, but its solid... Then I made some carrot noses out of clay, and added some "coal" looking beeds for the eyes. Then I attached the following poem...

"I made myself a snowman
as perfect as can be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
and a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first it wet the bed!"

Obviously this is a gift for someone with a sence of humor. Chandler has a man teacher, and he really gets a kick out of these kind of things. You could also do like Karin did one year, and just attach a card that says, "Once there WAS a snowman"

This is for my friends at the gym, and Morgan's teacher.

Just for you, Katie...

This is for my spin instructor, (she loves blue, and hates red)

Its jsut vinyl, on 2X2's that I cut and painted. 6", 8", and 10".

Christmas Projects

I set up the tree the day after Thanksgiving, while Matt was gone with the kids. He got back, took one look at the tree and said, "I see we have another theme tree this year". What? I asked him what the theme was. He said "Red!" Guess he had me there...cause over the next few days, everytime someone came in the house and saw our tree, they commented on the "theme" of our tree. I guess we all either turn into our mothers, or Martha Stewart, and in some cases, both.

A Mom's letter to Santa

Dear Santa....




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my own doctor's, and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmas', since had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt, in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother", because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in to dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM

P.S. One more thing ...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.