Ode to Moms....

So what if my baby is not sleeping through the night, and my older two often argue and fight? So what if my hair is not styled or even brushed? And the kids and I leave the house very rushed? So what if my house is a clutter filled pit? And you have to move Legos and dolls just to sit? Sometimes I get my daughter to preschool late. And sometimes my diet isn't too great. Sometimes I let my kids watch too much t.v., play too much on the computer, or too much on the Wii. But I, just like all moms, am doing my best. And even though I'm not perfect, I feel very blessed. For we have all we need, we have food and a house. I have happy healthy children, and a wonderful spouse. So even though life doesn't go just as I've planned it......I'm doing the very best I can, dammit!!

God and Santa must be in cahoots.

Noah is celebrating his First Reconciliation this Saturday. He was talking about it with me a couple days ago and he said he was nervous to talk to the priest. I said "oh, you have nothing to be nervous about, you talk to Fr. Pat all the time. You just tell him a couple of your sins and then God will forgive them." After our little talk he was VERY excited about his First Reconciliation. Seth told me tonight that Noah had told him he was excited because his sins would be forgiven right before Christmas! He will be on Santa's nice list for sure!! What perfect timing!!

Samuel Goes out for a Spin

We've Been Elf-ed!!!

The Elf on the Shelf has hit the Christensen household! Today that wacky imp decided to make a snow angel on our kitchen table!

30 Days of Thankfulness

Day 1: I am thankful that I am able to work part time at a job that I love and that I get extra time at home with my little loves.

Day 2: I am thankful for Noah, who teaches me something new every day; who, at the age of 7 has a bigger vocabulary than I do, and who keeps me laughing with his quirky sense of humor and his spot on deadpan delivery.

Day 3: I am thankful for my sweet little Ella; my biggest helper, the family peacemaker, and my fashion stylist. She makes friends wherever she goes, her beautiful smile lights up a room, and I am thankful every day that I get to be her mommy.

Day 4: I am thankful for Eli, my little love. I adore his little belly laugh and his snuggles. And I am thankful that he loves his sleep as much as I do.

Day 5: I am thankful for Seth, a wonderful husband and daddy. I may complain a lot that he is gone at work so much, but I really am thankful that he is hardworking and takes such good care of his family.

Day 6: I am thankful for the much needed extra hour of sleep and for the fact that my children participated in Daylight Savings Time this year.

Day 7: I am thankful for my parents, Mary and Tim for always supporting me, teaching me to be hardworking, responsible, and honest, and for being terrific grandparents to my kiddos.

Day 8: I am thankful that the repairs to I-680 were finished a year ahead of what they were expected to be and that my commute to work is much more pleasant.

Day 9: Today I am thankful that I have amazing friends who make me laugh, help me with all my "issues", and agree to do crazy things like Trek Up the Tower!!!! :)

Day 10: I am thankful for my brothers. Ryan, for always being up for a philosophical debate about any topic under the sun; and Jeff, for making me laugh with his neverending craziness. And both of them for putting up with me as an older sister!!

Day 11: I am thankful for the veterans who have served our country, especially my dad and my father in law, and for all those who are currently fighting for our freedom.

Day 12: I am thankful for my wonderful in laws, Grandma Jolene and Grandpa Donnie. They are always supportive and helpful, and they are terrific grandparents. And I thank them for raising a wonderful son who I am lucky to have for a husband.

Day 13: I am thankful that someone finally told the lady a few pews ahead of us in church this morning that she had a giant leaf stuck in her hair because I could not stop laughing and I felt like a hypocrite telling Noah to be appropriate when I was laughing so hard I was crying every time I looked up at leaf head.

Day 14: I am thankful that we have been blessed with a wonderful babysitter for our children. Finding someone that we trust to help raise the most important people in our lives is nerve-racking, but we have been so lucky. We appreciate all you do Theresa!!!

Day 15: I am thankful for these 10 extra lbs I have been struggling to lose- they show that I have plenty to eat. I am thankful for these annoying wrinkles around my eyes- they show that I find joy and laugh every single day. And I am thankful for the stretch marks, overall droopiness, and the fact that I will never again be rocking a bikini- they show that this body gave birth to three beautiful babies.

Day 16: I am thankful for my mom, Mary. She is one of my best friends and the first person I turn to when I need help or advice. I didn't fully appreciate all that she sacrificed and all that she did to give me a wonderful childhood until I was a mother myself, but I appreciate it now, and I hope that I can be as great a mother as she is. Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!

Day 17: Today, as I am headed to pay my respects and celebrate the life of a beautiful family member whose life was cut too short by a long battle with cancer, I am truly thankful for everything. Life is so short, we have to appreciate every moment.

Day 18: I am thankful for the conveniences of modern appliances. I don't know how I'd survive without my washing machine, microwave, and dishwasher. Wouldn't you agree, Leslie Dickinson????

Day 19: I am thankful for heated leather seats in my car today. That wind out there is brutal.

Day 20: I am thankful for weekends that Seth gets to be home with us and doesn't have to work.

Day 21: I am thankful that I have been able to make a business out of doing something I love. I am thankful for all of my family and friends who have supported and encouraged me in my photography and for all the new friends I have made through this adventure.

Day 22: I am thankful that I am able to work with so many dedicated teachers who care about kids and love what they do. They make my job easier and make it fun to go to work each day.

Day 23: I am thankful that my kids get to know their great grandmas, Great Grandma Pauly in Minnesota and Great Grandma VanRoy in Omaha. I never knew my great grandparents so I am glad that my children have been blessed with that gift.

Day 24: I am thankful for a beautiful, warm Thanksgiving Day spent with family. And also stretchy jeans.

Day 25: I am thankful for Eli's giant, open mouthed, slobbery kisses ♥

Day 26: I am thankful for spending this cold, blustery Saturday inside safe and warm at The Muppets Movie.

Day 27: I am thankful that we got all the Christmas decorations up this week-end and now we have all of December to enjoy them.

Day 28: I am thankful for our house. It is messy, cluttered, disorganized, and chaotic at times, but that's what makes it our home.

Day 29: I am thankful that my parents instilled a love of reading in me when I was young. There is nothing better than curing up with a good book at the end of a long day. I am also glad that my kids love to read and be read to as much as I do. Even Eli loves to look at books and listen to stories.

Day 30: I am thankful that I have so much to be thankful for. I know grammar teachers.....I am thankful I have so much for which to be thankful. I really am and I really do. Bring on December!

Ella's pierced ears

Ella and Eli and I were running a couple errands at the mall today and we walked by Claire's. I asked her when she wanted to get her ears pierced. We had talked about when she wanted to get them done in the past and we thought maybe before she started Kindergarten. So, I was very surprised when she replied "how about now?" I needed to get mine re-pierced because they had grown shut and I always said I would get them done when Ella got hers. So I thought "how about now?" so we walked in and picked out our earrings. She picked out the pinkest ones she could find. I picked out the least expensive ones I could find.

I went first so Ella could see how it worked and it hurt! I didn't remember it hurting so much when I was 8! I made sure to tell her that it would hurt and I asked her a couple times if she was sure she wanted to do it. "Yep" She hopped right up and the girl did her first ear and Ella jumped a little and frowned at me, but did not make a peep. Then she did the 2nd ear and again Ella sat there without making a sound. Then she hopped down and that was it. I asked her if it hurt. "Yep." I asked if she was glad she did it. "YES!" I think it makes her look so grown up.

Halloween Costumes 2011

Noah is very excited about his Ash costume. Ash is a character from Pokemon and Noah LOVES Pokemon.

Ella agreed to be Little Bo Peep after we saw a costume in a catalogue. I thought it would be super cute for Eli to be her little sheep and was glad she agreed with me.

Zoo Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l8wtQOW3nyE

Baby Giggles

Race for the Cure

Seth and I just finished this year's Komen Race for the Cure. It was a beautiful morning! My goal was to finish in 30 minutes and I finished in 28! This year they gave out whole boxes of Special K cereal and between Seth and I we brought home 8 boxes.

Ball Pit Fun

Ella and Eli had fun playing together in the hippo ball pit. I had to remind Ella about 50 million times not to jump on her brother.

Silly Store

While we were driving Ella asked "Mommy, when I get married who will be my prince? And will you be my bridesmaid?"

Then when we pulled into the gas station she asked if we could go into the Silly Store. I had no idea what she was talking about. I finally remembered that the last time we had gone to get gas and I had purchased a car wash. I was waiting for my receipt and it said 'please see attendant'. I was seriously annoyed that I had to get all the kids out of the car and drag them inside. Ella asked where we were going and I said we were had to go into the......silly......store (I was thinking a different word). So now she thinks it is the silly store.

1st Day of Preschool

Ella was super excited to start preschool again. She has been asking since the end of May when she gets to go back. She was happy to see her friends and her teachers. And she was very excited to wear her new "1st day of school clothes".

Oh Where Oh Where Has My Pimple Gone???

Noah started the school year with a giant pimple on his face. We think it was from chlorine drying out his face and then getting sunscreen and dirt on his face. Luckily he is too young to really care or be self-conscious about it. I asked if anyone said anything at school about it and he said “yeah! Everyone asked me ‘ooh, what happened to your face?’” “So, what did you say?” I asked. “I said it was a pimple”. Duh, Mom.

It was starting to go away and looked much better yesterday. After dinner we were going downstairs to play the Wii. Noah went first and I just heard a thump, bump, thump all the way down the stairs. When I got to the top I looked down and saw him laying spread eagle on his back at the bottom of the stairs with a panicked look on his face. After a second he started wailing. I ran down the steps and saw that there was blood all over his face and a big rug burn on his cheek. I quick got a paper towel to wipe up the blood and I couldn’t figure out why he was bleeding. I asked him what he hit his cheek on. “The c-c-c-c-arpet!!!!” he cried. “Did you hit a nail or something?” “I don’t th-th-think soooooo”. “Then why is there so much blood??” “Oh!” he said, suddenly not crying anymore. “My pimple fell off”.
Later that night, after Ella beat us all on the Wii, I saw Noah looking for something on the steps. When I asked what he was doing he said he was looking for his pimple.

“What?!?! Why?? So you can put it under your pillow and the Pimple Fairy can come tonight?”

He looked at me like that was absolutely ridiculous. “Noooo…” he said, “so I can make sure Chief doesn’t eat it”.

Of course.

1st day of 2nd grade

Noah started back to school today. He was not overly excited that summer is over so quickly and got a little emotional last night when it was time for bed. I feel your pain, buddy, I try not to cry when I have to go back to work, too! He was more excited once he got to school and saw that there are a lot of his friends in his class. Here's to another great year!

Des Moines Vacation

We are staying at the Ramada Inn Pirate Bay which has an indoor waterpark. We had planned on going to either the zoo or to the Science Museum, but the kids are having too much fun swimming that we haven't left the hotel.