name change for those that dont know yet

So we have changed little Alma's name. We liked the name Alma, but it just wasn't fitting him and before we set it in stone we decided we should take in other options.
So now...Brennan Guy Christiansen is here. If I had internet yet I would have posted this sooner, but most of you know how moving goes. We have tons of pictures that I will be posting tomorrow when we get our home computer hooked up to the world--finally!!
other news

Carter starts school tomorrow--all day...I am a little nervous for him...dont' worry I know he will do great and I think i will just miss him.
Mason is waiting to start because we need to get everything squared away with an aide, meetings for placement, all those fun things that Mason needs. Can't just jump in with him. bummer.
Taylor is doing great. She is a little mommy with Brennan and is always wanting to hold, help, and take care of the baby. She is brilliant!

Love to all

Check out my Slide Show!

Introducing....

Fast as fast can be you will never catch me...


That describes Alma Guy Christiansen so far. I was on the hospital bed 10 mins before he made his apperance as he was not going to wait for the doctor. The ER doctor that was down stairs didn't even make it there. We did warn them when we called that it would be fast if we made it at all. :)
Alma Guy was 19.5 inches, 6lbs 15 ozs. He was born at 2:51 am on June 21st, 2008

Welcome to the world little man!!!!
Slide show is downloading right now as we speak, or write?...

Update on baby to be

Just thought I would post about the doctor appt today. Like I said in an earlier post, we are still pregnant and I haven't had the baby yet. :)
In OB talk I am 3 cent dialated and 50% effaced(sp?). She said my water was right there and she wouldn't be surprised if that is how we know to rush in(specifing that we need to HURRY with my previous labors). She could feel babies head and said it is down, but not fully engaged yet. :)
They did offer to enduce at 39 weeks, but I kindly refused. I hated patosin when they enduced with Taylor, so we are just going to play it by ear.
I feel fat, uncomfortable, can hardly walk through contractions I have right now, but yeah---it's all part of the game, right?

WAITING WAITING WAITING-----Patiently of course ;)

Life happens....

Not that visible, but the little red dot in between her eyes is from a little boy who lost his temper and had a fork in his hand, WOW! Can you say scary? Carter did feel really bad and has since decided that he made a really bad choice--ya think! :)
Mason finally lost that annoying front tooth that was hanging on for dear life. It looks like two teeth are missing, but it really is just one. Now the other front tooth is a little wobbly.
Just Mason and Taylor wrestling. Most of the time they get along great. Mason does get a little rough sometimes, yes even for Taylor! her hair is the subject of much irritation right now. Mason has decided he gets quite the reaction from her and tests that out on a daily basis. She is getting pretty good at not freaking out and just saying, "STOP!"
Last but certainly not least this is Mikes ankle as of last night. He had softball practice on Monday night and stepped into a hole while going for a throw in the outfield. Needless to say softball is out for the next while. It wasn't broken, and they said it was a really bad sprang. So hopefully once the swelling goes down he will feel alot better. Really this picture doesn't do it justice. Thanks to being in Utah when Gpa Mason had surgery on his ankle the kids are all excited about helping Dad's ankle get better. Taylor is obsessed with making sure the foot is up with ice on it. :)

As with moving--as of latest we will be moving into the house on Monday.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Mike has turned another year older and another year wiser. I think that is how it is suppose to work. :) A birthday in a hotel is always fun! Really it was a distaster outside with weather, so we were in the room all day. The kids got a bit annoyed at certain parts of the day. It was a day spent with each other and that is all that matters. Mike was stuck with us ALL day--hehehe!! :)
This is a picture of a Bears blanket that is on the way to Mike in the mail. Mason was eager about the new movie, National Treasure. Nothing to spectacular this year.
The cake is really starting to shine over the years!! He still has enough hot hair to get them out in one go. We love you Mike and are so glad we are able to spend every year with you!!

23 Days to go.....

Mike and I were discussing last night how it seems so weird to us we are going to be having a baby in about 23 days. This pregnancy has been filled with so much more to do and accomplish that it has seemed very unreal to us. It wasn't until last night that I realized, "oh yeah, I will be going into labor and having a BABY soon!" What a nerve racking thought. Most know I am a no drugs person and I have always been on a mental preparedness mode for awhile now...kind of forgot about that this time. So my nerves are now starting to get to me as I am doing my every night steady contractions for an hour or two and then they go away. I did the same thing with Taylor and I fear that when my body decides it is time we might have a pretty interesting delivery story to share. I feel completely uncomfortable pretty much all the time--so i love when the doctors ask, "Any questions, complaints?" I just think to myself, "Yes complaints, but I got myself this way, so I guess I can keep most of them to myself." :)
Life is going well and we are adjusting. Mike starts training this week and that will be interesting to have him gone during the day. I guess I need my imagination to to kick into gear so that I can entertain children.
We will keep you updated on any news with the baby. I don't have an appt until the 12th..not that it will tell me much. Other than, yes you are still pregnant and no you haven't had the baby yet. :) --LOVE IT!!

Wheeting Castle

I tried the slide show and my computer kept freezing. So I am posting a few of the pictures instead. Enjoy!

Exploring...

So we decided that we should probably do something fun for a change for the children. We looked at a couple more houses today. Our house options kind of changed, and we think we found one today. I will keep all posted on that.
The slide show is of Wheeting Castle. This is the first little place that Mike and I went to when we were first here years ago. It is fun to see the ruins of what was once there. The kids had a great time pretending to be kings and a princess of course...Carter's voice even changed. :) He had a very deep voice suddenly. LOL...
We will keep everyone posted when we do settle with a house. I think the one we saw today will be it. It is a cute bungalow(one story) and in a little town off the beaten path. Although close enough that we will still be in a practical location for school. We are still going to have to wait a few weeks until we can move in--how annoying! Once you find something you just want to move in..now. Patience is not my best virtue right now.

House hunting....

I thought I would update on this instead of email for right now. Our internet is SSSSOOOO SSSSSLLLOOOWWWW and this is quicker than emailing a group of people. So if all goes well, this will be our house in England. We are excited because finding a house that is not totally compact is very hard and this one kind of fell into our laps. I will obviously take pictures once we get moved in. We have to wait until it is available come the middle of June--so we will be moving in and having a baby very close together. We are doing well. I feel uncomfortable with pregnant crap, so that must mean it is getting close, right? :)
We are adjusting to the time change and getting over jet lag quickly. Living in this little apartment should be fun for another month...but it will be worth it!! :)
Signing off for now. I hope everyone is doing well.
Love to all
Mike, Hollie and the kiddos.

ps..it was fun to go to the golfcourse today and surprise some familiar faces with us being back. We love that we already have friends to spend time with and life seems so much better than not knowing anyone.

Preggo update....

I figured that I should probably update this with a picture of the ever growing front side--and some backside for that matter. I will keep that view to myself. :) I am just shy of 31 weeks out of 40. This pregnancy has certainly been a challenge with the timing. I still sometimes forget that I am pregnant--I know how could I with that up front!?! I feel pretty good as far as pregnancy goes. Nothing spectacular to report, just getting bigger and bigger! This baby is however probably the most active of all of them. I dont' know what this little person is doing, but I think they are training for a marathon already! For the record and a reminder I am due June 25th. So I think that is about 63 days or so away.
I love ice cream. This is not a new fact, but it is something that I have decided I am not holding back on. I only have 2 more months to enjoy what I can, when I can. I will be the first to admit I have eaten cheesecake on more than one occasion for breakfast. :) I figure I resist all those temptations when I am not pregnant, why not enjoy them when everyone thinks that gaining weight is cute.

Starting to sink in...

Being in the military we have had many oppurtunities to say good-bye and see ya later. Today was the first time I actually cried about leaving ND. It was quite a moment since I had just told Mike a few days ago that I was becoming use to having to say good-bye. We love our families, but tears have ceased to appear when we are leaving them the last few years. I guess you just get use too it.

The kids went with our respite worker and friend, Orlayne, today for there last full day with her so that I could finish up garage sale stuff. She came and got them this morning at 7:30 and took them until about 5:30. We get respite hours through the state because of Mason. I know, most parents would kill for free babysitting. We are very fortunate to receive that hours we do and have met some great people because of it. Orlayne has been with us for just about 3 years. WOW!! Time flies I tell ya. Anyway, my children LOVE Orlayne. I wish she could see the glow in their eyes when we say we are going on a date and Orlayne is coming. Carter also has an added bonus because she has a son Mason's age who comes and 'helps' watch the kids now and then. Carter LOVES Alec as well. Carter gets to play guns, swords, and all those boys things that he doesn't have an opportunity to that often. He always comes home tired, dirty, and happy after playing with Alec for a day.

It is an added treat when they get to go to Orlaynes house. We can't even tell Mason he is going until the morning of or he is all bent out of shape. He is ready to go as soon as she walks through the door. Her husband, Mike, is also wonderful with our children and it has been such a priviledge to know this great family here in ND. I had Orlayne take the camera with her today so she could take some pictures with the kids. I saw these and just was overwhelmed with what a blessing Orlayne and her family have been in our lives. She gets payed to watch my kids, but it has become so much more than that. They are really going to miss her. I will miss her insight and influence in my childrens life. Who am I kidding, I am also going to miss having such wonderful hands to trust my children too when I want to go on a date. :)

And thus ends morning seminary.....

Those were the final words spoken by one of my students on our last day. :) I actually ended teaching last week and have spent this week organizing and sorting. I learned ALOT by teaching the Old Testament. It was an experience I will never forget and might be tempted to teach again if ever given the opportunity. It was interesting having the 4 boys in the class and I learned ALOT about non-scripture things as well. I look forward to those lessons being applied when my boys are older. I had a good group of guys to teach and it was a pleasure doing so. I am officially still NOT a morning person. Maybe you just have to be born like that?
On another note. Our plans for our move are coming so fast. It is like someone hit the fast forward button and forgot to come back to hit play. We started our garage sell today and will continue tomorrow. We actually sold most of the big stuff and just have alot of misc items that will be donated if not sold. I am still getting worried about whether or not we will sell our washer and dryer--what to do if they don't sell? Someone came today that had just got here and had just bought a set and had them delivered yesterday. Both of us were bummed about that. Myself because that is $400.00 I could have had and she because it was $400.00 she could have saved. How timing works, bummer. Out packers come on Monday and start the two days of packing, then Wednesday they pick up the boxes. Thursday our smaller shipment gets packed and then it will be the sign off day until we get to England!
I hope everyone is having some well deserved spring weather like us--it is so beautiful outside. My kids are covered in sweat, dirt, and just outside stuff--I LOVE IT!!

Mason's field trip.

All the first graders in Mason's school went on a field trip yesterday and it was so fun that I was able to go. When it comes to helping out in Mason's classroom I have to avoid being there. He completely loses his 'mode' if myself or dad are there in the classroom. He doesn't mind if we come on field trips, so I love these chances. Mason loves 'his kids' in school and is a friend with everyone it seemed. The classes went to the Uof Minnesota in Crookston, MN. They were able to see the horse arena and stables, and other farm life on the campus. I figured that everyone knows what animals look like so I didn't include those pictures.

Being taught how they give the horses a bath. I love seeing Mason just being part of the crowd--it is the best thing ever. He has come a very long way in the last couple years and you can really tell he is getting more mature.

He decided that he was done walking with Ms. Santiago(his para--and a absolute wonder with Mason) and myself. He went and grabbed the hand of one of his many girl friends and continued the walk to the dairy farm. I am told he has about 5 girls he gravitates to at school. NICE!! :)

Mason would see, and then go. Not much for the story as to why something is how it is. You will notice my child is the only one without a coat--he gave it too me before we left. I got in my van to follow the bus and then some other moms asked if I wanted to drive with them. Leaving the coat behind I accepted the offer--great mom am I!! Good thing Mason didn't care and it actually was like 50 something degrees. Just a little windy. I felt pretty bad about myself until we found out that one of the teachers forgot her classes lunches--my coat problem didn't seem so bad after that. :)

Kids being Kids

Carter needed his picture taken before he left to play soccer with his friends--that would be pretend soccer. We still are failing miserably at getting him to call it football. He is so interested in soccer and we will be looking into getting him started in England. That would be why the calling it football would be so important. :)

Carter and Taylor have been playing so well together all morning. It has been great--yes I just probably ruined it.

Thought I should get a shot of Taylor's new bangs. These were not intentional AT ALL. In fact her bangs had just reached that point where I could finally pull them back into her hair. Well, one bathroom break for mom later she had found scissors and taken a few chunks out of her head. The damage was minimal--thank heaven!!! :)