About
Why the Bean Blog?
When I was in high school it was way cool to come up with nicknames. I led [and still lead] a pretty boring life. The best we could come up with was “Bean” because my middle name is Jean. Wow, we are creative.
So since my name is “Bean,” then, of course, my kids are my “lil beans.”
On a side note, my husband’s nickname is Cheeser. There is a funny story about him and his friends at the grocery store and Lee squirting cheese [from a can] on them. But this is my blog, so the kids are lil beans, not lil cheeses….cause lil cheeses is just dumb.
Who am I?
I’m Christine, a thirty-something mother of five, married to a [usually] wonderful man. By day I work full-time as a project manager for a telecommunications company. At night I go to college part-time pursuing my bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications media & design.
I have a passion for all things creative. I love to writing, drawing, reading and photography.
I am also battling with a little bit of OCD and a tad bit of ADD. I’m a lot of fun at parties.
How did I meet my husband?
Lee and I met on May 26, 1993. [The only reason I remember the exact date is because it's exactly a week after Lee's birthday.] We were introduced by mutual friends. My friend, Joy thought her boyfriend, Andre’s friend [that would be Lee] would be perfect for me. So they set up a meet and greet.
More than four years later, in November 1997, we were married in a small wedding in Vegas.
We then renewed our vows with a bigger ceremony on our anniversary in 1998.
What does my husband do?
Lee is a stay-at-home-dad. He’s been staying home for the last four years, since Caleb’s first birthday. When he got laid off from his job it just made sense for him to stay home. No more $300 a week daycare bills and the kids get to spend the day with their dad. Plus Lee really got to bond with the kids. It’s been amazing.
Lee also goes to college part-time. He is studying LAN Managment. Hopefully one day he’ll be the breadwinner and I can stay home.
Five kids? Wow. How old are they?
Yes, we have five kids. Everybody thinks that’s a lot. We think it’s just right. Ok, some days it really is a lot. But most days it’s just right. **wink**
Both Lee and I were basically only children. Lee [who was raised by his grandmother] has siblings he didn’t know until he was an adult. And I was an only child until my dad and stepmom had a child when I was in junior high and another one later when I was in high school. I guess being only children we decided we wanted playmates for our kids.
Justis
Born in 1992, Justis is our oldest. He is sixteen and a junior in high school.
Justis was thirteen months old when I met him. He is my stepson, but I don’t really like the term “step.” I treat him like all the rest of the kids and consider him one of my own. We have primary custody of Justis, but he keeps in touch with his mom pretty regularly. He sees her on holidays and in the summer [she lives six hours away].
Keaton
Next in line is Keaton. He is thirteen going on twenty. And he’s smack dab in the middle of the whole teenager attitude thing. You know the attitude. That’s the thing your mom was speaking of when she said “I hope you have a kid just like you.” But we love him, attitude and all.
Keaton is way too smart for his own good. And although he says he hates math, he’s a human calculator. It’s amazing how fast he can add things in his head.
Yes, we have twins. A boy and a girl
Then we have our twins; a girl, Skyler and a boy, Spencer. Lee often says the only way he could give me a girl was to give me a boy with her. Skyler & Spencer may be twins, but they couldn’t be more different.
Skyler
Skyler was born first, by 19 minutes. So she is officially the middle child.
She is very much a girly girl with makeup, hair bows, nail polish, pink clothes and dolls galore.
She is in the third grade and she LOVES school. Where else can she spread her social butterfly wings? She is very creative [taking after her mommy]. She loves to draw and write. Her favorite subject in school is writing where they create their own books; writing the words and illustrating the pages. She also loves to crafts. You don’t have to entertain her. Just hand her some construction paper, glue or a stapler, pipe cleaners and whatever stuff you have laying around and she’ll make something great.
Spencer
Spencer is a manly man. He began participating in kindergarten and has turned in to quite an athlete. He tried out soccer and wrestling last year. We can’t wait to see what he’s up for this year in second grade.
Spencer is also our sensitive child. He tends to be shy in new situations and his feelings are easily hurt. But after he gets adjusted he’s quite rambunctious and makes friends easily.
He wants to do whatever his big brothers do. Unfortunately, his big brothers think they are too old for him and don’t like him hanging around. It’s a constant battle.
Caleb
Our baby [who really isn't a baby anymore, but still answers to that name] is our six year old, Caleb. With every other pregnancy we had an ultrasound and found out the gender before the kids were born. We decided to be surprised with Caleb. All through my pregnancy I swore he was a girl. But he popped out a boy.
And his gender wasn’t our only surprise. He was also born with a cleft lip. In his short life, he has already had two surgeries.
But his cleft does not define him. He is so much more. He is a hilarious, extremely spoiled toddler. And he’s doing a great job keeping up with all of his older siblings.
What camera do I use?
I have a Nikon D40 (that I did not buy from Best Buy). I use either the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens that came with the camera or my Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor lens
I also have a point and shoot I keep in my purse at all times. It’s the Olympus Stylus 790SW
Still want to know more?
That wasn’t enough? Fine. Here’s 100 things about me.
