Christmas pictures for 2008

Christmas starts on the 23rd for our family, with a big Nelson family party. This year I took 3 soups...and came back with empty pots. Then on the 24th, we invite Bryan's dad and his wife for dinner. This year, Bryan's sister, Lori and her family were able to join us. The first picture shows all of the kids in new pjs. Then Christmas morning...we had a lot of fun with Reed this year. He only wanted one thing-Guitar Hero World Tour band kit. We'd been telling him since the day it came out that we'd have a difficult time finding it and that he'd better come up with an alternate wish list. (Of course, I had already preordered it.) With no wish list in sight, his gifts seemed pretty disappointing. Then, when he went downstairs to bring up his gifts for his dad, he spied the big box under our second tree. You should have seen the smile that lit his face...until he opened the box and saw that we had bought it for the Wii-which we didn't yet own. He was frustrated and nearly in tears until we brought out the last of the gifts...a Wii. Of course, in all of his exuberance, he broke the drums to the game within the first hour. Bryan was able to fix it the day after, once Radio Shack was open :). Rose was delighted with her gifts...Dance, Dance Revolution and a digital camera. Renee was enthusiastic about every thing she opened, a new doll, the Ponyville amusement park and Fisher Price's Cool School computer keyboard. Bryan bought himself a set of noise cancelling headphones, which he loves! And he surprised me with a new ceiling fan for the living room and an iPod. We enjoyed a quiet morning due to all of the snow...and a great waffle & bacon breakfast. An hour long phone call with my parents, some really neat gifts sent from Germany and the day couldn't have been any better! Now it's business as usual: the decorations are being packed up, the laundry and house cleaning are waiting to get caught up, and I'm getting ready to start piano lessons again on Monday.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

but will someone please come and shovel my driveway? I have a list of things to get done today and shoveling is not on it! Of course, I really can't do anything else...the battery in the van is dead and Bryan is at work on this, his first day of vacation. This is the kind of day that requires a snuggly blanket, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book or movie.

To bake or not to bake..

that is the question I'm putting out to you! This year, in lieu of neighbor gifts, my friend Heidi organized a food drive, which I thought was an excellent idea (and yes, I did contribute). However I'm still getting plates of yummy goodies and I'm starting to feel obligated to reciprocate. It isn't that I don't want to give gifts to all of my friends and neighbors, it's really more that I know that putting something together will absolutely stress me out. (And I can guarantee that I'll be up until midnight trying to finish something, and that at least one of the things I make will not turn out...). Oh the pressure!

Tickets

Bryan and I were fortunate to get 4 tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert for Saturday night (tomorrow). We'd love to have 2 other people go with us. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m., but we have to be in our seats by 7:00 p.m. Call me or comment if you are interested.

A Christmas Memory

I had to go pick up a few things for the Mia Maid activity tonight and while I was out, I found this:

Every year on Christmas morning, my sisters and I would stand at the bottom of the stairs and wait to hear the bells which signaled that it was okay to come upstairs to tear in to the gifts. When I saw these I just had to have them...they are smaller than the bells that my mom hung on her kitchen wall, but they put a smile in my heart.

Best of all, this year I get to yell, "Wait until you hear the bells." ;)

I know, I know...

it's time for a new post. I just don't have anything all that interesting to say. Like some of you, I worry about whether or not my husband's job will be there in a week or in a month (although they've made travel arrangements for him in January and February so surely they wouldn't lay him off before then). I'm frantically trying to get all the little odds and ends left on my Christmas shopping list. I have a Christmas letter to write, but can't seem to muster any enthusiasm for the project. And I'm missing my parents like crazy. I don't know what is wrong with me, and I'm sure that it will pass, but for the time being I just feel kind of blah...here, but just kind of going through the motions. Tomorrow I have a hair appointment... perhaps covering up all of my gray hair will put a smile on my face? Hey, maybe I'll try out a new haircut or a new color! (Okay realistically, I won't but I can dream!)

Thanksgiving Pictures

Things to look forward to...

The weekend is nearly here!
The BYU vs. U of U game-go Cougars!
A full day with my sisters! I can't wait for our sleepover!
A week without piano lessons!
I get to prepare the Thanksgiving feast again this year!
Looking through the ads for Black Friday!
Christmas decorations!

Game On...

We had a rare stay-at-home Sunday this week. I took advantage of the down time to play games with my kids. We played Mexican Train dominoes and I lost...but we had so much fun. I love games! I want to add to our game closet...what are your favorites?

Pity party @ my house...

bring your own comfort food. Today I'm going to wallow in all of my own insecurities and inadequacies until 2:00 p.m. I really hate the fact that one single event can reopen old wounds that I thought had finally scabbed over. *SIGH*

Family Pictures Preview

These were taken by my good friend, Jen (see Jen Korth's blog for the link to her website). She did an awesome job and these are just a few of my favorites!

Halloween Pictures

I don't know why Halloween gave me such a headache this year, but I am relieved that it's finally over! I spent Saturday putting away all of the Halloween decorations and putting up the little I have for Thanksgiving. I got some deep cleaning done in the entry, the front room and most of the kitchen and that always makes me feel good!



This was the first year that we sent the two oldest kids to trick or treat without adult supervision. Reed went with a large group of friends. Rose went with a couple of other girls from the neigborhood. Renee and I went out together.



I refused to buy costumes this year...Renee dressed up as Belle, a wonderful costume that was made by my sister-in-law for Rose several years ago. Rose borrowed her costume from a friend. Reed was positive that he didn't need a costume until a bunch of his friends decided to trick-or-treat. Unfortunately, by then it was Halloween day and I wasn't about to go out looking so he wore Bryan's Scream costume.



My front porch...I have a second tombstone on the other side of the garage door that reads, "I shopped, I bought, in debt I rot". My next door neighbor was kind enough to cut out some tombstones for me this year. I actually have a total of 5, but had some problems getting the other 3 painted.



We carve pumpkins every year...this year Bryan wasn't feeling great so I got to oversee the entire operation. The designs this year were incredibly simple because I don't have the patience for anything elaborate, especially at 10:00 p.m.

Our Saturday...

We've never been to Antelope Island, so with nothing else on the schedule, we packed up the kids and a couple of their friends and headed out.


If you look real close...you can see the snake that Renee nearly stepped on!


Of course, the highlight of the day was skipping rocks out on the lake. The kids had a great time and marvelled at how sparkly their skin was after it had dried.

We saw several bison and a rabbit in addition to the snake. We didn't know what to expect when we got out there and so didn't budget enough time to see everything. I guess we'll have to go back some day!

P.S. The most notable part of the trip...the smell! YUCK!

At the Halloween recital...

Rose did a great job performing "Midnight Shadows" by Martha Mier.

A day in my life...

would look something like this:

6:25 a.m. Husband wakes me up so that I can go wake up Reed who has slept through his alarm yet again. Please note: husband is still in bed.

6:30 a.m. Clean up Reed's room because I can't even get in there. Hang up clothes, put away K'nex. The decision is made to teach the older two kids how to do their own laundry from start to finish. (Husband still in bed.)

7:00 a.m. Drive carpool for the middle school. (Husband still in bed.)

7:15 a.m. Change the sheets on Renee's bed. Open a container of yogurt for Renee's breakfast. Straighten Renee's bedroom and finish putting away her warm weather clothes. (Ah, husband is now up and in the shower.)

7:30 a.m. Post on my blog, watch CNBC for stock market update, check email. (Husband has left the building.)

8:00 a.m. Make Rose's lunch and drive carpool to the charter school.

8:20 a.m. Eat breakfast...a yummy bowl of shredded wheat; throw on some clothes.

8:45 a.m. Young Women's Presidency meeting.

9:30 a.m. Talk to frustrated husband on the phone, straighten the house, change the sheets on my bed and on Reed & Rose's bed. Start the first of 5-6 loads of laundry. Hang up all of the clothes in Rose's bedroom-kids definitely need to learn to do their own laundry.

10:40 a.m. Leave for eye appointment. I am so excited to be getting a free trial pair of contacts...the ones I'm wearing are a little past their throw away date!

11:01 a.m. Arrive at eye appointment...and I'm only a minute late. Unfortunately another woman is speaking with the receptionist and is trying to usurp my spot...I don't think so! At eye appointment, new optometrist makes the discovery that the Rx I've been wearing for the past year was incorrect...technician forgot the "1" in front of the "70". No wonder everything was always so blurry! I can see the leaves again!

11:30 a.m. Stand in front of the jackets on display at Costco debating to buy or not to buy. Bryan has 5 or 6 jackets, I don't own even 1. Not 100% sold so I decide to wait. (Now if they had had it in red, that's a no-brainer!)

12:05 p.m. Arrive back home, return the phone calls that I've missed. Talk to my fabulous neighbor about our assignments for the charter school's Fall carnival. Load up the dishwasher and scour the kitchen sink.

12:20 p.m. Make rice crispy treats for Renee and use them to bribe her to eat a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. (The girl eats way too much dairy...cheese, yogurt and milk are her diet staples.)

12:30 p.m. PTA taxes. I've procrastinated until the last possible second...they are due on the 15th. UGH!

4:30 p.m. Listen to a couple of piano students play through their previously unmemorized recital songs because the recital is tomorrow!

4:45 p.m. Send off the email stating that the taxes are done. WHEW.

4:50 p.m. Try to track down one piano student who still needs to come for a duet rehersal before the recital. Did I mention that it's tomorrow? (Which is actually today because this is my day yesterday!) Do more laundry while I wait.

5:30 p.m. Listen to duet...mouth is dry from counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4...

5:45 p.m. YAY! I'm finally doing my makeup for the day. Take phone call from husband instructing me to stop and pick up a birthday gift for his grandmother.

6:00 p.m. Head out the door for cake and ice cream for Grandma Nelson's birthday. She's 88. Stop at the Chocolate Cottage for some cherry chocolates for her and some chocolate popcorn and a carmel apple for me.

6:10 p.m. Arrive at Grandma's house. (By the way Richard, you were right and I was wrong...the piano has 88 keys, not 86. How could I not know that?) Eat chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and visit with family.

7:45 p.m. Leave to go home. Laugh ourselves silly when we start talking in wacky accents. I tried to do a "dracula" accent while saying, "I'm from Transylvania" which Reed interpreted as "I'm from Pennsylvania".

8:10 p.m. We've been "boo-ed". The kids are thrilled! Get Reed started on his internet assignment for his CTE class. (Of course the assignment is late due to all of our internet connection issues.) Remind Reed that he needs a newspaper article about Utah. Do some additional laundry. Cook myself a pot of rice just because it sounds good. Start watching Christian Slater in "My Own Worst Enemy". I have to tell you that I'm actually surprised, but I liked it. Dang, I might have a show to tune in for after all of these years. (P.S. Husband is back in bed.)

10:00 p.m. Watch a little of the news.

10:10 p.m. Make sure the house is locked up and that the lights are off. Move Renee from my bed to her bed, change into my jammies and go to sleep. (Husband is already asleep.)

What do you do all day? I was challenged by Laylabean to keep track...now it's your turn!

It only took...

2 hours, all new cable wiring and connectors and a new modem to get me back on the internet! Now after just over a week, I'm finally able to catch up with all of my blogger friends. You might wonder what I did all week in lieu of sitting in front of a computer screen...I watched the stock market's down-ward slide day by day. It was a little like watching a train wreck...I couldn't look away! This morning, things are looking a little better, there are a lot of green up arrows so far.

Today is "Trent Day" at Chick-Fil-A. Please, please go and have lunch or dinner or a snack. 20% of the proceeds at the District location will be donated to the DuVal family to help with all of Trent's medical expenses. Some of the other locations will also be making a donation, so if you don't live near the District location, you can still help out. (See the link to Trent's blog if you don't know what I'm referring to...but keep a box of tissues near by, it'll break your heart.)

Have a great Monday!

Meet Robert...

Robert is a fun part of our Halloween decor and great for practical jokes around the house. You never know where you are going to find him. He has surprised me in the laundry room, in the food storage room, behind a door. Oh the shrieks and the rapid heart beats! (FYI- Rose is the one who named our ghoul!)

Since Renee was in such a hurry to get the Halloween decorations out (I think she was figuring that Halloween would come sooner)...here are some other pictures of my Halloween knick-knacks:

Cause for concern

I just spent a few minutes reading some of the comments on ksl.com regarding the collapse of Washington Mutual. I wonder if Americans really understand the extent of the financial disaster we could be facing. To bail out or not to bail out...that is the question, but do we understand the implications of both sides of the issue? Yes, the bail out is a scary proposition...it's an unprecedented move and the outcome is questionable. More concerning to me is that our government doesn't seem to blink at spending money we don't have. The fact that America is so far in debt ($9.4 trillion as of June 26, 2008) doesn't seem to be a concious thought to most people. What happens when those foreign countries that buy up our bonds decide that they will no longer do so, or worse yet, decide that they'd like to cash in? At what point will our government say that we've accumulated enough debt and become concerned with trying to repay it?

I'm not a financial wizard, I'm not a political analyst...just a concerned citizen wondering what's best for America's future, who's willing to make those difficult decisions, and how soon will they act.

HELP!!

Okay all of you young women leaders and mothers- I need activity ideas! What have you done in the past that has been successful? Mothers, what types of things would you like for your daughters to learn? I appreciate your input!!!!

I've Missed You!

I know, I know it's been a long time in between posts, but I have a really good excuse...Bryan downloaded some fancy-schmancy version of McAfee and from the second I hit "done" my computer refuses to connect to the internet. Bryan very thoughtfully brought home a laptop from work so that I could get caught up on all the blogging that has piled up :). Of course, not having the internet has been hugely frustrating...but it's been amazing to me how many projects I've managed to get done without its siren call! My laundry is all caught up...including sheets, blankets, rugs, mattress pads! My piano file is nearly done! The crown molding for my bedroom is completed and new blinds have (finally) been hung. The food storage room is cleaned, inventoried, updated in the computer and a shopping list compiled. All of the recipes I've jotted down on scraps have been transferred to index cards and filed. I've spent time with my sisters and my newest nephew and even found the time to sit and watch Pride and Prejudice! Do I really spend that much time "surfing"? Wow!

Hopefully, we'll get the computer repaired this week so that I can get back to my regularly scheduled lazy, internet-addictive ways!

A long distance phone call...

from GERMANY! I was so excited today when the phone rang, and the caller id read, "International Caller". Email is great, but there's just something infinitely better about being able to hear someone's voice and have a two-sided conversation. Thank you mom & dad for calling...it totally made my day! (Renee was all smiles after getting a chance to talk to Grandma as well. Too bad Reed and Rose were gone. Maybe next time!)

Tag...

The Alphabet Meme

A is for age: 35

B is for burger of choice: plain...without a bun.

C is for the car I drive: a gold Chrysler Town and Country. Not the coolest, but sure is convenient for my 7:00 am carpool!

D is for your dog’s name: a yellow lab named Denver is on the waiting list...I can only handle one pet at a time and Gus the cat will probably live forever!

E is for essential item you use every day: the phone.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: I don't have one that I follow religiously. I'd much rather read or clean.

G is for favorite game: Pegs and Jokers with my sisters-in-law, or Attack Uno with my kids, or Mexican Train dominoes with my family. I love games...but rarely have anyone to play them with.

H is for home state: Utah

I is for instruments you play: Piano.

J is for favorite juice: I'm really not a fan of juice.

K is for whose bum you’d like to kick: I seriously can't think of anyone.

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Bryan took me to Denny's for breakfast yesterday...a rare novelty.

M is for your favorite Muppet: I don't know the names of the Muppets...but I did always find the two that sat in the theater box funny!

N is for number of piercings: Two - one in each ear.

O is for overnight hospital stays: A total of four times, three for new babies and one with Rose. Maybe it's 5...I did have to stay with Bryan in the ER for several hours beginning at 2:30 am until about 7:00 am once. Does that count as an overnight?

P is for people you were with today: Just my little family so far.

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Read.

R is for biggest regret: I suppose that if I could go back and do something different, I'd not be so worried about what other people thought...then I might have enjoyed life and been more confident, which might have led to other choices. But then I wouldn't be who I am today, so really...no regrets!

S is for status: Tired!

T is for time you woke up today: 6:36 a.m.

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: The fact that I enjoy cleaning? I don't think I'm all that unique.

V is for vegetable you love: carrots.

W is for worst habit: spending money.

X is for x-rays you’ve had: other than routine dental ones, I've had one for my hand and one for my ankle.

Y is for yummy food you ate today: A no-bake cookie. Reed deserved a treat today for surviving his first week of middle school...so I got up early to make his favorite!

Z is for zodiac: Taurus.

Feel free to play...especially my awesome sisters!

Boys Weekend!

Bryan and Reed went down south for the weekend! They had hoped to do the subway hike but weren't fast enough to get permits. They did the narrows hike on Friday and Angel's Landing and the narrows again on Saturday. Reed was a trooper, didn't lag behind and wasn't afraid of the 900/1200 foot drop offs. He hiked in water and up steep trails. I am so impressed! Of course, the highlight of the weekend was getting to fly home in Uncle Tracy's airplane!

Just for Mom...Sorry I haven't done much blogging!

I should post more often, but life here has been so busy! I have 31 piano students on my schedule this year and have been busy making LOTS of copies for student binders, assigning recital groups so that I could hand out duets, reading a book on piano pedagogy, doing a lot of internet searches (I found a trophy company that still offers free engraving and will ship orders of $100 for free), thinking of fun ideas for theory and ear training activities and moving all of my files and books to the filing cabinet Bryan got for me. Lessons started this week and I've had to do a lot of talking...I think I've got chronic dry mouth! So far so good, the students seem pleased with the changes I've made for this year and I'm hoping that I'll see some great results at the (costume) recital this October. I've been giving some thought to trying to become a certified teacher through MTNA. The requirements look intimidating, but I may have time next year with Renee in kindergarten, to actually do all of the studying they suggest. What are your thoughts?

We Did It!!!

Last night, we sampled the first fruits (vegetables) of our labors in the garden. The cucumber was perfect and the green beans were divine! Even Rose, who doesn't eat anything said the beans were yummy. I can't recall ever having eaten fresh green beans...we were a Del Monte kind of family growing up. Seriously, it was a "treat" to have French-style green beans instead of "cut" ones. I was SO deprived! (Sorry Mom!) I am excited to see how the rest of the growing season goes, and am already planning for next year. (I've got to remember to plant peas early!)

Our sweet Rose!

How fast the time goes! Rose is now 11...has been since Wednesday. She is such a wonderful part of our family. We love you so much! Stay sweet!

Our Weekend

We had a busy weekend. Bryan and I started off at a BBQ/Pool party with some friends on Friday night. Can you believe the view?



Then it was a company party at the Hogle zoo on Saturday. Not a super exciting event for Reed & Rose, but Renee didn't want to leave. She had her arm painted (instead of her face) and loved looking at all of the animals...her favorites were the giraffes and the baby orangatan.



We finished up our Saturday with a visit to the "This is the Place Heritage Park". Bryan and the kids had never been there and I haven't been since I was a little girl. Renee loved the pony ride. Bryan loved the old buildings, but had a little trouble at school.






Rose & Renee put on a puppet show inside the Madsen Furniture Company.



This home belonged to my ancestor...Milo Andrus.



I found it ironic that there was an old piano on the first floor. I would have to guess that musical talent has been in the family for a long time!



It was great to spend so much time together as a family! We walked a lot, got a lot of sun, came home tired and slept really well!

Looking for a dentist!

Let me begin by saying that Bryan generally believes all dentists to be dishonest. (I think he feels the same way about doctors...he's very distrusting.) Anyway, he had a routine appointment yesterday that turned in to a confrontation when Bryan wouldn't accept the dentist's course of treatment (expensive and not covered by insurance) without receiving a second opinion first. Apparently it got pretty heated and Bryan ended up leaving. Up until recently, we've really liked this dentist, but lately he wants to do A LOT of dental work. Bryan and I both have relatively good teeth...I had my very first filling last year, and Bryan has had only one filling. I don't think asking to get a second opinion is such a big deal, but this dentist was mad! (Kind of makes you wonder why...afterall, if he is confident in his assessment, another dentist would concur. Right?) Needless to say, neither of us is comfortable going back so I'm now in the market for a good, seemingly honest dentist. Any suggestions?

Happy 12th Birthday Reed!

We celebrated the big day with family on Sunday. Reed spent his actual birthday up at Camp Steiner. It's hard to believe that my baby boy is 12...old enough to go on a week long Boy Scout camp and pass the sacrament on Sundays and start middle school! Where does the time go?