And the Worst Wife of the Year goes too.....

ME!!!!! On Saturday night, my so helpful husband helped me unload the Pathfinder after bringing some stuff home for the kids from my Mom and Dad. How did I repay him? By shutting his hand in the Pathfinder's tailgate....causing this....

He has a carpel/metacarpel dislocation. Basically it means that he torn the bone for his pinky out of the wrist and it got shoved under his ring finger. See XRAY picture below. The pen marks are where the bone is supposed to be sitting. Yeah, not good. He has surgery scheduled for Monday. They will hang his hand with weights and pop the joint back into place. they will then put in a screw from the outside of his hand through the bone to hold it in place while the ligaments scar down. Once that has been done (approx 4 weeks) they will remove the screw. So he's in the Splint for the next 4-6 weeks. Yep, I feel pretty bad about this one! Send your prayers for a quick recover for him!

1st day of school - 2011

I can't believe it's time to start another school year! Andrew is in 8th grade this year (Yikes! only 1 more year until high school!) Ethan and Alex are entering the middle school in 6th grade, and Taryn is the last Christensen kids at Westridge in
2nd grade! Their growth just amazes me. They are such smart, kind children and I feel so blessed every single day to be their mom!

2011

2010

2009

Right after this picture was taken is when the boys refused to hug me outside of the car...

And, the best story of the day came about when I wanted to take this picture of Taryn with her new teacher Mrs. Hauge..

Me: Taryn I want to take your picture with your teacher..

Taryn: Mom!!! You're embarrassing me!!

Me: Just one more picture...

Taryn: Fine..(insert big sigh here)

Me: Say Cheese! (click)

Taryn: Ok Mom, that's enough...you can go now!

Me: "Tears"
I hope everyone had a great start to their school year too!

Davis v. 39.5

On June 18th, I threw Dave a surprise 1/2 birthday party! He will be 40 in Decemeber so I figured he wouldn't expect a party in June! He was super surprised and we had a really good time that night! Here are some pictures of his party!

Alex

I am always proud of my children, everyday, but at the end of this school year, I'm going to recognize my Alex. He managed to rack up 5 awards for their end of the school year! He got perfect attendence, participant in Battle of the Books, high Recorder unit scores, A Presidential Academic Achievement award, and the Good Citizenship Award for his 5th grade class. Alex is a sweet, sensitive and caring boy who is going to grow up into a wonderful man someday. He has such a big heart, is so willing to care for others, and has no fear when it comes to people who are different from him. Congrats Alex, you made your family very proud today!!

Couponing.....

Ok,
I'll admit it...I have become totally obsessed with couponing lately. I watched that show Extreme Couponing...and I wondered...how do they do that? So with the help of several blogs, and a book called "How to Shop for Free", I have become a couponer. Granted, I don't ever want to be a hoarder, or EVER have a use for 1000 tubes of toothpaste just because they were free, I am a firm believer in saving a buck. I made my lists, gathered my coupons and set out for the store last night. I WAS AMAZED at how much I saved! I bought 91 items, at a total retail value of $275.56, after coupons and price matching I spent 158.96!!! That's a 44% savings! And this was just my first trip ever doing this!!!! I can think of a lot of things to do with that extra $120 bucks!!!! I know this takes some time to sort and get things ready for a trip to the store, but when you are feeding a family of 6, saving money is a GOOD thing!

This is the kids helping me sort coupons for our trip!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!!! (A little early)

My beautiful daughter will turn 7 years old on Sunday! I'm posting this a little early because we have quite the birthday weekend planned and I'm not sure if I would have any more time to post it! We are starting her birthday celebration with getting her ears pierced tonight! I am a little nervous about how she will handle it, but she's been counting down the days and really wants to go and get it done! Tomorrow, she is having a party at Clara's Closet in Elkhorn, it is a place that does dress-up parties and she went with the fashion show theme. They get their nails and makeup done and then pick out outfits and perform a show! I think I'm looking forward to it as much as she is! Then on Saturday night she is having her best friend Kaelie spend the night for her first sleepover! Then on Sunday we are having the family over for lunch and presents. WHEW!!!! I'm tired just thinking about it....but it will be totally worth it! Here are some tidbits about my daughter right now:

1. She LOVES to read, and is reading at a 4th grade level right now

2. She thinks that life isn't fair since her brothers get to stay up later than her since they are older

3. She hates the rain

4. She has a wonderful flair for the dramatics...(not sure if this is good)

5. She still loves to sit next to people and cuddle, and those moments I still treasure as I know they will become fewer as she gets older

6. She loves to play outside with her brothers and their friends

7. She goes to dance 2 times a week and is the only one in her class that knows the entire dance for her recital and tends to direct while she's there

8. She has the most beautiful hazel eyes just like her daddy

9. She is definitely NOT a morning person

10. She is the smartest, most beautiful, sweetest little girl EVER!!!! (I might be a little biased)

God blessed me with this perfect baby girl and I consider myself so lucky to call her mine!! Happy Birthday Taryn Johanna!!!

Taryn's concert...

Last night was Taryn's first grade music concert. She had her first speaking part!! She did such a fantastic job! At last I have a non-stage fright child! A few pictures to commerate her great job!