Tis the Season....

I can't believe it's the Christmas season already! We have been busy with Christmas so far this Dec.. 2 down (my mom and my in-laws) 2 to go!! Enjoy some pictures from our busy holiday season so far. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all my friends and family!!

The kids 2010 - Andrew, Taryn, Alex, Ethan

Ethan and his new Bon Jovi CD
My pretty girl

Andrew got Robin Hood (he was really excited)

Taryn's "Cheetah" coat

Taryn and her American Girl Doll "Sarah"

Dave hanging his new Saints flag outside

Will's present from me...

The cousins Christensen side...Alex, Andrew, Ethan, Abby, Taryn, Laura

Alex and his new books...

Dave's new Saints rock...

Welcome to the World!

Welcome to the world William Robert Mitchell!!!

This morning at 5:34am I was blessed with a new nephew! He was 7lbs 7oz and 20 inches long. Rachael had to have a C-Section but they are both doing well! He is a cute baby boy and looks just like my Brother-in-law! Congrats to my sissy!! Love you tons!

Family Pictures

We were very blessed this year to have my good friend Rachael Carlson take our family pictures! They turned out so beautiful and I can't wait to have them hanging out our walls! Check a few of my favorites....Thank you so much Rae!!!!

Their first album cover....
Those eyes get me every time!!! - Andrew

Ethan

The family

My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!

Me and my baby girl...

Alex

She looks WAY to grown up!!

Kids

Family

Happy Birthday Buttercup!!! (a few days late)

This weekend I got to go and hang out at the Ameristar to celebrate the birthday's of my BEST FRIEND Laura, and her wonderful boyfriend Adam! We had good beers, good friends, and didn't win any money! It was so nice to get out of the house and away from the kids for a little while and just decompress! It was so great to see them both and all the friends that they brought out with them.

HAPPY, HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY LAURA!

I love you!! Can't wait until next year when we have the 30/40 party with you and Dave!! :) It doesn't seem like we planned that 5 years ago??

1st day of school....

All ready to go....
Andrew David - 13 years old

Alex Lee - 10 years old

Ethan Lee - 10 years old

Taryn Johanna - 6 years old

I can't believe it's the start of another school year! Where does the summer go? It's hard to believe that my "babies" are starting 7th, 5th, and 1st grade!! Here are some great pics of them on the 1st day of school....

When did they get this big???

I know I'm biased, but I really do have the most beautiful children!!!! This is the 4 of them last Saturday as we got ready to go to a wedding. I just can't get over how grown up they are!!! How is it possible that I have a teenager, 2 pre-teens, and a 6 year old going on 26!!!! I love them though!

Wow...it's been awhile without a post....

It has been one busy summer...the reason that there has been no posts since May!! I will do just a quick rundown of our summer so far.....

1. GRADUATION!!!! After 4 very long years, I finally graduated from College with my Associates Degree in Business. I do plan on finishing my BA, but I am taking a little break right now.





2. Ethan and Alex took a little vacation to Dave's mom and dad's. They did several fun things, like building a grill with Grandpa, going fishing, and catching some rays...


3. Trip back to Kearney to see our good friend Tiphy, who just returned from her second tour in Iraq. We were so glad she made it home safely!



4. Andrew and Taryn took a vacation too! They also went to Dave's mom and dad's. They went to the park and several fun things around Kearney. I love these pictures, you can just tell how much Taryn adores her big brother!!!

There has been so many other things going on, that I will try and post more later this week. They include fun on the 4th of July, a trip to Des Moines, meeting Michael Buble', and Dave's 20th HS reunion! Things have been crazy and it's only been 6 weeks of summer so far!!!! Hope you are all having just as much fun!

A nice thought...

Someone sent me this message today, and I really needed it.

May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

Happy 6th Birthday Taryn Johanna!!!!

I CANNOT believe that my baby girl is 6 years old!!!! Time does fly! Taryn's birthday was on Saturday and she picked to have a gymnastics party at Metro Stars Gymnastics. So her and 5 of her little friends learned a bunch of gymnastics skills and then had some time in their party room. It was a lot of fun, and the bonus was that I didn't have to set anything up or clean anything up either! We then went out to dinner with Nana and Opah, Aunt Rachael and Uncle Mick, Aunt Gail and Abbi! It was quite a full house. Taryn picked to go to Mimi's Cafe so she could have "Mickey Mouse pancakes". We came home for presents and cake and then the day was done! It was a very eventful day but she had so much fun that at the end of the day her only comment was "Mom, I wish it could be my birthday everyday!" Enjoy some pictures of the day....

All ready for her gymnastics party!

New swimsuit from Laura!! Yay!!!
Taryn with all her friends at Metro Stars...

Backflip Taryn!!"Happy Birthday, Taryn..."Taryn and her Best Friend Kaelie
All dressed up in her new dress and shoes from Laura to go out to dinner...
YES!!! I got a Nintendo DS!! I have the best Mom and Dad EVER!!
Happy Birthday Taryn, your family and friends love you very much!!!

Surgery.....

Where to start....hmmmm...

At about 12:30 am on Wednesday, Ethan came into the bedroom and woke me up to tell me his stomach wouldn't stop hurting. I had him lay with me and we rubbed his stomach and waited a bit. We decided to take him to the ER about an hour later. We were in the ER, until about 4:30 am and we met with the resident on call, the doctor, and finally a surgeon because they suspected he had appendicitis. He was not presenting with typical symptoms, but had pain that was strictly on his lower right side and an elevated white blood count. They told us we could check him into the hospital and watch him or we could take him home and wait until about 10 am or so to see if the pain went away. So we decided to take him home and try and rest for a little bit. At about 9:30am the pain wasn't as severe but hadn't moved so we called the surgeon and he recommended that we bring him in to have his appendix removed even though we weren't 100% sure that is what it was. We went to the hospital, checked him into the procedure center at about 11:00am, and they proceded to wait until 3:30 until they took him back for surgery. They did do his surgery laproscopicly(sp?) so they were done at about 4:10 and the surgeon told us that everything had gone very well and it was DEFINITLEY appendicits so we made the right descision in deciding to take it out. He woke up at about 5:00 or so, and was able to come home at 7:00. We are settled in and he should be back on his feet soon. Thank you to all my friends and family for your prayers and support. Ethan is sore, but safe and sound!

Best Moments:

After getting blood drawn:

Ethan: "That didn't feel like a pinch when you took my blood."

Nurse: "It didn't? What did it feel like?"

Ethan: "It felt like you stuck me with a needle."

After he had been home last night for 1 hour:

Me: "Ethan, do you want me to help you get out of bed?"

Ethan: " No Mom, I have to get over the pain sometime"

Me: " Well, Ethan it doesn't need to be today!"

He is being quite the brave boy, but is completely bored out of his mind!

Please enjoy this nice picture of Ethan and Barry ready for surgery!

So happy to part with $25.....

I have never been so happy to part with $25 in my whole life!!! Why? Because that $25 was for my.....


GRADUATION APPLICATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's right friends! After almost 4 years of going to school part time, kids, work and such I finally finished my Associates degree in Business! I will eventually go for my BA but, for right now I'm am just glad to be done with one portion of school! I am amazed at my friends who have Master's degrees or working on PhD's right now and I hope to eventually be in that same group, but for now I'm glad to be graduating from College at all! Graduation is May 14th so keep your calendars open, because you know us...any excuse to throw another party!

Happy Anniversary to my Love!!

Today, Dave and I are celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary! It's crazy to think it has been that long! Last year I had posted 7 things that I love about Dave, so continuing tradition here are 8 great things about the love of my life!

1. He still gives the very best hugs!

2. The way he comforts me when I am feeling sad.

3. He is such a good dad!!!!!

4. The way he loves his mom.

5. The way he laughs all the way through a joke!

6. He is so passionate about music.

7. His dedication to his family.

8. HE PICKED ME TO SPEND HIS LIFE WITH! I HAVE NEVER FELT SO BLESSED!

Happy Anniversary Davis! I love you!!!