Original Art

Today's post is featuring original works of art from our little artists, and some of their friends...and Dad. All the works feature washable markers on butcher paper. I was away at a baby shower and this is one of the activites the "daddy daycare" did with the kids.

"pretty picture"

By: Juju

"Untitled"

by: H. Cheney

"the M&E Christensen Family"

by: Boo

"Jimmer"

by: M. Christensen

On the Road Again

It's moving day...again! We have had lots of moves in our life and I can say I'm getting better at it. The kids are older and don't "help" me pack as much though there still are tears as I put their treasured belongings into a deep dark box and tape it up.

What I enjoy about moving is cutting out the clutter, organizing, and getting rid of of stuff I really don't need. I am so proud of how far Rob has come in packing and getting rid of things. It's taken eight years and five, six, or seven, moves, but he's finally got it!

Master Rob

We did it!

The past 20 months have been incredible for our family. Don't get me wrong, we had stress, frustration, lifetime lows, despair, defeat, and loneliness. But outshining all that was personal and spiritual growth, opportunities, friendships, and achievements.

I think he actually spent more time here than at home.?

Graduation Day!

Graduation Morning. Rob off at 6: 30 a.m. to line up for the processional.

Two years ago, I wouldn't have thought B-school would change my life and help me grow so much. We couldn't have picked a better school and we are so grateful for the experience. I know we were meant to be here for so many reasons. As I see how much each of us has grown in such a short amount of time, I am certain that God is watching over us and has much in store for us in the future.

And...out of it all, Rob also got a MBA Degree.

Dude, check out the cakes!
Chocolate Mousse and Carrot---simply divine.
Worst enemy of my 6 am workouts.
Get some at Kneaders Bakery.

Family Duck Race

Here we are enjoying a beautiful April day as a family. The South Hill renovation project was just completed and they now have a nice walking trail with a meandering stream. The stream continually flows down stream and is complete with rapids and waterfalls.

Juju got the pink duck.
Boo the baby orange duck.
Rob's is the Aflac duck.
Mine, the yellow squeaker.

oh, and of course they were selling Creamery Ice cream for $.50. Can't tell you how many cups I ate there....and got to go.

(Our house) is famous.

Have you read Nienie's blog post for today, April 6th?

Yep, that's our house in the left corner.

By the way it's available for rent.

check it out: nieniedialogues.blogspot.com

Haiku: Boo's new do

Boo's new cute hair-do

Result of Mom sleeping in

Thanks to the hair school

Other victims in our home.

(not pictured: Juju and Elmo)

"Grandma Mimi and Grandpa Papa"

Artist: Boo

Date: 2011

Medium: chalk

Thank you Jasmine at the Paul Mitchell hair school.

She Splashed, She Dashed...

The day before the BYU Splash and Dash, my exercising buddies thought it would be a great idea to do this event. We've been swimming and running in the mornings, but weren't training for a specific race. We decided to the Elite division---cause we're tough mamas and we can hold our own against those young cute undergrads. The elite division consists of a 1 mile swim followed by a 10K run. I've been swimming 1 to 1.5 miles or running 4-6 miles, so I was confident I could do it. BUT, I hadn't done the swimming and running back to back.

The Swim..

The day of the race I was so nervous and was overcome with adrenaline. The elite division swimmers had to swim in the "deep" pool at BYU (max depth 8 feet I think.) This scared me so much because I like swimming in the shallow pool and viewing the depth of the pool freaks me out! We all started and I FREAKED OUT!!! Literally after a lap in a half, I was having such a hard time regulating my breath that I literally had to stop. I thought I was going to have to withdraw from the event. Fortunately, I had friends there cheering and encouraging me on. I started swimming again and took it nice and slow. I thought I was going to finish dead last. As I swam I imagined myself finishing my last lap and climbing out of the pool to applause and cheers from all the volunteers and swimmers of the next heat waiting for me. To my surprise, I wasn't the last out of the pool! And, did I mention that I happen to have swam and extra half lap.

The run...

The weather was suppose to be a bit chilly that morning, so us mamas decided to change out of our suits and into dry running clothes, even if it took a little more time. The run was fabulous! I took the first 5K a bit slow and cautious. I was afraid that I'd get too tired and not be able to finish the race. But I felt great so I picked it up the second half and finished strong. I definitely had a personal best at this event and most of all I FINISHED!!! It was such a fun event to do and definitely a memory I'll have of friends and fitness at BYU.

Love is in the Air

It's been cold here. I hate it. It makes me a mean Mom who at 9 am the entire street can hear, "GET IN THE CAR!"

But LOVE is in the air.

As I was getting the house set up for cubscouts, Juju yells, "it's the boy, Mom!" I knew she was referring to one or both of the cute little boys who live two houses up from us. They go to church with us and occasionally (when the weather is warmer) wander to our house to play with our outside toys. Juju adores them and waves to them whenever she can.

As I peek outside, I don't see any boys on the sidewalk fronting our house and assume that they're already on their way home. Juju keeps looking out window and I assume it's because my friend arrived to help me with cubscouts. Yet, my friend lingers outside and I can't figure why since it was 40 degrees out there. She was talking to someone and it was then that I saw litte OliNie's face peek out from the side of the garage. Apparently he was trying to hide when Juju and my friend caught him. He explained that he was just doing what his Mom told him to do.

He had left a flower and a cute Valentine on our front door step. The back of the Valentine said, "LUV." Juju was smitten and couldn't believe that she (we) received a Valentine.

Coincidentally, we happen to be making sugar cookies for cubscouts, so she reciprocated by making sugar cookies with vanilla frosting, sprinkles, and heart shaped candies. One for OliNie and the other for his brother NicNie. She and Boo walked up to their house to deliver them. Juju walked right up to the door and knocked. The big sisters answered and asked if she wanted to come in to play. Juju however was on a mission--she politely said, "OliNie please." Then gave him the cookies and came home.

What a kind surprise we received from a neighbor I've spoken to only a few times.

To me, this is the meaning of Valentine's day. To give a bright spot to someone's day...especially when it's a cold, cold, February day.

The Starting Line up

And now...let's hear it for our

2011 Starting Line up

Hi--I'm Rob, but my kids call me Dadu.

• Favorite team: Seattle Mariners
• Favorite ice cream: anything with peanut butter
• Celebrity Crush: Jimmer Ferdette

--"hey J-man, we play ball at the RB--6 a.m.--you game? "

***and***

Watasi no Lisa desu.

• T.V. show I may or may not watch: Glee
• Favorite boardgame: Banangrams
• On my to do list: Buy fabric for this week's Cubscout meeting
• Favorite movie: The Holiday
  
  

No, I'm Boo

• Favorite food: chocolate
• Can't sleep without: Nemo pillow & ducky blanket
• Age: "I'm big three, I had a birthday."
• Ninja name(s): Dora, Dora the Explorer, Dora Magical Princess

I'm Juju

• Favorite fast food: Arby's roastbeef sandwich
• Got a smile like: her Dad
• Current favorite movie: Alvin and the "Chickmunks"

"when I'm five, I'm going to give Boo piggy-back rides."

Let's hear it for the team!

Lauch Party

Welcome to the official launch post of "How Sweet it is." After many, many months, namely 12 or 13 as well as multiple comments from Schezwan Chong, we have decided to start a new public blog. Now you, friends, family, and friends of a friend of a friend can keep up with all the fun, lovely, humorous, and occasionally not to great moments of our lives.

Because this blog is public, we'll be using nicknames. Also due to the unique nature of our last name there will be no mention of that either. So if you ever want to refer to us in your blog, in a comment, or other online media please check with us first. Or, if you're a friend of a friend of a friend, feel free to use names like Mrs. Wonderful, Mr. Hottie, and Cutie pie #1 and #2.

Let the fun begin!