Mountain Bike Race at Sundance

I thought I would try my hand at updating our blog. Things are going very well with all of us. I have the best wife in the whole world! I know that some other people may think that they have the best wife, but I really do. Anyway, we are all marching along and enjoying the warm weather. I participated in my first mountain bike race this year at Sundance. It was pretty fun, although I didn't do quite as well as I would have liked. I forgot how much I missed the summer and the warmth that comes along with it. Work has been busy and not very exciting. Sarah has been working hard and we are both very excited for our upcoming Christensen Reunion over the week of the 24th. All of the kids are looking forward to getting out of school in the next few weeks. Madalynne is out already and is enjoying her summer vacation. Hope everyone is well and look forward to posting another update soon.

Thanks Daddy for the back...

 
I am obviously my father’s daughter. I defiantly inherited his genetics for back problems. All I can say is Superfun! My husband was right, it is not normal to be in pain from sitting or lying down. Apparently I have a herniated disc and a bulging disc. Can I just say Ouch! Luckily it doesn't look like I will need surgery, especially since I just ran a 1/2 marathon with this back injury. No wonder it was so painful when I was training and during the race. Sometimes, I am not so smart. I will need to go to physical therapy twice a week. Our insurance will cover 20 visits, with a co-pay of course. I do not savor the cost. I have been once and the exercises seem like a combination of Yoga and Pilates. I think that I incorporate those into my workouts and see if makes any difference before I go back to the physical therapist. If it makes it better then I don't think I will go back. I guess we will see. Wish me luck...

1/2 Marathon

 
We decided to combine a grueling 1/2 Marathon, a camping trip and Jardine sister reunion into one big party. We thought it would be fun to take all the kids and go camping the week before the 1/2 Marathon with the end of the trip ending the same day as our race. Did I mention that we also took two of my niece's friends with us??? Off we went excited about the upcoming race and fun to have with all the sisters and kids. It never seems like a small army when we are together. However, thinking about it there was a lot of us, 7 adults and 16 kids. We did get a little nervous about the weather. We checked the week before we left and it look like it would be a nice early June weather, however, we do live in Utah...stay ten minutes and the weather will change. Change it did. The first couple of days were nice, and then it was all downhill for the next 5 days. Ferocious rain storms, snow on the horizon and a dare from yours truly to Julia and her friends to go swimming when it was only 50 degrees outside...what can I say I am an awesome aunt. With many trips back into Logan for supplies and heating apparatuses, we survived, just in time for the race. Ahhh, the race, a story in it of its self. When my sisters get together they or should I say we believe that we can conquer the world. With only 12 weeks to prepare for the race Rebecca convinced Julie, Rachel and I to run with her. I was still suffering from back pain and so my training didn't start for another 6 weeks. Of those six grueling weeks I was sick 2 of them, one from over training and the other was the week that we were camping. Every day after my run with my sisters I told everyone that my sisters were killing me... and they were. I counted it up and I ran a total of 10 times before the race. The day before the race I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to run. Miraculously, I felt really good the day of the race. Half way through the race Julie and Rebecca said that I was pushing them too hard. I admit it I was laughing to myself. Rachel by and far in the best shape of all of us danced to her iPod the entire race. I could hardly walk after the race, but I felt a little vindicated that I was able to push at least 2 of my sisters; after all they had been pushing me for the last 6 weeks. I have a new goal train until I am able to dance with Rachel while we run the next 1/2 marathon.

1st Camping Trip in the new trailer

 
So, for those of you who didn't guess our first camping trip envolved snow and freezing temeratures. Needless to say we didn't get out of the trailer much, mainily to cook and go to the bathroom. Not the best time camping, but we did have a lot of fun.

Our new trailer

 
WOW!! We can hardly wait to go camping. We decided to purchase this trailer knowing that it would enable us to take more vacations with less expense. We are so excited to go camping next weekend with Rebecca and Chris next weekend for William birthday!

We traded in our mini-van

 
We decided to trade in our beloved mini-van for something with a little more strength. Can I just say, I love this SUV/truck? I am pleased to finally have a vehicle that can haul something besides kids. I have wanted to be able to pull boats or trailers for years. I don't mean to say that I didn't love my Sienna, I loved it. However, this truck is like the Sienna on steroids. The only thing I don't love is its gas mileage, but I do love that it takes midgrade instead of premium.

Wedding Pictures

So, I would like to have some great reason as to why I haven't updated my blog. I would like to use the excuse that I just got married. I am not sure if that applies to the second time around. However, I can say that I have undoubtedly married the best man in the world. He is a GREAT husband and a GREAT father. I have to tell you that I feel a little bit like the Brady Bunch, with 3 boys and 3 girls and the cheesy fact that the only steps that are in our family are in our house leading to the upstairs. Evan is the father that our children have waited for. Just last weekend he and Gary went fishing with the scout. Gary was so delighted to spend some dad/son time. We are really enjoying a little family and eachother.

Invitation

We approved our proof for our invitations We are going to be up for a couple of nights addressing them. Each step is exciting! I know you are thinking that I am insane to be excited to address envelopes….well I’ve got news for you… I am but for totally different reasons. However, if you were in my shoes about to marry the most wonderful man in the world and quite possibly the universe you would be to. I am most defiantly the luckiest woman ever! Evan is quite simple put…wonderful!

Engagment Photos

Oddly enough this is only one of our 482 engagment pictures. I am not sure if our photographer was just happy to take pictures or if we were just happy to have our picture taken. Either way we are happy!