20 Years!

It is my favorite weekend of the year!
Beck comes to town for a few days. I take a day off work. We eat and talk. Pedicure is a must. Shop and maybe talk some more. The finale ...
FRIENDS CHRISTMAS PARTY

20 YEARS!
This is our twentieth year doing this party (hello Oprah!). How many girls are so lucky to have friends for that long. These are girls who know you and love you
UNCONDITIONALLY!

Taking our group picture is always an event ... and very entertaining. My abs were aching by the end. We are funny! At least Beck and I think so according to this picture.

We spend the night catching up, getting and giving advise, giggling and reminiscing. We exchange gift and have a fabulous dinner. Sleep .. not so much (I think it was almost 4 am this year. Aren't we too old for that?)

Friendships are renewed and love shared. We are reminded how lucky we are to have such great people in our lives. Here is to 20 more years!
LYG

A First

Merry Christmas to me!
I got my FIRST speeding ticket.
"Wow, you have a perfect record. Sorry to ruin that."
SO LAME!

Winter Solstice

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Wood Burning 101

My new project .. wood burning!
(thanks Em for the fun project idea)

Voila!

I finished my skirt!

Dear Santa

Just a couple ideas for my Christmas gift.

CHRISTMAS LIST 2010
*Gray boots from Nordstrom (I just really want them cause I love them!)
*Wheat Grinder (for my domestic side)
*Mac eye shadow (jest and goldmine) (so I can look pretty)
*Camera (so I can take pics on my amazing trip this summer)
*Ikea picture shelf (to go with my new bed)
*SoniCare toothbrush (mine died .. and I care about my hygiene)
*Running shoes (maybe it will motivate me to keep running)
*Blend Tech Blender (so I can make smoothies and stuff to be healthy)
*New car (I can put it on the list ... dream big!)
*Oh and ..... WORLD PEACE! (of course I want THAT)


Merry Christmas!

Gobble Gobble AZ Style

Thanksgiving started with a little family Turkey Trot .... well and in Christensen style
PIE!
(ok we actually started with pie the night before)
Everyone was FBing about how cold Utah was, well we had a pretty fantastically beautiful day. Thanksgiving and palm trees don't really go together for me but it sure was nice for a change.

Thank goodness we had my mom for a couple of days ... she was able to make our pie crust. I made our usual Pecan pie. Em and I decided to try something new. We came up with a chocolate (Jennie's usual) and coconut cream (the two together ... perfect!). Oh yum! It was so so delicious!

Leftovers! Looks like we made plenty of food.
After dinner we headed to the park. Dad and I had to take advantage of this beautiful day. We know that is not what we are heading home to.
The best part was when Cloe saw some leaves on the ground and got all excited to see some Autumn leaves. She used my phone to take a picture. Yep, they are Arizona girls!

I really am THANKFUL for a wonderful family. Thankful for Emily and Gavin for having us. It was a much needed break for me. We had a lovely day.

El Tour de Tucson

It worked out just right that the weekend before Thanksgiving there was a bike race in Arizona .... and Emily lives in Arizona! It was great motivation to keep me training after most of my races were over and the weather was changing. We decided to shoot for the 66 miler (which ended up being closer to 68 ...but who's counting).

Gav's brother and sister-in-law rode with us too.

Next year we are wearing team jersey's!

It was an exciting day. 10,000 participants! The starting line was crazy. We sat on the side just waiting for it to clear out a bit before ducking in.

Em and Gav were very fun to ride with. My chain fell off TWICE (my chain has NEVER come off) and they were very nice to wait for me. We all stuck together and enjoyed the experience. It wasn't exactly easy ... they were serious when they said the course was hilly and the wind did not help ... BUT all and all it was a beautiful day.

Mile 43 (they are backwards)! Our second of two rest stops. Still smiling and feeling good. Such a fun event! I can't wait to do another one ... with the rest of the fam!
Oh how I love my bike.

Friday Night Project

Sometimes I get together with my sisters and mom on a Friday night to whip out a skirt for the holidays. (you totally do that with your sisters? Right?) Ok .. so Dan ended up doing half my skirt (your brother-in-law jumps in and finishes your sewing projects all the time .. right?) and I didn't actually finish it. I will post a pic when I am done.

Many Thanks

Friends Thanksgiving Dinner
2010
It is such a great tradition that this group of friends has.
I remember the first year I was invited to this event. What an honor. Look how things have changed ... and yet they seem to stay the same ... in a good way.

Many THANKS for all those who work so hard for this event! I have so many amazing people in my life.

Pumpkin Lover

I happen to be a fan of just about anything pumpkin. (learning to like pumpkin soup ... DB did make a DELICIOUS pumpkin soup on Halloween) I have a new favorite snack that I found on this site. (one of my new favorite sites!) I have adapted it a bit. Thought I would share it for all you pumpkin lovers out there. Total plus ... super healthy!

Almost Pumpkin Pie
(deceiving name)

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup cottage cheese
sprinkle with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to taste (or you can use nutmeg)
Stevia to taste (I also add a little pure maple syrup sometimes)
toasted pecans or walnuts. I like a lot of nuts.

Mix it all up and enjoy.

I will warn you that it looks kinda gross ... ok really gross. But it is pretty yummy and is good for you. A perfect Autumn afternoon snack!

Oh Sister!

Sometimes you show up at your sisters house and it turns out you are wearing the same outfit. (that happens all the time with your sisters ... right?) We called Emily in AZ and she was wearing the SAME shirt! NO WAY! YES WAY! And then you go to take a picture and she takes a bite of a sour apple that she just picked off her tree.

Derby Queens

The oh sooo lovely DERBY QUEENS!
Halloween 2010

The Roller Derby Queen and the Demolition Derby Queen

The dream couple! The Demo Derby Queen with the Derby Champ.
I am pretty sure we are the envy of the west side.

Moving on ...

BEFORE

AFTER

Fall (heavenly) Break

It seems a little early in the year to be needing a break ... but I really did! Fall Break did not disappoint. I would like to thank the local weather man for pulling through with such delightful weather for the entire weekend. It was simply perfect. I had a long list of things to accomplish.

I painted my front door. (a chore on my list for two summers)

I got shelves put up in my garage!!! (5 1/2 years on the wish list) So then I got to clean out and organize the garage.

Glorious .. love it! I keep going out there to get .. stuff, cause I can!

I went up to the cabin for a little R&R. Hey look, they are filming a movie a just down the street with Diane Keaton and Kevin Klein. This is the set for some of the out door scenes. It was pretty cool to see.

After checking that out for a bit Dad and I went on a little hike. Probably our last of the year .. until snowshoeing! It was still so beautiful. We might have .. maybe sorta missed the trail and ended up tromping through the forest for a while. But not worries Dad knew where we were the whole time.

(Oh my isn't this pretty! I sure did take this WHILE riding my bike, very skilled)

Jessie came down for bike ride. It was the most perfect weather for a ride. We went to the west side for a 30 miler. I did my best to enjoy as much outdoor time as I could. After our ride we headed straight to In'n Out. It was such a great day!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time off. Gosh I am good at not working!

"Miss C.? Were you ugly in high school?"

I love being a teacher.

Be Still My Heart

The MECCA of all craft stores!
Your heart will pitter and patter. Your craft blood will boil. Now we have one right here in UV.
Aahhhh! I can hardly stand it!

Together Forever

Just what every girl wants in her living room.
(you want one of these in your living room ... don't you?)
This year I won't have to put her away for the winter. It won't be the same but at least it is something. All winter long I see her just sitting in the garage. I tell her hi and how I long to take her out but that I am far to wimpy to do so in the cold so she .... and I will just have to wait until the warm weather comes again. Not this year! We can be together all year long.

There is beauty all around.

We have been enjoying a lovely Indian Summer. The days have been warm, the nights have been cool, warning us summer is slipping away. It makes my heart hurt just a little (figuratively speaking {the other day I said "my heart hurts" and my dad asked if I was saying that literally or figuratively ... that time I was being literal. I still have some inflammation once in a while that hurts}) for the summer to end. Although I do love the Fall.

On Friday, Peter, Minni, Dad and I did my favorite hike in Provo canyon. You ride the lift at Sundance up to the top and then hike to Stewart Falls. It is such a beautiful hike.

Did you already know about Provo's Rooftop Concert series? What a super cool event. It is on the top of a parking structure in downtown. We heard Libby Linton and Lower Lights. Loved both groups.

Saturday was spent enjoying the last day (sniff sniff, sigh) by the pool. The key to my happiness will be put away for the winter this week. And of course enjoying General Conference. It has been an especially nice ...no ... glorious weekend! My life may not be perfect, but it sure is pretty great. I think Heaven Father must love me.

Big Girl Bed

As a reward for all my hard work this summer I bought myself a NEW BED!
My old bed went into my guest room (my guest now have a double bed instead of a single bed to sleep on).
I now have this oh so nice and oh so cute queen!

Love Ikea .... second happiest place on earth.

Equinox

Summer is officially over. It was a nice summer. But not my most exciting summer. No BIG trips, no heart procedures, no big adventures. I sorta feel like I have let people down a bit. I am so sorry. I will commit to do better next year!

(flowers from patio)
I can't exactly complain ... it was still a lovely summer. I just didn't get into my usual summer routine that makes summer so blissful. I managed to get some pool time in, sorta kept up my exercise and did most of my house cleaning (I even got my carpets cleaned!). Most of my summer was spent working on a project for Provo Craft. It was a great opportunity and a pretty sweet summer job. In the end I decided that I just don't like working in the summer and I should go on a real trip!
Fall is in the air. Another school year is well on its way.

Yuba Triathlon

Good times to be had at Yuba Lake!

Set up your gear in the transition area

Swim a half mile Bike 12.2 miles

Run 3.1
All that makes a girl hungry!

The Yuba tri was a very fun race. I did pretty good considering I didn't really train. Laura and Kim rocked another race. It was fun to have started the season doing a race with them ... and finish the season with them!

The best part of the day was having Hun there to cheer me on. She drove all the way down to Yuba lake to see me race and ride home with me so I wouldn't have to drive home alone. When I asked her if she was SURE she wanted to do that .. you know what her response was ... "I am your sister. Sure!" She means the world to me! It made the race all the more fun having her there.

Canning Craze

After a successful harvest it is time to put up the fruit. Peter and Dan grew beautiful gardens again this year. Emily came to town for the weekend for her art show. It was the perfect timing for our Canning Craze!

We started with Spicy Peach and Strawberry Rhubarb Jam. Uncle Lou grows lovely rhubarb.
We continued with traditional salsa and tomatillo salsa. Then we tried our hand at my mom's dill green tomatoes. We ended up creating our own recipe when we mistaken fennel for dill. oops! I will let you know how that one turns out in a couple months when we can open a bottle. We did do a second batch with real recipe. We ended our canning craze with the BEST spaghetti sauce ... aka 550 South Sauce.

It was a very successful weekend. We are such good little mormon girls.

Love this weekend with my sisters.