Arizona Bound

 Look who tagged along for our cross country trip:)

Skittles didn't want to miss out on all the fun at Grandmas, I guess!

He did get a bit lazy and forgot to move most nights--but hey--he was there!

 This was a LOOOONG drive.  The boys were great--but I think we should fly next time!  I always say that and then when the time comes and I see the cost of 7 cross country flights, I change my mind. Haha. 

 

What a huge transition the Southwest is from the Southeast!

It is crazy!

 

We arrived Saturday afternoon and after unpacking we went for a nice long walk in Grandma's neighborhood  to stretch our legs after that marathon drive:)

Arizona is amazing in the wintertime!  I LOVE it!

 

Then we headed for a fun family dinner at Brio in 'Scottsdale Quarter'

It was so dun to be all together again!!

 

 After dinner we did a little shopping and had plenty of entertainment thanks to all the cute cousins!

Let me tell you ...there is never a dull a moment with this group!

 

 

I could tell right away that this was going to be an unforgettable Big Family Christmas--in Chevy Chase Style!

Road Tripping 2012

We hit the road yesterday headed to Boston for a family reunion! I even remembered to pack our traditional Christensen family road trip CD, including hits like 'Hit the Road Jack' , 'On the Road Again', 'Drive', 'Another One Bites the Dust' , ' with a few patriotic ones thrown in like 'Proud To Be An American' just for the 4th of July:) My boys all groan when I whip it out but they can't fool me... I know they secretly love it as they happily sing along!

Crank it up, I say!

Next time I'm adding 'Dixie Land Delight'! Just to remind them of home! Making memories... I tell you!

Since today is Coleman's 10th Birthday we started the day off with a fabulous Denny's Breakfast in Allenstown, Pennsylvania!

After a night all squished into the LAST room at the nearby Courtyard Marriott. It was cozy:) and let me tell you we were lucky to find that one, I think Brad tried for an hour to find a room somewhere enroute!

It was fun to have my birthday boy sleeping so close-- at 5am he woke up and whispered to me "Is it my birthday now Mom?"

It was a treat to the first person to give birthday wishes. I whispered to him how much I love him and will never forget the happy day he was born as he drfted back to sleep. I layed there all snug with my boys feeling so blessed!

We are doing our best to make being stuck in the car for 5 hours on your birthday fun:) Now he is riding shotgun and opening a little gift each hour of today's trek. So far a DS Brain teaser game and neon gummy worms. This evening we will be with lots of family to help us celebrate this boy!

I will leave you with a shot of our current location:

Due to not paying our trusty Tom Tom enough attention (oops) we missed a turn and ended up experiencing some big city traffic and toll booths. We are on the George Washington Bridge crossing the Hudson River right now. I am a excited thinking 'That is New York City ' right there and even a little tempted to stop and check it out-- but the big NYC will have to wait, we have sweet little cousins waiting!

It is Boston or Bust for this crew!

He's fan of...

As you know, our Connor is a BIG fan of wrestling.

He was so excited for the NCAA National Wrestling Championship this last weekend.

He had all of his brackets filled out and had asked if we could upgrade our Dish programming to ensure that  he could watch it.

Well, his Dad who may not be a big fan of Wrestling (not much experience or knowledge of the sport--but he is learning:) -- is a HUGE fan of Connor, so he decided to take him to St Louis for the big event! 

You can imagine how thrilled Connor was!  And Brad was equally thrilled to get one-on-one time with his oldest!

They had a great time and loved every minute! 

And I loved thinking of them together all weekend knowing that this trip will be a  very fun memory they will both cherish:) 

St Louis or bust!

Sweet New Orleans Weekend and some housekeeping!

Although our beloved Cougars did not advance to the Elite Eight(darn it) the boys enjoyed the Sweet 16 experience tremendously!

Some of the highlights were: being interviewed on the Doug Wright Radio Show on their way to the game (thanks to a Melandboys reader MaryAnn:), being interviewed/ photographed with their awesome sign by several reporters before the game started, chatting with Al and TJ Fredette (Jimmer's family) while waiting in line picking up their tickets, slapping Jimmer's hand as he left at halftime, cheering until they were hoarse at all 3 March Madness games in New Orleans:), and downing some powder sugared ' biegnets' in the famous Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter. They also enjoyed pizza, swimming, and just hanging out together in the Big Easy!

We were heart broken with the lose but we still LOVE our Cougars and can't wait to see Jimmer in the NBA next year! Thanks for a great season guys!

(Big smiles after beating Gonzaga)

And did you notice that I am working on some tabs up top? They are not done yet, but I am excited about doing a little" housekeeping" and getting organized here at Melandboys:) Stay tuned!

Have a wonderful week!

Sweet 16 or Bust!

Last night Brad and Coleman broke the good news to Connor and TJ (who had no idea what was going on). I felt like we were part of one of those Disney commercials! It was so fun!

You have to know that these boys of mine are SERIOUS BYU fans, so this is like a dream come true! They were beside themselves excited!!

The spent the next hour singing the *Jimmer song (*see the bottom of this post), cracking jokes and coming up with a TV worthy poster for the game....so look for this on your screens tonight:)

Bright and Early this morning---

New Orleans here we come!

Yes, we have a bad case of the Jimmers!!

GO BYU COUGARS!!

St.Louis

On our big{crazy} cross country roadtrip home from Utah, we spent a little time in the very cool city of St. Louis.

We rolled in just before sunset, with enough light to dip our toes into the great (and overflowing) Mississippi River while we waited on a table for 7 at the Old Spaghetti Factory in cobblestoned 'old town' St. Louis.

After a warm (and non fast food dinner we checked into the Hilton, right across the street from the Busch Stadium.

Since we got in after dark, the boys were delighted with the view from our room in the morning. They were all wishing there was a game that day we could go to.

Before resuming our loooong drive we went to check out the "Gateway to the West"

My Stairsteps...so happy to be all lined up for Mom.

We enjoyed the museum...sort of--I mean, I did, but the boys were only really interested in getting to the top..oh that and buying candy from the gift shop:)

We finally bought our tickets and waited our turn to step into these tiny little tram cars that slowly carry you up the inside of the arch.

Then you walk the last few steps to peer out of rows of tiny windows on the very center and tippy top of the Arch.
What a crazy {freaky} view that was!

See that...630 feet, yikes!

We all agreed that this was a very cool city and we would love to spend more time there some day...but Tennessee was calling us home!

I think this shot was somewhere in Nebraska--let me tell you --that state NEVER ends!

It was a LONG drive home, but we made it! Phew!

Happy to be Here

So happy to be with our Grandpa (Grandma is in China but will be back tomorrow) ...

after lots of this...

and this...

and even a little of this..

we made it safely to Utah!

The boys all cheered when they saw the "Welcome to Utah" sign.

We are happy to be here!

On the Road Again

Road trip 2010

A three day trek across the country from Tennessee to Utah.

I am typing from a Fairfield Inn somewhere in Nebraska while my little boys watch Disney, my big boys are still asleep in their own room and Brad is in the exercise room. He started his training for a Half Marathon he is running this Fall. Pretty soon the 7 of us will descend upon the breakfast area and then hit the road again for our final leg! We will be at Grandma's and Grandpas tonight!!

Some of our highlights from "ROAD TRIP 2010" so far:

Listening to our road trip CD--songs included "Hit the Road Jack", "On the Road Again", "Another one Bites the Dust"

Ice cream cones and Redbox rentals at McDonalds

Car Bingo (from here, laminated and using washable markers)

Looking for license plates (Dad pays $2 for Alaska spotting, and $5 for Hawaii)

5 Ipods, 1 DS, and lots of books, Sports Illustarteds and Friends being circulated

and the BEST accommodations on the first night at our timeshare in

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri...

what a BEAUTIFUL view of the lake off our back deck...

and our own personal hot tub to enjoy under the stars!

(by the way--Cannon was not in trouble--he was crying because he is mad that the "pool" is so hot!)

We have all decided that we are definitely going back there for a vacation!

It has been fun so far and the boys have been really great, but I am so happy that we are almost done!! I have been reading "The Lost Symbol". Have you read that? What did you think? I am sure I will finish it today on our last leg. Last leg--yeah!

(Sorry about no menu monday again--it will be back again someday!)