Dear 2015,
I'm glad it's 2016. 2015 was full of new experiences I hope made us wiser, and some old ones that were just annoying. But we made it through! So here's to you 2016!
Love,
An excited not-be-pregnant-anymore Mom
Saturday, January 2
Thursday, December 17
'This the Season!
I'll admit I've felt like a bum this year. My nausea seems to have made a comeback so I haven't felt like doing much. I'm hoping we can still find a place to take the kids to see Santa!
We did make sugar cookies last week and again yesterday with all the cousins. I think all the presents are bought and mostly wrapped. I'm afraid I forgot something though. They say pregnancy brain is a real thing...this time I feel like I have pregnancy lack-of-brain to a serious extent! Here's to being in the third trimester though!
We did make sugar cookies last week and again yesterday with all the cousins. I think all the presents are bought and mostly wrapped. I'm afraid I forgot something though. They say pregnancy brain is a real thing...this time I feel like I have pregnancy lack-of-brain to a serious extent! Here's to being in the third trimester though!
Quilt Done: Check!
Kitt Peak
So, I'm a nerd. Astronomy fascinates me, so while in Tucson Chase was a good sport to geek out with me and took me to Kitt Peak National Observatory. At the time it was founded in the 60's, it was one of the largest telescopes in the world where alot of astronomical discoveries were made. There are over 20 telescopes and radio telescopes on top of the mountain.
One of my favorite parts was actually going inside the solar telescope to see all the mirrors. (Pic right above) It is the largest solar telescope in the world, 500 feet long with 300 of that underground.
I was kind of bummed that we didn't get to see the main telescope, but the wind was so strong that day, the tour guides were worried about people getting blown off the mountain. :p We'll just have to go back again!
The guide told us how the mirrors are made for the telescopes. Most of the mirrors in the telescopes around the world are made under the football stadium at the U of A. They say that the biggest mirror they can make is 12 meters because that's how far apart the girders are under the stadium to get the mirrors out! Since the mirrors are only a few millimeters thick, the freeway has to be shut down to transport them. Pretty interesting stuff!
Maybe one day I'll sign up for the night tour or become a Docent (a serious amateur astronomer who volunteers at the Observatory)!
I was kind of bummed that we didn't get to see the main telescope, but the wind was so strong that day, the tour guides were worried about people getting blown off the mountain. :p We'll just have to go back again!
The guide told us how the mirrors are made for the telescopes. Most of the mirrors in the telescopes around the world are made under the football stadium at the U of A. They say that the biggest mirror they can make is 12 meters because that's how far apart the girders are under the stadium to get the mirrors out! Since the mirrors are only a few millimeters thick, the freeway has to be shut down to transport them. Pretty interesting stuff!
Maybe one day I'll sign up for the night tour or become a Docent (a serious amateur astronomer who volunteers at the Observatory)!
There and Back Again
Well we made it home after our epic journey south for Thanksgiving. I was pretty nervous about being gone for more than a week, but all things considered, I think we did very well! We learned some things, to do again and not.
We left last Friday and drove to Cedar City. We took the kids to see The Peanuts Movie. It was cute, not great, but cute. Then they swam and thought it was the coolest thing ever to sleep in a hotel. Lauren threw up that night.... probably because she ate a whole big bucket of popcorn at the movie... whoops. She threw up again driving the next morning through the windy canyon roads. So I'm not sure if she had the quick flu that was going around or just trying to get the popcorn out of her system.
We made it to Safford Saturday night and let the kids swim again and met the family for dinner. Went to church on Sunday and hung out with the Scott side of the family. Lauren had fun playing with some of her second cousins. Gavin fell in love with a Buzz Lightyear toy.
Monday we headed to Tucson to spend the rest of the time with the Christensen side of the family. We helped clean up Grandma and Grandpa's yard and trim their citrus trees. I've never seen so many oranges, lemons and grapefruit in my life! We went swimming again with the kids and Lauren was brave and learned how to jump in the pool by herself and swim to the side to get out again! She was quite proud of herself, and I was too. Gavin actually got in the hot tub and blew bubbles, which is amazing since swimming lessons were less than successful. :)
Wednesday Chase and I went to Kitt Peak National Observatory. But that deserves it's own post in my mind!
Thursday we hung out at the U of A Institute building where Chase's aunt is the receptionist/secretary and prepped for dinner and played games. Thanksgiving dinner was amazing in true Christensen fashion! Lauren made some new best friends with her second cousins.
After dinner we took family pics and had an 80th birthday celebration for Grandpa Christensen. What a great man. Kind and patient and makes you feel like a million bucks. The night ended with an epic Christensen version of Human Hungry, Hungry Hippo.
Friday was when it was time to go home I think. Everyone was tired from working and all the festivities. Lauren was so exhausted she actually bit one of the cousins that she didn't understand was playing with her. That was quite dramatic for her and us, because it was completely unlike her. We went to the Nike outlet and found Chase some new shoes. Chase helped the guys put soffit on the back porch. That night the parents babysat the kiddo so the adult cousins could go out for dinner together.
Saturday we packed up and headed for St. George. It was a little too cold to swim there but we went out to dinner and went straight to bed.
Sunday was a long day of driving, but the kids did really well and Gavin only whined a few times. It was definitely a day for traveling... everyone was heading home from Thanksgiving. All the rest stops and gas stations were packed the whole way home making the trip longer. But we made it!
All in all, I don't think we'll be making that 13 hour trek again anytime soon, but it was fun to see family and let Lauren and Gavin experience something new.
We left last Friday and drove to Cedar City. We took the kids to see The Peanuts Movie. It was cute, not great, but cute. Then they swam and thought it was the coolest thing ever to sleep in a hotel. Lauren threw up that night.... probably because she ate a whole big bucket of popcorn at the movie... whoops. She threw up again driving the next morning through the windy canyon roads. So I'm not sure if she had the quick flu that was going around or just trying to get the popcorn out of her system.
We made it to Safford Saturday night and let the kids swim again and met the family for dinner. Went to church on Sunday and hung out with the Scott side of the family. Lauren had fun playing with some of her second cousins. Gavin fell in love with a Buzz Lightyear toy.
Monday we headed to Tucson to spend the rest of the time with the Christensen side of the family. We helped clean up Grandma and Grandpa's yard and trim their citrus trees. I've never seen so many oranges, lemons and grapefruit in my life! We went swimming again with the kids and Lauren was brave and learned how to jump in the pool by herself and swim to the side to get out again! She was quite proud of herself, and I was too. Gavin actually got in the hot tub and blew bubbles, which is amazing since swimming lessons were less than successful. :)
Wednesday Chase and I went to Kitt Peak National Observatory. But that deserves it's own post in my mind!
Thursday we hung out at the U of A Institute building where Chase's aunt is the receptionist/secretary and prepped for dinner and played games. Thanksgiving dinner was amazing in true Christensen fashion! Lauren made some new best friends with her second cousins.
After dinner we took family pics and had an 80th birthday celebration for Grandpa Christensen. What a great man. Kind and patient and makes you feel like a million bucks. The night ended with an epic Christensen version of Human Hungry, Hungry Hippo.
Friday was when it was time to go home I think. Everyone was tired from working and all the festivities. Lauren was so exhausted she actually bit one of the cousins that she didn't understand was playing with her. That was quite dramatic for her and us, because it was completely unlike her. We went to the Nike outlet and found Chase some new shoes. Chase helped the guys put soffit on the back porch. That night the parents babysat the kiddo so the adult cousins could go out for dinner together.
Saturday we packed up and headed for St. George. It was a little too cold to swim there but we went out to dinner and went straight to bed.
Sunday was a long day of driving, but the kids did really well and Gavin only whined a few times. It was definitely a day for traveling... everyone was heading home from Thanksgiving. All the rest stops and gas stations were packed the whole way home making the trip longer. But we made it!
All in all, I don't think we'll be making that 13 hour trek again anytime soon, but it was fun to see family and let Lauren and Gavin experience something new.
Friday, November 6
Halloween
Halloween in preschool is a blast! Lauren's class went to the Halloweiner Roast and rode the train, played in the fun houses, ate treats and went on a hayride. Gavin quite enjoyed himself as well, even though he wouldn't look at me for a picture.
Bikes!
Bikes seemed to be shrinking lately...either that, or the kids were growing. Lauren had worn her little one right out. Thanks to a $6 DI bike, spray paint and princess stickers Lauren is thrilled with her bigger one!
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