The Christensen Chronicle

...you can't seem to get your nose out of a book.




...you get to have recess with your siblings.


...you have your drawing lessons at the park (while Asher practices his photography skills ;).



...you wear knee-high socks with mismatched sandals! Just kidding. Only Asher can pull off a style like that!


And, hello!! I seem to be back to blogging after a LONG break. I haven't read others blogs or updated this one in months. During my break from blogs, I was spending a lot of time pondering my priorities. The simple fact is that there are too many things I would like to spend time on and too little time to do them all in. I needed a period of time when I was hardly ever on the computer so I could figure out how I really want to spend my time. I've recognized that I absolutely must be spending time for my own spiritual development - praying and studying the scriptures - so that I have the help of the Spirit to be a better mother. And I can see that some other things that are really important to me - like studying Chinese, scrapbooking, and reading good books - need to be included in my life. When I'm on the computer, time just seems to be sucked away and those other things don't get included in my life. But now that I realize that I have to plan those things into my life first, I'm ready to try to include blogs and other computer time into my life in a more moderate way.

By way of an update, I am LOVING homeschooling!! A couple of years ago, I had read somewhere the words of a homeschooling mom who said that she didn't really start enjoying motherhood until she began homeschooling. Although I wouldn't make quite so drastic a statement, I can see what she means. Up until we officially started homeschooling a couple of weeks ago for Kaia's kindergarten year, it was too easy for me to put my own priorities first. Now I have committed to putting my kids and schooling first and I am enjoying motherhood so much more. Amazing!!

Today I learned what "the devil's contraption" is. I thought I would let you all know so you are forewarned.

As hard as it is for me to believe, Leila turned 6 months old today! Wow. I was feeling nostalgic tonight so I decided to go through the pictures we've taken since she was born. I thought I'd share some, although it was very hard to narrow it down to just a few.






Leila, who has been a pretty calm baby since she was born, has recently developed a flair for the dramatic. If she's annoyed, she lets out this high-pitched scream. But, on the flipside, she's started giggling a bit more, especially in response to Asher bonking his head on her belly or Peter holding her upside down.

I love spring. And I love afternoons spent at the park. The kids made a bird feeder to hang on *our* willow tree. Since we don't have a backyard of our own, the kids have adopted this willow tree in the large park next to our house.

Check out the view from the park! (Peter's office building is the tall one in the upper right hand corner of the picture.)

I wanted to share my recipe for whole wheat pancakes. I've combined a couple of recipes to create this one, about which Kaia said, "This recipe is awesome!" And it only uses whole wheat flour. Even if you're skeptical, you ought to give these a try. They are really delicious.


Maile's Whole Wheat Pancakes (although you can name them whatever you want)

1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
3 T. brown sugar
3 T. wheat germ
2 T. cornmeal
1 (heaping) t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. salt
1 1/4 c. buttermilk (you can also use milk with about a tablespoon of vinegar added and left to sit for about 5 minutes)
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/4 c. canola oil (I usually put a heaping spoonful of applesauce in the measuring cup and then fill the rest with the oil)

Mix together the first 8 ingredients. Combine the last 4 ingredients in a separate bowl, then stir into the first mixture just until combined.

Today our pancakes turned green for St. Patrick's day! (They definitely look for appetizing in their original color - see the first picture.) And my favorite way of having them is with banana slices cooked into the bottom. In fact, I don't even make these unless we have bananas in the house.

ETA: I use something different for syrup now. Since normal store bought syrup often has high fructose corn syrup, I wanted to find a healthier alternative. What I use now is agave nectar that we buy from Costco (they definitely have the best price for this). Agave nectar has a sweeter taste than sugar so you can use less of it, but at the same time it has a much lower glycemic index than sugar or honey or even maple syrup. I really enjoy the taste on pancakes and also in oatmeal. I thought I'd pass on this new find as we're looking for healthier sugar substitutes.

I was lightly chastised by the pediatrician this last week at Leila's 4 month appointment (how on earth is she 4 months old already?!?). When the doctor put Leila on her tummy, she asked if I've been giving her any tummy time. I hemmed and hawed for a minute and then pointed at the two other kids who were climbing all over the room. That should make it clear, right? Besides being afraid that one of them might step on her, Leila doesn't particularly like being on her tummy and her older brother is quick to rescue her and flip her onto her back. She still is "stinking cute," as Kaia has taken to saying. I LOVE all of her little sounds: