Christmas Story time!

Hey, one tradition that we do with our kids is to read a different story book each night up until Christmas. Then on the 24th we read "The Night Before Christmas" and last but not least is the ACTUAL Christmas story in the bible. We got off to a slow start this year and we are already behind; so last night we read 3 books. It about killed Porter--who wanted to go check out the football scores--but it is still fun for most of them. I used to wrap up the books and put numbers on them--until the books were almost torn into--so now I just set them in a big pile under the Christmas tree...it is still just as fun. The kids have their favorites, and I get to add one or two new books each year. I had board books that were short when they were little--but as they have gotten bigger I have had to swap some of them out. It is a fun tradition--one I suggest every family start. Happy reading!

Cole's favorite:"Mooseltoe"
Karee's favorite: "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree"
Zadie's favorite: "The Littlest Angel"
Andrea's favorite: "The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree" (makes me cry every time)
Porter's favorite: anything short
Nick's favorite: The Christmas story in the bible; not shocking!

We have many good one's--but if any of you have a favorite, please let me know so that we can try it out!

My Project--continued!

Okay, this weekend I finished Porter's quilt. I was unable to keep it a secret--so he has seen it...but I am happy to report that one rag quilt is done, now just 3 more to go before Christmas! I am showing a picture of the underside of the quilt because I still have to wash and dry it before the quilt will actually rag. Let me tell you, if any of you ever make a twin size rag quilt or larger--you must invest in spring action loaded rag scissors! They are wonderful. Worth every penny.

I was a little afraid of one of the prints in the quilt the yellowish one; I was unsure if it actually blended into the grays and blues of the overall quilt, but those are Porter's favorite squares--so I guess if he is happy then so am I! It ended up being 60x90 and looks great on his bed. We will make some matching curtains for his room--but that will have to be after Christmas!

Now just 3 more to cut and sew!

Piano Recital

My three older kids played in their annual Christmas recital at the Piano Gallery in Orem. It was held on Saturday night, Karee's birthday. Karee was a good sport when Sister Sullivan (Kathy) the piano teacher played a rockin' rendition of Happy Birthday to her and had the whole audience sing to her. I was on my own, as Nick was a little under the weather--but it was a good time and we video taped it for daddy and the grandparents who weren't able to make it.

Porter was a little nervous. He is still not in love with the fact that I "make" him take piano. But, he is actually getting quite good and is playing Hymns out of the hymnal now. Karee is a natural and doesn't ever see to get nervous or crack under pressure. I think she really loves to play the piano and just loves music in general. Cole is also doing well. He sometimes throws a fit, but sometimes he can't pass the piano by with out pounding a Christmas song or 10 little Indians. He did well also. It is neat to see my kids growing in their skills and talents. Maybe someday all that forcing and coercing them to practice will pay off!

Happy Birthday Karee!

Karee had her birthday this past Saturday. It is hard to believe that she is 10 already. Karee is a sweet and thoughtful girl. She is quite a big help to me and a whole lot of fun. She love to craft, help with treats and do anything creative. She has been collecting some small nativity sets for the past few years and was able to add one more to her collection this year. She wanted "4 layer" for her birthday cake, which is technically just a dessert--but lots of chocolate, so who cares right? I had forgot to buy the #10 candle so she got the number 8 and two ones. Lame I know, but we had so much going on; and Karee was a great sport about it! She is a great sport about many things. She even missed a family Christmas Party the night of her birthday (Dad was a little under

An evening with Janice Kapp Perry

On Tuesday night Karee and I attended a guest lecture at Reagan Academy (the charter school our kids go to) where Janice Kapp Perry came and spoke. It was quite a thrill to listen to her speak, sing and share the Spirit with us. I have been a big fan for years, and I love to play and listen to her music. We had her autograph our "Sing a Song of Christmas" cantata that she wrote for the Utah Valley Children's chior. I don't know if any of you remember, but Karee sang in that chior and all the different parts were written by Sister Perry. We sing the songs on the CD every Christmas!

Anyhow, she and her husband Doug were there and told how music has blessed their lives. She shared many experiences from her life. We loved hearing about their mission to Santiago Chile. They have been back for a few years and are serving in a Spanish branch in Provo. It was truly uplifting. I mean--here we were in a school, and she had us all singing a medely of primary songs with her! She truly has a gift and talent.

Sister Perry talked about having a dream and working towards that dream. She shared with us how she feared singing in public, public speaking and the actual story aobut how she became a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Chior. One of the most amazing stories that touched my heart was one about how she and her husband were in a head on collision in Provo Canyon several years ago. She had sever injuries and pain in her back and couldn't even lie flat when they took her in the ambulance. When she arrived at the hospital they told her that they would have to do an x-ray where she would have to lie flat for 1/2 hour. She was terrified, and had never in her life experienced that much pain. That was when she prayed and as they did the x-ray the words to her song "A Child's Prayer" came into her mind..."Pray he is there; Speak, he is listening. You are his child; His love now surrounds you." She told us that with those words she was able to get through that difficult time.

It was a very neat experience and I just had to share!

My new project!

About a month ago I decide to make each of the kids a quilt for Christmas! I know, nothing like last minute ambition. So, here I go. I don't know that I will finish all 4 before Christmas...but I am going to make a good effort. Porters' is a rag quilt and it is laid out in squares all over my sewing room floor. I hope to be done with his before this weekend. Wish me luck!

Here is a picture of all the batting squares. I'll post an after picture when I am done. Not easy to keep it a secret--but he hasn't seen it yet!

Family Night with the FLASH!

Okay, so Monday night we went to watch a UTAH FLASH game for family home evening. It was loud, crazy and fun. A bit long for Zadie and Cole--but neat to see a semi-pro team play. Nick said it was a development league, whatever. The kids brought the tickets home from school last week when they had an assembly and met some of the players. Porter begged us to take the family. It is right up his alley. He is soooo into sports! The game was against Albuquerque and went into overtime. They lost by two in the last few seconds of the game. Drat! Maybe next time!

Cole left a really disappointed that he didn't get a free t-shirt or ball (you know, how they shoot those out into the crowd) I couldn't believe his attitude. Nick tried to explain how the numbers just weren't in his favor--but he was disappointed nonetheless. Zadie liked the FOX their mascot, and loved to literally "hang" around on the handrail in the middle of the isle. Karee loved to scream with out worrying about hurting any one's ears ('cause we were all screaming) and Nick enjoyed how closely paired the two teams were. It was exciting. I forgot my camera again--always happens...but tried to catch a few with the cell phone. So I will see if any are descent enough to add here.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

We went the day before thanksgiving up to Heber to cut down our family Christmas tree. I stood in line to buy a permit for $10 the first weekend in November and then we go chop it down the day after Thanksgiving. But, this year we heard that the weather was going to be bad--so we went up a little early. Here are some pictures of our family having a great time up in the Utah mountains. It was actually a ton of fun. Well, all but the ride home (kids were kind of tired and cranky). I think the tree ended up being about 12-13 ft. tall. It was the easiest year yet with the kids...tromping around in the snow. Zadie is 4 now and walked all by herself. Cole led us out blazing the trails and Porter even brought a snow board to try and have a little fun. There wasn't that much snow--and it was actually quite warm. GOOD TIMES!

Thanksgiving at Moms

Well, I haven't updated my blog in a while. Last week was Thanksgiving and we went out to Willard to my mom and dad's place. I forgot my camera--so I have no pictures. But it was a good time. I made the rolls and a veggie platter. It was a smaller group than normal as Heidi and Gary and their boys weren't there. As well as Andy and Marnie and their kids. Camille and Phil are in Seattle, so we will see them over Christmas. We missed you all. But the rest of us had a good time and tons to eat. I got to talk a lot more with my sweet sister in law Alicia (Matt's wife) she is a wonderful lady. We also played a bunch of games. Good times. God has truly blessed me with much. My family too! Let us give thanks in all things!

Forgivness

Forgiveness

Forgive and forget even if you are upset.
Feeling bad for what you do?
You would want to be forgiven too.

The note at the bottom of the poem:
Forgiveness is an important thing. If there was no such thing as forgiveness no one would ever be able to be happy.

by: Karee Christensen (4th grade, age 9)

Primary Program

Today was our ward's Primary program. I am happy to report that it went well. We had a practice on Saturday and I went over to the church with all of the kids. It was the 1st time in a long time that Nick had a few hours all to himself.

I was more nervous than all the kids, because my part in the program was to be the pianist. Up until this program I have never really accompanied anyone while singing in public, least of all sacrament meeting! But the Lord blessed me, and bar only a few small mistakes (which Nick assured me were hardly detectable) it went well.

Zadie's part: "Because He is my Heavenly Father" (her response when asked "Why are you glad that you are a child of God?")

Cole's part: "A family can be together forever by being sealed in the temple." (his response when asked "How can a family be together forever?")

Porter's part: "And if it so be that ye should bring. Save it be one soul unto me, How great shall be your joy."

Karee's part: a whole talk on Being baptised that she gave earlier in the year and then the Primary president asked her if she would share it as part of our program. She did a great job as well!

It was beautiful to hear all their little voices and the Spirit as they shared simple truths about the gospel. I felt tears well up when the kids sang a special number where the 1st verse was "I love to see the temple" followed by the chorus of "Families can be together forever" then back to the 2nd verse of "I love to see the temple" and then a little girl named Jocelyn sang the very last part of the song all by herself--"A family is forever". It just touched my heart. She was only 5 or 6 years old. The song was arranged well and once delivered it truly bore testimony to all listening of the eternal nature of families.

Well, I don't have pictures to post today. But it was a neat day! I have grown in this calling like no other--it helps that I love to play the piano. I may not be confident, but I am learning and growing!

Priesthood Preview

Last Sunday Porter had his Priesthood preview. It is hard to believe that our oldest is soon to be 12 years old! It was a very neat meeting. Nick and I both got to go, and the talks were wonderful. It gave Porter some idea of what to expect. He is growing up so fast!

Oh, last week a lady from the city called and wanted to know how tall Porter was...this info was for basketball season that will start next month. I was not sure, so I had to measure him while I was talking to her...it turns out that Porter is about 5'1". In just a few more inches he'll have me beat, and he's only 11! I know you are all thinking of how short I am--not my fault, it was my parents!

Cole's Baptism & 8th Birthday

Cole Jaydan was baptized three days after his 8th birthday. He was so excited. I can hardly believe that he is so big. We were worried that Nick might not be able to hold his arm to the square (because of his previous shoulder pain) but the doctor passed him with flying colors.

It was a HUGE day for baptisms in our Stake, so thanks to all who came for being patient. I had the joy, no, the honor of playing the piano at his baptism. I thought it would be fun--that is until I went into our stake chapel and saw so many people there. When I agreed I thought it was going to be just a small group. I ended up playing the piano for almost a full hour because our ward's turn at the font was last. There were 4 kids in our ward getting baptized,and about 11 in all from the stake!

Cole was a little nervous. But he did great. It was so neat to watch him make his first covenant with our Heavenly Father. How wonderful it was to have faithful men (his dad, grandpa, uncles and friends) put their hands on his head and bless him with the greatest gift--that of the Holy Ghost. Thanks so much to all of you for coming and sharing this time with our family.

We had a shin dig at our place after the baptism. I had to tease Nick just a little because we had a bar-b-q and he had no propane (after telling me the week before that he would make sure to check it) oh, well. It was all good times. Michelle and I decorated the birthday cake while waiting for the hamburgers and hot dogs to be cooked. Do you love our dinosaurs and volcano? Nothing to fancy--but not bad for spur of the moment!

I had a little one on one time with Cole that morning right before all the festivities started. I was able to give him the "Baptism Box" that Grandma and Grandpa Christensen left for him to open. It was a great time to read with him about all the symbols of baptism and what we are promising God and what he promises us. We missed Grandma and Grandpa C. but felt their love through this special tradition. Thanks! Cole thought it was very neat!

More fun pictures from the party!

Here are just a few more pictures from Cole's party!

My favorite is Uncle Andy and Aunt Marnie with baby Alieanna all catching some zzzzz's on the couch! Do they look worn out or what?

Happy Halloween

Okay, I have been a bit lazy and haven't gotten around to posting these pictures. I know it was a while ago--but we are all still getting over our Halloween sugar rush. Here are a few pictures. Zadie was a fairy princess complete with sparkles on her face. Karee was a witch (I hope you can see the tights--they really made her outfit!) and Porter was "Bling, bling boy" whatever that means-- could be a white rapper? Cole went as none other than the Grim Reaper. Our boys always seem to prefer the creepy side of Halloween. Go figure!

We also carved pumpkins for our FHE activity. Zadie wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" to the pumpkins after we put the candles inside. We found that pretty funny.

I helped out at Porter's sixth grade party, and so I just had to dress up too! I went as a butterfly. I posted a picture of Mrs. Jenni, Porter's teacher. I thought that her costume was great. She was the "Good Witch" from the Wizard of Oz.

Trick or Treating was also fun. Zadie and Porter lasted the longest. Nick handed out the candy at home with Karee. Cole lasted about two streets and Zadie wore me and Porter right out. I guess it always helps if you get pushed in a stroller. Maybe next year I'll make her walk! I couldn't believe her stamina!

Cole's 8th B-day PARTY!

Well, on Friday we had Cole's 8th birthday party. His birthday isn't until the day before Halloween--but next week will be busy, so we did it a little early. He decided to take his friends to "Jumping Jack's" and then come home for cake and ice cream. He had a blast! He loves dinosaurs so we did dino cupcakes, the funnest part was when Zadie smashed the cookies for the "dirt". She felt so big and was sure that Cole would be excited when he came home from school and saw 'em. The plates and napkins as well as treat bags were all in dinosaurs too. He made sure I knew that next week I would have to make him a cake for the family party as well...because he thinks mom can do anything and everything.

Here are few pictures of the kids having a good time at the party!

Porter's Halloween Concert

Okay, this isn't the best picture (it was so DARK, and I am not the best with the camera anyhow) but I thought I would put up a picture of Porter's 6th grade Halloween concert. Last Thursday his choir sang and the orchestra and band performed as well. The kids all had a blast dressing up. Porter went as a retired football player (he's in crutches) and Yanik his buddy, wore an afro and went as a "Bling-age Man" as Porter calls him. Lots of bling-age; a gold tooth, gold chain and rings, lots of gold rings.

The boys both were forced to take choir by their moms because of thier lack of practicing when they were in the 5th grade band. They both insisted that they mouthed all the words! 6th grade Boys, ya gotta love 'em!

RAD KIDS graduation

Wednesday night was Cole's RAD kids graduation. It is a "personal enpowerment saftey education program" that they came and did at his school. It is a neat program where officers and trained teachers talk to kids about stranger danger, scary situations and some physical skills that kids can learn and use. They have been learning things weekly for almost two months.

Cole was excited to go--but we were about 10 min. late and so he threw a fit before he finally decided to go out and join the kids. I swear sometimes he is more emotional than my girls. I am glad he finally did. He was confronted by a stranger, attacked by the man in the red suit (a police officer) who actually grabbed him and picked him up, and by "Bob" a dummy that the kids were able to punch and kick. A neat program that might help kids stay safe in this ever changing world.

Karee on the mend.

This month we have been hit pretty hard by illness. Between Zadie's pnemonia and Nick's shoulder I thought we were done. Nope, Karee ended up with the stomach flu and a UTI. Not fun for mom or daughter. I am glad to report that all seems to be well at the Christensen household--at least for now. We are glad that Karee is feeling better and back to school and life as she knows it. Thanks to our sweet neighbor Randy who helped Nick give her a blessing and the after hours clinic here in town she is much better.

Zadie also had a follow up visit and the pnemonia is all gone. She recieved a flu shot and didn't even cry. She ran into the house and couldn't wait to tell daddy how brave she was! She now has two new stickers: "I got an x-ray" and a new one that says "I got a flu shot today". Let's hope this is it for a while!

No More Sling! Yea!

We went to the doctors on Friday and got some good news--no more sling! Nick is pretty excited to get rid of it. They were impressed by his range of motion and did a few tests, but the short of it all was that he will not have to have surgery and after a few weeks of physical therapy he will be back to normal. Or at least as normal as my sweet Nick gets!

The tendons that were stretched will heal as best as they can, but will never be quite the same. He still has to be very careful, and it will take a little while to fully heal, but we are truly grateful!

Nick's Shoulder--big toughie!

Hello there to one and all. If any of you have been following the family trauma that we had last weekend I am glad to say that things are a bit better. Here it is Tuesday and Nick is back at work! He is doing much better...but we still won't know for about 2 weeks weather or not he will need surgery.

I took him to a Sports Medicine Specialist on Monday. They didn't take any x-rays, he'll have to have some when he comes back in two weeks. The doctor said that the tears in the ligaments are rated from a 1 to 3 and Nick's is a late level 2 or early stage three tear. So for now it is just immobility and his arm in a sling to see if it will scar up in the right place. The nurse beat him up pretty bad--she had to use this stuff that was kind of like duct tape and press down on the shoulder that hurt to get it back into alignment. She then strapped the tape from the top of his shoulder to the middle of his back while pushing on it with all her weight. He didn't even flinch. But after the doctor and nurse left he laid his head down on the table there. I asked him if he was all right and he said, "I'm just going to need a minute here."

The doc prescribed some muscle relaxers (his neck and back muscles were spasming because of the extra strain) and he is actually taking them. She told him to take 800 mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day too. So far he will take only up to 2 a day; which is pretty good for a guy who just doesn't take pills---I mean EVER!

Thanks to all of you for your phone calls and prayers. Kim Pierce (the other councilor in the Bishopric) announced over the pulpit that he was conducting for Nick because he was in a motorcycle accident. I had so many people come and ask me how he's doing. Later Sunday night, Kim and Janet Pierece stopped by with a shake for Nick and just to see how he was. It is nice to have so many wonderful people who care and love us.

Well, he's on the mend. I will give updates when anything changes. He has still had very minimal pain--and if you ask me, it's NOT NORMAL. He's lucky to have such a high tolerance for pain. But he's a bit of a PAIN to me when it comes to persuading him to take what the doctor prescribed.

Side note:
The only time I thought I might see him cry was when he realized that he truly wouldn't be going on the 3 day Moab trip motorcycling that was scheduled for three weeks from now! Just kidding HONEY--I love you!

"Daddy's Paradise!"--Insta Care Visit #2 this week!

Well, this past week end Nick took the kids out to the Sheep pits (some farm land that we've got permission to 4 wheel on a few blocks away). This was the 1st time ever that he took all of the kids and not me. I stayed home because I was very tired and was suffering with some sinus problems. Nick and the kids were gone motorcycling for a few hours and returned shortly after I woke up from a little nap. Nick took his new motorcycle that he had been dying to ride. Well, to make a long story short--or at least try, Nick ended up wrecking his bike and hurting his shoulder.

On the way home (after struggling to load the trailer and bike) he warned the boys not to run into the house and tell mom that he got hurt until I could see him with my own eyes. Porter then said "Wouldn't it be funny to tell mom that dad was paralyzed?" Nick told the boys that that wouldn't be funny. The doorbell rang, I could tell it was the kids and went to open it. That is when Cole came inside yelling: "Dad is Paradise! Dad is Paradise". I thought that he was saying "That was Paradise" or something like that. It wasn't until later, after seeing Nick and hearing the whole story that I understood what Cole was trying to say.

I ended up taking my dear hubby to the Insta Care and he had 3 x-rays. We have to go to the Sports Medicine specialist to have more x-rays taken. He is pretty banged up. Some abrasions and his whole right side is quite sore. I wasn't too worried until Nick started going into shock. We both thought that his shoulder had been pulled out of socket, but it turns out that the soft tissue or rather the ligaments that connect the lower bones to his collar bone are either torn or severed. His collar bone is sitting a bit higher than it should, or at least that is what it looked like in the x-ray. If they are torn or pulled then he will just need time to heal. If they are severed then it is surgery for Nick.

He still hasn't taken the medication that the doctor prescribed, but he has take a few 800 mg ibuprofen. When I ask him about the pain--you know, on a scale from 1-10 he says it is only about a 2. He has always had a high pain tolerance. We will see the specialist hopefully tomorrow. The last thing the doctor said to Nick was that he was glad that wasn't his shoulder. Not so encouraging!

Insta Care Visit

Well, Monday morning I took our little Zadie in to the Insta Care. I had spent the last day and a half with her and her 99-102 fever. It would break with ibuprofen, but then would come back again. She had not other symptoms. No runny nose. No coughing. Nothing else. At least not until she went to bed. Then she started breathing a bit funny. I first thought that maybe she was congested, and that is why her breathing was so funny. What followed was a long night of high fevers, medicine and rocking in the recliner. I was kind of worried about her.

After she woke up she seemed fine. We said our good byes to grandma and grandpa as they went off to the MTC and she took a bath. The day went down hill form there...and I ended up taking her in to be seen. She had started complaining about a pain in the left side of her abdomen; that and the breating funny really got me nervous.

The doctor took a strep culture--it turned out negative. He had her do a urinalysis--it turned out negative. Then he had a chest x-ray taken. Negative too! Or so he thought. As I left and was told to just watch her and take her to the Emergency Room if she got worse the doctor told me that he was going to get a 2nd opinion from Radiology. They would call if anything was different.

10 min. later I get a call on my cell...it was PNEUMONIA! She doesn't even have a cough--but it is pneumonia. I am happy to report that she is doing MUCH better once she got a perscription. The next morning was like night and day! She looked great and had a good night's sleep. In 10 days I have to take her back in to have another chest x-ray and make sure it is all gone. I guess that is all--it is that time of year here in Utah. Bring on the Winter...I have my health care providers standing by!

Cute pictures of my kids!

Elder & Sister Christensen off to the MTC!

Well, Monday morning Jay and Bonnie left for the MTC! We are so proud of you both, Mom and Dad!

They are going to serve in West Virginia mission office for the next 18 months. We are grateful for their example and willingness to serve in God's kingdom here on Earth. They will be there a week before they drive out to their new place.

We received an e-mail last night that said they were there, had been studying hard and were doing well.

1001 Things it Means to be a Mom

I am blessed to have one sweet and very sensitive daughter, Karee. For my birthday she made me a cute sock puppet, a card, and then she spent her own money to buy me a book with the above title, "1001 Things it Means to be a Mom." As I read through it it made me laugh and sigh, and nod my head thinking to myself, "that is SO true!" I found a few I wanted to share here:

#1-"Being a mom means thinking you're the luckiest person in the world"
#16-"Being a mom means being willing to be disliked by your kids."
#76- "being a mom means developing "the look" that will stop misbehavior in its tracks."
#530-"Being a mom means being the only one in the family to believe combed hair is important."
#545-"Being a mom means standing on the sidelines cheering for your child even though you don't have the faintest concept of the rules of the game."
#676-"Being a mom means having the courage to be uncool, especially when it comes to curfews, parties, and fashions."
#701-"Being a mom means being able to relax only when everyone is in bed."
#990-"Being a mom means praying that you live long enough to watch your children grow up."
#1001- "being a mom means knowing childhood ends but motherhood never does."

Anyhow, it was a great little book that reminded me just how important my job is! Sometimes it is hard to remember that!

Here is Karee with her cousin Halle.