Isabelle was not in a boxing match today but she did fall hard flat on her face on the back patio. She was carrying her watering can and tripped on the hose in her flip flops. She never let go of the watering can so her hands were not available to help break the fall. The saddest part for me was when I was holding her and trying to stop the gushing blood from her lip and nose she looked at me in between tears and said "bank you mom for letting me use your towel!" My bath towel was the closest towel to the accident and she was so glad to get a chance to use it.
Ever since Jelly started learning about the alphabet earlier this year she has been crazy to stand out in the rain under an umbrella. She got her first umbrella for her birthday in March, a pink Sleeping Beauty one, and used it inside the house waiting for rain until it would no longer work. She then received this duck umbrella from her Aunt Tara and this time we kept it in our car so that we would be ready when the rain finally came. We have carried it in stores when the sky was somewhat cloudy and have even put it up a few times thinking we were finally going to get a break from our super dry summer!
Yesterday, around 4:30pm Isabelle was delighted to see a few drops falling from the sky! We quickly grabbed the umbrella and went outside. As you can see from the pictures, the rain was very weak and may have even been done by the time we actually made it outside. So, what does Jelly decide to do? What any great Christensen would do...take the opportunity to clean!
Fortunately, with Hurricane Dolly making her way through Texas I think we will see some more enjoyable rain this afternoon!
This has been mine and Isabelle's song since she was tiny! It just fits us perfectly because more time than not, it is in fact, just the two of us! We sing it together often and we love when we are fortunate enough to hear it on the radio! This week has been no exception as Ben is again away on business and it is just me and my little shadow here at home. This morning when Belle's little eyes woke up, I carried her into my bedroom and dropped her in my bed so that we could watch 'Curious George' together and wait for the sun to rise. She snuggled up right beside me and said "we are two best girls!" I am sure there is a special bond between a father and a son and we all know that Belle is a bit of a daddy's girl, but nothing is better than a mom and her best little girl friend!
This is what Isabelle screamed with joy about her and me as she was so excited to wear a "big girl ponytail" one day this week! Her hair is really not quite long enough and she has a lot of blonde fly-aways like her mom, so she mostly has to just wear her sides up and even then they need some extra help! It took a lot of gel and a very patient Belle to get it all pulled up, but we got it! By the time dad got home her hair was falling out all over the place and she looked a bit like a rag-muffin...but we got an excited picture to show him what a big girl she was!
Isabelle is so excited to celebrate her Daddy's birthday with him today! The first words out of her mouth this morning at 6:15am were "you can open your presents now!" She has planned, wrapped gifts, bought cupcakes, etc, all for her favorite person and now it is finally time to party!
Ben and I started dating 10 years ago when he was just 21 and he is as handsome today as he was then. His pant size has gradually increased and he has a lot less hair on his head, but that has only made him older and wiser! He is a wonderful father to Isabelle and you can understand just how beloved he is as she affectionately refers to him as "Prince Daddy!" He is also a loving husband and provider and neither Belle nor I have ever felt worried about the future!
We wish he were home from work today to relax and let us wait on him, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He is in his element...working, working and more working! (The only birthday gift he has opened so far today was the "Buffetology Collection" on CD so he can even further his great financial knowledge while driving to work everyday. Talk about a passion!)
The 4th of July is perhaps my most favorite holiday. Patriotism runs deep in my DNA and I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't feel great pride for the good ole' U.S.A.. Ben once commented while serving a foreign mission for our church that his "wife's blood would be red, white and blue." He obviously found the right girl!
This year we spent the holiday in DFW with the Cosby family. Six of the seven Cosby children were able to spend the weekend together and although we were overwhelmed with fun, we definitely missed Jacob who is currently serving in the Tallahassee, FL Mission. Isabelle loved playing with her three cousins and fit right in at the Cosby house...the louder and busier the better.
We were grateful to see Belle is also a born patriot as her favorite part of the weekend was marching in the 300 yard children's parade in Flower Mound, TX. Most of the kids her age were in strollers or wagons, but not Jelly! She marched and waved her flag the entire parade route in 100 degree weather and only stopped briefly to pick up other flags that tired kids had dropped along the way.
We are so fortunate to live in this country and enjoy all of the freedoms which we often take for granted. Let us always remember to be thoughtful of those who have fought to protect our God given rights. God Bless America!
We are singing the "Hallelujah chorus" today from Handel's Messiah because we just got word that my dad is an official listed candidate on the National Liver Transplant List! Wow, it only took 21 weeks to get through the process...when he was fist diagnosed with liver-failure we missed celebrating Valentines Day and here we are now ready to watch fireworks for the 4th of July!
He is feeling okay and is getting used to taking several pills every day that do all sorts of weird things to his tired body. Now that he is "official" he will have lab work done monthly to update his MELD score and the Liver Transplant Center will keep a better eye on the diseases progress, etc.
Hooray for medicine and technology and for all of the many hours spent so that his "paperwork" could become complete!
