Images of Christmas

Christmas Eve...

Mike and I invited my parents to our home for dinner, our annual 'Christmas Concert' (singing of Christmas carols) and then opened our gifts. We had a wonderful evening and felt of the spirit of our Savior as we sung hymns of praise unto him. (We had some 'fun' songs as well!)

Steve 'scored' with Jazz Tickets

Mom, opening her gift from Dave, Chan, Garrett & Madison

Mike with his Christmas Stash...

Christmas Day...

We spent Christmas afternoon over at my parents. We had a delicious dinner and sat around a talked, then grew quiet as the need for sleep overtook most of the family! It was fun to be with my family and I enjoyed visiting with them. While Dave's family is in Hawaii this year, I am very glad that they were hear at Thanksgiving and we had time with them. It has been a good holiday season!

Steve, Alishea, and Bryan

Ryan and Jannica

Lori and Roger

Phayvanh

The best looking man around!

Grandpa and Dylan.

I had to do a double take when Dylan walked in.

He and cousin Garrett sport the same hairstyle... long, curly, and a little bushy!

Gotta love the two cousins!!!

Garrett, in November 2009

Dylan and Phayvanh

Bryan (I think someone else was taking pictures for a while!)

Alishea

Alexis - Gotta love the hat!

MERRY CHRISTENSEN

In case I missed you, here's our Christmas letter...

Merry Christmas!

The year 2009 has been one of many blessings. Much of our life has remained constant, with very little change.

Mike continues to work as a security guard at the Triad Center. Earlier this year, he was called to serve in the High Priest group leadership. Mike is starting to think about working on his next novel. The rough draft is done, now it is a matter of getting it typed out, etc. Hopefully next year, we’ll have more to share on his latest novel. I am always excited about Mike’s writing. Writing is Mike’s first love, after me of course!

I continue to serve as Ward Relief Society President. This is my fourth Christmas season serving as Relief Society President and gratefully, the year of 2009 has been drama free. After all of the ward changes in 2008, this year has seemed like a breeze! I continue to enjoy quilting, watching Survivor (yes, I am a fan!), and managing our rental properties. I am also singing the Messiah with a community choir this holiday season. I haven’t sung in a choir for several years and I am enjoying singing again!

In April of this year, we vacationed in Nauvoo, Illinois. After nine years, Sidney was able to keep a promise made to niece Alexis and take her to Nauvoo. We tried a new travel method, Amtrak. Let’s just say that we probably won’t travel by train again, but it worked for our schedule this trip. We enjoyed our time in Nauvoo and the surrounding area. For details of our trip, check out our blog at http://www.mikesidney.blogspot.com/.

We continue to travel to Blanding on a regular basis. As Mike’s parents health continues to decline, we feel the need to be down there more often. We are very grateful for his sister Suzanne, who has sacrificed some time in her life and move to Blanding to care for them.

Mike and I have a new goal for 2010, we are going to begin biking. Hopefully next year we will be able to share some of our bicycling travels. We will be starting with flat, paved trails. If you have any suggestions, let us know!!!

As always, at this Christmas season, we remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for our Savior, for the restored gospel and our testimonies. We wish you and your family a joyous holiday season as you celebrate the birth and life of our Savior!

With love, Mike and Sidney Christensen

Just Stuff

Myself and Julie Sorenson

Just prior to our Messiah performance last Sunday evening.

(I confess, it was odd to be back into the choir room that served as our 'life' during our senior year of high school. Next year, I don't think it will feel so odd!)


Scrap quilt that I made for my brother, Steve, for Christmas this year. I'm posting it early because I'm 99% sure he doesn't read the blog. Until this picture, I truly thought it looked scrappy, with no design, but now, I see that there is a little 'design' to the quilt.


Hopefully, this quilt will warm Steve up! Steve has been living with Mike and I for the past eight months. He thinks our home is cold. (Everyone seems to think that!) But Mike and I both like a cooler home, especially at night when the furnace is turned off! (Steve & I have negotiated a peaceful temperature!)

Food Storage Challenge - Day 25 thru 30

Well, the food storage challenge is done. Other than purchasing milk, hamburger, hamburger buns, oranges and bananas. I think we did pretty well! I don't think we cleared out the freezer or back closet much, but I'm going to be more aware of what we have in the back closet and use it more often. Who knows, after the holidays, I may try this again, but I'll spare ya'll the details!

Monday
Pizza (an old standby)
Smoothies

Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Tomato Soup

Wednesday
Zucchini Quiche
Orange Juice

Thursday
Baked Potato Soup

Friday
Clam Chowder
Orange Julius
(I made this for Alishea!!!)

Saturday
Kung Po Chicken
Rice
Smoothies

Fudge Season's Official End

This afternoon , Tuesday, December 15th at 1:24pm, the annual Christensen Fudge Season officially ended. After 18 batches of fudge, it is now ready for delivery. I can't wait!!!

I know that in our area, some people are donating food to the food bank instead of delivering neighbor gifts, but frankly, for me, part of the Christmas season is FUDGE and delivering it to neighbors and friends.

So let it be written.

So let it be done.

De Ja Vu...

This morning I drove into the parking lot of my former alma mater - Hillcrest High - for a dress rehearsal of tomorrow evening's performance of the Messiah. I don't think I've been back in the school for over 20 years. It was a little nostalgic sitting in the auditorium, looking for the CLOCK that use to hang on the wall, remembering all the Chamber Choir performances we did in the high school auditorium, and thinking about Mr. Dean or this link, our great high school music teacher. Julie and I reminisced about what he taught us. He taught us so many different varieties of choral music. We had no idea the depth and breath until after we left high school.


Enough reminiscing...

Now, if any of you are interested, you are invited to attend the Midvale Community Choir performance of the Handel's Messiah tomorrow evening, Sunday, December 13th.

Hillcrest High School Auditorium

7350 So. 900 E.

7:00 pm

Performance should last about 1.5 hours.

(We are only doing selected pieces.)

A final thought...

In the early 1990's I attend the Murray City Community performance of Handel's Messiah. It was a very sacred experience for me. I felt more during that performance than I have hearing the Tabernacle Choir or singing at the Messiah Sing-In. So, while the talent may be amateur, there is a feeling when signing the work. Come and enjoy!

Food Storage Challenge - Day 21-24

Wow, these days are going by quickly! We are back from Blanding the challenge has renewed itself.

Thursday's Menu

Turkey & Broccoli Casserole

Corn (I was craving corn!)

Oranges

Friday's Menu

Chili

Leftover Turkey & Broccoli Casserole

Orange Julius

Saturday's Menu

Ward Party... No need to cook!

Cookies from the Cookie exchange

(I admit, this isn't a healthy item.)

Sunday's Menu

Hamburgers (I had to by buns)

Shrimp Pasta Salad

Oranges & Bananas

I may just keep this up during the holidays. I can't believe how much food we still have. It is nice to know my efforts of purchasing items for our food storage have not been in vain. I guess we need to plan a garden next year to have the fresh vegetables when the next challenge occurs.

Blanding Visit...

The forecast called for snow, and it snowed! It snowed all day Monday and frankly, I liked it! The snow was light and crystally, peaceful and white. It was beautiful. (For once I was glad to be inside the WARM, 80 degree, Green House!!! Just kidding!!!) I know there was at least a foot of snow in Blanding when we arose Tuesday morning. And for the record, when we drove home Wednesday, there was more snow in Blanding than any other town we drove through, (except for Monticello). The Four Corners area scored with this storm. Our home in Salt Lake only had 3-4 inches. Thanks to the road crews who keep the roads cleared!

The Green House Tuesday morning

Notice the nicely shoveled walks? Bro. Flannery, Caroline's home teacher, showed up bright and early Tuesday morning to shovel the snow. (I guess it pays to stay in bed until 10:00am and let someone else do the 'work'!) Seriously, we were all very grateful for the service he rendered. How thoughtful!

Suzanne's Car covered in snow

Suzanne & I started to dig out her car Tuesday evening (Truthfully, Suzanne did most of it, I joined in later). The sun was going down. The plows had kindly 'plowed her in'. Three girls came by and started digging and then a guy in town, just driving by, - Zac Drake - asked if Suzanne would like to be towed out. (Zac is our new best friend!) We took him up on it. Then, just as he was getting things hooked up, another guy was driving around town with a plow on the front of his truck came by and said that he would plow out in front of the house, once the car was move. I was just amazed by people's generousity. I LOVE SMALL TOWNS!!!

Mike, standing between the Buick with snow and our car,

which had been cleaned off by Caroline's home teachers.

Highlights from this Trip

1. Our 'Concert' on Sunday afternoon singing our favorite hymns and Christmas carols.
2. Suzanne's delicious dinner on Sunday - Chicken enchilada's, orange jello salad, yellow squash, etc.
3. Julene's delicious taco soup on Monday evening. There were leftovers so I made taco salad for lunch on Tuesday.
4. Putting up the Christmas Decorations, listening to Christmas music
5. Sleeping with Mike... Don't get the wrong idea. Remember, he works nights!!!
6. A game of Trivial Pursuit!
7. Oh, and one more thing... In Blanding, you don't need Temple Square, we have the home of Stan and Angela Hurst decorated with lots and lots of lights. Luckily, Stan and Angela live directly across the street from Mike's parents. So, we had a great light display each evening!!! (I tried to take a picture, but it just didn't turn out.)

Food Storage Challenge - Day 18-20

A quick post...

Day 18 Menu

Pumpkin Soup
Pizza
Apples & Bananas dipped in Caramel

Day 19 Menu

Leftovers

Day 20 Menu

Turkey Pot Pie

Salad

Orange Juice

Oreos (Okay, I bought these!)

Day 21 Menu (Saturday)

Leftovers again.

We are heading to Blanding for a few days. So the challenge will continue when we return!

Fudge Season

Today is the official start of Fudge Season at the Christensen home. Some people like Deer Season, or as Grandpa Lyman said, 'Dear' Season, and some people like the Harvest season, or the birthing season. I like Fudge Season! I am so excited to begin!

Food Storage Challenge - Day 16 & 17

Yesterdays menu was delicious...

Shrimp Fried Rice

Spring Rolls

Oranges

Graham Cracker Cookies

Today was another 'date' with Mike. We first talked about going to the Bountiful Temple, but then decided on Jordan River, only to find that was closed for its semi-annual two week cleaning. We finally ended up at the Draper Temple. Afterwards, we went out for a late afternoon lunch at Hires B H in Midvale. Did we ever have a great lunch.

Our dinner Menu this evening, IF we are hungry will include the following:

Pumpkin Soup

Tuna Sandwiches

Apples & Bananas dipped in Caramel