Aaron's First Fish!

For you fish enthusiasts out there...
this is the one and only fish we caught at Lake Dillon that weekend.
Aaron was so happy to catch his very first fish!

Weekend in Frisco

A Trip to the Mountains

This last Friday we loaded up the car and drove to the mountains! Matt's Mom, Carol, is celebrating her 70th birthday on July 1st. Since I am very pregnant (7 months and counting...) we decided not to take the full trip to Grand Junction, where they live. Instead, we met 1/2 way at a condo in Frisco.
It was absolutely beautiful. Our condo was HUGE! It was 2800 sq feet- 3 BIG bedrooms, each with their own lavish bathroom, and it had two decks with an unobstructed view of Lake Dillon. There were the 5 of us, Matt's parents and Matt's Grandma Rose, who is 90.
While there, we took a walk on the trails through the wetlands by the lake. (the trails were just outside our condo...) We went to the local parks to let the kids run off some excess energy. We went fishing, and Aaron was the only one to catch anything. (Go Aaron!) We also enjoyed grilling lots of food and playing games late into the night at the condo.
The boys loved the huge Jetted Tub in our bathroom, but Kellie was terrified of it and refused to get in. (sorry, I didn't get pictures of that, I have to at least try to retain their modesty somehow...)
Aaron also got his leg stuck between the rails on the deck and was terrified that we would have to call the Fire Department to get him out. Luckily Matt was quick thinking and grabbed the Jack from the car and was able to separate the bars enough to get him out. It was a pretty traumatic 15 minutes for him. (My first inclination was to take a picture, but chose not to when I saw how distressed Aaron was.)
We opened gifts and had birthday cake and enjoyed time away from home together.
Our summer traveling is finally done and now we plan to sit back and relax until school starts in August and the baby is ready to come.

Pictures soon...

(To be fair, I think I should clarify that MOST of us, namely me, will be relaxing. I don't think Matt will do much relaxing seeing whereas he is putting in our new floors this weekend!What a great guy!)

Baseball and a Trip to the Park

Aaron had his first Coach-pitch baseball game this Saturday. He did great! The rules are slightly modified so there are not 3 strikes or 3 outs- you get to try until you hit the ball. The coach pitches several to you, and if you are unable to hit it, then they get the 'T' out for you. Aaron didn't need the 'T' once! He was able to get in a few good hits and he even almost caught the ball in the outfield! After the game we stopped by the playgound before heading home.

Family Reunion 2009

Family Reunion/ 45th Anniversary

This last weekend all my brothers and sisters gathered together at a cabin in Fairplay, CO to celebrate my parents 45th wedding anniversary. I am the youngest of 6 kids, so to have EVERYONE there was a pretty big deal. There were my parents... 6 kids + spouses...19 grandkids (aged 17- 3 months)... and one more grandchild still waiting to come out of my tummy!
It was so great to see everyone. Activities included eating LOTS of FOOD, playing ladderball, building forts, campfire songs and stories, roasting marshmallows, late night card games, and taking lots of pictures of these great memories.
And what large family get-together is complete without the token sick person? My brother Jim was sick one night and Caleb came down with fever and Strep throat before the weekend was over. (We have now learned it has spread to at least one other family... sorry, Janice!)
Here's to a great time...

Sprinklers!

No explanation necessary... Sprinklers are fun!

I Guess I'll Claim Her...

Kellie

Me

I remember having Aaron and everyone told me, "He looks just like his Dad!" Then Caleb was born. Same comment. Didn't any of the kids get to look like me?
I finally got my little girl and people started telling me how much she looked like me. I have to be honest. I just didn't see it. I figured people were just saying that she looked like me because she was a girl. Then my Mom came upon this picture of me when I was little, and I guess I have to admit I can see the resemblance. (A little bit...)

FIELD DAY!

Aaron had a wonderful Field Day at school last week! (Although it might have been more appropriate to call it WATER DAY, since most of the activities involved getting wet.) In the morning Aaron's class walked the two blocks from the school to the local swimming pool. It was a bit chilly when they got there, but wasn't too bad by the time they left. Aaron loved it!

For one of the events the kids took turns sitting in the chair. another child would try to throw a wet sponge into the bulls eye on the wall. If they made in into the bulls eye they got to dump a bucket of water on the kid sitting in the chair, but then they had to take their place!

During this event the kids had to fill a can with holes in it and then run it across the field to the bucket and dump it in before all the water escaped through the holes!

This game was really fun to watch. The kids lined up in several lines. The first kid in line picked a sponge up out of the bucket and had to pass it to the kid standing behind them. They relayed the sponge and tried to get through the whole line. The last person in line then ran to the front of the line and started the process over. The first group to get through all the kids wins!

In this game the kids were throwing little wet sponges at targets...

Thank you for coming Grandma! It was fun!

Childbirth According to Caleb

Every time it comes closer to adding a new baby to the family the kids inevitably start asking about HOW the baby gets out of my tummy. Our stock response is "All you need to know is that when it is time Mommy will go to the hospital and there is a special way that the doctors help Mommy to get the baby out. That's all you need to know right now..." Clearly, that is not a detailed description, and the kids occasionally try to come up with their own theories...

Which brings us to yesterday, IN PUBLIC, at Sam's Club. Caleb was sitting in the cart patting my stomach as we walked through the aisles... (Keep in mind that the lady in the same aisle was trying so hard not to die of laughter, and was pretending that she wasn't eavesdropping, which is dumb, because it was pretty obvious by her stifled laughter that she was.)

CALEB: So when our baby comes out you will get to go the hospital, right Mom?

ME: Right Caleb.

CALEB: And the doctor will take our baby out of your tummy?

ME: Something like that, Caleb. I don't think you need to worry about that right now...

CALEB: I know how they do it, Mom.

ME: You do? I really don't think you need to worry about that right now though, Caleb. We'll talk about it later...

CALEB: (ignoring me...) First you go into the hospital. Then all the doctors HUG and SQUEEZE your tummy really tight mom.

(At this point he hugged his arms around my tummy really tight to show me how tight you'd have to squeeze)

ME: Really?

CALEB: Yes, and they SQUEEZE so hard that a special trap door opens up to let the baby out.

(he motions this by taking his two hands together and opens them like a set of double doors)

ME: (Speechless...)

CALEB: That 's how they do it, right Mom?

ME: (all I could say was...) I really don't think you need to be worrying about that right now Caleb...

CALEB: It's okay, Mom. I'm not worried. I know about the trap door...

So that my friends is "Childbirth according to my 4 year old."(I guess in theory he's essentially correct... What can I possibly say to that? Sigh.) :)

Caleb's Conversation with his Nuggets...

Last night we overheard the following conversation between Caleb and his Chicken Nuggets... (in case you're wondering, he was the voice for his nuggets...)

CALEB(looking at his nuggets): What's that? What did you say? It's okay, don't cry...

NUGGETS (in Caleb's "other" voice): We want to go to the party in your tummy!

CALEB: You do?

NUGGETS: YES!

CALEB: Don't worry, I'll help you...

CALEB (after eating one): SO yummy!

(This is funny in and of itself, but will probably be even funnier if you have ever heard the song "Party in My Tummy" on that irritating kids show, Yo Gabba Gabba)

Somebody is Getting Older... (a bit belated...)

Last month on April 16th, Matt turned 32. We did celebrate. We even took pictures. I have just been so preoccupied with other concerns that I didn't post anything. I am such a slacker!
Birthday posts are some of my favorites, because I really get a chance to stop and think about why I love that person so very much. So, even though it is a bit belated (sorry, honey!) I still want to talk a moment to reflect on all things Matt. Here goes...

1. Matt is a good father to his kids. Every day the kids watch for and listen for their dad to come home from work. At the first sound of the front door opening the kids pile into the living room to see who gets to give Daddy the first welcome home hug of the day. (Sometimes someone gets trampled in the process...) I love the smile on his face as he greets the kiddos.

2. Matt is horrible at Monopoly and Battleship. I used to think he was just being gentlemanly by letting me win, but it turns out he really is that bad. He is so conservative with his finances that he isn't aggressive enough to build up his properties quickly, whereas I take a big gamble and buy everything. I buy the cheapo properties and build them up very quickly, whereas Matt waits for the "perfect" buy, but then can't afford to improve them. He usually ends up paying exorbitant amounts of rent to me instead of building up his own. Also, being a Math Guy, he has such a methodical mind that he always lines up his ships in Battleship in predictable patterns. Locate one or two, and the pattern becomes obvious, and so I usually beat him. I think he gets flustered by my randomness sometimes.

3. I love that he continues to try to "talk math" to me, even though I really haven't the foggiest idea what he is talking about most of the time. I love that he still gets frustrated trying to explain that half of 1/2 is 1/4. (Whereas I know that half of 1/2 is really 1/4, I love to argue that half of 1/2 is really one half, because if you split anything in half, what have you got left? Half!)

4. Matt loves pork chops.

5. Matt is very ticklish. He probably won't appreciate me sharing this, but you don't even have to touch him to make him laugh. Just the power of suggestion and waving your fingers at him, pretending to tickle him, makes him squirm with laughter.

6. He plays the guitar. Lately, he serenades the kids while they are taking a bath. You should hear his rendition of "Rubber Ducky"... priceless.

7. Matt has a great sense of humor. He loves subtle jokes and dry humor. I think sometimes he married me just because he is so amused by the things that come out of my mouth. (I love to joke and tease with him, mainly because he blushes so easily!)

8. Matt loves to read. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot of time to read, since he works full time and comes home to a crazy house full of kids. We do read to our kids every night though, and I know he enjoys this. You should really hear his take of "Dooby Dooby Moo." (It's in the same series as "Click Clack MOO. Cows That Type.")

9. Matt is always singing. When we first got married he used to sing show tunes to me all day. I finally broke him of loudly singing "Oklahoma!" every time their was a lull in the conversation.

10. Matt is a great husband. He tries so very hard to be a little bit better all the time. He changes diapers, snuggles babies, does laundry, humors his wife, loves the kids, and wrestles the dog. Meanwhile, he faithfully serves in his callings and provides for his family. (and he rarely complains...) We are so blessed to have him.

We love you, Matt!

BOYS!

I have had to laugh lately because so many people have asked us if we are disappointed that this baby is a boy instead of another girl. Let me answer that- NO! :) We chose to have another baby because we didn't feel our family was complete yet, not because we were hoping for a girl! I do feel a little bad for Kellie because I have wonderful sisters and she is missing out on that experience- but I find consolation in the fact that someday she'll get to have great sister-in-laws! (I'm sure my sons will pick lovely women to marry some day!)

Anyway, there are a few things I LOVE about BOYS...

*Their toys are so much cooler. I'll take Legos and Trains over Barbies any day!
*No tights to force them into when you're dressing them for church!
*Low maintenance hair styles!
*They wear what you set out for them without too much fuss. (I am amazed at how opinionated Kellie is about her clothes- and she is only 2!)
*Their protective nature! My boys are always trying to "Take Care of" me and Kellie. We are surrounded by protective little guys!
*Mischievous smiles. (I know I should be worried that they are up to something when I get one of those grins... but there is just something about that look and wink that makes me laugh!)
*There's just something about a boy standing in the front row LOUDLY singing "Jesus wants me for a SUN-BEAM!"during the Primary Program. (Somehow, it's just not as cute when the girls are irreverently belting out lyrics.)
*Overalls. (Enough said.)

I'm sure there are many more things I forgot! What's your favorite thing about boys?

(By the way, I'm a fan of little girls, too! They are special in so many different ways! I don't want any one to think I am Anti-GIRL here...)

Aaron "Teaches" at the Library

Yesterday Aaron and I went to the library while the other 2 kiddos were napping. Due to all the rain, the library was a pretty busy place to be. After gathering our books, I let Aaron play at the Thomas and Friends Train Table they have in the Kids Section. I sat on a nearby couch and listened to the following conversation. (There was another little kid, probably about 3 yrs old already playing.)

KID: Come on Thomas! Let's Go!

AARON: Um, excuse me, but that's not Thomas.

KID: It's not?

AARON: No, that's Toby. Toby's brown.

KID: Oh. Here's Thomas.

AARON: No, that's Percy. He's green.

KID: (picking up another green one) Thomas?

AARON: No, that's Henry he's green too.

KID: Who says?

AARON: I know these things because I'm an expert.

KID: What's a "experp"? (mispronounced)

AARON: EXPERT. Not experp. It means I know a lot about this topic. I know ALL about these trains. When you get bigger you can be an expert, too.

KID: I am a PERP too!

AARON: Maybe someday...

KID: I'm a PERP! I'm a PERP! I'm a PERP.

Aaron and I left not to shortly after this conversation. I had a good chuckle to myself and can't help but giggle at Aaron's expert teaching!

Seriously, I have no idea where this kids parents were, but I hope they don't mind too much when their little guy runs around telling everyone that he's a PERP! (at least he didn't say PERV...) :)

Who stole the Cookie?

When we get home after picking Aaron up from school the first thing we do is hang up our jackets and backpacks. Aaron is usually the quickest.

After helping the others, I walked up to our living room to see Aaron hiding in a corner, hunched behind a chair. Curious, I asked him what he was hiding. He ignored me. I insisted he stand up and answer me. He stood up, but refused to answer, and I could see his cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk. Clearly, he had stolen some goodie from the kitchen.

I asked again, "What are you eating?"

Defiantly, he refused to answer.

I put him in Time Out. After swallowing, he finally told me it was a leftover cookie from lunch.

I then asked him why he hadn't eaten it at school. He wouldn't answer.

Phone rings. It's Matt. I told him what was going on and he informed me that he hadn't put a cookie in his lunch today because he had Easter Candy instead.

I confronted Aaron with his lie.

His response: "You're just not listening, Mom. What you don't realize is that I got confused when I said it was a cookie... I really meant to say that it was my leftover chocolate egg from lunch..."
(That's his exact quote!)

By now I'm thinking, "Nice Try, Buddy."

I give him the MOM GLARE, insinuating that I find his story fishy.

He caves under the stare. "Actually, Mom. It was a cookie from the kitchen. I can't ever tell you the truth, because then I get in trouble."

I told him I was more upset that he lied to me. TWICE.

He told me that lying isn't as bad as stealing.

He then told me that I just gave him no choice. He needed the cookie, and he had to lie to get it.

I had a harried "Mom Moment" where I just looked at my son and thought, where did you EVER get that idea? And then we had a talk about stealing and honesty.

I'm not sure he really gets it, though. (Sigh.) I'm not ready to deal with an evasive, manipulative child. When did my baby grow up- and how do I get him back?

It's A...

I had my twenty week ultrasound done today and everything is right on schedule for our due date of August 3o. Seeing whereas I have always been late in the past, I am not expecting junior to show up until September.

This is grandchild # 20 in our family. Not counting this one, we have 12 BOYS and 7 GIRLS. September is a busy time for our family: 6 of the grand kids are already in September and all of them have been boys. (including our two boys!)

This baby does not break the streak! It's another BOY!

We've had mixed reactions. Matt and I are just happy he's healthy. Caleb is excited, and I don't think Kellie knows what's going on. Poor Aaron cried when he found out, though. He really wanted another baby sister....
(Oh well, he's got a few months to adjust to the idea.) :)

Easter Sunday Clothes

Easter Morning

8 inches

It's a little damp from the shower- but there's the new 'do.
I had my hair cut earlier this week and they took off about 8 inches.
I have been so sick lately and this cut was very badly needed.
I am loving it!

Names

Matt and I have been scouring the baby names books and are still at a loss. It is really hard to name the 4th baby. If you count middle names, we've already used our top 4 names for boys- and we just can't find another girl name we both really like.

Here's our problems:

1. Including our kids, there are 19 nieces and nephews in my family. Counting middle names, that is 38 names that we have ruled out on principle because we don't want a "repeat" name. (Although admittedly, some of the middle names are the same. Add in my 6 siblings and their spouses and that number is even higher.

2. Christiansen has 12 letters. We don't want a first name that is too long because when it comes time to write their name out we don't want the poor kid to take 20 minutes to write it...

3. Matt was a teacher. As such, there are just some names that he associates with kids he'd rather not remember. Also there are names we naturally reject because one or both of us "knew a (insert name)" and can't picture naming our child after someone we have 'bad' memories about.

4. We refuse to name our kid after a piece of fruit, or other random object.

We have our ultrasound on the 13th, and maybe that will help guide our search once we know what gender we're dealing with...

In the meantime, I thought you might get a kick out of some of the names we have come across in our books. Matt and I have enjoyed a good laugh over some of them and can't really picture anyone naming their little one some of these. (we realize cultural differences might account for some of these unusual names, but even so...)

These are actual names straight from the book...

SPANKY
SPARKY
NAG
MORPH
CORN
FACTOR
FANG
PENTECOST
SEVEN
TANK
TEDDY-BLUE
URANUS
UZZI
WHEEL
WISS
CAR
CAPER
CHICKADEE
DIJON
FLAX
L'AMOUR
LUNA-COCO
MOONBEE
POPPY-HONEY
WORSHIP
ZIPPY

(and this was just a sampling of the really weird ones... where do people get these?)