It's Christmastime

It's that time of year!

I thought it might be a good time to update.

  I'm a bit bugged these days because

my camera is not working and I had to take these

with my camera phone that I hate!

But anyway, I love the holidays!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with our extended Nelson family. 

2 days later we kicked off the Christmas Season by having our Christmas Musical Celebration!

We did it 2 years ago when we first moved to Utah.  We skipped last year when we were just moving into the new house.  So, this year we decided to do it again.

  We invited the people on our street that are in our ward.

We ended up having 12 musical numbers.

Michael playing and singing "Mary did you know".

Amy playing and singing "It's Christmastime" by Hillary Weeks!

My fave!!

Mike, our home teacher playing "Silent night".

It was a really nice turn out about 40 people including kids, and Mike recorded the whole thing. 

The great thing about it is that although it was a bit stressfull for me trying to get everything ready,
on time,  I was able to get all my Christmas decorating done quickly and early!

So, now I feel way prepared.  It's weird.  I feel calm.  I have even started doing some Christmas shopping and have been able to take care of the boys

for Christmas. Now it is just doing a few odds and ends throughout the month. 

This year Michael has someone special to celebrate with.  He will be headed to

Arizona to spend Christmas with her family. 

I think we have a very eventful year ahead of us with Stephen heading

 off on a mission and Michael making a special announcement...good times

are coming our way!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Well, it's that time of year again.   The older the kids get the more we just enjoy the whole month watching scarey movies, going to parties, and just hanging out and having fun.  Last weekend we threw a Murder Mystery Party for our neighbors and some friends.  It was a blast!  The theme was Celebrities Celebration.  Many many celebrities were there.  There was Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bing Crosby, Patsy Cline,John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Liza Minelli, Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Bruce Lee etc.  This was a first time event for us.  We had been to a Murder Mystery Party before but had never thrown one.  My neighbor and good friend Amy did most of the work putting the game together.  Anyway, it ended up to be so much fun we have decided to make it an annual event! 

The boys are now done with football season.  It's a sad and happy time.  We dont feel so rushed now on the Friday nights after working all week long which is nice.  But at the same time, it's a sad feeling to know that we will no longer see Stephen play on the football field.  His attention has been more on his up coming mission and his education.  He has been filling out college applications lately and hoping to get into BYU.  The cute girl he is dating is also planning to serve a mission when she is 19 so they are both preparing for that.  They are good friends and I would be very pleased if those 2 ended up together someday.  She is quite the "Gem". 

Michael is doing great!  Going to school full time and working back at Maple Lake Academy for boys.  He really enjoys that job.  He was on call for a while so he took another part time job at Vivint for a short time where he met Megan, his new girlfriend.  Shortly after they put him on a permanent shift at Maple Lake and he quit Vivint.  So, now he is pretty seriously dating Megan.  She is from Arizona, a return missionary and pretty sharp.  Our family loves her and I think this might be the one!  So, stay tuned.  Michael is still trying to get back on his feet. Trying to buy a car.  It's been tough for all of us sharing transportation. 

Bryce is trying to decided if he wants to try out for the basketball team this year or do hip hop again.  He is hating early morning seminary at 7:00. He thinks that's too early.  Now that football is over hopefully it will get easier to get up and get ready on time.  He had a really good football season and is looking forward to next year.  He recently cancelled his facebook account because he felt it had too much garbage available. I admire him for making that choice. He is a good boy.  And very cute, I might add.:)

I am finishing up my Spanish Class.  It's been a lot of fun.  It's also been a very fast-paced class.  I've learned a lot but havent had much of a chance to use it.  I need to make a bunch of flash cards and let Mike quiz me.  We have one more class and then there may be another to follow if enough people want to continue.  But my next adventure will be piano.  I am going to take lessons from my neighbor.  Getting excited about that.  Other than that, just enjoying my job as much as ever.  I work with great people and get to serve great people too.  They treat me well there an I am a lucky girl!

Mike finally got on with a really good homebuilder by the name of Richmond American.  It is a good company and he is back as Superintendent over several projects.  He is excited and enjoying learning about this new company.  He is working out in West Jordan for now so he is driving my car and I'm driving his truck.  When he left Miller he had to give up a company truck so we are now down one car with Michael and Stephen still needing a vehicle.  Michael is saving his pennies but commutes with me each morning as school for him is at UVU in Orem close to where I work.  Stephen is just hoofing it for now back and forth to school.  Luckily it's close to the house. 

All in all the Nelson's are doing well and hanging in there.  Life is good, and we continue to work towards preparing our boys for missions first and of course life.  The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is what keeps us all going.  We are greatly blessed with much love, trials and blessings in our lives.  Mike and I are so thankful that our children are growing up to be righteous young men for we know they have a great work to do.  As long as we all stick together I think we all just might make it!

The Front Door

So, we have been in our house for about 10 months now. When we moved in we had just enough of the house done for it to pass the final inspection and move in. However, we still have many many additonal finishing jobs to do. One of which was the front door to be painted. But with Mike working out of town and a demanding calling he just didnt have much time to do much of anything on the house.

However, last Sunday they released our entire bishopric and a new one was put into place.

 In additon, Mike has been working in town the past couple of weeks,

so we are finally getting some things done.

So, here is the latest!  We hesitated to paint the door this dark chocolate brown, but we absolutely love it!

So, now I'm crossing my fingers that we can get some other things done before the cold weather hits or something else!

A special time with cousins

     On Sunday we had Mike's brother's family over for a special family dinner. We were celebrating the last fast Sunday with our nephew and cousin Jordan Nelson. He's the one in the green shirt.  He stands about 6'2 1/2".  He's a great kid.  He has had a rough road behind him to get where he is today, but he did it!  He is ready to serve a fulltime mission and he's been called to San Jose California.  Since we are all originally from Northern California we think it's pretty great that he is going there. 

But we had a blast Sunday night spending time together as an extended family.  We talked a bit about missions and missionary work and then Jordan spent some time sharing with us his decision to go on this mission and some advice to the younger boys who have not gone yet.  It was a really great time together and a special moment for all of us. 

These kids have grown up together since they were just tiny babies.  They are close in age and close in heart. They are a bunch of fantastic kids and their parents couldn't be prouder of them.

Oh yah, and Adam Hogge (in brown shirt) who has always been a part of the group.

We had a lot of fun taking some updated shots of the kids and of course Coleen and I had to sneak in a picture too.  It's been 23 years of watching our kids grow up together and having fun on vacations

and supporting eachother thru all the ups and downs. 

 We are very blessed to all have eachother!

New Schedule

6:00 Get up and get ready for work
6:45 take Bryce to Seminary
7:15 Leave for work with Michael
7:45 Michael drops me at work and goes to school
5:00 Michael picks me up
6:00-7:00 Make dinner
6:30 pick up Bryce from football
7:15-8:00 WALK
8:00-9:30 Hang out with the boys
9:30 Scriptures and Prayer
10:00 Bed!


Now if I can actually keep up with this schedule it will be a miracle:)!

p.s. Michael really needs a car of his own!

Back Together!

     So, there is just something about having your whole family together in one place.  Just your family and no one else!  There is a peace, a wholeness and a fullness of joy that comes with it.

  So, this past weekend Michael came  home from Alaska and he was excited to be coming home and we were excited to have him back home again.

     With the boys all older now, it is so wonderful to see them show love towards one another and to go out of their way to do things for each other.  Stephen had left earlier on Friday for St. George to play his first football game of the season against Dixie High School.  So, we decided to make a weekend of it and so we made reservations to stay there overnight.  So, after I got off work the rest of us drove to St. George to attend the game and spend the night.

The next morning we got up, had breakfast and headed to the Temple to do baptisms.  It was the first time our whole family had been in the temple together at the same time doing the same thing.  It was really special and just a bonding experience for all of us.  To know that each of us was worthy to be there preforming ordinances  was so rewarding to me.  I pray that this will always be the case.

We headed back for home again after that as Bryce had his first football game again back home that evening.

I am so thankful to have my family back together again!  Life is complete!

Summer is fading

I cant believe the summer is almost over already.  It has been a strange summer for me now that I am working.  I have had just a few days off this summer but they didnt feel very "summerish".  I wished that I had been able to take a trip to California.  That would have felt more like a vacation to me. Hopefully next spring or summer. 

Bryce and Stephen have been keeping busy with football and camps and such.  And Mike of course has been working out of town during the week so it's been a little weird around here.  Mom left for Theresa's the beginning of this month.  She was a huge help around the house and luckily without Mike around to have to cook for, I've been able to keep up on the house even though I am working.

We are all looking forward to Michael coming home from Alaska.  He has had an interesting adventure there.  He is really looking forward to coming home though.  I am excited to talk to him and hear all about what he has learned this summer.  He is my big communicator! I love that about him.  He will be here to stay for the school year anyway.  He is thinking about transferring to another school next year and so I have a feeling this may be his last stretch at home. 

Well, the boys start school in a couple of weeks already!  Stephen will be a senior this year as student body president and a captain on his football team.  Bryce starts his 9th grade year.  I can not believe it.  Before I know it Stephen will be leaving on a mission.  But he needs to get a job and earn some money this summer and then get a year of school in before then.  It's gonna be a busy year.  I am looking forward to our expenses going down with Stephen out of high school.  He is an expensive teenager!

Mike continues to work his butt off.  Always busy doing something productive.  He is such an inspiration to me.  He has always been a man to respect and admire in my eyes.  I am very blessed to have him in my life!

I continue to love my job and am so thankful that it is so uplifting as I serve other people there.  I am also working as an advisor in yw so I get to be around the girls and teach them a couple of times a month.

So, summer is fading and fall is upon us again.  So, much to do and so much to look forward to.  I love my family more than words can say and I can feel the ability to slow down and take it all in these days.  I have truly been blessed with the joy of watching my children grow and walk in righteousness.  Even as I strive to overcome my own personal trials and weakness they continue to give me strength and hope for the future.

What happened?

Okay, so apparently I accidentally deleted my last post!  I'm so mad because it took me months to actually post an update and then I go and delete it!  Oh well.  So, I thought I would drop by and tell you that the Nelson family is doing well.  Hanging in there.  Mike is working now and we are soooooo happy!  In fact it looks like his job is sending him to work in Springdale for a month or so.  He's thankful to be working but not thrilled to be going there since the average temperature is 105 or something like that....at least!  Plus he has to stay down there all week long and come home on the weekends.  Since he has been in his new calling as 2nd counselor in the bishopric, he is usually gone all day Sunday.  So, now when he comes home on the weekends it's basically Saturday and that's about all we get!  However, they are trying to work m-th and come home thursday night.  So, we'll see how that goes. 

Life is busy this summer. Michael is in Alaska (with the only camera we have around here) driving a tour bus.  He is working hard, enjoying the experience and missing home. We are really missing him here too.
Stephen and Bryce are conditoining for football Mon- Thurs.  Stephen has been to a couple of Leadership Conferences already.  Bryce just got back from Scout Camp, his last one I might add.  This week both the boys go to YM Camp for our Stake.  They are having a Mini-MTC experience.  The have each been called on a specific mission.  Stephen has been called to Somoa and Bryce to Australia.  So, that should be fun.  Then we have the 4th of July coming up.  The following week both the boys go to Snow College to Football camp for the week.  Then Bryce will be off to EFY at the U of U the following week.  Whew!  Lots to do, Lots to do! 

If you scratch my back I'll scratch yours!

Today as I sat in church next to my 3 boys, as I was engrosed in listening to the speaker,

I glanced over and saw my boys leaning over eachother, lovingly scratching and rubbing eachother's backs.

I smiled inside and felt a lump form in my throat as I realized that my sweet, fiesty and rugged little boys had all turned into big, strong, loving, and tender men!

My cup is full!

A going away party

We had a going away party for Adam on Monday night.

Sophia made this shirt that says, "I survived the Nelson's"

for him and we all signed it!

We played the "Adverbs" game again.

This one was the best! The word was "seriously"

and the two biggest clowns were asked to act out the word as they were in the Jungle

swinging from the trees with the monkey's!

Oh my gosh! Can I just tell you ....I seriously needed to pee!

The word was "Closterphobically"

My boys!

Don't ask!

Bryce showed us the Hip Hop dance he is learning at Charisma.

Here he was trying to get Sophia to let him flip her.

And here after 3 times of practice with

Michael and Adam to catch her,

she finally let him flip her! It was awesome! I cant wait to see his

performance in May!

Adam and Darcie

Grandma and Sophia

Jeremy, Amy, Jessica and Adam

Grandma and Grandpa

We had a great time!  We're gonna miss you Adam!

She's back and He's cracked!

Sophia arrived on Friday afternoon.  She is on Spring Break and we get to have her here all week!

On Sunday between Conference sessions we made some yummy rolls as Stephen and Sophia

worked on Stephen's election posters for Student Council!

Crazy kids, having fun!

Sophia recently ran for Publicity on her student body council and won.

So, she pretty much took over for Stephen and came up with some

great posters, pins and t-shirts for him! They worked all weekend on them.

Love this pose, don't you?

Heaven help us all!

So here is one of the posters they(Sophia) came up with.

Stephen wanted to do a Hunger Games theme with fire in the

background.  So, he spray painted his hair yellow and red which turned out

orange like this.  This week is election week. 

He is running for Student Body President.

We find out the results on Friday.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Preference

 Stephen got asked to Preference by Ashlie and they attended on Friday March 30th.

That boy seriously needs a hair cut!

Had to get a going away shot, yes, they were thrilled...cant you tell?

Another Birthday Boy

On March 29th we celebrated Stephen's birthday!

He turned 17 this year.

Elsie and Stephen are best friends....eh hmm.

Anyway, her sisters adore him and they made a music video for him to the song

"Hey Stephen" by Taylor Swift.  It was adorable!

We had the whole family over for dinner that night.

That's what he wanted.

Happy Birthday Stephen!

A Las Vegas Temple Sealing

I went to Las Vegas on March 23rd to attend Johnny and Amanda's sealing in the Temple. We had a great time seeing Linda's family again.  Johnny looks so much like her and I knew she was beaming with joy from Heaven that day.  It was a very happy occassion for all of us!

 Tamra and Darrell

Mom and Tamra

Mom and her girls!

Tamra, Me, Mom, Amanda, Johnny, Regina, and Theresa

Regina, Mom, Darrell, Martha, Theresa

What a great occassion to bring us all together again.

It was a very Happy Reunion!