My Nephews & Ross Park

There isn't anything more I love than spending time with my sweet little nephews and summer

to them isn't summer at all if 'their Mawen' (said in the sweetest 3 yr old voice) isn't taking them to Ross Park. Working 2 jobs has totally killed our fun time, but I was lucky enough to get a day off in the middle of the week and took these 2 to the pool. We had a blast playing in the water, with the toys and kids, and drinking slushies all day. My friend Courney, and my Mom came with us and we just soaked up the sun while the boys played.

This is a little about each of the boys:

*The 'baby'-Talon is almost 3 and is a TERROR. He is fearless. He has the cutest, tough guy personality, and very rarely can you get a love outta this kid. But when you do, watch out, he'll snuggle you to death. He was the littlest baby and you would never know that by how big he is now. He has the most Indian in him for sure (both of my boys are part Souix); dark skin, dark eyes and (curly) hair.

*Tanner will be 7 in Oct. and my heart breaks everytime I think of him going into the first grade. Wasn't it yesterday I was rocking him to sleep in his nursery? He is the complete opposite from the little guy. Tanner is so so so sensitive and loves to give you loves. He has the best giggle in the entire world, and eyelashes that will put any girl to shame. I'm so glad he thinks girls ('except my mom, you Maren, Grammy Honey.....") are yucky. Because the second he realizes they're not, I will be at his door beating them off with sticks.

This is me, Courtney, and Tanner, just hanging out at the kiddie pool soaking our feet. :]

Talon, after he went down the slide, yelling, 'did ew see dat Mawen?!'

Here's the 3 of us, getting ready to head back home.

As we packed our stuff up and got ready to go home, Talon grabs my leg and says 'Mawen, shanks for taking me and big browver to da poow' (Translation: Maren, thanks for taking me and Tanner to the pool) Melt your heart out! He had his arms up and gave me a little pat on the back (his hugs) and a kissy. After I dropped them off and was getting ready to leave, Tanner says to me, "Maren, I know you got two yobs (jobs) but when do you think we can do that again?" I told him I had two days off next week, and he says "If I'm good and my Mom says so, can you take us again?" Of course Tan Man... So I think we'll be going again next week!

A Day In The Life Of....

A conversation I was having with Scott the other night while cooking outside on the grill:

M: (said to Scott while he was texting his friend) You sure are a popular guy tonight
S: Yeah, I'm kind of a big deal (straight faced)
Later on that night..
M:Good grief, chatty Cathy, what could you possibly be talking about still?
S: Man stuff, you just wouldn't understand.

To most, this stuff is not as amusing to you as it is to me. Scott is so serious; he's all business, all the time. But once in a while I can catch him in a mild hyper stuper. This is just a sample of the funny crap he comes up with. I'll have to remember and write some of it down.

Baseball Lovin'

So I've never 'loooved' America's favorite past time, but I've never hated it either. This last week, Scott got an offer to play on 3 of his buddy's softball teams, and he took it. When he was younger, the kid LOVED baseball, so he was super pumped to play (and drink (ha ha)) with his friends. He had a little 'warm-up' game Thursday with his friend Mike, but the real fun start Sat & Sun. This weekend was tourneys and they had two games to play Saturday, well, they lost both.. One was an all out slaughter and the other was pretty close :] As I sat watching Scott play, I couldn't help but think how this is the life! I couldn't come up with any thing more I wanted, it was right in front of me.. Scott, reduced sodium sunflower seeds, our easy up, the sound of bats cracking. It was so much fun. Even though he lost, Scott loved every minute of it. The conciliation game was at 9am Sunday morning, and when Scott got up, his right leg was all but dead. But, since he is a mans man, he played through it. Poor guys lost AGAIN! As we were packing up another team was a man down and asked Scott to play, so he did it! It meant a lot to Scott as we started walking to the other field, the whole team packed up their stuff and brought it to the field Scott was playing at to watch him. Scott has such good friends, really! Most yelled louder than I did for him (and we all know how loud I am, ha ha). Even though none of the teams Scott played for won (the last game they lost by 1 point, if they would have had last 'at bat' they would have won) he had such a good time. So much in fact, he wants to start up a team next year and play! Ha ha. So if anyone wants to play, you let us know and we'll sign ya up. Hopefully we having a winning year next go around! Scott was hurtin' big time later Sunday and still today, to the point we decided he has pulled a quad muscle! So we've been icing that up and wrapping it. Hopefully he'll have a speedy recovery :]

Here's a few photos from the games:

On a side note

Oh yes, I forgot... Remember my ranting about not being able to change my friggin' layout from these stupid, pre-made ones...? Well, I still CANT! There is no little tab thingy that says layout, it is completely GONE. Serious. I need some serious computer instruction, pronto :]

Vacation

You know when you get to "that" point when you NEED a vacation? I am so there. Working 2 jobs and stressing about school starting in a month, Scott and his never ending work routine, not to mention the daily stress life so kindly and considerately brings... The crap never ends, it never goes away. We've been talking about going to Cody, Wy to see the Buffalo Bill museum there and the first weekend in Aug they are having a massive hot air balloon festival.I think, if only for a moment, at that sight all my stresses could disapear.. If only for a moment.

A big orange ball?

In case everyone forgot, myself included, that big orange (yellow, maybe) ball of gas in the sky is the SUN!!!!!! I am sick to death of the rain (how about the flooding yesterday. Really? I mean, REALLY?!) and I hope it stays away for a while now. Let's celebrate the sun and the nice weather for a change! I cannot believe we went the month of June with like 5 days of sunshine.

We haven't been up to a whole lot, since the weather has seriously killed our summer plans. I've picked up a second job (I haven't figured out why yet) at TJ Maxx and it keeps me so so so busy. I shouldn't complain b/c so many Americans can't find one job, let alone two. Scott is getting ready to go outta town for the summer (boo) starting in July. So he's been keeping busy at work, which is also a blessing. Out of town work sucks, but at least he has a job. He's been lucky enough to get a job and have the company really appreciate a 23 year old kid for the hard, dedicated worker he is. The economy has really taken its rath out on everyone, and the construction industry is not in the best shape either.

We celebrated my Dad's 50th birthday yesterday with a surprise party. We had about 40-45 people show; family, friends, co-workers. He had such a nice time, and the turn out was more than he and I could have ever expected. It's hard to keep anything from my dad, he has very good instincts when something is going on, but for once, I finally was able to get this whole thing past him! yahoo for me :] When you get the Christensen clan together, there is bound to be good food (lots and lots), good friends, and good times. So, Happy 5-0 Daddy, love you!

Am I Missing Something.....?

Okay, I feel like an ubber moron right now, but I'm trying to change my layout, and there is no layout tab?! Just templates...! I don't want one of Bloggers, I want a third party layout! Any tips, suggestions would be appreciated! Haha :] After I get this task completed, someone will have to tell me how to make those freakin' cute banner thingys...