Chaotic Blessings....

Yesterday was a wild day here in the Christensen household. I don't know what got into everyone but something happened overnight to insight craziness from the moment morning arrived(except me of course--someone had to be sane around here!). Yesterday morning we attended our old West Jordan ward to hear the daughter of wonderful friends of ours speak as she is getting ready to go on a mission. Early that morning I heard all sorts of commotion downstairs and went to investigate ready to send the rioters to their room. When I turned the corner, I saw my 41 year old husband causing all the ruckus. Apparently the kids weren't moving as quickly as Kelly would like so he found Mark's huge water gun and decided some surprise attacks might be good motivation. This led to the running, screaming, laughing and wet scene I found myself in first thing in the morning. (Have I mentioned I'm not a morning person?)

Well later that day Mark's new Nerf ball gun (whose idea was it to give him guns for his birthday?) was in use and lots more dodging, hiding, and screaming with Kelly front and center with a guilty smile and a shrug. (I am beginning to think his calling with the 14 -15 year old teenage boys is rubbing off on him). Soon rubber band wars ensued followed by more water guns. I kept trying to tell everyone that Sunday was called a day of rest for a reason. No where in the scriptures does it talk about weapons of play being used on a Sunday! I'm sure Heavenly Father didn't have such shenanigans going on during the seventh day! :)

As the evening ended, and things quieted down I realized that although the day was totally chaotic, I needed to be grateful for noise...all too soon it will be quiet around here. What a lonely life I would lead without my fun loving husband and my children. So although I would appreciate some peaceful times on Sunday with the family, I will have to learn that it's ok for a few moments every once in awhile to forget about being a mom, and become like a little child....armed with a squirt gun.

Love this Book!

I haven't made a book recommendation yet on this blog, so here goes. I recently aquired this book by Kerry Blair. She is an LDS author and this is her first work of non fiction, at least that I'm aware of. She is very witty, and I loved this book, because it helped me appreciate all that I have, and not feel guilty if I'm not perfect or even close.

An excerpt that I particularly liked was this:

"As Latter-day Saints we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes. Maybe it's subliminal. Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday, I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine. We wonder if we have done any good in the world today, because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where He wants us to go. However, as the morning breaks high on the mountain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down. And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?"

I loved this book, it made me smile, appreciate, reflect and even get a bit teary (I know that's hard to imagine!) Most of all, it uplifted me, and made me feel that despite all my faults that continually scream out to me (and sometimes to those around me), and the hard trials that fall in my path...that I have a great life in which my Heavenly Father continues to bless me. and as long as I have have more steps forward than backward, everything will be ok.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Yesterday was Mark's 8th birthday! I can't believe my baby is that old, where has the time gone? I love you Mark, your soft voice, kind heart, generous hugs and quiet faith have brought so much joy into our home. I am so excited for you to get baptized in a couple weeks, what a great day that will be. Thank you for always thinking of others and finding ways to share and make them happy before yourself. I hope you had a great birthday!

Yesterday I checked Mark out from school during lunch and we went to his favorite place Subway for lunch. Then as a family we went out to Brick Oven for dinner, and then came back to cupcakes, presents and ice cream here at home. He is having a birthday party with a few friends and cousins on Thursday.

The Car Wash

Let me preface this by saying that I am an intelligent woman, a college graduate, full of common sense and great intuitive powers all of which allows me to function pretty well in most situations. However a couple days ago, all the above qualifications failed to give me the needed intellectual understanding and basic skills required to operate a simple car wash.

Typically I pay the extra dollar or two and drive through a car wash. You know the kind when all you have to do is drive forward until the red light goes on, put the car in park and watch while wonderful machinery works magic with soap, water, wax and the biggest blow dryer the world has ever produced ( I need one for my bathroom, I could dry my hair in record time!). I can listen to tunes on the radio, text on my phone, read a book or close my eyes for a brief rest, all while staying dry and safe. It's a great invention and luxury I afford myself every once in awhile when I can no longer see the color of my car and that is saying something considering it is the color of dirt!

However, two days ago, due to my impatience at waiting in a long line, and not having a shower that day I decided to attempt the manual car wash in the next bay. I mean how hard can it be right? I swiped my card and realized that my time was starting and I was paying for standing there. I quickly checked out the car wash panel and was stunned at how many choices were listed-- none of which were in numbered steps. Do I pre-wash or use the brush....what is tri color conditioning and where does that fit in? There is a high power rinse and a spot free one? Why oh why did I not pay attention during my platinum wash. Being ever mindful that I was paying for my ineptitude and indecisive behavior I quickly switched the dial to the soapy brush...after multiple failed attempts at trying to drag the very unmanuverable hose around the car I opted for some spray soap. After the car was sufficiently bubbled, I turned it to my rinse option. I was doubting the abilities of the so called high power rinse when I realized there was a trigger on the wand. Imagine my astonishment upon pulling said trigger, the wand developed a mind of it's own and promptly flew out of my hand completely dousing me but missing the car entirely before falling to the ground and disengaging. (At this point I am secretly looking for hidden camera's, worrying I'm going to be the star of some reality tv show or be the next you tube phenomenon). Finally I figured out how to wash off the soap, at least most of it, but the rest of the selections I made after that are all a bit blurry.

All I know is the end result was disastrous! I spent more on this wash than the luxury one, my car had some sticky residue all over it that dried into some dirty looking film before I got home. I pulled into my driveway exhausted and dirty, with my car not much better off.

Great Idea

Goal: View middle of the night rare meteor shower.

Step 1: Set up Tent

Step 2: Turn off sprinklers

Step 3: Run extension cord for ipod and cell phone charging! (ask Ryan)

Step 4: Bring out blankets and pillows

Step 5: Wait for meteor sightings

Step 6: Keep waiting for meteor sightings

Step 7: Fall asleep while still waiting for meteor sightings....oops!




Better Luck Next Time!!

The last week of summer.....

and mom wants us to do WHAT?






There has to be some law against this!

A calgon moment needed......

Monday marked the return of somewhat of a schedule around here. The last two months have been full of lazy mornings, camps, vacations, trek's and so on. Little things have slid deeply by the wayside. So I decided that Monday (yesterday) we would return to some sort of routine. Now I know all really good mom's out there have continued to have their children, read, practice, clean and so on all summer, and did so with smiles and happy voices, but sadly, I am not one of those.

Seeing the reaction of my children the past two days, you'd think they'd all been confined to prison without the possibility of parole! Life apparently has become unbearable! It's been no picnic for me either. I have tried my best to put a smile on my face and lead by example, unfortunately about an hour or so into the morning, that attitude has gone out the window and I really am starting to resemble a prison warden! I suggested to one of my teenagers as they complained when I turned off the tv, to go read a book and he looked at me as if I was speaking another language. You know a book I said, the rectangular things with great pictures on the front that are full of words you can string together to create an entertaining story? The definition didn't go over so well as was demonstrated by the roll of the eyes.

With the younger two, you'd think that practicing the piano was some sort of medieval form of torture. I was thinking it was time for a new blog entry, so I was going to take some fun pictures of my kids doing things together around the house, call it simple joys or something profound. I went to grab my camera to show Cassie sitting with her little brother on the piano helping him practice....when I returned there was an elbow war going on fighting for space on the bench....upset faces and raised voices and no practicing. Not quite the Kodak moment I was searching for. I should have taken the picture anyway.

Later when the same two children were cleaning their separate rooms, and changing their sheets I heard one of them say....let's wrap up all the stuff on the floor in the sheet and take it down to the basement. I was grateful to overhear this clever little plan, because my basement has become somewhat of a black hole. The kids know that what goes down rarely is found. It was a brilliant plan, one crafted out of the reality that I knew all the clever hiding places in their rooms. It wouldn't surprise me one day to drive by my house and see all sorts of bedroom clutter on the roof...because maybe I wouldn't look there before playtime. :)

So now it's noon, and I'm ready for a long bubble bath, a book and a sound proof room. I, unlike my kids, recognize that to read and escape reality once in awhile is a healthy thing. Especially after all the jobs are done.