baseball and FHE

Ok... so I love all my kids the same, but Peyten is my most unusual kid, in a good way.  He is the one who says funny things and does funny stuff without even knowing he does.  It was his weekend to play baseball, he did a great job, playing pitcher and catcher.  His coach also selected him and one other player to be the c0-captains of the team, he is a great kid.


These next three pictures show him sliding into home, he was safe of course!!!


Last night we were having family home evening and we were talking about our week and what was going on.  Brent said that his Aunt Carol and her husband were coming to visit for a few days and he went on to tell the kids about going to visit them when he was a kid.  He was explaining something and said, remember when we were at Grandma Christiansens funeral? (which no one remembered cause Brent was the only one who went, it was his grandma who had died about 4 years ago.)  My kids know Brent's mom as Grandma Christiansen, not his Grandma, in fact they have never met Brents Grandma and don't really know her or of her.  (sad, I know, Brent needs to talk about his grandparents more).  Anyway, Peyten all of a sudden burst into tears thinking that his Grandma has died and we hadn't told him.  We looked at one another wondering what in the world he was crying about until he finally could tell us.  We started to laugh, but also had to give him hugs cause he was so sweet about it.

Peyten lost a tooth the other day and came and told me about it.  He said he knew that the tooth fairy was me, but he still wanted to believe so he told me he was going to put the tooth under his pillow.  The tooth fairy forgot that night, Peyten came in to tell me he would give me another chance, if I failed then he would take 5 bucks in cash!!!!!

Friday face

Todays Friday face is Austen Brent Christiansen.

Austen was born July 26, 1996 to myself and Brent.  He was a big, fat, bald baby.  His face was squished and red and I was worried he would stay that way.  As you can see, he did not.  He is a cutie, a bit on the small side, and not bald at all!!!  

Austen is a sports man.  There is not a sport that this kid cannot play, at least we have not found one, he loves it all.  
He recently placed 3rd in a golf tournament in Austin.  He played well, look at his great form!!

Austen is my kid who likes to snuggle, sometimes I think it may be time for him to grow up, but I can't give up the snuggling.  

Austen is a very sweet brother to his little sister Ashlen, he adores her and she him.  He loves little kids, especially babies and wants to hold them and tells me that they are cute.
Austen is a good student, but lets just say if sports was his school he'd be a genius.  He is very social, but shy as well.  He is a good friend and has many, his best friend being Reed Crouch and Alison Smith.

Austen received the Aaronic priesthood on his bday when he turned 12 and tries very hard to live up to that responsibility.  We talk a lot about how kids act at school and what they say and how he can be a good influence on his friends and also not participate in the wrong stuff. He told me the other day that he had a friend who would always use the word God in a bad way. He told the friend that made him uncomfortable and why and he said that the friend doesn't do it around him anymore.  Another time his friends were doing something and they asked Austen if he would and he told them he can't cause his mom said not to.  They then asked, "Do you always do what your mom says?" and he told them yes.  I appreciate that about Austen, he really tries to do what's right.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the one and only, not to be mistaken for anyone else...Austen Brent Christiansen

After the "Lift"

The doctor told me that I needed to rest after my surgery and not do anything for about a week and then no exercise or lifting for 4 weeks.  I thought to myself, he doesn't know my life and I will just not tell him, I will just nod my head in agreement.  I told Brent what he said when Brent picked me up to go home and he just gave me that look like, you have one day to rest, now get better!!!  

I did rest on thursday and half day on friday, then was right back into the craziness of our kids sports lives.  Lauren had a "big" volleyball tournament at the GRB convention center on sat. and sun. and they placed first in their bracket.  It was hard to drive downtown and sit all day on those hard chairs but I did it with the help of some pain meds.  After church on sunday Austen and I had to drive 3 hrs. to Austin for a 2 day golf tournament.  He got to miss two days of school to play in it, it was fun but again I was in a bit of pain still.   It was really special to spend the time alone with Austen that doesn't happen very often and we had a great time.  The highlight of the trip was going to the UT bookstore on campus.  Lots of Orange.  I missed the other kids lots while we were gone, I really missed hugging and talking with Ashlen, she is very affectionate and I could tell she needed her mommy.  Austen tied for 3rd place in his tournament, and scored very well his first day.  He shot an 84, a kid he was playing with shot a 76 the second day and won the thing.  The weather was perfect and the course was beautiful.  On the drive home we saw lots of wildflowers.  Note to self...take pics. of the wildflowers this year with the kids.

"The Lift"

Ok, so this is my blog, really my personal journal so i'm keeping it real.  I went in to the hospital yesterday to have a "procedure" done.  Before any of you roll your eyes or start a gossip chain let me give you the facts.  Things start to hang south due to gravity when you get a bit older.  I am normally not a vain person, anyone who sees me in the morning can assure you of that.  I don't even bother to get out of my PJ's or brush my hair when I take the kids to school and I have also been seen running into the grocery store or pumping gas like that.  I got to thinking about this particular procedure about 5 years ago but have put it off due to the fact that I hate needles, hospitals, blood, and anything to do with pain in general.  Why would someone volunteeringly do anything to themselves that would cause pain all for the sake of vanity?!  Just look at Hollywood and you will see the results!!!  They all look amazing and I wanted to be part of them, part of the "real world".  I decided to go for it, I sought out the perfect doctor for the job, talked to him about all the risks and benefits and decided why not, I'm not getting any younger!!!  The procedure took about 4 hours, start to finish.  That included the entire time I was gone from home.  (they can do things so quick now). I am not going to lie to you, i am in a bit of pain but is it worth the results, you bet!!!!  I can tell you right now, I will be looked at in a whole new light.  My husband will be thrilled, my children proud, my peers jealous.  The "lift" was just what I needed to get my confidence going again.  

The "lift" my friends was not a face lift or a boob lift or a tummy lift, it was what all of us woman with multiple children need, a BLADDER lift!!!!!!  I now have the bladder of an 18 year old and I am sexy.  No longer will I pee my pants when I sneeze!!!!!

Friday face

Today's friday face is my mom, Sally Huxford.  She is otherwise referred to by Grandma Sally by all the grandkids.  

Grandma Sally just left our house on wed. after being here for 3 weeks.  Ashlen got extremely attached to her and was very sad that she left.  I would find Ashlen by my moms side always, reading books, looking at all her stuff, waking her up in the morning, going on walks, and just hanging out playing.  They had a great time.  It reminded me of how Lauren use to be when my mom would visit us.  They always had tea parties and would dress up and play house or princess.  My mom is great with little kids, they adore her.

Sally, Grandma, was born Aug. 29th a long, long time ago, before there were cell phones and computers and way before blogs!!!!  She grew up in the Seattle, Washington area her whole life and was the oldest of three girls, her sisters are Kathy and Susie.  She met my dad when she was young, like 14 or 15 and they got married when she was 18 in the Salt Lake Temple.  After attending BYU they moved back to seattle and then Oregon and had 6 children.

The things I remember most about my mom is how hard she use to work.  That lady can make anything and was very economical with our food.  She would can all summer long to have food for us in the winter.  Our house was always very clean, not a thing out of place.  My mom loved to have people over for parties and dinner.  Almost every sunday someone would come over after church and enjoy her delicious cooking with us.  

The best time in our house was Christmas!!!  My mom could really decorate the house and our tree always looked so beautiful.  I loved bringing my friends over to see decorations.  She always made it so special.

These last few years have been rough on my mom.  She has been very sick with major back problems which has given her lots of pain.  The past summer she went through a second back surgery and she seems to be doing much better now.  

My mom is the best mom ever and a great grandma.  She is loved and adored by everyone she meets and she has so many friends.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you my mom, Sally Huxford.

High School reunion

Me, Julie, Tricia, Molly, and Heather. 

 

Can't even tell you how many great times I had with these girls.  The classic has to be me driving Webbs VW van all around town while all the jokers in the back went crazy.  Remember when Chris Rice asked Julie if he could kiss her and we were all right there.  Not cool!!!!

I miss seeing these ladies, they are all in Oregon, and it is too far away at times.

Let's all get together soon...