Today I am thankful for The Christenson Clan...

Tom's Family is great.....
Here is Big Tom... I am thankful for him for the kind of son he raised, the family he loves and supports. He is not fluff and stuff.... and I love that about him, he tells you how it is without all the extra so you know where he stands at all times that is my kind of person! He is pretty funny too! He is a great guy in which I am sure I do not ever tell him that is what I think... I appreciate all you do for us, for Tom and for just being you!
I am also thankful for Toms brothers and his sister. I am sad we really don't see each other so much anymore and need to make it more of a priority! They are all great people and have great kids...
I am thankful for all the cute cousins my kids have in Toms family as well and love them too. I am thankful for Rebecca too she is really someone to admire, she is always kind to everyone and is such a strong person, she is such a cute mom with her kids too! She is Tom's only sister and he loves her like crazy! I am thankful for my sister-in-laws too, I love them as well. I wish I saw Robin more, and if you ever need your eyelashes done Crissie is the best!!!

Here is Kaye, she is the best, she is always willing to help with the kids. She has the best laughish cackle that I just love. I am thankful to her as well for the son she raised. She did an amazing job!! She is always hard on herself about the kind of mom she was, and I just think I hope I can do as good of job as she did!!

Today I am thankful for these lovely peoople

These are the wonderful people I spend most of my time with (besides my family)
We have from left to right.... Kris the best Parent ever, I am so sad her daughter has grown up and moved on, she has been my assistant each year at Stadium of Fire, she always runs from dance to dance at competitions to watch every dance Not only her daughters but all the dances, she hangs out after helps us clean up and goes out after with us to check out the look at judging sheets with us... She also got all the tickets for SYTYCD (this is where this picture was taken) I don't know what we will do without her!!
Next Is Audra and Kaylie two of my teachers, I am also so thankful for them, they are great they do such a great job and I love having them around. Audra has always given me advice on how to run things etc, Kaylie has just jumped right in as part of the team. She is very involved and seems very vested in all the girls! Behind me is Bailey and Makayla... some of my students and Makayla is Kris' daughter so she is always with us too, she is Maddie's friend and is also my student teacher I love having her around and miss seeing her everyday!! Then we have Carlita she is the best to have at any function of this nature!! Madz and Liv my two beautiful daughters... then Tanya and Jaimie two more of my teachers. I love the dependability of my teachers. Tanya probably thinks I don't care about her classes because I never come, but it is really because I know she does a great job and I never have to worry about her classes she does a great job! last but certainly not least is Jame a lame, I love her like my own sister!! She is kind of anyway she married my nephew who is kind of like my brother.... we call them the tweens and they like I have said before are like icing on the cake! She is totally there whenever I need her to sub to go to Disneyland etc etc, she really is interested in the girls and how they improve etc.... I really love all these ladies and am so grateful to have them in my life!

Today I am Thankful for this cute little sucker...

It was his first parent teacher conference, and besides being proud of him for being such a smart little guy, I almost cried tears of pride.... dumb I know, but when I was having Maddie all I wanted was a nice kid, the kind of person who would give away their last piece of candy.... you know, well the teacher said that Canyon has been such a kind friend to another little boy, it has made him more comfortable in class etc, that he was so shy and now has Canyon to help him out... I was so proud like I said I was fighting back the tears.... that is what its all about right, making life easier for each other. I think it was also a little close to home for me because Hayden was on the other side of this story in Kindergarten and had a little boy who really helped him out. I love my little Canny Manners and I am sooo thankful he is part of our family!!

Today I am thankful that observation week is OVER!

Thankfully I did not fall down during any of parents week, I only made two mistakes in the note, and only 1 class was completely out of control.... a better parents week then years past... Now on to getting our recital together!

Today I am thankful for these little work horses!

That's what kids are for right.... I love these little people and I love that they will work hard....
Maddie and Canyon got out there teamed up and got their bags done quickly....
I too love this guy even when he works like this.... He eventually got his bags done, and it only took he and Olivia 2 hours to figure out that helping each other will make the work faster!!
Thanks guys I love you all!

Today I am thankful for this guy

My Dad.... isn't he cute! I chose this picture because this was a day he saved me... we had planned a trip with the kids and they each got to bring a friend and our boat did not get fixed... so he came up and drove us all around the lake. Today though I am thankful for him because of his stories and his life. We went to dinner with our friends and he came along, my mom was working and he was going out to eat by himself so I told him to just join us... anyway he had us all entertained with his life stories. If you have ever seen "Second Hand Lions" he is totally that older guy (not that he is old). We sat there listening to him for hours. It was good times.. He was the best dad growing up too. We have always been really good friends, even as a teenager I thought he was just the greatest! He taught me to tie a tie, to pick a great one and that, to love boating, to love horses and cowboys, and to love family!!

Today I am grateful for all the Veterans...

I am thankful for all the men and women who serve our country and help us keep the freedoms we have... Thank you thank you!!

Today I am thankful for M.J.

No Not Michael Jackson
even though he is pretty awesome.... Today I am thankful for my bro in law Michael James....
Every time we plan family get together's he is totally right on board and is actually excited about it! He will work extra shifts to come up with the money and is fun to have around... he is good times. He works really hard for his family and I think he is a great guy and good to have around!!

Today I am thankful for....

My crock pot! In only 10 minutes time I can get a meal ready for my kids for dinner in the morning and have a decent meal that night when I have to work... on crazy busy weeks like Parents Observation which happens to be this week I don't feel quite so neglectful!!

Yesterday I was grateful for the UPS store when for just a few dollars and few minutes of my time I can get all my copies for dance done!!

Today I am thankful for Thomass....

Even though it is Sunday, and even though he does not like putting up Christmas lights, he does it anyway.... Wreaths and all!
He even puts the lights on the very top of the house and he does not love getting up there!
(He likes to have the lights don't think he is a Scrooge he just doesn't love being up so high in the cold and wind etc which who can blame him.... you don't see me out there putting up the lights.... Just taking the pictures was cold enough for me)
There are 10 million other things to be thankful for Tom for not just lights.... I will list just a few...1.... the last few months since my stupid back problems and surgery, he has done 90% of all house work including laundry... besides doing my books for dance, besides cooking dinner, and running the kids here and there and besides his full time job.
2. Even if he is not excited at first about cutting down our own tree, so I hang up on him, he is still nice to me, and makes himself get excited (he has no choice sorry Tom its a men in black deal)
3. He is funny!!!
4. He loves me and that I am the most thankful for!!

Today I am thankful for Good friends....

I am so thankful for Carlye and Cameron....Carlye is the best friend ever, I know that sounds like I am 14, but she is great!! She is so supportive she comes to all my dance performances, even traveling long distances. She is so fun to have around too, my girls fight over who gets to sit by her etc... (even dance friends and moms fight over who gets to sit by her!) She is also there when you need someone to talk to she would do anything for anybody. She is such a strong person and is the most kind hearted person I know.... Cam too is great he drove all the way to Farr West with us today to look at a car for Madz.... This is not his first car trip for us either. He also surprised us one day and fixed the swim deck on our boat. He is the nicest guy!! Thanks guys for always helping us out, for being great boating buddies etc etc.... WE love you both!

Today I am thankful for NOTHING!...

I had absolutely nothing that I HAD to do and NO where that I had to be so I was able to do whatever and it was great! I got to wake up before the crack of dawn... drive to Midway with these lovely people above and get my Christmas tree tag! It was great times... Note to self bring a coat next time, it will not be warm enough to take off your sweatshirt!! I also learned that I do like Hot chocolate (sam I am) You guys are the best to laugh as the sunrises with!!
I also Got to go on a nature walk and drive up the mountains with Canyon and Olivia to find leaves, we then waxed the leaves.... we made a leaf garland...Canyon has been very disappointed in the Holiday decor we have for both Halloween and Now Thanksgiving, so we tried to liven the house up a bit. It was a great day with my extended family and my kids..... I love NOTHING days!!

Today I am thankful for...

This Guy!!
For just this....
He will watch this guy so the girls can go to SYTYCD (yes sir!!!)

Really I am very grateful for Hayden, he probably hears 100 x a week "I'll be right back keep an eye on your brother" He is always there to help me with the computer to lift things to watch Canyon to burn music etc etc. I love him his grumpyness and all. He makes me laugh and helps me out and really just hears too much what he is doing that I don't like instead of how much he helps me and how smart he is etc. So Haydie babes I am so thankful you chose me to be your mother... I must be the luckiest mom in the world!!

Mine was an angels portion......

Thanksgiving/the month of November bring so many of us to think about what we are thankful for.... as my sister always says it is the one Holiday that is not commercialized and is just plain and simply about being with those you love and expressing your gratitude... I love Thanksgiving because it is the start of the whole Holiday Season and I love spending the time with my family and the traditions that go along with this time of year. This year has been a different year for me and has left me thinking a lot of what I have and what I am grateful for....Because I know I have been given so much, an angels portion in fact...so I am going to post something each day of this month that I am thankful for. They will not be in any order of importance, just my thought for the day....
Today I am thankful for Heavenly Father and Jesus and for my testimony of them and everything they give to me... I have really been in such a funk lately and am struggling to get out of it.. since I was little I have always loved going to church, I love the stories you hear there, the feelings you get the reminder of how lucky we are to have what we have and to know we will be with our family forever etc.... but lately for the first time in my life (honestly even as a teenager I loved to go to church) I dread going I don't know if it is my age, the people at my church, my job at church, the unkindness/judgment I have seen shown towards others or just my crappy attitude. I know you get what you put into things and I am probably not putting what I should or at least doing it with the right attitude.... This week I came home especially angry and it has left me questioning so much....... I then had this thought, In Alma (in the book of Mormon) it says that even if we have a seed of faith in things we have hope.... So I thought I have at least a seed... so lets start with what I do know and focus on that.... so here is my testimony that I am so thankful for.....
I know I have a Heavenly Father who knows me and knows when I am struggling and knows what I need even if I don't. I have seen him in my life I have had my prayers answered in both miraculous and small ways. I have been given so much more then I am sure I deserve. I know Jesus died for me and that the atonement is for me for my mistakes as well my heartaches. I know families are meant to be together forever and that this is not it. There is so much more. I know we are all children of God everyone and I believe that we are here to learn to love everyone no matter what there faults or trials are. I believe the whole thing is as simple as a primary song.... I am trying to be like Jesus..... I'm following in his ways, I'm trying to love as he did in all that I do and say, at times I am tempted to make a wrong choice but I try to listen as the still small voice whispers love one another as Jesus loves you, try to show kindness in all that you do, be gentle and loving in deed and in thought for these are the things Jesus taught... really if we could all make it that simple! I believe that Joseph Smith found the Book of Mormon and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus' life here, when Tom and I went to New Hampshire a few years ago we drove down to Palmyra I could see how so many things were just set right in place for the church to be founded. The revolutionary war, the freedom of religion etc etc... It was all just stepping stones for him.
I do believe that is at least a rope to hang onto for right now and everything else will work itself out....
So today I am thankful for Heavenly Father, Jesus My testimony and "My Angels portion" ( I love the Poor wayfaring man song and that is one of my favorite lines, it describes life for us really if we give to him he will give back and it will be an angels portion...)

Halloween Night

Olivia and her KISS Band, don't they look awesome! These girls are so much fun! From left to right... Chloe, Halee, Liv and Megan.
This year with Halloween being on Sunday and living in Utah everyone went trick or treating on Saturday. We first went up to my parents neighborhood for a eat before yo treat, it was fun, when I was a kid the circle just above my parents house always had a big barrel out in the middle with a fire going, you made one stop, got all your candy in one stop and doughnuts or hot chocolate to boot! Amber and I have always wanted to do this in our circle... maybe one year!
Hayden finally decided to be Rod from "Hot Rod", He likes to keep me on my toes... the night before he had to dress up for school he sent me a text listing all the things he needed... we were putting his costume together super late that night. I wish I could say it was with a happy mother happily helping her cute teenage son instead of a yelling at my teenager because why couldn't he have decided this weeks ago when everyone else did... but that would be lying and far from the case...
Love you anyway Haderbabes...
Tom and I took turns taking Canyon out this year.. he was more interested in keeping tabs on what decorations we needed to purchase to have for next year. He wanted me to ask people where they got there stuff... He is suddenly very into decorating and feels as though he as been slighted being in our family, we clearly do not have enough... he made Tom take him to drive through my sisters neighborhood a few weeks ago to see what kind of spider and spider web we needed to put on our front porch... and then we drove all over to find the spider... Tom was great and even though he said "I am not a freaking spider, I don't know the correct dimensions to making a web" his turned out great!
Maddie and her friends were the Mario gang... I didn't get a picture of them all, they were too busy making sure they got enough candy... they went out for almost 5 hours... Sammy O was Yoshie, Lexi Princess Daisy, Kendeyl Luigi... Maddie Mario and Winter Princess Peach... Baker and Jaimie went along too.....
Happy Halloween!!

Annual "White" Halloween Party..

Every year for Autumn and Josh's birthday Autumn throws a Halloween party.... the last 2 years we have had it at the dance studio, which is nice to have a big open space etc... It is always so much fun, and makes Halloween even more exciting to see even the grown ups in costumes... Above, Liv and Canyon posing..... they always have a good time... especially Olivia... notice Hayden in the corner, laying down (as Super Grover) he does not always have a good time...
Tom and I as Buddy and Jovie... Tom is a good sport, this was my idea, and he was totally fine with the tights and spankies...

Canyon as a Combat Carl.... from Toy Story.
Me and Liv a love, notice the great food in the back ground.... We had a turkey dinner one of my favorites!
Corbin and Jaimie as Ice dancers.... "Fire and Ice" make sure and notice Corb from the back in the mirror quite the butt pose!
Andrew and Shawna as Barbie and Ken, they make the perfect Barbie and Ken.... Autumn actually sewed a lot of the costumes... She did such a great job...
Check out that tongue! I wanted my kids to all be the KISS band especially Liv because she was born with this Gene Simmons look.... she was the only one who would do it....
Have you seen the Hangover??? Need I say more with Joshie's costume..
Emme as a perfect little Alice...
Half the night is spent with our photo shoot... Josh's cute girls (and Annie) Hazel was a cute little puppy but got quickly turned into Carlos....Lila was Rapunzel.. Nat a witch and Scout Tinkerbell
Audrey's cute little family of Care Bears...Gabby is not sure what to think about her mom with the bear hat on!
Amber's family as the classic Halloween characters... except Winter friends have so much more say anymore don't they!
Hayden couldn't decide what to be.... so he pulled this out from the year before.
My parents as Pirates... my mom is usually a witch every year, but she thought with her new leg, or lack of she was more suited to be a pirate..... This is one of the first years my dad has been in a real costume.... Canyon wanted to know why he needed a mask when he has a mustache for real anyway.... My dad is usually a golfer or Cowboy, things he kind of is anyway...
Autumn and Miotch as Woody and Bo Peep... Thanks Autumn for putting this shin dig together.
Carlye's family, we have adopted her into the family!
Maddie as Mario, and Winter as Princess Peach...
The night was full of fun, good food and games such as these... and my favorite people!!