Welcome Back

I started out strong with this whole blogging thing, and I still love reading other peoples' blogs (Kirstin & Jordan's are my favorites btw.) However, since July of last year, it has been the ever elusive thing that I keep thinking I should conquer...that and cleaning the office. If you saw the office now, you would know that I have not been successful at either. Mallory is nearing the end of her junior year and will be off to college in just over a year, and Jillian begins high school in the fall. Time's a-flying! I better get busy.

Here it is, 10 months later, and I'm hoping this will jumpstart it for me. I could not begin to recapture ALL of those moments in our family, but here are just a few - ABCs Christensen style...

Accompanist for Eclipse - Mallory's new music role for her senior year
Birthday - Jilly's 13th Amazing Race (Team USA defeated Team Australia)

Colorado Academy - Jilly's high school next year
Driving - Lily Fair (Mallory's red Subaru) became our 4th car...we have since sold one and are now back to a one-to-one, car-to-driver ratio
Encouraging - Watching the relationship between M & J grow (riding in Lily Fair, shopping, Spanish homework & even getting ready in the bathroom in the morning)

Four Seasons - Let me just say that my birthday/Valentine's Day getaway was a.m.a.z.i.n.g.
Grammie - She picks up Jilly, Lexie & Haley every Friday after school and takes them out for "afternoon tea" (a snack)
Hockey - Field hockey of course! I'm the only one in the family who doesn't play, and I'm thinking there are some things you just don't start at 43. So I'm their biggest fan!
IBPA - Chair of the International Baccalaureate Parents Association at Mallory's school and successfully doubled our scholarship fund this year
Jilly - Best babysitter - loves Reese, John and Abbey

Kisses & Prayers - Love that at 13 and 16 it's still part of what we do each night
Love of my Life - Peter still makes me laugh and has the power to surprise

Mallory - TWO words: freedom & friends. She has always been all about friends and having a car makes that even more possible.
Nineteen - The number of months until Mallory is off to college. (That number is actually 17 now, but when I first started this, it was 19.)

Obedience School - Mallory (& Jilly) took Milo to obedience school AGAIN because he probably should have never graduated the first time. We're not so sure he should've graduate the second time either.
Prom - Not one but TWO proms! Mallory and Logan looked stunning at both.

Quiet Dates - Some of my favorite moments with Peter
Rocky Mountain State Games - More field hockey...Peter coached and both girls played...and I watched.
Surprise Sweet 16th - Mallory's family and friends celebrated first at Rox's and then where they always end up...back at our house

Teaching - 5th grade and what a year! I'm pretty sure it's what I was made to do.
Unexpected - Peter's trip to Australia to spend time with family after his mum's car accident just before Christmas. It was a long January.
Vacation - Jilly went to Oklahoma with Grammie, Lexie and Haley to visit Uncle Jerry over spring break while Mallory and I headed to San Jose to look at colleges. Peter drew the short straw and stayed home with the dogs.


Wedding - Jeff and Jane were married on January 1st, and the number of Js in the family keeps on growing.

Xcellence - Jillian has been on the Gold Honor Roll all of middle school. She's thinking that she might like to get a B this term just because she hasn't before. Silly girl!

Yoga/Yogurtland - The girls' favorites (I couldn't choose just one.)
Zillion - The number of times God has blessed me...I am so very grateful!

lovin' summer

I kind of stink at blogging right now, so I'll just post some pics from the last month just to give you a peek into what's been going on with the Colorado Christensens. We are making the most of our summer and filling it with lots of fun times with family & friends - just the way it should be.

repainted both of the girls' rooms
mallory - blackberry wine
jillian - mississippi mud

family canvas painting
(still trying to decide if they will go in the kitchen)

a trip to the zoo for mallory's small group girls

backpacking trip for both m & j
(jilly's photo to come)

a trip to eagle lake camp to see david (the boyfriend)

mike's 1st father's day because of this little guy

grammie's 72nd birthday

lots of girls in this family

lexie turned 13

our 17th anniversary - dinner at table mountain inn &
fireworks at bandimere speedway

4th of july at jeff's house

and since i'm the only one home this weekend...

a glass of red & chick flick sounds good

jordan's mini lesson

I love having a camera again. The tricky part about having a new one is learning how the lenses and all the different settings work. I think it's a lot of trial & error and, of course, practice, but I lucked out. Jordan was in town, and she gave me a "mini lesson" on Sunday after dinner. So after the rain yesterday, I tried out one of the things she showed me. I'm not really a scenery person, but it was kind of fun. Thanks Jord! I wish I could see you once a week for my own personal mini lesson.

the reinvention of jillian

Jillian is off to Holland with girls from the Kent Denver Field Hockey team and a small group of other 7th graders. She will get the opportunity to learn from some of the best players around...and it will just be a ton of fun too!

When Mallory was 11 she jumped at the chance to go to Taipei with a school group from St. Peters, and Peter and I weren't sure if Jillian would ever make a trip like that on her own. We were so excited that she really wanted to go and we had the money to send her. I think having friends on the team and having coaches that she knows and trusts made the decision that much easier.

We said our good-byes with only a couple of tears from Jilly, and then she was off with Kennedy & Sterre...without looking back. God has given me such a peace about her trip. I am so excited for her and feel so blessed to be able to give her this experience. Peter calls it the "reinvention of Jillian" as she ventures out and tries new things. We are so proud of her and know that she will have a fabulous time.

reese

we spent time in keystone this weekend at my sister's condo, and i soon discovered that reese LOVES the camera!!!

feed the beast

Last year over Memorial Day weekend, Peter & I went to see Jillian play field hockey in California in the Cal Cup tournament. This year Mallory played on Club Lewy's U19 team, and Jilly played on their U14 team - so we all went. It was a fun weekend of sunshine, field hockey, time together & making new friends!