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.

Christmas Eve Happenings!

Christmas Eve this year, started at 4pm at my parents for a delicious, fancy pants dinner with Jeremy and Renae's crew as well. Mom set the table, and Jeremy did the bulk of the cooking. He was definitely in his element Christmas Eve. Everything was amazing!

Morgan sulking, because she wasn't given the privilege of sitting at the head of the table.

She got over it in time to toast her brother and Aunt Renae with a glass of white punch.

We had a nice green salad and a jello salad to start, and then the main course. Corn pudding, red, purple, and Yukon gold potatoes with a brandy cream sauce. And a yummy tenderloin with creamed horseradish. Everything was perfect!

After we stuffed ourselves at my mom's, we went over to our friends, the Gunderson's, for some more yummy good, and a little gift exchange. Morgan received her gift from Cassy, and was so excited to open the fingernail polish.

Gabe got a Bokigan toy...

And Chandler, a toy truck.

Matt and I came to the exchange with an "As Seen on TV" Shake Weight, and a throw blanket, complete with feel good movie. We came home with an "As Seen on TV" Brownie bake, cut, and serve, and a Tower Fan. Thanks so much Gundersons and Beasly's! You are such awesome friends!

Then we returned back to my parents, where we unwrapped jammies, hot cocoa mugs, and settled in for one of the longest nights of my life! (6 kids in one basement family room on Christmas Eve)

Christmas Preperations and Cousin Fun

Thursday morning, when Renae brought Morgan and Chandler back from their sleepover, the three Christensen cousins decided they wanted to stay and play. We did hot cocoa with marshmallows and candy canes, and the got to baking. These two were the only ones who wanted to stick around for the sugar cookies, but they were very helpful, and good workers.

Then we got to the fun part....decorating our cookies.

Morgan insisted on piping her own lines and dots onto her cookies. I asked Morgan to pick up her favorite cookie, and this is the one she picked.

My littler baker.

We Love You Grandpa Stastny!

We had an early Christmas present this year, and Grandpa Stastny had to come into town for a business trip, so we headed into Anchorage after work on Tuesday to have pizza and visit with Grandpa Stastny and the Carters. It was so great for the kids to see grandpa, and they were very reluctant to let him go. I think he was darn near knocked off his feet here, with Chandler giving a giant hug, and Morgan grabbing him around his legs.

MMMMMMMMMMM

This was my easy friends and neighbors gift this year. I made Carmel popcorn, put it in boxes I bought, and drizzled melted white and dark chocolate over them. Want the recipe? Yummers close up!

Jenn's Carmel Corn

2 cups brown sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup butter

popped popcorn. (I prefer buttered microwave...about 6 bags)

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a sauce pan, and bring to a boil. Boil for about 1 minute, or until soft ball stage. Poor over the popcorn, and toss till everything's coated.

In our house, this never lasts long.

The Gingerbread Tradition.

Thanks to my grandma, this has become a Christmas tradition every year. At our family Christmas Party, we get the kids together, and decorate gingerbread houses.

Jeremy helping his crew out.

Chandler and I created this house together. So much fun.

Gabe is always so proud of his minimalist creations.
Morgan opening up her jammies and book from Grandma. A Christmas Tradition.

Frosty the Wing Man

Yesterday when Morgan came home from school, she told Matt and I that she had had to sit on the bench at recess. (kind of a time out) When Matt asked her what she had done, she coyly told us it was because she had kissed a boy. While Matt recovered, I asked her which boy. She said she had kissed Davis. (a cute little boy who goes to our church). Here's the rest of the conversation...

Me: Morgan, you kissed a boy?

Matt: You DON'T kiss boys!

Morgan: but Daddy, we fell in love!

***I wish I had a camera handy to capture the priceless jaw on the ground wide eyed look on Matt's face at this last confession.***

Me: well, where did you kiss Davis? (meaning, where on the boy's face did she kiss, like on the lips, or on the cheek-dumb mom, I know)

Morgan: (with a little giggle) Behind the Snowman!

Me: (couldn't even talk yet, dying of much needed laughter) MORGAN! you were hiding from the monitors behind the snowman?

Morgan: Mom, we fell in love!

I thought Matt would have a coronary by this point. I laughed, remembering all of a sudden all the crushes and drama I experienced on the playground in 1st and 2nd grade. Don't worry, we gently instructed her that she really was too young to be kissing any boys on the playground, the lips, or even behind Frosty the Snowman. Oh,the fun we are going to have with this one. Can you just imagine the conversations we'll be having in another 10 years? Well I can. Matt's been growing his gun collection in preparation. Keep ya posted. :)

I am subbing for Morgan's primary class for a few weeks, so we decided to make goodies to give her friends on Halloween at the end of church today. Carmel Apples!

SOOOOOOO YUMMMMMY!!!!