Grace, Allie and Sundance Kitty

I know, I know I said I'd never get a cat. But never say never. We got a kitty and her name is Sundance Kitty. So now we have Butch the dog and Sundance. We just need Etta Place and we'll have the majority of the wild bunch living in our yard!

This is Allie and Grace trying to get Sundance to go swimming with them.

They thought it was so funny!
Grace always with her huge smile! And Allie doing her little mermaid pose!
Kyle, Jess and Grace came over the other day. We had a good ol time. After we had enough hanging out at the house we went up to a fishing pond and the boys fished. You can barely see Dustin's trophy fish! He's holding it up in this picture. They swear they saw what they call "Catfish Hunter" but no luck. This was their only catch of the day. Allie loves riding in the little boat so Dustin took her out for a while. When his back was turned she dropped his fishing pole in the water... never to be seen again. Silly girl just said, "Daddy go get it!" So that was the end of the fishing trip.

Workin in the Garden

We couldn't have asked for better weather on Memorial Day. We were pretty low key though. The kids swam a little but mostly we worked on our yard. Dustin loves his garden and Allie and Estefan are alway there to help!

Allie and Estefan cruisin with Dus in the tractor

You can barely see the tops of the onions, the theres tomatoes and peppers. Behind the tractor is corn and watermelon!

Some Bell peppers. Can't wait to eat em!

View from the corn
This is a bush in our yard. We think its lavender, it smells really good. Now that the weathers so nice we've been outside a lot and the yards looking pretty good. Dustin does most the work but I'm the supervisor! I can't wait til pickin time - we'll have lots of tomatoes for salsa and spagetti sauce! YAY!

24 Hour Menu

For all you recipe lovers and mommies who need ideas for cooking (like me)!

http://www.24hourmenu.blogspot.com/

Little Things

Friday night it rained and rained. Its so unlike it here to rain and when it does its a blessing. It rained so much that our power even went off for a while. We lit candles all over the living room and Allie went around trying to blow them out. It was so fun that when the power came back on we left the lights off!

Mark's learning to smile. Of course by the time I got the camera he got shy. But he was good enough to give me a little smirk! I love it, he's getting so big.

Gotta love the pose!

Dustin spent most the morning Saturday clearing out a little area for a BBQ spot in our backyard. Allie decided he needed some help. She got a shovel and went to work. She got really really muddy and was lots and lots of help. She's so silly and likes to play but hates to be dirty. Her shirt got mud on it so she had to take it off. By the time they were done for the day she was down to her pull-up!

Just some little things from this weekend.

"Appreciate the little things in life because when you look back on them they'll be the big things!" -Unknown

Cannonville - Our Favorite Place

Last weekend the boys went to Cannonville.

They took the horses and went on some pretty cool rides. They went up a canyon where Grandpa Bill used to run cows. It's pretty close to Granpa Bill's house.

Dusin, Stan and Mark riding along. Mark serenaded the boys the whole time. He loves them old cowboy songs!

Back a ways up in the canyon there were a whole bunch of these owls. Jack remembers seeing them when he was little and sure enough they're still out there. I think they're pretty scary looking. Dustin said they we huge and fearless. He got up almost close enough to touch one and it spooked the horse. Mark's dog tried to attack one and changed its mind quick after the owl opened up its wings. The owl would've taken the dog out.

The Nelson Boys minus two - Jack, Dus and Mark (Estefan and little Mark didn't go on the ride)

Estefan stayed at Mark and Loni's house to play with Tori Paige Cutie Pie! He loves to play in the fields and with all the animals. Cannonville is one of his favorite places. He wanted to go back as soon as they got home.

One last ride before heading home. Dus and Jack against the beautiful hills. Nice weather, beautiful scenery, good folks and loving family - that's why Cannonville is our favorite place!

Husband Tag

1. What is his name? Dustin William Nelson
2. Who eats more? Me
3. Who said I love you first? Dustin

4. Who is taller? Dus
5. Who is smarter? Definetly Dustin
6. Who is more sensitive? Me
7. Who does the laundry? Ah ME!

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does

9. Who pays the bills? He makes the money but I mail it off

10. Who cooks more? I do on the week days - he takes over on the weekends
11. There was no 11....
12. Who is more stubborn? Dustin!

13. Who is first to admit they are wrong? Me- see #12
14. Who is more clean? Me - Dustin calls me "Monica" (from "Friends")

15. Who has more siblings? Me

16. Who wears the pants in the relationship? I wear one leg and he has the other

17. What do you like to do together? Everything and Anything
18. Who eats more sweets? Me me me

19. Guilty pleasures? Diet Coke
20. How did you meet? Well - I was like 2 so I don't remember.

22. Who proposed? Dus

23. His best feature? His farmer tan

24. What is his greatest quality? He's the best daddy ever

I tag Liz, Carol, Dove and Kortney

My Baby

Click this link to see my baby. Who knew they had newspapers online!

http://mvprogress.com/2008/20/babies

"I got yucky hands!"

Last night I was working on some projects and I had the glue out. I didn't notice but Allie got a hold of it. She was laying on my bed and was being really quiet. (Nothing is ever good when the kids are quiet!) I look over and she's rubbing glue all over her tummy! She had glued her belly button together and her hands were covered. I said "Allie what are you doing?" She responds, "This lotion is sticky. I don't like it." What else could I say - yup it's sticky because its glue! We ran to the bathroom and tried to wash it out of her belly button. Now she's freaking out because she sticks to everything she touches and is yelling "I got yucky hands!" This morning she is still saying it - have you ever tried eating cereal with glue fingers, it kinda hard. Anyway she's got yucky hands, but I did get it out of her belly button!

I wish I had a picture of this but she was crying so much I felt bad... but I'm sure you can imagine!

Swimming

The kids got up early this morning and wanted to go swimming.

And for once it wasn't windy! So we go out the little pool and went for a swim!

Allie didn't want her swimming suit to get wet so she took it off.

So she's skinny dipping. I don't think she gets that her swimming suit is actually for swimming.

They both love the water. Especially Estefan, I think he's part fish!

Fun in the pool!

The Little Merman

Warm and Dry! My cute kids in their hoodie towels.

Say cheese! I'm always taking pictures. They say cheese before I even ask. You can tell by the look on Allie's face.

We had lots of fun. Mark liked to get his feet wet. But I couldn't get a picture of him and hold him at the same time. Bummer! But we'll go again when Dad's home and take some more pictures! For now we're enjoying the beautiful sunny day! Hope you do too!

Yesterday

Yesterday three monumental events occured in the Nelson Family! The first..

MARK TURNED ONE MONTH OLD!!!!

Oh, how time has flown. I wish a month would've gone by that fast when I was pregnant with him. But we love Baby Mark and are so glad he is here in our home. I can't remember what life was like without him. He's the best baby. Last night he slept for five hours straight! I'm so glad he did because Allie got up at 5:30. I wanted to tell her its Saturday go back to sleep. But I felt good and we got up and made pancakes and watched Elmo.

Marks long, skinny feet. So cute!

His favorite thing to do.. sleep in his bouncy chair!

The second event was something Allie did. I'm almost too embarrased to share the strory. But it has to be told. We were have a fun play date with Jessica and Grace. Allie decided to play in Gracie's room... then she shut the door. After a while when she didn't come out, I went to check on her. Remember she's still potty training! I opened the door to find Allie straddled over a huge LOG! And you know what kind of log I'm talking about. She took off her diaper and POOPED on Gracie's cute flower rug! I grab Allie and closed the door and told Jess not to look inside. Well she did anyway and started laughing. (One more reason I love Jess). So we both laughed and laughed. Allie kept saying sorry.. she knew she didn't want to sit in her poop but she didn't know where the potty was. It cleaned up good and luckily Jess wasn't mad. I told her this event will make us friends forever!

The final event was Estefan got registered for KINDERGARTEN! He's growing up so fast! I'm so glad he's out of the diaper stage. Now he's going to school and reading. He's such a good reader. I love to sit with him and watch him sound out the words. The look on his face when I realizes what a word is, is priceless. I love this picture of him! First of all because he looks so tuff. He's always telling us how tuff he is. He says I'm strong as a bull. And his beenie is way low, too cute. And we're in the snow! He loves the snow.

I love my kids so much and couldn't help but to share all our silly stories from yesterday! Hope you enjoyed them too! :)

the little children..

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the funeral of a little girl named Malulani. She was born with Trisomy 18 and only lived for 28 days. She was born four days before Mark was born.

Before the funeral Allie was really winney and had had an accident (still potty training). I was frustrated and tired because Mark had been up a lot the night before. I was ready to have some alone time, even if it did mean going to a funeral.

When it was time to start the funeral Malu's father and grandfather brought her in a tiny, tiny white casket. I immediately broke down crying. Then she was followed by her nine uncles. What a sight to see all these men walk in. I continued to cry. Then we sang "Every Life that touches ours for Good" (More tears) Then a family friend sang "Heaven." Her father gave her eulogy and told the story of her mother's pregnancy. He said when they learned that Malu was going to be born with this disorder they decided to have an abortion. He continued to tell how they decided not to because they wanted to meet their daughter and spend as much time as possible with her. And they gave her the name Malulani which means "protected by heaven." Her mother read a beautiful poem called "What makes a mother." About how when your baby dies you are still a mommy. (more tears). Then an uncle spoke on the plan of salvation.

I was so touched by the strength of this family and especially Malu's parents. Malu's uncle told of the Savior when he blesses all the little children. And how we should all be like little children to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father. He said Malu was with him and she was perfect. He said she was sent here to be a missionary - to gather us to be in God's royal army. Then when her short mission was complete Heavenly Father called her home.

When the funeral was over I went home as fast as possible to see my "perfect" little children. I found both of them sleeping like angels and kissed them both - glad that they were still with me. It takes a special person to lose a child. I don't think I'm strong enough and hope I never have to go through it. But children are perfect and are our Heavenly Father's. I need to remember that always. Because I am truely grateful for all that I have and all that Heavenly Father blesses me with and especially my wonderful kids. I am not perfect and I know I can loose it, as all of us can... but I'm taking care of Heavenly Father's children and I want to make him proud.

More Family Pics

More fun pictures from Monday night. The grandkids sure love to play with each other. I don't think the boys came out of those tunnels til we were getting ready to go!

Our Family

Monday night the whole Jack Nelson family got together at the Tai Ranch for family pictures! We had a great time. My favorite cousin, Jennifer Whipple took them for us. She did a great job and was very patient with all 16 of us. That is a whole lot of people to get to hold still. But we made it through! Then Jill gave us a FHE lesson and we brought cupcakes to share. Jack gave us rides in the little boats and on the Rhino. We love our family and getting together monthly for family home evening!

In the Hills

Click on the picture if you want a better look!

Dustin, Estefan, Jack, Stan, Justin, Cody... and lots of other boys went to Gold Butte last Saturday. It so beautiful out there this time of year. There are wild flowers everywhere, the cactuses are blooming, and the sage is bright purple.

Estefan and Dustin shooting the bull (frogs) at Pakoon. There used to be an alligator in this pond. When they drained it a few years ago they found it and caught it. The alligator was named Clem!
The Nelson Boys! Jack, Dus and Estefan
My little model. I love this picture. Jack is a great photographer. It was taken at the Tassi Ranch. I love that you can see the old farm house in the background between the fence posts.

Why did the turtle cross the road? To get some chips from Estefan. The boys found this Desert tortise crossing the road. They stopped to let Estefan check it out. He sat and stared at it for a long time. Turtles aren't very fast and he watched it walk away until it was out of sight!
This is an old Spanish Mine in the middle of no where. You have to follow all these clues to find it. Its very cool. The inside is lined with wood planks. Last time we were there, like three years ago. A cow had fallen in it and was dead at the bottom. It wasn't there this time. I guess something was really hungry to crawl down and eat it. I guess it could've been a vulture- that would be more logical.

Anyway we had a fun weekend. When the boys got home we went to Kyle and Jessica Leavitt's for a fun BBQ. All our high school friends were there. Its always fun to talk about the old days. Most of us have kids and our converations are usually about them - crazy we're all grown up!!! :)

Little Princess

Last fall I took a psychology class at the community college here in town. At the end of the term I had to write a paper. I chose to write about child development. One section in my paper was on gender roles. How boys and girls begin to act differently and take on their own gender when they reached a certain age.

Allie was still one at the time, and not to that particular stage. So I didn't really have much experience and honestly I kinda thought what I was writing was a little crazy. How could kids possibly take on this type of behavior so young? How do they know?

In a nut shell - when boys and girls are between the age 2 and 3 they start to take on their own gender. Girls play house and pretend to be moms and boys play trucks and beat each other up.

Well Allie has reach the gender role stage. Everything has to have the Disney princesses on it. Dustin and I decided she needs a bike. She loves to ride Estefan's bike and well so does he, so she needed something of her own to keep harmony in our house. So yesterday at Wal-Mart she runs straight to the princess bike and said "Mom I NEED this one!" And she's potty training so I wanted to get her some panties... well we got princess ones!

Allie loves to hold Mark and tries to feed him. She likes to help me cook and loves anything pink or purple. My little girl is growing up and definitely taking on her role as a little woman! Now I just need to watch myself because she's learning from me how to act and thats scary! I hope that some day she loves being a mom as much as I love being one. :)