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Some days you just don’t feel like cooking and you want something other than just a burgers. On those days we always end up at Sam Hawks Korean BBQ. ALL of the kids love something on the menu that they always finish.

Esher loves the egg side dish that he always orders 4 of before the waitress cuts him off.

Tristan is our shrimp girl that orders shrimp no matter what ethnic restaurant we might be in.

Paris as always orders the most expensive thing on the menu Kalbi, but she eats every last bite of it, so we don’t mind.

You know you married the right person not only because you wake up with a smile every morning knowing you get to start the day with a kiss from the person you love dearly laying next to you, but because of how elated your children get when their daddy walks through the door!! Not to mention, all of us fighting to get a chance to share our day with him!! We are so blessed!!

Dads are always so much fun!!!

 

Tristan with her shrimp.

Tonight I felt like going back in time, just a little, to when I would order these rice noodles(Douk) and cabbage on the streets of Korea. They made the perfect snack in-between class. They are extremely spicy so the kids didn’t like them that much. Jared and I shared them and talked about our days there. We have an amazing past that we hope becomes our children’s future!

After Computers

On Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays all the computer kids come over for about an hour before we take Tristan to school, so they can play together. They always come up with different things to do and most of the time it depends on the weather. If it’s not too cold they just stay outside, but if it’s a bit chilly they always come in. Today was chilly. So, they played the WII. I really love having it as an option in our home because we all have so much fun with it and so do our friends. I never thought we would ever own a video game in our home but this one is so family oriented I actually like playing it myself. I’m terrible at it and Esher kills me at anything we play but it is always fun!!

I had to take these pictures of Naomi and Esher fencing. They were both so into it they looked adorable!!! Of course, my son is in his PJ’s. He loves to wear pajamas so much that one day when he fell asleep before he had put them on he woke up the next day begging me to let him wear them for the day. Yes, he actually changed from normal clothes to pajamas to start the day. I figure he won’t be able to do that much longer, so why not.

 

Paris

We had a quiet, calm Sunday.  While we were BBQing our dinner Paris did this.  She was trying to get her dad’s attention but we kept talking. Finally, she laid on the ground with this written in front of her. I looked over at her and started laughing out loud, when Jared turned around, he did the same thing.  She is suppose to be yelling “DAD” in the way you would see it done in an old cartoon or comic strip. This girls is so creative in all ways that she is constantly amazing us!!!

 

Dos de Mayo Party

So, I am left as the lone Activities Committee Member at church but I can’t believe how smoothly everything went tonight. The Elder’s quorum was in charge of helping me set up. We have never accomplished it faster than this.  It took a total of 30 minutes to set up 10 tables with 8 chairs each, plates, cups, napkins, silverware, a Piñata, 3 serving tables, 2 nursery tables, and a dessert table.  We have never had a whole hour to go home and get ready but this time we did-thank you to all for being such willing and wonderful helpers!!!

In the morning I had to to run to about 3 stores and my little helper, Tristan Xian, came with me.  My wonderful friend Jackie provided the sombrero that we needed for a game we were going to play and Tristan instantly put it on. I’m telling you this girl loves accessories from any country and isn’t afraid of wearing them. So my little Xian walked around all over Provo looking like this….

WE LOVED IT!!!

I had another wonderful friend, Terri, provided my outfit. Last time we went to Mexico she asked for a Mexican style blouse and that is exactly what I needed to make me look more authentic. Where would I every be without my wonderful friends?? Let’s never find out!!!

Heavenly Father I think, helps me with every single activity in one way or another.  This time it came in the form of my table cloths.  I had gone to one dollar store and found colorful rectangular ones that I was going to have to cut up to make fit on the round tables. As Tristan and I were running around town I was close to the other dollar store when I realized I needed a little bit more tissue for the paper flowers we were going to have the kids make. When I found the aisle with the tissue I turned to find 10 different color round table clothes. I couldn’t believe it and I had not planned in anyway to go to this dollar store but just happen to remember the tissues as I was driving by it. I love that HE is there for us in all things, big or small, it never matters, he’s just a wonderful Father always there for all of his children’s needs! So, it saved me tons of time not having to cut the rectangular ones and having so many different colors available. It made the gym look so bright and festive, exactly what I wanted!!! So here are some pictures of the tables and my flowers too.

We set up 10 tables but later had to put up 2 more. We had a great turnout!

Tristan started and finished her dinner at the dessert table.

We taught the kids how to make paper flowers. And there’s Tristan still wearing her sombrero. Luckily, The Fuchs showed up and also helped me teach the other kids how to make flowers since they had been through it all the night before. We love that our friends supporting us and attending our activities. They know about half our ward already so it’s like seeing old friends every few months.

Side note: Nate is on a 25 day cleanse, no joke, I believe this was day 11 with no food and he came to support us anyway with all this great tempting grub all around him-we love you guys, you rock!!!

Then we did The Mexican Sombrero Game. It’s sort of like musical chairs, but not, when the music stops and you are caught with the sombrero in your hand you are out.  This game did not turn out the way I pictured it in my mind-does anything ever?? The first 8 kids that got caught with the sombrero ran to their parent’s arms in tears.

We had two different age groups doing this game: all kids 7 and under and kids 8 and over. 

Thankfully, no one in the second group ran into parent’s arms in tears. Each group had a Christensen child win. We had brought back prizes from Mexico when we were there in January. I didn’t get a single picture of the winners with their prizes, so sad!!! One day I’ll get it all right-hopefully!

Then it was time for the Piñata.

We lined them up and one by one they did their best to get the piñata to break. Even though my love is no longer on my committee he is still there helping me every step of the way….I couldn’t do it without him!!!! Thanks My Love!!!!

Everyone seemed to have a great time.  We had so many people help and clean up….we just have such an amazing ward family!!!!

We went home exhauster and elated at the evenings activities. Can’t wait for the next activity!!!!

Friday Friends

It’s Friday Night and we have our little gang of friends coming over- The Fuchs and The Browns, The Lloyds had a big birthday bash to attend so we didn’t get to see them, boo hoo.  Tomorrow is a big day for us because we are having a Dos de Mayo Party at the church so, I had all the kids help me make Mexican Paper Flowers. We had to make 30 of them, for the center piece,  before the end of the night. We had many willing helpers. We made big ones, flat ones, fluffy ones, and even super crumbled ones but each was beautiful in its own way.  I appreciated all the help we got and I felt so bad that I didn’t get more than this one picture of my wonderful helpers. Naomi, Mia, Tristan, Paris, Gracie and I worked until we had 27 done and we couldn’t make anymore. Jared and I finished the last few ones plus a few extra after everyone left. 

When the kids lost interest in the flowers they went upstairs to open up a beauty salon, this is what they ended up with.

Tristan the girl with the crazy style that included tights, clips, rollers of all sizes, a head band and a pacifier to complete the hairdo.  It looked awesome!! 

You can see some of our flowers in this picture.

I caught Paris in action with Naomi’s hair.

They took a small cup and wrapped her hair around it and came up with this awesome Cindy Lou Who doo!!!! Naomi, you look awesome!!!

It is truly a joy having all of these kids get together on Fridays!!  They all just play great together. It’s always so much fun seeing what they come up with next to entertain themselves and US!