Christensen Family Photo Shoot

It's been a while since I had a family photo shoot. I was really excited when Jenna contacted me and asked if I would do it.  I was a little nervous since I am getting less and less mobile.  But I think it went really well.  They were a lot of fun to shoot.  And their little boy, I just wanted to take him home.  He is just so sweet and happy! Thanks Jenna once again for letting me shoot your family :0)

 

And by the way I just wanted to thank everyone else who has allowed me the opportunity to take pictures of them and their families.  It really has meant a lot to me.  You have all helped me get a little closer to making a dream of mine come true.  Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Getting Ready Christmas

So this weekend we started getting the home ready for Christmas.  The kids had fun taking out all the decorations.  Even though at times they argued about who got to hang what up, I think they really had a good time.

Here they are playing with the nativity scene.  I think this is their favorite decoration, because they can play with it.  This was my favorite item to put up every Christmas too! Later that night we went riding around looking at people's Christmas lights.  Viggo loved it! He was so excited to see all the homes decorated. His favorite one was of Santa falling off a tree, and his pants had fallen so you could see his boxers.  He kept saying "Mira papi mira, Santa tiene chonies."  I have always loved Christmas, but seeing my kids love it makes me just so happy.  Hearing them sing Christmas songs, and watching them watch all the Christmas specials I use to watch, decorating cookies, and just getting into the spirit is so fun.  Sometimes I wish this month would never end..... but this year I am bit excited for December to end because that means I am one more month away from having my baby boy.  Which by the way has an official name.  It will will be Micah! I love it and guess what so does David. Its kinda funny someone pointed out at church that I kept saying the name Michael.  "I can't call him Michael if I have a Viggo."  But then I found this version of Michael and I instantly new it was the one! It means like God.  Yay! So that is my Christmas present to all of you! You don't have to hear me ramble anymore about baby boy names. Hope you are all having fun getting ready for Christmas too!

Fun with Cousins

I love it when David's family comes down.  Leah and her girls came down.  And I don't mean to boast but I have the best nephews and nieces.  They are all so loving, and not too mention they are all so adorable.  Here are some pics from our fun weekend together. I miss them already.

( Sorry for the different color styles in the pictures.  I have just been practicing different overlays on the pictures for fun.)

Cheetah Celebrity Award

Today was Ariana's day! She was so excited for Friday, because she knew she was going to receive a Cheetah award, and her class got to have a star jar party where all the kids got to come to school in their pj's to celebrate! She was so cute! I know I say this all the time but I just adore her.  She got the award for having a fabulous smile, and knowing 100% of her site words.  She is such a big reader now.  Anyways, I am so proud of her, and her uncle Josh even came to see her.  This is for sure a Happy Friday!

Boys Names

Okay I have become obsessed with finding a boy name for my new one.  Recently I said I liked Logan, but David was not too convinced.  But I think I found one he will love.  It is Zaydn (Zaiden) not quite sure which spelling I like. And it means lucky.  We originally wanted to name him Zidane, but for various reasons we decided not to go with it.  But David has not found one that he has liked better than that one.  But I think Zaydn is close enough to the original one that he will actually go for it! Viggo and Zaydn.  I think I like it.  Its been so hard to find one that will go well with Viggo's name.  It just seemed weird to name our new boy a name like Michael now that we have a Viggo. Now we have to find a middle name.  Maybe he will let me use Logan as the middle name.  I am soooo happy.  I can't wait to run it by him.  I think this one will work!!! Wish me luck! 

Oh No....

I got my CAMERA back!!! I am so excited! I haven't had it for months.  I feel so rusty, so that means I  need to take lots and lots of pictures.  Can you tell that my family is so happy about that? I have been so sad without it.  I got it just in time for Ariana's assembly tomorrow, where she is getting an award!

Today is going to be a good day!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year.  I think having Ariana in school just makes Holidays seem that much more exciting. They have so many activities, and she comes home singing so many Thanksgiving songs and I get to have her home for a couple of days all to myself.  Before they took off for Thanksgiving break the kindergarten class put on a Thanksgiving pageant.  I don't know who was more excited! She had a little speaking part where she had to say what she was thankful for.  I totally thought she would say us, but she said "Mom I am just so thankful for my teacher.  You know I just love her so much."  So this year Ariana is thankful for Miss Melendez, and so am I.  She is so awesome.  Ariana has learned so much in such a short amount of time.  Got to love teachers! 

We have some video that we took, but I still have to edit it. She was so adorable.  Here are some pics we took with my sister's ipone.  Thanks Naomi! Can't wait for Christmas!! And I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving too!

This is what he does now, when he gets shy.  He puts his little hand in his mouth.

This is Ariana's friend Logan.  They are really funny together.  I love his name this is want I want to name our baby boy that is on the way.  But I still need to convince David.  David is so picky when it comes to names.  But I love the name Logan Ettinger.  I would have an Ariana, Viggo, and a Logan.  I think it sounds good!

We went shopping after, and Viggo found Spiderman! He is such a boys boy. 

 David made me take a picture.  Taking pics is not fun when you feel so big.  But I needed at least one right?  Here I am a week before hitting eight months.  That's right people I have ten more weeks to go.  That means my baby belly is still is growing.  Oh boy I think he is going to be a big one. 

1st Day of Kindergarten

I have been behind on logging things, but here is her official first day of Kindergarten picture.  She was very excited as I expected.  I always knew once my kids got into school, life would feel pretty busy.  I just didn't realize how busy.  She loves to learn, but I have found that after a day of kindergarten getting her to do her homework and study can sometimes be a little hard.  Especially since we are playing catch up.  She knew how to read simple words, but no where near the amount her class is already reading.  They have 25 sight words already memorized, and they can spell most.  The good news is that she has almost all twenty five of them down.  She has three to four that she still struggles with sometimes.  And she has started to spell some of them too!! Which was exciting! Having my sister Naomi around has been nice, because she loves impressing her, so teaching her to sound out the words and spell them out on paper has been much easier with Naomi around.  I have found she does not care to impress me that much, I guess I am just her mom.

We have now experienced how quickly germs get around when kids are in school.  We have been fighting the flu all week.  And I get tons of paper work to fill out every week.  And there are plenty of activities for parents to sign up for.  I am glad she is loving it.  Even though I miss having her around everyday.  On Saturday she was even begging to go to school.  We will see how long that lasts ;0).  

Happy first year of school Nanita!

Your brother and I miss having you around everyday!

Got to get my act together

Uggggh this week is starting off rocky.  Last week Ariana started school.  We were off to a good start till this Monday.  Yesterday I picked her up from school ten minutes late, I didn't realize my parents clocks were off.  Okay for the sake of keeping an honest blog I hadn't realized my parents clocks were off yet at this point, and I thought I had time to close my eyes for ten minutes.  I can't really blame just the clocks for me being late picking up Ariana, because my shut eye of ten minutes turned into more like 25.  I know I am horrible mom.  Hmmm thinking about it I was rubbing my belly extra when I saw the teacher hoping that she would take pity on me since I am pregnant.  I know, I know I am horrible.  I am the mom who is already trying to use my baby who is not even out yet to help me look better. I was hoping this move would have bought me some time from making the pathetic parent list, but you will see soon enough that I botched this one time move up.  I was so embarrassed because Kindergarten parents wait for their kids like forever early.  Then this morning I was determined to prove I was not a deadbeat mom, but guess what she was ten minutes late today :0(

Here is how it all went down starting yesterday.......

Yesterday, when I went to pick her up I took off running to the office, ( you can imagine how that looked with me being almost seven months pregnant ) Only to find that her teacher was walking her to the office.  The teacher told me she was late to her meeting that was suppose to have started 10 minutes earlier.  She said the next time I am late to just give the school a call.  All I could do was hug my little one because the last thing I wanted was for her was to think I forgot about her.  Luckily Ariana didn't realize I was late.  And then for the next hour all I could think of was how the teacher thought "I" would have a next time.  All I wanted to say is that this would never happen again.  But all I could utter with my rapid heart beat that is pumping for two is that I am sooooooo sorry! But guess what we did have a next time.  And not a week later.  The very next morning.  Yup I must be on the pathetic parent list.  Uggghh I just hope I can get off that list eventually.  I think I just need to relax. I am so wound up tight.  And I know this may not be a big deal, but my pregnant woman hormones tell me its the end of the world.  I just want Ariana to have a good year, and so far I picked her up late and took her to school late.  Here is to a better tomorrow, with accurate clocks and no short cat naps half hour before I am suppose to pick her up.  And I will post pics of her first day soon.  I have had to use my dads camera, and he dosen't know were his USB chord is....... 

But here are two David took of her on the computer before she took off last week.

And here are some pics that the kids took of themselves that express exactly how I have been feeling these past two days.  

If only I even looked that good right now lol. 

What to do with Viggo?

Viggo has gone through many stages.  I thought we got through his temperamental stage, but I think it is back with vengeance.  I really hope this stage goes by quickly.  I just want my happy boy back.   I know that with patience and time we will get through this, but oh boy I am going to need an extra tank of patience I think.  Viggo, you are seriously lucky you are so cute, because there are times that your beautiful soft brown eyes are what melt my heart and make me realize that my sweet little boy is still in there.  I am hoping it was just the move that brought this out in you again, and that you are just going through an adjustment period.  As I am writing this I see you playing with your little cars, and making all sorts of car noises that involve sirens, car horns, and crashes. You really are the cutest most temperamental boy I have ever met. I am lucky to have you, temperament and all.

Our Soccer Girl

It is Ariana's first soccer season.  She was so excited to start two weeks ago.  Its fun seeing my little girl run up and down the field with such determination.  My favorite part to watch is when one of her team mates makes a goal.  She celebrates with a double fist pump in the air as she is jumping.  She is probably the smallest one on her team, but she tries so hard to get in there.  And she makes every effort to get her little legs to match the stride of everyone else.  Ever since she started playing you just see her at home dribbling the ball everywhere.  I am glad she likes it so much. I am just sad we can't stay for the whole season.

The flash was on I didn't realize it.  But I think this is such a cute pic of her.

Viggo wanted to sit with Ariana and her team so bad.  He whined the whole time about it.

She got to play keeper.  They are that the age where everyone is fighting for the chance to play in goal.  I wish I got the shot of David's face when Ariana was asking to play keeper.  It was priceless lol.

Viggo would stop whining when he got to drink some power-aid.  He was so sad he couldn't play with Ariana. Its been hard for him to understand why he can't get out there and play too.  By the way he is in a stage where he whines all the time.  He has a very sing song whine.  Like "Daaaaaadddddyyyy."

Sometimes its really funny and other times really annoying.  Like that day.  We were trying to watch Ariana but we just had him doing his sing song whine the whole time :0/.  This is what it sounded like.  "Yooooo quuuierrrrrro mi Naaaannnna." 

He finally stopped whining a little bit and started playing soccer.

I think he was trying to prove to everyone that he could play on Ariana's team.