Cool at the Dentist

Braden had his first dental appointment with teeth cleaning and all. Who else could make this look so cool?

Rhino Climb

Yet another early morning at the Zoo - this time with just our family. Braden's favorite activity? Climbing the rhino again ... and again ... and again ...

Memorial Day

Visiting graves on Memorial Day always makes me think about how precious life is, how wonderful it is to know that life continues after death and that spending time with grandparents is a wonderful way to use the time we have.

Cailin on Grandpa Christensen';s shoulders - Yes I know - everyone who has a Costco or Sams Club membership has a pair of those pajamas, too!

Candyman Photo Shoot

Leah Wright recently offered special mini photo sessions to generate proceeds for a friend, called the candyman by her kids, that had recently been paralyzed in a recreational accident. It took a while for her to process the images but here they are. Thank you to Becca (my sister-in-law) for noticing that these slots were available! If anyone wants to check out Leah's blog, go to www.thewrightfampics.blogspot.com

Zoo with the Wikers

I know it has not escaped your notice that we go to the Zoo a lot. A few weeks ago we went on an early member morning with the Wikers from our neighborhood. Braden had great fun running around with Alex and Jacob. And of course, he spent quite a bit of time with his pal, the rhinocerous statue!

The Mighty T-Rex

Braden's first drawing that actually looks somewhat like the thing he inteended it to look like! And of course, it is a dinosaur...

A T-Rex - complete with head, body, tail, bumps on its back, legs with feet, arms with two fingers each (since it is a t-rex) and one all seeing eye. Hooray!

Cailin 10 Months

Cailin finally started walking on Monday, May 24th - still in her 10th month but only by 3 days. We were thrilled. After all - she could already get anywhere she wanted by crawling and standing but now she doesn't get quite as dirty doing it:). Today, a few weeks later, she walks everywhere. Occasionally she even tries to "run" away so that we will chase yer - but she gets so excited that she stiffens up and looks like a Scooby Doo mummy!


In the last month or so she has also become very fond of books. She does like to sit and look at them by herself, but if someone else is around she prefers that they read to her. She will read with Braden or whoever is willing for as long as they can take it.

Cailin contemplating how to get me to ready "That's Not My Puppy" to her.

Sports Skills Class

Ever wonder where your tax dollars are going? Well some of the Sandy Caty's MUST be going to the communicty sports class Braden just attended with his friend, Jack B0wers. After paying only $32 out of OUR pocket, Braden got to attend class for 6 weeks, received a t-shirt, sports skills book, completion certificate AND trophy.

Braden really enjoyed most parts of the class (especially playing sharks and minnows at the end) but his favorite was the baseball portion and that is where he created our most fond memories. On the first day an instructor wanted to see Braden hit the ball. Braden smacked it so hard that it hit a far off window, breaking one of its blinds and then apparently disappeared (until we found it later lodged between a bench and pole!) On the last day of class a similar incedent occurred only this time his ball smacked the trophy table so hard that one of the tophies shattered. And after the teacher teased him he (unwittingly of course) hit the next ball straight into that teacher's stomach.

Jack and Braden with their trophies - picture provided by Aaron's phone..

4 year old Preschool Graduation

Miss Nicole held a graduation program on the last day of 4 year old preschool. The kids sang songs and recited poems together. As usual, Braden kept the adults laughing with his almost non-stop editorial (ie "Hey - look at that boy - he's standing on a lady bug...). ANd, as a bonus, Cailin decided to join in the antics. As the kids were singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and got to the verse about the babies on the bus going wa-wa-wa, Cailin let out a loud fake cry and all of the adults giggled.


After their performance the kids had a little graduation ceremony and were awarded a star necklace by Miss Nicole. It may have been a bit over the top (based on the way things used to be when I was little) but Braden loved it and so did we. It is so fun to watch our little boy grow and learn. We love you, Braden!

From left to right, Back row - Christian, Tyler (cousin), Lilly, not sure, not sure, not sure; Front row - Jack, not sure, not sure, Ellie, Braden

Tyler, Braden and Christian

Tucanos

For a belated Mother's day we met CJ in Provo to move the washer and dryer from Kathy's to Grandma Guthrie's house. When the work was done we celebrated at Tucanos, a Brazillian restaurant where they bring all sorts of different meats to your table. I loved the garlic sirloin, Braden loved the brown sugar grilled pineapple and Aaron can't remember so he must have loved it all!

My family (I'm taking the picture), Carolyn, Kathy, Grandma, GG and CJ

A Birthday Riddle

Question: How many regular candles does it take to equal the light of a super Mayan birthday candle? Answer: We have no idea - but it must be something like 39! Happy 39th Aaron!

Aaron on 1st 39th birthday. (My father has celebrated 39 more than 20 times now!)

Holy Animals, Batman!

Aaron and I watched the Nelson boys while their parents attended some foster care classes in preparation for taking in a baby. For the last class (end of April) Aaron took all the boys to the zoo for the Earth day celebration. They saw Chester Cheetah who gave them free chips and made masks. Amazingly Braden seemed to like the rhino statue (be ready to see this again) almost as much the visiting batmobile!

Left to right: Enoch, Noah, Braden and Elijah

Right to left: Noah, Enoch, Elijah and ... Batman (either making bat wings with his arms or complaining about the noise.)

The 3rd 3rd

While some wards like getting together for food or sports, our ward likes racing cars. . After the scouts are done with their "real" pinewood derby, the ward borrows the track for a huge race that anyone can enter. Engineers, mechanics and contractors spend weeks creating thier perfect vehicles and we all have a great time watching them race. This year there was a bat mobile, a truck, and even a racing tube of lipstick. In the end it is very competitive so coming in 3rd place with a car that Braden and Aaron designed just days earlier is no small accompoishment. Congratuations, Braden (and Aaron!)!

Braden with his car and trophy - just a little red and out of breath from all the celebratory dancing he did when he won.

INTERESTING NOTE: Aaron has participated in 2 other pinewood derbies and his car came in 3rd both times!