good dental hygiene

I couldn't hear Carter last night as we were getting ready for bed. Usually the bathroom door is closed so he can't get into it, but it was left open and Carter made a dash for it.

He had climbed up onto the toilet, then into the sink and then onto the counter where I found him on. He was so pleased with himself! He loves brushing his teeth so I let him stay there!

read to me

I always seem to just take pictures when the kids are in their jammies! I guess it's the only time of day when they actually sit still long enough to capture the moment. I thought this was sweet, they were supposed to be brushing their teeth and then getting into bed, but I heard them giggling out in the living room. I walked out to see this:

I loved seeing them playing so well together so I let them stay up a little bit longer. Dawson loves being read to and constantly asks Ryanna to read to him. That just warms my heart!

early bird needs sleep

It's 8:00pm on a Saturday night. The kids are bathed and fed. Their church clothes are carefully laid out and ready to go. The diaper bag is fully stocked and life is good. We brush teeth, read scriptures, say prayer and give kisses as I throw them into their beds. They go right to sleep.

However, this morning, as I planned on "sleeping in" until 7:30, my plan was so rudely ruined. Carter woke up before 6 am and finally went back to sleep at 7:00. I thought, "Well, since the other two are still asleep, maybe I can squeeze 30 minutes in!"

Why in the world did I think that? Two seconds after I crawled back into my warm and fabulously comfortable bed, Dawson yells from the bathroom. I go help him and get back into bed. A couple seconds later, Dawson appears at my side saying that he's not sleepy. (as he's walking into walls because his eyes aren't open) Yeah right.

He climbs in bed next to me and for the next 27 minutes and 45 seconds, he is keeping himself awake by talking, singing, wiggling, etc. Therefore keeping me awake. Of course.

By this time, the other two are also up. I groan and get out of my bed. I think to myself:

"WHY why why is it that every morning when it's a school night, they get to bed the same time and I can't for the life of me get them up at 7:00? And yet on a weekend, they get out of bed at 6 am?"

Is puzzlement.

the real pictures

I have a folder full of pictures that are too funny to delete. The pictures are full of "nothing" with a few bits and pieces of a body part in them. I think it's funny because it kinda shows the stage of life we're in right now...moving! We're constantly running, all day and even sometimes all night. It doesn't help that my camera is ancient and has a hard time taking pictures in the split second that my kids are sitting still!

I really try hard to take pictures that aren't blurry or otherwise horrible. I try to capture the kids and what they're doing. They won't stop moving therefore I find myself taking more of these kind of pictures:

(Yes, even Ryan can't sit still)

tacos and enemens

Ryanna's good bud, Isaac, came over yesterday. He's sure a good kid and makes sure that Ryanna is happy and taken care of. He looks out for her and is always trying to take care of her! It's so cute, she just adores him too. They sit by eachother at school (and have for months) and constantly play together. They'll curl up on the couch together with a book and read to the other, or play Superheroes or play Nintendo. If Ryanna is pouting or something, Isaac will ALWAYS stop and try to cheer her up by hugging her or holding her hand. It's so dang sweet!!

This was cute too. The kids have a spelling test today and they needed to practice. I told them that they could have a little bowl with M-n-M's if they studied and quizzed eachother. (to Isaac they were "Enemens") Needless to say, they have chocolate on their faces and I think they know all the spelling words!

Of course, Ryanna would be the one to quiz Isaac. And then, of course, Ryanna would be the one to give him an M-n-M...poor Isaac! He puts up with so much. He's a good sport!

just some updates

As crazy as our lives have been in recent weeks, I'm surprised I have any pictures to show from it! We've all been through the nasty flu bugs, pink eye, bronchitis, ear infections and other such joys.

-Ryan has nearly completed his BAR Application! The exam is the end of July. Looking forward to that! He is pulling long days (and even longer NIGHTS) at school. Trial Team competition is this weekend in Seattle and is working hard for his Appellate Clinic duties. He's doing so awesome!



-Ryanna is still loving Chess Club after school on Mondays and recently lost her other front tooth. Now she talks with a lisp, which she reminds me is "cool." She keeps talking about her birthday (which isn't for another month) and has her party all planned out...which I didn't even KNOW she was getting a blowout party.

-Dawson is starting to blossom at school and will actually say more than one or two words a day! He is more confident and we're working on the "Perfectionist" side of him and trying to allow himself more room for mistakes. (Go figure, this is MY kid? A shy one?)

-Carter is a big boy! Last week, he decided that he was finished with his crib. I couldn't keep him in it and fearing that he may hurt himself, switched to a toddler bed. He's doing great with it and actually does pretty well at staying in bed! He absolutely CRIED and sobbed when I took the crib out of his room, he was pretty devestated. But he's got a fun bed to sleep in now!

girl stuff

Ryan has a Trial Team competition this weekend and he had a seriously intense practice last night. Ryanna wanted to go with him...so we gave it a shot. We told her as long as she didn't disrupt or bother anyone she would be able to go. We packed a bag full of snacks and quiet activities. She sat there for 3 1/2 hours and didn't make a noise! I was so proud of her, so I decided to let her stay up and we did our nails! She is such an awesome kid.

(It didn't quite fit her little toes!)

She's also missing her two front teeth!
Way to go, Ryanna!

three-feet-tall-rule-breaker

Carter is a snooper. He can find anything that I've lost. I had lost an earring a few weeks ago, and then I realized that he had found it. How? It was hanging from his earlobe! He shook his head from side to side until it fell off and then he tried to put it back. I would be concerned if he were a little older, but since he just mimics what he me do I'm not concerned. Thank goodness he couldn't have done any damage to his ear! Coincidentally enough, he has his Little Rebel shirt on...

surprise for me

The kids "helped" Ryan setting up my Anniversary/Valentine's surprise! I walked into the dining room to this fabulous sight: roses, chocolate and a romantic card from my husband. He's too good to me and knows exactly what to say to make me melt.


The kids were so pleased with themselves for "helping" so well! Their breaths smelled of chocolate, I wonder how much "help" they actually were...

And I also got my OWN Webkinz! I am so addicted to them and I didn't have my own...but now I do!! Do YOU Webkinz?

it's all about aimee!

Here's a post just for Aimee...25 things why we all love her:

1) She has an infectious laugh
2) She absolutely loves music
3) She is faithful
4) She's an incredible example to me, her ELDER sister
5) She's taller than all of us siblings in our family
6) She is a gifted piano player
7) She's ambidextrous
8) She has a round nose...she told me once that if you pinch her nostrils closed, her nose is a ball.
9) She served in the West Virginia Mission
10) She works extremely hard (see #9)
11) She has a car named Burt
12) She worked at Albertsons in her teen years as a grocery packing technician
13) Her nickname as a girl was, "Choke." She would always inhale air when she drank any liquid and would end up spewing it back out during her choke session. Followed by some rather impressive burps! (She still does.)
14) She has a beautiful singing voice
15) She is a fabulous aunt!16) She loves to shop
17) She likes Chinese Food
18) She loves her birthdays...she'd say things like, "If you don't count the next five months, tomorrow is my birthday!!" It's actually Christensen folklore...an urban legend!

19) She has a darling sense of humor (see #18)
20) She likes to read good books

21) She's very loyal
22) She loves good music and is always on the look out for new artists
23) She is so much fun to be up talking with way past midnight
24) She's endearing
25) She's my beautiful sister!

Happy Birthday to you today, Aim! Hope that your day is something special since you're halfway to 50! I mean, you're a Quarter-Century old! I mean, you're 25. Love you!!