Fish Lake Reunion 2009

So Toph and I were only able to make it to the Christensen Family Reunion for Saturday and Sunday . . . but we still of course had a blast AND I am happy to report that this year rather than getting my record 47 bug bites . . . I only got 4! It was awesome seeing the whole crazy clan! I am so blessed to have amazing relatives and I am so grateful for my amazing Aunts, Uncles, and cousins who are always a riot to hang with and have always been such positive examples in my life! (Shawn thank you for sharing your testimony!) Oh, and if I had known that you all wanted stuffed mushrooms I would have made you all some . . . next year folks, next year! One of the best parts was when Conner suddenly dunked his hat in the creek and soaked my mom! Man can she run! It was great . . . had to be their! Okay here are a few highlights from this years gathering . . .

Celebrating the 24th . . .

For the 24th this year we invited the SG crew up for a little breakfast and parade action! This year I found a recipe for Brigham Young's favorite doughnuts . . . so of course I had to try my hand at making them . . . and they were a delight! I also made chocolate cake doughnuts, banana muffins, and some cheese danishes . . . we had fun watching the parade and then headed out to the Parowan Petroglyphs! Hope everyone had as much fun as we did!

Utah Science Teacher of the Year . . .

Here is a BIG congratulations to my amazing mom on being named the Secondary Science: Earth Systems teacher of the year by the Utah Science Teacher's Association!!! Way to go Mutterlein! Toph and I had the opportunity last semester of observing one of her classes for one of my education classes and watching her in action and I have to say she does an amazing job!!! She puts up with A LOT and really cares about her students success! Mutti you are the bomb.com! Congrats mom! We are so proud of you and the 110% you put into everything that you do!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! It was a nice break before the onslaught of finals next week! We headed down to SG and celebrated with the Parry family. Toph and I continued the pie making tradition and watched "Son In Law" while making chocolate cream, coconut cream, and praline pecan pie the day before! After dinner the gals gathered around the table and planned our shopping strategy for "black Friday!" It wasn't as crazy as in years past . . . we honestly did less shopping that day and avoided the stores bursting with people who were foaming at the mouth and ready to fight! Erin and I being the adventurous ones that we are went to a midnight showing of Twilight Friday night!! Yep we were up for 24 hours by the time our heads hit the pillow (crazy I know!) But it was fun . . . and now onto Christmas! I did get my fall/Thanksgiving decor put away Saturday and have started hauling out Christmas boxes . . . but we are honestly a little too stressed and busy with school papers and final prep to decorate today! But it will get done! Oh, the Childrens Christmas parade is this Saturday, Dec 6th @ 2:00 if anyone wants to come! I will make goodies and we can do lunch! It really is fun!

Ladies night out . . . TWILIGHT!!!

I win! I blogged our ladies night out first!!! Okay I don't have kids to contend with . . . that's a given . . . and my hubby is making Elders Quorum calls . . . so I have a little time to burn! I went to Twilight last night with ALL of my sisters and Mutti plus my SIL Brandi and a few of her and Jules' friends! We had so much fun! We went out to dinner and then over to the movie where we waited in line for around an hour or so . . . Austy was our little male chaperon for the evening and entertained us all night long! He loved it too and started blowing raspberries during the movie! Erin was stylin with "Twilight" across her lil' tush (my mom sewed it on . . . jealous . . . yes!!!) The movie was pretty good. My mom kept saying "that's not how it was in the book" and "I can't believe that they left that part out." Overall I'd say it was a pretty good effort with a little che-che-cheesy-ness added in. Oh . . . sorry to the ladies around us if they thought we were too loud . . but that is how we roll at movies . . . I especially get a little into them . . . sorry if anyone was upset with us for laughing our heads off at parts that I am made some people melt . . . ("Your my brand of heroine" . . . yeah really romantic . . . ) Oh and sorry if anyone thought that Jasper should have won an academy award . . . I am sure he will really burst out in the next movie with some tremendous acting and drop his apparent adoration for Edward Scissor Hands!!! Oh if you haven't seen it yet . . . there was a seriously scary preview that was freakin' me out before the movie started! You will never catch me watching that movie! Just close your eyes and plug yours ears! . . . okay the big test will be to see if Toph will go to it . . . to be continued!