Derby Day

Well, we survived a Pinewood Derby without Matt. He had time right before he left to help Gabe with the basic shape of his car, but the rest was left to me, and Grandpa. Unfortunately, the only scale I had to weigh the car with was an old Weight Watchers one, which was off....a lot! Despite the setbacks, Gabe did well, and had a lot of fun!

Bowling during Spring Break

The kids had spring break last week while Matt was still in Utah, so one of the days, we took off to our local bowling alley, and I told the kids they could each invite a friend to come along. Morgan, ling up her ball.

Chandler has always loved bowling, and did very well this time too.

Gabe invited his long time buddy, Emma. They have know each other since 1st grade, are in the same Primary class, and are really good friends.

Chandler is trying so hard to make new friends in our ward, and invited Ethan, who is the son of a friend of mine from High School. Funny how things come full circle, hu?

Welcome home Matt!

Well, as most of you know, Matt has taken a new position with my Dental Office, and is our new Lab Technician. What is that? Well, when you get a root canal, and the dentist says "you need a crown", Matt is the guy who makes those crowns. Our boss is sending him to a school down in Utah for training every month, and he is also training on our new E4D machine in the office. He LOVES it, and has picked up on everything VERY fast. We are very blessed, and he gets to stay with his parents in Orem, just minutes away from the school, which is basically across the street from BYU. This last month he was gone for 2 weeks. So, when he got back, the kids and I met him in Anchorage at the Marriott, and spent the weekend playing in the pool, and watching movies in the room. They had so much fun!

Family Skate Day

We decided to take the kids ice skating today. Can you believe our oldest is 11, and we've never been before? Matt and I went a few times when we were first married, and served in young womens and young mens, but haven't been since. 11 years is a long time! I was very nervous about getting out on the ice again, but once I did, it wasn't so bad. I definitely wasn't brave enough to cruise around the rink like I did as a teenager. Matt was way more adventuresome than me today. And the kids did pretty good for their first time. The boys both spend about half the time on their backs.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of Matt and Morgan. Perfect daddy daughter moment. They are both such dare devils, and took off, skating fast, and very well. It was Morgan's first skate, and she did great!

A few seconds after this shot, Chandler nearly knocked down this poor girl as he scrambled to the wall as he tried to stop himself from falling.

He was killing me with the hood! Every time I tried to get a good shot, all I saw was hoodie.

Gabe trying to "glide" on his skates, verses the tip toe walking running, scrambling thing he had been doing at first.

This was after, his tip toe running.

He wouldn't admit it, (cause he's 11, and a boy) but he had a really good time skating today. Even if he did fall a lot.

The boys goofing around.

By the end of the day, she was a total rock star on the ice.

Morgan watching the Zamboni clean the ice after our skate.

From Morgan's lips....

Morgan was so sweet tonight. While trying to comfort her older brother (she's such a little mother) she went and got a picture we have of the Savior off the piano and brought it to me, saying: "mommy, I love Jesus. He gave us the earth, He gave us the sun, He gave us this house! Mom, He gives us food, He gave us all the stores, and He gives us all our money! I just love Him. "

Gas? Who's got gas?!!!

To start with, I have boys. Oh boy are they boys. Burping, farting, wrestling, inappropriate questions, comments, and timing. They also have the ability to hear half the conversation, then chime in with a comment. Tonight, at the grandparents, for example.

Mom and I were talking about the incident I just posted below, about Chandler and his pants. And my mom said,
Grandma: oooh gads.
Chandler: Gas? who's got gas?
Gabe: I've got gas!!!

I thought my mom was going to fall off her chair.

Where are Your Pants?!!!!!

Tonight, we decided to walk the dog down to grandma's tonight after dinner, to burn off some energy (and the grilled pizza I made for dinner). We got there, the kids scattered and I sat down to visit for a few minutes. Suddenly I look up as Chandler enters the room wearing his t-shirt, and what? A pair of boxers? That's not what he walked down to Grandma's wearing, (in 30 degree weather)!!!
Me: Chandler, where are your pants? (a question I feel I am constantly asking this kid)
Chandler: points to the other room.
Me: Weren't you wearing pants when we got here?
Chandler: nods
Me: Then where are your pants? (a smile starts to spread across his face)
Chandler: What? I'm wearing jammy bottoms! (short ones that I've continuously put in Gabe's pile because they ARE too short)
Me: (sighing) Chandler, you don't just walk into someone's home and take off your pants. Where were raised, and by who? (my dad's sitting in his chair just shaking with laughter by this point...not helping dad!)
Chandler: Well, dad raised me.
Me: To my knowledge your dad has never walked into someone's home and taken his pants off.
Chandler: But he reads!
Me: Not with his pants off while he's a guest in someone's home!

What? I have a Blog?!

Sigggggh. I know. Its been few and far between lately. Well, what have we been up to? Exciting stuff actually. Matt was recruited by my boss to start a new career and direction for our family. So now, he is in Provo, Utah, going to school to become a Dental Lab Technician. ??????? I know. BIG change! He comes back after 2 weeks, is home for two weeks, then leaves again. This will probably continue for the next 6-9 months. He is super excited! Its an amazing opportunity and perfect for him. Our office recently purchased a new machine and computer system which will allow Matt to virtually design and produce crowns for our patients. See why Matt's so perfect for this? He has already been down to Dallas for a training seminar, and has fallen in love with the system. So, while he's gone, what are we doing here at home?

• I have been painting, remodeling, re-organizing, and cleaning out the entire house. Finished the kitchen, got new appliances for the kitchen, and now I'm working on finishing the bathroom. I'll post pictures of the finished projects soon.
• Since Gabe has finished his basketball season, we have suddenly freed up our evenings.
• Morgan is still in ballet, and excitedly practicing for her big recital in June, which her dad and brothers will miss, due to an office fishing trip in Homer. I'm staying behind, and we've decided to have a girls weekend at the hotel in Anchorage. Hey, we couldn't give up an all expense paid halibut charter/rented house weekend in Homer entirely. The boys will just have to represent.
• Gabe has earned his Bear in scouts, Chandler his Arrow of Light, and we survived yet another Pinewood Derby. Why is this such a necessary thing? I don't get it. But then, I am not married to a man who's entire manhood rides upon how well his son's car does in the derby. Seriously. What is up with that? Men standing around whooping and pounding on their chests as their sons wooden car crosses the finish line first. I don't get it.
• Since Matt's been gone, the kids have really pitched in and helped around the house. They got out in the garage with me this week and successfully filled two garbage cans. Then we organized my room, and the boys even hauled a very heavy tv down to the basement, along with an extremely heavy box of books. They've been absolute rock stars when it comes to chores, and when their names are called, come running.
• This week is Spring Break at our school, and I'm looking forward to my new part time status which enables me to be home with them. I have missed that. We plan on bowling, ice skating at Wasilla lake, playing basketball at the church, and ending with a stay at our favorite Marriot when Matt gets back. The kids love this, since there's a pool, and they get unlimited mom and dad attention, late nights with board games and pizza.

Memory Lane

I found a bunch of CD's while cleaning this week, and couldn't help myself. I had to take a walk down memory lane. of this face, and far too few of the smiley face above and below. I LOVE Gabe's expression in this picture though. He still poses like that.

Ahhhh, I miss the days when the boys use to let me dress them in matching outfits. Aren't they cute?

Oh, the days when there were hugs, and not just opportunities to wrestle and inflict pain on your sibling.
Morgan's first birthday cake. I copied it from a magazine, and was really happy with the results.

Time spent with cousins. Growing up, I remember being close to all my cousins. Those on my moms side, as well as my dads. I wish my kids had more of that. I love that we have my family close by, and the kids are able to have those cousins. I just wish we had Matt's family around as well. Those Stastny reunions are too few and far between.

My little cheeseball. I miss those baby teeth smiles. Morgan is now losing the 3rd out of 4 front teeth, and growing those horrible permanents.

This was a good day. Time spent with cousins on a wonderful, sunny, Alaskan summer day. The kids loved riding bareback on Sundance.

I love these three. Some days they are my biggest challenge in life. But then there are moments like these, where everyone's happy, and life is good. (and the three of them could all fit in the same chair.)

Me and my sweet little girl. I always wanted a little girl. The outfits. The hair. Teaching her things I could never teach a son. Like putting on make up. How to walk in heals. Getting our ears pierced. Pedicures. And chick flicks where there's (gasp!) k-i-s-s-i-n-g!

I don't even remember taking these pictures... but I remember watching my then 5 year old make his first PB & J sandwich. Seems like a small thing now, something I took for granted with Gabe and Morgan. They just did it. Now it seems I have to let this one grow up, and have other firsts that I'm not quite ready for. Middle School in the fall. Braces. Movies with friends. Yikes. How will I ever survive?

The Big Bang!

New Year's Eve was spent at the annual Christensen Party and Fireworks show. It was so much fun to spend time with good friends and family, enjoy their company and good cooking, and then to go outside and play with fire and legal explosives. Morgan and Rhiannon with the sparklers.

Morgan, Gabe and Zack running for cover.

Jeremy, with the hot air balloons. These things are awesome.

Up in one of the trees in the yard.

The Campbells.

Before the end of the year, Renae's family suffered the loss of one of her brothers. It was very sad, and while the family was all together, I was honored to be able to take their pictures one afternoon. It was freezing cold, but they were all such troopers. What an amazing spirit! This is Renae and here brothers, sister, and parents, minus one sibling. Renae and her sisters.

The whole family. 11 little kids, and 10 adults.

He shoots! He scores!

The past month has been filled with lots of activities with the kids. Morgan has ballet, Chandler has 11 yr old scouts, Gabe, Bears, and Gabe has also been playing in a basketball league. They practice 2 nights a week, and have 1 to 2 games as well each week. The other night we had a late one, against Gabe's cousin Hunter's team. The whole family came out to support the two cousins, and Morgan was right there, cheering them both on! Gabe and his team, warming up. He's on the far right, getting ready to take a shot. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a good shot of a 9 year old playing basketball? (without someone else's kid's leg, head, or other body part in the way)

That sucks!

Well, it finally happened. The vacuum I inherited from my awesome mother in law finally bit the dust. So, I turned to my sweety, who was leaving work, and grabbed the vacuum I'd been drooling over and brought it home that night. I LOVE it!!! Its got amazing suction, the hose extends to 14 feet, and the best part? A special pet hair attachment for those of us who suffer from shedding dogs. Morgan and I set it up while the boys were gone the next night, and immediately went to work. Vacuuming the couch, the stairs, the drapes, the ceiling fan, and we even did the carpet.

I love any cleaning tool that gets my little girl so excited she wants to roll up her sleeves and play Cinderella all evening.