Spooky Halloween Trains

Crystal and I get to participate on the Haunted Trains in Horse Shoe Bend. She gets to be the daughter of "The Hag of Montoure"...

Supposedly this "hag" had six kids, with the birth of her last she suffered depression. She decided that the kids would never let her sleep and she should kill them all. So, the oldest (Crystal's character) decides to hide the kids and run to find daddy who works on the train. Mom figures out what she is doing and chases after her then kills her. It is said she haunts the train to this day...

I'm one of the Hosts on the train making sure everyone is happy, having fun, and getting their food. I'm dressed as the "Bride of Boise".

This was a mail order bride who was sent to HSB to the man who "ordered" her. He started beating her before they were even married. On the morning of the wedding she decides to run for it. He decides that if he can't have her, no one can so he chases after her. He finally catches up to her on the passenger train and slices her throat... It is said that she haunts the train to this day!

I had so much fun doing our make-up. This might just be a new hobby (like I don't have enough now) that I could really get into! LOL

Two days off - in a row!

Okay, so Crystal and I did not have last night off. However, we did have a fun morning shopping at the mall. It seems like it has been forever since the last time I have gone out and just played (and I'm not talking on stage). No shows today (Sunday) and nothing on Monday either. I'm not even working on the train this weekend!

Crystal found a beautiful dress to wear for my cousin's wedding next month. Sheila's wedding colors are black, light yellow, and white. Crystal found a dress that was regularly $180 on sale for $30. I think it is really pretty, maybe a bit too old for a 14 year old... What is new there? Here are a couple of pictures of her in her dress.

It is strappy, but elegant.

There is quite a bit of sheer fabric

She really is a beautiful girl!

A little too much showing...

Well, that was our yesterday! Today was spent sleeping in (for me, sleeping past 4:00 AM is sleeping in). We have Choir practice at our house at noon. Then church at 2:30 home at 5:30. Just a normal Sunday at the Christensen home! Yeah!

Princess Ashley's 9th Birthday at Starlight Mountain Theatre

I had to come up with a creative way to make this a special birthday for my daughter. Keep in mind, I am up at Starlight four nights a week and work full-time at the hospital. Ashley's birthday just happened to be during the week that I have zero nights free... Monday and Tuesday I had shows tonight is a rehearsal for a comedy show I want to be in, Thursday and Friday I have shows and Saturday and Sunday I am working on the Thunder Mountain Railroad. So... Here was my creative idea to make it all work out.

With the help of two of my favorite actors (Stef & Jan) and the Davis family I decided to hold her birthday party on her actual birthday up at Starlight (July 29th). She was allowed to invite five friends. That means six kids, two of my friends, and my husband rode up with Crystal and me in my van and my husband's car. We had her birthday party on the picnic tables under the trees where Starlight has their awesome dinners before shows on the weekend.

Jan and Stef did a great job decorating before the party. Thanks!

All the girls came dressed and ready for the "ball". The girls and some of the cast had pizza and cake before the showing of Cinderella. After the 13 of the 15 medium pizzas were demolished we went after the cake, slowly... There was lots of it left! I took almost a dozen cupcakes back stage for the actors to finish off after the show (hard to sing after that much frosting).

An Enchanted cake Make a wish!

After the food was gone it was time for the girls to find their seats. They were each given $3 for drinks and snacks (like they didn't already have enough sugar in them). Some got the wands or crowns from the gift shop instead of food.

Then it was time for the show to begin. The girls were a wonderful audience. They cheered, they laughed, they had fun (the final starlight rule). During intermission one of the girls followed the Step-mom around like a puppy dog. This is the same little girl who mentioned to my husband "this is the best day ever, I will never forget it!".

Ashley with the Queen with Cinderella and the Prince

I think the kids had tons of fun! So did some of the actors, Scot! I also think this may be a day they will never forget! Perhaps they will one day decide to act in the show too!
Scot had fun with the the princess teddy bear. The Cinderella slipper neclace looks lovely on him too! Silly boy! Where is your crown and ball gown?

Karen in a nut shell

A get to know me and why I am who/how/what I am...

I am wife of one, mother of three. My husband just said, "I hope you are the wife of one!"

I work full-time at Boise St. Luke's as a Medical Records Specialist. A fancy name for someone who has been a paper pusher long enough to know how to do it well... I have been in the medical field now for a lot of years starting out as an Optician for an eye clinic in Oregon. Then went to a place called Specialty Physicians and Surgeons, then to Good Sam. Hospital in Corvallis and now St. Luke's here in Boise.

We have made Idaho our home and love it here! We moved to Idaho three years ago in an attempt to get my son out of some trouble he got himself into in Oregon. Even tho my son moved back to Oregon we will never leave if we can help it! The husband says the only way he will move again is if he is in a box! I miss my mom who used to live only a few houses down from us. But other than that, there is nothing in Oregon for us!

I have been acting with my daughter now for just over a year. This has been a great experience for us. Before we started acting together we didn't really know each other. My entire life revolved around my problem child (my son). I thank the Lord daily for Starlight Mountain Theatre! I have no idea what I am doing up there on stage, but I do the best I can and try to listen to whatever advice is handed out to me by the other actors!

My super duper husband, John, is a self proclaimed Computer Geek. He works for a place called Quick Computer Services in Meridian. They are the place to call if you ever need any quick/professional computer work done! He is great on a computer and anything else he touches! He is our church's Ward Organist. He does all the cooking in our home... You do not want to find me in the kitchen! LOL Quite frankly, he does everything around the house. I'm never home to do anything but sleep and eat! I sort of like it that way! He gets burned out! Can you blame him? I can't!

My 18 year old lives in a facility in Tillamook, Oregon at the moment. He is learning that he isn't invincible and he doesn't know it all! My son will do anything for anyone. Take the shirt off his back for you. Sad thing is, he doesn't know how to say no! Much like his mother in that way (no, I won't take my shirt off for you)... But I am learning to say no! He is a good kid with a big heart who made some really bad choices!

My 14 year old is a good kid for the most part. She enjoys singing, playing the piano, acting, reading, and shopping. She is going to be a Freshman in High School this year. Having a daughter in High School scares the crud out of me! I think my husband is hiding a gun someplace in order to fight off the boys...

My youngest is my Princess! She really thinks she is a princess. She used to tell people "I'm not a little girl, I'm a Princess!". She is going to be 9 this week. She enjoys swimming, playing with her friends, drawing, talking, and cuddling. She is excited about her birthday this week. She gets to go up to Garden Valley with five of her friends. They will all enjoy pizza and cake under the trees behind the theatre, then they all get to watch Cinderella afterward in their "ball gowns". It should be tons of fun!

Well, that is me in a nutshell. I know some people think, no, that is your husband and kids. Well, they are me, I am them! Sort of works that way as a mom!