Camping Big Daddy Style

Camping Big Daddy Style (which is what happens when the moms are at an all day women's conference) goes a little something like this:

Playing,



exploring,


climbing,


making mud,


AND sleeping in the same clothes...


Flaming marshmallows flying all over the place...



Rescuing a man down...


Brief moments of sanity...


Cooking over an open fire with work gloves when the stove is not working...


Finding and mutilating helpless animals...


Swimming in freezing cold water in mid-April...




And lotsa smelly campfire laundry waiting for mommy for when she gets home!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON BOY!

Our Jackson Monster is 2 years old today. It's hard to believe that he's been with us for 2 years already. He is so sweet that he just melts your heart. That sweetness turns mischievous all too quickly - remember the toilet adventures??

Jackson started his special day with a delicious breakfast made to order. He began with a hot dog appetizer (Yum!), and moved on to his main course - cinnamon and sugar toast with bday candles, and chased it all down with a sippy cup full of hot/warm cocoa. Mmm!

Lizzie helped him open 2 gifts (everyone had already gone to work and school by the time Jackson got out of bed). A new outfit and his favorite - toy cars!

He measured in at 2 feet 10 3/4 inches - that's the tallest any of our kids measured at 2 years. How can that be when he looks like such a shrimp?
Here's his vocabulary list so far:
Uh-oh

hot

hot dog

light

bye-bye

poo poo

dog

mom

dad

all done

night night

baby

bath

more

open

socks

dog

blanket (he says, "goo-gah" for Samuel's baby blankie)

shoes

go

up

down

Jackson shares his special day with some Hollywood stars (Grandpa Louie this is for you - right from the birthdays in the Life section of the Fresno Bee!): Dennis Quaid and Kristen Stewart (Kristen will play Bella in the upcoming Twilight series movies!!)

Jackson, we wish you all the best this year. Show the world there is NO SUCH THING as Terrible Twos!

Grandma Dee Dee's Potato Salad

A few months ago Grandma Dee Dee came over to teach me her famous potato salad recipe. She showed me her secret tricks to making it just right! She is always adamant that Best Foods mayo is the only mayo to use for her potato salad.

This recipe is an "old family recipe" that she's been making forever. Every time we eat it at any family gathering it brings back memories... pool parties in her backyard, 4th of July, Easter dinner when the adults sat at the dining room table and the kids ate at the table in the kitchen...

It looks a little different when I make it, but it sure tastes the same! She has the perfect huge punch bowl that holds 10 pounds of salad - mine only holds 5. I love that she's willing to pass all her recipes to me and take the time to show me how it's done her way - the best way. Next on the recipe passing agenda will be her famous chili beans. Thanks for sharing with me, Grandma! I love you. (Hope you're enjoying Texas!)

The 2nd Place Race

Trevor has been practicing with the swim club since January every day after school for an hour. His other cousins, Emma and Jacob, were already in the club so it was an easy extra-curricular choice for Trevor. He is doing really well - improving quickly and always has a great attitude during practice. Jeremy loves to comment on how fluid his form and strokes look in the water - he's a natural!

Trevor competed in his first swim meet of the season on Saturday, April 5th. He swam in one race - the 25 yard freestyle. He was the youngest one in the heat at 8 years old and the oldest was 12.

He always gets pretty nervous. It's so hard to watch him suffer from these nerves and there's nothing I can do to make it better. We've all got to grow from our experiences, right?

The race only lasts about 30 seconds so it was very quick. Trevor was ready at the block. That buzzer sounded and he dove in like a pro. He swam his heart out and placed 2nd. Wow! Check out the scoreboard below. His daddy couldn't have been more proud.

Way to go Trevor!

A New Prophet

Thomas S. Monson is the new prophet of our church. This picture here is not so recent. He looks a bit older these days. I have always loved President Monson. My brother, Thomas, was allegedly named after him! He always has great stories and wonderful analogies when he speaks.

He gave his first addresses to the Church today at our General Conference that was broadcast around the world. Here is a link to his talk that he gave in the closing moments of the last session of the conference. This is an audio file so you can listen to him speak, it is not a video. President Monson's Talk He was very much in good humor and spirit. I know we all breathed a little relief when he cracked a few jokes. It is nice to have a prophet that believes in humor and laughter. I am excited to learn more about him and what his focus will be to push forward the work of the church. I know he was called of God. He has been and will continue to be a great leader in the years to come.

10 years

It was 1998. I was 19. He was 23. He truly is the best man I've ever known.


Happy Anniversary, my sweet.

It's time for a shower!

We were all thrilled to throw a baby shower for Kelly this weekend. Kelly is the youngest of the Ward family siblings. She is married to Julio and they live near Cal Poly where he goes to school. This baby will be their first and we are all so excited we can hardly stand it!

Kelly and Julio came into town on Friday - Kristen, Jeremy's other sister, drove up from Orange County to be here for the shower too.

Kari did her house up right. It felt like sprintime in the Christopherson's house! Perfect for a baby shower.

This was the only picture I got from this event. Kelly and her best bud Brooke. These girls have been friends since high school - and wouldn't you know it - they ended up marrying cousins! They are both Hernandez girls now. And just look at that prenant belly - oh I love it!

So many ladies showed up to wish Kelly well. She scored with all the gifts too! The cutest high chair ever, 3 bouncy seats, stroller, car seat, swing and all those sweet outfits. This baby girl is going to be set.

Can't wait to meet your little sweet pea! We love you Kelly!

Bugs & Butterflies

Joy School took us to the park this week. We are learning all about Bugs & Butterflies. A is for Ant, B is for Butterfly and C is for Caterpillar! The kids each made a "microscope" to check out bugs in the grass. That held their attention for about 30 seconds - that's why there's no picture of Preston - I had to snap those pics pretty quick!

Carlee

Lizzie

Benny - he's not quite looking at the grass - I wonder what he was discovering here...

Jackson thought he'd get into the action too - I'm sure he had no idea what he was supposed to be looking at!
The best part of the morning was of course the themed snack. How can you go wrong with a butterfly toast treat? So cute! The kids thought it was super fun to cook their own snack. They gobbled it up when it was all put together.

Another fun day with the kiddies.

It's not just Jeremy's birth day...

it's the whole WEEK!


Sunday: Duran Family party

Monday: Red Robin family dinner (the only out-to-eat picture)

Wednesday: small family party and Dog House Grill extended family dinner

Saturday: Mimi's Cafe friends/family dinner

Sunday: Ward Family party



Sheesh! 5 birthday celebrations - we can't squeeze in just one more??

REI Birthday

Jeremy's birthday is here! He's a whopping 33 years old today. Whew! That sounds old, doesn't it? He started his special day right with an early morning run. When he returned from his run we were all there to yell, "Surprise!" and have a little family party before he left for work.

He blew out his candle (Oops! I forgot to buy candles! This was the only one in the house.) on his favorite birthday treat - Double Cream Blueberry pie from Marie Callenders.



He got his most anticipated gift ever - The super light super durable super weather proof sleeping bag from REI. (He can give you all the specs if you really want them.)

Can you believe that big sleeping bag will fit into this tiny stuff sack? He can't wait to get out backpacking so he can see how much space and weight it will save in his pack.

He was so giddy this morning - so excited to finally hold his new baby. Call and sing Happy Birthday to him - he loves that!