No news is good news...

Nothing but excitement around here..

KEEGAN HAS HIS FIRST TWO TEETH!

Daesha may hold the neighborhood record for holding the most rolly polly bugs at one time.

This was only 8. She has had way more but I wouldn't let her get near me let alone bring them all in the house.

Feeding the goats even though she has a look on her face like she

may loose her finger any moment.

Watching Dad edge the yard. I guess it was very sunny and noisy. Keegans first grip of the fishing rod.
Did I raise a boy or girl?? Daesha loves all creepy and crawly things.

Lost and Laughing

Today while trying to find Wheeler Farms, I got lost. (I know it's so easy to find but I am so bad at finding places with just an address) As I was making a wrong turn after another I was getting more and more frustrated. I started to mumble and talk to myself and Daesha asked, "Mom are you mad?" "Yes, I cant find the farm" After a second she said, "Well you can find the malls!"
Thanks for making your mom smile Daesha!
By the way, we did make it to Wheeler Farms. It was about as hot as the face of the sun. Never going back there unless it is fall or spring.

hot summer nights = going camping in the mountains

Last Friday we decided to go camping for a night to get away from the heat wave we are having down in the valley. We went to Payson canyon. It was so green and very peaceful. We woke up to a deer right next to our tent. It ran off before I could get a picture. Daesha had fun burning sticks in the fire and Keegan loved playing with the firewood and eating dirt. All these pictures were taken at breakfast. Keegan loved Ted's pancakes. Ted also ripped his shorts on the log. I have a great picture of Daesha squating for the first time without my help. (I guess it's a picture only a mom can love) But of course she peed all over her shorts and underwear. Boys dont laugh.. it's very tricky!

And Justice For All...

Warning. The following story is long but it is really a funny story.
At least to me it was.
This is a story that began over a year ago... As I was opening my mail one day I noticed that I had gotten a subpoena. I had never seen such a detailed court document. It had the defendants name listed and also the trial date. I was to call a phone number the night before the listed court date to see if the case had been cancelled. Well as the date came I called. And it had been cancelled, my appearance was not necessary. Four months later I received another subpoena in the exact said case. I began to think maybe I had something to do with this. I looked at the name again. No, it didn't ring a bell. I've heard of some sort of court orientation that you must attend but I didn't get any such notification. So I called the attorney listed and talked with him personally. I told him that I had no idea who the defendant was. And I thought he might have the wrong person. I also asked him what the case was about and he told me that legally he could not disclose that information over the phone. He then assured me that the matter would be looked at and corrected and I should not worry about coming to the next court date. That was 6 months ago.
Well imagine my surprise when I got yet another subpoena last month. This time It stated in bold letters. YOU ARE COMMANDED to appear and give testimony in the above-entitled action before the court as a witness in a criminal action against the above named defendant.
Fine! I thought. I will show up and hopefully that stupid attorney will remember our little phone call. And I hope it throws the whole case a couple more months back!!! I was tired of getting the stupid letter!
Well I was so glad I did go. It was really entertaining for a simple girl like me. This is how the morning went.
First I had to be there at 7:30 am! Thankfully Teds mom came over and stayed with the kids. I had to go downtown which takes a good 45minutes. As I walked up to the counter I noticed 6 other men standing in the hall way. I got to the window and noticed that the district attorney office wasn't open yet it didn't open until 8:00. So I sat in one of the chairs lined up along the hall way. I had already noticed that some of the men standing there were police officers. They were in their full uniforms. As I sat and listened to the conversations between them I found out what this particular case was all about.
Officer #1. "I can't wait until this case gets rolling"
Officer #2. " Ya I am here because I was first on the scene and removed the duct tape off the mans face. My finger print was the only print on the tape"
Officer #1. "I was taking pictures of the scene, that's why I am here"
Officer #3. "Ya lets hope this @#$*&^ gets the life sentence he deserves"
I am thinking whoa this is getting good.
As the officers begin to retell the crime as they remember it I learned that this crime took place 3 years ago. The defendant broke into a home. Stabbed the homeowner several times and then bound him with duct tape. Then the wife came home. She was beaten and also bound with duct tape. Then they were robbed and the defendant stole their car. By now the crowd waiting was getting bigger and this dumb old lady distracted me by asking me where the restroom was. By the time my attention was back to the officers the door was opening to the "witness check-in". Dang it! I wanted to hear more. Like did the couple die? How long did it take to track down the said criminal? Then I remembered...I AM SUPPOSED TO TESTIFY!!! I don't know a thing about this case! I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE! I freaked just a little. But I was glad that I would be going home very shortly once they found out that I am not the person they were wanting to testify. The room filled with lots of people I would say around 30. Then a man came out in a suit. And yelled over the crowd. "Is Chandra here?" I couldn't believe he had just zeroed me out. "Yes I am here". "Very good" he says. "Is officer Bailey here?" "Yes I am here". As the man in the suit motioned to me and officer Bailey, "will you two please follow me". I followed to a area separated from the crowd. Just as the officer and I were about to take our seats the man in the suit turns to me and says, "OK. You did the blood work. Is that correct?" I started to giggle then the officer started to laugh and that brought me to full out laughter. The man in the suit didn't think it was very funny. Seeing that this wasn't the time to laugh I said, "I think you have the wrong Chandra" The officer said "Yes, she is not Chandra Christiansen". I said, "Yes I am" The man in the suit was getting annoyed and asked me. "Do you work in the crime lab?" again more giggles. "No. But I watch CSI alot." The officer thought this was really funny. I liked this cop. "Let me see your subpoena" the now grouchy suit grabbed it from me and looked it over carefully. He then gave a glance at a woman standing close by and she came over and took my letter and also looked it over. They mumbled under their breath but I understood exactly what was being said. I think he the suit (attorney) was telling his stupid Secretary that she had gotten the wrong person. She said. "this is not good for the case. We need that witness on the blood work." Then she looked at me and said. "I am sorry there IS a Chandra Christiansen who works at the crime lab but her name is spelled SON not SEN. I am sorry for the inconvenience."
Well my work is done! I was still smiling as I leaned to the officer and told him that I had called the attorney and notified him of the mix up months ago. He smiled back at me and I left.
I felt sorta bad for all those people who probably have to come back because the little show I had just done to get a message across. But it really was fun!
I was supposed to take my stamped subpoena across the street to another building where I would receive a witness fee check in 30 days. But I didn't. It was a check for a whopping $18.50.

Happy Fathers Day!

Today it was just me and the kids at church. Ted is at a "Rich Dad Poor Dad" course. On the way home from church Daesha told me that her primary teacher told her to give her Dad a big hug today. She told me that she wanted to but he isn't home. I said he will be home later today and we can give him his present and then you can give him a hug! I told her our Dad was very special. And I asked her what things do you like about Dad? She said, "He plays with me and draws pictures on the sidewalk with me. And he is a Rich Dad."

My niece Tiffany and her mystery illness

I have the most cutest and happy niece named Tiffany. My sister and her family have been baffled by Tiffany's sudden sickness that has doctors scratching their heads. For over a year they have seen dozens of doctors, traveled to different states and tried every kind of regiment from medications to physical therapy. Nothing has gotten them any answers as to why this is happening to their little girl. I feel that I couldn't possibly do enough to help out my sister. As some may know, she and her husband let me move in with them when my mother died. I was 13. Their children are like my very own siblings. I love them all so much. The latest "diagnosis" is that she has been exposed to black mold in their home. For the last week and a half Tiffany and her Mom have been living in their camping trailer to see if she has any improvement. It's still too soon to tell.
Tiffany has touched so many hearts in their community. Neighbors and friends have taken upon themselves to get the word out to help find what has been happening to Tiffany. Please check out this sight that a family friend did for the family.

HELPING TIFFANY

Keegan is 1 HURRAY!!!

Our son is growing up so fast. He has picked up the nicname Tank because he is not so little anymore! Keegan's birthday was yesterday and he had a great day. He started to do the army crawl on mothers day weekend. Now he is getting around fast and even started to pull himself up on the furniture to stand. He loves to walk around with help. Everyone thinks he will be taking his first steps next month. He still doesn't have a single tooth but that hasn't stopped him from wanting to eat what everyone else is eating. I plan on starting him on regular milk this week. Let's hope he does well with it! It will save us a lot of mulla. He goes through a large container every 5 days!!! It's alittle over a $120 a month. Despite the expensive formua we love Keegan so much. He is such a good little boy. He loves to babble and laughs alot. I am just so thankful for Keegan in our family. He is so much fun. I love you Keegan!

His party was a lot of fun. We had friends and family over and spoiled the little guy with lots of fun gifts. He had help opening his gifts from his sister and cousins. He didn't want to make a mess with his cake. So we gave him a spoon and he fed himself for the first time. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Thanks everyone for coming. We love you all!

Update

This week has been pretty much uneventful. Ted left on Tuesday morning to Virginia till Friday. Then he will be repacking and heading to Zions that same day until Sunday. Tuesday I went to STOMP. It was such a fun show I really liked it alot. My sister in law posted about it and did a great video on her blog. If you want to see more about them click here (Thats just pure laziness on my part not to go through the effort of blogging it myself.) On Wednesday we went to my nephews 16th birthday party. I got him a dating bag. It had movie tickets, a bag of swedish fish "theres lots of fish in the sea", a love meter that lights up and rates your sexiness, a dating survival kit, and a bottle of pills that was labeled, "perfect girl". I can't believe he is old enough to drive and date! They grow up way too fast! Last night we went and got some videos because we will be taking Daesha's braids out all day today. I started yesterday and worked on them for 3 hours and I only got 1/4 of them out!