Random fun and such...

With all the went on through-out the 2 weeks, we did manage to have some fun! :-) We played and played quite a bit.

Playing at the splash pad.

Silly boys trying to figure out how girls get the towels to stay on their heads.

In the middle of the wedding day Tanner got stitches. He slept all the way through getting them, and getting them out. Crazy!

We had a mini-reunion with the Ramesons. It was really fun to see a good part of the family. Of course there was a lot of people missing, but it was good to see those that were able to make it.

There were so many little kids running around. This is only a small amount I could get in the picture at once. The crazy thing is all of those kids are OUR kids. It seems like not so long ago all the little kids running around were us!

I missed (and MISS) these beautiful mountains! I love a lot of new things about TX, but I don't know if it will ever get old seeing these beauties when we go to visit!

We had so many good things happen while we were in UT. The only down side, was a dear family friend, Jamie Rittenhouse, passed away while were there. She was a very good friend to Teresa and a wonderful lady. I was fortunate enough to get to know her over the past several years. My heart goes out to her wonderful children.

I am SO happy that we were able to go spend a couple of weeks with our family and friends. There were many good friends I didn't get to see. I miss all of them SO much. I hope when we go back again in Aug. our schedules line up a little more so we can visit.

The Big Day!

The biggest reason we went up to Utah was for the happy occasion that happened on June 11th. I got a new beautiful sister-in-law! Justin and Kaddie make a cute couple and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. I managed to get quite a few candid (and not so candid) shots while we waited for the happy couple to come out.

It was a beautiful day. I love temple square. I didn't get many pictures other than the temple. Todd had to leave soon after the luncheon and I was pretty busy so the camera got put on hold.

The happy couple!

Getting pictures taken.

Teresa and Clark. I think this is a great picture!

He didn't realize his picture was being taken. But I think the photographer got a few shots of him :-)

Jillynn and Tate goofin off.

Two of my cute guys.

Smile girls.

Cute cousins.

It was a great day. I am so happy we were able to be there! Congratulations Justin and Kaddie!

Tate is 8!

On the 6th Tate turned 8! He has been counting down the days for MONTHS! He was SO excited to get his scriptures, his scout uniform and I think the remote control car he got was pretty awesome too. We had a small party with just family while in UT and are planning on doing a friend party here next week.

I think he looks like he's growing up in this picture. Showing off the uniform.

Blowing out the candles.

The special part of turning 8 is, of course, the baptism. This was something else that Tate was SO excited. I love that he was so excited for this special event.
We asked him before we left for UT if he wanted family or friends there. He wanted family so we decided to do the baptism in Ut. I was glad we did. He had lots of family but a few friends also. I was a little worried when we got there because there was a little miscommunication on filling the font. I wasn't sure who to meet at the church to fill it and after a few phone calls I was really sweating. Some one showed up though and it was filled in time.

We also had a mix up on the dessert. It wasn't where it was supposed to be and so it wasn't brought. I was stressing pretty bad, and feeling like I didn't have it all together. While Jillynn and Heather were giving their talks I had the spirit wash over me and I realized the font was filled, it didn't matter if it had been 2 hours late getting filled, or if the dessert wasn't there or if it had just been Todd and I present, the most important things was the ordinance being performed. It's if I OK didn't have refreshments, or do anything exciting after.

Tate started to cry after he received the Holy Ghost and I don't think there was a dry eye in the church. What a sweet spirit he has. He is sensitive and I love it. He sure is a special boy and I am glad he is a part of our family!

Bridal Shower

The day after we got to UT we had a bridal Shower for Justin's fiancé' Kaddie. We had 20 people or more that showed up to support her and welcome her to the family. I think she had fun playing the games, I did.....but I was just watching :-) We were worried about pulling it all together, but overall I think it turned out great.

It's tradtion for us to have a quilt to tie and sign. Here's a bunch of the ladies getting busy.

The soon to-be Mrs Justin Christensen

We had a light dinner, with very little left overs.

Nice turn-out of family and friends!

I love the excuse to get together with friends and family and this was a good one. It was a nice chance to visit with a lot of Todd's side of the family.

This girl's got a guy.

I consider my self a pretty lucky gal. I had a great dad growing up. A strong, mostly stubborn, loving, hard working dad, with a pretty crazy sense of humor, who would have done anything for me. I wish he was here to meet my kids, but I know he's looking on from the other side. Pushing them along and probably prepped them for the crazy life they were coming into. I'm pretty sure he warned them how crazy their mom really is. I can picture him, with a cane in his hand, saying "Good luck boys! She's a wild one"

I sure do miss him. But he gave me a good example of what to expect from my husband. And I got a good one! (Husband that is)

As I watch Todd interact with the boys, I cant' help but stop and think what a great dad he is! I owe it to him for teaching the boys the practical things in life. He's taught the older boys how to fix and rely on their bikes, to enjoy a hot summer day with a slurpee, and that it's ok to wear hand-me-downs. He's taught them that being cool doesn't always mean doing the "coolest thing". He's bought them car washing supplies so they can earn a little spending money, he helps them build forts, potato guns, and taught them to do cannon balls in the pool. Days off are filled with lunches with dad, wrestling matches, and father and son talks. He helps them build their pinewood derby's and tune them to perfection.

He also teaches them how to treat women/girls with respect, hold open doors, and tell them they're pretty when they ask, and hug them (hopefully only their mom and grandma's) when they cry. He's taught them it's okay to be (just a little bit) sensitive. But he's taught them how to be tough and stand together. He's taught them to stand for what they believe in and it's Ok if not everyone agrees. He's showed them that a good education is hard work, but worth it. He would do anything for the boys and they know it!

I couldn't ask for a better husband and father to my kids! He means the world to me and I love him more than words can say.

Thank you Todd for being there for the boys and me. I am glad you've stuck by me from the beginning and can't wait to spend forever with you! Happy Father's day!

I love you!

My Dad

The earliest memory of my dad is riding around on his motorcycle, going to some guys house that lived up the street, and sitting there while they talked. The reason I remember this guy specifically, is that he was missing fingers so all he had were stubs. I though it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.

My dad is not a go-out-of-the-way social person, but he will meet random people and just talk for hours. It used to drive me crazy when I was young. I can't remember the first time that my dad got mad at me, but him being mad will always be burned in my minds eye. He bites his tung, and whips his belt off so fast its a blur.

My dad is turning into a big softy the older he gets. As a kid I could count on one hand the times that I saw my dad cry. Now that all the kids are getting older I can count on two hands and two feet all the times I've seen him cry.

My dad worked a lot when I was young. He worked long and hard to make sure that we had food to eat and a roof over our heads. Because of this we didn't really get a chance to bond. We didn't go out and play catch, or go hunting, or camping, or watch sports and have our team that we cheered for.

On rare chances that we (the family/kids) did spend time together, my dad taught me how to drive when I was around 10-12 years old on the back country roads of Flowell. He taught me how to drive stick. He saved enough money to buy us a used four-wheeler and we used and abused the heck out of it and every time we broke it he didn't get mad, he just fixed it.

My dad was the "coolest dad ever" when I was a teenager, according to my friends ( I thought so too). He would let us borrow his truck and trailer to go camping. He could build anything in the shop. He reinforced our beater-car with a roll-cage so we'd be "safer." He didn't care if we swore around him (not the real bad stuff ). He tell us funny jokes and beat the crap out of my friends (mostly Brandon and Kyle).

He taught me how to work hard and take responsibility. He gave me permission to get in a fight to stand up for myself or to protect the weak. When I got expelled for for my first fight in 8th grade, the first thing he asked was: "Were you sticking up for someone?" The next Question was: "Did you win?" When I was 10, my dad was the leader of my scout troop. One of the boys was being picked on and my dad gave me the charge of protecting that boy and being his friend. I worked hard all the way through YM to help him when I could and be his friend.

I didn't really gain a "father/son" relationship with my dad till I started driving truck for him. Being around him all the time, getting to know him, to learn about him was the best thing that ever happened to us. I learned from him the type of man I wanted to be. How to work hard, how to be honest, how to take care of my family, how to build stuff with my hands, how to think and solve problems, how to do things for myself. I love my dad, and I'm thankful that he loved me the best he knew how. Because of him, I am the man I am today.

I love you dad!

We're here, we're here...

We mad it to UT on Thursday morning. I LOVED seeing the mountains as we drived in. If I could give them a hug I would!

The drive was good. I wanted to recored a couple of cute things the kids said while we were driving before I forget.

"Are we to Albaturkey yet?!" - Tobyn

"Are we in Ut yet?!"- All kids- including Todd :-) He didn't like driving so much...after always flying it, it made for A LONG drive. We drove through the night, and it was worth it. It was long, but after the first 4-5 hours we had a nice peaceful drive. We saw some pretty awesome clouds that looked like a little bit of heaven popping through.

I am not so much looking forward to the drive home, it will be nice to fly in Aug. when we come back again. But I am having a fun time here. The kids are loving seeing all of thier friends and family.

I will post pictures and all the happings as soon as we get home.