Christensens in London

If you wonder where we've gone...

2010-01-01T04:48:00.001Z

...it's to Utah. Our saga continues at http://micahandtatchristensen.blogspot.com.

Love,

2009-11-23T09:23:00.005Z

Go where we may, rest where we will

Eternal London haunts us still

-Thomas Moore

The Salamander Is on the Move; Repeat: The Salamander Is on the Move

2009-10-22T21:37:00.002+01:00

School Uniforms

2009-10-10T23:07:00.002+01:00

Walking to school - James's first day of Reception (or so we thought - this was a Monday and he actually started on that Thursday)

James really likes his school. It is a state school, and like at about 100% of the primary schools in Britain, the children there wear uniforms to school. I LOVE how he looks in his school uniform. I feel that there are so many pros and almost no cons to having kids wear them. It simplifies getting ready in the morning, it is an equaliser (no "poor" or "rich" clothes; no trendy or immodest clothes - everyone dresses the same way), and it helps the kids get in the mindset for school. Plus, the kids look so smart! (I mean this in the British sense of the word.) Cons - um... the uniform can be expensive (but really no more so than regular clothes, and is often cheaper than ordinary play clothes). Some people may say that it curbs individualism or freedom of expression in children. And I reply to this, "really? So we want to convey that the best or most important way for our children to express themselves is through fashion?"

So, can we start a movement in the U.S. for uniforms in public schools? Who's with me?

Alexander is Zero

2009-09-20T15:05:00.001+01:00

The title is a paraphrase of James's reply to my "Alex is six months old today."

At age 0.5, Alexander weighs 17 pounds, 13 ounces; his length is 29 inches; and his head circumference is 44.5 centimetres. In other words, he is average for his age for weight, and well above average for length and noggin size. This obviously means that I am a better mother than people with puny children.

Here are some recent videos of Alex:

Photopalooza

2009-09-17T13:07:00.003+01:00

Things have been busy lately. Thus, little blogging. But have no fear! You can still see a lot of what we've been up to the past couple of months. I just posted a boatload of photos to my Facebook account. Enjoy!

Teaching and Learning

2009-08-26T20:33:00.010+01:00

I feel that I am preparing to leave London (we have about three months left) just as I am getting adept at living here. I have, for example, just barely figured out the best way to navigate Liverpool Street station with a buggy - where all the lifts are, where the street exits closest to the buses are, etc. I know all the best places to take James now - his favourite parks, the most kid-friendly museums, the restaurants where the servers don't roll their eyes when he knocks his silverware on the floor for the third time. I have online food shopping down cold.

As I was contemplating these things a few days ago, I realised it has been true of many stages of my life - I get good at doing something just as things are drawing to a close and it's time to move on. It is no different with parenting. In the 4+ years that James and I have lived together, it seems that each

time I feel I finally understand how to interact with him, he enters a different stage of development, and I have to learn everything afresh. The tactics that worked so well (okay, worked sometimes) yesterday are rendered obsolete by the swift and unrelenting passage of time. James is a drastically different person than he was six months ago, and by

extension, I am a different mother than I was then.

One of the ways I've changed my strategy is to let go of the outcome of my labours, or acknowledge that I never had true control over it in the first place. James is not a puppy I am housebreaking, but a human being for whom I have stewardship. Not all his successes will be attributable to my efforts, nor will his mistakes be laid at my feet. This is both comforting and bewildering. It would be simpler to have a straightforward cause-and-effect sort of evaluation system for my work; in its place there is intuition and hope that your best will be good enough.

I guess the point is not to be a perfect mother, or even a great mother, from the get-go, though. I did not expect James to be comfortable and capable with his mortal experience from day one; I should not expect myself to be so in my experience as his guardian. It is difficult, though, for someone with my obsessive personality and my desire to do everything "right" to fully embrace the idea that the process of becoming, the journey, is the objective. James and I are teaching each other how to be children of God and to do His will. And while that journey isn't easy, I appreciate the company.

I know that I'm not the first person to articulate these concepts, but I thought at least many of my readers would be able to relate. It is a thrilling adventure, being a mother. I'm always adjusting, recalibrating, discovering new ways to communicate, discipline, and teach. And new ways to learn. Maybe by the time they move out of the house, I'll feel sure-footed and confident. Maybe.

Windsor Castle

2009-08-01T23:33:00.006+01:00

We went to Windsor Castle a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun trip, and I'm glad my niece, Cathy, suggested it! The castle is one of the residences of Her Majesty the Queen, and apparently she spends most weekends there. It is the largest and oldest continually inhabited castle in the world.

James in one of the gateways within the castle walls

The lovely moat garden

Moat garden view #2

James outside St. George's chapel

There was so much to see at the castle - amazing art, ranging from Leonardo da Vinci pencil drawings to van Dyck portraits to silver and china and arms and armor; a bed that Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie slept in during their visit to the castle; an 85-year-old dollhouse, complete with working electricity and servants' quarters; and beautiful St. George's chapel, which also had a marble sculpture of Princess Charlotte, only child to King George IV. She died at age 21 after giving birth to a stillborn son. The sculpture of her was breathtaking. It depicted her corpse under a shroud, surrounded by mourners, all shrouded. Above these were Charlotte's soul, rising heavenwards, flanked by winged angels, one of whom was holding the baby boy. All the figures were carved from white marble. Gorgeous. I tried in vain to find a picture of the sculpture on the internet. You'll just have to see it in person someday!

The Inscription inside the Statue of Motherhood

2009-07-08T22:12:00.008+01:00

The Colossal Mom*

Not like the cover model of Vogue or Elle,

With skinny limbs draped with designer clothes,

Here, in the ankle-high filth shall stand

A tired woman with a diaper bag, the murky depths

Of which no one wants to plumb, and her name

Mother. Just Mother. From her dishpan hand

Flow everlasting snacks; her wild eyes command

The cramped dwelling that children and husband inhabit.

"Keep, orderly homes, your fabled peace!" cries she

With chapped lips. "Give me your tired, your cranky,

Your frantic toddlers longing to scale walls,

The pitiful savages I call my children.

Send these, the crazy, reason-impaired to me,

I open my arms beside the pile of dirty laundry!"

Scroll Down

2009-07-08T22:10:00.003+01:00

There haven't been any comments* on my post about James's birthday party. Did everyone miss it?

*I need almost constant validation.

Searching for Service

2009-06-27T00:10:00.001+01:00

Saturday I took Alex in his pushchair to Helping Hands, a UK-wide day of community service projects by Mormons. I was one of a couple dozen people cleaning up Brent Park in north London. I exited the Brent Cross tube station, Google map in hand, thinking it would be easy and quick to find my way to the park. Thirty minutes later, I found myself in this comically narrow footpath connecting one residential area to another. I could barely get the buggy through. But before long, I found an entrance to the park and lent my helping hands to the work. A couple of hours later, some iron railings were scraped and given a fresh coat of green paint, by yours truly. Who says I'm not leaving my mark on London?

Happy Birthday, Micah!

2009-06-25T23:21:00.000+01:00

My husband is hot.

I Saw Maggie Smith in Marylebone Today!

2009-06-24T00:13:00.002+01:00

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T20:28:00.014+01:00

This is my great-great-grandfather, John Neely Bryan, Jr., pictured with his wife, Sarah Jane Thompson Bryan. He was a Texan wagoner, born in Dallas in 1846; he died in Wichita Falls in 1926. I thank him for marrying Grandma Sarah, who, despite having died before I was born, is very special to me.

Here is my great-great-grandfather, John Hyrum Anderson, whom I thank for having written his life history, which provided several weeks' worth reading and discussion material for family home evenings. He was born in Logan, Utah in 1864 of Swedish immigrants who had come to America as Mormon converts.

Master Birthday List

My great-grandfather, Al Roueché, eloped with my great-grandmother, Bernice Stokes when they were teenagers. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2006. I thank him for teaching my grandmother to be a woman of faith. I thank him for bringing me a doll from Brazil when I was a little girl. I thank him for visiting me in New York when I was in college. I thank him for recently sending us cards celebrating my sons' birthdays. Al and Bernice are still living in Kennewick, Washington.

My grandfather, John Neely Bryan III, was a man of few words. He did, however, once tell me I was pretty, and he taught me, among other things, that the sense of touch is more important than sight when clean dishes is the objective. He learned the importance of tactile exploration as a USDA meat inspector, a post which he held for 25 years. He died while I was on my mission, and the next night, I dreamed of him laughing.

My grandfather, Loran C. Anderson, is a swell guy. I lived under his roof from age five through age twelve. He was the giver of priesthood blessings, the imparter of facts - he was a botany professor - and the purveyor of silly jokes and puns. I thank him for the financial help he has so willingly and generously given through the years, and I thank him for the moral and emotional guidance he has offered me, sometimes unknowingly. He has been my rock and my beacon, and always my PaPa.

My father-in-law, Tony Christensen, pictured here with my mother-in-law, Lynda Davis Christensen, is a tireless provider. He works very hard to give his family (and in many cases, extended family, friends, and acquaintances) the necessities of life. I thank him for my Mickey Mouse watch, for his kind counsel, for his part in raising my husband, and for his many kindnesses towards my sons.

My Papacito, Blair Clawson, has been an example to me of Christian charity. I thank him for teaching me how to drive at midnight in the Governor Square Mall parking lot. I thank him for his patience with my teenage pride/arrogance/vanity/general egocentrism. I thank him for wandering around the garden with James. Most of all, I thank him for making my mother happy.

Here is my father, dancing with me at my brother's wedding. I thank him for taking care of me when a cinder from a Shriner's train hit my face during a birthday party. I thank him for sitting me down before my fifth birthday to teach me about how seriously I should take going to Kindergarten. I thank him for giving me the Chronicles of Narnia series for Christmas 1984. I thank him for showing us his emotion when our summer visits were over and he put us back on the plane to our mother's. I thank him for his consistent honesty and openness, for moving me into my first dorm room (not to mention paying for that first semester at college), and for being a fun grandad to my sons. I thank him for being my Daddy.

I thank my husband, Micah, for being such a wonderful father to our boys. I thank him for the constant, uncomplaining care I received from him through both my pregnancies. I thank him for all the diapers he has changed, books he has read to them at bedtime, and pillow fights he's waged with James. I thank him for the trips to the zoo, bowls of noodles proferred, hugs given, songs taught, and walks to school. I thank him for the drawings, the church halls paced with a noisy baby, and the trips to Instacare or the A&E. I love the father of my children.

{Happy Father's Day}

James' Birthday Party

2009-06-20T00:19:00.000+01:00

At our dinosaur-themed party in the park this year, I realized that it was the first time James realized the actual significance of having a birthday party - even if he's still a little fuzzy on the details. He has no idea how long he will be four years old, as evidenced by the fact that he asks me every day, "Am I still four?" Anyway, he and the two friends roughly his age who were able to attend, along with several assorted parents and additional children, had a great time.

12:49 a.m. London time

2009-06-08T00:48:00.004+01:00

I should really get to bed to minimize whatever jet-lag brick I'm going to be hit with tomorrow morning. So the posts about our trip to Arkansas, Missouri, and Utah will have to wait until later. Just know that they're coming.

Some Pictures James Took Recently

2009-05-19T00:39:00.001+01:00

Brothers

2009-05-19T00:35:00.002+01:00

8-week Checkup

2009-05-19T00:03:00.002+01:00

Alexander had his 8-week checkup today, including that classic of parental betrayal, his first immunizations. He's doing well. For the two or three of you who care, he is in the 91st percentile for weight (13.4 pounds), 75th for head circumference (40.2 centimeters), and 50th for length (22.4 inches).
And he's smiling a lot now. It's really cute when James says "He's smiling at me!" (James has often said this when Alex was clearly not smiling at him.)

Weekend with Hanna, Dan, Henry, and Arthur

2009-05-16T18:44:00.003+01:00

While Micah was in Spain, my dear friend Hanna invited me and the boys to stay with her for the weekend. I enthusiastically accepted. I only had to pack clothes for myself because Hanna and Dan have two boys, Henry and Arthur, who are conveniently the same sizes as James and Alex, respectively. So I loaded up a roller bag, put Alex in the sling, took James by the hand, and took the train up to Hertfordshire. For the Americans who read the blog, it's only about 20 minutes from central London.

It was the best vacation a person could have without her husband and without spending (much) money (I did have to buy train fare, after all). James and Henry played together, bathed together, took naps in the car together... it was lovely. Hanna and I sat inside and held our babies mostly, and Dan played graciously with the older boys. It was heaven! Thank you, Hanna and Dan!

The Kentish Town City Farm

2009-05-16T18:35:00.005+01:00

We took a trip to the farm with James's nursery school class last week. It was quite an adventure getting 25 or so three- and four-year-olds with their chaperones to the farm on public transport, but that's another story. We saw chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep, horses, pigs, and cows... all nestled between the rail tracks and row houses of London. James inexplicably kept asking where the wolves were. And incorrectly recalled the next day that we had actually seen wolves at the farm.

{a three-day-old lamb with its mother}

Heaven

2009-05-16T18:33:00.003+01:00

Because Sometimes in London You Ride on the Bus across from a Guy with a Didgeridoo

2009-05-16T18:27:00.004+01:00

By Popular Demand

2009-04-20T10:15:00.006+01:00

More pictures of Alex, who is one month old today.* Hopefully I'll get some newer ones soon.

I hold this baby most of the day. Meanwhile, James has become basically feral. I'm really glad he goes back to school tomorrow morning! Two weeks off has nearly done us in.

*Why is the time going by so quickly? Someone please make it stand still - while I hold my baby.

Grandma Knows Best

2009-04-17T20:04:00.005+01:00

I have a near-perfect mother. It is therefore unsurprising that my boys have an unbelievably awesome grandma. A grandma who was prescient enough to arrive in London from Florida on the very day her grandson, Alex, was born. She arrived bearing gifts, including a quiet book for James and two baby blankets for Alex of her own making (one of which is in the above photo of Grandma and Alex).

In the ten short days of her visit, she was able to do no less than the following:

wash, dry, fold, and put away approximately 17, 259 loads of laundry
cook several yummy dinners
hold baby Alex for hours (while pacifying him more quickly and effectively than I could)
watch James while Micah and I were at the hospital
take James to the movies
take James to the dinosaur museum (a.k.a. the Museum of Natural History)
win James' heart and capture his imagination by tirelessly playing make-believe with him
teach me my first knitting lesson
visit a few tourist sites, like the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the London Eye

I talk to my mom a lot on the phone, but it took a visit to remind me just how lucky I am to have her and how much I still have to learn about being a mother. A day or two after she flew home, James asked Micah wistfully, "Did Grandma Cindy come back?" We all wish she would.

No One Is Going to Believe Me

2009-04-09T21:48:00.003+01:00

On Tuesday, when Alex was 18 days old, I left him sleeping on his back on my bed for a few minutes. When I came back into the room, he was on his stomach.

!!?!

Is it even possible for a two-and-a-half-week old baby to roll over? Anybody have a precedent for this? Not in our family - James was three-and-a-half MONTHS old when he rolled over for the first time. I looked it up.

James was in the room with him at the time, and I asked him (James) if he had touched him (Alex). He said no. I will concede that it is possible that James did it, but I think that would have been strange behavior, even for James. He usually just likes to kiss and hug Alex and bring him toys.

Alexander Anthony

2009-03-25T09:25:00.007Z

We welcomed our family's newest member into the world on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. GMT. We arrived at the hospital at about 8:10 p.m., and less than an hour later, we had a 9-pound, 6-ounce baby measuring a little over 21 inches.

On the way out the door to the hospital

Mommy and Alex (looking a little splotchy, bless him)

Many thanks to all who offered prayers on our behalf. As his parents, we feel his birth was miraculous.

I'm sure there will be more photos coming soon...

Some People Came to Visit

2009-03-13T10:43:00.003Z

Our dear friends, Boad and Kevin, came to visit last week. We had a fabulous time, despite decreased mobility in half our party - due to my advanced stage of pregnancy and Boad's gnarly mountain-bike mishap the morning of his departure from SoCal. The question was not "What did they do and see?" but "What did they not do and see?" Micah was (per usual) an impeccable host and tour guide, and I enjoyed stepping out with my boyz. It was a very welcome distraction from my pregnancy-induced ennui. They went back home (to their respective wives and kids) on Sunday, and James is still asking for them. (This morning it was the declaration as he came downstairs, "I want Boad and Kevin.")

If you want the full story, Micah posted all 317 photos he took of their visit on flickr.

She Fancies Him

2009-02-25T20:45:00.002Z

James has a little friend at preschool. I met her (we'll call her M) and her mother as I picked up James Monday morning. M's mother tells me that M tells her that James is very funny. And that he tells her jokes at school. Micah says that he has seen M follow James around in the classroom, obviously smitten. Well. Aren't we all?

On the Tube Last Week

2009-02-11T10:42:00.003Z

I was flipping through the January Ensign, the LDS Church magazine, showing James pictures and talking about them with him to pass the time. Here's our conversation about the cover:

Tat: "This is Joseph Smith, the prophet. What do you think he's doing?
James: "He's talking to the letter S."

Foop!

2009-01-30T21:45:00.002Z

James has spent a lot of time lately pretending to be some animal or other. The title of the post is the sound he makes when he magically turns into the animal. He loves being a dog, a frog (that says "libbit, libbit"), a cat, or a monkey. He has also tried out a new "baby" impression - that sounds more like a wounded pteradactyl to Micah and me than a human infant. I love to see his imagination at work, though.

Hail to the Chief

2009-01-20T20:46:00.002Z

He makes me want to be a better person.

An Apology

2009-01-15T19:52:00.002Z

Faithful reader, if you're wondering where I've gone, just remember that wherever I go, I'll always be right there, in your heart.

Seriously, though, I have been feeling icky and can barely keep it together. I have things to blog about, but no blog energy. Bloggergy. So I ask your patience as this pregnancy winds down. (Only 8 weeks and 6 days to the due date!!!) Once I feel better, I will be entertaining you all again with my witty repartee.

Fecundity

2008-12-31T21:54:00.003Z

I know I haven't posted a picture lately of myself and my rapidly expanding belly. So here it is...

...wait for it...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2008-12-18T10:47:00.002Z

London is ablaze with Christmas decorations. I had aspirations of capturing some examples in the neighborhood with our camera, but I must admit that in the busyness of the season, my photojournalistic ambitions have fallen by the wayside. Your imagination will have to fill in the blanks.

I have to say that the beautiful Christmas trees and lights and ornaments and creches go a really long way toward alleviating the stress that comes from the holiday season and the nasty, cold weather. The decorations are so ubiquitous that I haven't felt the need to decorate the flat (other than hanging our stockings) -- at least that's the story I'm sticking with this year. (It couldn't just be that I'm lazy, could it?)

Anyway, every time James says, "Look, a Christmas tree!" I think an angel gets its wings. At least it makes me smile.

The Courtauld Galleries

2008-12-18T10:31:00.005Z

I believe it was Saturday, the 6th of December that I got to visit the Courtauld Gallery for the first time. (Thanks for watching James, Micah!) It's much smaller than the National Gallery, but still has some amazing works, including several beautiful Rubens, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear:
and this one, Edouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere:

I was blown away by the original. With its tricks of perspective, including the use of the (skewed) mirror image behind the barmaid, the painting is at once beautiful and completely disorienting. Seeing it solidified my respect and admiration for Manet.

The National Gallery times two

2008-12-18T10:20:00.003Z

A couple of weeks ago, on December 2nd and 4th, we got to go to the National Gallery with some friends who wanted Micah's custom tour, complete with art commentary. (He's really good at it - very interesting and engaging!) James and I went along and had (mostly) a great time. Art museums aren't tailor-made for three-year-olds, but James did a really good job behaving and staying with us. I even got him interested some of the time in the actual artwork. My favorite comments he made include "Wow, what a big rectangle!" - in reference to a very large and (you guessed it) rectangular painting - and, in response to my question of who the baby was in a Madonna and child painting, "It's baby Alex!"

My favorite painting of the many wonderful pieces in the National Gallery remains this one, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, by Paul Delaroche:
I think it's probably still my favorite because it made a huge impression on me during my first trip to London when I was in college (almost 12 years ago).

For the Arrested Development Fans

2008-11-26T10:59:00.003Z

This bracelet was my birthday present this year from my brother, Trevor.

Disneyland Paris

2008-11-18T17:50:00.006Z

Those of you who know me well know that I have an obsession with Disney theme parks that I'm sure rises to the level of a clinically diagnosable disorder. So here is the lowdown on our fabulous trip to Disneyland Paris, in staggering detail:

Thursday, November 13
We woke up bright and early, took the 10-minute bus ride to St. Pancras International rail station (which, parenthetically, is the most beautiful train station in London). We then boarded the Eurostar train to Disneyland. When I say it was the train to Disneyland, I mean that it pulls up three hours later 100 meters from the entrance gates. (SO COOL!) Then we dropped our bags off at our hotel room, which had these great bunk beds in addition to a king-size:

Then it was off to the park! Here are pictures of the lovely entrance gates:
And to the castle, which is my favorite of the three I've seen in person (Disney World, Disneyland CA, and Disneyland Paris):
(Side note : All the architecture, design, and decor in this park was so beautiful. There was more elegance and sophistication to everything, which I guess you would expect from a park in France. Ironically, the food was horrible! The variety and quality of the food at the American parks is much better.) Underneath the castle, there was a little cave you could walk in and see a big, smoke-breathing dragon. This was one of James's favorite attractions - he would often tell the dragon to "go to sleep right now!"

We were amazed at how empty the park was our first day, which was a Thursday. We walked on to every ride, and did most of Fantasyland in just a couple of hours, including Dumbo:
And instead of an Alice in Wonderland ride, as there is in Disneyland CA, there was a hedge maze, which featured this huge, topiary Cheshire Cat that James loved:We also did DP's version of the Haunted Mansion, "Phantom Manor." It was a little too scary - too many skeletons and not enough happy haunts. I much prefer the original. We ended the evening at "Pirates of the Caribbean," which was great. It was distinct from the Florida and California versions, but not better or worse. Just different.

Friday, November 14
The parks were slightly more crowded today, but not by too much. Here we are, waiting in line for the Casey Jr. Circus Train:
Look at the gorgeous fall foliage! None of our pictures do justice to how beautiful the landscaping in the parks was. And I must add that I am very proud of the fact that I crocheted the hat I am wearing in this photo. I am not a very craftsy, hands-on person, but I do like to crochet, and I'm so happy about how this hat turned out.

Friday was the day we met Mickey:
And Sully and Mike (from Monsters, Inc.) over at the Walt Disney Studios Park:
Saturday, November 15
Saturday, we finally understood how DP stays in business - it is PACKED on the weekends. We avoided the long lines for rides by mostly sticking to stage shows, which James loved. We saw the Winnie the Pooh show, a Mickey and Friends Christmas show, and a blacklight show called "Animagique." Micah wants me to mention that if anyone wants to know exactly which rides we went on and attractions we saw, I have that information available. Because I keep a list.

We had such a great trip! I don't know if we'll ever get back, but I'm so glad we went. It would have been very sad indeed for yours truly to live so close to Disneyland Paris for two years and not go. As we left to get on the train headed back for London, Micah asked me if I was sad we were leaving. I told him the sting was considerably lessened by the fact that, in five weeks' time, we'd be heading to the CA Disneyland with his family for Christmas.

Until next time...

It's a Boy!

2008-11-11T18:30:00.003Z

Little Alexander

Last Call for Predictions

2008-11-10T13:14:00.002Z

Tomorrow we have an ultrasound, at which we are supposed to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. So this is your last chance to make a guess! Are we going to have an Alexander or an Eve?

Why I Voted for Obama

2008-11-03T15:25:00.003Z

At the risk of alienating some of my readers, I'm just going to take a minute and let you look inside my thought process regarding my choice for President. Please be assured that we can still be friends if you don't agree with me. I just thought that some of you would be gratified to know that my views are similar to yours; the others might at least be able to see that I do have rational reasons for my political views even as they pray for my soul.

I'll just start out by saying that I'm ripping off the format of this post from a fellow blogger (you know who you are!).

Q: I am against abortion. Why should I vote for Obama when he's pro-choice?

A: Even though it is true that Obama is firmly pro-choice, and even though the next president may have some effect on abortion law in the U.S., abortion restrictions are generally made at the state level through the legislative process, not by the Executive Branch. Even if the next president does have the chance to appoint Supreme Court justices, that's still several steps away from making abortion illegal or changing the current constitutional law on the subject. Imagine the scenario: the next president would have to appoint at least one or two "conservative" justices, the Court would have to agree to review Roe v. Wade, decide to overturn it, and even then, for abortion to become illegal, your state would have to vote to ban it. I believe that overall public opinion in most states (but of course, not all) would keep abortion legal, which is unfortunate, but the reality we have in 2008. Also remember that Supreme Court appointees' political views do not always correspond in the long run to the president who appointed them: Justices Stevens and Souter were both appointed by conservative presidents, but often vote with the liberal bloc of the Court, and Justice Kennedy, often the deciding swing vote, was also appointed by a Republican. So the point I'm trying to make is that while abortion is an issue in a presidential race, it is not the most important or relevant one.

Q: Isn't Obama weak on foreign policy and national security issues?

A: It depends on what you mean by "weak." Obama has very little personal experience in these areas, but has chosen a running mate, Joe Biden, who has quite a bit of experience in this area from his participation as Chairman on the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Obama is committed to diplomacy, yes, but talking isn't the only tactic he's proposed in the war on terror. He has repeatedly stated that he considers the use of force an option when all other avenues have been exhausted. Personally, as someone who values life, I would really like to try diplomacy and defensive tactics rather than offensive ones as long as possible. I believe the war in Iraq was unnecessary, and while you can debate that 'til the cows come home, no one can debate the fact that tens of thousands of civilian lives have been lost in that conflict, not to mention the lives of thousands of American and coalition soldiers (and contractors, etc.). So I'd like the next president to not be so eager to rush to war.

Q: Obama seems to be very popular around the world, but isn't that irrelevant to us? We shouldn't be making a decision based on what foreigners think of us - what about our sovereignty?

A: Sovereignty is important, and I agree that we shouldn't relinquish it where it counts. I would be against tying our hands in national security issues just to placate some international organization, even though it makes sense to cooperate with other nations where possible. But I firmly believe that what the rest of the world thinks of America - and our President - IS important to our national security. Terrorists who try to attack America and our allies do so in part because they believe we're insular, selfish, and hypocritical. The improvement of our image around the world could only help the war on terror. Not convinced yet? Forget terrorists - we still live in a global society, whether we like it or not. We depend on good relationships with other countries to get things done - like fighting the war in Afghanistan. So it does matter what others think of our pick for the top job.

Q: The liberal media has been horrible to Sarah Palin. Doesn't she have more executive experience than Obama, though, and comparable experience overall? Besides, she's just the V.P. candidate. McCain is the one running for President.

A: I really don't care about experience nearly as much as most people seem to. What I care about is values and judgment. I think that McCain showed a serious lapse in judgment in picking Palin as a running mate, not because of her experience (or lack thereof), but because of what seems a fundamental lack of curiosity in her nature and her seeming disregard for the rule of law and propriety. Her tenures as Mayor of Wasilla and Governor of Alaska have been riddled with abuses of power and her alienating anyone who disagreed with her. Even if McCain lived through his full term as president (which, considering his age and health, you have to admit, is iffy), he has said that Palin will play a large role in his administration, including energy policy and some sort of task force on special needs children. Personally, I don't think I'd like her energy policy - I think she's too anti-environment, pro-big oil, and not concerned enough about climate change.

Q: But isn't Obama going to raise taxes and redistribute wealth? Isn't he a (gasp) SOCIALIST?

A: Obama is proposing to raise taxes - on the top 5% of earners. This puts you, me, and most people we know on the "tax cut" (or tax credit) side of his proposal. I have to admit, though, that even I am not sure about how this will work out. I'm not certain that a recession is the time to raise taxes on anyone, even though Obama's proposed tax "increase" is just a return to pre-Bush tax cut figures. And McCain isn't proposing that we completely overhaul the tax system - his proposals are progressive, too, just not to the extent that Obama's are. We have a government set up to redistribute wealth - and it's been that way for decades. Obama's proposals are not as radical as some would try make you think. And although McCain criticizes "tax-and-spend" mentalities, I'd prefer "tax and spend" to "not tax and spend," which has been the policy for the past eight years and landed us in record budget deficits and national debt.

As for the S-word, I would rather that people talk about proposals, issues, and policies, and not throw around words that have more fear than substance attached to them. I just don't think it's helpful to use these talismanic words, because they tend to mean something different (and usually emotional instead of rational) to different people.

Okay, that was a lot longer than I intended it to be. In closing, I'd just like to say that I hope that whomever is elected President, we can all get behind him in the sense of being good citizens and trying to build unity in our homes and communities. Really, we're all in this together.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-03T10:33:00.006Z

I know, it's been 20,000 leagues* since Halloween already, but I've just gotten around to posting these pictures from the AMAZING Halloween party we attended at Stephanie and Eva's home. James was Draco Malfoy, but refused to wear the ridiculously expensive costume for more than a few minutes. Sigh. We all had a great time, though.

*Reference to a 90's SNL skit.

James Is Easily Distracted

2008-10-28T11:20:00.003Z

Click here to see a video of James singing "I Am a Child of God." (I didn't embed it directly in the blog because the file was too large.)

The Pariah

2008-10-20T08:57:00.004+01:00

Ever since we returned from our trip to Utah (in August), one thing or another has prevented us from carrying on a semblance of our former life. First my pregnancy illness completely barred any sallying forth from the flat. Then we were toilet training James - which I am happy to report, is going swimmingly; he's not even wearing diapers at night anymore. Then we all got colds. Then James got an ear infection. Then I got a sinus infection. Then we all got colds - again. I'm actually feeling well enough now to go out and see people, and I'd really like to socialize and take James out. But he's still coughing, and I'm nervous about getting my friends (and my friends' kids) sick. So, until further notice, I'm still a social leper. On the plus side, time is passing unbearably slowly!

Grrrr.

Fourth Folder, Fourth Picture

2008-10-17T11:15:00.005+01:00

So my cousins had this on their blog, and I thought it would be fun for us to do, too. You look in the fourth picture folder (or photo album) on your computer, and post the fourth photo from it on your blog. Here it is:I had to cheat a little because my fourth folder was inexplicably empty. But here is the fourth picture from the fifth folder. It is little James, back in the bedroom in our Alpine home. This was taken two years ago, in October 2006. He looks like he's about to pounce. Looking at pictures of our house in Utah makes me a little homesick, I must confess.

As a bonus, I thought I'd also post this photo, the fourth photo in the fourth album when I use my Kodak EasyShare program. It was taken back in December 2003, of me and my paternal grandmother. This was my only trip thus far to my grandfather's gravesite, which is located in rural Kansas. He passed away while I was on my mission, in 2001.

Making Sense of the Financial Crisis

2008-10-09T00:40:00.004+01:00

I just listened to an excellent episode of This American Life about the economy meltdown (called "Another Frightening Show about the Economy," if you're interested in listening to it). It was very interesting and informative, especially about topics that aren't being covered extensively in other media, including the commercial paper market, credit default swaps, and the "bailout" bill that was just passed. A lot of people are trying to assign blame and point fingers, and the truth is, pretty much everyone is to blame: Republicans, Democrats, bankers, borrowers, everyone. One interesting comment a financial professional made during the show was that the root of this whole problem is not really any one specific institution or commodity or law; it is our society's relationship with debt. We apparently are way too comfortable with it. Anyway, I thought maybe someone out there might be interested in this, because I was hearing a lot of conflicting opinions and explanations and this podcast really cleared things up for me.

For All the Mothers, and Fathers, and Pretty Much Everyone Else

2008-10-08T20:44:00.004+01:00

I just listened to a really inspirational talk that was given at the LDS General Relief Society Meeting on September 27. I know that many of my readers may already have heard this one, but if you haven't, I highly recommend it. It may just be the pregnancy hormones, but I felt really uplifted and touched by it. And yes, it's applicable if you're not a Mormon (or even a woman). It is entitled "Happiness, Your Heritage," by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The written version can be found here, or you can listen to the audio here, or watch a Quick Time video version here. The broadcast lasts about 21 minutes.

James' Prayer

2008-10-08T20:40:00.004+01:00

Evening prayer tonight, offered by James: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for have some food, and Coco Pops, and bike cereal, and noodles and cheese, no sauce, just cheese, and thank you for markers, and not color on walls, just color on paper, thank you for cars, Jesus Christ, amen.

I Need Your Validation

2008-10-01T09:44:00.003+01:00

Last night, James was acting a little strange around bedtime, so Micah and I weren't shocked when he threw up (all over the bathroom) after dinner. After that, he went to bed, but wanted me to sleep in his bed with him, which I did. Then he woke up about every 5.2 seconds to whine, cry, and generally be unconsolable about how uncomfortable he felt. Needless to say, I got very little sleep last night. We got out of bed around 8:30,* and now it's 9:48. In the last hour, I have eaten two bowls of cereal, played Spider Solitaire, and listened to my Disneyland soundtrack. What I need from you, dear reader, is your blessing. Tell me it's okay after a night like that to not get anything done today. Please.

*James awoke having no indication, in demeanor or otherwise, that any of this had ever transpired.

Potpourri

2008-09-20T14:58:00.006+01:00

I thought I'd string together a few random thoughts and experiences today. First, this lovely picture of James playing with his friend, Eva. Yes, she appears to be writing on his head with a water pen. Eva's mommy, Stephanie, was one of a handful of extremely helpful and wonderful friends who watched James for us while I was in the hospital or otherwise incapacitated with morning sickness. Thankfully, I am glad to report that I am feeling a lot better now. I'm still nauseated and tired most of the time, but not so much anymore that it keeps me from functioning.

News: James started nursery school on September 8th. You can click here to see some pictures of him on his first day. He goes in the mornings for two-and-a-half hours, which is just enough time for me to really miss him. Or he DID go in the mornings, until he got suspended from school for not being potty trained yet. Oops. That did not get done because of my whole being-spectacularly-sick thing.

But it brings me to our next bit of news: we are potty training now! James is actually doing a wonderful job and is tons more motivated this time than the previous couple of times we made the attempt. Which shows me he is ready. So we should be ready to go back to school soon.

Finally, I wanted to mention a crazy pregnancy craving I've been experiencing - Granny Smith apples. I eat them by the bushel. Seriously, I eat four to six apples a day. They are one of the few things that actually tastes good. Go figure.

I Need to Remember

2008-09-11T11:02:00.003+01:00

In the days following September 11, 2001, I was devastated by the tragedy that had befallen us, and also proud and grateful to be an American. I believe that America has the wonderful advantages it does largely because of our inspired Constitution and adherence to it. The freedoms, rights, and checks and balances of power delineated by the Constitution are essential in maintaining a humane society. Ultimately, our collective adherence to the principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution determines whether we as a country stand for what is right, or become more like those who attacked us seven years ago.

In the last several years, I have been dismayed at the disdain the current administration seems to have for the Constitution. The rights and freedoms of American citizens have been curtailed, and the power of the Executive has been enlarged (at the expense of the other branches) with such measures as "signing statements"- indicating that the President has no intention to enforce certain laws passed by our elected officials in Congress - and other actions. In addition, international treaties to which the U.S. was a ratifier, such as the Geneva Convention, have been ignored when the administration found it inconvenient to follow them. What happened to the principle of inalienable human rights?

It is very important in the upcoming Presidential election to consider which candidate is best willing and able to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Who is most likely to restore the balance of power in the federal government? Who is most likely to preserve individual rights and freedoms? Who will ensure that in the continuing "War on Terror," we do not abandon the very principles that have given our country its character and prosperity?

As I remember 9/11, I hope that whomever we choose this November to lead us, that person will do his best to respect the Constitution and stand up for what is right. What good is winning the War if we lose our soul in the process?

Expecting a Mini-Christensen

2008-09-02T18:33:00.003+01:00

For those of you who haven't yet heard, Team Christensen is adding a new member to the roster. We're awaiting the arrival of this new little person sometime around March 18, 2009, which puts me at 12 weeks pregnant.

The unfortunate part is that I have been very, very ill for the past several weeks. I don't bring this up to elicit pity -- okay, I don't bring this up solely to elicit pity -- but to publicly thank the many family members and friends who have prayed for us, watched James for us, and listened to me whine and complain. Many of you will remember how hard my first pregnancy was, and if you can believe it, this one has been even worse. But I truly have felt the influence of the prayers that have been said on my behalf, and for that I am very grateful.

So here's to the ups and downs of life! We're very excited to get on with things and meet the newest member of our family. In a few excruciating months.

Be Here Now

2008-07-02T08:29:00.004+01:00

When I was in the MTC, I made a little sign for myself that said "Be Here Now." I'm notoriously bad at living in the moment; I'm usually thinking about the next meal, the next responsibility, the next place I'll live or kid I'll have or whatever. In the MTC, I was thinking about getting out in the field when I wasn't thinking about coming home from my mission. I had a hard time focusing on the present.

Yesterday, a friend of ours and her daughter took us to the zoo. When James and Eva were looking intently at the pygmy hippopotamus, Stephanie said to me, "This is the life. Our kids are well and happy, we're at the zoo, enjoying beautiful weather, we have good friends . . . this is it." And it made me realize that I really should just relax and enjoy my life. It was a wonderful and needed reminder.

James' Birthday Party

2008-06-24T22:03:00.001+01:00

Micah posted pictures of James' super duper third birthday party here. Enjoy!

Laughter and Forgetting

2008-06-19T23:13:00.006+01:00

James is such a delightful, funny little boy, it's impossible to chronicle all the delightful, funny little things he does. What that means is that I remember generally how James was as an infant and smaller toddler, but some of the specifics are disturbingly quickly forgotten. I was just looking back at some videos we'd taken of James over the past year or so, and remembering things he used to do. For instance, he used to say something that sounded like "pressa" before addressing me or Micah: "Pressa Mommy, where are you?" or "Hi, pressa Daddy." To this day, I have no idea what he meant by it, but the thing is, he doesn't do it anymore. Another thing he used to do was hit himself, usually on the head, for no reason at all. I'm glad that little oddity is a thing of the past. Lately he's been saying "my" instead of "I'm." As in, "My sorry, Mommy" or Q: "James, are you okay?" A: "My fine, my fine." Anyway, this is a video from a few months ago that I promised my sisters I'd post. Here's to remembering how silly I was to leave my lipstick where James could get it...

James's Birthday

2008-06-18T23:27:00.002+01:00

Well, he's three. I can't believe that three years have gone by. I just wanted to thank all of you who have called, sent gifts and cards, and been there for James. Here's to a wonderful little boy!

Horniman Museum and Getting There

2008-06-13T23:30:00.004+01:00

Friday, we went to the Horniman Museum. We had heard it had a great aquarium (which it does, albeit a small one). To get there, we took the 521 bus to London Bridge station, from which we took the National Rail service to Forest Hill. I want to take this opportunity to say how much I love rail stations.* When you're in a train station, it seems as though a world of possibility is open to you. Dotted throughout Britain, connected by a crisscrossing of rails like the veins on a leaf, rail stations are much more accessible than airports and much less depressing than their American cousins. They are breezy, inviting, bustling... and they fill my heart with lovely anticipation. The London Bridge - Forest Hill trip was short (15 or 20 minutes) and cheap (3.80 GBP return), but I could easily have bought a ticket to Edinburgh. Or Swansea. Or Dover. I could have just as easily gone almost anywhere in the country. I know, you can go anywhere in the States with a plane ticket, but it's not the same.

So, reader, I invite you to come ride the rails with me. You'll never be the same.

*I must say, I understand in some measure why King's Cross station plays such a significant part in the Harry Potter novels.

Where Am I?

2008-06-10T22:26:00.004+01:00

I traveled today from our flat in central London to a couple of friends' homes in East London, trying out some alternative transportation routes in order to avoid the dreaded transfer at Bank station. For reasons related to my own incompetence and stubbornness, I ended up walking much more than I had intended, through some interesting neighborhoods. Not really dangerous neighborhoods - just more industrial than residential. It got me thinking -- Greater London is a relatively small area, consisting of 609 square miles of land out of the approximately 57 million on Earth. But on almost any given 90p ($1.80) bus ride in the capital, you can pass wide green expanses next to row after row of (aptly named) row houses. There are crumbling warehouses around the corner from extravagant hotels. There are stones from the old Roman city walls tucked in between shiny new skyscrapers. So my tube, light rail, light rail, walking, bus, walking, bus, and tube journeys today took me through dozens of little mini-cities. There was a totally different feeling in each neighborhood, and frankly it was disorienting. Trying to make sense of these disparate pieces as part of a larger whole was mentally like trying to put together a puzzle with the pieces from several different boxes. Living in New York was like living in a mosaic; the neighborhoods were different, but felt like part of one grand composition. London is more like the collage of a madman. I've yet to process all the feelings that surfaced for me today, but one thing I have realized is that there is value in being caught off guard. I said to Micah the other day that I feel more at home in New York than here in London. That is true. But I also like London more. Maybe part of what I like about it is its ability to disquiet me.

Sometimes I Am Shallow

2008-05-19T22:15:00.003+01:00

The season finale of Bones is airing tonight (8/7 c on Fox), which means that I will be able to see it as soon as it is available for download from iTunes. . . the second it is available for download from iTunes. I do not exaggerate when I say that this is the number one thing I have been looking forward to all week. Does anyone out there among my blog readership (i.e. the nine-or-so of you) feel the same way? Or do you all have lives imbued with actual meaning?

"the fugitive moment refuses to stay"

2008-05-14T21:14:00.003+01:00

I just held James and sang him to sleep. This does not happen very often; many times Micah or I will be dismissed with a "go" when James is ready to rest for the night. Tonight he was so exhausted that changing his diaper and putting on pajamas was a traumatic event for everyone involved. But eventually, he calmed down enough for Micah to sing a few bedtime songs to him ("The Itsy Bitsy Spider," "The Wheels on the Bus," and "Popcorn Popping"), and finally, he crawled on my lap and snuggled up to me to listen to "one (last) song." As I sang "I Lived in Heaven," then "I Know My Father Lives," then "I Feel My Savior's Love," his little eyes fluttered, then closed, then stayed closed.

How many more nights will he let me sing him to sleep, cradled in my arms? Whatever the number, it will be too few.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-12T07:27:00.008+01:00

I had surgery last Tuesday. It was minor, outpatient surgery, but as a result, I have spent most of the last several days in bed, and I won't be able to pick up anything heavy (i.e. James) for several weeks to come. And I've realized how wonderful my support system is. So this Mother's Day, I wanted to pull back the curtain and reveal the real wizards of my motherhood. If James does or is anything good, the following people deserve the credit. If, on the other hand, my mothering fails to measure up, the blame is mine alone.

Micah, my husband and friend and superhero

Micah has done everything, everything to help while I have been recovering. He has taken care of James, washed the clothes, washed the dishes, prepared the food, cleaned the flat, and moved things with solely the power of his mind. I married the most amazing human being on the planet, who bears my many indiscretions, weaknesses, and character flaws with grace and cheerfulness. He has endlessly encouraged and supported me in my role as mother, and I will always be grateful to him for that.

My own saintly Mummy

My mother is a great inspiration to me. She has been such a good example of mothering. When I was a child, she helped me develop my imagination and self worth while simultaneously giving me an anchor of safety and stability in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She is truly amazing when it comes to teaching her children be independent, thinking people who choose to act for themselves and take control of their own destinies. Oh, and she tolerates with longsuffering and great compassion my many whiny phone calls about what a failure I am as a mother.

My tireless Mother-in-law
My mother-in-law is one of the most vocal advocates for yours truly. She never hesitates to tell me what a great job I'm doing as a mother, even though privately she must chuckle at my foibles and my comparative inexperience. She is one of those people that just gives and gives and gives, and you start to wonder if she has any desires for herself other than to serve others. She was the one who took care of me when I was pregnant and miserable, fixing me grits (she is Southern Hospitality personified) and bacon, empathizing with me to no end. She also happily takes care of James when his parents need a break.

Add to this list my father, father-in-law, stepfather, grandfather, grandmother, sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, other family members, and dear friends, all of whom have functioned as surrogate therapists over the phone or in person or by email as I have tried to muddle through these first few years of motherhood. They have rejoiced in my successes and sympathized with me during my mistakes and shortcomings. Forgive me for not naming you all individually, but know that you are very loved and very appreciated. It does take a village to raise a child, and James and I are very lucky to be part of such a loving and wonderful village.

Our Bedtime Routine

2008-04-24T08:26:00.004+01:00

James aficionados may remember that the first song he ever sang along to was "A Pirate's Life for Me (Yo Ho)." Now it is the last thing he hears every night, because he requests I sing it after we say prayers.

Brought to You By the Letter H

2008-04-22T21:25:00.004+01:00

Imagine my excitement tonight when James learned his first letter! He was taking his bath, and he has these foam letters and numbers that stick to the tub when they're wet. He picked up the red letter "H" and said, "Look, H!" It just goes to show that Big Bird really knows what he's talking about.

Also, the big news this week is that James is learning to wear "big boy undies." I decided it was time to potty learn when he brought me a dirty diaper he had taken off himself. Just as Big Bird is helping us with our ABC's, Elmo is helping us remember to go to the bathroom. So far, we've had several accidents, but also several successful trips to the loo. Wish us luck!

We Love Visitors!

2008-04-19T23:51:00.006+01:00

Some pictures of family and friends who have come to visit in the past couple of months:

Tat, Blair, and a Beefeater at the Tower of London

My mother and I

Mom in front of the Houses of Parliament

Tat, James, Lorianne

Tat, PaPa Larry (my grandpa), Micah

PaPa Larry wearing James' "hat"

Pure Imagination

2008-04-09T07:46:00.009+01:00

James sees the world a little differently than the rest of us. As soon as he realized that he was part of a world, and that there were other things besides himself in that world, he imagined that those things were other things.

This may look like a small plastic toy to you or to me. To James, it is a cell phone.

An ordinary brown leather sofa? Not when James straddles the top. From that position, he told me, "Look, Mommy! I'm riding a horse!"

This is the cardboard strip torn off our laundry detergent box.

But in James' hands, it's a balloon, and he is Curious George, being carried away by it.

These are not the pillows on our bed . . .

. . . they form the dashboard of James' car.

On the left is a carrot. On the right is the vegetable peeler. When James "peels carrots," he does so over the trash can.

And the following picture needs no explanation:

Some Thoughts on Easter

2008-03-25T11:08:00.004Z

I apologize in advance for those who would see this post as light-minded or inappropriate in any way. I don't mean to trivialize the atonement and resurrection at all by what I'm about to say.

As I sat in church on Easter Sunday, and even in the days leading up to it, I felt what I'm going to call "the spirit of Easter" more this year than I think I've ever felt it before. What it boiled down to was an overwhelming sense of gratitude - not just for the resulting blessings of Christ's actions, but for the actions themselves.

I am grateful for the promise of a universal resurrection, and somewhat more so for the opportunity my Savior has afforded me to repent of my sins. This year, what was foremost in my mind, though, was the way in which Jesus accomplished His great labor of love. And I must say that a big part of getting a handle on my Easter thoughts and feelings this year was by thinking about some of our great modern, secular parables.

As I sat in Sacrament Meeting, I thought of little Frodo, accepting the burden of the one ring at the council in Rivendell, even though he had little knowledge of the difficulties ahead of him. I thought of the great lion, Aslan, who forgave even Edmund's treachery. And I thought of Harry Potter, who (spoiler alert!) walked into the Forbidden Forest at midnight, planning to lay down his life for his friends.

I am not implying, of course, that these stories rival holy Scripture, or that the experiences of these fictional characters compare to the ultimate sacrifice of the very non-fictional Jesus of Nazareth. What I am saying is that the themes in these books (and others)-- themes of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, and of fighting for a cause bigger than oneself -- deeply resonate with me, and with so many people.

I guess that the ideas encompassed by the word "atonement" are so big, and the sacrifices Jesus made so awesome, in the true sense of the word, that it is helpful for me to approach the subject via allegory. I find I can better relate to the thoughts and feelings of a small hobbit or young wizard than a person who was literally the Son of God, and who had no faults, and who suffered for the sins of countless billions. So I am grateful for these contemporary parables, that in a very small way help me better understand and appreciate the Greatest Story Ever Told -- that of the empty tomb.

The (Almost) Completely Fictional Post

2008-03-14T19:26:00.004Z

Today was a great day. I arose, as I so often do, at five a.m. with a song in my heart. I said a long, uninterrupted morning prayer, studied Scripture, and did my Pilates workout by six. I then showered, dressed, and applied makeup, makeup which in no way was irreparably damaged by my son at any time today.

At seven o'clock, James knocked gently on his bedroom door, and said, "Mommy, I'm up! Can I come out of my room now?" We breakfasted on whole-grain, sugar-free, nutrient-rich food which had been harvested and packaged using sustainable, eco-friendly processes. James ate, as usual, a well balanced meal.

After starting the laundry and washing the breakfast dishes, we exited the spotlessly clean flat in an orderly manner and visited a museum a few blocks away. James obeyed my every suggestion, holding my hand the entire time without a fuss, and refrained at all times from touching the priceless antiques and furniture.

We returned home for lunch, which was as hearty and wholesome as breakfast. After lunch, James went of his own accord up to his room for a nice, long nap. Because he slept so soundly and so long, I was able to get some necessary tasks accomplished. I worked on our taxes, scheduled my Visiting Teaching appointments, and did some crocheting while listening to my French lessons.

James awoke in time for a visit from our friends, Hanna and Henry. James was in a great mood, owing to all the rest he had gotten, and at no time did he make Henry cry. Not at all.

After our friends left, James and I had a peaceful and restful evening, playing gently with one another until James' bedtime. We rounded out the evening with a nice, homemade dinner. After family prayer, James gave me a goodnight kiss and drifted off to sleep. I sighed as I gazed upon him, wondering what I did to deserve such a lovely child.

And now I'm off to bed myself, content with knowing that I've done some good in the world today.

Pupaphobia

2008-03-10T13:04:00.005Z

In case you're wondering, it's the fear of puppets. And James has it. He becomes violently frightened when anyone with any kind of puppet demonstrates its use. I would add pictures of James being traumatized by puppets, but I think it would be cruel to laugh at his very real affliction. I should say it would be cruel for more people to laugh at his pain, because Micah and I have already enjoyed this little joke at his expense.

So far, he has been scared out of his mind by a dinosaur puppet, a wolf puppet, and even one of his own mittens being used as a sort of puppet. You know, like, "hey, James, I'm your mitten. If you put me on your hand, I'll keep you warm," with the fingers and thumb parts of the mitten being moved up and down to simulate a talking mouth. Yeah, he completely freaked.

It's good to know, though, that if these issues persist, there is help out there for people like James.

Cambridge

2008-03-05T10:11:00.002Z

We went by train (fifty minutes from King's Cross station) last Saturday. The photo shows the Bridge of Sighs.

The Artiste

2008-03-05T09:45:00.010Z

I just wanted you all to know that among my other domestic skills and talents, which are many, I have lately added "Mommy Artist Extraordinaire." James often requests my drawings, and I am all too happy to oblige. My chosen medium is usually the Magna Doodle, as will be exhibited in the following pieces.

One of James' most oft-desired subjects is "a train," my version of which you see here -

I have expanded my repertoire to include Thomas the Tank Engine -

and his friend, Percy, shown below. Notice the subtle delineations between the two -

James has also commissioned several times "a Mr. Potato Head."

And finally, once in a while, James will ask me to draw "a girl baby."

I must admit that there has been some encouragement on my part for the election of this subject.

The Mad Hatter

2008-02-21T22:50:00.003Z

James likes to wear Daddy's hat.

The Long and Winding Post

2008-02-12T22:09:00.000Z

I've been meaning to post a lot of little things, but haven't made the time. So now you'll all be subjected to a torrent of miscellanea.

1. Yesterday morning, the entire flat smelled like kippers. That's right, kippers. Micah decided it would be a very British thing to do - so he bought, cooked, and ate some. This event will not be repeating itself anytime soon. Maybe ever.

2. The (insert ordinal here) reason to love British socialism - YMCA nursery vouchers. Yep, I get to go work out at the Y (for free) and leave James in the nursery (for free) up to twice a week. They also have (free) swim classes for James there. We haven't gone to any yet, but I'm planning on trying them out.

3. James and I went to the Sherlock Holmes Museum last Thursday, which is located at "The World's Most Famous Address," according to the promotional material. I will give a cool prize to anyone who actually knows the address Sherlock Holmes fictionally lived at before looking at the above hyperlink.

4. After struggling for the better part of the last 3 1/2 years with motherhood and its trappings, and desiring to define for myself what exactly the essence of being a full-time mom is, I have come up with a Mommy Mission Statement: It is my purpose to promote the healthy spiritual, physical, mental, social, and emotional development of my children. When I think of my daily tasks in this context, it helps me focus on the bigger picture: I'm not just changing another diaper or cleaning up another upturned bowl of cereal; I'm promoting James's healthy physical development. Etc. I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

5. I have looked in a new way at the scriptural account of Jesus, Mary, and Martha in which Martha is "cumbered about much serving" and Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to "his word." Martha complains; Jesus replies that Mary "hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42.) I am Martha, and instead of being mildly offended and perplexed by this bit of counsel, as I have been up until now, I am suddenly liberated by it. One thing is needful. But the one thing isn't a thing. It's the attitude with which you do the thing - the why and not the what.

6. I saw Juno on Friday evening with my lovely friend, Josie. I really recommend this movie, but not because it was especially "hip" or "smart" or whatever silly label the critics are throwing at it. This movie is getting a lot of critical acclaim, not undeserved, but for the wrong reasons. For me, the film was brilliant and the best I saw all year because it made me really uncomfortable -- in the sense that witnessing a very intimate exchange between two people makes you uncomfortable, or watching an awkward teenager get picked on at school makes you uncomfortable. The characters and storyline draw you in so quickly and completely that when something tragic happens to them, you realize that it's also happening vicariously to you. Juno's fetus becomes a metaphor for how vulnerable she is - and in turn, how vulnerable we all are. And isn't that vulnerability at the heart of what we find beautiful? Why we coo over newborns and love the fact that even Superman has his kryptonite? (*Erik could have written a much better review. Regardless of what he thinks of this movie.)

7. Thoughts about President Hinckley's passing: I am so grateful for a Prophet. Reflecting on President Hinckley's life has increased my testimony of the love our Heavenly Father has for all His children. Yes, we are losing the association of a wonderful person with a smashing sense of humor. But the work goes on, and the Lord has provided someone - will always provide someone - perfectly qualified to take his place. (I wish I could say the same for secular governments.) Watching GBH's funeral also caused me to reflect on how blessed I am to be a part of a very loving and supportive family, and how grateful I am to all of you.

I'll Miss You, President Hinckley

2008-01-28T06:47:00.001Z

President Hinckley has passed away. (For the CNN story, click here.) He was the Prophet and President of the Church during many of the defining moments of my life: high school graduation, my move to New York, my mission, my decision to attend law school, my marriage, James' birth, our move to London . . . . I think I'll miss his sense of humor most.

The Reason

2008-01-25T22:27:00.000Z

I called my mother in tears last night. I was having a panic attack brought on by several things, including my recent involvement in a website called Goodreads, on which a bunch of your friends try to make you feel as unintelligent, uncultured, and poorly read as possible (that's not really the point, I just feel like it sometimes). Anyway, my saintly mummy (I'm in England, people) reminded me of this Carol Lynn Pearson poem:

The Reason

A certain panic
Finds me
When I see
A forest, a train
A library.
So many trees to touch
Places
Faces yet to view
And, too
So many words to read.

If I concede
All space to earth
All time to life
The disproportion
Is absurd
(My tiny taste
And the giant waste
Of all creation
I've not known).
What a wretched
Faithless view
Of God's economy.

It isn't true.
The forest, the train
The library--
Are why we have
Eternity.

Thanks, Mom. I can breathe properly again.

T. Rex!

2008-01-25T22:07:00.000Z

These are from the Natural History Museum, where there is a life-size, robotic model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. James loves dinosaurs. It was a good evening.

That was Tuesday. Wednesday morning, we visited the Science Museum with my friend, Stephanie, and her daughter, Eva. James was so cute with Eva, at one point taking her by the hand and leading her to something he thought was particularly exciting.

Today, we went to our favorite, the London Aquarium, to see the fish and sharks. We went with Hanna, a friend from church, and her son, Henry. James and Henry enjoyed sandwiches together in front of the Pacific-Ocean-themed shark tank.

Life is good.

Check Out Elna Baker

2008-01-25T21:57:00.000Z

So I was listening to my This American Life podcast, as I am wont to do each week, when one of the stories particularly caught my attention. The story was called "Babies Buying Babies," by one Elna Baker. It was brilliant and funny, and I recommend you listen to it - it's the third act of the "Matchmakers" show from last week. Anyway, then I realized from the show that Ms. Baker is LDS, so I went to her website to find out more about her. That led me to a video clip of her on MySpace delivering a hilarious monologue about attending an LDS Singles Halloween dance (at the Manhattan Stake Center, I might add - where yours truly has attended many an LDS Singles Halloween dance many moons ago). Basically, I have started stalking this woman. And I think you all should, too.

JamesTV

2008-01-21T14:32:00.001Z

That really is what he's saying. I know that Micah and I may be the only ones who can understand him.

The Hogwarts Express

2008-01-17T14:14:00.000Z

I made a pilgrimage to King's Cross station yesterday.

Top Tens

2008-01-14T15:53:00.000Z

Alicia, because you asked me if I miss Alpine, I dedicate this list to you:

The Top Ten Things I Miss about Living in Alpine, Utah

10. My household appliances: garbage disposal, dishwasher, washing machine, & dryer.

9. My beautiful gray recycling bin. You just roll it out to the curb, and you're done. There's no shoving recyclables into impossibly small openings in a collection container three blocks away.

8. Walking in Burgess Park.

7. The convenience of having a car.

6. Being able to walk to church.

5. Having a temple 10 minutes away.

4. The bountiful availability of buttermilk, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and corn tortillas.

3. Cafe Rio. Oh my, do I miss you.

2. Are you familiar with a little something called customer service? 'Cause the Brits aren't.

1. Being close to family and friends. I miss you all much more than I have probably expressed.

Of course, this post would be incomplete without:

The Top Ten Things about Living in London

10. Public transportation rocks! And being able to walk almost anywhere is fabulous.

9. Being within walking distance of several community centers with free playgroups for kids.

8. Free health care!

7. Being so close to so many exhibitions of performing and fine arts.

6. Being so close to so many exhibitions of historical significance (like King Tut's mummy right now at the O2, or the Chinese terracotta warriors at the British Museum).

5. Being so close to Platform 9 3/4, The Leaky Cauldron, and other Harry Potter points of interest (they may be fictional, but that doesn't make them any less real).

4. Actually knowing the missionaries and having them over for dinner often (this doesn't happen in Alpine).

3. Easy access to "the continent." (The trains to Paris depart from a station that is a 25-minute walk from our flat.)

2. Ordering groceries online. This has revolutionized my world - and not just because it feeds my borderline-OCD affinity for list-making.

1. Meeting new people . . . all the time. I love being part of such a diverse mixture of people.

Parenthood means . . .

2008-01-11T20:59:00.000Z

. . . repetition. Today, Micah bought James a train set (our third) that is a little delicate for a kid who wrote the "I ride roughshod over everything" book. So Micah and I took turns building and rebuilding the track for the better part of the day. This is similar to another of James' favorite pastimes - knocking down towers of blocks we build for him. Who do you think has the upper hand in this relationship?

On the other hand, the kid can also be very sweet and funny. Yesterday, when we were going out to run errands, he stopped on the stairs, sat down, folded his arms, closed his eyes tight, and said, "Say prayer." We said a prayer, and he then happily climbed into his stroller. I guess repetition reinforces all kinds of behavior.

Overheard in London...

2008-01-09T22:44:00.000Z

Okay, here is as close as I can get to an exact transcript of a conversation I had Monday night on our intercom with someone who buzzed up to our flat:

him: Are you open?
me: Is what open, the restaurant? (We live above a Japanese restaurant.)
him: No, upstairs.
me: Open for what?
him: You know.
me: Uh, no I don't.
him: A massage.
me: Oh, I think that they used to do that here, but not anymore.
him: (sarcastically) Really?
me: Really.
him: You sure you don't do it?
me: Quite sure.
him: Oh, come on!
I hang up.

See, the story goes that there really was a "massage parlor" in this building at one time - only in the other flat, not ours. So this would seem to confirm the rumors Micah heard... what a colorful place we live in!

Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas

2008-01-02T23:55:00.001Z

I thought I should mention that James and I flew to Arkansas December 8th to visit my dad and stepmom. The day we arrived, we immediately drove from the airport to my Aunt Kay's in Springfield, Missouri to celebrate some family birthdays and early Christmas. We had a great time there with aunts, uncles, cousins, and cats. James was very energetic and excited to meet new people... and to pet the cats.

After a great weekend there, we got to spend time with Grandpa Tim and his dog, Kirby, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. James had just come from Tallahassee, where my brother has a dog named Yoshi. So James's favorite thing to do was keep repeating "It's not Kirby, it's Yoshi!" to us. He really knew it was a different dog, but I think he saw the constant back-and-forth of us explaining over and over again that it really was Kirby as a game. Like so much of his life.

The next weekend we visited my Grandmother Ada in Emporia, Kansas. James and I drove over from Arkansas with my sister, Meredith. It was a nice visit, but very snowy outside and cold.

The remainder of our trip was spent back with my dad and stepmom, Holly. Holly even took James for his first pony ride! We all had some fun times together and were sad to have to say goodbye. At least I was sad... I think Dad and Holly had had enough of James terrorizing their usually quiet home.

Disneyland!

2008-01-02T21:19:00.000Z

Yeah, so I'll be going in reverse chronological order for a few posts. We returned to London on Sunday, December 30 after being in California for a week for the annual Disneyland trip with Micah's family. Micah posted a bunch of pictures of our trip here. This trip was extremely satisfying for all of us - Tat got to check off the last ride at the Magic Kingdom she had not yet been on (the Fire Engine on Main Street), Micah got to eat at least four Dole Whips (pineapple frozen yogurt you get in Adventureland), and James got to meet Mickey Mouse. We all got lots of quality time with family, which was priceless. Thanks for the trip, Grandpa and Grandma Christensen!

Tat went to a play

2008-01-02T20:49:00.001Z

Last night, I saw Sir Ian McKellen (among others) in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. For those of you who don't know, Chekhov is one of my favorite playwrights. The play was fantastic (thanks, Micah, for the ticket and for watching James), and Sir Ian was marvelous. The man didn't make one false move.

Ah. Someday I'll be back on the stage. Someday.

Florida for Thanksgiving, Arkansas awaits

2007-12-06T23:20:00.000Z

James and Tat made it to Tallahassee for Thanksgiving this year. Micah sadly couldn't make it as he is being all studious. Pictures of our family are here (thanks, Erik). We had a good time - now Tat and James are getting ready to go to Arkansas Saturday for some time with Tat's dad and his side of the family.

Some random thoughts about life in London that I haven't gotten down yet:

Meeting people. Most of the people we meet in London, including people in our ward at church, are foreigners. (Somehow, I'm not sure that James has a chance of developing a British accent this way.) So far, besides U.K. citizens, I've met people from Argentina, Australia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Phillipines, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Trinidad, and the U.S. Yeah. A veritable melting pot.

James. Keeps asking to see the sharks and fish here in Florida. I tell him they live in London (at the London Aquarium, to which we have an annual pass) and that he'll have to wait until we go back there on the plane. Also confuses the word "jellyfish" (from the aquarium) with "peanut butter and jelly sandwich," and so asks for a "jellyfish sandwich" from time to time. So darn cute.

Our Flat

2007-11-15T13:46:00.000Z

We live in Bloomsbury, just down the street from the British Museum. You enter through the street door, ascend twenty-odd stairs, go through another door, cross a little terrace, and then enter through the flat door. At this point, you're on the main level of the flat, with a living room and kitchen (pictures of each are above). As you can see, we haven't yet received the desk we ordered from IKEA for my computer in the living room, and in the kitchen, we don't have a dishwasher, but there is a combination washing machine/dryer.

Then you ascend another 17 stairs to the bedrooms (two of them) and bathroom. The flat has been comfortable and extremely conveniently located. And now that we're finally getting set up with our internet connection, my computer, and soon, a desk for said computer, it feels like home.

Anyway, the sofa in the living room is a fold-out, so please come and visit! There are lots of fun things to do in London, and I'm getting very good at carrying James in his stroller up and down the steps in the Underground now, so I will not slow down your sightseeing. Much.

Halloween

2007-11-15T13:23:00.000Z

James dressed as everyone's favorite Dagobah-dweller this year, thanks to the gift of the costume from Uncle Jared and Aunt Nicole. We went to a community-sponsored Halloween party on the 30th (where the pictures of the little vampire and skeleton are from) and a Church-friends-type party on the 31st (where the group picture is from). We had a good time and surprisingly (but encouragingly) stayed away from too much candy.

A new post with pictures and video of the flat will be coming soon.