Thanksgiving 2011

For Thanksgiving my whole Christensen side of the family got together like old times when we were growing up. Our group has really expanded so we had to take over almost half of a floor at the Comfort Inn in St. George. Most of the relatives came from UT, TX, CO, ID and CA. It was a lot of fun, and like always too short of a trip.

Water fight in the jacuzzi

Jumping on the bed

Turkey Bowl 

Hank's play calling approach

My Dad, the birthday boy

Turkey Eating

5K post Thanksgiving Day

Crafting

Admiring our Grandma's Quilting

Painting pigs

Martha going through the temple

 

Sisterz

The couple responsible for our whole family

Group shot

Fieldtrip

One weekend in November I told Kc that I really wanted to go to Heath Ceramics headquarters in Sausalito. This is a brand I have admired for a while and if I hadn't named Hank, Hank I was really pushing for Heath, but that one got shot down and was too associated with Heath Ledger. I have been eying this company since I got married and finally set aside a weekend to go check the store out.

Let's just say KC didn't really want to go and would rather watch football. Obviously this is a normal reaction from a man, but I really wanted him to take a field trip with the fam. If Hank was a little less rambunctious we could have gone on the tour and shopped together, but KC ended up watching Hank while I went on a tour. Not the field trip I had in mind, but to satisfy KC we stopped by the Berkeley Vivarium on the way home for the boys to see some turtles, snakes and other creatures.

The outside of the factory and store in chilly Sausalito, somehow it can be 60 in the East Bay and when you get to the Marin/Sausalito area it drops 10 degrees.

There were all these stations in the factory where a lady would attach mug handles and spin the slip into molds. Or another guy with the title, "senior jigmaster" would mold and spin hand made bowls, or the lady who sanded plates, and lastly the guy that applied paint. I would love to work at this factory in return for ceramics and to wear that t-shirt and crocs to work daily.

A line up of some of there Homeware

Tour guide pointing out the kiln 

Wishlist!!

Oh these too, please!!

Hank and KC at the Vivarium looking at turtles

We will see if we can make Hank enjoy both of our interests.

Sleeping pains

The past week and a half Hank has not been sleeping, he wakes up and starts screaming because his mouth is in pain from new teeth coming in. I think it is his molars. I was used to him only waking up once, so when he started waking up 4-5 times a night I got confused as to what to do. I will usually poke KC and say, "what do you think I should do." It takes about three pokes for him to even feel it since Hank's screaming hadn't woken him up at all. KC's responses vary, but this week my two favorites (that bugged me at the time, but are now funny) were:
Molly: What should I do?
KC: Hmm?
Molly: Hank he keeps screaming and I have already gone in there twice.
KC: Turn on the clock!
Molly: What? You make no sense.
KC: Put him on therapy and then turn on the clock.
Molly: You are not at work psycho, I am talking about Hank
KC: I know, put him on stim, start therapy and set the clock. Don't forget to set the clock.

Or I will ask I don't know what to do this time, and he will just say, do whatever your heart desires. When I told another dad this story at church he thought he should start trying this as a ploy. Either KC is a genius or he really is dreaming about being at work in his sleep.

This screaming carries into the daytime as well. He has learned that I hate when he screams at the top of his lungs and will do it in Relief Society, Costco, and anywhere else it seems awkward to have a one year old throw a tantrum like he was an older toddler. I am ready for the screaming phase to be done, but I just haven't had any luck teaching him screaming isn't cool.

Belated birthday party

A week after Hank's birthday KC and I threw a little party at a nearby park.

 

Hank's birthday invite

I thought I was going to stamp each one of his silhouettes that I made. 

But then I rethought it and printed these out instead. 

The weather started out sprinkling, then raining but then it calmed down and was just November chilly. Hank trying to devour a birthday cupcake with cold fingers.

 

 

He was very meticulous, not quite the baby who smashes the frosting all over his face.  

We had lots of Hank's buddies, future friends and love interests show up   

Alameda crew

 

Our neighbors from Chiropractic/Mormon Row

Hank had a great time roaming all over the park and passed out in the car on the way home.

Hank gets spanked

Hank turned one on Saturday and we decided to go to the San Francisco Zoo. They were having an event called, "Boo at the Zoo" which made it even more fun. There was a puppet show and stations of Halloween treats. Some of the highlights from the zoo were:

1) Grizzly Bear feeding, they had some huge claws and came up close to the glass!

2) Hank trying out his shoes I bought for him before he was born

3) Halftime at the zoo where we took a break at the playground

4) Kids petting zoo, Hank had no fear but the goats didn't either. They almost charged him.

5) Eating applesauce in the African exhibit with giraffes and gorillas

Hank then decided to feed the Gorilla by throwing said applesauce into the exhibit. The gorilla immediately picked up the applesauce and ate the rest. At least Hank or I didn't get pushed into the exhibit like Christina Applegate in Anchorman.

 Big booty big booty

Family shot taken by a stranger

 Ocean Beach

Lots of fun at the zoo, perfect weather and a happy birthday boy!  

We then rushed home to finish sewing Hank's Halloween costume and painting my lolly pop costume before some ward parties. Without having a true nap, Hank was not stoked to get into an Oompa Loompa outfit and get his face painted. He was throwing a fit so after days of sewing, he only wore half of his costume.

Meet our Oompa Loompa

Uh Oh

Breaking his lolly pop within seconds of holding it

He kept this costume clean for a minute, then ripped off the foam balls on his shoe covers and poured a pitcher of water down his entire body. 

Good times! Happy Birthday Hank