October Weekend with Mor Mor an Pappy

Playing catch up to a busy October. It was definitely a fun filled month. We had visitors...Mor mor and Pappy! It is always so fun to have visitors but it is special when both my mom and dad can come together. It just is. We made the classic count down leading up to their arrival. They arrived on a Thursday afternoon and we decided it would be very fun to surprise Kaj at school and pick him early. We interrupted quite a lot, and Mrs. Steele who is already intimidating waved everyone in but that was about it. He was very surprised and it was pretty cute to see him give them big hugs. It was a relaxing Thursday spent with good food-the new Chipotle in town- and enjoyable conversation.

Friday we excused Kaj from school and were shooting for going to the Fruit Loop up at Mount Hood, but with a late start we decided to go to the Blue Pool hike instead. We had done the hike before when Rowan was not quite a year. It's a 2 mile each way hike so kindof a lot for little legs especially the littlest of the legs..Rowan's who insisted on walking a lot more of it than we expected. We forced him into the jogger and continued. We finally were getting near the end and we passed some bikers who said we were about 10 minutes out. So close! But with Rowan getting more and more difficult  Sam turned around to start the trek back, and a couple minutes later my mom realized she had left her phone in the jogger we ditched to the side of the trail and turned around, and my dad and I with just Kaj and Josh soldiered on. Approximately two seconds after soldiering Kaj had his pants around his ankles ready to drop numero dos right on the trail and luckily held it long enough to be in a more secluded place to take care of that. I started walking a few steps but seconds after that Josh started crying because he needed to go to the bathroom but refused to go outside so as I was talking to him when I realized my dad was trying to clean off the bottom of Kaj's shoe who had accidentally stepped in his own poops. My dad and I looked at each other threw up the white flags simultaneously and turned around. That was the dramatics of the hike but really we enjoyed beautiful scenery to this very cool hike.

Little Rowan steps

looks like he about to start a punch dance

Saturday morning we decided to go to Sisters for the Fall festival and then hit the pumpkin patch afterward. Another full day and fun day. We checked out the stands and the fall festival. It was nice because we got there early and it wasn't very crowded in the beginning. Sisters is a neat little town. Like a Park City meets...country living?? It is just fun. 

We then went straight to the pumpkin patch at the DD Ranch which we had not been to before. At first I thought, "really?" But it didn't take long to realize the boys were going to love every second of it. Right away they had a huge sandbox full of toys and slides and teeter totters and then we went to the maze and play area and this way so much fun. The boys could have spent hours upon hours just in that part. My dad said: "this looks like Farmer John just woke up and put this together." Which actually sums it up nicely. We had to laugh looking around because nothing was up to code or regulation because there was no code or regulation. I say this in a refreshing way. The kids could climb up on bails of hay, go down a slide that could easily tip over, and go up a ladder that literally led to nothing. Just a ladder against a fence. That is it. Haha. It was so much fun.

The last thing we did was have the boys take a pony ride. I had to make this point that ponies at this year's ranch a lot better than last. The ponies last year looked so sad and like they were going to kill over any minute I recall feeling really bad for the ponies, and this year they went on an actual ride up and back down a path. I felt like this was noteworthy. The ponies were so much happier.

2014 pony

2015 pony

It was a really enjoyable weekend and loved the time we all spent together. It made me miss my parents and miss the opportunity to have my kids see their grandparents often. Of course, I have to look for the bright side and it is that we get good quality time when we have visits like this which I will always cherish. 

1ST Day of Kindergarten

This sweet boy of mine has started Kindergarten. I have to say I never thought these days would have me more emotionally exhausted than the first 2 days of full day Kindgergarten. I wish I could report that he is having an easier time than me but I don't think that's quite true. He is doing ok. Maybe a little better, it is hard to say because I am not with him for most of it. I have been prepping Kaj for starting school for a while now. He is like the boy version of me as a child and needs the emotional prep time for change. The night before school Kaj received a father's blessing. He was so excited. Sam gave him a very sweet blessing. I know that Heavenly Father loves Kaj and is aware of his  questions and concerns. As soon as the blessings was over he turned around and said, "That was awesome!" The first day of school I stayed for a little bit. We were told we could stay from 9:00-10:30 and I had thought that meant we could stay in the classroom with the kids the whole time. After the first 15 minutes Kaj's teacher read the book, "Twas the Night Before Kindergartem," and after just a little gentle sobbing on my part the parents of kindergarteners were asked to go to stations where we met with the school nurse for power point presentation and then the principal whose actual name is Sunshine.. ? Really. We then went back to the classroom just as the kids were going to recess and talked with the teacher for a little bit. Kaj's teacher's name is Mrs. Steele. I had to leave so I get home so Sam could go back to work, and as I was turning to go out to recess to find Kaj to say goodbye lo and behold he was in the hallway with another teacher because he had been crying. Heart broken I started crying so I was no help in the situation no matter how much I tried to compose myself. This sweet teacher distracted him and walked with him down the hall. I am very grateful for this teacher who was with him.
My friend Sara and I were talking about our kids first days and she said that the teacher for Lola took an extra moment to get really excited about meeting Lola and Sara saw this and later told me, "How did she know? How did she know that Lola needed that?" I thought that was very sweet, and we discussed how tender mercies are real. When she later told her husband Greg he made the good point saying, "Maybe the tender mercy wasn't that Lola needed it but that you needed to see it." Touche. I am certainly thankful for both the tender mercy of this sweet teacher taking a sweet crying boy in the crowd of recess under her wing, but also that I was able to see and know he was cared for. Day 1. Hard. Day 2. When I picked up Kaj he smiled and seemed happy, but I noticed right away tear stains on his cheeks and he told me a possible number of times he cried. People keep advising me that it will take time. I believe that. I hope the time comes sooner than later that he can be happy for the whole day at school.

Summer Ending plus a little TMI

Summer is ending for us in Bend. It has been a good one. I regret not planning a camping trip for the family..but we filled it with other fun things. Sunday walks at the Shevlin Park, donuts in the morning, hikes, and played a lot with friends.

Kaj starts kindergarten on Thursday. And so it begins. He will be in school at least for the next 12 years. I am not going to know exactly where he is at all times in the day. I hope that he will talk to me about his day. I hope that he will make good friends. I hope that the smart boy I know will not be afraid to share the right answer. (I was always afraid to speak up with the answer to questions) It will be different in our home without him. Josh and Rowan will become closer buddies which is a good thing because as of right now the two of them butt heads quite a bit. 

My hopes for the new school year is not only for Kaj but also for me. Set new goals, and a new structure that I feel will actually strengthen our family. That seemingly pesky goal where I set an alarm and get up on the right side of the bed, read, pray, exercise, and implement a new chore chart for my kids. All doable- but for some reason the summer...

I wanted to also take some time to journal some funny things that I want written down so that when I make my blogs into books they will be included. One thing is whenever we pass any kind of construction my boys will say: "Look what the master builders are making!!" Master builders a reference from the Lego Movie, but is now the name of the profession according to my boys. How complimentary. Another thing that boys will say is "Ginger bat mans" I may have mentioned this before but it has not changed. Ginger bread man is ginger batman. It is so hilarious. 

Another funny story is when Josh walked into my bathroom needing something and I was just getting out of the shower, and just as I was closing the door he arrived asking for something to eat and then stopped mid sentence: "Whoa! Those are big cheerios!" Yeah..I am not sure. We were also down at Carters at the outlets and there is a Hanes store with mannequins of ladies in bras and Josh took notice and said, "Look those are big chestes like you." So, women if you ever need an ego boost regarding chestes 

 Josh can make you feel like the most bosomy woman around.Haha

I am excited for new changes. I think it will be refreshing. We also decided to do joy school instead of having Josh in preschool this year. With Kaj starting school it really made me just want him home. There is no need to rush. I am excited about this too. The women who are doing this with me are great women. We have field trips planning, and themes for learning. It is only once a week, and I will only have to teach at my house 4 times for the school year. So one day a week I will have only one child home. I know that isn't much but it will feel so strange to me. With all these new changes I feel like it's an optimal time to improve myself, and work on the things that will make me happier and create a happier home for my family.

Delish Donuts

Shevlin Park

Dakine Grindz Shaved Ice

Why are There So Many Songs about Rainbows

It started with a video clip. Scanning through social media for a spare moment today, I played a clip that was the "top 10 things to know for a first time parent." They had all different parents giving their own top 10 reasons and then tied a bunch of them together. It was all good advice, sweet, funny, tender, and ending on the note: "slow down, you will want these moments back." Of course, I have heard this before. Mostly some reflective person at the grocery store says something like this to me looking at my 3 boys. There are days when want them to stay little, and there are days when I want Rowan to catch up, but today I want to remember them little. Kaj had a hard night- he didn't want to eat dinner, he cried about it, and was sent upstairs, Sam briefed him on the ways he could join us again, and he decided against it. Sam and I went into discussion on what we can do better for him. He is such a good boy, and we always want him to be a good boy. We worry. As all parents worry. Perhaps, stemming from a lot of thought about his starting kindergarten so soon, and despite the fact I have now talked to many parents about the school, about the feelings they had sending their first to kindergarten, and though I feel consoled in the moment, I go back to worrying. Truly, I am going to miss Kaj. 

mom and Kaj date 

I had gone upstairs to see how Kaj was doing, he was still whimpering, but I discovered he had a fever. So, I got him some medicine, Bunny, and some water, and with sick eyes over and over he kept saying: "Mom, I love you." "I love you too, Kaj." "Mom, I love you tons and tons. I love you when I am 100 100." Tears start filling my eyes. "I love you when I am 100 100 too." "I love you with all the ages." Mind you, this was probably from the delirium of tired and sickness, but it was so sweet. He then asked me to sing "the rainbow song." It has been the song I have always sung to Kaj since he was born, and there are many nights where I rush through it-sometimes annoyed at the day and just want to be done, but tonight I wanted to remember the moment. There could be a day when they no longer want me to sing to them, I hope it is a day that is very far away. I hope that I can slow down and enjoy these boys now. The sweet, fun, great boys they are. 

Kaj and Crosby and the annual balloon glow

Christensen Family Reunion '15

Well, we the Christensen side family reunion was in full swing the beginning of this July. Sam got off work early on a Tuesday afternoon, and we got a really late start when we had some car trouble, and we ended up pulling out of Bend at after 3 in the afternoon, and though the first 5 hours of the drive is always doable, it's the last stretch that will get you. As it got us. We finally pulled into Burley at around 1:30 a.m. and a rough start with Rowan at the hotel, I really began wondering if we should have just stayed on the road. But, everyone finally fell asleep...Sam, Josh, Kaj, and myself in that order all on the one king size bed. It is really good thing they are still little in 10 years that sleeping arrangement just wouldn't be possible. 

We first met up at mom and dad's house, and all the little nieces were already there playing. They greeted each other very typically of little kids- showing just enough enthusiasm to say: 'I am open to playing with you' but not appearing too overly excited. It was a fun first day. We to a new splash pad in Sandy, that was more like a miniature river than a splash pad, and the kids had a lot of fun together. We, then went back to house to get them some food, and play some more, and it is still just amazing how a year or 2 can change the way all the kids interact together, the little conversations that take place, and that with that many kids- they all get a long very well. 

The next was the official start of the reunion. Sam and I met up with the rest of the adults at the Draper temple, and did a session. It had been a really long time...and it was nice to be there. We both agree we need to set a goal on going down to Portland to do a session quarterly, or every 6 months...the time frame we haven't yet decided, but we do want to do that. We picked up the kids afterward, and headed out for a short hike to Bridal veil falls, and then stayed in the Provo area for the rest of the day. It was fun to go to BYU, and walk around with Sam on his old stomping grounds. We went to the library on campus, and then went over to the Bean museum where the rest of the family was at. We, then, went over to Jon and Mandy's to have dinner. They have a great yard, and an amazing garden which was inspired us to think about a garden as well. The kids had a lot of fun running around, and jumping on the tramp. It was a non stop day for the kids (and us) and needless to say, I really did wonder how I was going to do this same thing on repeat again the following day. 

But, actually the next we spent all of it hanging out at Teresa's and Vance's. They had a great idea of surprising the kids with this huge, blow up, waterslide. So, we gathered the kids inside, and had the watch a little show while the slide was being put together, and then lined them up to run outside after announcing a surprise. It was a hit for everyone. Adults turned into little kids very quickly with that. 

 The next day, we had family pictures in the morning at Salt Lake temple. It was pretty chaotic with that many people, and it got a little long winded, but the photographer was very nice, and I am sure there are some successful pictures in the hundreds of photos that we took. The rest of the day was an at home carnival. It had some very cute ideas, games, and prizes. I have to say Teresa and Vance's back yard...also amazing. They had paved this area of the yard that sloped so you can ride down with bikes, and race, and that was a lot of the fun when things weren't organized. The cousins seemed to have a lot of fun together, and that was the goal.

I have to say, Teresa and Vance are amazing. They worked very hard, and had a lot of people for a long time, and I am very thankful for the many things I can learn from Teresa. She is an amazing person with a lot of talents, and big heart. 

I very thankful for my boys, and the good boys they really are. They were amazing on the ride home, they are troopers, and can make these long trips really easy when it otherwise, could be really hard. I know that they deserve a great mom, and I hope that I can be that for them. 

4th of July

Snow Cap burgers

Sisters, OR

For the 4th of July we had visitors! Before traveling to Utah for a Christensen family reunion, Sam's parents wanted to come by and see the new house, they also brought Elena with them as a surprise guest. The boys absolutely loved their time with her. They brought with a them a childhood favorite-a trampoline. We went to the Pet Parade last year, and decided it would be fun to go again, only this year, go a little earlier, and find a place before it starts. So, Sam and Grandpa Jo found a place on Bond Street, and we enjoyed the parade front row. It's a pretty funny parade because it's the dog's time to shine. They put on their fanciest outfits of red, white, and blue and strut as best a dog can strut. Rowan really enjoyed all the "doggies," which is one of the words he can say. Later, we went to scope out Suttle Lake, but it was extremely crowded, but luckily just up from that lake is a smaller, more kid friendly lake- Scout Lake. It was not as crowded, and the kids got right in the semi warm water. We brought our new little grill a long with us, and had a delicious barbecue. (We are really enjoying grilling this summer) The fireworks at the Butte were to start at 10pm which was a little late for our kiddos so we kept it really simple, and we got sparklers and snappers, and they loved it. Cheers to having small kids, who enjoy the little things.

Pet Parade