I heard it here:

Here's scenario one:

While waiting for the gas to pump, on the way to the ward camp out Brent told the kid, in frightful weather:

"If you feel tingling all over you have 2 seconds to drop to the ground before the lightening strikes."

Isabel through frantic tears: I don't want to go anymore!! I'm scared!!! Please, please I don't
want to go!!!

Grace, with complete fear on her face pipes up: I don't want to die!!!


Scenario Two:
I just happened upon this conversation this morning at the table.

Annika: Don't say Nipple!!!

Isabel: What do you mean nipple!!! I meant pupil!!!

I have no idea what they were talking about. All I know is that I'm still laughing over that one!

Scenario Three:
Grace is laying in bed with Dad looking at all the DVD's for sale on his Droid(phone).

Grace: Oooo, that one is my favorite!

Dad: Oh Really? Sex Drive is your favorite?

Grace: Yes.

A New Tradition: Schultuete

Say What? It's a German word and a tradition that comes from that country. On the first day of school the children come home to a cone shaped gift filled with school supplies and goodies. My sister sent me a link and I thought I'd give it a try. Mine didn't turn out as pretty. Maybe that's due to the fact that I literally threw them together 15 minutes before Jaren walked through the door. Note to self: give yourself time to do quality work!! It was still a ton of fun to put them together and see their faces when they walked through the door. I love that feeling of excited anticipation hoping that they love it as much as you loved putting it together!!

It's a fun new tradition that I will continue each year!!


The loot!!




I gathered scrapbook paper and tissue that I already had.
I think they turned out bright and fun!




Wouldn't you love to come home to that on your first day of school?




Ooooo, what's inside?




Complete Awesomeness!!

More Firsts

The first day of school was filled with so many emotions. Like it always is. I was excited to not have to be the referee any longer, put out constantly burning fires, and many requests to play with friends. Excited to not have kids knocking at my door while Grace is trying to nap and having those knocks wake her up. Excited to get my house cleaned and have it stayed cleaned, until the stampede comes through the door. Excited that 5 of the 6 are in school all day. Sad that one of them is on to Junior High. Sad that my kids are growing up. I know they have to. It's apart of life. Sad to see summer gone so quickly.

I'm glad that my excitement over shadows my sadness. Life is exciting and it moves at lightening speed. I'm always trying to tell my kids to look for the positive in life. I guess I need to be their greatest example of that.



Our morning wasn't without it's tears and fights.
In his excitement, Jaren knocked Isabel's head against Annika's.
Do you see the red eyes?
Hannah is still pissed about about something.
At least I got a photo of all my kids.



I know the first day of school is filled with anxiety and excitement.
I'm glad I can send them off with a hug and a smile!



Grandma made it!!
She hasn't missed the first day send off since Jaren started Kindergarten!!



It wasn't the most perfect of mornings.
One word that describes a house with mostly girls: DRAMA!!!




My 6th Grader!




My 4th Grader




My other 4th grader!




Holy Cow, my first grader!

F-R-E-A-K-I-N-G O-U-T!!!

Is the best way to describe how I felt when I left the Open House at the Junior High on Monday. I was screaming like a little girl on the inside while acting cool, calm and collective on the outside.
For the most part it wasn't too bad. But some of the girls were wearing hootchie mama clothes. Short dresses way above the knee with these out of control high boots. Tons of make-up. They have the right to wear what they want, I guess. It's still appalling.

Junior High is a scary place. I'm probably more scared for my son then he is for himself. I just want him to be safe and protected from the many evils he'll face. It seems to me that the youth these days have to be armed a lot more with the gospel then I ever did. It seems to me that they are up against a lot more then I ever was. It also seems to me that this generations knows a lot more about the gospel then I ever did at 12.

I have to admit that sending my son to Junior High was a lot harder then sending him to kindergarten. I've never been emotional on the first day of school. This year, I had to stop from crying several times. It's exciting to watch kids grow up. Difficult at the same time.


Jaren's first steps from innocence.




The shoes that will take him on that journey.




Jaren before getting on the bus.
Still sweet and innocent.





Moments later.
Such a goof-ball!!



Lane Sorensen, Garrett Christensen, Sam Hansbrow, My boy, Logan Christensen

Jaren is a stickler on time.
Instead of waiting for his friends to come to him, he went to them.



Walking away from me and towards the life of a Junior High Kid.



Can you see Jaren?

I checked on him several times to see if the bus had arrived yet. He stood there, in the cold, with all those other kids for a good 15 minutes before the bus finally arrived. Like a dork, I ran inside to grab my camera to get one last photo of Jaren, in line, waiting to get on the bus.

And then he was gone.

Things I heard the First Day of School

Annika: Mom, I woke up every hour last night. I watched the moon go across the sky!!



The girls were all talking about lunch and what they were going to do.
Beckham: I'm going to come home and eat lunch here!!
I had to break it gently to him that he gets to stay at school all day, even eat his lunch there.



Jaren: Mom followed me around all morning long!
Which is true. With camera in hand. I was worried about my baby boy on his first day of Junior High!! What can I say?!!



Hannah(through tears and frustration): You just don't know how hard it is for me Mom. With school and all the homework and soccer and going through puberty!! I'm just going to have to have lots of hugs and warmth!
Oh my sweet, I really do know how hard it is. We'll get through it together!!

One last photos shoot of the summer

As I was entering the Prov Temple the other day I was blown away by the beauty of the flowers. They weren't exotic hard to grow flowers either. Just your basic petunias, zinnias and daisies. But they are GORGEOUS!!! I just had to bring the kids for one last photo shoot of the summer.

The photo under my header was also taken this day. Isn't it ceeee-ute?




Big Brother, Big Sister




My half dozen




Grace's attempt at a Smile!




Just LOOK at that SMILE!!

Linked together forever!!!

HOORAY for FAMILY!!!

New Specs

A few weeks ago I took both Isabel and Annika to get their eyes checked and to pick out new spectacles. Isabel picked out her glasses from Shopko and Annika from Target. Why did I go to two different stores? Very simple, the glasses from Target were free. I saved about $100. Brilliant! We discovered that both their eyes had grown worse over the last year. Poor things inherited my bat-like eye-sight. Awesome.

At this point in my mothering career I try to stand back and let them choose what suites them. Of course I will give my opinion if asked for. Butt I will not freely give it. Unless I see some eminent danger. Both Isabel and Annika did a great job picking out their glasses. They both wanted my approval and I kept telling them if they were comfortable in the glasses then it was the right choice.

The results:



Stunning New Red for Isabel!




Purple Perfection for Annika!

A girl and her "titty"!!

Say Hello to my Little Friend!


Athena's thinking "You've got to be kidding me!"


Look Ma, One hand!!


Hold on, re-adjusting!
Don't you love the boogs in her nose?



She's just so ding-dang cute!!

Baby Chicks

Our first adventure of the summer. Visiting the Bardsley home to check out the new chicks! The kids were so excited. They were a little hesitant at first, with all things. Then comfort sets in. The girls were right in there picking and choosing for themselves which ones to hold. I was a little nervous for the chicks, they are still so tiny and fragile.



Look at all those baby chicks! They were all shipped in one tiny tiny box! There was just one casualty. One of the chicks had a broken leg.



Two cute chicks!




Annika gingerly holding hers.




Beckham checking his out!
He had a rough time picking them up. During one attempt the chick freaked him out and he dropped it back into the pen. Shoot. I told him he couldn't grab for anymore. I didn't want to be responsible for another casualty.




Time for tricks!
This dog is the size of a small horse, I'm not kidding.
Gordo is so gentle and will smile at you, literaly lift his gums to show his teeth!




Brent being a good sport!
I'm quietly thinking to myself, "poop on his head, poop on his head!"




Beckham wasn't quite sure about this!




And sometimes poop happens!
We all got a good laugh over this!

The Dress

This past weekend I had the privilage of attending my cousin Ali's wedding in Logan, Ut. It was a lovely ceremony. I was quickly reminded of my own wedding 14 1/2 years ago. At the time of my wedding Ali was just 6 years old and wore a special dress for my reception.


The women who've worn the dress.


Left: Penelpe(My Mom), Moi
Middle: Melody(My Mom's sister), Ali(the new bride)
Right: Sandy(Another of my Mom's sisters), Cara(Melody's daughter and Ali's sister)

When Ali finally excited the Temple I was surprised to see her wearing Grandma's dress. The same exact dress that I wore on my wedding day. Many women in our family have worn this dress. First was Sandy, then my own mother Penny, then Mel. The dress was quietly tucked away for many many years until I became engaged. I was a bit more busty then my mother and aunts. We had the dress altered to fit my full figure. Then my cousin Cara(in the polka dot dress) was married 18 months ago and wore the same dress. And now, Ali, Cara's sister wore the dress on Saturday. Did you get all that?

As we gathered around to prepare for photos Brent finaly recognized the dress and asked if it was the same one. I told him, Yes. Brent, "But that stuff on the top is new, right?". Me, "No, it's the same." Brent, "But they added the bows though?". Me, "No, the bows were there."

When I wore the dress it was 54 years old. When Ali wore it, it aged 14 more years making it 68 yrs old. Hannah asked if she could wear the dress when she got married. I told her by then it'd be over 80 years old and a true antique. But what is stopping her from wearing the dress?

I have to confess that one thing I missed about getting married was the "hunt" for that one perfect dress. Many people who came through my line thought it was amazing and romantic. I do feel privilaged to be apart of something with so much history.

The Last of the 4th Celebrations!

On Monday the 5th of July my family got together at my Mom's. My Aunt Gaye and Uncle Steve were there with their family. Ryan, once again, banged out some awesome burgers! The company was superb, and our celebration was complete!




What a GREAT Group Photo!
It reminds me of a photo taken of us when Brent and I were first married with no kids and a foriegn exchange student staying with my parents. Same hill, new additions, more fond memories.






Grace wanted to take another picture.
A few stayed behind to indulge her.
I LOVE it!!!



The Awesome Flag Cupcakes!
My Mom always does something festive for every holiday.
It's and Edwards thing.




Oh, My Son.



Miss Isabel




Miss Dimple Herself





My Parents!






Gaye and My Mom
Nothing beats sisters




Jaren and Garrick
Would you believe they're just 3 months apart?