Nelson Family Halloween Trip

Me and Dus in Mexico

Nelson Family on the way to Mexico

Nelson family - Last years trip to Cannonville

Estefan whacking the pinata at our Mexico in Cannonville Fiesta

We're headed to Cannonville this afternoon for our annual Halloween trip.

Have a Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Primary Program

Dustin and Estefan getting ready for church

Yesterday was the primary program in our ward. Dustin and I were talking back and forth about how we thought Estefan would do. Would he say his part? Would he get nervous and run away? Would he just stand there and wave the whole time? Estefan can be very unpredictable...

The program started and Estefan didn't stand up. I thought where did he go? After the next song he poked his head out with a mouth full of bread! His class was sitting where the priests prepare the sacrament and he got into the bread and was snacking away! His teacher noticed and sat by him for the rest of the program.

He sang a little but mostly like Garth mouthing the words to Bohemian Rhapsody on Wayne's World. Then he kept playing with something and putting it in his mouth. I think it was his necklace. Then he caught my eye. I was smiling at him. When he saw me he dropped whatever it was in his mouth and started really singing and smiled a Cheshire cat smile and gave me a Little Rascals wave.

Then they sang a song that had some sign language with it. I think it was Home is Where the Heart is, but I can't remember for sure. He did so good. I was surprised how well he knew the signs. Every now and then he'd look over at us and add a little wave to his signing.

Then it was his classes turn to say their parts. Estefan was last. He watched all the kids get up and say their lines but never really looked out at the audience. When it was his turn he stepped up onto the stool and looked out. Quickly he put his hand over his eyes like he was trying to block the sun and looked down. He said his part like "PeophheservmesoIliktosevah" Then he ran like lightening back to his seat and his teacher gave him a high five!

After sacrament was over Estefan was beaming. He was so excited. He did a great job and we all told him he did! We were so proud of our little man. All the kids did great! And a big shout out to the primary leaders and teachers! They are so patient and wonderful for putting together such a great program. We always love to hear the primary kids sing, bear their testimonies and see their bright smiles!

Not what I had in mind....

I had so many fun ideas for this weekend. We were gonna go on four-wheeler rides, play outside, go to Chase and Melissa's Halloween party and have a fun family day Sunday. Is that how it panned out?... NO!

Mark, Allie and I all got sick. So much for the flu shot idea, huh...

I made a really cute pumpkin cake for the party. I didn't take a picture of it. This is the closet thing I could find on the internet. Mine was cuter (right!) but you get the idea.

These were the costumes we were going to wear to the Halloween party...

Allie, Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty

Estefan, the Bone Man and Mark, the Little Devil

And me, Batgirl!

Go to Three Bucks and a Doe to check out the other costumes (SO FUNNY!)
I was super duper bummed that we couldn't go. But I'm feeling much better today. Allie and Mark both seem great too. So hopefully we'll all be better for our Halloween trip to Cannonville this weekend.

One upside this weekend - I finished my book!

I loved it! I felt like I was a princess the whole time. The Goose Girl is a Grimm Brother's fairy tale rewritten. I haven't read any other versions of it but I really enjoyed reading this one. Ask Dustin - when I find a good book I really don't do anything else but read. Luckily I was sick too and had an excuse not to cook or clean!

I hope you all had a better weekend than I did! Happy Almost Halloween!!

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, Estefan's kindergarten class came to our pumpkin patch! They all walked from the school to the patch. I can't believe it. That is a long walk and they all did great.

Stampede of Kids!

Estefan, Caleb, Cropper and Christopher

Mrs. Hardy - She's been bringing her kindergarten classes to our family's pumpkin patch for 22 years!!!

Mark, Papa Stan and Allie

Estefan's HUGE pumpkin!

I remember walking to the pumpkin patch when I was little. I love this time of year. Carving pumpkins is so fun. We have lots of huge pumpkins to choose from so come over and get one!!

Picture Tag

OK here's the rules: Go into your picture files and open your 4th folder and download the 4th picture onto your blog!!! Write your memories of the photo.

This is Allie the day I brought her home from the hospital! December 27, 2005. Red is my favorite color and all Allie's outfits were pink. So I got her a little red "coming home" outfit. It even had little shoes to match but her feet were too big for them!

Bringing her home from the hospital was so scary and exciting. I was so happy to leave the hospital and sleep in my own bed. But I was scared too! I didn't know what to do next. Well we've all survived and now she's almost 3!!!

Thanks for the tag Torrey.

I tag BONZO, Jessica L and Trisha Y!

Hardy Family Pictures

My cousin Jennifer Whipple took these for us! There are lots more but I have to go through them all. These are a few of my favorites!

Jenn you did a great job! Thanks!!!

Baby Blue Eyes

We had Mark's 6 month pictures taken on Sunday! Isn't he a cutie?!

Look at his little teeth!

Don't those blue eyes melt your heart?!

He's such a happy little boy

Mark's newest trick is to sit up in his crib. Its making nap time difficult because I can't just lay him in his crib. He just sits up and unties his crib bumber ties and chews on them.

Guilty! Maybe its time to take the bumper out!

Chewin on the bumper ties

And chewing on the crib! Ya think he's teething?! Me too!

Mark is a snuggle bug. He loves to be held. He's not afraid of strangers and he often jumps in their arms. He's very curious and quiet. He loves to scoot (his little belly crawl) across the room. He loves Allie. He especially loves to pull her hair. He loves Estefan too. He watches Estefan and tries to play with Estefan's toys. He loves his daddy and always gives him a huge smile when he walks in the door. He loves his mommy and melts her heart everyday. He's a mama's boy! He likes to sleep and he loves to eat. He loves being outside and eating grass. He loves to ride fourwheelers and go on rides in the truck with his daddy. He likes to laugh and be tickled. He has the biggest bluest eyes.

We love you Mark. Happy (late) 6 month birthday!!!

Stuffed Peppers and Corn Bread!!

Last night for dinner I made stuffed peppers and corn bread! It was so yummy. Half way through dinner we realized that everything we were eating was either from food storage or home grown! I was so excited. If this is how being self-sufficient is than I am gonna be FINE!!

Ok ok you caught me.. these pictures aren't of my food but the food I made was as equally beautiful (right!).

Here's the recipe for the stuffed peppers, compliments of Gaye!

6 medium green peppers

1 lb ground beef (I used sausage)

1/2 chopped onion

3/4 tsp salt

dash of pepper

1 16oz can of tomatos (I didn't use this)

1 cup cooked white rice

1 tsp worch. sauce

1/2 tsp chili powder (I didn't use this, thought it might be to hot for the kids, ok me!)

1 bottle homemade tomato soup

-boil peppers 3-5

- cut peppers in half or leave whole

- in a skillet cook ground beef, onion, peppers, drain fat

- add salt, pepper, tomatoes, rice, worch. sauce and chili powder

- simmer til done

- stuff in peppers

- put in a baking dish

- pour boiled tomato soup over stuffed peppers

- bake 350* for 25-30 mins

HAPPY EATING!!!

Ridin'

On Thursday Dustin and our dads, Jack and Stan, went out on a ride to the Arizona Strip.

The boys unloaded at this old homestead. The only thing left of the house is this chimney.

Here they are at the Witch's Pools. On the side of the mountain there are these old Spanish crosses. In 1776 a Spanish missionary named Father Escalante traveled with some men through this area. One story says they carried gold with them and when it was too cold and the men where too sick to continue they hid their gold in this cave leaving two crosses as clues to mark the spot.

There's one big cross on the left, the cave where the gold was hidden and then another small cross on the right. I've found many stories about Father Escalante's journey on the Internet. You can click here or here to read about him and his expeditions!

Looking out over the Grand Canyon at SB Point

SB Point

The Grand Canyon

Friday I went a different kind of ride.

A horse ride.

Me riding Blondie, Heather riding Frosty and Alyssa riding Austin

Dad aka Woodrow Call riding Dolly aka the Hell B****

Me and Blondie

Allie just wanted to ride the four wheeler. Maybe she's more like her daddy than I thought. Oh, well maybe Mark will like to ride with me!

Estefan's says...

This happened this morning too...

I had Mark in bed with me this morning after Dustin left. When Allie and Estefan woke up they came into my room too. Estefan started jumping up and down saying "I'm ready to eat breakfast!" Then Allie started jumping too...
I reluctantly said, "Ok ok, what time is it?"
Estefan looked over at the clock and said, "Um, ah, um, it looks like a L but upside down and an E and a S but I think they're backwards."
I just laughed and said well I guess that means its time to get up!
It seems like like he's got his letters down, maybe we should work on his numbers a little more!!!

**PS - It was 7:32**

Fall Fun

Dustin picked more and more corn! Estefan is outside shucking it right now. We're gonna dry some more and make more corn meal. Of course we've eaten a lot of it too and given some away.

Yesterday in kindergarten Estefan made a "bone guy!" He was pretty excited because that's what he's going to be for Halloween. When Allie saw it she wanted to make one too, except hers had to be a "princess ghost." Silly kids... we got a little carried away (ok I did) and we made pumpkins and witches too. It kept the kids entertained while I made dinner!

Estefan helping Mark make a SCARY face!

I don't know what the kids are doing in this picture. I thought they were making scary faces but they look more like Kiera Knightly pouts!! Oh well.

The weekend came a little early this week, Dustin took off with our dads today to the Arizona Strip. They love going out there so I hope its not cold and that they have fun. Dus took the camera so maybe he'll take some pictures that I can post tomorrow.

This morning at breakfast it was Estefan's turn to pray again. This was the conversation that followed:

• Estefan: I sure say good prayers!
• Mom: Yup, you sure do.
• Estefan: When we say prayers we are talking to Jesus. Did you know that Allie?
• Allie: Jesus lives at the church and he loooooves me.
• Estefan: Yeah, well he loves me too. But he died.
• Allie: Yeah, that's really sad. Now he's in Heaven.
• Estefan: But HEY! He came back to life, remember.
• Allie: Yeah but he still loves us!

Have I mentioned lately that I love my kids? Well I LOVE MY KIDS! Sometime they say the sweetest things. In the scriptures it says to become like Christ we need to be as little children. If I had half the faith and love as my little children do than I'd be doing good!

Lately I've been struggling with Allie. She has learned to say some pretty mean things. She doesn't hold back at all, even to me. I don't know where she's picked these things up. In our parenting/marriage class we learned that you should reinforce good behavior and ignore the bad behavior. Because acknowledging the bad behavior just makes kids act that way more because they know they're going to get your attention- even if its negative attention. Well, I've been trying to ignore her bad behavior and it has been quite a struggle. So when I heard this sweet little conversation this morning I wanted to shed tears of joy! It was an answer to my prayers. I told both Allie and Estefan how I love them and it makes me happy when they speak nicely to each other! Hopefully Allie's learning that saying bad words isn't going to get her my attention anymore. I know she has a sweet spot in her but ohhh she has a sour one too!!

My Boys

A little bit about my boys....

Markie Mark, Marko Polo, Marcus Aurelius etc.. turned

6 MONTHS OLD on October 9th!

Today was his 6th month check up. He got 4 shots... Bummer... He cried and cried and screamed his little lungs out! But he was comforted by his bottle. Oh how he loves to eat.

Since his last appointment he didn't gain any weight or grow any longer.

He weighs 20 lbs - about 80th percentile

27.5 inches long - 75th percentile

So he's still big but he's slowing down!

AND

We got Estefan's school pictures back! Isn't he a cutie! I still can't believe he's in kindergarten. He's doing really well. Everyday he comes home and says I got another star on my work packet today!! Then when he said the prayer at dinner he asked Heavenly Father to help him get another star on tomorrow's work packet. Sometime he says the funniest things in his prayers. I told him to pretend like he's talking to Heavenly Father face to face and I can really imagine him saying what he does in his prayers straight to Heavenly Father!

I love my BOYS!!!!

Fishing with Dad

The kids always have fun with their daddy!

Dustin took these pictures with his phone the other day...

Little Fisher

Don't let it touch me daddy!!

Catfish Hunter

Dus, Mark and Allie

I'm ready for my close up!!