Little Kaisley

My friend Mandi had her little baby girl Kaisley Jo when she was only 25 weeks pregnant. I can't even imagine what she has gone through since then ... she was born on April 20th - 15 weeks premature. You can kind of tell in this picture, her wedding ring is slipped around little Kaisley's wrist -- just so you can see how small she was! 1 pound 6 ounces ... BUT

I'm proud to report is now home with her mommy and daddy where she belongs! Look at those cute chubby cheeks! Isn't modern technology wonderful?? She spent about 3 months in the hospital and is now a healthy little girl.

She's even made the news for her laser eye surgery that has allowed her to keep her sight!

http://connect2utah.com/content/health/story?cid=45791

Pretty amazing if you ask me ... what a blessed little girl!

.. good friends ..

I know this post is a total picture overload, but oh well. Nate and I have had a long last couple of weeks and have been reminded how blessed we are to not only have eachother, but have gained a better appreciation for all of our friends. Sometimes it takes something really big to put things into perspective, and well, let's just consider things put into a little better perspective.

This goofy group of boys never fails to make us laugh!

JP and Ash are just about as good of friends as a person could ask for! I'm SO GLAD we have them!!

Cafe Rio anyone?
We laugh because these pictures are like free advertising!

Jared, Nate and Austin

Reminiscing for Jordan's video ... his kids will really appreciate it someday.
Thanks to whoever thought of it!

Right now, we are just really thankful. And blessed ...

Sara.s Visit

Last week my sister was able to come home for a visit! She hadn't been home since last November, so it was good to see her!!

We had fun taking the girls to the park ... and just catching up!
Jackobi always clicks with her instantly! It's fun to watch them play!

While she was home we were able to throw a little birthday bash for Justin's 31st birthday
Happy Brother Justin!

It was all fun and great, until the sprinklers came on and got all of our stuff wet! Come on, sprinklers at 6:00 PM, really??

Thanks for the great visit sis!! It was so fun and good to see you!

Our Sweet Daughter ...

Jackobi s now 1 1/2 so I thought it was a good time for an update!!

She is growing up and learning so fast! She's such an independent little girl ... she like to try and dress, feed, bathe and pretty much everything in between herself!!

Jackobi has such a vivacious personality. She is so happy and full of life -- we love it!! Along with lots of personality, comes some attitude also! We definitely know when she doesn't approve and somehow she's learned to stomp her feet pretty good!


She has quite a little vocabulary, but is somewhat stubborn to use it. If I ask her to say something (i.e please) she usually won't. She definitely doesn't perform! She love any animal and loves to make their sounds. She's pretty good at a cow, lion (which is funny because she ALWAYS whispers her lion roar), bear, monkey and elephant (which both come with some cute little actions!) She still is in love with our dog Chipper and bawls uncontrollably if we won't let her go outside and pet him. We've had to start telling her that he's napping and she needs to be quiet and leave him alone. (which she quickly follows up with a 'shh... and finger to her mouth).


Jackobi is still really shy when it comes to meeting new people. She has gotten a lot better with new children and plays with them pretty easily and freely, but if it's a new adult ... be prepared for her to not look at you and snuggle into our shoulder!

She is such an affectionate little girl ... she gives LOTS of kisses and hugs! Her kisses even come with a little MUAH sound now. I love it! She also has mastered blowing kisses.

Some of her favorite things to do ... play OUTSIDE!! She definitely loves it outside doing anything! It will be hard when it gets too cold to play outside all day! She loves her pool and any form of getting in the water. She has a new found love for the 4-wheeler too! She loves to push the 'start' button! She loves music and to dance ... she can shake it pretty good! She also loves to sing, loudly! I love it! Lately she's mommy's little helper -- she loves the broom and will spend lots of time carrying around the broom ... she like to help with the vaccume too ... and lately, dinner has been a challange! She loves to cook! Hopefully she'll keep these 'likes' as she gets older -- they could come in handy!

Hmmm ... that's all for now -- sorry for the info overload -- I'm really bad at writing in her baby book -- so this is how I keep track of things! :)

sLidE

Jackobi had so much fun and loved all the attention she got from her Aunt Camille when she was home last week. I'm pretty sure they went down this slide countless times!

OffiCiAllY a MiSsiOnarY ...

This week Brian officially became Elder Christiansen. He went into the MTC on Wednesday August 12th for 3 weeks until he'll report to Albuquerque, New Mexico (or somewhere in that mission) We're so excited, happy and proud of his decision to serve a mission. He will be a good missionary and will have a lot to offer. We're going to miss him and his quirky sense of humor. I think Jackobi will especially miss him! They have a pretty special relationship. He's her 'Bubby' as she calls him... (pretty cute, right!) It's hard to think she'll be 3 1/2 when he returns home! A lot of emotion, but mostly we're excited for him and this opportunity. He will learn so much and be blessed.

It was a nice because we had a few days with the entire family home hang out together before Brian left.

The night before he left for the MTC.

Christiansen Reunion

Two years ago we traveled to Iowa for the Christiansen Reunion -- so it was their turn to come to Idaho this year! It was good to get to see some of Nate's extended family!

Jackobi had fun playing with her cousins! It was great to see her interact so well with 'new' kids! She had a blast!!

We were able to celebrate Alex's 11th birthday with him also! I think he had a good birthday in Idaho!!

We had a busy, family filled weekend!

Yummy Mexican food and playground in Oakley .... early morning golf ... BBQ lunch ... Dutch Oven Dinner ... Price is Right ... BIRTHDAY CAKE ... early morning breakfast ... yum!!

KeEpInG SeCreTs ...

My cousins band 'Keeping Secrets' just launched their CD on Tuesday and I'm SO EXCITED for them!! They've worked so hard and I think it's awesome they have persevered! Good job guys!

Their music is totally punk -- so if that's your thing pick up your copy @ Best Buy, Hot Topic, www.smartpunk.com or you can download it at iTunes.com

They're also featured on the Rock Star website:

http://www.rockstar69.com/artist.php?ath=232

Check em out!

It's FAIR Time!!

Last week was the County Fair and we had lots of fun!!

In the past I haven't really paid much attention to the fair, but this year thought it would be fun to see my cousins animals and see how Jackobi liked everything!! Blaze and Timbers pigs did well -- Blaze got a Grand Champion for showmanship and they both were in the top 20!

Jackobi wasn't too sure about the little piggy smell in this picture! You can tell she's like 'Um .... I don't think so ...' I was SO SURPRISED because the only animals she would get down for were the SHEEP! Who would have known?!

Timber also showed her horse Kizzy -- Jackobi thought the horses were pretty neat, she liked to pet them! :)

... and what would the fair be like without scones?? Yum!!

Camping @ Independence Lakes

Nate goes camping with his friends every fall at the Independence Lakes trail head and they have a blast -- so this year he took Jackobi and I near the same spot to check things out! It was the first time camping 'on our own' without any of my family and it was so fun!! Jackobi was a really good traveler and had lots of fun ... here she is cheesing it with my sun glasses!

Nate's parents dropped Casey off with us Friday night after his baseball game and he camped out with us the rest of the weekend. It was nice to have another person to help out with Jackobi! She sure loves her uncles!

The creek than ran near our camp was a big hit! Most of the pictures you can't even tell Jackobi is there because her body is tipped over the bridge so far looking at the creek!! She thought it was pretty neat!

We attempted to hike into the lakes on Saturday, but didn't make it very far with Jackobi! The trail was too rocky for her so she had to ride in this little backpack and well ... she wasn't having it! We made it a little ways though -- talk about a good view!


Lucky for us we didn't make the rest of the hike ... there was a HUGE rain storm! and we actually ended up in our tent for over an hour!! Good thing Jackobi thinks the tent is about the neatest thing ever!!

We had a great trip and are already planning another trip with Jared, Ashley and Kenzie when Jared gets home in the fall! I can't wait!!