Summer fun…..kids first Slip n Slide

Random Pictures of the kids…Trying out the new camera

Easter Egg Hunts

Miss Hope’s preschool had a massive Easter Egg hunt in April. They had 60 preschoolers (from Multiple classes) and some siblings all meet at a park and gather eggs. It was really fun. In the top picture there is a guy with his elbows up. That is our neighbor Josh, who’s son Dallin is in Hope’s class. He was hilarious as he was telling the kids to throw their elbows around to get eggs. As you can see, the kids weren’t really even paying attention to him. Bryce was in class doing his own Easter Egg hunt so just Ethan and Hope participated at the huge hunt. But they LOVED it.

Best Buddy cousins! We had an Easter Egg hunt at both Grandparents houses. I ended up with only a few pictures from Grandma and Grandpa Christensen’s house. The Uncles and Grandpa hid the eggs. What was funny was after 10 minutes of the kids piling eggs into their baskets Hope burst into tears and exclaimed, “Mom! I don’t have any eggs!” It was so funny because she was egg hunting with Sadie who got to the eggs just a little bit faster then Hope and so the eggs were going into Sadie’s basket. The second everyone saw her in tears the kids quickly offered up eggs to her and the hunting continued with all the kids sharing. Bryce had an overwhelming basket because he hunted with Avery and every egg Avery dropped from his basket went into Bryce’s basket. In the end I think they split their eggs. It was really sweet how the kids offered up eggs to each other.

The best Easter Egg hunt of all was at our house. The Easter bunny was tired of Easter Egg hunts and Candy so she hid an Easter Basket for each of the kids with one egg of Jelly Beans, one egg with a dollar, and some clothes. The Easter Bunny’s husband laughed at the Easter Bunny as she hid the baskets and made an Easter Basket Scavenger hunt. But it was so much fun with the kids. They found a note at the bar with an Easter egg that had a picture clue inside as to where to find their baskets. Each clue led them to another egg, with another clue, and eventually in the Guest room their found their baskets. It was so much fun that Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny decided they’d do a scavenger hunt every year.

Grandma and Grandpa got a new dog……

After the passing of Tanner, Grandma and Grandpa’s sweet Golden Retriever, they started talking about getting another dog. Part of it is for protection for the Grandkids in case wild animals start roaming their property when the kids are there. After some research and looking around they bought a sweet German Shepard female, who was a bout a year old, and named her Tara. We all came up immediately to meet her and in an instant Bryce was head over heals in love with her. All the kids love her really. She is sweet, and just follows them around.

Now fast forward to a month or so later when Grandma and Grandpa were going out of town to Hawaii and the boarder who usually takes their dog wasn’t available. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to watch her. Bryce was in heaven!

For a puppy Tara is really good. But, she is still a puppy and wants entertainment all the time. We did get some outside furniture chewed on and kids were jumped on a bit. It was such a good reminder that with 4 little kids already we need to wait to get a dog of our own. (Much to the children's dismay) Tara goes crazy for Hallee so I had to keep the baby away from her, and Ethan kept letting her inside….as in multiple times a day. Jared cleaned all our carpets on Saturday. Sunday while Jared was at meetings and I was showering Ethan came in to tell me the dog was inside. He had one of those cute/mischievous smiles on his face. I jumped out of the shower, threw a towel around me and while still wet raced through the house to find her. She was in the front room, the nicest carpet in the house, and had just squatted down to do her business. I grabbed her as quickly as I could to take her outside, but a little business had already been done. It seems funny now, a few months later, but I felt so bad to have to tell Daddy about what happened. All in all, it was fine. Mommy was extraordinarily exhausted at the end of a week, and Tara’s playful nature left quite a few scratches, but we still love her and it was a fun adventure.

Got a new camera!

We did some calculations and decided it was more cost effective to buy a nice camera then hire a photographer once or twice a year to take pictures of the kids. Daddy took these pictures in the yard in April when the flowers were just blooming. Just like with all electronics, he’s pretty good with the camera!

Hallee’s Blessing Day

March 4, 2012 Daddy blessed Hallee at church. It was such a beautiful day. The sun was out, the weather was nice, and so many dear family members came. Heidi was a few days past due with her pregnancy and they even came! In addition to our families coming we had Eric, Melissa, Kylie and Taylor Kreiss and Emily Burke. I loved watching all the men in the family follow Daddy up to the front of the chapel and gather in a circle around our Daughter. There is an immediate reverence and feeling of the spirit when Brethren gather in righteousness to use the priesthood to bless another. Hallee was given a beautiful blessing. And before the Sacrament was over I was in the halls with Ethan and missed the rest of the meeting. I did hear Jared from the hallways bear his testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel. Words can’t describe the depth of blessings and gratitude I feel to have Jared, the kids, and the gospel.

Following Sacrament Meeting we went to our house for a potluck lunch of pulled pork and beef sandwiches and salads. It was one of the best meals ever. Melissa, who is Jared’s assistant and not a member of our faith, remarked at the lunch how much she loved to see all our families together having fun and how she felt the spirit at our house. At the end of the day we were so, so tired. But it was such a happy, joyful day.

Let’s be honest……this is hard!

Our funny little Rascals! The top picture it Ethan using a potty as a chair. The funny part was he insisted on putting the lid up before he would sit on it so he had a back part to lean against. I had gotten it out to test if he was ready to potty train. We discovered he is not ready and that is just fine. We’ll give him a little bit more time. Sharing his Mommy with “Ballee” as he says it has become hard for him. He wants me, but if I am holding the baby he’ll usually yell “NO” and run away. I have been trying to hold him and focus on him when she is asleep. Thankfully he loves her and is adjusting without being unkind to Hallee.

This has been an intense time for us. The kids are such a blessing to us, but it is really a struggle to be meeting everyone’s needs every day, in a timely fashion. In addition to attempting to keep a house in order, fulfill callings, and all the other things that are necessary. The older kids go to preschool a few days a week, but mostly the four kids are at home with me all week. I feel a kinship with what Abraham Lincoln said, “Many times I have been driven to my knees, by an overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go”. I am learning that I have no where else to go either, but to kneel in prayer and to lay my burdens upon the savior. In the difficulty he has been there for me, lifting me up both physically and spiritually. How amazing it is that the hard times make the answered prayers feel ever so sweet. It deepens my conviction of our beloved Savior.