Utah bound

How do you pack 2 months of stuff? I know I can do laundry and somehow last summer when we visited for 6 weeks I packed it all in 2 small bags (because we flew). I'm trying to pack enough bigger clothes for Avery Ann, I wish I could pack smaller sizes for myself. I need to pack Wade's dress work clothes, plus all his jeans and t-shirts. We'll be in Utah for April and May and then Iowa for graduation and then back to Utah on the way back to Washington in June. And somehow this all has to pack inside our van? I feel like I need a moving truck.

Wade's family drives in tonight. We play and show off Washington to them tomorrow. We bless Avery Ann in church on Sunday and leave Monday morning early.

Busy, Busy, Busy. Someday I will have more time and someday I will blog pictures.

catch up

So far this month:

Wade was gone and took boards
I was sick (kidney infection, yuck!)
Gage was sick (cough)
Noah was sick (cold)
Avery is now sick (BIG boo, newborns and coughs and colds are NOT good)
We had 2 birthdays
We had 2 sisters visit
We've got more family coming into town
We leave for Utah in one week
We've been trying to find a house, or something we can afford to live in on a residency income
Tried to adjust from 2 kids to 3.
Dealt with colicky Avery
Been very blessed to have help and family
Been very blessed to match in Washington



Below I'm playing catch up. Maybe someday I will be able to play catch up and read/comment on every one's blogs as well.

YAY Daniel

Yesterday was a big day for our cousin Daniel. Since his adoption was finalized last week my sister and her husband were able to take him to the temple to be sealed as an eternal family yesterday. It was a special day to be there and witness this, baby Daniel is such a happy boy and we love him lots!

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe that families can be together forever. You can read more about it by clicking here, or emailing me.


Evan, Jenny and baby Daniel!

One of my sisters, Kathy, was able to fly out from Utah for the weekend. It's been fun to see her - even though we will be in Utah next week. (I want my hair cut like hers - what do you think?)

When we left I needed to feed Avery in the car before our 2 hour drive back home. Wade took the boys on a walk and took some photo's of them by the temple. They are so funny and were very good for their babysitter while there.

We are so happy for Daniel, Jenny and Evan. YAY for families!

Gymnastics

Since we are leaving for Utah in one week, Gage finished his last day of gymnastics this past week. He really loved his teacher Coach Lisa. It's been really nice for him to have gymnastics and swimming to look forward to each week these past couple months. It's crazy how fast these past months have gone, when we first started gymnastics no one even could tell that I was pregnant and in the end all our Y friends got to meet Avery. One of Gage's favorite days was when he got to stand up and tell his whole class about his baby sister being born.

Gage and Coach Lisa

Backward on the beam.

After jumping into the "pit" of blocks the kids get to climb through the "ice cave." Gage thinks this cave is so much fun.

The bars.

The last day they got to do all super fun stuff - basically whatever they wanted. Gage loved the hoola hoops. What a funny boy.

We are really going to miss our friends that we visit with every week there - the moms and kids that Noah and I hang out with during Gage's class and Gage's little friends. We can't wait till summer when we will be back and can take some of the fun gymastic clinics and see all our friends again.

Catch-Up

We've been super busy - here is a random catch up post.

The boys love having daddy home this month so they can take hikes down by the river every afternoon with their dad.

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Rub-a-Dub-Dub. Three men in a tub.

Our cute cousin baby Daniel is visiting Washington this month from Albuquerque. It's been funny watching him and the boys. He loved being put in the tub with Gage and Noah one night. Gage loves reading and being in charge of story time with Daniel. We are glad he's been here to play with.


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Totally random picture, but one afternoon while grocery shopping the lady at the fish counter let us pet the lobsters! Gage loved it, Noah just liked to look -he calls them 'monsters' versus 'lobsters'

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Poor Avery Ann is such a good sport. She has these crazy older brothers who love her and fight over holding her. Despite her colicky afternoons and nights, we sure love this little girl.

5th

Better late then never.

We celebrated Gage's 5th birthday (almost 3 weeks ago) with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We went on a weekday and went early and it was so nice the place wasn't very busy! The boys had a great time and are still talking about how many tickets they won, what prizes they got and what a fun time it was.

Happy Birthday to Gage! This year was the smallest, easiest, and probably cheapest party I've ever planned, I think we'll do it again next year!

cake

We've been taking part in a cake taste testing scientific study in the past few weeks. It's been rough. Really rough, but someone has to do it.

(Tacoma General Hospital)

(Safeway)

(Albertsons)

(Fred Meyer)

Best presentation: Avery's cake from the hospital - taste, not so good, it was hospital food after all.

Best frosting: Gage's cake from Albertsons

Safeway and Fred Meyer both scored high on presentation - that is why they were picked by Gage and Noah for the experiment, but in reality they both fell just slightly short in taste categories for the purpose of the study.

Outcome and findings:

Four out of five Christiansens prefer Albertsons bakery cakes to other local hospitals and bakeries.

The fifth Christiansen only prefers milk.

29

Quite a bit of candles. We had birthday breakfast this year so my Dad could celebrate with us before he had to go to his morning church meetings. Nothing like sending the 20's out in style - a colossal chocolate cake, served up for breakfast!

One Month

Avery Ann was one month old yesterday. It's hard to believe how fast the time flies. She reminds us a lot of Gage - and not the I'm really cute way - the I'm gassy and colicky way. At least she sleeps pretty decent every other night. Her cute cousin baby Daniel is visiting Washington this month and she loves teasing him with her cries. She cries and he gets a terrified look on his face and bursts into tears.

Every month during their first year I take the kids pictures in the same place. I think with Avery I will let her hold the same baby doll as well. If all the boys clothes weren't in storage right now I would dig out the same outfit and make her look like a boy to see how much she looked the same. Below are the first month pictures of Gage and Noah - Top row: Gage, Noah. Bottom row: Noah, Gage.Besides eating and sleeping we're busy house hunting, playing with Wade, who's off this month, and visiting my sister who is in town for the month too. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Match

And the answer is......



Wade will be working at Multi-Care in Tacoma, Washington the next 3 years! After interviews in Chicago we were 99.99% sure that this would happen, but you just never know until match day. We are so excited, this was his top pick!


If anyone wants to go deep sea fishing or visit Forks, we'll be here to take you around - come visit!

Now we just need to find a house.....

5

Happy Birthday Gage! It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years since our Little Man was born. It's been an adventure and worth every second.