Some Catching Up

April was a whirlwind of family activity.  A sweet Easter Sunday remembering our Savior.  An nontraditional but very tasty Roast Beef Dinner :) We celebrated some special birthdays and got to have all of our grandchildren together for 5 days! What a treat. Mark's mom turned 75 and so we gathered as many local family members as we could to celebrate with her in Salt Lake.  It was a sweet occasion and we sure love her.  We celebrated Davis' 22nd birthday with hot fudge brownie sundaes.  We love our boy.  Janell made a surprise visit down for a long weekend and got to meet her youngest nephew, Owen James and teach Emily how to play to Ukelele.  We enjoyed her visit so very, very much. Just a day after she had to leave we met Brady and Danielle at the SLC airport to pick up Liam and Elsie while they flew on to San Diego for a convention and much needed anniversary trip together. It was so great to hug and kiss all of our children and grand kiddos. Our family means everything to us.

Happy Birthday Grandma Marie!  

You are such a grand lady xo

Hoping for a bright year for you, Davis.  Wishing you much success and strength in California.

You are doing hard things and we are proud of you. Much, much love! 

 We had sooo much FUN with you, Aunt Janell!

xoxo

 It's a little crazy how quickly Emily picked up the Uke!  

It's the sweetest thing to hear her strum and sing :)

Janell's visit was not near long enough for any of us!

quick reunion at the security gate 

tight hugs, kisses and see you soon!

 In the ups and downs in this crazy journey of life, 

we have learned that parenting and grand parenting 

is not for the faint of heart or sissies!  

We also know that we never have to look far 

to see the abundance of blessings we have.

Loved this comment from Liam that his parents sent us!

Liam's update of his trip there: "Mom, Nana took great care of us. She's a great, great babysitter, and she knows everything about kids. Papa knows lots about kids too, but the big thing is he knows most about helping people, like right before they die, or sick, or babies. Or using that radio TV thing in his office to tell when somebody has a big tummy, if there's a baby inside. And if there's a head and some legs and a body, then it's a baby. But if not, then they've just been eating too much junk. But sometimes, you've just got to tell people the truth."

 

Spring Is Here...Mostly

We spent Spring Break enjoying things we love to do:  

 Eating at our favorite places! Dinner at the Red Iguana in Salt Lake.

 Molly approves of the delicious fare!

 Playing in Salt Lake - We spent two nights at the Plaza Inn and 

explored the new City Center  a little bit more.

 If Emily is involved...so is shopping!

 Cuddling baby Owen.

 Enjoying Rodizio's together and listening to Emily's Brazilian stories.

 A little time on the green

 A Brazilian concert

 

Lunch at a new local hot spot! 

Herm's Inn.  Put this one on your list, folks!  They

are open for breakfast and lunch.  They did a beautiful

job with the remodel!  What a great vision! 

It made us happy to be there :)

 Easter Dinner

 Celebrating 75 beautiful years with Mark's Mom! We sure love this grand lady!

Getting ready for an open house next weekend for Black Sheep Woolens! More info on my business blog.  Hope you are enjoying whatever Spring Weather you are having!  Cache Valley is beginning to burst with green and sweet flowers everywhere!

* Loving Our Spring Break *

We are enjoying Spring Break and looking forward to Easter :)
This is fun to watch...check out the making of as well -   WOW what a process!

Photo Shoot Special (And A Contest :)

 Hands down...the best part of my business would be meeting the most amazing, talented and fun people! We all have a story and what a gift it is to meet new friends and learn about theirs!  A new friend, named Stephanie, came over a few weeks ago looking for wool and asked if we ever let people do a photo shoots in our studio.  I told her no one had ever asked but that she was welcome to come on over.  She has a special right now... Check out her blog here!  She is amazing and so sweet to work with.  I hear nothing but nice nice things about her work ;)

 

 And for the contest....

Check out my Black Sheep Woolens Blog here!

March is Marching On...

 

Molly's Collage...she did pretty good with the camera!

We borrowed Molly for a sleepover earlier this 

month and we had a great time!

 Learning to make pie is very serious business!

 Oatmeal Coconut and Blueberry

The Leprechauns find our milk every year!

Camber headed to Portland for her Spring Break

***

Emily joined the High School Golf Team...a first for our family!

Go Em!

 Dreaming of these two...they are coming for a little visit in a few more weeks!!

My heart melts with sweet picture texts like this:

"Nana, how do you like my ladybug nails?"

Mark has been loving time out on the road with his bike...Davis is doing some temp

work while he looks for a new permanent job...I have been working long hours in

the studio dying wool, designing...doing a little sewing...we are starting to wake

up the yard and are really happy Spring has arrived...as fickle as she is in Cache Valley. 

We hosted a YW's Brazil Night so Emily could share food and photos

from her experience.  The girls were all so cute and the food was fun to prepare!

We didn't pick up the camera to take any photos except these two - 

We are so proud of her!

On the 24th Emily and I went down to check out the new

City Center.  Oh the people and crowds!!  It was more crowded

that any visit to Disneyland. Crazy! But what a beautiful place.

We look forward to going back when the newness wears off :)

The flower ladies that were here and there were beautiful to watch.

 

The YW's Conference was really sweet that night...and Em wouldn't

let me take a picture of the two us. Sigh. Could someone please talk to her?

So happy spring, everyone!

And let's all do as the sign says...

A Special Day for Owen

Good Morning little bright eyes!  Today is such a special day for you, Owen.

 You were as pleased as punch to have family and friends come over to celebrate YOU!

 Molly & Ella are BFF's

 Great Grandpa and Grandma Flinders told us that being a grandparent is the most amazing gift,
but being a great-grandparent is even better!
Wow! That's sayin somethin!

 He looks WAY to old all propped up here!

 

 Owen James Christensen.  Your wonderful father gave you the sweetest blessing this morning.

You are blessed to be in such a loving family.  You are so dearly loved by so many! 

xo

The day was gorgeous...spring-like in every way. Jake and Lindsey

had a beautiful lunch for everyone after the meeting. We all enjoyed visiting 

with each other, snuggling the star of the day and watching Molly and Ella

giggle and play together. It was one of those perfect days 

you'd like hold on to forever.