TyandNat Christmas 2.0

As is now the custom, Eli was sick through Christmas eve day and Christmas day, so we didn't do many of the traditions that we have adopted over the last few years. We did make some quick adjustments and held Christmas 2.0 on Saturday. During the day we visited with friends and did some shopping. In the evening we set up a dinner of fish, bread, and grape juice and talked to the kids about all the amazing things Christ did during his life and what that means for us. We sang a few Christmas songs and had a brief testimony meeting. Then the kids opened presents (we saved several so they would be able to enjoy the experience). It was a simple night but a special one.

Day After Christmas at the Farm

 
We went down to the farm in the afternoon, the day after Christmas and enjoyed the snow with the Wollenziens. The view was wonderful ...I love the mountain views down there and we saw a large herd of deer. We tried to get closer but they ran off. It was great to be outside after the snow storm.

Fife Christmas party

 

We had our annual Christmas party at JoLyn's house this year. Everyone was there but Kira, Lauryl, and two of Brad's stepkids. We enjoyed getting there safely since it had snowed in Utah County the entire day. JoLyn had everything decorated beautifully and we had 32 people and 32 gifts for the white elephant exchange. The hot items was a game, an electric razor and a set of purses that had $1 in one and cinnamon bears in another. All went away with a renewed appreciation for the opportunity to show our better sides. The Christensens pulled into their driveway and fell into bed around midnight. Kim and I still got up and on the road by 6a.m. for our morning jog. It was peaceful and no wind!!!

The Year of 2008 for the Christensens

So I have just started thinking about a Christmas letter since it is "tradition"...my tradition. It is nice to have a record of the past year. Kim and I went shopping last night ...an unusual event where there were no missionaries coming or going, and no meetings. When we got home and reflected on this past year, we realized that it was a pretty quiet time at our house and not alot to write about. So here is a rough draft for you kids to consider, add to, take away and maybe if I get my act together, it will be sent off soon to all those that are wondering...what has happened to the Christensens. ( if that even exists).
Kim tried bees once more this year and got several more families to "adopt a hive". They had a good time spending the evenings making the hives and the true adventure came when the hives arrived and the bees were put in the boxes. Many of us sported swollen eyes, cheeks, and legs at church the next day. Kim's bees unfortunately did not thrive and once again he was left with just an empty box at the end of the summer. However, our garden produced exceptional abundance! Kim ran a 1/2 marathon with our daughter Brooke and is still working on his goal for 2008 of 800 miles. Our Stake has 14 wards and keeps Kim pretty busy. The whole family has enjoyed the benefits of Kim being employed by BYU and both of us did Y-BE-Fit this summer to try to last longer ( eating and physical workout stuff).
Wynette ( that would be me) participates in class that is studying Talmage's Jesus the Christ, a Spanish class, and Primary teacher's discussion group on the Teachings of the Prophets, Joseph Smith. I drag myself out of bed at 5:15 and kickbox on most mornings or run with Kim when he is feeling slow. I dream of the day when I can just sleep as long as I want...if there is such a day. I was Camp Director for my ward and my ward leaders decided we were the oldest ladies at camp. But we danced with the girls late at night when everyone else was just watching!
Brooke is in Salt Lake working for an Architecture firm and just bought a townhouse across from the new Orquirrah temple. She is in a regular ward having past the age for Single adults and is working just like Kim to put in 800 miles this year. She ran two 1/2 marathons and we are happy that her health is much better this year.
Ty and Nat continue to live in Bloomington, Indiana while Tyler works on his Learning Sciences PHD. He is teaching this year, was a speaker for EFY in Bloomington, and just recently ran a marathon. They bought their first townhouse, came to Lake Alice with us for the first time ( our yearly backpacking vacation) and came out when Bryce returned from South Africa. Natalie illustrated a school text book this year! They celebrated Sharon's first birthday while they were here in Nov. Eli turned three in August.
Kira finished her RN at the University of Arizona and is working at a hospital close to my sister in Tucson. She came out when Bryce came home and we enjoyed all being together for a few days. Kim and I visited Kira in Tucson last March and enjoyed seeing the Grand Canyon with her.
McKay did an internship in Portland this summer and loves the weather. He is at BYU working on a Landscape Management degree and continues to work for Robotronics forever. He works in a computer lab on campus also. He broke his collarbone playing Ultimate Frisbee ...his first broken anything.
Bryce came home from South Africa in October and is working part-time while waiting for the next semester of school to start. He has gone snowboarding once and continues to check the weather as he waits for snow to fall.
Dallin entered the MTC in Nov. His classes in Japanese have paid off as he prepares to serve in Sapporo Japan. Spanish Fork has sent many missionaries to Japan because of the Japanese program at the high school. Dallin spent the summer after his first year at BYU installing blinds for hotel chains. He traveled the entire United States and finished up by spending a month in Hawaii.
So this newsletter is pretty dry and typical which I will not claim as my style but that is what 2008 looks like in a nut shell.

Christmas Around the World and Salem Pond

 

This weekend began with Kim and I working hard at home to get things done and then going to the International Cinema at 9:30 to see Joy Luck Club. Halfway into it, the fire alarm went off and we had to go outside. That should have been our clue but we waited, saw some more and then decided short of midnight that it was such a depressing movie that we should leave. We tumbled in to bed muttering why, why, why. We didn't get a run in the morning but went grocery shopping instead. We worked on projects and then Kim went into work because he had so much to catch up on. I came in later and we met Brooke and Whit at the Marriott where we saw Christmas Around the World. It lasted 2 hours which was too long for some but we loved it because it reminded us of when we were dating and Kim was a folk dancer. It was a visual delight with the costumes and choreography. After that we came home and ate a most salty and disgustingly afterwards meal in which we all had to laugh at how thirsty we were but couldn't drink because it was Fast Sunday the next day. We went shopping for things to send to Dallin in the MTC for the 12 Days of Christmas and had fun laughing at the great finds we had. We went to Salem Pond and then we went home to write creative sayings for the treasures we found. Willy and Brad came over with Bryce to help us and they definitely breathed some creative juices into the air. Then we played Boogle and McKay was pleased to finally be the lead with Dallin out of the way. It was a nice evening but we were all very sleepy from the day and all happy to go to bed.

If Eli wasn't a boy...

Natalie emailed me this story about a week ago and I think it's too good not to post. While driving in the car today Eli asked me why God had made him into a boy. "Well", I said, "I don't know, but maybe you were already going that way so he made you into a boy." "But why?" Eli persisted. "Maybe you wanted to be a boy," I said. "NO I DIDN'T !," Eli said defiantly. "Well what do you want to be?" I asked a little worried. "A snake," he said.

Eli went on to explain all the positive things about being a snake--one being that they can fly--didn't teach him that one. (end of story)

Eli has been a lot of fun lately. He is asking a lot of deep questions so expect to hear more and more stories like this one.