Jim’s annual work banquet is always a very nice evening. This year it was at Willows Lodge. The food was fabulous. We got all dressed up, hired a babysitter, valet parked, and had a wonderful evening out. 🙂

There were two important birthdays last week: my grandma and my mom. We went and visited my grandma for her birthday and celebrated 89 years of her life. Next year, we are gearing up for a big family reunion/birthday party to celebrate her 90th birthday! I took this picture, which I love, of the four Christensen women’s hands: my grandma, my mom, my daughter, and me. So precious.

Then my mom had her birthday, and we went to our traditional Chinese birthday dinner. Yum! Both kids decided they loved the wonton soup, and JT ate so much sweet and sour chicken he went to bed with a tummy ache.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to earn a little money and have some adventures lately. I have been to California twice and Salt Lake City once, and I have a trip to Boston booked for April. I fly in, deliver a training on Microsoft in Education, and fly home. And I get paid and turn in all of my expenses. It is a pretty nice gig.

Getting ready to present in So Cal

A little extra time on Corona Del Mar

Coming into Salt Lake City

Presentation room at the SLC Hyatt – my world for two days

Each night that Jim is home for bedtime, I am serenaded by this lovely bunch.

It started with Jim playing guitar at bedtime. We sing a couple of worship songs while we are putting the kids to bed. Then JT got a guitar for Christmas, so now he “plays” too. He even plays for Haley and I when Jim is gone at bedtime. But now, oh my, Haley got a microphone for Valentine’s Day. So she sings and the boys play backup. It is pretty fabulous to watch, and makes my heart so glad. 🙂

While it seems like half the nation is buried in snow, we Seattlites are more like, “Oh look, I have a couple inches on my deck. I’ll go to the store an hour from now once it’s melted.”

So when it snowed last Sunday and church was cancelled, we took advantage of the day: waffles for breakfast, chicken soup and muffins for lunch, and playing in the snow before it all went away. We waited a little too long and a lot of it was gone before we went outside, but we were very warm and still had a lot of fun.

JT had the idea to drive his truck to the playground – and tow the sled. That boy will tow anything!

 

Of course, you’d have to live under a rock (or, at least, not have TV or Internet) to miss the fact that the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl. It’s kind of a big deal. We invited a few friends over the watch the game, and the weather was nice enough that we kicked the older kids outside for a bit so they could run and play.

Not pictured: Bryce, Jaxson, and Brock

I think it’s funny how the men looks so tense and the women look so relaxed

…And the babies look so snuggly. 🙂

My favorite part of the Super Bowl is how much air time GOD is getting in this whole thing. Thanks to some pretty amazing men, there have been all sorts of pictures of them praying (including Seahawks and Broncos together after the game) and quotes about who really gets credit for the things that happen in life. Good stuff.

This past week we had a glimpse of sunshine. I just love this picture of Haley I got on my phone, which is unedited and unfiltered!

And now, on to other things. We had a 2.5 hour appointment with an allergist and learned a lot about asthma and allergies, which was great. Jim and JT both got tested, and it was a little fun for them to do that together.

Like father, like son. Look at these reactions to grass!

Now we know when to medicate both boys, and when we should be able to stop antihistamines. It turns out, we should be using them for longer than we thought each year (Jim is allergic to pollen, grass, and certain weeds… over half the year something like that is blooming). But that will keep both of them healthier overall, which is our goal. I am so grateful for access to great healthcare!

Our second annual trip to Naches, Washington to spend time with our long time friends in the mountains was another wonderful success (last year’s trip photos here). We got there Friday night and were the only ones there Saturday morning, so we got to enjoy a little family-of-four time before the other four families arrived.

View from the deck

 

Just after noon, the arrival began. The kids were soooo excited to see old friends and play. We had a big chili dinner, followed by hang-out time and a movie for the kids.

Sunday morning, we were up bright and early for cinnamon flops and playtime. JT got to ride the four wheeler with Jim too.

One of the two cabins

On a walk – with a matching friend!

Then we packed everyone up and went to find some snow. Last year (and every year in memory for the people who live there), the cabins have had at least six inches this time of year. This year? Nothing but frost. We drove up White Pass to find somewhere to play, and found a great spot just thirty minutes away.

And then JT went down the hill on his slide face first, and hit a log with his face. He has quite the injury. He cried (and reasonably so) for a few minutes. Then he noticed the other boys playing… and decided to go join them. 

Meanwhile, Jim and Haley had a great time sledding feet first.

JT found this heart-shaped ice and gave it to Haley.

Family in the Snow

After a quiet nap time in the cabins, we grouped up for Taco Bar dinner and Seahawks football. Haley had started coughing and didn’t feel that well (so abnormal for her) so we snuggled in the chair while everyone else jumped up and down in anxiety.

We headed home after dinner because Jim had to go into work today, but now the kids and I are having a nice lazy morning around the house: washing sleeping bags and putting away snow gear. We just love the tradition of this weekend in the snow, and we are already looking forward to next year!

p.s. JT’s injury, day two:

2013 wrapped up in a peaceful, happy week of friends and relaxing. JT and Haley enjoyed taking drives in the truck and singing worship songs at bedtime.

I celebrated our god-daughter’s birthday by taking her to see Frozen and shopping for a new outfit at Justice for Girls.

Haley figured out she can get her own water from the fridge to fill her cup (and thus water consumption has skyrocketed).

On New Year’s Eve Eve, (Dec 30) we went out to lunch and relaxed home as a family.

Jim and Haley doing a word search together

On New Year’s Eve, we stayed home while Jim went to work. We had friends over in the morning… I am so blessed to have a vehicle that I love that can seat more children comfortably, when we want.

JT spent some quality time organizing his Legos in storage trays to fit in his new drawer organizer. This makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. 🙂

We watched for fireworks out our window before settling in for Planes (which I hadn’t seen yet) and popcorn. At 9:00 PST, we watched the ball drop in Times Square, smooched, and said good night.

I am so thankful for my God, my husband, my children, my family, our friends, and the many opportunities that 2014 brings.