Christmas Fact

According to the Alaska Department of fish and game, both Male and Female Reindeer grow antlers. The Male's lose their antlers between November and early December, while the females retain theirs until after they give birth in the spring. Judging by all of the artwork depicting Santa and his Sleigh, we must assume that all of his reindeer are female, from Rudolph to Blitzen, which only makes sense. Only women could drag a fat old man in a red suit all the way around the world and never get lost.

Traveling First Class

Thanks to the little goblet that Mom gave Lily after Thanksgiving dinner, she felt like a princess the whole way home, all 14 hours of it. It's nice to get back into our routine, but we feel lonely down here, so come visit! Love ya!

More pics

Aaaah, Family!

We had a fabulous time in Utah, loved being with the family, loved eating all the yummy food, loved just hanging around. Let's do it again soon!

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If anyone needs to put chains on their car, ask Jed, he was amazing putting on my chains and taking them off! Mel

Lost and Found Department

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Gr/Gr: Items found so far from Thanksgiving fiasco:

-Tan pants (Joey's --)
-Men's mauve-color "Jackson Hole Wyo" t-shirt--(either PSlade's or PKs we think)
-Black camera case, "Case Logic" brand. Connecting cord with a yellow and a white plug in one pocket; 4 energizer batteries in the other pocket. Claim it and it's yours.
-Jed's broken airsoft gun, but we don't think he wants it.

Thanks for coming, all of you who could. We are so deeply grateful for such loving and wonderful progeny. No one on earth is as blessed as we are. !!
And we're so glad you travelers made it back home safely.

We have tons of snow today (Monday)....covered the t.v. dish up on the roof, so guess we won't be watching the Jazz tonight. (It's nice and quiet though)

Love you so much, Gr/Gr

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Home again Home again jigity jig
My my what a fun mess 5 hours in the mountains!
We chained up and crawled but slowly made it.....that might make me want to live in california forever!
We left at 7:15 am MT and got home (after dropping Jed off in Lincoln) at 10:30
We love you all and thank you for the beautiful week we had, Love Mel

Home again

Finally we have arrived at home. We left at about 7:00am from my parent's house, and got to reno before 5pm, and just got to our house at about 10pm. The mountains were...rediculous. Traffic, because of the chain control guys. Then we got chains on, then just slow going in the snow most of the way through the mountains. Sooooo slooowww. But now we're home, safe and... Alena made us dinner! The perfect way to finish a too-long trip.

-Mac

Cougar Love!

Saturday was history in the making!!!! Did you all hear or see the game? We about died with that amazing win. My boys recently got some BYU football team autographs, including John Beck's, at a fireside they all came and spake (and sang) at several weeks ago. Now they're hoping they'll be worth something someday :) Any bids?

Thanksgiving was great--I just wish I could've spent more time with my sissers who live far away. Thanks to Mom and Dad for putting up with the huge crowd and putting us up at the beautiful condo. Lane is doing better, but still coughing a lot and feeling weak. Jordy is coughing a lot too, still--but hasn't gotten any worse. Hope none of you catch anything from us and hope Mel and Beth made it home okay.

Love you all!

Jen

Howdy Family!

This is Jamie here...we're gonna come up to Gr & Gr's house on Friday sometime, im not sure when, but i am SO excited!!!! You guys have no idea. Well, have a yummy Thanksgiving dinner! Can't wait to see you guys!:)
~jamie

yay! yeah!

I'm so excited to go to the gr. parents' house! I guess we're leaving tomorrow evening so... we'll see ya all tomorrow night! I'm serious, I have been looking forward to seeing everyone forever!! It's going to be you great! loves-

Kenzie

Yootah hoooooooo!!!

We're on our way too! Mark, Sam and I are on our way out the door to start Yootah Trek 2006!!! We've decided that we will now refer to ourselves collectively as The Furians (pronounced "fury-ans")! Hopefully all will go as planned, and we will see you tonight!

Great News!

We're on our way! Well, tomorrow, that is. After Max performs as Turkey #1 in the First Grade play tomorrow, we're going to hit the road. The kids are so excited, and they could hardly settle down for bed tonight! But actually, the REAL great news is that Paul got a job! (For those of you who didn't know, he got laid off last Monday, along with 22 other people in his company. But he went straight to "networking" and interviewed on Wednesday with this guy who does the same thing, just a smaller company. And today he hired him! So he starts next Monday the 27th. Yea! Thank you to all of you who kept us in your prayers. We're hopeful that this will be a much better situation all around. Anyhow, we'll be seeing you all soon! We'll call from the road and let you know arrival plans, etc. LOVE YOU! Can't wait for stuffing!

Maestro Camo

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Gr: What a sight....today I witnessed the debut of Maestro Camille Marie Christensen. Yes, that's right. Our two ward choirs are combining for the Christmas Eve Sacrament meeting this year and this morning (8 a.m.) was a practice, but alas, no conductor showed. So valiant Cam volunteered. It was so fun to watch, wish I'd had a camcorder (oh yeah, we're not supposed to take pictures in the chapel, huh).
Anyway, her conducting career has now been launched.
(By the way, C.J. has a gorgeous bass voice--Hanna too, well, hers isn't bass, but it's very nice) Hope you all get chances to
sing this beautiful Season time. Love, Gr/Gr

Welcome Mr & Mrs Addison Steinagel

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Gr/Gr:
Hi "LoveBirds" Addy and Annie = it was great to read your blog. Tess (& Chuck) are here tonght to watch the Jazz and Tess found your blog which you entered a couple weeks ago, but now I lost it and can't find it again. We don't think you're computer illiterate at all!
We hope you can join us for Thanksgiving....it will be crazy and crowded, but then we're crazy (& crowded?)
Next time you find a minute to enter a blog, just go to the main Home Blog page (www.sladefam.blogspot.com), click at the top
middle little "Blog This!" - then the screen comes up and asks for the Username (Sladesnews) and Password (sep1955), then sign in.
When you make a "comment" it will ask for the Username and Password again. We want to read about all your activities,
well, almost all. Luv ya, Gr/Gr

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Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go......we're leaving early early tomorrow morn! We were thinking of going down to Provo..but we probably won't...
Can't wait to hug everyone! Love Mel

Just for Sara

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Sara, I'm sorry to enter this on the main blog page, but our email is still not working (can receive but not send). It's really wierd that we can blog but not email. I do not understand cyberspace.
We did receive your poem by email and enjoyed what you have written so far, and don't have much to offer in the way of suggestions. We do not think it is "lame" and you should definitely work on it and perfect it. It's amazing how sometimes when you put a writing away for a while and then get it out again (during a quiet time) that inspiration will come. We love the thought. Add to it some day and send it again, by then maybe I can email back. I think it would definitely have a place in a contest.
Love you, Gr

Thanksgiving with the hobbit family!!

Yay! I'm so excited everyone for the upcoming family shpeal! I cannot wait to see all of you guys, and I am also extremely ready for a break! This college scene is kicking my trash, (but only because I choose not to do any reading/homework until it is almost too late, or IS too late). Grandma, is Grumpa going to shoot the turkey himself?? Or maybe it would be too hard for him considering they share the name TOM. hahaha....heh.....anyways, lots of food, lots of fun, lots of funny/weird people, it's going to be great!

-Kenzie

Funny Book

Tuesday night at Gr & Gr's, family lounging/watching basketball, eating, etc.
Tess: "mom, how much are your pilates classes?"
Jo: "$ 10.00 a week"
Grma, in a very matter-of-fact, smart alik voice "That's $40.00 a month, I already figured it out"
Tess: on the floor, clutching her stomache with laughter

Scripture Chase for short ones

Okay, all you Slade shorties. Here's a great story in the N.T. about a short man who was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed a tree just to get a glimpse. I love this story! Let's see what we can learn from it.

Luke 19:1-9

I want commentary!

Auntie Jenne

Your opinion..

I need some help....
I want to take a cupple more classes at the jr. high next semester, but i'm not sure which ones... I've got crafts, and english. I'm stumped....

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Jo on Thanksgiving:

Here's what we've got: 33 people (more or less), 5 miscellaneous-sized tables, buffet serving, paper plates, but goblet glasses, plenty of chairs. Food's all planned: pies are bought and/or ordered, Jen's in charge of a couple kinds of frozen vegis (and your cranberry stuff if you want), Jo's in charge of mashed potatoes, Kari - yams, Beth - keep kids occupied and happy, Mel - help Mom in kitchen. How's that sound? I'm starting to starve up for the Big Meal!

Help me Celebrate!

I'm turning 5 the Saturday after Thanksgiving! So my cute mommy is going to make a yummy cake (because we'll be ready to eat again by then) and I just wanted to invite all of you to help me blow out my candles. Saturday, November 25th, around mid-morning, 11:00ish or so, Grandma Nette's house. Be there or . . . . not. It will be so great! I always wanted this. And I really wanted that. Oh, that's pretty! Sydnie, I always wanted that present! Oh and Sydnie, by the way, I like you. And I really, really love this birthday. I'm the star of the birthday! And I want you people to say, "Hurray for Lily's birthday! Hurray for Lily's birthday!" Thank you. (P.S. from Beth: I think you can all see where Lily actually started dictating . . .).

Sara says...

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I would just PASS OUT if GRANDPA blogged something!! Please Grandpa!! How are you feeling with that knee and all? I won't be able to come this ThangsGiving (sobbing literally), but I hope you're feeling much better. I am sure you've joined the local soccer team by now...love you! Love you Grandma! LOVE YOU EVERYBODY!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxox Miss you all

Mozart and the mathematics in his music

Considerable evidence suggests that Mozart dabbled mathematics in his music. According to his sister, Wolfgang "talked of nothing, thought of nothing but figures" during his school days. Moreover, he jotted mathematical equations in the margins of some of his compositions, including Fantasia and Fugue in C Major, where he calculated his odds of winning a lottery.
To describe the golden section, imagine a line that is one unit long. Then divide the line in two unequal segments, such that the shorter one equals x, the longer one equals (1 - x) and the ratio of the shorter segment to the longer one equals the ratio of the longer segment to the overall line; that is, x/(1 - x) = (1 - x)/1. That equality leads to a quadratic equation that can be used to solve for x, and substituting that value back into the equality yields a common ratio of approximately 0.618. That value has been given many names, including the golden ratio, the golden number and even the divine proportion.
In the end, we may never know if Mozart composed his sonatas, even in part, from equations. We must remember that these sonatas are the work of a genius, and one who loved to play with numbers. Mozart may have known of the golden section and used it.

Yes folks, that was confusing and boring, but I though it was quite neat. The end.
~Camille

To Cami--from couz Sara

SladesnewsHey Cami-- I am OBSESSED with Mozart, but I knew nothing of the Divine Ratio in his music. It doesn't surprise me. I have always favored his music-even more than Bach, Bethoven etc...(sorry about my spelling these days) I always listened to Mozart and played his music on my violin. There is a Heavenly quality to his music that is unique to his time period. Anyway, I was just wondering if you could elaborate on what you know about it....I am fascinated. Do you just love Mozart's Requiem? I do. It's my all time favorite!! xoxo

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JoAnn The Wonder Woman

The CJ Eagle Court of Honor is officially scheduled for Friday (after Thanksgiving) at 7:00pm at our church. Details will be put together later. If anyone feels that they could contribute to the program, or if anyone should have any great ideas for the program - I'm all ears.?

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Hey guys, I've started uploading my photos from italy to this photo storage site, so if you'd like to see what I've got so far go check out this site: Flickr
Good Times!

a normal day at the Christensen home

Thanksgivingthanksgiving

...I'm... dreaming... of a white... thanksgiving... so i can skip the day and go skiing hardy har
~camille

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Oh yes I apologize all; this is Tom. I didn't realize that I left an anonymous post until Sara called me and asked me if I did it. I was like, "did what?" I thought I was in trouble or something. I didn't mean to get all technical on you guys, but it's something I'm sort of obsessed with. But what I really wanted to comment on was Glen Beck. I saw him mentioned in the comments previously. I used to listen to his 2-hour radio special everyday, but then he was replaced by Sacramento's Phil Cowan. So I'm not sure where he is now. But what boggles my mind is that hardly anyone in my family has heard of Michael Savage. He is a national talk show host who airs three hours a day and has 10 million listeners and has written 18 books. Not only are his opinions unique and accurate, but he his simply the most educated talk show host there is. Savage holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and two Masters degrees in Botany and Nutrition. He never placates the Republican Party like Hannity, Beck and Libaugh do. He's totally independent and will criticize anyone doing wrong, even fellow conservatives (or as he likes to say, "so-called conservatives"). He has a heavy New York accent and he screams a lot at liberals.

Just in case anyone wanted to expand their listenership.
-Tom Haas (the mystery poster)

The Carrot Ordeal

Ok, the weirdest funniest and most annoying thing happened today whilst driving over the north Ogden pass with my mother. There was a rather large bag of baby carrots sitting in between our two front seats as we were driving, and we were munching casually while engaged in some sort of conversation. Everything was going wonderfully when I felt a small twinge in my nose. As soon as I knew what was about to happen, I warned my mother dear and waited for the horrifying next 3 seconds of my life. Thank goodness it didn't actually last a whole 3 seconds though. Anyway, I sneezed. Very largely. Good thing my hands were there, or else small particles of carrot would have been all over the front windshield. Instead, it coated not only my hands, but my entire face as well. In my eyes, up my nose, on my eyelids, and I even found a piece in my ear. I still had my eyes closed at this point (if I opened them I would have gotten a landslide of orange in my retina) and I fumbled around for a Kleenex. Upon finding one, I wiped, and wiped, and wiped some more, then finally my vision cleared and once again I was restored to this earth as we know it. I also found out that I have a nack for making a 10 second story into a 5 minute one without stretching the truth one bit. HA! *pat pat*
~Camille

The below paragraph-

Actually, reading this again...it sure sounds like Tommy. He uses certain words when he write and is almost poetic about it. I thought it might be Gramma--but it does sound like Tom. : ) He's quit a kid. I love him. He's helping Jed enroll in college and he bought the young boys sweatshirts when they were cold. He and Sam are great older brothers to their younger ones...O.K...I'll stop bragging about my family! (Hey, did you guys know your Aunt Mel is a great mom and professional artist??...O.K....hehe I said I'd stop! Sorry!

--Love COUZ SARA

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Well 1.618 is approximately half of pi (3.142857... the universal number used to calculate circles in geometry), therefore a relationship might exist. It's quite odd that even when super computers calculate pi to it's nearest decimal (pi is calculated by dividing 22 by 7), billions of decimals come up but no pattern exists. It's the perfect number. Has anyone read the Dan Brown books? The Da Vinci Code discusses the Divine Ratio. Leonardo Da Vinci was such a perfect artist that he used the ratio without even realizing it. If you want to think about creation and divinity, dabble in the world of theoretical physics, such as quantam mechanics, anti-matter, and teleportation. Anti-matter can be created in laboratories but it is instantly destroyed once regular matter touches it. You see, anti-matter is self-explanatory: it is the absolute negative of physical matter. When regular matter touches it's anti-matter, a reaction of pure energy takes place (if an Earth crashes into an anti-Earth, a "Supernova" would take place). Scientists believe that anti-matter's potential is so great, we could power a spacecraft 1/3 the speed of light with a paperclip. You think that's sci fi? Think again. This stuff is real. Want to hear something even more strange? Even more, want me to prove it to you 100 percent? Would you believe it if our Air Force was researching teleportation? Well they are, and they did. They spent millions of dollars on a project called the Air Force Teleportation Physics Study. You can google it or click on the link. It's an 88 page document released for public viewing. Who knows if mankind's narcissism will bring good fortune or ill-winds. Couple all of this with our multi-billion dollar anti-aging industry, then you see the irony in a lack of belief in God when we are trying so shamelessly to obtain his powers.

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Mom: (aunt Mel): I just bought some Persian cucumbers at Trader Joe's....
Tom: were they made of uranium?