Maui Trip

We really did go to Maui. It sometimes feels like a dream. But, I really am so happy I was able to go with Sam. This was the first trip we had taken in 15 years. We have not gotten away together. I was stressed before we left, for a many reasons. A few days before we flew out I told Sam, " what we both die on the place." I know.. a little much. A fear, that I actually don't have. His response was, "yeah, I think about that all the time." ...Huh? This was so helpful, and with that discussion we switched our flight to flying out of Redmond and not Portland. 

But, I also really wondered how it would be traveling with Sam. I felt odd even thinking about it, and then realized, we had never really travelled together just him and I before. 

We got there when it was dark. We couldn't tell if we were actually on an island, maybe I would wake up in the morning and it was just staged. But, I woke up in the morning, and heard the ocean and sat out on a balcony and watched the whales from a distance. It was pretty dreamy. It was then I realized I love whales. 

We went to Costco on the first day to stock out little kitchen, because we were staying in a condo. We went to snorkel Bob's to get the low down on where to snorkel and learned about the Snorkel Report, which we used religiously the rest of the time being there. 

I had done a lot of research before we went on the trip on what we had to do when visiting Maui. The road to Hana came up many times. It seemed there was a right and wrong way to do Hana, and the right way was waking up pretty early to start driving, and hitting only the highlights. Sam, didn't know any of this, but we decided to take a day to do the Road to 

Hana. It is known for having the most turns along any road in the US. (something like that) First of all, I was getting a little carsick at first, and there was a lady throwing up off the side of the road, and I felt I was very close to being that lady. I also realized that Sam is very good driver. If there even is such a thing, but he was able to manage the thin road, tight turns, and making sure we don't die. We saw the black Sand beach, we went to the Pipiwai forrest, and we stopped at the Bruddah Huts to eat. It was....so bad. Ha! The review said "the best food they had ever eaten in my life" that's a pretty bold statement. Decidedly, this person may have never eaten out before anywhere else. But, it was bad. It was a really cool day. We were glad we ended up going because we still don't know if we would take our kids if we were to go back

The other thing that we did that we wouldn't have done with kids is see the sunrise on Haleakala. Again, a very early morning. They let 50 cars in at a time, which is a surprising amount of people. But, we were above the clouds on this ancient volcano that went from the sea level, and proceeded to watch the sunrise. It was very chilly, but also a great experience. I do admit...the Eric Carmen song: "Sunrise" was in my head that whole time. Sam didn't know that song so it fell flat when I sang it to him. I did remedy that later on the trip.

 

We saw Little Jerry everywhere in Hawaii. I obviously had to make the joke every time we saw him, and I never got sick on the sightings. 

We had a few very good meals, the Miso Phatt sushi, was great. It had a huge line, and the freshest fish. It was within walking distance from our airbnb, so we enjoyed walking to and from. 

We went on a run all but two of the mornings, which was actually great. It felt really good to be running, along the beach sides, and that freedom that a vacation brings. 

Haleakala 

whale bones

black sand beach

this funny hotdog we sent to the kids

Nonna's pie shop pies 

 

Joshy turns 12

This favorite guy turned 12 this year. This one felt like he was already 12 leading up to his birthday, which usually I don't like to admit. I will admit this, this birthday celebrating was perhaps one of my favorites. We had asked Josh what things he would like to do for his birthday. He just wanted to go play football and Pine Nursery, Great! I then asked if he wanted to invite any friends, and he thought about it and named a few buddies. His birthday landed on a Monday so I told Josh the Friday before to let his friends know, I didn't put limit on the amount of friends, I just thought he could extend, and then hope for the best. I don't have all his mom's friends numbers anymore, so on his birthday, the ones I did have I just sent out a brief text saying we would love to have them join us to play football. They were all very excited to come celebrate with us. I picked up some mini cakes... ok cupcakes...from Nothing Bundt Cakes to bring, as well as water bottles. We picked up one of his friends and the rest were at the park. 

Megan, Pierce's mom, was there, and we were able to chat for a bit. There were 6 friends that came. They started with a game of football, but much to my surprise that really wasn't the game that took off. They switched to kickball. The family ended up joining them, I even had a turn kicking the ball, and getting out because they caught each one. It was when it was Lily's turn that it struck me. She kicked the ball, it didn't go very far, but all Josh's friends proceeded to fall down, and trip, and fumble over the ball, unable to get to it, allowing her to make a home run, at they all cheered her on, and then gave her high fives at the end. 🤯 I know. I know! These were the absolute nicest group of 11-12 year old boys that I have come across. I felt so thankful for the friends that Josh has around him. He is one of among such sweet, kind, and polite boys. Of course, mother that I am, wants to credit Josh. 😏 I do think he has a lot to do with it, because I know that he sets the tone around here, and has always been a positive influence around others. Josh, continues to be so awesome in so many ways. I hope that we always have a close relationship. Josh loves football, Rubik's cubes, puzzles, learning, math, and being with his friends and family. His favorite foods are burritos. 

 

Lily's Golden Birthday

I don't think anything can be any lovelier than Lily. She is such a beauty inside and out. She is fiery and stubborn, but also sweet and helpful. She is silly and fun, but also smart and thoughtful. Now, she is 5 years old now, and it just about rips me into pieces that my actual baby is that old now. Lily remembers everything! She will not let you forget about what you said, but she also can remember so many facts after reading a book even once. I love that she has her own opinions and is not afraid of being who she is. I want her always to stay that confident, that would be my dream for her. 

Some recent funny stories about Lily. I was changing in my closet, and she was waiting for me to come do her hair, but I handed her my phone so she can listen to music, suddenly she appears in my bathroom with my phone, "say cheese!" she announces as I am standing there with only a top on and naked from the waist down. I start saying, "no, no, no," as one would do in this situation, and she walks away. She told me she hadn't taken a picture. 

Right after that, we were going through pictures and we came across one of Sam and I in our snorkel gear, and she says "and there you are with your blowholes." Huh? 😂 I said. "oh, our snorkels?" and I then ask her to repeat what she had said, because it was hilarious. 

The next day, I am picking her up from school, and Miss Mindy says, "Hey, did Sam tell you the story about the speedos?" Interest, quite piqued, I replied, he had not. She then says. "Well, Lily asked me if I knew what a speedo was. I told her, yes. She said, well, my dad has one. Oh?! Where does he wear his speedo? She told me at work. Then asks, do you want to know what's on it? Yes, I do. Flamingos." 🙌🏻 Yes!!

She is the absolute best. I can say without any hesitation, she is my best friend. 

Lily loves: listening to music, riding her bike, skiing, going on trips, coloring, practicing her letters, playing munchkin, and playing anything with her brothers

Talking about: dinosaurs and the ocean

Favorite animal: cat and unicorns 

Favorite food: dinosaur chickenese (this is literally what she calls them) and toast 

Does not like: zucchini 

 

 

Rowan

Oh man... looking at these pictures has me feeling all the many things that are in the realm of happy. I can''t look at his smiling face without feeling so much love for Rowan. 

Sam and I recently attended Rowan's IEP meeting. It was the first IEP meeting that Sam was able to join me. I was glad for that. I think he got to see/hear what I have been for so many years with the people who work so closely with Rowan, and that is: they know him, and they love him. They said in the meeting, "he sure does love your family." He said he talks about his family so much, and that that is all the people in his life he really needs. Of course, I do love to hear this, but part of me wants him to share himself with so many others. He has the ability to touch so many people's lives. 

Rowan has recently become such an impressive pianist. It started with the Journey song, "Separate Ways." We had been listening to that song, and he when we were at home one day he say down on the piano, and said, "mom, you know this song," and he began to play the beginning on the song. I was surprised and said, "Yes. I do!" Over the next few days he put together the whole song by ear. He has done that with "Rewrite the Stars," and "Walking the Wire" both songs done by the Piano Guys. I have been amazed watching him. He really has a gift.

I worry about Rowan. I worry about the way he is treated at school, which I was assured that he is well liked by everyone, and even has a couple of friends this year. I worry about the way his older brothers treat him...I worry if he is happy. I had a great conversation with him just a day ago. He had gotten mad a Jonah. When we were talking we drew some pictures of his happy heart, and we talked about what we needed to do to make sure it is happy. He explained to me that he was confused sometimes, because sometimes he feels really mad. He drew a heart that was half mad, and half happy, and wrote the word "confused." We talked about how we get to feel a lot of things, and that if we can make choices that get us back to feeling happy again, we will be that way no matter what was going on. He cried at bit, and I got to hug him, and tell him I love him. He is honest and real, and everyone could probably take a page from Rowan's book. 

Rowan likes: being with his brothers/family

Loves: Pasta and Bubbly Water, playing the piano,  playing with mad matter, 

Favorite subject: math

Does not like: waking up for school and getting his hair cut

Update: I just looked back...and noticed I had already written about Rowan for his birthday. But...I wrote different things for each post, so I guess this is what is happening to me at 40. That's nice. 

 

Jai Wolf Concert

We gave in, or we really do love our kids, but we bought tickets to the Jai Wolf concert. If you are not familiar with who this person is, it's ok, you are not alone, but in the Christensen home, it's a household name. Never did I think that this would be the case. 

I mean I love the Beatles, and oldies, and musicals, and generally music with lyrics and here I have at least two kids, who listen to digital music. Both of those kids, make their own electronic music. It's kinda cool. But, yeah, never could have guessed it. 

When we bought the tickets we knew that the concert would actually be falling on my birthday. But, I thought, you know, that would be one way to make my 40th birthday unforgettable, going to my first electronic music concert. 

We got 4 tickets, and Sam got off a little bit early from work, and we drove down to Eugene. That is about 2.5 hours away. What Kaj did not know was that we got VIP tickets, and he would be able to meet Jai Wolf. I would get dropped off with Kaj early, and Sam and Rowan went to go grab a bite to eat. The VIP time was set to start at 6. There was a total of 5 people in this group of people, this included Kaj and myself. There were 2 older people in the group, I would guess upper 60's. It seemed out of place a bit, but I chalked it up to the fact that maybe Jai Wolf appealed to a broader audience than I thought. Kaj was able to pick up a shirt, his poster, and the free merchandise, and then we waited. We were then gathered up by one of Jai Wolf's guys, perhaps his right hand man, but he then announced apologetically that Jai Wolf just wasn't feeling very well, you know he had just gotten a tattoo that day and he just wasn't up for meeting with the VIPs.😂 

He could meet them AFTER the show. 

Uh... what??? 😂  I looked at this man like you must be joking. My other thought was Mister Drama Queen Jai Wolf had better get himself together to meet with 5 people. 5 people! I also decided that he would not be able to become more famous than he already was, if was maxed out after a tattoo and 5 people than he had reached the limit. I asked, "Well, what time will the show be done?" The show would end at 11:50. I told him we had come from Bend, and I had a younger son who would also be there, and we weren't even sure if we would stay that whole time. The man scanned the faces of the 5 of us, and Kaj in his fan shirt, and hat already, and showing that he had some people skills, said that he would check to see what he could do. He got back to us very quickly and said that he would be able to meet with us just before the show at 7:30. 

So, with time to kill, we were at least able to go into the stage area, and have a seat while we waited. I sat next to the older couple. Come to find out, they had actually won their tickets as well as their VIP passes. The woman had not heard of Jai Wolf, but her husband had. They were big concert goers and attended a lot together. They were pleasant people. Sam walked in a short time later with Rowan, and I told him what the deal was. We were about to approach the front of the stage to this hallway where we were going to be let out to meet Jai Wolf, but just before we did, the older man, noticed Rowan and asked us, "Would your son like to meet Jai Wolf too?" As he took off his own pass to hand it to us. We made sure he was really ok offering this, and he insisted he was. He seemed content with sitting the chairs, and really didn't care to meet Jai Wolf. Rowan said, "Thank you so much." He put on the VIP pass, and I walked up with my two boys to go backstage. 

I was...less than impressed with Mister Jai Wolf. He barely said anything to the boys. Kaj tried harder to make conversations with him. He seemed very dull, and not personable. Good thing he just sits up there on stage and does his own thing because his strong suit is not people. But, it's fine, Everyone has their own strengths. My boys still were over the moon and still thought he was the coolest person ever. 

The concert itself was pretty good. They had openers that lasted 2 hours, and Jai Wolf didn't appear till 10 o clock. I told Sam we needed to leave at 11. Sam had to work in the morning- as in head down to Portland and we had over two hours of driving. The light show was pretty cool, and I hung in there near the front with the boys for the first half hour. The other thing I will say about it was..it was LOUD. So loud, you could not distinguish sounds from each other. And it only seemed to get louder as time went out. I went back around 10:30 to sit back in the seats with my old people friends, they were more my speed apparently. 😂 But, I left because I was legit worried about my eardrum health. I was thinking here I am on my 40th birthday and what if I can't hear after this? People's voices sounded like they had been using helium. It continued like that for another 30 minutes after we left the concert. 

All in all- my boys really loved it. Sam even really enjoyed himself. I was happy about that. I will likely not be going to a concert like that again, but hey, if it had been a bucket list item (it was not a bucket list item) then I can check that off. 

 

40th Birthday

 Let's rewind a few months. (Cue Wayne's world Scooby Doo ending) I ended up having the actual best time turning 40. 

I went on a girl's trip a week before my birthday conveniently timed so that I could have the excuse to go all out in "celebration mode". Apparently, celebration mode looks a lot like going to Disneyland and then hanging out with some of your best girlfriends on vacation for a few days. 

It was honestly such an amazing trip. Even now, when I think on that trip I really only have such positive feelings about the whole thing. I flew in a couple days earlier than the rest of the ladies so me and Bree could enjoy Disneyland, and enjoy it we did. I still think Disney as an adult is one of the better decisions one can make. We did about 40,000 steps that day. We went on a bunch of the more awesome rides twice, and we absolutely loved being together for that whole day. 

The rest of the girls arrived, and a lot of me wanted to do Disney again with everyone. But, we ended up sticking with a very busy sight seeing day first, followed by a mellow beach day, and both were so awesome.

Notice me in the background :) 

First arriving in California

Susie and I ran from the parking lot all the way to the ocean-it was a farther away than it looked 

Now, on the heels of this very awesome trip, I went home and had a day back, and on my birthday we took Kaj to a Jai Wolf concert. I clearly love my son. (I will talk about that separately) But, returning from that and back to what I thought would be a regular day. Sam was home and he had decided that it was pertinent to make sure the garage door was working smoothly and the boys shower curtain needed to be replaced all in a morning. I had gone to get the boys from school, and upon my return there was a cell phone set up on the kitchen table. I was utterly confused. My first thought was: whose phone is this? It's not my phone. I went to inspect the phone further. Suddenly, I heard "Surprise!" And turned around and awestruck-all of my sisters were there!

I could not believe it. My mom was on the phone listening to the reaction. She would have come but had to help with the kids back home. So, I got to have my sisters there for a few days. We spent one of the nights and the hotel down by the Old Mill. When we talking about plans, they left it entirely up to me, I mentioned how funny and fun it would be to all get rollerblades. Let it be done.

We decided that, that was exactly what we would do. 

We first tried  Dicks Sporting Goods. We had to ask an employed for help because it's not exactly rollerblading season, and we asked for 4 rollerblades sizes 7.5 to 8. She kinda smirked at us in a quite endearing sort of way and returned with what we asked for. We all sat at tried on the rollerblades, quite pleased, that everything fit very nicely. We then saw the price which was $100 dollars and above. We decided we weren't trying to live in these rollerblades, and as we verified the price we told the employee, "we're not trying trying to be professional rollerbladers" and the girls funnily added, "maybe next year." We all laughed, and continued our search. 

We then we to Target, we found the last 4 pairs of rollerblades then had, carried them by the handles like suitcases, and all 4 sisters went to check out. We got a lot of very pleased looks. People seemed very excited for us that we had made the decision to rollerblade together on a whim. 

We packed so much in in just a few short days. We went rollerblading several times at Pine nursery, we played games of pickleball, we went to the boys soccer games, we rode the surreys down at the Old Mill, and just when I couldn't feel any luckier, Sam threw me a surprise party with a bunch of my good friends. We played Bunco with my friends and my sisters, and it was amazing. 

I do need to recognize now how Sam had held down the fort for almost 2 weeks. He wanted me to celebrate, he wanted me to be with my sisters, and also took a step further by having my friends involved in the fun. I am very thankful for him. 

I felt so loved, and that's all that really mattered. 

It was the night before 40

Poem at 40 

By: Christina Christensen  Oct. 3rd 2023 

It was the night before 40 

And all through the home

All the children were stirring 

I thought 

“Just leave me alone!”

I wanted to pout 

I wanted to sneer 

I couldn’t believe  

That this was the year

The year 

I could dream

Of a much younger face 

I could still, perhaps, run 

But not keep the pace 

So, I think to myself 

It will all be ok 

At least 

If anyone asks me 

That’s what I’ll say 

It’s all good 

At least I can laugh 

Though on my food 

I could choke 

And when it’s time to deliver I can’t remember the joke 

Mostly, 

I have wonderful memories 

With still much more time

And, look at me go! 

I can still make words rhyme! 

I can even say: 

I like myself. 

Both inside and out. 

Much closer to believing it 

Where before I would doubt 

I really am grateful 

For all that I have 

I looked myself in the eyes

And said 

“This isn’t half bad” 

I have kids that love me 

Friends and family feel the same

Beautiful moments surround me 

There’s really no shame 

To be happy at 40 

I can smile at my life  

And I’ve lived long enough

You can trust my advice 

I have quite a lot. 

I wouldn’t wish it away  

So, with that 

Now I’m 40 

And it’s more than ok.