Amara turns 9!

 This year, we were in between family reunions on the Wasatch Front when Amara's birthday came around.  She had lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents around for her birthday, and she chose to celebrate it at the Spanish Fork splashpad/ park next to Costco.  We had a ton of fun with all the family that came to celebrate with her!

After everyone played around for awhile, we took a break in the shade of the pavilion and had a picnic of Aunty Mandy's fluff (by Amara's request), Aunty April's chocolate chip cookies (Amara's other request), green salad, macaroni salad, mini hoagies, Costco pizza, rootbeer, and chips.

Then, Amara opened all her fun gifts.

Amara had picked out party favors that she was excited about.  They are the ones that you blow into a little tube and the rolled up paper that is attached at the end unrolls and makes a little crumpled noise.  Is there an official name for what those favors are?  I remember loving them as a kid!

Amara picked out a very special vanilla-mousse filled white bar cake with berries and glaze on top with whip cream frosting.

 Some people ate cake, and then visited and played a little longer before we packed up the party.

 The day didn't end there, though.  We went to a favorite movie house of ours in Pleasant Grove called the Water Gardens, and watched "The BFG" (based on the book by Roald Dahl), and some of our cousins on the Christensen side joined us.

 We went to Grandma Christensen's house after the movie for a few moments and the cousins got together for a drawing fest.

 And we ended the day by taking Amara to the restaurant she chose- Tempanyaki.  She had heard me talking about it one day and how fun it was to watch your food being cooked right at your table by food ninjas.  She wanted to see it for herself.

 Steve didn't order anything.  Amara got noodles, Lily and I got the Chicken teriyaki and veggies.  It was a very yummy and entertaining way to end her special day!

We love you, Amara!  Happy Birthday!

A Little Blip About 9-year-old Amara

Foods she likes: Alfredo pasta, Ramen, Lo Mein noodles, rolls, salted french fries, oatmeal, marshmallows, basically all white food, and Reese's Puff cereal, and desserts and treats of all kinds. She does like cooked salted broccoli as well.

Foods she dislikes: mashed potatoes, deer venison (she did try one bite), cooked cauliflower, potatoes, cooked mushrooms, black pepper, onions, ham, anything that has visible fat, skin, or chewy pieces, and almost anything we are having for dinner on any given night.

Things she likes to do: playing piano, running outside with friends, drawing, movie nighs, tending animals, horseback riding, creating programs on scratch, sledding, putting on plays, gardening, reading books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Hank the Cowdog, Fairy Godmother Academy, Spiderwick Chronicles.

Christensen Summer Reunion

The Christensen Family reunion was held this year around the Pioneer Day holiday in July.  We went up American Fork canyon for camping at Granite Flats, and we also spent time together at a large basement rental in Highland.  

Our family went on a hike with Bev near her home in Herriman before the official reunion started, and we enjoyed getting to see some pretty cool bugs.  Steve got some nice shots with his fancy camera.

This is a hummingbird moth.

Big family gatherings at a church are always a good time.  We eat, play games, visit, run around the gym, etc..  This time we played some volleyball, which was fun. 

The large basement rental was a great gathering spot.  It was really open so everyone could fit in one room and be together.  There were also 2 bedrooms which were for Doralee and her hubby Steve, and Stephen and I.  Our kids camped out on the couches in the living room.  Other families stayed at Steve's parents house and Beverli's house.  I can't remember if anyone stayed with Laurel's family or not.  This rental was pretty centrally situated to everyone, which was nice.

Tim giving his gorgeous grin

A few families stayed at Granite Flats to camp.  It was a really beautiful location.  We stayed at a group site and there was lots of room to roam.  I didn't have my phone charged to take pictures, so you get whatever pics Steve took with his camera.  He captured a lot of scenery and wildlife.  If I were taking pictures, I'm sure there would be many more pictures of the food and family and the activities we did, but that's okay.  Steve's pics show the beauty we were among and his perspective shows just how much he admires nature.

Amara navigating the tree roots... in her Sunday shoes!  That girl and her Sunday shoes!  She has to wear them everywhere, and if I don't specifically tell her to put her tennis shoes on, she slips those ones on and is off playing in the dirt and mud.

View from the campsite's fire pit.

Big Family Pic

Here's the cousins that were there.

Matt and Steve's dad relaxing on a picnic bench.

Hannah was constantly cold, and her dog Gus helped her stay a little warmer. :)

Amara was busy making pinecone critters.

A pretty stream ran through the campground.

For some reason I don't think we got any pictures of the hike to Timpanogos Caves.  That was an adventure and our family all was able to make it to the top.  Amara didn't like the heights and the cliffs.  I didn't like the afternoon sunshine, but it was a spectacular view and lots of good exercise.  The cave tour was pretty and felt like being in a refrigerator, both because it was cold and it was tight in some spaces.  I tried not to touch the cave walls, but in some places, my body couldn't help it.

Some went on another hike the next day, but I just relaxed in the shade by the low reservoir with a few others.

We stopped by Ryan and Laurel's house after the campout and got to see their huge sunflower plants.

We also ate at Pizza Pie Cafe and they had free facepainting that night.

One Sunday we had dinner all together at the rental in Highland, and a few of the adults decided to go on a walk to the park, which turned into a tree climbing adventure and see-saw battle.  It was so fun.  I don't remember the last time I had that much fun!

Too bad I don't have any video of the see-saw battle, but if you follow Elinn on instagram, she posted it there.