How did that Marathon go?

Sorry it took so long to update this, I know you have all been checking this blog hourly to find out the results. We had another successful St. George Marathon. All four runners finished, and one had a personal best. Teresa, Maren, Matt and Tom were the runners this year. (Matt is my brother-in-law) While we all started out together, we were forced to leave Matt behind about mile 11. He had some issues with his legs not cooperating during the marathon and was forced to walk most of the second half. So the other three of us continued on running. We had a goal to get to the finish before the 5 hour mark. The entire time we were checking our wristband and stopwatch and marking our progress as we crossed each mile marker. Thanks to the excessive downhill at the end, we were ahead of the mark coming into the city. This is where it got harder. For all those of you who have ran this, which is most of you, at this point you are very tired and now it is flat. But the finish line was looming and we had a goal in mind. So we pushed it through those last miles. As we approached the finish line we kept checking the time and just ran as best as we could. We crossed at 4:59.02! We did it!! Thanks to all those who came down and cheered us on. We always appreciate the support.
Now, who is in for next year? (ALAN? U know if U run then we can say the whole family has run the St George Marathon-- We'd love to train with you! :> )

Ma and Pa, Nana and Grumpa Whatssup

Reviewing the summer and fall. We so enjoyed the camping and fishing, especially the time Nana caught twin fish on the line and later that same day did it again. Twice, two fish at a time That's my limit! The Family trip to San Diego was excellent! Dad, Grumpa is and has been Workin hard, by the sweat of his brow and more. Thanks Adam. This life is the time to prepare and labor. Monday, Oct. 15th Aunts Engla and Thora's Birthday, turning "95" Also we get to go to a REAL soccer game @ the "U's" stadium.

Upcoming Events

THANKSGIVING! (Yum, yum, yum)
Where: Grandma and Grandpa's
When: Thanksgiving Day
Time: 4 pm

Food Assignments and Disposible Items
Mom and Dad: Medisterpolser and red cabbage, Napkins
Teresa and Dell: Rolls and butter (jam if you please),
Bryce and Sara: Turkey, Plates
Tom and Tami: Green Bean Casserole and Stuffing, Cups
Kurtis and Erica: Pie, Plasticware
Maren: Potatoes and crazy...I mean, gravy and rolls, table clothes
Eric: Beverages, ice
Alan and Jodie: Come

Turkey Bowl
Thanksgiving morning, 9am, Granger Park

Christmas Gift Giving List (Gifts $10-15)
Dad: Dell
Mom: Savannah
Teresa: Lily
Dell: Erica
Brooklyn: Hunter
Savannah: Marcus
Jordan: Tami
Troy: Tom
Bryce: Jordan
Sara: Dad
Hunter: Eric
Marcus: Brooklyn
Talmage: Jefferson
Tom: Bryce
Tami: Kurtis
Lily: Maren
Jefferson: Troy
Kurtis: Talmage
Erica: Teresa
Maren: Sara
Eric: Mom
Alan's Family: Surprise

GASP (Goals: Academic, Spiritual, Physical)
We are trying to get a jump on our goals for next year and we'd like to do it as a family. Next time we meet (Thanksgiving) come with some ideas for some goals to improve yourself academically, spiritually, and physically.
We'll set some specific goals and have a family movie night (probably dollar movie) or something else to award us as we accomplish our goals.

Christensen Family Events

October
20th-Family History Meeting @Bruce and Gail's 5:00 p.m.
27th-Baptism for the dead @ Bountiful Temple @5:00 p.m. [Call Bruce]

November
3rd- Medisterpolser fest @ Lilyan's @11:00 a.m.
23rd- [Friday] M.H.C. Family Holiday Dinner [that's you guys two] 6:00 p.m. [Lorraine in charge]

Merry Christmas and Happy New year 2008

January
12th- Temple Sessions @ Salt Lake Temple @ 5:00 p.m.
19th-Family Planning Meeting

Bloggin' Along

I know, I know, finally Bryce and Sara get on the ball and create a post, (I think that means Tom lost the bet to Maren as to who would be the last).

Let’s see. Some highlights. Talmage, (Tag), has been doing a lot of “talking” and expects you to understand what he’s saying. He has been able to say some real words quite well, my favorites are “Cookie”, because the way he says it sounds like Darth Vader breathing, (Coooo-Kie), and of course “Daddy”, which he yells from any where in the house and starts running as soon as he knows I’m coming into the house, (outside of a welcome home kiss from Sara, this is the best part of any day).

Marcus has been going to Miss Tami’s preschool and loves every minute of it. If we pull up to the house and the garage isn’t open there is a groan from the back of the Durango, and as soon as it opens he tries to break the door until it’s opened and he can run inside, (by the way Tom I’ve stolen a few cans of Vault from you fridge when I’m there to drop him off). He also has been displaying even more pure passion in everything he does, when he’s happy its total bliss, when he’s sad he is almost inconsolable, when he’s mad he could probably run through a wall and not feel it. Passion is a great thing if it is harnessed, so we’re trying to help him do that.

Hunter really likes 1st grade, but it is presenting even greater challenges that we or Hunter expected, (I don’t remember kids being this rude and mean when I was in 1st grade, maybe 3rd grade). We had to have the “Birds and the Bees” talk with Hunter an Marcus for Family Home Evening because some kids were telling Hunter that he had had sex with one of the girls in his class. As we explained the difference between boys and girls, and that bodies are special and what is proper and also what they will hear a lot of people say and do, (slang, jokes, etc), you could see confusion in Hunter’s eyes. We asked him if he understood, and he said he did, but didn’t understand why people would talk wrong about it. Meanwhile, Marcus was getting really mad, and when we asked him why, he said, “I am so angry at those people saying and doing bad things!” It made Sara and I smile a bit, but also made me proud of the ‘righteous indignation’ that he was displaying. We read part of the Proclamation on the Family and some of the For the Strength of Youth with them.

Sara has started cross guarding again. She is part of a Women’s Choir that she is really enjoying. They will be performing in the Tabernacle on November 21st, (Thanksgiving Eve), at 7:00 pm. So, feel free to attend, you won’t be disappointed, (2 of the songs are from the musical Wicked, which is the Wizard of Oz story told from the Witch of the West’s point of view instead of Dorothy’s).

I have had some interesting last couple months. I became a Floating Manager, (which seems to have more responsibility added to it everyday), so I now have more ability and clout behind the help I give people whether I have a title or not. Also, as a manager they had me do training on the Power of Silence, which I really enjoyed doing, and was well received. I lost both my 1st counselor and secretary in the Young Men’s’ Presidency for our ward, one moved, and the other was taken by the Elders Quorum. So that leaves me currently all alone when it comes to Wednesday nights.

Also as a family, we finally went camping a couple of times. Last year at this point we had been camping about 14 times.

Tom & Tami October update

Tom - has started up hockey again. He has been training hard for the St. George marathon which is on Oct. 6th. He's happy to have his friend Dustin Pearson moving back to Utah after three years in Chicago. The movie he and Tami watched in September was "An Affair to Remember" (referred to a lot in Sleepless in Seattle).

Tami - survived her first month of preschool. She's enjoying her new classes and teaching seems to be getting easier each year.

Lily - started playing soccer last month. She does really well when she wants to. As with everything, it has to be her decision to play, so one game she could be laying in the middle of the field and the next game she'll be kicking the ball all the way to the goal. She is having a hard time with preschool this year and says she's bored in preschool. It will be nice in kindergarten when she has someone else besides mom teaching her.

Jefferson - has had a rough month. He went through a clingy (yes, worse than he already was), crying, violet phase when preschool started. He wasn't use to leaving mom everyday, and two of the days he didn't have Lily with him either. However, he's finally doing better, he's still clingy though. He started going through a no-sleeping phase too where he was getting up at 6:30am, not napping well and taking sometimes an hour to fall asleep at night. One positive milestone for Jefferson, was he finally learned out to say "Mom"!