On your mark...
Part of the race
Having some fun
Good Friends
Ready to Race!!!
Our neighbor, Ryan, loves to race bicycles. Last weekend he told Noelle and Logan about a race that they could do. You would have thought that they were waiting for a major holiday by the way they were counting down the days. They practiced a little bit everyday and yesterday Ryan showed them what they will have to do on the course.
Race day: We get to the race early and watch some of the men racing. The race is held at a place called Wheeler Farm. It is big and open and has lots of trails. The trails aren't paved either. There is plenty of dirt to go around. Noelle, Logan and Jackson had to race in the 9 and under division. There were a quite a few kids and Noelle and Logan were the youngest. They started and were the last out but their little legs were going 90 miles an hour!! They only had to do one lap. We waited and waited and finally Logan came around. I thought that Noelle must be right behind him. Still waiting and no sign of Noelle...I went to look and when I got back she was there with Cyd. I guess she was in front of Logan and took a wrong turn and got off the path. She went back to ride to the finish with Logan and got a flat. She pushed her bike into the finish. It was a good race and Noelle said that she would race again. We will have to see if it will be warm enough!! Nice racing Noelle!
Noelle and I went to the mall to return some things the other day. We had some time to kill and I asked her if she would want her ears pierced. Her face lit up and said "Yes!" We went to Icing and within 10 minutes she had little "diamond" earrings. She didn't even cry and said her kindergarten shots hurt worse.
Holly noticed Noelle's earrings immediatly. I asked her if she wanted to get her ears done as well. She didn't agree quite as fast as Noelle. After we got to the mall she was still a little nervous. She wanted to go to Claire's. Holly picked out little pink flowers. Luckily, there were 2 employees that were able to do Holly's ears at the same time. I don't think she would have done the second ear if it was one at a time. She was scared and shed a few tears after. The next day Holly said she was glad that she did it!
After failing two eye exams and receiving a letter from the school nurse, we had to go and see the eye doctor. The news wasn't too surprising. Holly was very resistant to the idea of glasses at first. After trying on many frames she came around to the idea. We decided on some pink Hannah Montana frames and some oval ones. She looks so cute in them!! And a little older too.
Vampira and her pumpkin
Trick or treating
SuperGirl and Vampira
SuperGirl saves the pumpkin
And now we are on to the kid fun of Halloween. When school started, like any good mom, I signed up to help in the girls' classes. What I didn't realize was that I signed up for Halloween in both classes. The only saving grace in my stupidity is that Holly's party was in the morning and Noelle's in the afternoon. So after a day of class parties, we moved on to Shawn's work! Three floors of fun and candy!! The girls racked up the loot and then we were off to hit the neighborhood! Noelle could not wait to go trick or treating with Logan. We did a few streets and then called it a night. Yea!
Ok, I am playing catch up here with my blogging. Every year our neighbors have a halloween party. The challenge is to come up with a good costume. We usually try and come up with a fairly original costume. For example, one year we went as prisoner Martha Stewart and her "cell mate." Oh, the pressure to not have a lame costume!!! We thought and thought and finally decided on one. Finding just the right componets proved to be a little more challenging than we thought. We (really just me) finally found everything just hours before the party started! Whew! So, here is what we came up with.
Welcome my friends to Fantasy Island!!!
We have finally made it to the big day. Happy birthday Noelle!! She is 5 today!! I wish you could bottle your kids up at whatever age you want them to stay. I would keep Noelle at 4. She has planned a "Camp Rock" birthday party. We are going to dress up like rock stars and play games. I don't think Saturday can come fast enough!! Happy birthday Noelle, we love you!!
Since the middle of September Noelle has been asking about her birthday. "Is September almost over?" "What is today?" and so on...Enter the paper chain. This has been my saving grace. Something so simple like paper and staples amazes me. Since we made the chain, the questions have stopped! Yea!! Now I just get updates on how many days left. FYI- as of today there are just 6 days left. Party on!
Why?!?!? I feel like I am a good cat owner. Food, water, scratching post, litter boxes, good quality catnip...what else could a cat want? All I ask is that all woodland creatures (ie anything that is not the cat) stay outside. I was sitting on the couch just now and I see a "pencil" on the floor. No, it was NOT a pencil but a snake AGAIN!!!!! At least it was dead this time and Ryan, our neighbor, was home. So, if you are having a snake problem, just call and we will lend you the wonder cat.
Pleasant Grove Soccer Stars
Nothing gets past Noelle!
Noelle had her last soccer game on Saturday. The team was just getting into the groove of things and now they have to wait until next season!! They won (even though they don't keep score) and Noelle scored her second goal for the season. Way to go Welly!! This is just a cute picture of Noelle, Logan and Camille. The coaches gave them the shirts and everyone get a medal for participation. See you next season.
It seems like summer just got here and now as I look out my kitchen window I see the leaves changing. Sigh...I just don't know if I am ready for winter. I do love the nice days and the cool nights and all the leaves. Enjoy the leaves and all that goes with them!!
Here is the update on my parents...No power but they have phone service. No damage except for a tree in the driveway and some branches and leaves and there was water in the back grove. They are good and just waiting for some electricity.
As many of you have been calling concerning my parents, I will post an update for you. They are in Houston and will be hanging out in the guest bathroom with three cats. My dad came home early on Thursday and they starting getting ready for Ike with food, water, generator and gas. They are in the city of Tomball which is north of Houston. Look at where the dot is for Houston and they are between 11 and 12 o'clock from the center of the dot. I will give you updates as I get them, assuming they have power to either email or call. Thanks for your concern! This is a good link to see the storm path. You can zoom in and out and play with it. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26295161/?GT1=43001
Mommy missed our annual trip to the State Fair so Daddy took us with Aunt Cindee and Uncle Jimmy. We ate all kinds of fried foods and got a lot of free stuff like a signed poster of Camp Rock. We later hung those posters on our doors. We saw prize winning cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, and many more farm animals. We also paid a dollar to see a crocodile that was 15 feet long. We saw some white tigers and saw all kinds of interesting people along the way. We finished a fun fill day by eating at the Olive Garden.
Holly and Noelle
Just want to wish my Grandpa a very happy 88th birthday!! I hope I can do half of what you do in 53 years!!! Thanks for taking me skiing (eventhough we had to leave soooooo early!) and supporting me in my activities. Have a great day and I love you!!
Ok, this is a little late, but better late than never! Holly was excited to start 3rd grade and she has the same teacher as last year. She was even more excited when she got home because she was chosen as the equipment manager at lunch! It is only a 2 week post and she gets to train the new person. I guess 3rd grade is good.
Noelle was not quite as happy about school. She got up and bravely said that she wasn't going to bring her blanket. In my motherly wisdom I knew better and brought the blanket with us. The brave front flew out the window as school approached. I had to leave a screaming Noelle and blanket in the arms of her teacher. She was fine when she got home. When I took Noelle and Kelsie to school the next day, they were commenting on how scary the first day of school was and how glad they were that it was over! All is good now and we are back in the routine!!
Scene: A nice morning in Pleasant Grove. A very together mom is cleaning up the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye she notices the cat playing with something. Living in her nice world she believes the cat is playing with his toy.
Enter: Reality.
Ok, so I am thinking that Mellow has another bug, being the great hunter he is. Not even close!!!!!!!!!
I walk over to the landing on the stairs and see a small ball. That small ball was not a ball, but a snake. Yes, I did scream and then throw the colander over it. I was not going to touch it and all the brave neighbors (ie. the men) were gone. So, who ya going to call? Camille. Yes, our little neighbor and friend to all snakes. I called Heleen and asked if I could borrow her to get the snake out. And she did beautifully! So glad that a 5 year old could save the day! And yes, I did sterilize the colander.
Side note: This reminds me of Pee Wee's Big Adventure when he runs into the burning pet shop and saves everything. He keeps passing the snakes until they are the only animals left and then runs outside holding tons of these little snakes. Just a random memory. Thanks for reading. :)
The colander...
My heroine and the offender (see, it was a big one!)
We have joined the throngs of soccer goers! Noelle is playing soccer this fall and loving every minute!!!! Not only does she get to run up and down the field, she gets to run with Logan and Camille. She has even scored a goal! Their team is on the small side but they get in there and get the ball. Noelle is pretty scrapy and quick. She loves getting in the middle and fighting for the ball. Go get em' Welly!!
Shawn and Holly
The Nelson Crew
It was a great day!! Holly was so excited all day and had to wait until 3 pm for the big event. We had a super busy day getting everything ready including Noelle's soccer game. My Mom and Dad were in for the big day. We couldn't have pulled this day off without them.
Holly was the only one from our ward (congregation) that was being baptized. Between family and friends we filled the room. It was great to see all the support for Holly. Everything went great. We did miss Doug and Mardene, but know that they were there in spirit. We are so proud of you Holly!!!
The gang
Cat Town
Camille!
Our Christmas Picture
Since school is right around the corner, we packed up and spent the day at Lagoon!! Our good friends and neighbors, the Wittusens, came with us for a fun (and food) filled day.
Since our kids are the same sizes it was nice to be able to divide and conquer and not wait around. We did stay together at first because there are a few rides that everyone can do. Noelle kept asking when she could go on the smaller rides and I told her we would get to kiddieland in a little bit. From that moment on Noelle would ask when we were going to "cat town." It took me a little bit to really hear what she was saying.
Our big excitement for the day was poor Camille getting her head stuck in the fence. She was only stuck for about 5 minutes, but it was long enough for Camille. A little sunscreen and she slid right out.
We decided it would be fun to take an "old time" photo. Dane wasn't feeling the love and decided to opt out. But Camille, Noelle and Holly were all excited to dress up. As soon as Camille was dressed she was looking for a gun and kept asking for a weapon until she got one. The picture turned out great and Dane wants in next year.
We had a great time and stayed until closing time. All the kids were great, as were the churros and ice cream, icees.....Farewell until next year Lagoon and Cat town!
We would just like to welcome Elizabeth Cole to the family! Holly just got her today for her birthday. She is currently dressed in her summer outfit. Holly really likes her because she thinks her clothes are so pretty. Holly said if she had to live in colonial times she would like to wear Elizabeth's clothes.
Holly is 8 today!! Wow!!! As cliche as it may sound, where did time go? She is having a party later this month and we will go see Kit Kitteredge: An American Girl. She now loves to ride her new bike (she is riding as I type) and was thrilled when she opened Elizabeth, her new American Girl. We love you Holly!! Happy Birthday!!!
Here are some pictures of our yard. Since we had the yard "redone" (due to a flood and a sinking foundation) a few years ago, we have lacked plants. We made up for that this year and planted around 40-45 plants! We just have to dig the garden boxes and we will be done until the fall when we are going to get some more trees. Shawn is tired of digging and I personally HATE sprinklers (too many trips to Lowes and getting the wrong things). We just have to find a good evening to dig the garden boxes and a little motivation!
The tree in the last picture is from our neighbors in honor of Shawn's parents. We have such great neighbors!!
