The Christensen Family

5 months

2012-01-26T14:19:00.000-08:00

Lucy is 5 months old already. She is a very happy baby. She smiles all of the time, she loves watching her brother and sisters play, she rolls over now but not very often because she hates being on her tummy, she LOVES her rice cereal and best of all she is the best sleeper at night. We love Lucy so much.

December Activities

2011-12-25T19:14:00.000-08:00

We have had a fun month. There has been a lot going on. Between holiday work parties, ward party, a few birthday parties, and lots of school activities and parties we have been busy. A few things that we did do this month were making gingerbread houses with some friends, going to the movies, seeing lots of Christmas lights and just enjoying family time. I love this time of year.

Lucy's blessing

2011-12-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

My parents came into town a few weeks ago for some quick business and so we decided we would bless Lucy in our home. It was such a special day. She has such a sweet spirit and we love her so much.

Thanksgiving at Disneyland

2011-12-25T19:03:00.001-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving we headed to Disneyland. We had so much fun. The weather was perfect. The kids had so much fun. Definitely one of our favorite places to go.

Ruffles

2011-11-16T19:27:00.000-08:00

I think I have gotten carried away with ruffles. I do love them though. The ruffle tree skirt sure did take a lot of time and I won't be making another one anytime soon.

Fingers

2011-11-16T19:25:00.000-08:00

Lucy has found her fingers just like Abby did.

Silly Ellie

2011-11-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

We were in a store last night doing some shopping and Ellie found this little trunk with a peace sign on it. She called it her treasure box. She wanted it really badly. I told her no and to put it back. She didn't want to put it back so I told her she could ask santa for it for Christmas. So she decided she needed to put it in a special spot so santa could find it. She rearranged the display and put her treasure box in just the right spot so santa could find it. It was so cute watching her do this.

A picture of Lucy for the fun of it.

A few new

2011-11-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Ellie thought it was cold while walking the kids to school. It really wasn't that cold. Don't you love the flip flops, skirt, short sleeves and then a puffy vest?
Abby is the best helper with Lucy. Before church last week Lucy was crying so Abby picked her up and Lucy went right to sleep.
Braden had a fun Fall party in his class last week. Ellie, Lucy and I went and joined in the fun.
Lucy with her grumpy face.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Last night we loaded the kids in the car and headed to a pumpkin patch in Mesa. It was small but the kids had a good time. The weather was nice and it was nice to get out of the house. Ellie's favorite thing was riding the ponies. Don't you love Ellie's headband. She just had to wear it. Abby loved riding the horses also and Braden liked the games. It was a nice evening.

My helpers

2011-10-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

Abby and Ellie are such good helpers. They take turns holding Lucy so I can get a few things done. Love the help!!!!

Six Weeks

2011-10-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

WOW six weeks old already.

A little update

2011-09-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Lucy has been doing a little of this.

Not enough of this.

And a lot of this.

Lucy has had some tummy issues. Right now we are just trying to figure it all at. It's tiring and sometimes brings out the worst in me but we will get through it.

Sweet Lucy

2011-09-16T21:36:00.001-07:00

This Sunday Lucy will be three weeks old. Wow the time goes so fast. She is so sweet and we are just enjoying every minute of her.

Lucy Christensen

2011-09-02T19:29:00.001-07:00

Lucy Christensen
August 28, 2011
6:58 am
8lbs 15oz
21 inches

We are SO in love.

Summer is FINALLY over!!!

2011-08-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!! Summer is over and school has begun. Is it bad to be that excited? I think Braden and Abby were excited to start also. Braden is in 4th grade this year and Abby is in 2nd. I think it is going to be a great year. They both got the teachers they wanted and have lots of friends in their classes. I'm overflowing with excitement!!!! Now if this darn baby would just come.

Utah summer trip 2011

2011-07-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

Played in grandpas tractor.
Ellie exploring.
Ellie LOVED Miss Kitty.
Went bowling.
Went fishing.
Ready for church.
Painted rocks.
Rode horses.
Fished some more.
Enjoyed the view from my parents front yard.
Made sailboats to float down the creek.
Played in the creek.
Fed the ducks.
More horse back riding.
Enjoyed more of my parents backyard.
Braden got REALLY brave around the horses.
Enjoyed the swing over the creek.
Rode four wheelers.
Played with cousins.
Had fun doing fireworks.
Played at the park.
Played at the splash pad.
Had picnics at the park.
Enjoyed the Provo parade.

A BIG thank you to mom and dad for putting up with us for THREE whole weeks. Also thanks to my mother in law who let the kids come over lots and play. It was the BEST summer. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Weekend

2011-05-09T13:59:00.001-07:00

We had a very nice weekend. Saturday we headed to the Chandler Mall were we shopped a little, ate at the cheesecake factory and enjoyed the water fountain outside. Then in the evening Braden had a double header for basketball. He had a game at 4pm and 5pm. His team played awesome and won both games.

Saturday was a wonderful Mother's Day. We went to breakfast at ihop then came home and I took a nap. Then off to church at 2. Came home and got a little take out for dinner. It was a nice day. The kids gave me super cute cards that they made at school and a gift card to the mall.

It was a nice relaxing weekend. I love my kids and husbands so much. They are SO good to me.

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-27T07:46:00.001-07:00

Abbys Love

2011-04-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Abby has a new found love. Gymnastics!!! She does it all day every day. She is always in the splits, doing a cart wheel, or standing on the head. She feels it is every important in practice ALL the time. It's fun to watch her and I'm glad that she found something that she loves to do.

IT"S A

2011-04-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!!!! Yes that is right. We are having another girl. We are super excited. She already has a name. Her name will be Lucy. She should arrive the end of August. It will be a long, HOT summer.

Birthdays!!!!

2011-03-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

It was the year for birthday parties. Braden's was first. He turned 9 on Feburary 25 and he wanted to have his party at jumpstreet. It's an indoor trampoline park. The kids had a blast. They jumped on trampolines that are very long and go up on the walls, they played dodgeball, and they got to jump into a very large pit of foam. It was an exciting night. I can't believe I have a nine year old. It makes me feel really old. Braden is such a good kids. I'm so grateful he is in our family and such a good big brother to his sisters.

Abby's party was next. Abby turned 7 on March 10. We had her party at our house. They made bracelets, had a contest building a tower with mashmellows and toothpicks, and popped lots of balloons trying to find the stars for a prize. The girls had lots of fun. Abby is a sweet heart. We love her so much.

January

2011-01-31T07:18:00.001-08:00

Wow where did the month go? We had a fun filled month. Braden participated in his first pinewood derby. I was a little worried that his car would be really slow being this is the first time we have ever done this. But to our surprise it was FAST. It was really fun to see how excited he got when his car would win.
Braden just finished up playing in a basketball league and last week his team was invited to play during half time of the Queen Creek high school varsity game. It was SO fun to watch. Braden is an awesome basketball player and scored SO many points each week in his games. Now soccer has started and he is doing awesome.
The girls have been keeping busy with friends. A few weeks ago they had a bunch of friends over and watched a movie, played outside, played dress-up and so on.
This weekend Gavin and his brother John went to San Francisco. They really enjoyed themselves.
We have been enjoying the nice weather and can't believe the month is already over.

Happy 3rd Birthday Ellie!!!

2011-01-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

Ellie turned 3 on January 11. I'm a little late at posting this. She was SO excited for her birthday. She had been telling us for months that she wanted to go to peter piper pizza and so that is what we did. She was so happy. When we got home we gave her her new bike. She is loving it. It's all she wants to do all day.

Change

2011-01-05T09:19:00.000-08:00

I needed a change so yesterday I did it. I got my hair cut and colored. My girls keep telling me how much they love it. I love it too.

Christmas in Utah

2011-01-02T08:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas is Utah was SO much fun this year. No one was sick this year and we got to play a lot and see lots of family and friends.

We saw the Buckley's.
We played with cousins.
Braden and Ivy.
Gavin and Braden got to meet Courtney's twins.
Ellie and I napped.
Santa came.
Got Tangled jammies.
Played with more cousins.
Ellie and Holly.
Took more naps.

Grandpa moved lots of snow.

Hope everyone's Christmas was as great as ours was.

Silly girls

2010-12-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

I went in to check on the girls before I went to bed and this is how they were sleeping. Cozy.

Lunch with kids

2010-12-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Last week Ellie and I went over to the school and had lunch with Braden and Abby. It was fun to spend a little time with them. Ellie LOVED it. Abby and her friends talk A LOT and Braden and his friends eat REALLY fast so they can have lots of time to go outside and play at lunch recess.

The Pose

2010-12-06T17:22:00.001-08:00

I just noticed that every time I take Ellie's picture she has the same pose. She's so funny.

Hurry Hurry Hurry

2010-12-04T09:27:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when I feel like I have a million things to do and never enough time. I'm always in a hurry. My mind is swarming with projects and I'm trying to get them all done. Here are a few things that I have gotten done.

Gifts for Gavin's office staff.
Frame's for the girls room.
Coasters for the kids teachers.
My wreath for me front door.

A few more favorites

2010-11-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

LOVE THIS

2010-11-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

What more can I say?

Fall Break

2010-10-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

This past week the kids have been on fall break. I will be honest and say that I was really dreading it but it has actually been a fun week and has gone by really fast. We have played with lots of friends and have been enjoying the nice weather in the evenings.

Gavin had the day off on Friday so we headed to the zoo. It was a little warm but we still had a good time.

On Saturday morning Gavin had to work for a few hours and he took Braden with him. So the girls and I ran a few errands and did a little cleaning. When the boys got home we got in the car and headed to the bass pro shop. The kids though it was SO cool.

Also this past week we have been getting our backyard done. The fire pit and BBQ area are done and look SO good. This week they put in sprinklers, grass and trees. We are so excited to enjoy it.

Bass Pro Shop

The Zoo

The fire pit and BBQ area.

Family Photos

2010-10-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

We had family photos taken on Saturday. Here is a sneak peak at a few of them. The kids were SO good and it was a beautiful day.

Thanks Jill!!!!

2010-09-03T08:06:00.001-07:00

Check out these SUPER cute necklaces my friend Jill made for the girls. LOVE THEM!!! Thanks Jill.

Summer, First Day of School and Projects

2010-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

This post is just full of pictures from our summer in Utah, the kids first day of school and some projects I have been working on.

Some shirts I made the girls.

My curtains I finally finished.

Church bags for the girls.

The kids ready for church. Just threw this one in there for fun.

The super cute dress my mom made for Ellie.

Since Braden and Abby got to go to school Ellie got to go to jamba juice.

Gavin took Braden and Abby out for breakfast on the first day of school.

Braden all ready for third grade. WOW THIRD GRADE!!!!

Abby all ready for first grade.

Summer fun in Utah.

Playing with cousins and grandma.

Lots of four wheeler rides.

Lots of fishing.

There now I am caught up on my blog. :)

UPDATE........

2010-07-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON!!!!!

Dresses

2010-06-29T08:18:00.001-07:00

These are the dresses I made for my girls last week. I think they turned out pretty cute.

It's getting done!!!!

2010-06-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

We have started on our backyard. Last weekend the workers came and got things leveled and all framed out. This weekend they will pour the concerte for the basketball court. Next will come the splash pad, grass, firepit and ground level trampoline. We are so excited to have a fun backyard.

Ellie moving her hips like this!!!

2010-05-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

Turn your speakers up so you can hear it.

Our "Staycation"

2010-05-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

We thought it would be fun to have a staycation this weekend. So we got a really nice room at the Arizona Grand Resort just about 20 minutes from our house. We checked into our room, got changed into our swim suits and hit the water park. It was a blast. We relaxed down the lazy river, played in the wave pool, Gavin and Braden played a little basketball in the water and we just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. They had a stage right by our lounge chairs and there was a dance team there and they were trying to get everyone up on stage to dance with them. Ellie LOVED it. She danced the night away. It was a fun weekend.

Ready to go swim.

We are ready too.

Ellie on the dance floor.

Enjoying our dinner on our lounge chairs.

Just hanging out.

Ellie swimming with daddy.

Projects

2010-05-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

I love projects. I get excited about them, they make me happy, and I love to try new things. So right now my new project is my craft/sewing room. I am working on getting it perfect for me. Check back soon to see the end result. I added a new touch to my desk I got last week at goodwill. I painted the top with a light green. I love it.

Where did it go??

2010-05-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Where did the month go? I really don't know. The kids only have a week of school left. CRAZY!!!

What's new around here? Braden is still playing soccer and is doing awesome. He finished his AR (advanced reading) goal last week at school and he earned a few more merit badges for scouts. Abby also finished her AR goal in school and has become a excellent reader. She is looking forward to summer so she can swim a lot and play with her friends. Ellie is just Ellie. She is silly and loves to entertain us.

This past week we all had the stomach flu. Luckily it was a short one. My mom came into town this past week and stayed all week. It was so much fun having her here. We shopped, ate out, worked on projects, stayed up late, watched movies and just hung out. It was so much fun and as always I was sad to see her go.

Also while my mom was here we went to goodwill and we came across a cute little desk. My mom talked me into getting it and so we sanded it and primed it and painted it and it turned out really cute. It will be my new sewing desk. Thanks mom for spotting the desk and helping me get it done.

Last night for FHE we took the kids out for yogurt. The kids sat at their own table and took turns sharing bites of their yogurt. It was cute.

The desk after.

The desk before. (I know my pictures are backwards.)

The kids eating yogurt.

Yesterday

2010-04-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

Ellie was just done at the end of the day.

At Braden's soccer practice. Check it out Ellie's hair is finally growing out.

Abby lost her first tooth.

Ellie played with playdoh for a really long time.

Ellie also painted for a really long time.

Yesterday was a good day.

Fun Art

2010-04-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

I bought this frame yesterday at goodwill for $2.00. I spray painted it and just put fabric in the back. I think it turned out pretty cute. I think I will hang it in Ellie's room.

A new project!!!

2010-04-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yes I know it is ugly, but I couldn't pass it up. Seriously it was only $8.00. Can't you just see it in the corner of my living room reupholstered in some fun bright fabric? Oh I can!!! Let's just say Gavin is not too happy about it.

Is she really ready?

2010-04-27T20:05:00.001-07:00

Does it mean your two year old is ready to be potty trained when they are changing their own diaper? Yes that is right, I came downstairs today to find Ellie changing her own diaper. She just turned two in January. She can't be ready yet. Or maybe I am just not ready. I know your probably thinking your crazy. But seriously diapers are SO convenient. Anyways we will see what happens.

CATCH UP!!!

2010-04-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to catch up these days. So much going on I just feel overwhelmed. What I really need is a mini vacation to re-group and relax a little so I can tackle all that needs to be done around here. Oh well.

Braden turned 8 in February and the one thing that he was looking forward to was starting scouts. He has been working really hard. A few weeks ago at their pack meeting Braden earned his Bobcat. We are so proud of him for the effort he has put into his scouting.

For the past couple of weeks Abby has been coming home from school telling me about all of her friends that have been getting their ears pierced. She kept begging for her to get hers done. So on Monday night we headed to the mall to get it done. She was SO brave. She didn't even cry.

Ellie is just cute and funny. What more can I say. She is a handful and some days I would like to give her away (not really). She is my buddy during the days. Today I took her to the splash pad at the mall so she could play in the water. It was a little cold and windy but she didn't mind. She loves the water. Then she asked for a ice cream cone. Sure why not at 10 in the morning.

I sure love my kids.

What's new???

2010-04-14T10:54:00.001-07:00

I bought a new lamp for our family room. Still trying to decide if I should keep it.

I've just been making these.

I've been hanging out in here a lot. What a mess.

Naughty

2010-04-13T14:34:00.001-07:00

Ellie is SO naughty!!!! What is it about the third child? Braden and Abby were never this naughty. Last week I found her on the top bunk of the bunk beds. Notice there is no ladder. What a stinker. Also last week she decided she needed something on the top of her dresser so she pulled out the bottom drawer and stood in it and the whole dresser fell on top of her. Luckily she was okay but I wasn't. Maybe to all of you this behavior is normal but not to me. I have never had a child as naughty as Ellie is.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T13:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter!!! We have had a wonderful weekend. Saturday morning we had a small Easter egg hunt with some of our friends that live on our street. The kids found lots of egg and got enough candy to last them awhile. Sunday morning the kids were so excited to see if the Easter bunny had come. It sure did. Gavin must have been really good this year because he even got a basket. It was a fun morning. We have been able to watch conference and feel the spirit and remember the real reason we celebrate Easter. What an awesome weekend.

Spring Break Update

2010-03-23T09:16:00.001-07:00

Abby and Ellie before church.

Dress I made for Ellie.

Ellie LOVES to water my flowers.

Braden and Abby just hanging out outside.

Watering flowers again.

Bathroom after. Not quite done yet.

Bathroom before.

Flowers we planted last night.

We made it through a long week of spring break. It was a fun week though. We planned a fun activity everyday. The weather was gorgeous everyday and we definitely got alot of sun. I forgot my camera on a few days. We went to the zoo one day with our wonderful friends the Archibald's. The kids loved it. The weather was good enough that we even went swimming one day. It was a good week but I can honestly say I am glad it is over. Today the kids are back in school and I can finally get caught up on things around the house.

Spring Wreath

2010-03-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

I made this for our front door.

Girls Night

2010-03-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Abby got a gift card to build a bear for her birthday so I thought it would be fun to make it a girls night. First we went to build a bear were she got to pick out which one she wanted. She thought they were ALL cute but decided to go with Hello Kitty. But this Hello Kitty has a new name. Abby named her Emma. Then we headed to dairy queen for some ice cream. Abby decided she wanted a cherry slush instead. After that we did a little shopping at old navy and joanns. It was so fun to spend time just with Abby.

A wonderful week

2010-03-15T09:21:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful week last week. My parents, my brother and his wife and kids and Gavin's Mom and brother came down to celebrate Abby's birthday and Braden's baptism. It was so wonderful to have family here. We enjoyed every minute of it. The baptism was so special and it made it even more special to have our family here. Thanks everyone for coming.

UPDATE COMING SOON

2010-03-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Happy 8th Birthday Braden!!!

2010-02-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Happy Birthday Braden !!! WOW I can't believe how fast the time has gone. We are so proud of you. You are such a sweet boy. We are looking forward to your baptism on March 13. Keep making good choices and being the sweet boy that you are. I love you so much.

Love-
Mom

We Bought a house

2010-01-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

It is true we have finally bought our first house. We are so excited. We move in next weekend. Now I just need to hire someone to come help me decorate. Any takers?

First crochet projects

2010-01-21T11:50:00.001-08:00

Two headbands and one barrett.

Something new to do

2010-01-18T13:51:00.001-08:00

Today I have decided to teach myself how to crochet. I have watched a few videos online and I think I can do it. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ellie!!!

2010-01-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

I can't believe my baby has turned two. They grow up way too fast. The first thing she said when she woke up was that she wanted waffles. So that is what she got. She was so excited to wear the cupcake shirt that I made. For dinner we went to Red Robin and they sang to her and brought her an ice cream sundae. She loved it. Then we came home and she opened her presents. Her favorite was the princess shoes and doll house that grandma and grandpa sent. Thanks everyone for sending our baby birthday wishes.

Friday Night Fun

2009-12-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Friday night we got to be apart of two really fun parties. The first was at an orthodontist's office. They had a big slide that Braden and Abby loved going down, Santa was there, we had pizza, and best of all they had real snow for the kids to play in. We had a great time.

Then we headed over to our ward Christmas party. Everyone wore their pajamas and we brought blankets to sit on. They showed us a movie that they put together and it was great. The kids were surprised to find out that the Grinch was there this year and not Santa. Braden loved it but of course Abby and Ellie freaked. Ellie had a great time dancing with her friend and giving hugs.

We had a fun Friday night.

SO BEHIND

2009-12-09T10:57:00.001-08:00

I have been SO behind lately. Ellie has hit terrible two's, Braden and Abby have been doing lots of fun things at school, Gavin is super busy with work and I am just trying to keep up with everyone while trying to get ready for Christmas.

We had an exciting Thanksgiving this year. We surprised the kids and took them to Disneyland. They were so surprised and so excited. It was an awesome family vacation.

Last night we went with some friends to see the Temple lights. It was so beautiful and the kids really enjoyed it.

Yesterday I made some aprons for two of my nieces for Christmas. I think they turned out pretty cute. Paige I hope your girls will like them.

That was my quick update on us. Here are some pictures from everything that is going on. ENJOY!!

Curtains

2009-11-24T12:38:00.000-08:00

My curtains before.

My curtains after.

Projects Projects Projects

2009-11-04T20:50:00.001-08:00

I have been in project mode. I love to do projects. This week I have been busy sewing, sewing, sewing. It's been a lot of fun though and I have lots more projects in the works. My neighbor has also been projecting with me. It's always fun to project with a friend.

Ellie's owl shirt.My fall quilt.
I made this for my neighbor. It's to go in the middle of her kitchen table.

I mod podge paper onto letters to go into my kitchen.

Halloween

2009-11-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Halloween was so fun this year. On Friday night our ward had a trunk or treat. They had fun games, a haunted house and food. The kids won some gold fish which I am not too happy about. But oh well. The kids walked around to all of the cars and got a lot of candy. Ellie fell asleep on Gavin's lap and Abby got tired and sat in the car. Braden kept going strong. It was a fun night.
Then on Saturday we had some friends come over to go trick or treating with us. We went around the neighbor and the kids made a haul again. We have way too much candy at our house.
This year Braden was darth vader, Abby was a fairy , and I just made Ellie a tutu skirt. Oh and the best part was Gavin dressed up as the tooth fairy. It was a fun weekend.

In Love

2009-10-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this time of year. The kids and I got to fly to Utah for fall break. We have not been to Utah during the fall for a few years. It was so fun to see the leaves on the trees with such beautiful colors. It was so fun to spend time with family and see our new nephew Noah. He is so handsome. My mom took all of us to the Thanksgiving Point cornbelly festival. The kids had a blast bouncing in the bouncers, the wagon ride, the huge slides, and just spending time with family. Thanks mom for a fun day.
At home we have just been enjoying the park and hanging out with friends. The kids are really enjoying school and Gavin is SUPER busy at work. Ellie and I enjoy hanging out at home together. Her new favorite thing to say is "I don't like it" or "Tell Abby to stop". It's crazy to hear her speak full sentences.
This is such a random post. Oh well. Here are a few pictures from this month. Maybe I will get back in the mood of blogging soon.

Fun Moments

2009-10-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we did this.
Today we did this.

Saturday Projects

2009-09-20T16:31:00.001-07:00

Saturday was project day. We bought a new BBQ grill which we are SO excited about. The downfall was that Gavin had to put it together. He did a great job though.

We have a large wall in our living room and I couldn't decide what to do with it. I really wanted to hang our big mirror on it but I wanted some color on the wall. So my mom gave me this great idea to paint a border around the mirror. I think it turned out great. Now for some curtains and a few other things this room should look great in no time.

Love Saturday projects.

The Zoo

2009-09-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today a group of ladies and their kids from our ward went to the Phoenix Zoo. Ellie and I joined them. It was fun. We saw a lot of animals and the kids played at the splash pad. I think Ellie really enjoyed all of my attention. I couldn't get her to smile in any pictures. It was a fun day.

I Scored

2009-09-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

A neighbor of mine owns her own furniture store and sometimes she will get damaged stuff so she just gets rid of it. Well we were on a walk the other night and I saw some furniture in her driveway. I asked her about it and she said I could just have it. I think the bench will be great covered in some great fabric. Oh my head is spinning with ideas.

Ellie at the beach

2009-09-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Cute movie of Ellie at the beach.

SURPRISE!! SURPRISE!!

2009-09-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

For Labor Day Weekend we thought it would be fun to surprise the kids and take them to Sea World in San Diego. Saturday morning we packed up the car and told the kids we were going to California. They were excited. They kept asking why but we didn't give in. Once we got to San Diego we checked into our hotel and then we were off to the beach. We didn't bring our swimming suits but we thought it would be fun to go and put our feet in the water. The kids had a blast. Of course they all got wet. So worth it though. After the beach we went to have dinner and then off to sleep we went. Sunday morning we woke up got all ready and we were off to Sea World. The kids still didn't know. When we pulled in the parking lot they were SO excited. We spent the WHOLE day at Sea World. We saw all the shows, rode roller coasters, ate food and just enjoyed our family vacation. What a fun weekend we had. Here are some photos.

Phoenix Children's Museum

2009-09-02T13:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I took Ellie to the children's museum in Phoenix. She had a lot of fun exploring. I will definitely take her back there again.

A few Random Things

2009-08-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last Friday our family was invited to go ice skating (Thanks Wing Ortho.) . Braden and I were the only ones that ended up doing it. I was so proud of Braden for sticking with it even though it was really hard. He caught on fast and had a great time. We will for sure go again.
We were are Macy's on day and they had the fire department there. Braden and Abby got to sit on the truck and then Braden got to try on the fireman's jacket.

A few weekend's ago Gavin and Braden went to a D-Backs game. They had a lot of fun. So much fun that I think we are going to one this Saturday.

Ellie just being silly while Braden and Abby are at school.

Ha! Ha!

Missing teeth

2009-08-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

The first week of school Braden lost a tooth at school. Then the second week of school he lost another one. Hopefully that's all for now .

Busy

2009-08-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

Braden and Abby are loving school and have made so many new friends. They love their teachers and their teachers love them. It's so weird having them gone all day long. Ellie has had a few days were she has really missed them. She will wear Abby's shoes around the house and call her name and say I want Abby. It's cute.

Braden brought home his first homework packet this week and boy was I in for a shocker. Each night he has two homework pages to do, spelling test to study for, vocabulary test to study for, math test to study for and read to me for 20 minutes. This pretty much takes up our evening along with dinner, showers, and if we have time maybe swimming.

Life is busy but well worth it. Here are a few pictures from last week.

Ellie on the carousel at the mall.
Abby sitting at her table.
Braden sitting at his desk.
Ellie just lounging. What a tough life.
Ellie having a tantrum. This is pretty common the past couple of days.

The End

2009-08-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Summer has come to an end. Tonight I have been a little sad about it. We had a really good summer. It was stressful at times and has been a little crazy but all in all it was really good. We made some really good memories. Our six day adventure from New York to Arizona is something I will never forget. It was fun to drive through the different states and see new things and places we have never seen. It was fun to relax every night in a hotel and swim and eat dinner and just spent time as a family.

It's been fun getting settled back in Arizona. Gavin is loving the practice he is at and he works hard everyday. We love our ward and the kids have made a lot of friends. It's also been fun to hang out with our old friends.

The kids and I went to Utah over the 24 of July to spend time with family. I have sure missed being around family. It was fun for all of the cousins to get together and play and to get to know each other a little better. The summer evenings at my parents house were the most enjoyable. It was nice and cool and everyone would be outside enjoy themselves.

Tomorrow starts a new school year. Braden will start second grade and Abby kindergarten. They are so excited about it. I thought I was excited until this evening when I was sitting on the couch reading the kids books. It hit me how fast they are growing up. Sometimes I wish they wouldn't grow so fast. Ellie and I will get to spend a lot of time together during the days.

I have set new goals for this upcoming year. I hope to better myself by being a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and strengthening my testimony.

Here are a few pictures from our summer.

A Little Update

2009-07-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are just trying to stay COOL. It is so HOT. We are feeling a little more settled now and are loving it here. Gavin is loving his job. The kids have made so many new friends. Next week we will be heading to Utah to visit family and we are SO excited. Here are a few pictures of things we have been up too. Anything to stay cool.Outdoor mall water thing. The kids love.

Ellie's LOVE'S the water.
Play areas.
I've been sorting through girl baby clothes. Do you think I have enough?
Ellie's in love with her ice cream cone.

More play areas.

WE MADE IT

2009-07-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

Yes we made it to Arizona. We are super busy right now getting unpacked and things like that. I will post pictures soon. The kids have been EXCELLENT.

Bye-Bye

2009-06-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our computer will be shut off soon. We are moving tomorrow so I will not be blogging for awhile. I will take lots of pictures of our adventure from New York to Arizona. Bye Bye for now.

Hoedown Throwdown By Abby

2009-06-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Our Day

2009-06-18T15:58:00.001-07:00

This morning Abby graduated from Pre-K. I can't believe she is old enough to go to Kindergarten. She loved her teach Mrs. White and she loved going to school everyday. Even when she would be sick it would kill her to miss a day of school. She made so many friends . It was a good year for Abby.

This made me really sad but today I cut off Ellie's hair. As you can see she has a huge bald spot from her pulling it out while she is in her crib. I'm hoping now that it is short she won't pull on it. I'm also hoping that bald spot will grow super fast so she doesn't look so silly.

Oh Ellie

2009-06-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Notice the large bald spot on the back of her head. It hasn't always been this way. She use to have a full head of hair. But for the last month or two she has started to pull it out. She pulls it out in her crib while she is trying to go to sleep. I am just sick about it. It looks so silly. I can't decide if I should cut her hair or just leave it and maybe she will stop soon.

Let me explain. Yesterday I was changing Ellie's diaper. She got away and was running around naked. No big deal. It was quiet so Gavin went to see what she was doing. He could see that she was pushing so he rushed her to the toilet and by golly she pushed it right into the toilet. She was not happy as you can see. Oh 17 months and potty trained. I WISH.

10 DAYS

2009-06-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

We will be making our move from New York to Arizona in ten days. I'm really excited. We've enjoyed our 2 years here but are excited to move on. I'm REALLY nervous about the drive from New York to Arizona with the kids. Anybody have any great ideas that we could use to make the car ride a little less painful? We have a DVD player and we are buying the nintendo DS this week. Any ideas would be great.

The results

2009-06-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Ellie Abby Ellie Abby

Who's who

2009-06-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

Can you guess which one is Abby and which one is Ellie?

New friend

2009-06-05T06:22:00.001-07:00

Our neighbors have a bunch of garden gnomes by their front door and Ellie has come to love them. Everyday she will walk over and say hi to them and talk to them like they are real. Our neighbors thought it was so cute . One morning we walked outside to find a little friend by our front door. Ellie talks to him everyday. Welcome new friend.

Field Day

2009-06-01T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today Abby had field day at her school. Each class tie-dyed shirts to wear. Abby's class was orange. They had several stations that they rotated through. It was a lot of fun to go and watch her.

Blessed

2009-05-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

I feel so blessed to have such good kids.

Graduation

2009-05-23T05:39:00.001-07:00

10 years of school, 10 years of marriage, 3 kids, 3 states, and Gavin is finally done. Yesterday we celebrated Gavin's final graduation. He graduated from the Pediatric Dental Program at Stony Brook University. My parents came into town to celebrate with us. We had a great day. Now our new adventures will begin. In 5 weeks we will be moving to Arizona were Gavin got a really awesome job. We are really excited about this new chapter in our lives.

Sweet but Sassy

2009-05-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Not only do they look alike they act just alike too. I sure have my hands full.

He did it!!

2009-05-16T08:27:00.001-07:00

Gavin has been in Arizona for the past four days house hunting. Yesterday he found a house. We are really excited about it. It's right around the corner from his office, across the street from the elementary school, across the street from a park, there are two community pools. What more could we ask for? Pictures will come later. Good work Gavin!!! Now the packing will begin. Yuck!!!!

Camping

2009-05-11T08:11:00.001-07:00

Gavin and Braden went camping Friday night with our stake. They said it was a lot of fun. They did get lots of rain though. Braden's favorite part was playing kick ball, playing with the fire, and eating s'mores. They stayed up late and woke up really early.

7 WEEKS

2009-05-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Nope not 7 weeks pregnant. 7 weeks until we move. Moving is so stressful. Have to find a house, all the packing, kids finishing up school, the thought of driving cross country with three kids. I've been a little stressed lately. I can't wait until it is all over and we can finally settle down for awhile.

BUSTED

2009-05-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

She was totally busted. This girl loves to get into EVERYTHING. But we sure do love her.

Spring Sing

2009-05-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Abby's Pre-Kindergarten class had there spring sing. It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen. They sang a bunch of songs. Abby sang really loud and had a smile on her face the whole time. So cute.

Check this out

2009-04-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Abby 14 months old

Ellie 15 months old

NYC

2009-04-27T07:16:00.001-07:00

Saturday we took the train into the city. It was a gorgeous day. Some of our highlights include, eating lunch, playing in central park, jamba juice, Braden performing with the street performers, and just spending time together. It was a good day.

Ellie eating her snack on the train.Braden as the human jump rope.

Our family.

Back on schedule

2009-04-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

It's finally all over with. The kids started their spring break last Thursday. I thought how weird to start spring break in the middle of the week but then realized I didn't mind it that much because our weekend was busy so it broke it up a little. I do have to say though that I am glad they are back in school today. Even though we had a great spring break and a wonderful Easter weekend it is always good to get back on schedule. I am a very scheduled person and I love a routine.

Our week break was filled with lots of activities. We made cookies, went to the beach, had Easter egg hunts, had a super fun primary activity, played football outside, had some super good naps and best of all we just spent time together.

Photo Shoot

2009-04-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

We tried really hard this weekend to get some nice pictures of the kids together. It was REALLY hard. Ellie would only smile if she was sitting in the chair by herself. But then she would keep rocking so a bunch of the pictures were blurry. I don't know how photographers do it. Here are a few of my favorites.