Monthly Archives: July 2007

Today was “Olivia Day”–Wyatt and I took her on one last outing before the baby arrives. We took her to Wheeler Farm. She loved to see all the animals, especially the horse. She squealed with delight when we came around the corner and there stood a big chestnut gelding. She fed the ducks and geese and daddy lowered her into the pig pen so the little piglets could come and inspect her. We had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the afternoon, just mommy & daddy and little Olivia.

Later that afternoon . . . Wyatt was sitting in Olivia’s chair while O was playing. Then Wyatt got up and left, and O went over and climbed up into her chair, as if she had been waiting for Wyatt to leave. I said to her “Is that your chair Olivia?” and she said (to my shock and happy surprise) “Yeah, this is my chair.” It is her first long (more than two word) spontaneously recited sentence. I was very impressed!

This picture was taken after the water had receeded about 10 feet down our front lawn.

We had a beautiful thunderstorm on Thursday night–the sort where the lightning flashes every three and a half seconds, and the clouds are pink and ominous (mostly due to the sand they pick up when coming in over the west desert). Then it started to rain. And I mean it really poured. Within twenty minutes our entire street was a river, and our front lawn was flooded from the street to a little more than halfway up to our house!

But, like Christopher Robin, the water couldn’t get up to our house, so that’s where everyone was headed. Actually not, we had to head out and make a rescue. A neighbor had his roof torn off — I mean trusses and everything, and it wasn’t even covered with tarps! Wyatt went over and started helping in the cover-up and clean up. He was there until 1:00 in the morning. Later we heard of a few more people in the neighborhood who had some pretty bad flooding problems. We felt fortunate that we didn’t have any such trouble. We so need the rain though!

Wyatt and I have been working really hard the past few weeks to get everything ready before baby Cal gets here. We worked on his nursery and bought all the new supplies we need. We then turned our sights to other projects that needed to be done around the house. We’ve been trying to get the inside of the house as put together as possible before the little guy arrives, and we’re stopped by nap and feeding times!

We painted the front door and replaced the hardware.

We painted the railing post.

We set up Calvin's room.

Other smaller projects we've done: ripped the interior doors so they fit replaced the light in Cal's room put on all plates & switches on outlets put on all handles on kitchen drawers rearranged furniture in front room so it fits!

When I was expecting Olivia I had that “nesting” instinct really bad–I drove Wyatt a little nuts as I cleaned out random cupboards, bought new bedding, and generally was a nazi about keeping the house nice. This time around I think it’s Wyatt that has the nesting instinct. He’s really kicked it into overdrive, wanting EVERY PROJECT to be done before Cal gets here. But I guess I can’t complain. It’s nice to be getting all these things done!

Cal’s room is finally done – well, mostly. The closet still needs to be put together, and a few detail things, but for the most part, the furniture is in, it’s painted, etc. So it’s pretty much done! Here are some pictures!

Calvin's Room

Calvin's toychest, zebra & lion blankie (Olivia thinks they're hers).

After some debate we got Cal new furniture - crib, toychest & changing table

Calvin's Rhino

A Piggy Bank Love from Daddy

I love this Lion. I think it is SO cute . . .

Super Calvin

Cal's room is a jungle theme.

Today was the funeral for Uncle Stan, Wyatt’s father’s brother. He died somewhat unexpectedly from complications from surgery last week.

Uncle Stan was mentally handicapped due to complications from birth. In spite of this, he lived “on his own” in an apartment in Provo with other special needs room-mates (he did have care-takers check in on him several times a day). He rode the bus on his own to work every day. He worked at the BYU cafeteria. When Wyatt and I were dating, Wyatt’s care for Uncle Stan was one of the things that really impressed me. He would go visit his uncle all the time, taking him to the 7-11 for Big Gulps, or out to lunch. Uncle Stan was also always at the Christensen home for every holiday or family get together. Of the few times I’ve seen Wyatt choke up, most of those situations have been regarding Uncle Stan, or other handicapped people that have touched Wyatt’s life. Wyatt has always had a soft spot for people with physical or mental challenges. I know today was a hard day for Wyatt.

It was neat to see the Christensen clan together though. It was actually a first for me–and I’ve been in the family for over five years now. Harry (Wyatt’s dad) is #8 of 11 children, most of whom don’t live in Utah. Before this I’d only met three or four of Wyatt’s aunts & uncles, and even fewer cousins. But this brought all the siblings (of Harry) together. I took the opportunity and requested they allow me to take a family picture of Hope (Wyatt’s Grandmother) and all of her children. (With Uncle Stan, three of Wyatt’s uncles are now passed away though). We also took some family pictures of Wyatt’s brothers and sisters with Grandma Christensen.

Today Olivia did her first somersault. Wyatt and I were in Cal’s room, and Olivia was playing, suddenly we looked down just in time to see her flip herself over! I’ve been working with Olivia for a couple weeks–teaching her to tuck her head, and push over. But today was the first time she did it with out me helping her. What a clever and athletic girlie!

Since 4th of July was on Wednessday this year, it has been almost a full week of festivities. On the fourth Wyatt’s brother & family (Wynn & Heidi & kids) came to town for the day. We spent the afternoon at Wyatt’s parents house, having a barbeque, and just hanging out. We went to a movie in the early evening and then went a caught a fireworks show on Jared’s back deck, which overlooks AF highschool. Olivia looked so cute in her summer dress.

Friday night was the Oakley rodeo. Wyatt and I decided we wanted to start the tradition of going to the rodeo a couple years ago, when we first decided we wanted to buy a cabin in Weber canyon, just outside Oakley. We found out that some of our friends, the Enghs, also have the tradition of going, so we’ve gone with them the past couple years. Its a great way to spend a July eve.

On a sad note, Wyatt’s uncle Stan passed away after complications from surgery on Thursday morning. It was somewhat unexpected, and the funeral will be on Monday.

Go to the scrapbook, and click on “Summer 2007″ to see more pictures!!