I am sorry, but the January goal I put on, I meant to go to new.familysearch.org not familysearch.org . Sorry about that!!

Check it out!

If you haven't been to my blog yet, check it out. I have some pictures of the old wash stand from the old house. Dan has finished refinishing it! I'm so excited!!

Just wanted you all to see our Christmas tree.

January Goal-mom

I would like for all of you to download the PAF file from the church website if you don't have it and then put in 4 generations not counting you or your parents, if you can on both sides of your family and then go to www.familysearch.org and look up to see if the work is done and enter it on PAF. And as part of the goal I would like each of you (couples) to find two names that are not done and make temple slips for them and do it!!! Any questions call me and I will help. Mom

Riskedahl Christmas

HI to all who will be attending the Riskedahl Family Christmas gathering (Jones & Cooks). I am planning it at our house on Sunday the 27th. Let me know when you can be here. We have church at 9 so anytime is fine with us. Also I was thinking of ribs and baked potatoes due to Ron's request. Does anyone have an objection? If so what would you like instead, ex. ham, turker, salisbury steak? Anyway let me know

Goal Schedule

Hello again Family, Since everyone (except Dad, apparently) thought it would be fun to do family goals I've gone ahead and made out the schedule for next year. If you have a problem with it, just let me know.
Jan: mom
Feb: Ronda
Mar: Leesa
Apr: Jill
May: Sally
June: Dad
July: Ron
August: no one, we'll all be together
Sep: Dan
Oct: Steve
Nov: Jason
Dec: no one

Thanks for being willing to do this. Love you all.

I just want everyone (Ronda!) to know that I have completed the Cook Scrapbook page of 2009. (And it's still 2009!) Thank you. Thank you. (I was bowing there.)

Family Goals

Hey there dear family. I just had a little idea. I made a goal to try and read the entire Book of Mormon by December 31st. That is a little over 17 pages a day. I thought it might be a fun idea if we all did it and made it a family goal. What do you think? And then I was thinking that maybe next year, we could take turns and pick some kind of goal for our entire family to do each month of the year. For example, in January mom makes the family goal to be "go to the temple with your spouse and do sealings" or something like that. It could be a reading goal, a service goal, or just whatever you want to do that month. I thought it might be a fun way for all of us to feel more connected to each other. Having goals and reporting them at the end of the month. Anyways, let me know what you think and if you think I'm just plain crazy, then keep it to yourself. Love and miss you all.

turkey time

Hello my wonderful family!
I hope we don't all regret that Thanksgiving is at my house!
Mom and Dad and Swensons.... what time can I expect you to arrive?
Also, what time do we want to plan on starting and eating and such? Ronda, do you have to work at some point? What time would you prefer that the festivities begin?
Also, does anyone have a preference in what food to bring?
Here is what I have thought of so far for the menu:
turkey
mashed potatoes and gravy
stuffing (stove top is my preference)
green bean casserole
cranberries? (does anyone like those?)
yams? (do people eat both mashed and sweet?)
rolls
yummy drink (maybe sparkling cider?)
pie

Am I forgetting anything?
Thanks! Can't wait to see you on Thursday!

Just a FRIENDLY reminder that in just 1 month your 2009 scrapbook pages are due!! Looking forward to seeing everyones this year

sam's and liv's blogs

just a reminder, in case you care, and you don't have to care if you don't want to care.... but since sam's and livia's blogs are private, they don't show when they have been updated on the right of the blog in the blog list. so, even though it doesn't look like i've updated their blogs, i have.

Leesa's Here!!!!!

My favorite daughter, Leesa, and her three kids are here for a two week visit. I'm soooo excited at the idea of noisy kids, no naps, poopy diapers, and pure exhaustion for the next 14 days. Yipee!! They are my favorite grandkids and I will die of happiness if need be! I love it!!!!!

Livia's latest lunch likings

As all parents do, we have been trying to encourage sharing in our family.

Unfortunately, this is not exactly what we had in mind.



I guess she is trying to follow in Aunt Donna's footsteps? Of all of Donna's fabulous qualities, why must she choose this one?

(For the record, she does this daily, and instead of fighting her on it, since she gets so mad, I decided to record it instead. I don't let her actually eat it usually! I had hoped she'd realize how gross it was and get tired of it. She didn't though.)

Checks

Hi
If anyone needs checks let me know. I just bought 4 boxes for 11.oo with a couple of great coupon codes. I know we don't use checks a lot anymore but still need some on hand.

private blogs

OK, so I just made Sam and Livia's blogs private. But I sent each of you an email so that you can view it. I have no clue how that all works, so let me know if it works or not! I'll try to fix it if you can't read it. Thanks!

The Loot!

So this morning I went to Rite Aid and spent 112.00 out of my pocket with tax included. Now I will receive back 142.00 When I request my check at the end of the month. So there fore I made 30.00 this morning which is more than a night at Kohls! Ha-Ha. I got::
2 bottles of nasal spray, 2 boxes of Zucol, 2 packs of kids Chloraseptic, 2 packs of Coldcalm cold and cough, 2 bottles of Little Noses Cold formula, 2 bottles of Little Colds sore throat melt aways, 2 bottles of Blink eye drops, 1 bottle of Little Allergies, 2 bottles of Sambucol Immune booster, 2 chapsticks, 2 packs of Cepacol Fizzlers for sore throats, and 2 boxes of Zantac. It is such a high being a coupon mom!

We're coming to ND!

For those of you who might not know, the kids and I are going to ND to see the family. We are leaving on the 30th of Oct. and going home the 13th of Nov. We will be there for Halloween!! We will also be there for opening weekend of hunting season, so we should see lots of family we would otherwise probably not have seen.
We have been enjoying 70 degree weather, so Bismarck weather will be a bit of a shock! Hopefully Mom will survive with us and the hunting weekend at the same time!

Today was Brynja's doctor appointment with the ENT at Primary Childrens. He said it looks good and is healing nice. Her ear still has a little hole in it but should finish closing up this week. He wants us to bring her back in 6 months for another check and a hearing check. So we will see. Thanks for all the prayers

still lovin' the ponies

I just want mom to know that the PJs she made are still very well loved and worn! Sam would wear them every night if I let him... but sometimes they just need to hit the wash! And crazy enough... Livia still fits into hers, but maybe I'm not surprised since she's such a dinky little thing, and they were huge on her last Christmas. But other than the sleeves being 3/4 sleeves, it still fits her pretty good! Thanks Nana!

Quiet Books

Thanks for the cute cloth books, Nana. We all love them.


We love you!

Happy 34th Anniversary Mom and Dad

I just wanted to wish my wonderful parents a very Happy Anniversary! Thank you so much for everything you have done for us, the wonderful lives you have blessed us with, and the great examples you have always been. We are so grateful for all you do and what you are. We love you both so much and hope you have many more happy years together.

What weighs more?

Give us your vote for which one weighs more Brynja or Leesa's garden produce!!

costumes anyone?

Due to the upcoming Halloween season + my lack of willingness to spend money on things such as costumes.... I was hoping I could get a few ideas of what costumes are out there that I could possibly borrow?
Livia will be 13 months, but she's on the smaller side of girls her age (but probably not as small as Brynja was?) But I'm sure she would fit fine into something a 12 month old could wear.
So, I was hoping to get a few ideas of what costumes you have... and would be willing to let me borrow.
Thanks be to you all!

Brynja's trouble

Yes, Brynja will be our Jill. Always in trouble and heading for the doctor!! Two days ago she stuck something in her left ear and totally destroyed her ear drum. She didn't just puncture it she destroyed it. The doctor could only see the white outer rim left. She is worried she may have ruined the little bone that will affect her hearing. So next week we are back at the doctor to see how it is healing and then maybe to an ENT if it is not doing well. We of course are praying that she will not have to undergo surgery and of course that she will not have hearing loss. Pray for her ear.

a not so happy mix

What happens when you have a baby....

and a table cloth in her reach?

Only what could be expected...
Yeah. Enough said.

cupcakedness

Everybody loves cupcakes right?


Here are a few of those people who had lots of fun eating them at Livia's party yesterday. Ron and Ronda came down to celebrate with us.

Em's funny word

Tonight we were repeated the 11th article of Faith.
It goes: We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God, ...
I was sitting next to Emmalynn and her pronunciation of the word "worshipping" caught my attention. I asked her to say it again and this is how it came out: warpushing. It sounded so funny, we all had a good laugh. The other funny part is that it took her about 4 more times to say it correctly!

Peaches for Dad

Peaches have been falling off the trees like crazy. We have about 5 peach trees in the backyard. They weren't taken care of this year. They weren't pruned or watered enough. So, the peaches are small and not so great. The first tree to start falling is a yellow peach. They were small and didn't taste very good. The next 2 trees to start falling actually taste pretty good, but they are small too. I started picking them up from the ground so as to avoid a big mess in the yard.
Here are some all over the lawn and garden area.


Here is the box I used to collect them. At first I used about 3 plastic sacks. They quickly filled so I got a big box. It's sad to see them go in the trash.


The kids were 'helping' pick them up. They kept taking bites out of them.

This tree is a white peach tree. The peaches were a little bigger, but still not canning quality. I think in a year or two, with some care, we'll have lots of peaches!! Too bad we are so far away!!!!

silly door

Highlights of the video:
1. watching the scooting is always fun
2. counting how many times she pushes the door (5)
3. the door lick/kiss

Cassidee's Amazing Move

Cassee was standing at the window (the sill is only 8 inches from the floor) and panicking that I needed to come see something. I went over thinking she saw some animal in the backyard. Then she points to the fly on the window. I told her not to worry, it was only a fly. I went back to the computer. Soon I hear some smacking sound. I look to see her smacking at the fly with my yellow banana grams game. (It's a little pouch with a zipper shaped like a banana. It has little letter tiles in it.) The fly falls to the floor and she continues dropping the banana on the fly. Finally she carries the fly over and says, "I killed it!" Who needs a fly swatter?
One more funny: she just came from down the hall with her bottom half naked (she was just in the bathroom) saying what I though was, "My bed is all wet." I'm thinking WHAT? Oh, great, a mess. I head to her bedroom and find nothing wet.
"What are you saying, Cassee" This time she points to her bum and says, "My butt is red."
She had little lines down the side of her butt from sitting too long on the toilet! I just laughed!! Usually it takes at least two tries for me to understand what she's saying.

Our second visitor

We are hosting again this weekend. The second time in the four weeks we will have lived in NM. Dan's mom, Chris, is coming for Labor Day weekend! We are excited to have another visitor to show around.
Oh, and we got Dish Network today. (because out in the boonies where we are we can't get any channels that work. I hate digital television! Bunny ears just don't work anymore!) I'm able to watch the Food Network again. Woohoo!!

Good news for the Christenson Clan!
Ron found out yesterday he is now approved for the whole month of September as a freelance person at McCann-Erickson. His boss (Todd) told him he is not only on for the month but double booked as 2 clients want him for the month so he can work 16-18 hours/day if wanted - NOT! But made him feel good. We are very grateful for this new blessing and the blessing of selling Ron''s blue car yeah!!!

Livia + Lemon juice

Here's Livia's first taste of lemon juice.

Last post for the night as I will try to update my blog too. Sorry about the photo placement as I don't know how to adjust and move them. Just letting everyone know Ron has another week of work so pray for a few more. Also Jill the recipe you gave me for Zucchini Brownies turned out great so I will now post it.
Zucchini Brownies
1/2 c. butter
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. oil
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 t. soda
1/2 c. cocoa
2 c. zucchini
Cream butter, oil. and sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time. Blend in vanilla and buttermilk.
In seperate bowl mix dry items, add to batter, mix well. Add zucchini mix well. Bake in 9x13 pan at 350 for 25-30 minutes. frost if desired

Last thought after 6 years of looking at Sharpie marker on the wall it is time to paint the kitchen any color suggestions?

First day of school

The is Addison s first day of 4th grade and Kylee's first day of 2nd grade. They were very excited to head out on August 24. Addison looks so grown up and tall to me. She also looks way better after I made her wipe all the make up off that she had on. They both have great teachers for the upcoming year and I prayed very hard all summer for these 2 women as they are 2 of the best teachers in our school. I hope they have a great year, learn a lot, and make good strong friends and of course I hope for no book reports!

Davis County Fair

Addison and Kylee were able to milk a real cow which they thought was very cool.
Brynja loved feeding the animals with the feed we bought. She was not scared at all of sticking her hand out for a huge cow, bull, or the goats and sheep. She kept sticking her fingers in their mouths. She was so excited to see all the animals and pet them.

Big Sisters

my big sisters - Addison and Kylee are so great with Brynja and she looks up to them a lot. She will copy anything they are doing and wants to do and be where ever they are. I hope they always keep that in mind as they make decisions in life. I coudn't not have asked for better big sisters for Byrnja.

Brynja's mischief

She loves getting into my jewelery box and anything of the girls when they are at school. When you come over don't leave your lipstick laying around or she will be all over that.

4th of July

Clearfield Parade on the 4th of July
Brynja loved picking up the candy and kept running out in the street to get more.
Addison, Kylee, Emmalynn, & Cass waving, waving, and waving to get the attention for a little more candy!

Gietzen Family at Donna's wedding

Cousin fun

Trip to North Dakota

The girls and I went to North Dakota for 2 weeks this summer as Ron had to stay behind with freelance work. The girls love being at the farm and all the freedom it brings for them. They love to play in the old white house, ride bikes and just run outside all day. They hate to leave when it's time to head home and can't wait for the time to return.