crew 21 mnths & swim lessons

I was setting up for a shoot and Crew was playing around. he was so funny I could not resist taking a few shots.

Crew loved swimming lessons                                                               

Dance Update- sad to announce

sadley enough the girls have decided to switch dance studio's for the upcoming year. It is a bitter sweet decision on their part. Bitter because it is hard to leave a good friends studio that has taught them since they did their first duo at age 4.They have been very unhappy & wanted to quit dance do to older girls belittling comments to them. They asked if they could go to a studio where they have a few friends that dance.
Scott of course is liking the decision because it will save him a ton of money especially now that we had to pay for his dads entire funeral since his dad lost everything in he bad economy. So what is the sweet part you ask? I havn't seen my girls so excited about dance since they were 5 yrs. old. They love their summer class and have learned a lot of new things. I of course am extatic that for the first time since they were 7 they get Tumbling again. Kenzie about has her Ariel.In fact she does she just gets nervous.
I truly hope the girls have made a right decision.We will miss Alexis & her no doubt about it best cheoreography ever.But To see my girl this happy makes it worth it all. It will be good financially on us as well. They will finish with FCDA of a July performance. We do not know if we will stay at the new studio but they really want the chance for a change. And since it is not about what we want we have decided to let them make the decision.It has caused me much stress but they are like two girls taking dance for the first time again.

We will Miss you Alexis unless they decide to switch back.

my first 5k

So by now you all know I have lost 23 pounds on weight watchers. I still have more to loose but I just completed my first 5 k. I never thought I could do one. I  speed walked because of my knees. I did 3.1 miles in 40 minutes pushing Crew in a stroller. that was good for me. The whole family did it with me for support. MaKayla beat us all because she ran. She beat me by 5 minutes. And I beat Scott & McKenzie by 15 minutes. It was a good tension release for our family. After the past week.

richard funeral

Makayla with her cousin Tyson                                                                                   

In loving memory

My Sweet father in law past away today. There has been many tears for many days at our house ,and at the hospital. Saturday night my entire family had a sleepover in his room and were able to spend his last moments here on Earth with him, Even though he was not responsive. It has been so tough on my poor sweet husband who was as close to his dad as any son can be. Poor McKenzie cryed constantly, So much that she cryed herself to sleep holding his hand. It was hard to see him so weak and frail. At about 3:00 this afternoon the hospice told us what we already knew, The oxygen was no longer doing any good and it was time to let him go. I exited my girls out of the room, they proceeded to turn off the oxygen, within one minute he was gone.

He is not gone forever. He is in our hearts and we will see him someday again. Right now he is having a happy reunion with the loved ones he has lost and the Heavens are rejoicing to have such a great man back with them again.We love you Richard and will miss you dearly till we meet again.

very sad news

We just found out that Scott's Dad Richard has days if not a few weeks to live. he has emphazima very bad in his lungs. Scott is very upset as expected as well as the rest of the family. Please keep them in your prayers. Richard we love you and will miss you dearly.I am still hoping for a miracle but they say not happening.
We also found out yesterday that Crew will most likely need surgery as he has a Hurnia ( Not sure if that is how you spell it.) right above his belly button. It is big and we are seeing a surgeon on Thursday.

Yard & Bake sale this friday & Saturday

we are having a yard/bake sale this Friday from 3:30-7 and  Sat. (weather permitting) from 8- 3) the kids are doing the bake sale to earn money fro an upcoming trip so please come support them. they have yummy stuff, Chocolate chip cookies, Peanut butter cookies, brownies, popcorn, Mini chocolate cakes decorated by MaKayla and bananna bread, plus drinks.
We have a ton of baby stuff boy & girl as well as older girl clothing, changing table, high chair, toy packs, games, snowmobile,digital scrapbook stuff and more.
We hope you will stop by!

mommy daughter date & my poor father in law

So it has been a busy week as usual. Always so much going on,so many places to go, so much work to do, But after getting a letter on my bed from MaKayla asking when we could do a mommy daughter date with just me & her, I decided it was time to slow down and take a moment to spend with her. I planned on just the two of us and McKenzie didn't like the fact that she didnt go first, so what did we do? Well the whole family went to  Sub Zero Ice-cream (Highly reccomend it) and MaKayla & I sat at a table way away from everyone else. Yes there were the occasional screams of Crew saying MAAA...MAAA. I would have to wave and re assure him i was still there.
MaKayla & I had a lovely chat about life, boys (yes she has a boyfriend and I'm not sure how I feel about that), and how she thinks things are running around the house. The best thing about doing it this way was after about 15 minutes we switched and I got to talk with McKenzie. It was a fun little event.
 On a sadder note. my father in law has been in the hospital for a few days now and it is not looking good. There has been many tears shed at our house. So please keep him and Scott in your prayers becuase Scott is having a rough time. It started with him falling and breaking his hip, sugery, than he fell and broke his ribs, than he had a stomache infection and refused to go to the hospital, that is until Scott & his brother forced him. They have found a growth in his stomache. he has gone dilirious from meds adn low sodium. We just hope all will work out according to the Lords plan and everyone will be able to accept whatever comes next for Richard, we love you dad and hope you will get better soon.

the million dollar mom {mother's day}

So I am always telling Scott that he should pay me a million dollars for all I do around the house. Especially if he ever brings up that he pays for the house. This mother's day he was really thoughtful. I have been wanting some of these pine trees for photography props for my woodland & fairy scenes, so he got me some. When he told the lady he was giving me these for Mothers day and making a money tree out of it she sent him with one Mothers day money bill. he took them and had them printed off and they all hung them with real money from the trees. It was darling. I got beautiful homemade cards and pinecones as accents.
 Than after church we had our traditional extended family mothers day meal at Golden Corral.

And Happy Mother's dat to my own mom who taught me how to be one!I love you mom, love, Danielle

weight watchers my new best friend

So I went from being a blogging fanatic to once every two weeks post person.But it doesnt look like I have too many readers anymore anyway.lol. I am just loving weight watchers after 15 weeks I have lost 21 pounds and finally know how to eat. Was i ever a huge over eater? I do not think so.Did I eat lots of sweets? Not really they werent my weekness. but I was eating too much of the wrong things.
I acually know how to order out now. that is a first for me. i know how to be strong at family parties without feeling deprived.I feel all around better about the choices I make and me as a person. i am so glad I joined and cant wait to be a lifetime member.
Ill post pictures of me when I have time. Silly isn't it, here I am a photographer but cant find the time to take a pic of me. Soon I promise, really soon.

GIRLS MICHAEL JACKSON DUO

o.k it isnt the best video job that is for sure, I was trying to watch them and video at the same time so you might get dizzy. but here is the girls mj duo. They did awesome excuse the crazy woman screaming in the background..what a nerd!If you want to see pictures from our trip visit our facebook page.

some new pics of girls

here are a few pics of the girls taken at a recent senior session I was doing up at the castle.

MaKayla

McKenzie

dance competition

I was so proud of my girls. They danced so great this weekend at competition. They got a high Gold with a score of 96. They were so in sync it was scary.They did a duo to none other than their favorite singer Michael Jackson.

the worm. (I taught them that one!)

the girls best friends Jesslyn & Holly and even their school teacher Mrs. goold and her husband came to support them.

The bad wife

I feel so bad. Monday was my 13 wedding anniversary and I didn't get Scott a single thing. I thought about it. I knew I didn't have money so I was going to make a card and didn't get around to it. Not to mention Monday was a horrible day for me so my thoughts were pre occupied. He came home that morning with some flowers (soaking in a mcdonalds cup i might add) that was funny.It was very thoughtful.
Well Scott I do love & Appreciate you and though I did not get you anything you are always on my mind, in my prayers and in my heart. happy anniversary,

Love, Danielle

girls dance pics

I recently did Pictures for several dance studios..one being Front & Center where my girls dance. here are a couple of the girls pictures from dance. Their duo this year is to a Michael Jackson medly (since they are so obsessed)

MaKayla

McKenzie

fantastic giveaway blog

I have a friend who has a very successful give-away blog. I have even given away photoshoots and Digital scrapbooking kits. She is opening up her own boutiqe and is giving away gift certificates. if you go here http://www.dangginagives.blogspot.com/  leave a comment and make sure you say Danielle Christiansen sent you so i can have an extra entry.
Also if you want to host a giveaway mention I sent you to host one as well.

http://www.dangginagives.blogspot.com/

Valentine's Day at the Christiansen house

I have always tried to make Valentines day a special time for my family. Since we didn't have a lot of time or money this year, I had to think of something I could do fast. We had early morning church at 9:00 a.m and I am not a morning person. For Scott, since he works nights I put a heart on the outside door saying you will find the reasons I love you inside. I then put hearts up all around the house with different reasons why I loved him.

For the girls and Crew I put special heart name plates on their chairs.I had hearts laying all around the table, poored them there favorite colorful cereal (fruit Loops) And instead of milk I did strawberry milk. Then I made heart shaped toast with jam. Crew loves dryed yogurt chips and m&ms so I lined them in a heart shape on his high chair to eat. (don't worry he had a nutritous breakfast too)

I always give them a little something on the couch too. I gave the girls heart necklaces to wear at school that i got at a boutique, but still had a book I made them all about their 4th grade ski trip,some candy and personalized pen. Crew got the tiger below,He was loving it at the store a few weeks earlier. Scott got some reese's peanut butter cups,his favorite. The girls made us darling v-day cards too.

Then I took a short nap while crew was napping after church and woke up to this on my wall.(courtesy of M&M)

They had streamers hanging from everywhere. They also hung little v-day hearts everywhere with candy heart sayings on them.

All in all it was a fun day for us as a family. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love them dearly. I also love all my friends, thank you for being my friend!