Kindergarten

Monday was Olivia's first day of Kindergarten. She was a little nervous Sunday night. In fact, she fell asleep nuzzled in my arms gently weeping. It is nice to feel like she still needs me for something other than making her food or entering the password so she can play on my phone (although she could probably do all that without me too).

What happened to my baby?

It was Olivia that first taught me how to be a Mom. She taught me about a different kind of love. And she continues to teach me. She is sweet, tender, happy, sassy, full of life, and full of potential. I am so proud of her.

Senior Moments

My parents are amazing. My dad is 80 years old. He runs or works out at the gym on almost a daily basis. He makes super smoothies in his Vitamix, full of vitamins, minerals, and who knows what else. He is the epitome of health. My mom is 79 years old. I believed she was "39 and holding" until I was about 12. She is still so active. She travels to Reno frequently to help me while Doug is travelling. She has come to my rescue during my darkest moments of morning sickness. The kids love her and they wear her out. I hope to be as healthy as my parents are when I am their age. Heck, who am I kidding. I wish I was as healthy as them now.

While waiting for Olivia the other day at ballet I noticed an article posted on the door. It was hilarious. I chuckled to myself, putting my own parents in the elderly woman's shoes. Go granny!

It reminded me of the time that my mom returned ice cream to the store because she was convinced it had gone bad. The polite clerk inspected the ice cream and kindly informed her, "This is Vanilla Bean ice cream. The little black specks are vanilla beans."

Or there was the time my mom purchased Chips A Hoy chocolate chip cookies, and when she opened them there wasn't a chip in sight. Once again, my mom went back to the store (maybe even the same store, years later!), seeking a refund. Again, she got an explanation. It turns out it was a promotion and she won a prize. $500 to be exact. See, someone really does win those prizes on the side of food containers.

My mom's "moments" happen with food. My dad's "moments" happen with gravity. Usually in the form of a fall. He has fallen down stairs, fallen on ice, fallen off stairs.... Every time he bounces back and says he is fine. "Just a few bruises," he says. But that's ok because chicks dig scars.

Despite their senior moments, my parents are vibrant, healthy, resilient people. I have been "born of goodly parents." They have taught me so much - lessons that have come from years of experience. I think because they are older than most parents of people my age, I have a greater well of wisdom to draw from. I hope to draw from the well for many years to come.

A Thousand Words

How do you catch up after nearly three months of no blogging? They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." I hope that is still the case. Here is a sampling of what has been happening....

Olivia's 5th Birthday

Christensen Family

Incidentally, I think Ben looks a lot like Uncle Dave.

But Doug tells me that's probably because Uncle Dave has a shaved head and blue eyes too. Whatever. They are so related. (By the way, Dave is single, ladies).

Donny

Most 4 year-old girls I know love princesses, Olivia included. She has every doll, every movie, and she is starting quite the dress collection. For a while her favorite was Cinderella. Then it was Aurora. Then Ariel. Then Jasmine. Then Snow White. And now she favors Mulan. I'd like to think it has something to do with the fact that I have been to where Mulan is from. I have seen the Forbidden City where Mulan defeats the Huns. I told Olivia all about it. She thinks it's awesome.

Olivia knows all the words to the princess movies. Our favorite song to sing lately has been "I'll Make A Man Out of You" from Mulan. It is very catchy. (If you didn't know, it is sung by Shang a.k.a Donny Osmond.) For some reason I love Donny's voice. I don't go all gaga for Donny. I have never been to a concert (though I did see him perform with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and I did watch his talk show with Marie occasionally). But I have never been a Donny fanatic. I just like his voice. Moving on....

Doug has many opportunities to meet famous people. He did Cindy Crawford's hair in her hotel room (that's a story for a different time). He worked behind stage at the Billboard Music Awards and did the hair of Rihanna, Carmen Electra and Joe Elliot. And we know John Paul DeJoria - the face behind Paul Mitchell and one of the founders. Here we are meeting him when he visited our school....

Because Doug has so many opportunities to mingle with celebrities, it was bound to happen. DOUG MET DONNY! Recently we went to California to a conference for all Paul Mitchell School owners. Paul Mitchell is committed to "Giving Back" - whether that is by being environmentally responsible, aiding local programs, or collaborating with recognized charities (like Children's Miracle Network which Donny and Marie represent). At this owner's conference Donny Osmond performed. Unfortunately, I was watching the kids and did not go. But the kids and I could hear him from our hotel room. It was amazing.

I was so excited that I said to Olivia, "Do you hear that? That is the same guy that sings on Mulan!"

Olivia nearly jumped out of her skin and exclaimed, "Shang!" After a couple moments of thought she questioned, "What is Shang doing in California? And where is Mulan?" Then, still further she asked, "Why would he sing here? How did he even get here? When is he going back? And why didn't he sing our favorite song?"

I couldn't bear to tell her the truth. I think she couldn't conceptualize it anyway. So I played along.

"Mulan is back in China. She had to stay with the Emperor. So Shang came on an airplane just to sing to the owners because they are so nice. He will probably leave right after the performance because Mulan misses him so much, and because China needs him."

"Holy crap! Daddy is so lucky he gets to meet Shang!" she said.

Here is Doug (and Grandma) with Shang...

Funny. I thought Shang would be taller....

Conversation With a Toddler #3

My kids love to play "Slug Bug" when we are driving. Here is an excerpt from a recent game:

Ethan: Slug Bug black.

Me: That's not a Slug Bug.

Ethan: What is it then?

Me: A Mini.

Ethan: A Mini Wheat?

Me: Almost as big. It is a Mini Cooper.

Ethan: A Mini Pooper!?! That is cool. Mini Pooper! Mini Pooper!

(Much laughter erupted from the peanut gallery. Even Ben can appreciate a good poop joke.)

Sacramento

Doug travels a lot. And when I say "a lot" I mean about three weeks out of every month. It hasn't always been that way. But when you're a rockstar, you have to go where the "fans" want you. As an educator for Paul Mitchell Advanced Education he travels across the nation training the instructors at Paul Mitchell cosmetology schools. In the last two months he has been to Houston, St. George, Spokane, Sacramento, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa. He leaves Monday for New York for 4 days. Then he leaves Saturday for Alabama. He is home for a couple weeks before he goes to North Carolina, Utah, and back to Texas. You get the idea.

Sometimes we get to go with him. He is all for it. His dream is to get a giant RV and just go on the road. "We could be on a reality show. It would be great," he says. "You can home/RV school the kids. They would see America. No mortgage payments. Think of the adventure!" All I can ever muster is, "You've got to be kidding." Even though he thinks it would be the best thing since sliced bread, I am not so convinced. Being away from home for extended periods, in an unfamiliar place, with three kids under 5 is not as fun as it sounds. I have a routine. I like my routine. My routine makes me sane. Without it I would probably be in a corner rocking back and forth, speaking incoherently. So when Doug teaches somewhere close, we go too. We like to go to Sacramento. It is only 2 hours from Reno, and there is plenty to do.

The kids especially like The California State Train Museum, Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town. Here are some pictures of our most recent trip:

The trains are massive. It is such an amazing museum. You can even get in a couple of the trains. The best part is upstairs. There are Thomas sets the kids can play with. We usually see the bigs trains in about 20 minutes and then spend an hour playing with the Thomas trains. Whatever works.

The train museum is part of Old Sacramento. So when we finish at the museum we always walk around Old Sacramento. It is a little "town" (about two blocks) built up on platforms. There are shops and restaurants. It is right on the river with old steamboats.

(What is with their poses?)

Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale town are across the street from each other so we do those spots in one day...

We pack as much in as we can. The goal is to make them do this...

Unfortunately, the only time they are like this is in the car. I have been tempted to park somewhere and get some sleep myself. Would that be bad? I can see it now. All four of us, passed out, food all over their faces (who am I kidding, mine too), drool creeping out, when there is a knock on the window. "Everything alright, ma'am?" the officer would say. "Oh, yes. Everything is just great," I would say as I rolled up the window. "Thanks for asking."

Lost

I had such high hopes when I started this blog. It was supposed to be an organized compilation of pictures, stories, thoughts, and insights. Not necessarily just about my life, but life in general. I felt like I had meaningful things to say, and blogging seemed like a perfect outlet. But I have been becoming disenchanted - with myself.

I read other blogs and I am riveted. Most of the bloggers are moms like me. Most of them stay at home. So why are their lives more interesting? Are they better storytellers? Do they have more profound experiences? They have things other than motherhood to talk about. Not that motherhood is bad, but they have separate identities. They have opinions. They are educated regarding politics, global news, and environmental issues. They know something more than what shampoo works best for fine hair, or which bottle brush is best for cleaning baby bottles.

When I was young and naive, (in my 20's), I imagined I would be different at this age. I don't exactly know how, but I would be different. I always imagined myself having 3-4 children, being a stay-at-home mom, with a successful husband. Well, I have all that, so why am I not satisfied with who I am?

It feels like in the process of becoming a wife and a mother, I have somehow lost who I am. I am not trying to diminish the importance of being a wife or a mother. I know there is no greater calling than being a mother. But can't all three identities co-exist? Can't there be Wife, Mom, and Jenni? And can't they ALL be fabulous? How can I be a super wife when I spend so much of my time trying to be a great mom? And if I am so busy being the fantastic wife and mom, how could I possibly be the best Jenni?

So for all three people, including my mother, that actually read this blog, forgive me for not posting. Maybe I'll come thru this little slump fresher and more directed. New. Vibrant. But for now, I'm ok. I am just a little lost.

For Uncle Dave

We love Uncle Dave for many reasons. But Ethan really loves Dave because he drives big trucks. This is Ethan's way of saying, "Appreciate ya!"

We love you and miss you!

Who's The Boss?

Recently I was reminded that sometimes I am clearly not the boss in this house. Every morning I get the kids their juice and cereal. Yesterday I wasn't quick enough, I guess. Ethan scolded me, "Get off the couch, Mom, and get me some juice." After a stern look from mom, he quickly added, "Please." This is the look he gave me...

I get this look a lot. He really has mastered it. And quite honestly, I am kind of getting sick of it. Not because of his defiance, but because it works. I can never stay mad. Just look at those big brown eyes. I melt!

On Your Mark, Get Set...

It is inevitable. Whenever it is time to walk out the door and leave the house, my boys always poop. It is as if some signal goes off in their head when they hear the words "go get in the car." It automatically triggers their bowels into action. And if by some twist of fate it doesn't happen when we are walking out the door, they save it for later. A pre-dinner activity. I imagine someday I will walk in and see them having a little pow wow in the corner. This is how their conversation might go...

Ethan: Ok, Ben. Let's pencil in our poop times today. How does 9am and 4pm sound?

Ben: Hmm, 4pm is not good for me. Let's push it back an hour and do 5pm - just when Mom is getting dinner ready. She'll love that.

Ethan: Great idea, Ben! You are new to this, but you have already learned so much. Well done. Now, when is a good time for tantrums?

Sleeping Patterns

Since he has been sick, Ethan will fall asleep just about anywhere...

I'm no Emeril, but come on. My cooking has never put anyone to sleep before.

City Center

The new City Center is amazing. I don't think I will ever be able to shop there, but it was fun to walk through.

(What is it with those looks?)