China

Common baby outfit, so where does the poo go?

Toilet...

Not going to happen. I tried but could not bring myself to use these.

What is going on in this country???

Olympics

I Just have a quick second... but I wanted to post an update on Josh's race. He just finished a couple hours ago. It was so fun and amazing to watch! He didn't actually run as well as he was hoping, didn't make finals. But I was way proud that he ran at the Olympics, that is so AWESOME! I'm proud of him for putting in all the hard work, and for making it to this point, and for making it to the race alive (ha ha, I think I might die of stress...)

Baby Shower

My mom and sisters put on a darling Baby Shower for me. It's kindof early to have a shower (at 6.5 mo.) but we wanted to do it before I moved. They did such a great Job! It was all SOOO cute! I got some darling stuff for baby Millie, I can't believe how generous all the guests were!!! Thanks everyone! Millie & I will love using all the gifts!

We had cupcakes, and pink lemonaid, and strawberries dipped in white chocolate and then drizzled with pink also the big pretzels dipped in Caramel then white and pink chocolate (my little sister works at the Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Factory so she is pro at all the chocolate dipping stuff... she even made home made caramel) We also had salad and chicken salad (the kind with red grapes!)

Megan Lohrke, Me, Jen Bradbury

Lindsey and Tracy made me the way cute diaper cake.

Kelly & my cousin Sheila planned some fun games... we did the baby food guessing game, guess the size of my stomach and Baby concentration.

My friend Mandy, makes these WAY cute little frames! emmajanesframes@gmail.com) I'm excited to hang it on the wall.

http://www.the-n.com/quizzes/quiz_main.php?id=3243

(I found this on my cousins blog, sorry to copy you wendy...)

Olympic update

Well, things seem to be going well over in China, Josh is having a great time so far. (I'm heading over next Wed. and am really excited!) Things get under way here in about 1 hr. 8/8/8 at 8:00 pm right? It's good chineese fortune. Josh will be in the opening cerimonies, unfortunately, it sounds like that might be one of the only times you may get a chance to see him on T.V. I have checked the NBC and USA schedules and have not seen any coverage listed for the steeple. If you are in Utah, KSL is going to be over in china and will be doing a couple interviews with Josh, and also one with me (as a local utahn at the olympics, ha ha)! Below are some links that have some stuff on Josh... the bottom 2 links have an olympic journal that Josh has been keeping. He updates it almost every day so if you are interested in keeping up with his stories, feel free to check those links. He is also putting his journal on his blog (you can link to his blog from my links on the Right) Good luck to you Josh and awesome job on chasing your dreams! We're all proud of you! (especially me :)

http://www.nbcolympics.com/search/results.htmx?q=josh+mcadams

http://www.flotrack.org/blogs/blogger/JoshMcAdams

http://www.cleveland.com/olympics/ohioans/index.ssf/2008/08/josh_mcadams_olympic_journal.html

Farmers Market

There is a little farmers market on 100 W. in provo. My little sis. Tracy has a booth there. She's been making these really cute clothes (shirts and shoes) This is one of the shirts. She puts leaves and flowers on them and then bleaches the shirt around them, all cute like. Her stuff is way cute and she's done well! I think it's especially cool that she is doing this b/c it's kind of something that everyone is like, "yeah, I should get into that", but then we always sell ourselfs short and don't dare to try. For graduation I'd made her one of the owls that are in the top photo (like her harry potter magic owl as she's going away to school, ha ha) and she wanted me to make some to sell at her booth.

Look who decited to show up? my stomach ... this is me, 27 weeks pregnant :) (not only does this post give you the opportunity to see my delightfull stomach but you also get to see me in my swimming suit!!!) We are planning on naming our baby Millie. I didn't like Josh's top pick, and Josh didn't like my top pick, but then we thought of Millie and both really liked it. (The reason I'm wearing my swim suit was because my family and I went tubing down the Provo River. We just went in the big black inner tubes. It was so pretty out there, it was fun to just relax and get a chance to look out at the mountains. I'll really miss that when we move to TN- can you tube the mississippi???)

My favorite Kitchen Item

I got these egg cups when I was over Germany in the fall. The typical german breakfast seems to always include boiled eggs in some sort of cozy egg cup. If I am every feeling down all I need to do is boil an egg and put it in my egg cup to cool before eating it with a little butter, salt, and Pepper. I would really like to get some more egg cups to add to my collection but have had a hard time finding them! (my egg cup is on a "quilted coaster that I made... they are super easy to make and pretty cute. All you do is cut out your 2 pieces of fabric, place a layer of batting in the middle, press the edges of the fabric to the inside and then sew in a square pattern spiraling inward.)

A part of my life I'm going to miss...

This weekend we went to the Timpview Cross country camp. Though I'm not coaching there any more, Coach Marshall (the XC coach) let Josh and I tag along. We went out to Mt. Pleasant Ut. (right by camp Shalom) and stayed in the dorms of "Wasatch Academy". It was an awesome camp! Lots of beautiful runs in the mountains (10,000 feet) Though I am now slow and weak, I still enjoyed running up there! This year camp included both the boys and the girls... which, as I'm sure you can imagine, created some interesting developments! I loved spending this last "horrah" with the girls. They are so hillarious, fun and amazing! I'll miss them alot!

We did a run that finished at a big pond. We later migrated to another larger pond/lake, to swim, but then several of the kids got leeaches! eeww! (Above: Hilary, Devin, Laura, Aimee, Dania, Sam)

The last night of camp the girls some how got the boys distracted enough that they could sneek into their dorm and steal their boxers. They then strung the boxers on dental floss and hung them from the basketball hoop.

They boys did not like what the girls had done. They planned revenge. Cajin (pictured above) had brought this life size cut out of Fabio with her. The guys got ahold of it and pretty much distroyed him... drew eyelashes on his eyes and a bow in his hair, put a girls running tank on him and made him a skirt etc. The Girls were not happy. I just think it is all so hillarous because I can totally see myself doing these kinds of things back in high school. Man! What will I do with out these gals?

Most Delicious Treat

This is basically my favorite treat. I learned it from my friend Erin, I think. You toast a piece of bread (of course Granny Bread is the best kind to use) then you butter it and add a slice of tomatoe (NOT roma) and then put a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper over the top!

Nephi Rodeo

The other night we went to the Nephi Rodeo (thanks to some of Josh's Thai friends, from his mission, who had extra tickets). This rodeo had all the basics plus the "hide ride" where guys try to jump on a cow hide that is being pulled by a galloping horse. They also had "the one armed wonder" a guy with one arm, who corralled buffalo on to the top of his truck using a whip! I totally love Rodeo's and am getting excited to go to the Spanish Fork rodeo next week. Josh had only been to one rodeo before this one... we had alot of fun and were not dissapointed!
This was their first rodeo I guess and they were way excited! (Also, last night the guy in the white shirt and they guy in the white and green shirt had us over for dinner last night. They made Green Curry and Waterfall beef. Both of which were AMAZING. In case you are in the market for some good Thai food, and you can't find these guys to cook for you, they say the best Thai place around is "Thai House" in Lehi.)

This movie is of the most exciting feat of the night. I was very surprised that after it was all over he stood up and waved to the crowd and appeared to be fine! Way to "Cowboy up!"

Oregon Cost

My family made the trip out to Oregon for the trials and we spent one day on the cost. It was really pretty and fun.

Me and sisters! L.to R. Kelly (28) Lindsey (25) Tracy (18) Me

On the coast we went to the sea lion caves. Supposidly the largest sea caves in the world! They were in their "birthing" season so there were lots of cute babies?

Mom and baby seal chillin' on the coast line. Do you know the difference in a seal and a sea lion?

This light house was across the bay from the sea lion caves. We made the little hike up to it, they say it's the most photographed light house in the nation??? It was really pretty. It was soo green, and right on the rock cliffs around the beach. You ever heard the light house song by Nickle Creek? (they are one of my favorites, but the song is sad.)

Eugene Trip

Of course the most exciting part of our recent Eugene trip was Josh's awesome race! We're still excited... and we want to thank everyone for their comments and support!!!

But here are a few other highlights on the track:

Jill, a Shot put gal, fellow LDS member. Also going to the olympics.

Lindsey Anderson, from Weber State, another fellow LDS gal, going to the olympics in the steeple. Lindsey is on the L. and Anna Willard, new U.S. record holder, on the right.

Just in case Cajin sees this... I think this is what you were missing at state. If you make your self one of these it could very well improve your distance!

A New Olympian

3rd at the Trials and Bound for Beijing!

Who da thought? 3 years ago I never imagined I'd be running for a spot on the US Olympic Team. On Saturday a dream came true. This last year has seemed like forever telling people, "I'm just working part time and training for the Olympics." Well I feel justified now after putting off optometry school for a year. I'm Bound for Beijing and it feels awesome!

Trials

The prelim was a couple nights ago, it went really well. (We had awesome seats so I was able to get some good pictures) Josh made it to the finals along with the other 3 A standard guys (but 2 of the "A" guys didn't look soo hot... Olinger and Slattery... they really faded at the end of the races) So, they're back on today at 2:45 Eugene time (3:45 Utah time); NBC will broadcast. Josh is excited and ready to go. Just 2 days ago we got a call from his family out in ohio... they weren't going to be able to come out but they planned a trip out at the last min., so that will be exciting. My whole family is also out here. Josh has a great support crew so THANK YOU to ALL of you who are watching and praying and supporting. It means a lot to us!!!

U.S. Olympic Trials

The Olympic Trials are going on this week! Josh will race the 3000 m. Steeple Chase on Thursday, July 3 @ 9:30 pm (prelims) . 12-14 people will qualify for the Final's race which will be held on Saturday July 5. Top 3 Finishers in Saturdays race will make the Olympic team!! (assuming they have run the Olympic A Standard which is 8:24.6) Josh's PR so far is 8:21, he was the top American for this event last year so we're planning on having an exciting time at the trials! If you would like to follow the happenings you can go to: USAT.org (on the top R. of the page you will see an Icon that says Olympic trials (if the icon you see is advertising the youth, or junior championships just wait a sec. and the correct icon will pop up.) Then click on schedule and results. Also NBC is supposed to be showing his race live on Saturday @ 2:45 Oregon time, 3:45 Utah time. Tune in and cheer (& pray) for Josh! Nice job on making it to this point! I'm way proud of you!

I just can't win

(Disclaimer: Sorry, this is kindof a disgusting post and if you scroll down there is a photo that may be disturbing to you...) So, at my appartment there are 2 parking spots that I could park in. Josh was "nice" and let me have the one in the shade so that my car would be cooler. However, the shade is made by a big tree that is right next to a cherry tree... needless to say, above photo is the amount of bird poo that my car collects in 5 days time (I washed my car last week). I was upset and embarassed by this so I went out to take a photo of it this morning; only to find...

This dead bird splatted on my windshield! I dunno, maybe it had too many cherries and developed IBS which eventually lead to it's death? OR- the bird had no markings on it, it didn't seem like it was a violent death... which leads me to believe... WEST NILE!!! I wanted to call the animal people to have them test the bird but Josh thought I was being to dramatic.

it's wierd...

It's seriously wierd... A while ago my stomach was like really small, but this last week it's just been getting huge! I totally feel like I'm 8 months pregnant now. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I should call the doctor?

Actually, that would be really scary... but this isn't really what I look like...yet. I have a friend who is the production manager for a stock photo co. and she asked me to come do this photo shoot. I went to the photo shoot, but I guess I didn't look pregnant enough, so they stuffed me. It gave me a small idea of the joys I am in for. Even though it was just a pillow, it was hard to bend over, manover, or see my feet. I was spilling food on my "stomach" and all sorts of funny stuff.

My Orchids

My nice husband got me this really pretty Orchid plant a couple weeks ago. It's potted, so it just keeps blooming! I think Orchids are one of my favorite flowers. The plant has been perfect! Each flower is picture perfect, and after 2 weeks all the blossoms that were bloomed when he first gave it to me are still in perfect form. It makes our house feel more summery! It is also making me more excited to have a garden when we move to Memphis! (we can plant lots of pretty flowers and lots of yummy veggies!!!)

I love my Orem "neighbors"

Last summer we made the big move out to Orem. I've s tumbled across many reasons why we might actually be living in the Bayou, rather than in Orem. I only have photo documentation of 2 such reasons. (now, please remember that we live in the middle of the city, right behind target)

1.

this is right where you turn get into our neighborhood. So, for directions, we just say, take a left hand turn right after the Emu.

2.

This is a house right around the corner from us. Of course it looks worse in person... but, yes, it belongs in the bayou. There are several others with random fridges and roosters and hound dogs lounging around in the front yard. (but people were outside so I didn't dare take a photo documentation...)

"Pre. Race"

Josh Raced a steeple in an exibition event at the Prefontane classic this weekend. The race was in Eugene, Oregon. The same track that the trials will be on. He ran awesome and won the race. His time was 8:29. The trials are coming up in 3 weeks (July 3 & 5 will be his 2 races) He's getting excited, as am I! Way to go Josh!!!

If you are interested in watching his race here is a link to the footage. (It's not the best film job. Look for him in the back of the pack for the first half of the race...)http://www.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=videos&pg=1&event_id=146&video_id=4662&folder_id=-2&offset=0#video

It's a Girl!!!

Who is further along?

This is my first pregnant stomach post. A couple people wanted to see how chubby I was looking I guess... so this is me and my little sister Tracy, who do you think is further along?


Ha Ha, jk. This is really an Ode to my Favorite restaurant, "The Bombay House". It is SOOOO good! Most people we go with have loved it! If you live in Provo take a trip over and get Chicken Coconut Kurma, Chicken makani, or Chicken Tika Masala. We went there with our family last week (for Tracy's graduation, it's her fav. too) and ate so much. So much, in fact, that Tracy thought she could rival my 18 wk. pregnant stomach... she was right.

High School Graduation!

She made it! Tracy, "the little one", last of the Christiansen's to make it through Timpview High School! Top: Tracy with b.f. Chaison. Middle: I made Tracy a cake with graduation scrolls on top :) Bottom: our fam. (minus sunny) Congratulations Tracy!

All good things must come to an end...

We just had our state track meet last weekend. There were several exciting races. For the events that I coach, we had 2 school records set at state (one in the medley, and one in the 2 mile) We also had some other great runs, and everyone who ran at state had P.R.'s! Thoughout the season we had some amazing runs and lots of improvment! We had 10 new entries on our "Timpview Top 10 All -Time" list. But more than the awesome times run, I was impressed with the dedication, hard work and great attitudes of the girls, they never gave up, they are as "Tough as Nails". Since the state track meet has already taken place, it means that my job as a coach at Timpview is officially over. This has been one of the best and funest experiences ever. I will miss these girls so much! I really look up to them in so many ways and have really learned a lot from them. Each year you think you won't possibly be able to love this years team as much as last years... but every year I've been wrong about that. You get new girls and just after a few days realize how great they are (I guess it's like how people talk about having kids... they don't think they could possibly love the second one as much as they loved the first, but then they do? ha ha) Here's to you Timpview distance girls of 2006-2008!!!

Official Announcment

I've been kinda bad about getting the news out... but we're finally going to have a baby. The due date is on Halloween! (I will truly have a scary halloween this year... I'm scared of labor) We don't know if it's a boy or girl yet. Josh of course wants a boy, I really don't care, as long as it's human :) I'm just over 16 weeks along now and things are going just great!

New York

I'm really behind in blogging... A few weeks ago Josh and I went out to New York for a road race he was doing. I'd only been to new york for half of a day (a few years ago). We had alot of fun. We visited the basics like Central Park (our hotel was only about 1/2 mile from it so we got to run there each morning) we went to "ground 0" and Magnolia's (the delicous bakery) and Grenich village etc. etc. We also got to go to the Broadway- "Mamma Mia" that's the one with the Abba music. It was good, and fun! We were going to wait in the Line for discount tickets for like $50 a piece (people said this was the best deal.) We ended up not having time to wait in the line so we went straight to the box office and got great seats for $30 each!

This is at the Hershey's chocolate store. Me drinking a huge thing of hershey's syrup. (america's chocolate is a bit, okay, more than a bit, behind that european stuff.)

All in all New York is really cool. But I do prefere a place that is less populated... I feel like in big cities you can't really be independent... you'r always waiting on a train, or traffic, or something like that. Hard to get to a grocery store etc. I like just being able to hop in my car and run a quick errand on my own time... plus, I like more open space, I for sure couldn't live in NYC.

Labrynth Goblin

This is one of my favorite pictures of myself... because I look like one of the Labrynth goblins!!!
( if you have not seen that movie, it's worth watching, I love it.)

Tagged

I was tagged again by my cousin Koy, because I have nothing better to post about I'll follow through with the tagging. I'm supposed to tag 7 more people and then link back to them on my page, but I don't know how to do that, I'm sure that probably makes me sound dumb!

7 Random or Wierd Facts about me

1. I love to eat Andees mints when I am sick with a cold.
2. I never had a boy friend in Jr. High or High School
3. I'd like to have a trail mix candy despenser in my house (if I ever get one)
4. I like to run (that's wierd to most people)
5. My favorite Job ever was when I was repair woman at an outdoor store (fixing rafts, and tents etc.)
6. I read 2 of the Spiderwick Chronicles books today (the ones out of the reeces puffs box)
7. I am VERY paranoid about chicken germs (in our kitchen...when we cook!) everything must be sterilized after, including the soap bottle.
* Bonus: I am DISGUSTED by tomato skins and green chillie skins (when they are like cooked, but have come off the tomato chillie or like when you have tomatoes on your pizza and you take a bite and the skin like all comes off with that bite)

Mac Vs. PC

I've been using a MacBook lately b/c that's what I have for work. Can I just say that I am not impressed. I've used one before (when I was doing student teaching) and I just think they are stupid. Granted, I am more used to PC's... but that aside I still feel like a PC is a better option, more straight forward, if you are using it for your normal everyday computer needs. I am convinced that the reason people think Mac's are so cool is because they like the feel and sound of them as they type on the key board, and they like the white, that is their signature color... also, the little icons that line up on the bottom are a little more aesthetically pleasing. Not to mention the fact that "PC " from the commercials is a much more likable, approachable guy; unlike the arrogant, annoying "Mac". Lets be honest though, PC's (or "normal computers" as we call them) are just the better option!

for the purpose of making a post

I haven't made a post in like a month. I keep thinking about it but can't think of anything to post. Life for me has basically just been work. I've worked over 60 hours for the past 3 weeks, but it hasn't been bad. We've had several track meets (hence the 60 hrs.) and it's been really fun. We've got several new girls on the team who are totally dedicated and really doing some great things!

Josh has also started his indoor season. He's run 2 mile races. One in NY and one in Seattle just yesterday. He's so close to breaking 4:00 but I guess he'll have to wait till nationals to do so. In NY he ran 4:01 and in Seattle he ran 4:00.8 He only needs to take off .8 of a second and he's there! (ha ha, easier said that done)

The snow is dumping down on us. Just last night we must have gotten 6 inches of snow and it's still going strong out there... it's February now so we just keep thinking, it has to slow down sometime soon. (actually I guess that depends on if the ground hog saw his shadow yesterday. I don't know.)