Blue Bell

I am getting smarter. I have decided that setting easier to reach goals makes me feel more accomplished! So, instead of planning to run a marathon this year, which I would love to find the time to train and do someday, I set the goal to run a 10k instead. 1/4 of the race and 1/4 of the time/work! However, running in Texas is only enjoyable for a few months at the first of the year and then again for another month or so near the end, so I had to get right on it. Alee suggested we run the Blue Bell 10k in April and with Brenham just being an hour or so away from home and with ice cream waiting at the finish line, how could I refuse? We made it a family affair and my mom, Alee and I all ran the 10k together while Nick pushed Leo in the 5k and Isabelle rocked the 1 mile. Ben was on Olivia duty and Grandpa had the camera so we were all busy early Saturday morning. We were so proud of little Isabelle as she performed like an experienced runner and lined up alone in her race behind her age marker. They shot the gun and off she sprinted. She ran the whole mile without a break and even passed kids on the uphill turn. We were so thrilled that she finished in just over 10 minutes and took a couple minutes off her personal time while finishing 13th among her peers. Olivia was so excited for Belle and cheered and waved and probably would have run the whole distance with her if we would have let her. After a late start since we lost Alee before the race, the three of us ran a great 10k and enjoyed the beautiful Texas scenery all through the Bluebonnet Capital of the world. I'm pretty sure that I could run a marathon or more if I was running with my BFFs and chatting about everything under the sun as we go. I think for all of us Christensen's, running is our break from the day and we all look forward to our morning exercise. Just like promised, we were greeted at the finish line with every Blue Bell ice cream bar imaginable. I know I ate 2 or maybe 3 myself and I am quite certain that Ben's job of keeping up with Olivia was harder than my run and that he needed every single one of those ice cream bars he enjoyed. So check off that goal for the year, and on to the next one...potty training. Running a full marathon would definitely be an easier feat.

Easter 2012

School has had a dramatic impact on our travel schedule this past year. We are used to living out of a suitcase almost monthly so keeping our feet in one place has been sometimes painful. Luckily for us, Isabelle had both Thursday and Friday off of school to celebrate the Easter holiday this year so with the extra time on the weekend we quickly packed our bags and headed north to Dallas. It had been too long since we had visited Grandpa Van and Grandma Ruth's home and we were able to coordinate dates with Katrina and Gordon so that we could finally meet our newest cousin Caleb too. (Or at our house known as Cee-bus.) The girls were thrilled for the mini vacation and we even convinced Ben to join us for the weekend fun. It was just starting to get a tad too warm in Houston when we left and Dallas was just cooler enough that it felt lovely. We spent most of our visit outside, riding scooters to the park and spending countless hours on the trampoline. Grandma Ruth had fun Easter activities planned as well. We colored eggs with Grandpa and made a huge mess, hunted for eggs in the dark with flashlights and ate deviled eggs more than once. The girls also enjoyed playing the bells with Grandma and singing some Easter songs to help us remember the true meaning of the holiday. Uncle Joe, who is 18 years Ben's junior, had a date to the prom on Saturday night so we took Isabelle to the gathering place to take pictures and see all of the couples ready for their night on the town. Isabelle was thrilled to see all of the pretty girls dressed up in their fancy dresses, shoes and makeup and it was fun for Ben and I to see Joe (almost) all grown up since he was younger than little Isabelle at our wedding. Our time in Dallas went by quickly like usual and the girls were less than happy to get loaded back up in the car to head home. Thankfully the notion of hurrying home to see if the Easter Bunny left us any surprises took the sting off leaving just a little bit and we made great time on our way back only stopping once for fuel and treats. And much to our surprise, we came home to Easter baskets waiting for us by the fireplace complete with new Easter dresses Grammie sewed herself. Easter has become a particularly special holiday for me the last few years as I have become a mother. As we celebrate the rebirth of our land and everything that is good, it's especially sweet to me because both of my girls were born themselves in the Spring and I remember having a new babe at Easters past. What a blessed time of year.

The Houston Oil Ranch - Kindergarten Style

The Kindergarteners at Creekside Forest Elementary School ventured to The Houston Oil Ranch for the day this past Spring and no one was more excited to go than Isabelle. She counted down the days for weeks and prayed that it wouldn't rain each night. She wasn't sure if she was more excited for her FIRST bus ride, for the picnic lunch or for the ranch itself, but it was all we thought, talked and planned for for days. I was a chaperon for the big event, so Isabelle and I spent the day together learning all about animals and Texas and just having fun being together. We rode a train, fed goats and sheep, took our turn on a giant tire swing, rode a pony, played in the hay and ran from one place to the next with her classmates as fast as we could. Isabelle even had the opportunity to milk a real cow...but there was no chance she was touching that udder. If Belle and I ever get the chance to be together alone, she always holds my hand and sings Just the two of us... It was something we used to always sing before little Livi was born and my Isabelle still remembers those days. It was fun to spend the day with my big girl and I know she was so thrilled to have me there enjoying the ranch with her. Of course we talked about how much fun Olivia would have with all of the animals and in true Isabelle form she thought we should plan a trip back with both Olivia and Dad right away. **On a side note, Isabelle discovered that the bus was not all it was cracked up to be. She had an assigned middle seat between 2 boys in her class and cried to ride home with me instead in the car. She put on her game face though and suffered through the bus ride again and now has her curiosity answered about the joy of riding the school bus.

Isabelle turns 6! (Take 2)

One birthday party is never enough when you're turning 6, right? Grammie and Grandpa hosted a little family party at their house in honor of Isabelle complete with a bbq and fun and games outside. March is the perfect month to enjoy the outdoors when you live in the deep South of Texas and one of my girls favorite things to do is play in Grandpa's backyard. Since Easter was just around the corner and we all had plans to be elsewhere for the holiday, Grammie surprised the kids with an Easter egg hunt with candy, money and even tickets for special prizes in the eggs. Isabelle was once again spoiled with more birthday gifts from all of those who love her most and was especially excited for her new bigger sleeping bag and kindly passed her smaller version on to the always excited Olivia. It was a wonderful 6th birthday for a special little girl and we are so proud to be called her parents. Some things unique to Isabelle at the ripe old age of 6: * She still loves and lives mostly off of cheese. * Isabelle is debating between being a Veterinarian or a Fashion Designer when she grows up. * She picked up reading very quickly this year and was just reported at reading around a 3rd grade level. * Belle is and has always been an early to bed, early to rise type of girl. * No one loves her more than her sister Olivia, and no one teases her more than her sister Olivia too. * Isabelle could easily be a vegetarian and probably is about 90%. * Jelly loves to be busy and active. She loves P.E. more than music in school because she likes to MOVE! * Isabelle loves to travel and Kindergarten has really put a damper on her wings this year. After a few days in town she is ready to pack her suitcase again. * Belle really doesn't have much of a sweet tooth and can have an entire bucket of candy at her disposal and only eat a single piece. * She has her daddy wrapped around her finger. * Isabelle has to have a minor meltdown from exhaustion most afternoons after school. Kindergarten all day is just too long! * She loves to be fancy!!! Ruffles, bows, sequins, high heels, make up, jewelry, etc...Yes please!! * No one loves their family more than Isabelle. I have decided that 6 is the perfect age for a child. They are old enough to take care of themselves, mostly, but they are still babies and want their mama's. Isabelle is a little piece of heaven and I am trying daily to seize the day!

Isabelle turns 6! (Take one)

Where oh where has the time gone? Our little Jelly turned SIX years old in March and went from a toddler to a little lady over night!! Isabelle was so excited to share her birthday with her school mates this year and began planning her ultimate birthday party weeks in advance. Ben and I figured that this was the year to have a big bash since our little socialite was so excited to be the birthday girl and desperately wanted to invite all of her little girlfriends to her party, so we threw all of our time and energy Belle's direction and let our little party planner go wild. Isabelle's ideas ranged from a Dr Seuss party to a kite flying party at the park to a garden party with Barbie and so on but eventually she landed on a plan that stuck which was an "Almost Barbie Slumber Party" at our home complete with pajamas, glitter, make-up and all things pink and fancy. March 23rd was on a Friday this year so it was the perfect day for celebrating. Ben, Olivia and I met the birthday girl for lunch at school and brought cupcakes for all of her classmates to enjoy. Meanwhile, Grammie picked up the Barbie cake and balloons and put the finishing touches on her new silky nightgown while Alee and Co. drove down from College Station, picked up the ChiCk-Fil-A nuggets and made 2 dozen cupcakes. It was a family affair and I was grateful for all of the help I had to make this party just as special as our sweet Isabelle. Ben was shocked when I told him he would be too busy to work that day and looked at me like I was a little crazy when we asked him to get out his full size ladder to hang party decorations, but he was the good sport he always is and spent the afternoon hanging pink lanterns from the ceiling and filling the pinata. Soon enough school was over and the sun began to set and it was party time. We had decided that Belle should invite all of the girls in her Kindergarten class as well as her Girl Scout Troup but I was sure I would not have more than 10 or so RSVP. Boy was I wrong, the doorbell kept ringing and soon we had all 16 Kindergarten girls dancing and running wild in our house in their pjs. The party went off pretty much as planned. We ate yummy food, broke a pinata, painted nails and had glitter hair. We had a fashion show, played pillow games and ended the night with a diamond hunt in the backyard complete with 16 pink flashlights and 16 very happy little fashionistas. It was definitely a birthday party to remember and Isabelle was over the moon with all of the fuss. Of course Olivia thought she was the most important guest at the party and loved all of the girls and glitter and fun. I had great help from my parents and my sister Alex's family as well as my neighbor Kathryn and friend Shelly. They say it takes a village to raise a child, right? I think the same can be said about a 6 year old girl's birthday party!