SICK OF BEING SICK!!!

I am SO over this whole morning sickness thing. It would be one thing if it was only in the morning... But NO... All day? Ugh.... McKay says that I am complaining less so I must be feeling better. Rather, the truth is that I am just starting to accept it as part of my current "normal" life. And hey - I am tired of hearing myself complain! Ha! :)
The kids are so funny about it. Bella is ready to dis-include me from all family functions and activities because in her words "She's STILL sick." Today was a prized day as we all (Cole, Bella and I) took a nap! My kids are way beyond the napping stage so it is a rare treat when they fall asleep in the car and transfer to the house still zonked. So grateful for those times! I got a whole two hours - YAY! Cole woke up and was hollering at me from his bed in the next room.

Cole: "Mom?! Mom?!"
Me: "Yes?"
Cole: "Where are you? Are you in you bed?"
Me: "Yes."
Cole: "Mom - it is NOT night time! Yook (look -can't say his Ls just yet) outside."
Me: "I know Coley. Mommy just doesn't feel good. My tummy is sick."
Cole: "Mooooommmm! Get up!" (And in the most annoyed tone you can imagine...) "Get some food!"

He thinks he has it all figured out. Hee hee... He is so cute. I feel bad that he is getting annoyed - believe me, if I could change it I would! I have all sorts of new found sympathy for the mothers that get so sick during pregnancy. I have always felt bad for you, but now I have true empathy. Not sure how you do it over and over again.... I know that they say you forget, but fat chance I will! Yuck! You ladies are amazing... Mom, Kate, Shelb and Becky - you are my heroes! Thanks so much for your loving phone calls and all the offers to help. I have the sweetest friends and family. Loves to all...

Mommy's Little Helper...

Bella is so grown up... This weekend had me in tears - I am so grateful for her little personality!
I have been feeling super nauseated and sick this pregnancy, but rarely throw up. Unfortunately on Sunday - it actually came up! UGH! I was in bed trying to muster the energy to get up for my kids when I overheard Bella in the kitchen. She was completely taking care of Coley solo. She made him toast for breakfast and even managed to mix up some chocolate milk for the two of them. They were watching a movie on my laptop when I finally made it out to see them.
I laid on the floor or the couch most of the day with Bella catering to my every need. Ice water, toast for mommy, tissues and pillows and blankets. She brought me a special snack - a banana and Special K Bar on a paper plate. She even brushed my hair - which I am sure was looking super scary in order to prompt such a favor. :) She kept asking me "Can I get anything else for you Mom? Can I do something for you?" And when I would thank her - her reply was "No Problem!" She was even my amazing helper when Cole thought it would be fun to shove 20 million pounds of TP down the toilet, flush it and flood the bathroom. SO fun!
Needless to say, I am so grateful for her and her sweet willingness to be my special helper. She couldn't be more excited for the baby - and I couldn't be more excited to have her help! I love her so much and am so grateful she is mine...

My Little Fashonista...

I came out of the bedroom one day after getting ready and Bella proceeded to check me out from head to toe....

Bella: "Whoa! You look cute!"
Me: "Thanks honey..."
Bella: "You have so many more clothes than me!" (Imagine it in a valley girl sing song voice.)
Me: "What? Um yeah... I am the Mom. When you are the mom - you can have more clothes than your daughter."
Bella: "Hmph."

A few minutes later...
Bella: "Mom, you might not like this, but how about we share clothes when I get older?"

She isn't even six and already wants to be in my closet and in my clothes! How did she just come out like that? She is such a girly girl and loves all the things I do. Now if I could just persuade her to wear something other than her favorite outfit - a white tee-shirt and jeans - everyday. Argh!

BIG EXPECTATIONS!

I know... I know... I have fallen off the blogging wagon yet again! But it is just my crazy life -- I have yet to find a way to balance it all! I have decided that it is just because I have such BIG expectations... We are currently building a home and have BIG expectations for how it will all come together. We are working with the strictest of deadlines and literally have something to choose or pick out every single day. No pressure right? Super fun process with toddlers in tow. My kids have come to dread the words "appointment" and "meeting." And I am planning the quarterly Enrichment activity for our ward. You know how I LOVE parties and of course just have BIG expectations for how it will turn out. Balloons and Cake? Killer combo if you ask me! :) Not to mention the most heavenly breadsticks from Jules Bettinson. AMAZING! Then I am trying to progress as an aerobics instructor. BIG expectations to live up to... And all the while - I am going to get BIG because I am expecting! Surprise! We are adding another to the Christensen Family Chaos. We are thrilled! And I am tired...
I am going to be better... Promise!

Dearest Prophet - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Not going to lie - I stole this letter off a stranger's blog. But she seems really nice and I don't think she will mind. It is a teary read - a letter from the Prophet to his sweet wife Marjorie...

"My Darling,
All that is said in this book concerning your virtues is true. Your own words and those spoken by a host of friends bear tribute to your worth. More, much more, might have been included.
It is now more than sixty years since we entered the Salt Lake Temple, there to be married for eternity. I had known you for a long time prior to that. I knew what I was getting into, and it has turned out as I had hoped it would. What a treasured companion you have been. Through all these years we have walked side by side as equals before the Lord. There have been good days and bad days, but the good days have far outnumbered the bad ones.

You have been my critic and my judge. You have seen to it that my shoes were shined, my suit pressed, my tie straight. You have pushed aside the flattery that comes with public life, and winnowed the kind and sincere words of honest and loving friends. You have held at bay that old fraud of adulation and kept my feet planted on the solid earth. How I appreciate you....our voracious appetite for reading and your relentless pursuit of knowledge have kept you alert and refreshing throughout a long and fruitful life. Now we have grown old together, and it has been a sweet experience. We have shrunk in stature and move a little more slowly. We are more forgetful. But as of this writing we still have one another--and that is so good. And when in some future day the hand of death gently touches one or the other of us there will be tears, yes, but there will also be a quiet and certain assurance of reunion and eternal companionship.
'Trusty, dusky, vivid, true...'
The God of Heaven fashioned you.
I love you, dear"


Could there be a better depiction of how incredibly sweet and tender he was? He was strong and steadfast, yet incredibly meek and humble. He had the cutest sense of humor. And let's be honest, is there a cuter grandpa?
I am so grateful to have been raised "knowing" and loving him. I am grateful for his beautiful example and sweet simplicity. I love the principles that he lived by and encouraged us to rise to. I am grateful that my kids can recognize his picture and pray for him in their nightly prayers. I am grateful for the millions of ways that my testimony was strengthened by his amazing words and the very sound of his voice! I know that he was called of God and rejoice in the fact that he is now with our loving Heavenly Father. It melts my heart to think of his reunion with his eternal companion too...:)

Fun Test!

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Orange

You're a bold, confident orange. A warm, powerful color that indicates a strong, welcoming personality, orange is the mark of people who are social and extroverted by nature. Vibrant, with an upbeat attitude, you have a bright, inviting demeanor. Energetic and fun-loving, you're a real friend-magnet. Your easy charm and unassuming manner make you the sort of person people want to meet and get to know better. Well-rounded and fun to be around, you enjoy helping others, so it's no surprise that orange also symbolizes attraction. Orange is an extraordinary color — for an extraordinary person.

Take this test >

CUTE LITTLE COUSINS...

After visiting the Nativity, we went to Pizza Factory (a family favorite!) for dinner. While trying to entertain so many kiddies in a restaurant can be a bit on the challenging side, we always end up having a great time.







These photos do a great job at showing Cole and Capris' little LOVE-HATE relationship. They are either the very best of friends and inseparable or at eachothers throats the whole time! They were holding hands without being prompted. Pretty cute...

LIVE NATIVITY...

I, like so many others am playing catch up, trying desperately to post all the christmas photos before they become passe. We had the neatest experience with the kids this year and plan on making it a tradition - we visited the live nativity in Alpine. We were able to see it the very last night it was running - otherwise I would have alerted all my family and friends that it was a must see... They do it every year -- so I will keep you posted next year! It was incredible... The kids had so much fun seeing (and even petting) a camel, a donkey and sheep up close. There were different representations of normal life during that time - i.e. what it was like to bake bread and make clothing. I think the whole experience made the story really come to life for them. The sweetest part was how reverent they became when entering the barn where "Mary" and "Joseph" held their "Baby Jesus." The children all stood so quietly and were mesmerized by the little scene. It was a really tender and special memory for our family and the perfect reminder of what we really celebrate on Christmas.


I know this seems like a funny little photo, but I couldn't resist documenting a dream fulfilled for little Coley. He LOVES school buses. Everyday we drive Bella to school in PG and we spot four or five on the way out. He ALWAYS asks, "Is that my bus? I want to go on a bus!" Well, for the nativity they make you park your car at a church and they bus you up to the location... He was giddy happy. Too cute!


Dave and Shelby and Girls on the bus


They had a real camel!






























Our beloved Mimi and Papa


At the very end, we all tried to squeeze into Papa's truck so that we could get back to our cars sooner than having to wait for the bus to pick us up again... So many people in such a tiny space - it had us all giggling the whole way back. :)

Breakfast with Santa...

McKay's family has the cutest tradition - breakfast with Santa Claus for all the kids. It is so adorable and we look forward to it every year... The kids had a great time. And it totally helps that the Santa is the cutest Santa you have ever seen. I was so excited that Cole was actually into Santa - he didn't scream like last year. It is so special over here -- both the kids are so excited for Christmas.



Bella with Santa



Cole with Santa



Mommy with her very own Santa ;)

To Pose or Not to Pose...

Bella is my poser. She is always game for a photo shoot.
She is so beautiful and is growing up way too fast.



Cole used to be to...and still will occassionally, but this is what I am getting lately. What can I say - Still so cute!