Christensen Family reunion 2026

July 8-10, we had a family reunion in Lava Hot Springs. It was a lot of fun to get everyone together. We swam at Lava Hot Springs, floated the Portneuf River, had Hailey's baby shower, and went to Chesterfield Ghost Town.  

I didn't take many pictures, but I got some good ones of Caleb and Ross jumping off the platforms at Lava. The water was a perfect temperature, and we all had fun getting in the pool. Even Grandma Christensen got in. I don't think I've ever seen her in the pool. :) It was way too hot not to get in though. 

Floating the river wasn't as fun as it has been in the past.  The water was really low and made it really rough. Caleb's tube went flat the first time down; mine barely made it with me, and Bryce, Amie, and my mom had a really rough go of it because their tube wasn't inflated all the way. Amie really hurt her tailbone. But everyone else, especially the kids, loved it and went down quite a few times. A kind woman saw Caleb's tube was flat and said they were done and asked if we wanted to borrow the tube and then turn it in when we were done. That tube made it a lot more fun. Thank you, to the angel who loaned us that tube!

Chesterfield Ghost Town is just a cool place to go see. They have a little store you can buy treats at and a bunch of restored buildings to walk through. It's always good to take some time and remember those who came before us. They made this desert land we live in inhabitable. I can't imagine all the work that went into that. Also, those who brought the gospel too. I don't want to think about living a life without the gospel.

All in all, I'd say it was a wonderful reunion in a great spot, gathered in a wonderful cabin. It fit everyone well, and great times were had. Thank you, Mom, for finding and paying for the wonderful spot.

(I'll do a seperate post for Hailey's baby shower.)

The end of an Era!

Bo and Kris have come up with a new business idea that involves building a new "warehouse" that we can rent out.  This meant we needed to sell.  Last Thursday we closed and had a big party.  It's weird to think that the building is no longer ours, but I really can't wait to see this new building plan come to pass.  

Our kids don't know a life without this building.  Bo and I don't know much about life together without it either.  We've owned it for fifteen of the 19 years we've been married. When we bought it it smelled of potatoes, was dark, and dirty.  It filled a need, for office and storage space.  But, over the years it's become our home away from home.  The place we've celebrated so many big parts of our lives.  We call it "the warehouse". Many others call it the "Party Palace".

The day we signed papers for this place I never could have imagined what these men would transform all of this into.  It took sacrifice on everyone's part.  Long hours for the guys and lonely nights with many young children for us gals.  But, the extra work was worth it as it has made a place in our hearts.  This building made everything for the business possible.

Our first fun change was making a movie theater.  If I remember right Bo and Kris attended a BYU-I Sales and bought a projector.  Then, they proceeded to stack pallet on top of pallet to make a raised theater floor.  I remember Bo chasing down free furniture from Craigslist.  I wondered where they had all been and if I wanted to sit on  them, haha.  But, looking back it was the beginning of this era.  I wish we had more pictures! We only had one of the pallets and free sofas, thanks to Kendra.

As time went on we got chairs from a theater closing down in Utah. That was the start of a great deal of time that went into making an actual theater and game room.

A small batting cage was built too. 

Then I think it was about 2015 that Bo and Kris decided to expand this room again to put in two bowling lanes.  It became a large even more fun area with gaming chairs and a massive section for getting together.  We weren't ever able to finish the bowling lanes until last week and so far only one at that.  But, we've still had some great times there and the next owners can enjoy the lanes.

Here’s hope she looked the day we signed:

As we move into the next era, I am so grateful for the life we have together and the business partners and family friends we get to work with in this venture.  We couldn't ask for better!  Bo and Kris feed off of one another ideas and aren't afraid to dive in and get dirty.  They aren't afraid to try new things and learn everything they need to get where they want. 

We've also taken on another partner and friend, Jake and Bonny and couldn't be more grateful for all they add to the business and our lives.  Many parts of life the last 19 years of business have been messy and difficult.  The path we would have chosen would have looked different.  But, God has made a path for us that has turned out beautiful.  We never could have done this alone.  He is in the details of it all. 

Jake and Bonny

Random other pictures from the warehouse: