The Christensen Crew

Eagle Scout Project...check!!!

2009-03-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

Brandon has finished his eagle project and all of his other requirements. We are so proud of him. Anyone who has completed an Eagle Scout rank knows what an accomplishment this is for him. Brandon chose, after Mom suggested, to make individual response boards and eraser bags for 5 classes at Midas Creek Elementary. He worked for 3 months earning the money to buy the materials. We are grateful to the many neighbors who asked him to babysit and do odd jobs for them to earn the money for the project. He earned enough to make 2 more class sets, one for each of his grandmother's classes. Brandon did a great job arranging all of the volunteers. He got the Weeblos den involved stringing the bags, the scouts sanded all of the boards and he asked Home Depot to donate the cutting. We took the 5 set over to the school and presented them to Mr. Pullan, the principal.

He also took some time to deliver a set to Mrs. C's 1st grader's at Foothills Elementary. They had a great time trying out the new boards. As you can see Brandon also showed off his Math skills. Mrs. C. asked all the students to write their favorite word on the board. Our sweet niece Mikayla wrote the word "family." I think that says it all.

Brandon has worked very hard for the past few years to accomplish this goal. I have been amazed at how little we have had to "nag" him to work on his project and merit badges. Our scout troop has just started to get a great program together for the boys coming up. Brandon has really done this on his own. Thanks to Scout leaders Dave Bradstreet, Jeff Weiner, and Tyler Tidwell for their support and encouragement. We will let everyone know when his Court of Honor will be. Brandon you are an awesome example and a superior young man. We Love You!!!

Motherhood and Gratitude

2009-02-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

It all began right after Christmas in 1989. Brian and I sat on our bed in our very small Provo apartment waiting to see if the "stick would turn blue". It DID!!! That began my foray into motherhood. I remember feeling excited, scared and like I wanted to throw-up ( oh ya, that was the horrible morning sickness). I was very lucky that I never had a real problem getting pregnant, just staying pregnant.

Nineteen years, five pregnancies, three c-sections, three beautiful kids and 4 sizes (unfortunately)later I found myself in a very different position.

December 12, 2008 marked the end to my child bearing years. I found myself sitting on a hospital bed staring at a form letter that informed me that by giving permission for this surgery I was aware the result would be "permanent inability to be a biological parent." I looked at the nurse who had been torturing me with 6 tries (no kidding) to put in an IV and began to bawl uncontrollably. My dear husband was sitting with his back to me, his nose in a book, and his ipod blaring, trying not to hear, see, smell or feel that he was in a hospital. (deja vu but I wasn't pregnant.) The finality of that statement was something I was not prepared for. My head knew that we had decided some 7+ years ago that our family was complete but my heart was still that of a mother who wanted to be able to bring spirits fr0m heaven into this world. The nurse tried to comfort me, I didn't need comfort I just needed to grieve for a moment.

Since that day I have been reflecting on the wonderful calling of motherhood and reminising about the ups and downs of it all. I have decided that the final stage of grief should be that of gratitude. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the honor he has given me to be a mother. My children are definitely my greatest acomplishment and my greatest joy.

As Cami prepares to leave for college and to start another chapter in her life I am amazed by the young woman she has become. She has a strong testimony of the gospel and has always made good choices. She is beautiful inside and out. Cami is so talented in many ways and is a wonderful example to her brothers. I know she will enjoy many blessings in the next few years because of her choices and values. I can't wait (ok, yes I can) for her to experience the joys of eternal marriage and motherhood.

Brandon is just plain amazing. He has developed a great sense of humor that usually catches me off guard and then I can't quit laughing. He has set his goals high and is on his way to achieving all of them. He is a wonderful student and a good friend. Brandon just finished his requirements for his Eagle rank in Boy Scouts. I am so proud of him for this and his steadfastness in fulfilling his priesthood duties. Brandon is caring and sensitive which make him a magnet for small children (just like DAD). It also makes him a magnet for GIRLS!!! Yes, we are in trouble with this one. I know he has a strong testimony and will make a great missionary. He is a super example to all those around him including his Mom.

Blake is my baby and he's stuck. I am too protective of him (Brandon tells me this often). He is a very sensitive boy and very smart. He is his Dad's shadow and anything Dad says is the gospel truth. This includes the annoying allegience to that school up on the hill!!! He won't take what I say as fact until he verifies it with Dad. Although, I think I won the science fair project battle. Sometimes Mom is the expert!!! He is growing so fast and learning alot from the example of his older siblings.

I am truly blessed to have been able to experience being a mother to these three incredible spirits. I cannot imagine how empty my life would be without them. I hope they know how much I love them and how happy they make me everyday.

I am also blessed to have an incredible eternal partner. Brian is an awesome Dad and these kids are lucky to have him. I am lucky that as I move into the next chapter in my life that I get to spend many more years with him.

Motherhood is a gift from Heavenly Father to his daughters. Enjoy every minute with the spirits entrusted to you for this earthly journey. The time goes quickly and the plan is truly a plan of happiness. For now I am content to enjoy the teenage years and get my baby fix through beautiful nieces and nephews. Then Brian and I agree "Bring on the grand-kids!!!!"

2008-12-06T21:57:00.001-08:00

New Family Pictures

2008-12-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving weekend we had a really fun family photo shoot. A friend recommended a new photographer, Laura Wright, she was wonderful. You can check out her blog at lwinkphotography.blogspot.com. After 6 years without a new family picture the kids have really changed. Here are some of our favorite shots.

Riverton Homecoming 2008

2008-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

Cami had a great time at this year's Homecoming Dance. She got asked by a good friend, David Fotu. They have AP English and Graphic Design together. David is on the football team and their knucklehead
coach called a team meeting the night of the dance so we had to meet at the school to take some pictures. Here are a few! ENJOY!!!

No,it is not an illusion David is really over a foot taller than Cami!!

Slow down or ELSE!!!

2008-10-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

I guess I have been voted the worst blogger in the family(thanks, Jared). You can tell from my blog about when school started!!! The kids are very busy with school, soccer, work, and friends.

There is nothing like a change in your health status to slow you down and make you reevaluate your priorities. Some of you know that I have been working very hard on a weight-loss program that has been very successful (28lbs and counting!!!). I was very excited about the results and decided on September 19th to actually go out to dinner with Brian and some friends. Well guess what you get for cheating on your diet? Yes, a gall bladder attack!!! After a trip to the Emergency Room, (don't worry Cami took me so Brian was fine)some good drugs, and an ultrasound they found gall stones. I was told that the cure for gall stones is the removal of your gall bladder. Oh yea!!! So I decided that it would be inconvenient to have this procedure until after my math class was finished, teaching balanced literacy class was over, the guided reading level report was turned in, the PALS testing window closed, and I had off track time scheduled. This has resulted in a very painful month and some lessons learned.

I had surgery this past Thursday and the procedure went very well. The constant pain in my stomach is gone. I am still a little sore from the incisions (4 to be exact) but on the road to recovery. I also seem to have a redesigned belly button, go figure! Brian has been a great nurse but he is lamenting the loss of his lazy boy. You don't realize how much you use your stomach muscles until they are out of commission. It is easier to get out of the chair than to get out of bed. Now that I have discovered this wonderful invention the next surgery(December 12th) will definitely find me spending more time in this chair(don't tell Brian). The lesson to learn here is to slow down and take care of yourself and those that you love. Nothing is worth your health!!!

Tagged

2008-07-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

OK, Jill here goes!!!
Four random things I like about my husband-
1. All babies (and small animals) LOVE him. Especially our niece Brinley Jean.
2. He can fix any electronic gadget.
3. He was truly sad that they didn't ask him to go to girl's camp this year.
4. He folds the laundry and cooks when I am working and he gets home first.

Four jobs that I have had- (the last 4)
1. Close to my Heart consultant
2. Scrapbook store owner
3. Classroom teacher (grades 2, 3, 4)
4. Literacy Facilitator

Four T.V. shows that I watch-
1. Days of our Lives (only need to see once a month to stay current)
2. Lost
3. Brothers and Sisters
4. Grey's Anatomy

Four places I have been-
1. Jamaica
2. Mexico
3. New Hampshire/Massachusetts
4. Florida

Four People who e-mail me regularly-
1. My Husband (it is more effective communication)
2. My Principal and teachers
3. Archivers(scrapbook store) /The Material Girls (quilt shop)
4. District Literacy Specialists (3 or 4 a day)

Four of my favorite foods-
1. Cafe Rio
2. Chicken Curry/Somosas
3. Coney's Frozen Custard - Cherry Amaretto Cheesecake
4. My mother-in-laws dinner rolls

Four places that I would like to visit-
1. Spain/England/Ireland/France/Italy
2. Hawaii
3. Belize/Costa Rica (B of M ruins)
4. Church History Sites (Palmyra to Nauvoo)

Four things I am looking forward to in the next year-
1. Finishing Reading and Math endorsements
2. Two new members of our family (Jason and Mera's baby girl/Jared and Kristee's baby ?boy?)
3. Brandon's Eagle Scout Court of Honor
4. Cami's High School and Seminary graduations

Four people that I TAG!!!
1. Kristee Christensen
2. Becky Patrick
3. Meradith Christensen
4. Lisa Kallunki

Christensen Boys Receive Scout Advancements

2008-06-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Brandon and Blake have been busy with scouts! Blake completed his Bear and is now in Webelos. Brandon just had his Board of Review for his Life Advancement and will receive His Life Scout badge next week. He completed quite a few merit badges. We are now filling out his Eagle project packet. I'm sure we will be looking for willing volunteers!!! Great Job Boys, we are very proud of you!

Catching Up

2008-06-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

After we left Seattle we traveled down the Oregon Coast and then home through the Columbia River Gorge. It was a little bit wet on the way home but just as scenic.

I finally figured out the new settings on my iphoto!!! Here are some great shot of our exciting trip to the Northwest and our adventures with Aunt Cathy. We saw everything there was to see in Seattle. We went to the Boeing Air Museum, The Aquarium, Lake Washington, The Fish Market, A Harbor Cruise, The Pacific Science Center, and of course the Space Needle. We all bunked at Cathy's apartment. Cathy and her roommate Holli were wonderful to put up with us and show us all the sites. Holli treated us to her fabulous culinary skills. Brian is ready to adopt her!!! She made us a fabulous Easter dinner and we even dyed eggs with a few of their friends. We are already planning another trip to visit them this fall(maybe farther south!?!) Thanks gals it was a blast!!!

2008-06-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

May was Crazy

2008-05-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

I am told that just having a blog is not enough. I actually have to update it!!! This month has really been crazy. The end of school always is nuts. The kids have been really busy. Cami took the ACT test and got a 26(same as MOM) she also took two Advance Placement tests, US History and Biology. She will be glad when this quarter is over. She ran for Senior class officer and did a great job, but was not elected. She was, however, named Editor-in-Chief of the school yearbook for 2008-09. Being a hostess at Applebee's is also keeping her very busy.

Brandon is our first "real" teenager. He seems to have alot of friends(mostly female). He has done very well in school, especially math(he is Brian's son!!!). He also made me an apron for Mother's Day and he can actually sew straight(maybe I did have something to do with this child?) He has been playing soccer and last week made his first goal of the season! He approaches soccer just like everything else in life, very logically. He is a student of the game and seems to be able to analyze and react well to others moves. This makes him a great defender and leader on the field. His guitar lessons are coming along well and he has been diligent in practicing. We are still working toward his Life Scout advancement and should start on his Eagle project by his birthday in August.

Blake has had an adventurous month. When he went to Florida with the Bybee cousins he took his first commercial airplane ride, without Mom and Dad, and reported that landing is the best part because "the earth comes up really fast to meet the plane." He spent a week with his "twin" Gage and they had a ball. I don't think they missed a thing in Orlando. Before he left he won a first place ribbon at the district fourth grade science fair. On the 20th Blake turned 10 years old and spent the day on the couch throwing up! Poor kid! He had a lot of visitors(Grandma and Grandpa Bybee; Nikki, Mike, Ryan and Matt; and Grandma and Grandpa Christensen. The next day he went on a great field trip with Dad. They went to the Hutchings Natural History Museum in Lehi and thought it was great.

Brian and I are still plugging along. We both got new "geriatric" scriptures(larger print), I guess the years are catching up to us. I have finally recieved my level II
teaching license YEA! I only graduated 16 years ago, but having children and the scrapbook store detour slowed the process. It is a relief to have this milestone accomplished. Brian is teaching himself a new programming language and working on a website project for a client. This is proving to be a challenge but he is loving it.

As soon as I fix my iphoto problems I will have a ton of picture to share. So stay tuned.

2008-04-22T23:59:00.001-07:00

I guess we'll give this a try!

2008-04-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone's blogs are so fun to read that I thought I would give it a try. Don't expect much while I learn how this works.