Harry Potter 7 pt.1

Just a little FYI: this movie was sooooo good! I'm not going to spoil in any way, but this I will say: If you have not read the book you will not understand this movie as well as you should! They don't explain at all, so you are just dumped right into the story. At least watch movie 6 as a slight refresher(at least you will remember where the story line ends). Kassidy loved it, but she admitted that she didn't understand about half of what was going on. But very good, and leaves you with a great cliff-hanger!!

Happy November!

I just have to explain the appearance of my blog. I know that it is now November, so I should have a background for thanksgiving or at least autumn. But Harry Potter??? For all of you non-fans (Mother?) in 18 more days the first part of the 7th book comes out in Movie. That makes no sense, they are doing 2 movies for the 7th book, and movie #1 comes out on the 19th of November. Kassidy and I are great fans of Harry Potter, the rest of the family puts up with us! We are total GEEKS when it comes to Harry Potter! We can have total conversations about the Harry books. But I have to hand it to my 4th grader, she has read the first 5 books and just today started book #6! Not too shabby for a 9 year-old! We are so excited, I had to share with the rest of you!

Crazy Hair Day!

This week, at our elementary, is Red Ribbon Week. So the kids get to have fun this week with different "activities". Today was Crazy Hair Day.

They look so excited, don't they?

Kassidy had 5 knots with the ends pulled through, so they were sticking out, and then curled. After I did the first one, she said "I'm not so sure I want to go to school looking like this." I asked her if she understood the meaning of crazy hair day ?

Sorry, the busyness of the fridge makes it hard to see her hair! Then with Emma we went a little less crazy. She had two french braids, one going down and the other going up.

She actually looked kinda cute, but she said the braid by her face tickled her all day long. Being in the PTA presidency, I was at the school this morning for about 2 1/2 hours, I got to see some REALLY crazy hair! I'm just happy it was them and not me!

I love this boy!

Need I say more?? (That was a full bag of chocolate chips)

Our Mini Vacation

This past weekend(9-23-9-26) we went on a little trip. Paul has a friend, that he grew up with, that manages a guest ranch just outside of Jackson Hole. (About 20 miles, but 45 minutes) So we went to visit. They have 4 cute Wyoming cowboys and 1 sweet baby girl. Another of Paul's friends and his family also went with. It was gorgeous!!

This was the view from our cabin just beyond the kids and down is the Gros Ventre river. We stayed in one of the guest cabins, which was nice with 2 bedrooms and bathrooms, and a living room with a fireplace and a huge picture window that looked out at this(minus the kids). There was also a hammock on the front porch that the kids would have loved to take home with us.

We got to fish in a little pond they stock with good sized trout. They kids got to try their hand at fly fishing. Emma was the only one brave enough to grab the fish, Nate only said "Eww" when he would get close to them. Then we went for a horse ride! Addison loved it, Kassidy has decided that she now needs to ride her horse here at home, and I think Emma thinks she is a regular horse-girl! Nate was just happy that he got to go too!

Then we had our lunch around the pool! Who ever thought that you could swim and get totally sunburned in Jackson at the end of September (global warming?haha!)? Well we did both!

Then before we left, we decided to go through Teton National Park. I'd never been there, so I wanted to see it. It was gorgeous! We took the hike around Jenny Lake to the Hidden Falls, which would have been sooooo much more if it weren't for the whining of a few kids. But all in all, they did a good job on the 2 1/2 mile hike. And thankfully we took the boat ride back. It was a fun trip and we're so thankful to Brain and Jody and their family for the fun and great time we all had!!

Guess these mountains

Can anyone out there(the 2 of you that read this blog) tell me the mountains in this beautiful picture?

Oh this crazy boy!

Ok, so Nathan is in trouble! All he has is 3 older sisters, that means girly stuff EVERY WHERE!

This is his newest obsession. He wears his sisters' shoes all the time, but now it's the helmet! I guess that it's a good thing that he wants to wear a helmet and HE can't help it if all we have are princess helmets in his size. He thinks he is total HOT stuff, but daddy isn't as convinced! He doesn't like it too much when Nathan wears this around the neighborhood! I think he's cute no matter what he has on!

Poor, poor Kass

Well our lucky Kassidy got her retainers almost 2 weeks ago. She, of course, was a nervous wreck on the way to Provo to the dentist's office. She was making herself sick worrying about getting them in. I don't know where this kid comes from(she's just like her nana!) Any way, we have this really cool new dentist that does a lot of work with retainers and pulling baby teeth, so braces time is cut down or eliminated. And here she is
Wow, look at those wires, brings back memories... She was really excited because she got to choose what the top one looks like. You can't really see it, but it has a picture of Harry Potter on it. The bottom one is just glued in, so it is the annoying and boring one.

I am the excited one about these retainers! She's not too thrilled, but me? I LOVE that her teeth are getting straightened out NOW! At first she complained about not being able to eat and I guess the bottom retainer was giving her lots of cankers on the sides of her tongue, but now she is fine. She just "talks like she's got a mouth full of spit". And OF COURSE she is ever so dedicated in wearing it! Every kid should be this GOOD!

Addi's first day!

Well, Addi's first day of preschool was this past Tuesday and was she ever excited! On Monday she just kept singing "I can't wait till tomorrow!" She likes to be as big as Emma! Here she is @ school,

when I picked her up. Of course when I got my camera out to take her picture BEFORE school, the battery was "exhausted" . She looks so happy doesn't she? She is still so very quiet in school, her teacher doesn't believe me that she is NEVER quiet at home! And that she is the one to talk all ears off. Today she just look so darn cute that I couldn't help but take her picture! Today was show-and-tell day and it's our favorite day of the week! She took a horse family. Other girls took dolls and fairies but not mine...horses! Miss Becky told me that she actually talked to her today! And she has a new best friend named Gracie, I just hope that she talks to her!

And here is the cute boy that decides each time a sister has to have her picture taken, so does he!

Happy Birthday Party

Ok, almost a week late, but I am posting so that counts for something...right? Well, on the 28th Emma had her family party. She was so excited to have everyone come and celebrate with her. We were lucky enough to have Nana offer the use of her back patio and lawn for the party, so we didn't have to do it in our driveway. Thanks Nana! Look at that wonderful cake! Auntie Sonja did it again! And to think she made it up from a ball cake pan! Amazing again! Much better than the cake I made for her on her birthday!Which is why we have Auntie make the "real" cake! Well, Emma of course was spoiled rotten(grandma) and loved all of her presents! Thanks to all for coming! Jamie and Ryan get the "most dedicated" prize for traveling from Vernal, getting stuck in a wreck in thistle, turning around and coming by way of Scofield. Just to eat some good food, yummy cake(although I don't think either of them actually ate any cake), and watch a little girl open some presents. Then they went back home same night! WOW! I would have called and said I wasn't going to make it! All of the Nelson families were represented! And all of the kids got AWESOME goodie bags(thanks again to Auntie Sonja!)! Happy 7th Emma Lou! I am happy that the week devoted to Emma is over, I'm tired of birthday parties!

She's 7!

Ok, I clearly remember this day seven years ago. It really doesn't seem like that long ago. But here she is the birthday girl
Doesn't she look excited? Well her first question to me this morning was"Can I open my presents now?" So I guess she knew what it was all about. So after she ate breakfast, she did just that!

She was actually excited! I love when that happens! But her favorite of the day was her BFC inc doll!

Look at that cute girl! She also got to share homemade Oreos with bright BLUE frosting with her class! And all friends she came in contact with afterward! I made her a cake that totally fell apart, so we will not be seeing pictures of cake time! Happy Birthday Emma Lu!

Off to School...Off to School...

It is that time again. I really can't believe it! Well, today is the second day of school for Kass and Em. Where did the summer go? Well, yesterday was the first day and Kassidy was just plain nervous(I don't think her thumbnail survived!) and Emma was excited. Kass had to make sure that I would walk in with them to find their classes and lockers. Emma was holding my hand on the way in until we got closer to the school then she dropped it. I asked her if she was too old to hold my hand and she said "It's kinda embarrassing." She's now too cool for me! (Tear, sniff sniff) Kassidy was stuck to me like glue until she saw her friend Katie, then I ceased to exist. Growing up is so hard on me!
Kassidy came home and said that it was all good and she still felt like a 3rd grader most of the day, but was NOT excited that she had homework on the first day. Then she left us to go play at a friend's house. Emma had to tell me over and over how awesome Mrs. Henry is and how she would never yell at them. Then she and her friend disappeared downstairs to play. They didn't miss me at all! Once again, growing up is so hard for me! But I'm happy they enjoyed and didn't complain about going again today. I think when we run out of new clothes, the fun will be gone!

He Did It!

Naffie turned 1! It's true, over a month ago Nathan turned 1! His birthday fell on Sunday, so we just had cake and icecream at home(just us)! He had NO problem digging into his cake!

And before I knew it...

It was GONE! Then we opened presents, his sisters were BIG helps! He got a Push/ride thingy from Nana and Grandpa, and some other toys from us! Happy Birthday Big Boy! Wow, how time flies!!!

Where has the time gone?

Well, I know that I have a month to update on(where has the last month gone?), so here goes...
On August 21, we celebrated my birthday. I'm not too excited about my birthdays any more! And now that I'm in my 30's I'm even less excited! But not to dwell on the negative...Paul came home that morning with a cake (he was working a grave-yard shift) just for me, that he had to taste before he went to bed!

Then Kassidy, Emma, Addison, and Nathan gave me a beautiful card that Kass made and had the others sign(she was good to sign Nate's name)!
Here are 3 of the 4 kiddies wishing me "Happy Birthday"!

That was about the extent of my celebrations, as my husband had to work another grave-yard that night and I had to go grocery shopping for Emma's birthday party! Saturday the 22nd was fun as we had a family party for Emma's 6th! Her birthday wasn't until the 26th, but we try to do weekends for family parties(we have to have Sonja bring the cake!)

She did a "castle" cake this year that was a 3-D layer cake...it didn't fare too well on the 2 hour drive from Bountiful to my house! We still loved the "leaning tower of birthday cake"! But Sonja has said "No more 3-D cakes!" Thanks anyway Sonja! Emma had a great party and thanks to all who came and celebrated with us! Next we did celebrate her "real" birthday on the 26th with more gifts(thanks to grandma) and her friend party!

Fun times were had by all and Emma was a very spoiled Birthday girl!!! Next came the very dreaded day...the first day of school(only dreaded by the kids)!!

I know, totally crappy picture! But we are just lucky that I remembered, at the last second, to take a picture on the first day! Emma is now in 1st grade, that means that she has to be at school all day, but she now gets to eat lunch at school! How did she get old enough for this??? And Kassidy Grace is in the 3rd grade...multiplication and cursive writing, ahh the excitement! I love the beginning of a new school year!

Then on 9/3/09 Addison started preschool! Her teacher is Miss Becky(who is the best!) and she is loving it! Addison is NOT potty trained and Paul said that he didn't think she should be able to go to school if she wasn't trained...he was over-ruled!!! I've tried EVERYTHING I can think of to get her to go on the potty! NOPE! She is the most head strong, stubborn, non-caring child I've ever seen! So, she wins this one and gets to go to school(so I don't go crazy)! And now Nate is crawling! He is into EVERYTHING! And I don't think my house is "Nate Proof"! But he truly is the sweetest dang thing(with just a touch of the redheaded temper)! Now you're caught-up for the moment and I might remember to blog before another 5 weeks is up!

Fun for all!

Free Offer
Today I found this hard-to-pass-up offer on my friend's blog:
The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me--my choice!
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees you will like what I make! (I can only hope!)
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done some time this year.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be--it may be cards, something delicious, a paper weight, or a complete surprise to you (and me)! Who knows?
5. Most importantly, you must offer the same deal on your blog.
The first 5 people to comment on your blog post get something made by YOU!
I don't know how this will work, but I hope it will be fun for all(and that at least 5 people comment)
I took her up on it, so here is my official "I'm in the game" post. It's the ultimate give and take!

Crazy Times!

For those of you who watch PBS cartoons, you'll understand this...

WEIRD GIRL and her sidekick CAPTIAN NUGGIE-FACE

(Poor Nathan)

Ahh Summer Fun!

On Thursday, Aug. 6th, Kassidy had a little party! She called it a "3 hour slumber party" which was really a late night, since I don't do sleep overs! I told her that she could invite 4 friends so, they went in this order:

Katie Kjar(kassidy's best friend)

Chandler Cook (her best friend that's a boy and Addi's boyfriend)

Carlie Pay (other best friend)

And Kelcey Cook (friend since about birth)

They started @ 7pm with a few games: musical sleeping bags, sleeping beauty, and all tied up. Then they made individual fruit pizzas. Yummy! And ended the evening by watching "Horton Hears a Who"! Then the kids were returned home by 10pm! Good times all around!