Day 23 -Days I have missed

Day 23
Weds. January 26, 2011

Way to long since I have wrote. I have really fallen in love with journaling everyday. I feel incomplete when I don't get to. I am spending way to much time being tired. So many great things and some really not so great things. We had such a fun time at Disney land. I loved, loved Disney Adventure park.
Real quick I have to journal some funny coments from the boys. I just got back from a walk and found Caleb on the swing on the beach. He was wiping off a cookie. He said, "I dropped my cookie". I said," Caleb why are you eating a cookie"? And he said," I have my vitamin". I asked him,"why are you eating a cookie before breakfast?" he said," I will eat my vitamin first then I will eat my cookie". I said,"don't you think you should eat your breakfast first"? He said ,"no I don't care". Now as I am writing this he has grabbed some of my strawberry salad and is eating that. He is so my son.

Another funny comment was from Carston. Corey was driving this beast of a bus. Corey made a comment to Carston. Carston responded to Corey by saying, "you have turned into such a Diva since we have been on this trip".
I was really sick of living in a R.V. yesterday. I got so spoiled staying at the Anderson's house that it took courage to get back on the R.V. I think it was more the feeling of being taken care of. I didn't have to cook or clean for days. It was so nice to get a break, it was a reality check to get back into being the mom.
After we left the Anderson's I went to the 99 cent store. I got some food and supplies. When I was checking out the checker and I were talking. Let me give you a visual of her. She was black and had a cute short haircut looked like she was in pretty good shape. She was a grandma and didn't look like one. I was telling her what we were doing and about my family. She had been raised in a family of 14. She said she only wanted one child after being raised in a big family. She also said," if she knew what she knew now she would have never had any kids". She said," It's way to hard to have kids grow up in this world. It seemed like she had lived a hard life or was a born pessismist or possibly both. Or became a pessimist after living a hard life. I told her how tired I was from doing 2 days a Disney. I said," I just don't have it in me any more". She said," ya you do, you just need to excercise( How does she know that I don't excercise it couldn't be because I'm a great amount of lbs overweight). She said" that I shouldn't let myself go when I'm a mom". I oddly enough appreciated her straight shooting. I liked how she was so honest. I have thought a lot about what she has said. I knew she was right on. She was genuine and real. Her words have had a great effect on me. Hopefully enough to take better care of myself and to stop with the excuses.

We stayed the night at a beach parking lot. I really hate dry camping. I thought I was made to just live one minute at a time. But I'm not sure if I am. I miss my bath tub. I love having unlimited amounts of hot water. A washer and dryer to choose not to wash my clothes if I want to. I also like knowing where my home is. We are in between worlds. The world of being on vacation and the world of school, bills and being self disciplined. The lines are very fine. I know I will get the system down. Probably the last week of our journey.
We are having many great moments also. I just am in a down swing right now. Catch me a little later on the up swing.

Live Life.... Now

This post is from Corey and it is really good.
I am so glad that Colton and Corey are writing. I hope to get the others to write also

As often happens, last night when I was exiting this monstrosity with a family album on the side(sometimes I feel like I'm driving a scrapbook on wheels) and walking into a Walmart for more toilet paper and to stand and stare at the hard liquor section and wonder if it could really make it all better, I struck up a conversation with a guy who obviously saw me leave the RV. After a quick explanation of our adventure, as usual I got the bewildered and confused look....eyes glaze over, stupor of thought, and slurred speech, as he began to process what it must be like to wad 7 people into roughly 240 square feet for 6 months, sometimes I just want to hold them close and whisper in their ear..... buddy you got know idea!!! And then the response which inevitably always comes..... " I've always wanted to do that" or "someday I want to do that" or " when I retire" , without fail 99.99% of the people I have talked to and its been quite a few have thought, dreamed or talked about this vary adventure.

Probably, the biggest eye opener was back in Boise before we left. I had bought some sapling trees off Craigslist from a family and had taken the boys over to pick them up. I commented to the lady that she had 2 handsome young boys and she responded that she actually had three, they had lost one several years before to a terrible sickness. Not wanting to elaborate she quickly turned the attention to me asking me about my family. I told her we wanted to plant these trees now so they would start growing in the spring as we wouldn't' be here to plant them. She asked why not and I told her of our impending adventure. Her eyes moistened and you could tell she was reaching deep into her memory, "I would give anything if I could turn back time and take my boys.....all my boys on a trip like that". A flood of emotion overcame both of us, and I thanked her for her soft heart and honest response and as we left I quietly thanked the Lord for each member of my family. As I have pondered this experience and the many others that I have had along this trip thus far, I ask myself how many times have I responded with a, "If only I could" or "when the time is right", " what if it doesn't work out", " I shouldn't", " what will people think", " people my age don't do that" and a plethora of other fear laden responses. How many experiences have I robbed myself of because I lived in the comfortable confines of my safe world? How many times did I not wear that shirt in my closet because I was waiting for a perfect day or event to wear it to? How many times have I pushed a dream or great idea aside because of a comment or sarcastic remark from another "friend", how many times have a I said, I'll do that when I have more time, money, flexibility. I am beginning to realize that that day that I'm waiting for is now and that if I wait I may never have that opportunity or day again. By stepping out of the comfortable confines of our home,family,friends,schools and leaving behind many other things that we just "couldn't live without"... our family has been blessed with so many experiences that we may not of otherwise had. I thank Heavenly Father for a wife that has wisdom beyond her years and moves forward with faith and certainty. I'm grateful for wonderful boys that fill my life with excitement and keep me young and I'm grateful for a little girl that showers me with love and has blessed me in more ways than she will ever know.

Day 21 Disneyland

Day 21
Monday January 24, 2011

Day 21 Disneyland!!!!!



Well it me again Colton and we just had a great day! Disneyland is awesome we got super early and had the most important meal of the day breakfast. We had the famous banana pancakes they were very tasty with some whip cream it was soooo good! Well our great day was just beginning we got all of our stuff packed up to go then we said thanks and goodbyes then we set off. It didn't take long to get there probly twenty minutes or so but that didn't count for trying to find a parking spot finally we found one. Then we took a bus into the park the bus driver Jamal was so cool we sang songs all the way there. We were having so much fun and we haven't even got into the park yet! We finally got through all of the security and the ticket place then the real fun began. We thought there was not gonna be too many people but there was tons of people! First we went to toon town and went to see Mickey mouse and Goofy. Then we went to the Amazon Safari it was pretty fun, but after that was the highlight of the day the Indiana Jones Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride was soooo exciting! Its got the big boulder and everything I thought it was gonna crush us like a bug! It was such a fun ride! Unless you don't like snakes then it wouldn't of been such a fun ride. While my dad, brothers, and I were riding the ride my mom met some people who did the same exact thing that we did how crazy is that! While they were talking my brothers and I went in the Tarzan Tree house it was pretty cool. Later we went to New Orleans square and rode the pirates of the Caribbean ride it was so cool I don't know how they do all of that stuff its like your really there! Well once the ride was done some of us were tired so we washed our hands and we had some lunch. My brothers wanted to take my mom on the Indiana Jones ride so we got a fast pass that took us to the front of the line worked out pretty well. We all loved it even the second time around when we got out of that ride we went over to the haunted mansion to meet some ghosts and ghouls who were dying to meet us. We waited in line for fifteen minutes then some guy came and told us that we had to leave cause there was some technical difficulties. My mom said "this is such Wallie World!" Well after that we went to Tomorrow land we went on the bus light year ride it was pretty fun. Once we got out Codey, Carston, and Caleb heard about the Jedi Academy they ran there! It was were you got to learn how to fight like a Jedi they got to battle Darth Vader it looked like they really enjoyed it. Well I got to say I enjoyed watching them. When that's was finished we went to the nemo ride that was right next to the Jedi Academy. It was were you went in a submarine and you would try and find Nemo Addie Really enjoyed it! The night wasn't up yet after the nemo ride we went to the Matterhorn it was soooo fast that it was the kinda ride that wanted you to lay down on your seat! It was wicked Fast! Once we made sure we had all of our organs we slowly made our way back to the spot we left our stroller at. When it was about an hour away from closing time my mom wanted us to go see captain EO and after watching it I think Micheal Jackson would be great on high school musical. Well we left and headed back for the old rig we went to an RV park and got some pizza it was a day to remember folks. I think Disneyland's motto should be were memories are made. Well Today was awesome and Grandma if your reading this Happy Birthday Love ya from the Christensen Family

The church flourishes in Disneyland in this picture Caleb recieves a welcome blessing from Goofy

Day 20 Day of Rest

Sunday January 23, 2011
Day 20 the day of rest

Well surprise it's me again I don't know if I like blogging or if I just like typing either way I'm enjoy in it. So I don't know about you but Sunday is one of my favorite days sometimes I like getting home from church and throw the football or read a book and sometimes I like to just lay on the grass in the evening. Well life was still good we got up around eight the first thing I smelt was the smell of bacon that's better than any alarm clock in the world! We went down stairs to our surprise there was bacon and eggs its was delicious as always. For the rest of the afternoon we didn't do much Cody and I threw the football my mom got Addie Bathed and did laundry, Caleb and Carston rode bikes and I'm not quite sure what my dad did. So for the rest of the morning we just layed low until we had to leave for church. When we got to the building there was no parking spots and just our luck some lady had a stroke so we were blocking the ambulance from getting through. So my dad finally parked it in a spot that said no commercial vehicles that was smart lucky we weren't towed! Church was awesome everyone was so nice and made us feel welcome. When we went home we had some amazing burritos for dinner. When dinner was over it was already dark outside funny how time flies. The rest of the night we got ready for Disneyland. We all can't wait it's gonna be awesome!

Day 19
Saturday January 22, 2011
Doing Alot While Doing Nothing




Hey everyone guess who it is yes its me again. The blog is so fun I thought I would do it for a couple more nights but don't worry my mom will be back in the swing of things as soon as she gets a some sleep. Well we didn't do much Saturday but we did a lot I know that doesn't make alot of sense well never mind. So we got up to the best french toast I have ever eaten it was awesome I probly had well lets just say an unhealthy amount of french toast. After the breakfast of the century we left to go do some stuff. My dad dropped my mom, and all of the guys off at Walmart to get clothes, food, and other junk like that, my dad and Addie took the RV to a garage were they got the alignment fixed. Shopping with my mom took forever we walked all over looking for stores and it was only 80 degrees out but it felt like it was 120! We finally got all of our stuff done. That night we had home maid hamburgers they were delicious and I also had a snickers bar but don't tell my mom. We stayed up pretty late but we had one o' clock church the next day so it didn't hurt us. Well I can't tell ya how happy I am to stay in a bed that doesn't fold up I know it sounds strange but on this trip I have learned to be thankful for the small things. Like showers, my own bed, and even sometimes school. If I have learned anything on this trips it's that you can't drive a 34 foot RV down the middle of San Francisco and to be grateful for what you have.

Day 18 - In and out Burger

Day 18- In and Out Burger

Friday January 21 2011



Hi everyone this is Colton, my mom is a little tired so I thought I would do the blog today. California is awesome! They have In n out burger, three pro football teams, the ocean, and plenty of happy joyful people. Well Friday morning was a get to LA day so we didn't do much. My dad was getting annoyed by a shaking noise, well actually I should say the shaking RV that would make a shaking noise while we would drive. I think it was because we hit a big curb back in Medford Oregon at about two o'clock in the morning driving to California. I swear everyone rose at least a foot when it hit I'm surprised no one woke up. He had been calling experts on this subject all week and they assumed that it was the tires so as soon as we got out of the best RV park that I have ever stayed at, we drove to one of those stores were you donate clothes and all the stuff you buy there is super cheap and it has already been used well whatever. They had a box of fake IDs and I was thinking about getting one that's name was James Eugene Carey(Jim Carey).Well anyway we bought some stuff there. The T shirts that say "oh back in 80's if coach would of put me in in the fourth quarter we would of won state", tank tops, shorts, and all that mumbo jumbo. Well after that we drove to Wayne's tires which was a complete waste of time cause my dad being the great RV expert he is thought that it was the alignment that was the problem and it turned out that it was. So after that we went to In N out Burger I tell ya that place is a step away from heaven. I could of ate in it all day long. It was amazing! Then it was the long car ride, it wasn't too bad but the traffic was a little stressful for my dad while my mom was loving being apart of the LA experience. We got to the Anderson's in Lake Forest. They are my Uncle Eric who is my Aunt Heathers husbands mom and dad. They are so nice to let us stay with them. I can't tell ya how happy I was to see carpet. It sounds weird but I almost cried I was so happy, but I wasn't the only person happy Addy went straight to the stairs I think she forgot how fun it was to climb the stairs. We all needed to stay in a house for a few days if we are planning on going for six months. well who knows what tomorrow will bring crying, laughing, and probably some more memories.

Pictures will be posted soon

Day 17- Monarch farm

Day 17

Thursday Jan. 20 2011

Monarch farm- Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly!

We are really having a hard time getting anywhere before 12:00 in the afternoon. After a rather long morning we finally went down to the beach to watch a rocket. We had one of our fellow R.V. neighbors come and let us know about it. Here is some info she gave us about it.

It was a 23 story rocket, 9 million pounds tallest ever to launch from the base, carrying a top-secret spy satellite for U.S. govt. capable of snapping pictures so detailed it can distinguish the make and model of automobiles thousands of miles below. At 325 feet tall, it's so large that base officials have studied whether the thunderous blast off will shatter windows nearby.

You can see a picture of it at this address- www.sanluisobisbo.com/2011/01/19/1449826/vandenberg-launch-spy-satellite.html

After we got done watching that we decided to go to the monarch farm. It was so neat! It was very peaceful and intriguing. I took a picture of this sign at the beginning of the path. I felt it was speaking to me. Carston already has this down. On the way to the farm he went as slow as a snail. He is my free spirit. He never wears shoes and just marches to the beat of his own drum. If there is something to climb on instead of walking he will do it. If there is something to see on the way he is going to see it. He is always the one who is bringing me flowers. I hope I spend more time appreciating his differences instead of being irritated with him. He has been the one I have nagged the most because I swear he doesn't hear me. I really am grateful for the opportunity to see him in a different light yesterday.

After we walked the path we had a gentlemen tell us about the monarchs. It was our science for the day.

I asked him why he spends his time volunteering at the monarch farm. He said" they are not controversial and everyone loves butterflies". I also asked him what was his favorite thing about the monarch? And he said" it is amazing to me that they can wake up in Washington and instinctively know that they need to get to Pismo beach".

My thought was after he taught us all about them was how can anyone ? a God. The details are unbelievable. Two things I remember the most from what he taught us was. They have brought monarchs from a different location and they don't try and get back to where they came from. As he put it they find there friends and just go with the flow. He also told me that the newborn Caterpillar will eat 2700 x it's weight in milkweed. If you were to relate that to a newborn child and the newborn child ate 2700 x its weight it would be the size of a whale in 2 weeks.

Thank goodness that's not the case. Although I would have been super skinny if Addy ate that much from me in her first 2 weeks.

We finished up with the monarch farm and wondered back over to the beach. The boys had a rematch football game. They used sticks to make a field in the sand. It was the Bandits against the Eagles. Me and Addy watched. She was not content to stay on the sidelines she needed to be right smack down in the middle of the field.

I left with Addy before the game was over with Carston and took her back to the R.V. (home).

I got her cleaned up and fed her. After everybody came back we all just relaxed for a bit. Then Corey and Colton rode there bikes to get pizza and a movie. The boys watched a movie and had pizza while me and Corey had our first date. We walked to town and had fish and chips at a little cafe. Talked about how we think things are going. Then we walked over and got an ice cream.

After we got back we watched the movie with the boys and I fell a sleep. I went to go to bed and Addy girl decided to wake up. Eventually I had to make her something to eat. She ate then went back to bed. I had high hopes of going to bed early and getting up early. Never should have made that goal. It seems whenever I say I'm going to bed early is when something always comes and stops me.

A little report on the boys. I think they are having a good experience. Colton did tell me that the R.V. was a nut house and he wants to go home. Carston said he had a dream that his best friends forgot him and he wants to go home.

I can't forget our little morning fight. Carston and Caleb had a fight. We then had our morning message on about being brothers. I shared with them a story that my sister told me about the night before.The story is about 2 brothers who were in the Australian flood. When they were being rescued the older brother gave the rope to his little brother and he lost his life soon after.

It is such an inspiring story. The boys name is Jordan Rice. Google the story if you haven't heard about it already. Today we are off to L.A. I am so ready to get going. As much as we needed the traveling break I felt ready to go about 2 days into our stay. I am glad to move on. This place was really nice to catch our breath in. Now we are headed to Disney Land.