My life with boys....

My week in pictures: 01/15 - 01/21/12

January 15, 2012 - This is what we've temporarily been reduced to.  Just four of us at home on a Sunday afternoon. 

January 16, -2012 - We had the opportunity to feed the local LDS missionaries dinner.  It was nice to have them in our home. 

January 17, 2012- Jacob and Michael both got helicopters for Christmas.  They were flying them while Alan was here today.  Naturally they felt that Lego Spiderman needed a ride.

January 18, 2012 -  Jacob is in the middle of an on going fund raiser.  When I say on going I mean.... this will go on for a LONG TIME!  Everyone knows he's in the DHS marching band, but I don't know if people realize the cost of the band.  Especially when trips are involved.  In the next year he will go Anaheim (in March), then there is Summer marching band which includes summer uniform and band camp, then a trip in November to St. George for two major competitions, and then THE BIG EVENT of next year.... the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2013.  So yeah.... he is raising funds.  Luckily the candy bar sales have helped a little bit, but with all the funds he needs for all these things.... we might have to start donating plasma!!

January 19, 2012 - Speaking of chocolate sales.... we are so THANKFUL to Leger's Deli in North Salt Lake because they are always willing to have a box of chocoates available for their customers to buy chocolates!

January 20, 2012 - And generally speaking of CHOCOLATE!!!  My awesome cousin Andrew has traveled to England several times in recent months.  He was so generous to bring me Cadbury Roses Chocolates at Christmas!  I can't believe they've lasted this long!!

January 21, 2012 - Me just hanging out with some great ladies!  We were scrap booking at the Farmington City Hall!  We always have so much fun and there is rarely anything accomplished as far as scrap booking goes!

 

My week in pictures: 01/08 - 01/14/12

January 8, 2012 - We attended an Eagle Court of Honor for Jacob's Friend Jaden Foust.  Actually, he's more than just a friend!  He's my daughter-in-law Jessica's little brother.  We are pretty connected to that family considering that one of Taylor's best friends is also Jessica's brother Braxton.  As well as Jessica's younger sister Mckenna is friends with Michael.  So yeah.... we are all together forever.  :-)  But this was about Jaden!  Congratulations on obtaining your Eagle Scout award!

January 9, 2012 - We went to Bountiful High School's production of "Beauty and the Beast."  It was a great show.  Particularly better than most since my niece Chelsea played the part of Belle (SHE. WAS. AMAZING! Oh what a voice she has!!!)  And.... my nephew, her brother Derek, played LeFou!  He was hilarious and did a fantastic job himself.  Though, I will admit watching him on stage was like being back in time and watching MY little brother David.... who is their father of course.  So today... there are TWO pictures of the day.  Even if they were taken with my cell phone and not that clear.  Both of these kids deserve top billing in my opinion!  GREAT JOB YOU TWO!!! 

January 10, 2012 - We went to see the Dr. Richards today.  He's the orthopedic doctor who has been treating Michael's broken-ness.  We went to get his cast off.  We expected Michael to get another cast that would be shorter (not past his elbow) but the x-ray showed fantastic results of healing and no cast was required!  YAY!!!  He's been constricted up past is elbow for five weeks and it was pretty exciting to hear he only needs a wrist guard for about another month!

January 11, 2012 - Michael's band teacher is letting him play the saxophone now.  He's pretty excited.  I am happy for him.  However, the saxophone is much louder than the clarinet when it comes to practice time at home. 

January 12, 2012 - I'm long past the days of having home parties in my house.  I'm not particularly a fan.  However, when my friend is getting started as an independent consultant for Paparazzi Accessories I want to help her out.  So, I had an open house!  This is her.  Brandy Edwards and her lovely daughter Madelyn.  I was really glad to have so many people show up to buy jewelry.  It was a lot of fun and a great success for her in sales that night.  

January 13, 2012 - Jacob's new car!!!  NOT!  Cory took the boys to the International Auto Expo in Sandy, UT today. 

January 14, 2012 - While driving home from lunch with Cory we saw this!  These people live in Layton, UT and every year they have such AMAZING snow sculptures in front of their house.  Usually it's a Christmas theme, but the heavy snow didn't come until after Christmas.  So fun!

My week in Pictures: 01/01 - 01/07/2012

I'm giving this daily picture thing a try again this year.  We'll see how that goes.  When I did this in 2010 it seemed tedious and sometimes boring, but at the end of that year I LOVED that I had a picture from every single day of my life that year.  I also want to do this for my missionary who has permission to read my blog every week.  Whether he reads it or not though..... ???? 

Unfortunately this first week has been rather DULL and I noticed that I took several pictures of Jacob.  I think I did that because it really annoys him sometimes.... I like to antagonize I suppose.  I am the mom of a 16 year old, and the more we can do to ruin their life the better... right???  Well, I'm not really TRYING to ruin his life... he just thinks I am. 

So let it begin...

January 1, 2012 - This is one of two Christmas trees we had up this year.  All of my Christmas decorations have officially been put away.  Except this one of course.  It's my Disney tree.  First of all, this is in answer to a Christmas tree blog tag I got from my sister to show my tree.  Second of all, I'm just tired.  Too tired to care that it's now January and my tree is still up.  I NEVER keep my Christmas decorations up this long. 

January 2, 2012 - Our good friend Austin Baxter came for a quick visit while he was here in UT with his wife and her family.  It's always good to see him.

January 3, 2012 - It's pretty rare for us to take our Christmas lights down this early.  Not because we like them up for weeks and weeks, but because we normally have ice and snow preventing us from taking them down.  However,  since the weather has been INSANELY warm for a January in Utah we (I mean Jacob) took the lights down today.

January 4, 2012 - THIS is the face of a teenager who is saying... "Really mom?  Do you HAVE to take a picture of me doing homework?"  Why yes, yes I do.  Notice the look on his face and the upward questioning twist of his hand.... he loves me. 

January 5, 2012 - First of all.... yes, he does wear that pull over a lot.  Second of all, I bought him a sugar cookie.  When he got half way through he felt bad that he had eaten half of a snowman.  So, he tried to revive him with some CPR.

January 6, 2012 - My missionary doesn't like me to post pictures of food. But in this year I can't promise there won't be pictures of food.  So I will apologize in advance.  This is Michael... still eating one handed, yet with a prettier non bruised face.... at Chilis.

January 7, 2012 - It FINALLY snowed!  It hasn't snowed since a few weeks before Christmas and the weather has been unseasonably warm and dry.  THIS is what we woke up to this morning! 

My year (2011) in review....

I can't complain.  It has really been a good year.  Maybe a few bumps here and there, but mostly a great year.

- JANUARY-

Was actually pretty boring.  Except for the trip Cory and I took with Taylor to Disneyland.  He had requested one last trip with just dad and mom before leaving for his mission.  We are always happy to comply with that type of request if we can.

-FEBRUARY-

Alan made his first major purchase.  A new car!  He was pretty excited to start making monthly payments and being a "responsible" person!

Taylor was able to go to the temple.  He was so happy to have some friends there with him too!

Braxton Foust, Taylor, Mark Homer and Kevin Killian

I made my Valentine's happy by making big heart shaped cookies for them!

Michael was a hit doing the 'moonwalk' at the 6th grade lip sync party.

-MARCH-

Taylor had his 19th birthday! 

Alan had his 22nd birthday!

Jacob was playfully tackled at school.  Unfortunately it resulted in a broken collar bone.  He was in a lot of pain!

Taylor entered the MTC.  It was a good day, though it was sad to say "goodbye" for two years.  He seemed so happy and excited for this new adventure in his life.

-APRIL-

Started out the month at the Disneyland Resort!  It was a lot of fun, but it was hard being there without Taylor.  Michael FINALLY went on the Tower of Terror after being scared to death of it since the first time he rode it a few years ago.  He now claims it to be one of his favorite rides!

The Farmington Jr. High Symphonic band, of which Jacob was a member, was accepted to perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL.  It's quite a prestigious invitation.  However, the invitation was for them to perform in Dec. 2011 - most of these band members would be in high school by then. 

Took a day trip south to visit Cory's family while his sister Darla was visiting from California.

Darla, Teryle, Grandma Lila (Cory's mom), Cory and Tammy

I went to BYU Womens Conference with my mom and sisters.  It was an enjoyable experience and I look forward to going again in 2012!

All of us are related.... My mom and her two daughters as well as my niece.  Then two of my sisters-in-law with THEIR sisters, and mother.  Yep.  All family.

-MAY-

Cory's sister Tammy had been battling cancer.  She came to stay with us every Thursday night through parts of April and May for us to take her to her weekly treatment at LDS Hospital.  I can happily report that she is doing quite well!

Jacob performed with the FJH Symphonic band for the last time.  I wonder if his teacher Mr. Wolf will miss him???

Took another trip to Disneyland.  This time it was just Cory and I with Alan.  Mike, Lesley and Caitlin were with us too.  We had a lot of fun together!

Russell had a birthday!  He turned 24!!!!

Jacob finally got his driving permit..... after months of ME trying to put if off as long as possible!

-JUNE-

The end of an era!  Michael graduated from the 6th Grade at Windridge Elementary School.  It was also the end of elementary school for the Nielsen boys!

Jacob enjoyed some time at Teachers Quorum camp at Flaming Gorge!

Michael enjoyed some time at Lagoon!

Taylor officially ended his stay at the MTC and headed to Cambodia.  First picture he sent home was somewhat shocking to me.  There was my little boy in the middle of a 3rd world country.... in front of an elephant!!!  

-JULY-

Ahhhhh..... who needs that jr. high symphonic band?  Jacob is now a full blown member of the Davis High Marching Band!  This is the 4th of July parade in Kaysville.

4th of July BBQ in our back yard.

My boys always get so excited for a new super hero movie to come out!  Let's see..... this one must have been..... CAPTAIN AMERICA!  Russell's favorite.

-AUGUST-

Jacob went to Band Camp!

Michael went to Scout Camp!

Alan became engaged to Katelyn!

Family night at Cherry Hill!

The first day of school!  Jacob started high school and Michael started jr. high.  He's here with one of his best buds Gavin!

Ahhh.... first home football game and Jacob is playing in the band at Davis High!!!

-SEPTEMBER-

Our lives are pretty much ruled by the DHS Marching Band during the competition season!  This was at the Parent's Preview.... first time Jacob gets to wear the uniform!

Had fun taking pictures of Russell and Jessica on her birthday!

-OCTOBER -

Jacob turned 16!

....then he went on his first date!  Homecoming Dance!

Michael turned into an official teenager on his 13th birthday!

The AF band took first place at the Davis Cup.  HOWEVER - just a week before that the DHS band took first place at the Rocky Mountain Invitational held at BYU. 

THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE MONTH????  Definitely the fact that CORY turned FIFTY!!!  Jessica made his cake and did a great job.  Russell insisted there be 50 candles!   Ha ha... it was FUN!

DHS Band performed/competed at the Red Rocks and Bands of America Western Regionals in St. George.  They did an amazing job!  Placed their highest EVER at BOA - 3rd!  And they tied for the visual caption award with the band that took 1st! 

-NOVEMBER-

Alan and Katelyn were married in the Bountiful LDS Temple on 11.11.11

Taylor is also doing very well serving his mission in Cambodia!  He's gotten thinner, but he's grown in so many other ways.  We love him and miss him dearly.  But we KNOW he loves it there and loves serving the Lord.  Still.... he's so handsome!!

-DECEMBER-

The month started with a CRAZY wind storm that brought down trees, trucks, trampolines, shingles, fences, and other crazy things.  Power was out throughout Davis County. Schools closed early that day AND were still closed the next.  We were lucky to have very minimal damage. 

The damage came a week later.... when Michael was goofing off at school and was jumping over a railing outside during lunch.  Somehow things didn't go as planned (in his mind) and he took a bad fall.  About 5 - 6 feet to the concrete below.  Had a huge goose egg and scratched up face.  Broke his left arm and sprained his right wrist.  It was miserable for him.  Thankfully, he's doing MUCH better and thankfully, that's all that happened. 

This picture was taken 4 days after his accident.... on a Sunday before church.

We attended the annual family Christmas party....

Christmas Eve was fun too....

Christmas Day brought a FANTASTIC conversation with Taylor over Skype.... what a cool invention that is!!  Just look at that FACE!  He just looks so dang HAPPY!  When he's happy.... so am I.

There ya have it.  One whole year wrapped into a few sentences.  A good year.  Today is actually January 1, 2012.  Not making any public resolutions.  I don't need anyone nit picking at me.  Except for one.  I'm planning to take a picture every day like I did in 2010.  But nobody gets to nit pick at me if I don't! 

Happy New Year! 

Disney Day 30: Why should all good things come to an end?

What a strange quote.  I've heard it before.... "all good things must come to an end."  Who said that anyway?   Who say's that???  Why should the good things come to an end?  We are here to have JOY and I'm pretty sure we are meant to have joy for a really really long time.  So, no.... all good things do not need to come to an end. 

This is the end of my 30 (non consecutive) days of Disney.  And, I don't particularly mean that my 30 day blog is the good thing that should come to an end.  It's actually blogging about, and going to Disneyland that shouldn't come to an end.

I didn't know it would take six months for me to complete my 30 days of Disney. But I don't care because I'm not done. I'm not done telling people about how great it is to go there. I'm not done getting excited for anyone that tells me they are going. I'm not done giving out all the ideas and advise I can to someone who has never been. I am also not done going there myself. Yep, there is another trip in the works.... then another and another. I've had a lot of fun being there with my own little family of boys. I have such great memories and look forward to making more as one day they have little families and take them... and hopefully ME with them. I won't ever stop going to Disneyland.

As Walt Disney himself said..... "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

So my Disney blog will never be completed as long as there is Disneyland in the world.

Christmas past....

I think this is Christmas Eve 1969 - Me, Alan, Tim, Archie and Lesley

Like any normal child I loved Christmas time.  I don't remember a lot of Christmases when I was very small, but growing up there are several that stand out.  It's interesting now though, as I look back, it seemed to just take forever to get here!  Back when I was a child we thought the family down the street who put their Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving were NUTS!  It was NOT the normal thing to do.  At least, not normal to us or most of the people we knew.  Our tree usually went up around mid-december.  THAT is when we started to get into the holiday spirit.... and it still felt like forever before it would come. 

We had slightly different traditions from the other kids we knew.  My parents, being from Britain, raised us with some of the same traditions they had.  There was the Christmas Pudding with the prizes inside that if we got a certain one it meant something for our future.  If we were lucky enough to get the dime we'd be RICH!  If we got the thimble we'd be an "old maid."  My mom was wise enough to have only one thimble, and a few dimes in the pudding.  We would each get a turn to stir the pudding and make a wish.  I'm pretty sure we all wished for the dime. 

Our stockings were also filled and left at the foot of our beds.  I would wake up VERY early and go through to see the fun treats and toys left inside.  I shared a room with my  sister.  There was one Christmas when we woke up and emptied out our stockings and excitedly went through everything to see what we got!  Once we saw everything she said, "Okay, let's put it all back."  Then she put all her treats back into her stocking.  So, I did the same.  Then, she turned out the light and told me to go back to sleep.  I didn't really want to.  I just wanted to play with the stuff in my stocking.  However, she was older than me  (she was a teenager and I was in elementary school)  so I did as I was told.  But then I could hear my three older brothers laughing and playing in the next room.  I could hear them saying stuff like, "LOOK WHAT I GOT!" and "Oh WOW!"  I just lay there in the dark wishing I could play with the stuff in my stocking.  Finally, I got out of bed, grabbed my stocking and went to their room.  It seems that I was worried they'd make their little sister go away.  But they welcomed me into their room and excitedly asked what I got in my stocking and seemed genuinely happy to see all the little girly things that I got compared to their marbles and plastic army men. 

We weren't allowed to just wake up and run into the living room to see what Santa brought.  My parents wanted to be alert and awake while enjoying the moment with their children.  So, we had to wait until our parents were "up and at 'em" before going into the living room.  They didn't make us wait forever though.  But sometimes it felt like forever.  We would all sit and wait for three words from my dad, "HO HO HO!" then it would be a mad dash. 

As I mentioned, I stayed in the basement with my sister and my three older brothers.  My younger brother was upstairs.  While we had the bedrooms in the basement, there wasn't a finished bathroom.  There was one particular Christmas where I waited with  my siblings in the basement for the signal to come upstairs.  I REALLY needed to go potty.  I mean.... REALLY!   I just danced in that basement trying not to wet my pants.  My older, smarter, caring, loving, patient brothers all told me to just go sit over the drain that is in the room that would soon be the bathroom.  I protested a little because I didn't want the "Ho Ho Ho" to happen and everyone leave me.  I was LOVINGLY assured that my brothers and my sister would wait until I was done..... even if that meant ignoring the signal to come upstairs.  Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go.  You put your faith in people and you just do it.  So, I went into the little room meant to be a bathroom and squatted over a drain.  Then what do I hear?  "HO! HO! HO!"  Ahhhhh.... hurry hurry.... finish finish.... OH, then wait.... what else did I hear?  The loud banging and thumping and laughing as I was LEFT ALONE in the basement whilst my older siblings went to the living room!  I had been abandoned.  Ah well, I suppose when it's Christmas morning brothers will say whatever it takes to get their little sister to stop dancing and almost wetting her pants so that they can focus on what is more important.  :-)

When we would finally arrive into the living room each Christmas morning we would find most of our gifts inside our pillow cases that we had left for Santa.  For me it would be a baby doll,  a Barbie, plastic high heel shoes, a tea set, and other fun things.  One year Santa brought me a Barbie Ski Resort and my brother Tim help me set it up.  He also eventually let ME play with it after trying it out a few times.  :-)

Me, wearing my plastic high heels, searching for MORE in my pillow case.

I had so many wonderful Christmases with my family growing up.  I can't think of a time that it was ever NOT a good Christmas.  We were thankful for everything we got and our parents were so good to us.  I know they probably had times when they felt they wanted to do more, but I don't know when those times were because I was always happy and I know my sister and brothers were too.

Disney Day 29: Dancing and finding a laughing place....

It was way back in June when I began my 30 non consecutive days of Disney.  Though, I will admit, I really was hoping that 30 days had been consecutive.  Oh well..... life happens.   And on that note, I will mention that I WAS supposed to have been there this past week.  We had actually planned since August that we would go in December.  Unfortunately, poor Michael took a spill at school on Dec. 7th.  He ended up with a black eye, scratched up face, a goose egg, a broken left arm and a sprained right wrist (pending another x-ray that might actually tell us it's not sprained... but broken.)  So, we've postponed that trip.

I found some video clips.  I have to share.  Watch them, or don't.  They are nothing too specific.  Just moments we've had.  Moments that truly capture how we enjoy just being there.  They aren't from any specific trip, just a variety of times we've been there.  In no particular order..... but the last one is probably one of my favorites!  It's Jacob dancing.  He was 12 yrs old.  It was Jan. 2008.  I love how nobody is really paying attention to him.  It also cracks me up that his two older brothers are standing watching him.  One at the beginning of the video, the other at the end.  They just stand there and act like this is just normal behavior for Jacob.... well, it is. 

 

Next best thing....

My dear cousin recently blogged about her son's 18th birthday and that for his "cake" she got him brownies at Kneaders.  I commented on that particular post that I had never been there, but that when I finally had the opportunity to go, I would blog about it. 

That being said, what if I went and was highly disappointed?  I didn't want to write a NEGATIVE post about it!!

Well, there is no need for negativity!  I FINALLY had to opportunity to go and eat at Kneaders.  I'm sure that is not a huge deal to ANYONE.   Really.... it's not even a huge deal to me!  ha ha!  However, while I was employed at the flooring store for three years the salesmen, who would do flooring measurements all over the Wasatch Front, would sometimes visit the Kneaders Bakery in Draper... I think that's where it is?  Anywhoo...  they would come back into the store and ALWAYS talk about their delicious lunch.  They NEVER shared! 

I would then hear about it from other friends on that end of the Salt Lake Valley.  Still, I never went.  But one day a Kneaders showed up in North Salt Lake.  YAY!  I can give it a try.  Still, I never went.  Then another day Kneaders showed up in Layton.  "YAY!  I can give it a try".... (is what I have thought every time I drive past it after taking Jacob to his trombone lessons. )

But today.  Today I did it!  I gave it a try!  Cory and I went for breakfast and the first thought that came to my mind when I walked in was.... "This is the NEXT BEST THING to the bakery in Disneyland!"  The smells, the sounds, the case showing all the goodies.... all of it reminded me of the bakery in Disneyland.  EXCEPT the price... which was BETTER than that of the Blue Ribbon Bakery!  :-) 

There were SO MANY GOODIES in that case!  They looked SO delicious!  But I was there for breakfast.   I chose the Chunky Cinnamon French Toast and Hot Chocolate.  HOLY FREAKING DELICIOUSNESS OF AMERICA  - THAT I COULDN'T EVEN EAT THE WHOLE SERVING.... and it was all you can eat! 

I shall return for lunch one day.

I also know exactly where I am going every week after I drop Jacob off for his lessons. 

One third....

It was exactly 8 months ago today that my son began his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  That means 1/3 of his mission in Cambodia is complete.  He's a good missionary.  He's a good son.  I miss him so much right now.  But he does tell me he's happy being there. 

  

He loves serving in Cambodia.  He especially loves serving the Cambodian people.  However, it is not easy for him.  Not by any means.  This is a country torn by war and genocide.  He desperately wants to help each and every person he meets.  Being in Cambodia has also been a very humbling experience for him too. 

In a recent letter he wrote:

 "This past week was nothing less than a trial. Easily one of the hardest weeks of my life. I know I've said that a lot so far on my mission and I promise you, I'm not done saying it. My mission is hard, every little part of it is hard. Being in a 3rd world Buddhist country torn up by war and genocide is heart breaking."

I read that and start to be concerned.  Then, I read this from another letter:

"Even though these days are hard, I am still, having the time of my life. I am still smiling..... All the elders are asking how I'm so happy. It's because I love these people...... I love the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission with all my heart, might, mind and strength."

I love hearing those words.  In just about every letter/email he writes he tells us of the trials and hardships.  Yet he still has a positive attitude and loves this experience.  

It's going to be hard having him gone during the holiday season.  However, I survived it with the other two and I will survive it again (and again... and again).  I WILL get to talk with him on Christmas, even if it is for a short time.  I can't wait to hear his voice!  

I can't wait until he can HEAR me say..... "I love you son."

11.11.11

My son was married on this date.  It was wonderful to see him so happy as the sealing ordinance bound him to Katelyn for eternity.  

 

*Some of our family members who were at the temple that morning.

*My growing family.... Jacob is holding a picture of Elder Taylor Nielsen. 

After their ceremony we hosted a luncheon for close family and friends.  The food was delicious and the company was great.  My dad sang "My Sweet Lady" to Katelyn.  It's something that's become a tradition for the bride's in our family.

At the luncheon they were presented some gifts from their brothers and sisters.  One gift was from Cory.  He had been in Korea for about 10 days before the wedding.  He had some Boise  State jerseys custom made for them there.  It was during the presentation of the jerseys that we realized the slight mistake. 

We then attended the reception hosted by the bride's parents.  It was very well decorated by Katelyn's very sweet aunt Gayle, with some help from one of Alan's friends from work.

*The bridal party

*My five handsome sons! 

*The dashing groom and his mommy.

Eventually the reception ended.   And they fled the scene.....

Off to start their lives together......

I think they are going to have a lot of FUN!