Silly Frandsens

Have I put this one up yet? I hope not. I should have been keeping track... This must have been when Daddy said, "Okay, now everyone be silly!" Little Yellow Riding Hood only had to remain draped in a poncho ten sizes too big for her, but the rest of us performed for the camera, and you the best of all! Christian, I love that you have a whimsical sense of individuality. Everyone should look at the world from upside down once in a while.

Life in Scouts

This probably encapsulates a lot of your Scouting experience, huh? You and Eva should have earned both Gold and Eagle awards for all the scouting events that you were schlepped along to over the years.

Crazy boys

Please tell me there's a story here. This picture is just too much of a gem to remain in obscurity. Christian, you had a flare for showmanship from the beginning.

Vintage Frandsen

I love this picture for its capture of some vintage Frandsen items here. The striped tablecloth that I loved so much. Mama's little ball lamp on her desk. Those long taper birthday candles. Anything else you spot there that looks like classic Frandsen?

Cherubs

Where do you think this was And whoever is that person right next to you putting his arm around a jean-jacketed female? Scandalous. Whaddya think, Christian--a little closer to the meangel here?

Going with the Cute

Okay, get used to how old you look in these pictures, because there are some adorable pictures from this folder that I'm just going to mine for the next couple of days. I think you're snuggling in the car seat with my old cabbage patch kid here. Poor boys--I think the majority of toys in the toy room were geared toward little girls. But they apparently just made you more nurturing and sweet as you got older :).

Boys on the Bench

So is Benjamin really trying to reach out in brotherly love to you and Abraham, or does he just want a piece of what you two are eating? You three boys with your sun-bleached hair must have brought so much joy (as well as so much of everything else :) to Mama as she looked out her kitchen window at you.

Let's Sneak Up On Daddy!

That's what this picture looks like to me :). And this is the closest we've come to the meangel face, so far. I can't believe we don't have a slide of it!

Big Basket, Little Boy

Did you ever read "Little Lord Fauntleroy"? This picture right here is what I'd guess the little protagonist would look like. Any chance you're actually the lost son of a very wealthy aristocrat? (wouldn't that be convenient? :)

Don't Drop Me, Daddy!

Wow, a picture of our whole family! This must have been the summer before Gabrielle went to Rice, I'm guessing. Yellowstone, maybe? What's the earliest family reunion you remember, Christian? You were obviously a very tolerant schlepper-arounder, for a 3-ish-year-old.

'Tis the season

Did all of the Frandsen boys wear that vampire costume at some point? I'll have to look through the archives... In any event, you put Edward Cullen to shame!

Living your Heritage

Christian, do you ever claim Native American ancestry? I'm occasionally asked if I have any Navajo blood, especially when my hair was longer and I wore it in braids all the time. I was always tempted to say yes, but in the end, I would usually admit that we just have some strong ties through our mother's upbringing :).

PS SORRY SORRY SORRY that I dropped the ball for the rest of the week! I didn't put up the whole week's worth of pictures at the same time, and then I just forgot that I hadn't done it! Won't happen again :).

Victory!

So Christian, I want the story of your jump-roping career. How long? How many and which competitions? Highlights? I was at college and on my mission for this part of your life, so I feel like I missed your side of it.

Renaissance Man

Or, you know, medieval man. Or asian man? What exactly are you doing here?

Family Night

These pictures were taken right around the time of Brigham and Christine's wedding--maybe even the night before? You have to look at all of the pictures to put together who is saying the thing that's making everyone laugh, and who has the most comfortable seat :). I like that you chose to sit right next to Grandma Hansen. You've always had a good instinct for reaching out to people.

Read this Picture

So this is a picture from when Rachel was reigning oldest in the house, is that right? I'm guessing that this picture also encapsulates quite a few things that were typical of that era. How would you describe that era of Frandsen childhood?

Mid-semester inspiration

Look at that cocky 8th grader. If you could conquer the world then, you can conquer the world now!

The Legacy

Christian, you were the last of the Frandsen boys to wear this classic little blue Sunday suit. I think Jacob has it now--is that right, Rachel?

Like Uncle, Like Nephew

Christian, I put up this picture around this time last year because it reminded me so much of pictures of Miles from just a few years ago. Do you see the resemblance?

Cuties

Looks like Benjamin and Abraham convinced Christian to eat a lemon, by the expressions on these faces :). Any other explanations, Christian?

Mama's Boys

I bet Mama and Daddy loved taking this picture of their boys. How is it that you still have the same aware, tricksy smile now than you did when you were a baby?

Cuteness

Need I say more? You kept your mother young, my brother.

Westward Ho

You don't seem particularly thrilled about being relegated to the western half of the 4 corners, my brother :).

My Baptism Day

Christian, did you know that I had this very picture in my photo album for almost my entire mission? Mama sent me a copy of this picture, and I pulled it out every time I explained about baptism at the age of 8. Your smiling face, Daddy's ability and worthiness to baptize you--it was such a perfect way to teach this precious principle of the gospel.

Ring in the New

Christian, I love this picture. I kind of want you (or me!) to take all of the pictures of you from these slides and put them in a photo book--and this one would be on the front cover. There's something so archetypal about this picture, I think. What do you think?

School Ready

Oh Christian, you were SOOOO school ready, and in more ways than just a great backpack and pair of shorts :). Clearly, you were so excited to go to school, and you were so precocious in so many ways, that I think you knew school was the next step in your inevitable ascent to world domination :). Look at how buoyant (not to mention how adorable) you are there! I know Mama sometimes worried about starting you at school so early--in retrospect, are you glad you started early, or do you sometimes wonder what would have happened if you'd been the oldest instead of the youngest in your class?

Water Boy

Who needs swimming trunks when you can take a dip in a polo shirt!