The Little Things

Life is better because of these things:

-assemblies

-Vicks Kleenex

-orange juice

-sunny days

-Burt's chapstick

-Tyler Hilton's song "Missing You"

-pink nail polish

-My little ladies saying, "Miss C. you look beautiful today" when I am far from believing it.

-Shop and Go's soft ice cream

-hitting Nordstom Rack right

-green arrows

-leaving my job at 3:25 p.m. everyday if I want to

-sprinting

-my nephews calling me by name

-dancing with my ladies

-not knowing the day of the week

-cartwheels

-Run's House & Rob and Big

-the perfect mix of D.P (carbonation/syrup) some of you know exactly what I'm talking about

Sun, Sin, and Sneakin' In

We're back, and we're not happy about it, but we're pleased to present the highlights of Spring Break 2008.

1. Spring Break almost didn't happen because of an irresponsible semi driver.

2. Grandparent's housekeeper Edna bangin' on the door at 9:00 a.m. when she wasn't scheduled until 10:30.

3. Birth canal slot canyon.  We all felt like we fit through the canyon with much more ease last year. Bummer. Note to self: drink one less Dr. Pepper a week to ensure no serious problems next year.

4. Snuck into our alma mater's softball tourni.  It cost $4.00 to get in, we intentionally left our purses, ID's, and cash in the car and put on our best high school faces.  Ash busted her flip flop on the way in.

5. Snuck into Ambassador Inn's Pool.

6. Went to local burger joint and walked out with four glitter tattoos...so hot.

7. TEXAS ROADHOUSE: where do we begin! Our posse of four ladies met up with childhood friend Ronnie Williams and fiance Angie as well as Anna Bullard.  The sight was perfect Ronnie with 6 ladies out for steaks for his fake birthday Holla Ron.  

The Waitress: Misty, our hyperactive waitress was rubbing up on Kellie and calling her by the name of "Lovey."  She was also using her outside voice all night.  The chaos really began when Ronnie saddled up on his birthday saddle for the restaurant to yell "yee haw," it all went downhill from there. Kate cut into her steak to find it still mooing.  When our waitress came to take the steak back, with plate in hand, she slipped on some water catapulting the plate into the back of Angie's head leaving a large goose egg.   On the way down, Misty hit her head on the back of Ronnie's chair and blacked out.  She was on the ground for a while, some waiters came to help her up and she stumbled to the ladies room where she remained for the rest of the night.   Kate said, "to hell with my steak" and we were out of there.  On the way out, white men at the bar were pretending to be seniors hollering for their senioritas (us) to join them at the bar.  Sorry boys, not tonight.

Spotted: man in the middle of empty parking lot laying motionless on his back.  Cops show up Gang Unit and all.  Man stumbles to his feet, dropping his pants in the meantime.  Then we got a call from Anna, telling us she had just spotted man asleep with his head propped on the parking barrier right next to her car.  Ronnie enlightens the cops on the opposite side of the restaurant dealing with pantless wonder.  Cops proceed to sleeping parking stall man.  Sleeping man is kicked multiple times and when he finally comes to....rolls over.  Before we know it fire engine and paramedics are on the scene.  Right before we leave the madness we see not so chipper Misty in the back of her Mom's car headed to the ER, still unable to move her neck.  Downtown Chicago??....no no Northern St. George.

8. Easter Sunday....we wake up to no signs of the bunny.

9. Join the grandparents for a special Easter lunch in Beaver, UT at The Timberline.

10.  Grandma tells Kellie and Ash that they both have beautiful teeth and will make great lovers.

Trip Mascot: Sheckler (aka...fugly stuffed beaver) named after the one and only Ryan Sheckler.

All in all it was a very successful Spring Break: clothes were kept on when necessary, no one is knocked up, and no DUI's.  Bring on Sring Break '09

We're Outta Here!

Some of the ladies are going on a little road trip this weekend to St. George, Utah. This is the second year we've done it and hope to make it an annual trip. Me, Becca, Ash and Kellie are heading out tonight to sow our wild oats in a warmer land. A land of red rock, swimming pools, and 75 degree weather. We'd like to give a shout out to Grandpa Hal and Grandma Mary for letting us use their house while we vaca. We're looking forward to a crazy weekend full of sun-tanning, swimming, sleeping in late, Dr Pepper and NCMO's (cross your fingers on that last one). We'll give you a post trip analysis to let you know what went down. Holla!!

Just the Two of Us

What is her name? Allyson Clare Zollinger

How long have we been together? 18 Years (all you married people...you've got nothin on us)

How long did we date? Before we moved in together we had been courting for 16 years. We have a VERY stable relationship.

How old is she? 22 and 3 quarters

Who eats more? On occasion she'll have my leftovers.

Who said "I love you" first? It was really funny, we finish each other's sentences and we said it at the exact same time. So cute.

Who can sing better? Probably Ally, but we rock karaoke together.

Who is smarter? We both bring something to the table. Ally has her easy tip calculator and I have an extensive vocabulary.

Who does the Laundry? Ally does our delicates and I press our matching blouses.

Who pays the bills? Ally does.

Who sleeps on the right side? I sleep on the right side and Ally sleeps on the left, sometimes we meet in the middle.

Who mows the lawn? Thankfully our neighbors do, but Ally shovels the walk.

Who cooks dinner? We take turns like a loving couple should.

Who drives? 50/50

Who is more stubborn? We work together. She choses the restaurant and I choose the movie.

Who kissed who first? Ladies don't kiss and tell.

Who proposed? Ally asked me to move in.

Who has more friends? Ally but in Salt Lake we both have one, she's our roommate.

Who is more sensitive? I am.

Who has more siblings? Ally--six

Who wears the pants? Ally, she's the family patriarch.

The Babies

I've been thinking lately. I mean really, really thinking. I've been trying to focus on the good things in life these days. Life is so full of crazy ups and downs, and the last seven months have been the 'downest' of my life. I know our blog is usually a bunch of funny, stupid nonsense, but I'm going to switch things up a bit. So back to the good things in life, I'm going to focus on four little souls that make my life 1,000 times better, and pull me out of the darkness when I need it most. Here are a few things that the babies do to make my life better.

Henry, Noah, Ruby & Crew. Even when they're completely out of control and screaming, they still make me smile. 

When Henry somehow gets Becca to let us color all over her face. (Fulfilling a life-long dream)

When Noah looks at me with those big brown eyes.

When Ruby isn't totally stone-faced for a picture with the girls.

When just looking at this boy reminds me that there's still innocence in the world.

When Noah is so excited for Santa to come he can hardly control himself.

And finally, when there is a little boy to hold my hand when I need it the most.

Thank you babies, for making me smile when nothing else can. I love you, Hen, Noah, Ruby, and Crew. 

Elevensies

Ever since I can remember my family has participated in elevensies.  Elevensies originated from my Grandparents and is seriously one of life's simple pleasures.  Everyday at 11:00 we go out on the porch, or for the working folk, put our feet on our desks and enjoy a festive beverage and peanuts. I double heart elevensies, it provides a much needed pick me up between breakfast and lunch.  I have always vowed never to have soda before eleven o'clock it just seems too early before that.  Well my friends, recess is at 10:15 so I have now started going against everything I previously believed in, caffeine runs through veins early in the school system.

Well I'm a Dr Pepper gal and since I've started teaching I've realized that teachers LOVE soda. As I'm walking down the hall at 7:45 a.m. I hear multiple soda cans popping or in the case of the older generation the in-hand 32 ouncer, the can will no longer suffice for those folks.  I have what I like to call a mild case of the "school teacher addiction."  Recently, I have toyed with the notion of really limiting my D.P. consumption, in the effort to get healthier.  The dilemma is.....will I still fit into my clique at school?  The three other 2nd grade teachers, who I spend significant time with are a variety of Coke and Diet Coke addicts.  Many conversations have been had about our beverages of choice and how much better work is when you have a soda.  Without my D.P. in hand will I still be able to participate in such conversations?  These women are already 20-40 years older than me, this is really one of our only things we have in common.  Soda is our staple should I really consider giving it up?  What if they don't like me as much anymore?  What if they look down on me because I've chosen health over our daily social hour at the soda machine?  Man....peer pressure bites!

Growing Up Christensen

For Christmas this last year Kate and I made a DVD for our family. The DVD consisted of pictures of our family/members taken over the past 54 years. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. Our family loved it when we showed it to them on Christmas Eve. Here are the highlights:


So classic. I have jacked hair, which still happens every morning...sadly, I'm sitting on my blankie, and I'm wearing a night gown. Kate has a slap bracelet on, that I was so jealous of. Kate is also wearing footies and the snap is undone uptop. I don't even need words for this pic. This is me and Kate in a nutshell.

Looks like some kind of dance party complete with costumes. Even the rabbit is breaking it down.

We are big Christmas people. The elves are happy and Santa's hardcore.

I heart this picture. My Grandparents lived in D.C. and the Redskins were doing some major whoopin'. Here are three large supporters.

Cody--looking super hispanic

Grandpa--shirtless

Scott--the only one with all his clothes on.

Mid-life Crisis: My dad always wanted a pony. Like every kid, right? Well one time my mom was out of town and he went out and bought one. My mom was ticked, who goes out and buys a pony? Well Duchess was her name and boy did she make all his childhood dreams come true.