nauvoo

I was able to go to Nauvoo with my mom's family. I was a kid again. To say to it was fabulous is an understatement. We flew to St Louis, stayed the night there because it was midnight when my parents landed. Woke up "early" (2 hours ahead of my time zone and ready to leave before 9am) and headed leisurely to Nauvoo- we met up with Ann and Scott at the hotel. We had some great pizza on our way up. We did a tour given by the Community of Christ Church. Our tour guide was very knowledgable. We had dinner in Port something (I can't remember). We did a session before the sealing and then got to look at so many things in the temple. We went shopping in some of the stores before dinner. Dinner was at the hotel that we stayed at, again good food. That is a thing I can count on with the Nielsons, good food. That night I went with Amanda and Kathy to take photos of the temple at night, well I was the driver and Amanda was the photographer- it was freezing and she was out there for a while. The next day was Sunday and we went on the Trail of Hope and then went to Carthage (Mom, Dad, Grandma, Ann and Scott were my traveling buddies back to St Louis). There is something about being there that is very humbling. I can't wait for July 2012 to take Bryan and the boys to all the places we visited. We headed back to St Louis to meet up with the others for dinner. I had the earliest flight at 6am Monday morning. I don't think I will choose to have a flight that early again, it was tough. I got up at 2am PST and then had to be a mom when I landed. Luckily, the older boys let me rest while Toddler i was napping. I am grateful that Katie was able to watch the boys and be me for a couple days and that Bryan is willing and able to let me get away for a few days- he even took all 3 boys to church by himself. I really am lucky, I didn't want to miss this for anything. That is 4 sealings in 5 months (one of those months being August when we were Germany- that would have been tough to squeeze in).

Nauvoo July 2012! I can't wait.

This was a drive-by photo shoot of this but I thought it was funny because my uncle said something about the last train. Can you see the train tracks?

There were 9 of us shopping for breakfast and dessert. It was a good time.

After the sealing and it was freezing.

All of the Nielsons, again freezing.

First Field Trip

I was lucky enough to be able to join Big A and his class on their first field trip. We went to Centennial Farms at the OC Fairgrounds. It was fun to be able to see him interact with his friends to be excited about the animals, especially the cows- he kept telling me Grandpa has cows like these. He did not want to touch the baby chick but really, I don't blame him, I didn't either.

Other Things

I don't have photos of some of the things we have done but this is my journal, so deal.

One Thursday was a little busier than I am used to. We dropped Big A off at school, went VT at the park for 40 min where a friend was dropped off to play for the afternoon, went to speech, went to CostCo, picked up Big A from school, made rolls and went to a shower. It doesn't seem like that much but include a crazy, active, opinionated 17 month old.

We had a weekend at home in September, my dad came down for ribs and to watch the game. I want more weekends like that.

The next weekend was Conference weekend and Bryan's mom's birthday, so we went to Bakersfield to celebrate with Bryan's parents and sister and her family. I honestly see very little of my boys when we are there, they are constantly busy. I just wish they didn't live so far away (it took us over 4 hours to get there when it normally takes 2 1/2).

BEEF and Florida State

Happy Halloween! Maybe I will post about Halloween before Thanksgiving.

I don't have a photo of this but I have to write about it so I can remember how crazy I am. We left Friday night after dropping the boys off with my dad, my mom was at Beebe's because she just had a baby and my dad had a HUGE YSA activity the next day and a full day of church on Sunday. But we needed beef and Bryan is a BYU fan, so we squeezed a game in. We got to my grandma's house about 3am (honestly, I really remember when we got there maybe that is why I should post soon after instead of months later). Got up slowly and got ready for the game slowly. Went to the game. Left a little disappointed. Got beef from Sam and Laura in the grocery store parking lot and headed for home. But we were able to sleep a couple hours at my parents' house before my dad had to leave for his meetings. Seriously, I don't think I ever want to do a trip like that again.

Kevin and Erin's Wedding

In September, we went to Kevin and Erin's wedding. It was great. We got a babysitter at my parents' house for the boys, it was so nice not worrying about them. I am so glad we were there to support them. I need to get the other photos from that day from my mom (just like Germany).

Big A's First Day of Kindergarten

My baby is growing up. I cried the first day. He cried the second day but only because there was a kid in his class freaking out and was scaring a few kids. I picked him up early one day and he was upset. He is learning so much and I love that. Next year is going to be tough but I think Lil A will be happy. Every day he waits by the door for Big A to come out and then gives him the biggest hug when he comes out. It is great.

My Birthday at Disneyland

Of course, we went to Disneyland for my birthday. Jill took me to lunch at Chipotle on the way there and then stopped at McDonald's for the older boys (she really is fabulous). But after renewing passes for Jill and the older boys and me getting my birthday card, Jill couldn't even go on one ride with us. She took the photo and we headed to Toy Story. We got ice cream and went on the Carousel before Bryan got there. I love Disneyland and how well behaved my boys are there.

Jill took this before she left.

The older boys on It's A Small World, love how that line moves so quickly.

Bryan and Toddler i on Small World

Silly Toddler

Here are some random silly photos of my #3 son.

Apparently, I put these on here a while ago but forgot that I had started this posting. The first two are from June when Lil A was opening his presents. And the last two are of him wrestling Lil A's bear, he loves the boys' bears.

Silly

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY TO OLIVIA!

When the boys get tired, they get silly. Lil A was getting his jammies, he came to me, with his left arm just not quite right, requesting some assistance. Big A had to get in on the photo shoot. I love how they really are best friends, I hope it stays this way forever.

Flip- Flop

Happy Birthday to Me! I am going to Disneyland, of course.

This kid is always cracking me up. He has the best faces and he does the craziest things. It is a good thing he is number 3 and I can laugh at the things he does (like climb on my counter-height table, empty out my spatula drawer many times a day and I refuse to use them without washing them in the dishwasher first, so it is a good thing I have a lot). I loved his face in this photo, is was the third one I took.

Lil A's Birthday (from June)

Apparently, I am a loser because I totally thought I had already posted about my middle child's birthday. I did his birthday trip to Disneyland but not all of the celebrations. There are some photos from his birthday party with family and opening presents a few days after his birthday (yes, we celebrate for a week). I just love this 4yo, he is a mini me.

there are seriously 4 or 5 photos of him with this book, he loves it Ann.

Celebrate

Saturday was a busy day for me. I ran more errands than I like in the heat with 3 kids alone. One of our many stops was Wal-Mart for candy for missionary Matt. And while we were there we had to get those nasty sugar cookies that everyone else loves but I do not. Well, once we knew BYU won (thank you Bryan, are you sure you want to come home?), the boys celebrated with those blue frosted cookies. Apparently, toddler i doesn't like the cookie, just the frosting. (I tried to help him eat the cookie part, he took a bite, spit it out and then tried to get every little crumb out with his blue hand). Needless to say, I did not celebrate while cleaning up the high chair. GO COUGS! What a great game, too bad I wasn't there like my husband. Oh and church with toddler i by yourself, NOT fun or enjoyable, barely tolerable (good thing I am in Nursery and he can hold his own in there, I also gave the lesson in there...good thing there was only 17 kids in there today). But look, could you get mad at that face?

I Want

I want this, don't you?

http://bluecricketdesign.blogspot.com/

Thanks Rachel

I want these. If you leave a comment, post on your blog and win, could you share with me?

I know you were expecting Germany photos, I will get to it. I want the photos from my parents before I blog about our trip.

Vegas Aug 1-2

For Bryan's Grandma's 85th birthday she wanted to go to Vegas (she lives in Hawaii, so Vegas is the logical place to celebrate your birthday, right?). So Saturday, we got there, got in our room, dropped our kids off with Bryan's parents and sisters and headed to a show, La Reve at the Wynn. It was pretty cool, more like a circus with tons of water. Then when we were done, the brothers and sister-in-laws watched the kids of the next set of people going to the show. When those folks got back, Bryan and a few others went bowling (it was after midnight when he left, I was in bed). The next morning we had brunch with all of Bryan's aunts and uncles (on his mom's side) and a lot of his cousins. Then we headed home (before 1pm) and it took an extra hour and a half to get to my parents' house with toddler i screaming for 45 minutes NON-STOP. It was nice to see everyone, it was just a really quick trip.

Beach July 2009

While Emily and AJ were visiting, my mom offered to keep my big boys on Sunday night (after Matt's farewell open house weekend) for Monday and then come to the beach, have dinner at my place and then my boys would be home. I thought it was a great plan so did the boys, they love to be at Ga's house (especially when Ga and Papa are there). I took a few photos while sitting in my chair. Surpringly, toddler i was more interested in my mom's drink and the sand than the water this time. My mom did take him to put his feet in and she got hit by a wave above her knee, luckily she had already picked up toddler i and was headed back to the chairs at that point. I really enjoyed myself and love laughing with Mom and Jill while Em and AJ went out in the waves. And the stroganoff for dinner was the perfect end to the day, thanks for coming my way everyone.

family photos

While everyone was here we had our family photos taken at Ford Park in Redlands. I like so many of the photos and even with so many kids, I think the photos turned out great.

This isn't the photo I am going to put on the wall but I love lil A's face in this one.

I like how H is about ready to take off in this one.

toddler i is asking for more smarties from Beebe

all the grandkids (well until baby girl m. arrives Sept 14th)

Utah Trip #2 July 2009

I went to Utah twice, trips within a month of each other. This trip was because another cousin was getting sealed to her husband and 4 kids. We had this trips filled, got to Utah on Thursday, the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House and Cooper Mines on Friday, a live session and sealing and lunch in Manti on Saturday and a party for Matt at Grandma Nielson's house on Sunday (this time we were all outside and it was beautiful- even though we saw clouds and heard thunder as were getting things ready)and then head home on Monday. I only took photos at the Cooper Mines, other photos were taken with my mom's camera (maybe one day I will get those). It was great to see even more relatives this trip. I am glad I am able to make so many trips this summer (thanks Mom and Dad) and even though it is hard to travel without Bryan, sharing experiences with my family that cannot be duplicated, is worth it. Hopefully I will be able to go to Nauvoo in October and back to Utah this fall to get beef and for football (of course).

it was really hot there but we got to see an explosion, it was pretty cool

Emily in front of the aerial photo of the mines. They really are amazing. so was being in the air conditioned museum-place.

Bailee's Baptism and Ridge's Blessing

Apparently, I didn't take any photos 4th of July weekend either. But the weekend after that we were in Arizona enjoying some Brown family time. We got there late on Friday night, the baptism was Saturday with a BBQ at Sally's parents' house after. Bryan and Aaron were up until after 4am working on the BBQ and then up and back working by 9am (could have been earlier but that is when I got up, we-Sally, her friend and I- were working on a video and things for the party pretty late too). They smoked 2 briskets, 2 turkeys, 2 pork shoulders, needless to say it was a lot of work but worth it. My boys loved being the pool, they have a nice slide (I can't seem to take as many photos when my baby is my responsibility) that Big A loved. Sunday was the blessing and after that it was lunch at Laura (Bryan's sister) and Jordan's new house. It was a great weekend but a fast weekend.

Lil A got a hold of my camera and took some photos, I liked this one of Hannah.