Our New Home

So, yesterday we moved into this house:


Here is a video of what the inside looks like:
(click on the image to play)

From Our House

Hats

Our children love hats. Gabbie can always find the stash of hats, even when Mom and Dad don't remember where they are. It doesn't matter whether she has had her hair done or not, the hat is going on. Here are some of the most recent pictures with hats...

Kids are so cute!~

Christensen Family Funny Phrases!

It's time for another edition of...

Christensen Family Funny Phrases!

Dad (in response to a question Gabbie has asked): "Sounds like a plan, Fluffy."

Gabbie: "I'm not a fwuffy, I'm  Gaberella."

Mom: "Gabbie, do you love you brother?" 

Gabbie: "He's not my bruder, he's my Noah!"

Mom: Sniffling and sneezing due to severe allergies.

Gabbie: "What's wrong wif yer life, mom?"

Gabbie (sitting in the back of the car in her car seat with Dad's church bags bothering her): Grunts.

Dad: "Gabbie, what's wrong?" 

Gabbie: "Mom, move Dad's diaper bag!"

Gabbie - sitting on the floor in the kitchen throwing a fit

Noah - Starts crawling toward Gabbie

Gabbie: "Don't crawl to me!"

Noah - Stops crawling, starts laughing.

Gabbie: "Noah, I'm sad, don't laugh at me!"

Gabbie - runs butt naked from her bedroom at the back of the house into Mom and Dad's room

Mom - Wondering what's going on, walks into the bathroom in her room - "Gabbie, what are you doing?" - notices that Gabbie is trying to climb onto the toilet by herself to go potty - "Gabbie, do you need any help?"

Gabbie: "No, mom, I goin' potty by mysewf.  Don't hewp me."

Gabbie (prior to beginning to potty train) - straining to have a bowel movement in her diaper.

Dad: "Gabbie, are you going poop in your diaper?"

Gabbie (red in the face): "Yes, Daddy."

Dad: "You should try and go poopy in the potty.  There's something magical about going poopy in the potty."

--- Silence ---

Mom - starts busting up laughing.

Dad: "Did I just tell our two year old that there's something magical about pooping in the potty?"

Mom: "You sure did!"

Best Friend

This guy is a favorite around our house....The kids fight over him sometimes but most of the time they just like to snuggle him and give him a place of honor.

(yes that is our bed she decided Ernie needed to sleep. And look, she loves him enough to give up her binky; because everyone knows Ernie can't sleep without 'blue binky')

My Children

My Children

© Bertha C. Blankenship

My children are very smart,
Both of them have a great big heart.
They both are growing up each and every day,
In their own unique and special way.
Both of my children are filled with joy,
I love them dearly both my girl and boy.
When I am sad and have a bad day,
Both of my children know how to make my hurt go away.
I love my children more than words could ever say,
I am very greatful that they are alive each and every day.
They mean more to me than anyone will ever know,
When the children are not around me the days seem to go by so slow.
Everyday brings a brand new start,
After all my children are my heart.
I thank God each and every day,
That he sent two beautiful angels my way.

Source: My Children, Children Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/family/poetry.asp?poem=934#ixzz0nYWHSyye

Our Budding Artist

Gabbie is to the point now where she is no longer content with simply smiling for a picture; she has to take the pictures.

Here are some of her shots. She does pretty good when her subject, i.e. Noah, is down low on the ground. It's a lot harder when the subject is taller than her.

Silly Gabbie.

What are the kids doing lately?

Here are some of the things we have been teaching the kids lately...

Galveston and Kemah Boardwalk

Okay, here are the last pictures from the visit with my family last month.

While everyone was here, we decided to drive down to Galveston and go to the beach since we have never been down there before. It was a pretty nice day, but very windy. We all got into our shorts and t-shirts thinking it would be really nice to just walk around on the beach (I had no intention of getting in the water myself, but we all brought bathing suits in case it warmed up).

Here's the sign for the beach. That's about as close as we came. Instead, we took a ride on the ferry.

The ferry connects Galveston Island with Port Bolivar and is the only way cars can get from Galveston to Bolivar.

We decided to walk on board instead of driving so here we are waiting for one of the ferry's to get back to pick us up.

(as you can tell from the sweatshirt my sister Taylor has on and the way my brother James is hunched up, it was really cold with the wind blowing)

My cute niece Jossie...not so little anymore.

On the ferry...it was so windy and cold!!!

We passed some military boats and were able to talk a little with my dad about his experiences on a boat in the Navy.

We all tried it outside for a little bit...

except for these smart guys...

Noah with his Grandma Campbell...

Jossie had so much fun on the ferry. Actually, we all did. James and Dad even saw a couple of dolphins in the bay as we were coming in to disembark. We were all pretty jealous of that.

After the ferry, we headed over to Kemah Boardwalk.

Here are all the cousins together on the shark bench.

Gabbie saw some random guy take a picture of a friend kissing the shark so she decided she needed to do the same thing...

Our cute little family...

and our modeling cousin...

This is what happens when you leave a drink with Gabbie telling her to hold it for you (never expect to get it back in that situation Taylor).

Stinkers...

We ended the day with our traditional trip to Golden Corral. We go there once a year, whenever my dad comes to visit. We were waiting for the other guys to get there and Kyle decided to play a game with Gabbie by laying his seat back and smushing her legs. She thought it was hilarious and has asked him to do it again on numerous occasions.

Thank you so much for coming to visit us guys. We had a lot of fun and can't wait to see you again!

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

I want to share with all of you out there my love for this special book. I know that The Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ. It is written by ancient prophets and was given to us through the power of a loving Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith was given power from Heavenly Father to translate this scripture. He did not write it; he simply had faith enough to follow the command of his Father in Heaven to do the work of translation in spite of persecution. The Book of Mormon teaches of Christ and I know from my own personal study, pondering, and prayer that it is true!

Please enjoy this video that bares an even stronger witness of this sacred book.