September 2010

 I seem to recall starting the month of September off with Labor day weekend. It was a wonderful weekend! We ended up going to Logans Zoo at Willow Park. It's a small park, but great for kids! We invited our friends the Bradfields to join us for zoo and a picnic at the park. They have a little girl named Lilly who is 2 months younger than Porter. They are seriously the best of friends! They both pray for each other in their prayers at night. How Cute!! I know! 
This month was filled with a lot Saturday morning Garage Sales. We would throw the kids in the car and bring books and turn on a movie and hope that would keep them occupied. It was lots of to do. Something we will keep doing I think.

Porter and Kinley seem to be growing up so quickly, it's really hard to keep up and remember all the fun things they do. Forever Porter has always thought the way to smile to a camera was just by tilting his head. But this month we taught him to show teeth and now there is no holding back. He loves to get balloons at Macey's grocery store and bring them home and let go of them in our front room with the vaulted ceiling. This time around I told him I wouldn't get it for him if he let go because I was busy at the moment and he would have to wait if he wanted to get the balloon back. Well sure enough he let go and didn't want to wait. He decided to stack all the couch cushions and add his step/potty seat on the top to get as tall as he could to get that balloon. But he still wasn't tall enough. I was so proud of his critical thinking! Smart Kid I have there!
Kinley is growing up quickly too. She turned 8months old at the beginning of this month. She talks and babbles like crazy and adds loud squeals  to it. She's definitely a girl. She is eating great and loves real food, none of this mush baby food anymore for her. I have to trick her into eating it every time.  Still no crawling from her though. That's one we are working on. She has no interest though.
Towards the end of the month we were lucky enough to be able to get a ticket off of our friend Matt for the USU vs. FSU game. We went with our friends the Tuttles and had a great time. The kids loved being in that atmosphere playing together and eating as much food as they could get. It was a little hot for the first 20 minutes of the game because of where we were sitting, but then the sun went behind the stadium and it was perfect! The kids were great and the game was a good one, even though USU lost. We had tons of fun and didn't spend a dime! It was an awesome way to say goodbye to Summer and hello Fall!

August 2010

Well this month didn't seem to be fun filled, but as I look back on it we did some fun things.We just weren't going crazy and we re-did a lot of things we already have this summer. Such as Camping, and BBQs.

We decided one day to go to the Logan Aquatic Center. When we arrived we put Porters Floaties on and he was super excited to use them, but the lifeguard told us we can't use floaties, but if we wanted we could use a life jacket provided at the front. We tried it out, but all it did was cause big tears to be added to the pools water depths. We decided we'd just stay close by and watch him, which we were doing ANYWAYS. Then we talked him into going down the big curly slide and once he did that, that's all he wanted to do. So we took turns taking him down, but mostly Patrick took him down. Porter really enjoyed being at the pool once we got rid of the life jacket.
Towards the end of the month we actually went back to Grandma C's house and swam some more. Porter had the time of his life, and got to the point where he needed  about 2 feet of water between you and him. He wanted to swim all by himself.

So Lots of swimming and fun with friends and family. This month Patrick got his 1st test results from the Audit section of the CPA exam. Passing grade is a 75 and he got an 89!!! YEAH!! He took the second seciton the FAR part and we are anxiously waiting the results of that test, while he studies for the 3rd part, the BEC. Keep him in your prayers please.
Also this month our ward was split for the 3rd time in the 3 years we have lived here. We were really really sad and have had a hard time adjusting to our new ward. But change is good and brings growth. Patrick was the Elders Quorum Pres in our last ward, but has now been called to the Young Mens President. Boy did I think He was busy as EQ Pres! HAHA Joke was on me. YM Pres is twice as much! But it will be great! He is really excited to work with these Young Men and says that there are some really good Boys in there. Plus to all you Christensen's out there...He says he'd like to try and find a way to possibly get an honorary Eagle. We'll see if he has time for that, between full-time work and studying for the CPA plus is normal duties to the Young Mens.
That was all for this month. Til next month...

July 2010

The beginning of the month started out by celebrating the 4th of July. Friday we went shopping for some things for the kids that afternoon and then went and saw Toy Story 3 in 3D after dinner. Porter and Patrick enjoyed it. I ended up in the hall with Kinley through most of the movie. I was fortunate enough to have run into a worker who said I could probably get a refund. Which I did!Saturday we woke up early because Grandma C was coming to pick the kids and I up to go to the Kaysville Parade and BBQ at my Aunt Kathys' house. Patrick stayed behind because he was going to go take his first CPA test that day. My Mom helped me out so much! I would have gone NUTS without her. Porter loved being with her and feeling her bumpy shirt! hehe At the parade Porter had no interest in going out to the road to try and get candy and toys. He preferred to sit in the stroller, eat a sucker and enjoy the shade. In a way I guess he's a smart kid! Enjoy the shade and relaxation. he was afraid of the loud firetrucks and police sirens so I think that added to it. We came home after all the parade and bbq and had pizzas and did our own fireworks. As well as roasted mallows and starburst in the fire-pit.We had to joke about the fireworks, because Porter wanted to go to bed. He was saying Daddy Sleep! But we brought him out for fireworks and every time they would be going off Porter would be whining and Kinley was quiet and in awe...Then whey they weren't going Porter was the quiet one and Kinley was the one whining! What a combo!
The weekend after the 4th we went up to Bear Lake with some friend of ours. Porter sat in his little mud puddle for 4 hours straight. And that's no exaggeration. He really sat there and played in the sand and water for 4 hours! He was focused and having fun! We had a great time there and hope to go back in August.
We were able to go boating with our friends at Willard Bay. Porter was so scared to go on the boat. It took a while for him to warm up to the idea of being free and moving so fast. Then he learned to cheer for everyone when they were doing well or even when they ate it in the water. Patrick was able to get up and surf the wake right behind the boat. It was awesome and we were so proud of him. He had a blast once he got up!! 
Then for the 24th we stayed in Logan and went to the parade here in town. Porter actually got into the candy catching and enjoyed cheering for the Princesses! Yes, I know... Patrick tried to teach him to whistle instead of saying "YAY! Mommy...Princesses!" After the parade we came home and napped. Then had the Tuttles over for a BBQ and then went to the concert in the park with Peter Breinholt and firworks after that. It was an enjoyable evening.
Then the last weekend in the month we had the Christensen Family Reunion. It was a shorter and simpler one this year. The adults went to the Temple Friday evening and then had a night of telling each other our lifes situations and receiving Priesthood blessings.  Saturday morning we woke up and went to the Splash Park for a few hours and then came back to Grandmas house and swam in her pool. Porter LOVED it. In fact he's been begging to go swimming at Grandma's ever since. We had a BBQ that night with the family and let the kids play and dance.
Overall this month has been busy, yet fun.The kids are growing up and learning to play together and enjoy one anothers company. The first thing Porter does in the morning is look for Kinley, in hopes that she is awake so he can give her a big hug. And when Kinley sees his smiling face she lights up as well.

June-SummaTime!!!

Once again I have to say What a GREAT month it's been for us. The beginning of the month was a little iffy because of the rain, but soon enough the sun has decided to shine and brighten our days with it's warmth. We've been able to enjoy camping and playing outside.
Our highlights this month are:

We went on our first camping trip of the summer! We had tons of fun doing that with some of our close friends. Porter did great and loved being free to roam and explore outside. Patrick took him fly fishing and Porter loved catching fish. He'd shout ISY-More! And now whenever we go near a river/stream he thinks of catching fish.We were also able to use our new tent for the first time and boy do we LOVE it! It was great because we had ours set up by the time everyone else was laying their tents out flat getting ready to set up.

We were also able to enjoy a wonderful evening of BBQ with our friends the Tuttles and out to  a concert in the park with Jon Schmidt and after wards some fireworks to celebrate the city Nibley.  Porter was a little ill that day so he was a very mellow kid that night. Yet, he loved the concert and would bop his head to the music and say NANO! He also found it fun to clap and cheer and share his excitement of listening to the music. The best was when he did it all on his own and nobody else was clapping or cheering. He all of a sudden clapped and said "WOOHOO!" I think everyone in the park heard him! It was so cute!

I was able to take the kids down to visit family and go to a good friends wedding one weekend. We celebrated Fathers day and Porter sang I'm so glad when daddy comes home to him, even though he was super sick! He did a great job. So as I mentioned Porter was sick, he had a double ear infection AND strep throat on top of that. He was miserable! He's never been so sick before and it broke my heart to hear him come to me and say "Mommy...hurt!" And because it was all just the flu symptoms of sweats and chills and the aches there really wasn't much I could do to help him. We did a lot of cuddling and watching movies on the couch.

We've also been enjoying the nice warm weather, Finally, in the pool. Porter loves to play in the water! I don't think we've ever heard such a tantrum from him when it was time to come inside for dinner. He LOVES playing in the water outside.

Kinley turned 5 months old this month and has learned how to roll over! She can only roll over from her back to her front on the left side, but it's still a milestone being reached. Right now we are working on sitting up on her own. We've started her on veggies and she gobbles those down. She really likes the Green beans! Everyone tells us she is a feminine little Porter! We agree! She has such a contagious little laugh and a smile that could brighten anyone's day!

May 2010

May is yet another crazy full month for us. At least this year it has been. With Graduation, our Anniversary, vacationing, and all of the fun things to do now that summer time has come around we have been busy!

This month we started out by celebrating Patrick’s Graduation. He Graduated from Utah State University with his Masters in Business Administration.  We are so proud of him and couldn’t be happier for him and this major accomplishment.  Bragging rights are that he graduated with a 3.9 GPA! He put so much time, hard work and effort into his schooling and has done a marvelous job.  Lots of family came to the Hooding Ceremony to support Patrick and this great accomplishment.  We thank them for coming and supporting Patrick through his school years.

We also had the opportunity to go with some great friends of ours to their Ranch in Aurora, UT.  We  spent about 3 days there and had tons of fun. We went hiking, 4 wheeling(mule riding with Kinley), Patrick and Porter went horseback riding,  to the sand dunes, and we got to shoot some guns with clay pigeons and still shooting.  We had such a great time while we were there and enjoyed our time with our friends and getting to know them better. 

Over Memorial Day weekend we spent our time with family.  We took some flowers to London and My Dad’s Graves.  Had a bbq with the Christensen family. Everyone was there – Brandon and Holley =( That was real sad, but also great to be with everyone.  Then we spent time with the Munson side of the family.  Played outside and played games. We just had a lot of fun relaxing time over the memorial weekend. 

Patrick has gotten our garden all planted and is doing well to take care of it! We’ve gone to feed the ducks up the canyon. Had lots of Picnics and block parties and played at parks. Patrick also took Porter on a Father and Sons Camp-out. Sadly it rained on them the entire time! They came home FREEZING!  Kinley and I stayed home and did our own girl things! Haha! Even at 4 months old Kinley and I bonded that night!

This month has been a wonderful month! Full of lots of fun with family and seeing where our life is taking us!