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Kener/Christensen Christmas Party 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Putting up the tree and making ginger bread houses

Well we put the tree up two weeks ago and made ginger bread houses last week...but I just now had time to blog about it. I guess I have to treasure these times with my kids because this is the first year Preston has not been interested in any of our Christmas traditions. He did seem to care that he wasn't going to be in any pictures and quickly came up to be in one or two.

Chloe Visits Santa

Chloe was so excited to visit Santa. She couldn't hold still the entire time in line. And then when we turned the corner and she saw that he was really there she became really shy and didn't know what to do. We managed to get a picture and she was able to ask him for what she wanted.

Preston's Christmas Program

Preston had his first Chirstmas program at middle school. I wasn't able to see him very well but I was able to get some good pictures afterward as well as some video.

Thanksgiving 2009

Well another Thanksgiving has come and gone. We were missing about half the family and the girls and I made way too many pies but had lots of fun making them. Grandma Christensen was able to join us this year. This may be her last Thanksgiving so we were glad she was able to come. She still has her sense of humor in her old years. The next morning my sisters, our mom, and I made our way out to black Friday craziness at 5 am. Then we all went to breakfast like we do every year. I am finally getting into the mood of Christmas.

Gymnastics Festival 2009

This was the first year that Chloe was able to participate in the gymnastics festival with her big sister Hannah. Hannah is doing so well as she prepares for competition. Chloe is catching up quickly to her very talented big sister. I have been giving private yoga lessons to the owner of Bailie's Gymnastics and her cute daughters. Her are some pictures and a video of each of them.

ALRIGHT I will blog again

Back by popular demand I am finding two minutes before I go take a math test to blog and update everyone of our busy fall. School has been very overwhelming for me this year and all my focus has been on that. I have been teaching on campus a lot as well. That and being the mom and wife I try to remember to be has left me me no time to blog. We had a great time in Kentucky at Mike and Elizabeth's wedding. We got to see everyone and explore this very humid state. It was fun to see how green and big it is there. The kids thought we were in a different country because of all the Kentucky accents everyone had. We got to go visit Mammoth Cave and explore all its wonder. I added just a few pictures to my slide show of our trip there. October was filled with fun Halloween stuff. We still haven't made up hiking because my weekends consist of nothing but studying...beginning to wonder if this is worth it. The kids carved pumpkins and went trick or treating. November is slowing down a bit. Preston has gone to spend some time living with his dad. This has been the hardest for me. I am hoping he misses me soon and comes back. Dan is planning on training out of town a lot next year for a new position at work. School for me will continue to challenge everything. The girls are both loving gymnastics still. We are spending Thanksgiving in Utah. And hopefully see family for Christmas in West Yellowstone.

Happy 13th Birthday Preston

We had Preston's parties early this year because we will be in Kentucky on his birthday. He went to Lagoon with his friends on Saturday and then on Sunday we had the family party at a park down the street from our house. We had donutes and the kids did some ice blocking down the hill. I can't believe he is 13!! I hope flying in an airplane on his actual birthday will be something he will remember. You never know if you will ever be in an airplane on your birthday. And this birthday is a mile stone for him turing 13!!

Lets play catch up....

WOW!! I have had no time to blog since school started. Everything is crazy and everyone is busy. Preston started middle school this year and he is also playing la cross. Hannah is in the fifth grade and still competing in gymnastics. Chloe is in day care full time at the University 3 days a week and grandma Terri's two days a week..she also started gymnastics. Dan is still at BD and working hard on everything they throw at him..he is also keeping up playing racket ball twice a week with friend from work. I just started my third year of college as well as teaching college fitness courses this year for the college students in the fitness department. I am teaching yoga, cycle, and aqua tone. We rounded out August by taking one last camping trip to Strawberry with grandma and grandpa and a few of the cousins. And I met Keely, Dashell, Elizabeth and a few other girls in Vegas for a girls weekend. Here is a slide show of some of the things we did to round out summer. We are looking forward to fall and the cooler weather. We also can't wait to fly to KY at the end of the month for Mike and Elizabeth's wedding and to see family. I will try harder to play catch up at least once a month. I think I am finally organized with teaching, studying and kids that I can post that often.

Kener Grandkids

Here are the annual Kener grandkid pictures!!

Bear Lake 2009!

Well we finally made it up to the lake. After one month of rain, a wedding and a month full of birthdays, we finally packed up and took off to Bear Lake Idaho over the 24th. I love this lake because it is sandy beaches, warm blue water, and it is not a very far drive. Preston and Hannah took their cousins Jake and Mckell and we invited Amanda and her friend Cameron and his son Conner. We gave the kids their early Christmas present we bought from our friends that moved away. We bought the four wheeler to give to them for Christmas, but when the boat broke down 2 days before our trip, we decided to give them the four wheeler so they could ride it on the beaches up there. It was really fun...I love camping. I hope we are able to go at least one more time before school starts!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Chloe May

I can't beleive she is three already. She was so excited to turn three she asked every day when she woke up if she was three yet. Well now she is...and can't wait to be four. We had everyone over for dinner and swimming. I made her a Cinderella and Bell cake. She loves princesses so much right now I am just enjoying my girly girl.

Good Bye Kranz's

Our good friends and neighbors the Kranz's moved to Alaska last week. It was a sad day for our family. Especially Hannah and Madi. They became best friends in the short time they lived next door to us. It doesn't happen very often that you get neighbors that move in right next door that your WHOLE family gets along with so well. I even became very good friends with Leslie. We will miss you guys and can't wait until you get sick of Alaska and move back home!!

Our Professional Wedding Pictures

Here are our professionals FINALLY. Of our actual ceremony and everything else. We will pick our favorite and make announcements so everyone can have one.

Roman-Krauth Kids 2009

Hannah's Girls Scout Camp

Hannah got to go to camp with her best friend Madi this year. She got to ride horses and do a high wire zip line. When I picked her up this morning she told me that she can't live without girl scout camp. This was a special camp for her because Madi is moving to Alaska on Monday and they got to spend their last week together at camp. These are the pictures she took herself.

The Wedding and Honeymoon

Dan and Monica’s Wedding/Honeymoon
July 2nd 2009

On Wednesday July 1st Dan and I dropped the kids off at grandma and grandpa Kener’s then we were off to Estes Park, Colorado. We headed up Parley’s canyon in the mitsu when the water pump went out and we began to over heat. We both just laughed. We knew that we would have some sort of car troubles on this trip. It wouldn’t be a road trip without car problems. So we coast back down the mountain and get the jeep. We finally got out of town 11:00 a.m. a little behind schedule. And finally around 7:00 p.m. we arrive in Loveland Colorado. We pull into get gas for the first time since we left (feeling quite lucky as far as car problems go..and quite pleased with the fact that we got 21 miles to the gallon) and notice that the rear tire is almost flat and we are lucky we didn’t experience a blow out. We find a Big O near by and pull in. We were finding out on this trip that when people find out that you are eloping they tend to give you things for free. So with our free tire fix we stop for a quick dinner and finally head off to the River Song. We checked in a little late, but when we got to our cabin we were so glad to be there. Our bed was made of tree branches. We had a private deck just right off of our tub underneath the sky lights. The next day was wedding day. July 2nd 2009…we head to the main house for a wonderful breakfast (first of many yummy mornings) and then we head into town to obtain our marriage license. We were excited that we were getting a bargain at $10 for our license when they tell us it went up to $30 the day before. With only 1 hour before we are to meet the minister by the river, we rush back to get ready. Our flowers arrived and Monica kicked Dan out of the room to get ready. When we first saw each other as we walked to the river, I think we were both filled with emotion that we couldn’t describe. I also think there was a part of both of us that wished family was there to feel our love. But as we began the ceremony by the river, all that mattered is that we were together. The ceremony was beautiful and short. (I will send out a copy of it with our pictures). After we were married we headed back to our cabin, changed and took a picnic lunch up the mountain. After our hike we took a 2 hour nap (unheard of in our world)!! We had a five course candle light dinner in the inn that night. The next day we went shopping and lunch at the winery. A big rain storm hit while we were in the winery and we ended up spending the afternoon drinking wine and eating cheese. On the fourth we saw a car show and went hiking up the Rocky Mountains. Coming down the mountain..... of course more car trouble as the alternater went out on our way down the Rocky Mountains. HAHAHA!! I love our old cars!! It was a very relaxing and eventful week. I will do more of a summery and send it with our pictures we had taken as soon as they arrive. I just wanted everyone to know a little of our fairy tale weekend, up in the Estes Park mountains. We are now one!!!

Raging Waters Ducky Derby

On Thursday the Girl Scouts of Utah had a day at Raging waters to help raise money for girls who have a hard time paying for girl scouts activities. They did a ducky derby race down the lazy river. We didn't win anything but they day was relaxing and I was just happy the sun was out...well for most of the day. What a fun week this was!