Along Came a Spider

Monday night, Eric and I were about to sit down to watch "Valkyre" (or however you spell it). I went into the downstairs bathroom and sensed something there. I looked down in the corner and there was a fat, smooth spider! Yuuuck. I do hate them and am scared of them. I scream sometimes and always, unless they run away first, I kill them before they get to me later in my sleep. My brother, David, knowing I was afraid of spiders, would catch them and throw them at me!!! The horrors! One time in the middle of the night I awoke with a spider crawling on my arm! I slept the rest of the night in the family room. .... Anyway, I called Eric and he came and did his duty, which is to kill the vermin. He used a piece of trim to whack it and when he did, grape-juice-looking innards went all over, ewww. I have never seen this kind of spider before, but now we saw another one by the stairs, but that one was smart and hid from us. We'll get you my pretty, and your little offspring too.

Craisins

Last week was my older brother, Evan's birthday! Happy Birthday! He participated in a triathalon in Toole, Utah. Check it out on their blog, . Way to go Evan!!


We went this last weekend to visit family down in Newark, OH and had a nice time. I loved the drive too, Eric and I got to visit (except when I was trying to finish my book :), which was a treat because he's been really busy.

We had a great time and hope you miss us already, jk.


Eric, looking way too enthused


Zach loved playing with cousins, Parker and Lauren and all their fun toys.


Avery is wearing a Cambodian jingle anklet, and she jingled as she went. Thank you Sue! Avery also discovered Craisins and loves them! She gagged a little on the first one, but then grabbed the bag and proceeded to eat them, or at least hold the bag the rest of the day! Yay. She's a Craisin loving fool.


This is our sister in law, Leah and son, James--he's too cute! James has big beautiful blue eyes and does an amazing ventrilaquist act. He can make a sound without moving his lips, so sneaky and clever!


Avery is communicating more and can be such a ham. She is full of life and mischief, just like I like em'.

Faces

I love these faces. They can fill me with joy and wear me out. I don't know who they each look like exactly, but they do look like brother and sister. I am fascinated with the genetic toss up, who gets what eye color, nose, bright and bubbly personality.


Zachery playing t-ball using a tri-pod for a work light.:) He looooves it.

With our digital camera it is nigh impossible to get this guy smiling, looking at the camera, with his eyes open. Zach has mastered the mouse and gets some playhouse disney time now and then.

Zach loves to "help" Eric with the grilling. Those two just love each other.

Avery in a cute pink dress I got second hand. I do love a deal. Avery is closer to walking everyday and stalling on swallowing everyday. (Can you see her fang?)

Cute cheeks.

Dart Frog Dash

This morning I went to the Toledo Zoo Frog Dash. It was fun and gave me a hard work-out.
Avery came with me and Eric took Zach to the church for a pancake breakfast. Although I'm looking kind of rough, it was good times. Next year, Eric is coming with me, but he doesn't know it yet. :)

The Big M

The proud sponsors of this blog.

Mom and grandma, Christie Christensen

Mom and grandma Sue Marks


Zach-man, our the best first baby bear in the whole world

Happy Mother's Day.

Funny story, one year when I was a young teenager, my mom was talking in sacrament meeting. She told the congregation how she hated mother's day. All I could think of was it was because of us and I was soooo embarrased. Later on I found out what she really meant was she didn't feel like she was the perfect mom. No one is perfect, but those who come closest are moms!

We have great moms in our lives. How can you measure the joys, the love, all the effects of a good mother? Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother". Last night I went in to check on Zach as he was sleeping. So sweet and innocent. I got the feeling that I needed to teach him the gospel of Christ. If I didn't, who would? He is learning in his primary class at church, for which I am very grateful. Yesterday in the car, I heard him talking like his little primary class, asking and answering questions (sort of). It was cute.

Salute to mother's everywhere! Our work is of the utmost importance and eternal effects. We love you mom's Christie and Sue!

Dart Frog Dash

I just signed up for Toledo's Dart Frog Dash at our zoo! I'm excited and hope it goes well running in a crowd with a stroller. :) Join in the fun if you can, May 16th starting at 8:30 a.m. Warning: Don't let my gleaming white legs throw you off course.

Yum

Lily of the Valley, what a pretty name for a flower. We apparently have lilies of the valley growing all over our side yard. Jan Henderson has some in her front yard and she plucked the flower and gave it to Zach and I. It smells divine. I cannot seem to talk about anything else these days, at least on the blog, sorry.

Avery is feeling better and tonight she was feeling sooooo much better that she couldn't sleep, but was up and cheery in her bed, tossing anything she could out. :)

There was an amazing deal on strawberries, 1.25 for a container of Well-pict strawberries (I decided Well-Pict has the sweetest tasting strawberries, yum-o). So I made freezer jam today. The berries were deeeeee-licious, even before I added anything, a very enthusiastic yum-O!

Here's to Well-Pict strawberries and lilies of the valley.

Chum

As I sit to type, I'm noticing I'm getting a nice farmers tan, well sort of a tan when you start out lily white.

Avery has been coughing again. Which means she is throwing up more. Today I feel like everything I fed her came back out, which would mean she's really hungry, right? Where is my red "easy" button?

I called my youngest brother today, Gary, or Dean as he is now going by. Dean is deaf and has a great job in SLC at Sorenson Video Relay. I called his number and an interpreter answered and I left a message, via the interpreter signing it to Dean's message box/video thingy. Anyhoo, it was so cool. Gary called me back a few minutes later. I do miss hearing his voice, but this is tech forward and amazing how things have progressed.

3 Things

Chris Marks- Eric's youngest brother and it's his birthday this Wednesday! This is the only photo I could find. :) Great bowler too.

Myself and Gary Christensen (why am I so short?)- Gary is my youngest brother and it's his birthday this Wednesday too! This photo was taken when he came out for a business trip and he stopped by for a visit. It was a real treat to see him.

Zach doing something he loves, jumping on our bed. :)


1) I love Spring! I thought it was Summer, but no, I'm sold. May could be my all time favorite month even, over February, now that's something. These are the pro's for May: flowers, blossoms, green, sun, the fact that I can wear sandals, the amount of laundry goes down, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, baseball, and it's not extremely hot yet. We opened our screened in porch and we're loving the yard we inherited from the previous owners.

The con's would be, if I was in school, that I was still in school and preparing for finals. Since I'm not, no other con's.

2) I was getting Zach ready for bed and he gave me a hug and said, "I'm so glad you're here and not at the hospital". He's said this before and I'm not sure why he says it sometimes, what is triggering it. I'm glad too though. Maybe it was bedtime routines and no one can tuck you in bed like mom (when you're a kid). :) That's my vote anyway.

3) Celebrity Apprentice- thumbs down for Annie Duke.