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Happy New Year! | 2023 Recap

12.31.2023

Well, a career pivot for Bron coupled with breast cancer, a mastectomy, and complications for me is most certainly the definition of a rocky start for any year! But I am happy to announce that 2023 ended on a high note. All is well that ends well. This December we are all healthy and happy and thriving here in the Nelson home.

I feel so lucky to simply be a cancer statistic. I saw God work miracles in my life this year. It's a story of tears and pain and stress but it doesn't make it any less miraculous. I am ending the year in a state of sincere gratitude for my blessings and heart-bursting love for the boys I get to claim as mine. We fit so much life and adventure into one year!

The Highlights of 2023:

JANUARY

:: Bron began his new job as the general manager of Liberty Basin.

:: The whole family hopped on a plane to spend a fantastic week in Florida swimming, spying alligators on an airboat, and riding all the rollercoasters at Disneyworld and Universal Studios.

:: I celebrated my 38th birthday at the beach.

FEBRUARY

:: Levi enjoyed a fast paced pinewood derby competition with the boys at church. I attended a flower arranging class for Valentine’s Day.

:: Misty had the sweetest and fluffiest litter of Aussie Doodle puppies on the 18th.

:: I prepped for surgery with an appointment in Boise and an MRI in Twin Falls. Then I went in on February 24th for my seven hour Mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.

MARCH

AKA The month everyone wants to forget.

:: I spent three days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. I had surgery to remove my right breast implant. Three weeks later I had surgery to put another implant back in and woke up with a wound vacuum. Five days prior to that I had an in office procedure to clean up and re-suture my left breast incision due to necrosis.

:: At work, Bron dealt with train derailments and a flash fire and loads of stress.

:: The boys had spring break, but of course we went no where.

:: The little ray of light during the month was having my sister visit for a week after my last surgery. She took care of the kids and kept me laughing.

APRIL

:: We celebrated Easter and Jed’s 13th birthday. He’s officially a teenager!

:: Jed and Levi began lacrosse practice and games. They also attended their 4H education day.

:: Ezra began attending daycare full time so that I could rest and heal. I napped almost daily and went for a walk outside whenever possible. I also tried to keep up with my calling as our ward’s Young Women’s president, but I mostly delegated to my presidency.

:: I sold our litter of fluffy puppies.

:: I had one last surgery to get rid of the necrotic skin on my right breast and awoke with yet another wound vacuum.

MAY

:: I met up with my grandma, mom, aunts, and cousins for a girls’ weekend in Utah at BYU Women’s Conference.

:: Our ward youth had their second annual Work Hard Play Hard day. I had to sit out for most of it because I was still limited - no lifting, no swimming.

:: The boys attended their 4H sale day and brought home two new dairy heifers. They continued playing lacrosse.

:: Levi went on a field trip to Craters of the Moon. Levi was recognized twice for his academic achievements at a year end school assembly.

:: Ezra turned three years old!

:: I had a couple more post op appointments, of course.

JUNE

:: I wound up in Doctor Poppler’s office yet another time for some curious red bruising that we decided to just watch.

:: Levi went on an overnight campout with the boys from church.

:: Our family met up with Talon’s family in St George, Utah for a weekend of hiking, biking, and swimming. The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins.

:: I spent a night at stake girls’ camp and enjoyed myself so much that I could hardly speak when I returned because I was so hoarse and sick.

:: We started running a fireworks stand on Five Points in Twin Falls as a family. There were some very long and warm days but the older boys learned so much!

JULY

:: We sold a ton of fireworks over the 4th of July holiday and watched some from the roof of our stand that night.

:: Levi took care of all the neighbors’ animals when they were out of town. The kid is learning how to work hard and be dependable.

:: Jed began mountain biking with his team.

:: I had my last doctor appointment in which I was officially cleared to lift and pursue all the things I love to do! Woohoo!

:: The kids and I spent a day at Roaring Springs with my mom and family.

:: Bron and I spent an amazing week rafting down the Main Fork of the Salmon River! We laughed, we ate, we conquered rapids and jumped off a bridge, we saw a million night time stars, and just plain enjoyed being together.

:: Jed, Levi, and Conrad all visited Commander and Liz in California for a few days. They went to Knott’s Berry Farm, played at the beach, and made lots of special and funny memories with their cousins and family.

:: We joined all of Bron’s brothers in Ririe, Idaho for a Nelson family reunion that included an obstacle course around the farm and a giant blow up water slide for the kids.

AUGUST

:: Levi turned 11 years old!

:: My family photography season officially began.

:: We took the family camping at Cabin Creek near Stanley, Idaho and made some great memories.

:: Sports started in earnest. Levi played football. Jed rode on the mountain bike team. Levi had his first games and Jed had his first race of the season.

:: The boys started school: 8th, 6th, and 1st grades.

SEPTEMBER

:: We spent a week at the Twin Falls County Fair! Jed and Levi showed their dairy heifers.

:: I began potty training Ezra.

:: I was released from my calling as young women’s president. Whew! Don’t worry, I filled all my “extra” time quickly with violin students. The family photography season chugged on. I desperately tried to keep my balance as I juggled all the things. September was intense.

:: I spent my weekends taking Jed and his friends to their mountain bike races across the state. Levi crushed his football games on Saturdays.

:: Jed went on a day long fly fishing trip down the Snake River and is totally hooked on the sport now.

:: Misty had her third (and last) litter of puppies; ten fluffy Aussie Doodles! Ooops.

:: Bron spent a couple of days in Denver for work.

OCTOBER

:: Football and mountain biking continued until mid month. Then Levi started wrestling at the middle school.

:: I continued to take family pictures.

:: Bron and I got Nitrox certified with our fellow scuba diving friends.

:: We celebrated Halloween! Bron and I dressed up as each other for our annual adults only party. Then Jed hosted a friends party at our home while the rest of the boys went trick-or-treating.

NOVEMBER

:: We discovered Levi had head lice! He probably got them from another kid at wrestling. It took weeks to successfully rid his head of those nasty little bugs.

:: I sold Misty's puppies. It always feels bittersweet.

:: Conrad turned 7 years old!

:: Bron and I went on another scuba diving trip of a lifetime to Roatan, Honduras. We spent a week eating, diving, diving, eating again, diving some more, eating some more, and sleeping. We saw sharks and baby box fish and iridescent strings of pearls! It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny dream vacation.

:: We celebrated Thanksgiving with the entire Nelson family in Ririe, Idaho. This year, dinner was held at the church where we played games of lightning and pickle ball between eating and chatting.

DECEMBER

:: Ezra qualified for preschool due to his speech (or lack of it). We are still trying to potty train him, by the way.

:: I played my violin for an MCO concert in the Boise area. The best part was that I got to sit and play right next to my mom! I love playing my violin for MCO. It’s fast paced and they always do an excellent job with their concerts.

:: Bron and I enjoyed a fun night out with friends at an annual Christmas party and white elephant gift exchange.

:: We celebrated Bron’s 40th birthday!!! I surprised him with a date to Miracle Hot Springs for massages and a soak in a private pool. Then we met our friends at Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

:: We celebrated Christmas and surprised the boys with a week long cruise to Jamaica, Grand Caymen, and Cozumel in January. Of course we squeezed in some cookie baking, craft making, skiing, and extended family time over the break too.

*****

It's been a wild year with a toddler, a teenager, and two kids in between. But they are good kids. Jed and Levi have matured quite a bit. They stepped up to help out around the house and with their siblings when I could not. Then they continued the habit. They are thriving in school and in sports and becoming their own people with their own talents and interests. I could not be more proud.

Jed is so tall now! I'm not sure he ever stops eating. Lucky for me, he still allows me to kiss his cheek before he leaves the house each morning.

Levi is confident and ambitious. He has the best group of friends at school and has the work ethic of a lumberjack.

Conrad still talks a mile a minute and is our creative child. There's never enough tape in the house for his projects. He loves to play outside with friends every chance he gets and can ride a bike like a mountain goat climbs a steep cliff; it just comes naturally. Conrad is also learning how to read.

Ezra deserves the nickname Gremlin. He's our growling monster that we are lovingly trying to tame through silly songs (he requests Baby Shark each night before bed) and dance (he loves it when Jed spins him around the living room) and family meals. Ezra can entertain himself for hours with his favorite toys that wind up all around the house. He's a mama's boy whom loves to climb into my lap for cuddles every chance he can get.

12.31.2022

All is not calm. All is bright.

That line above may be our family theme for 2022. There were always places to be, things to plan and prepare for, lots of messes, and lots of screaming and fighting between the boys. Yup. I think "all is not calm" pretty much sums up our year!

But on the flip side, everything was surely bright. We dealt with simple every day problems. I saw the Lord blessing our family in many ways throughout the year; from prayers answered one line at a time to feeling seen by a friend to knowing that the Lord has a plan laid out to provide for our family's needs. It's a wonderful crazy life and I am so grateful I get to do it alongside Bron and our four boys.

The highlights of 2022:

January: The new year brought with it so much snow and ice that the boys got a few extra days off of school. We spent those days sledding and snowshoeing. We even stopped by Murtaugh Lake after church one day to "skate" on the ice! I made a red neck hot tub outside which was a big hit for the little boys. Jed did swim team and Levi and Conrad wrestled. I ended the month celebrating my 37th birthday.

February: Our dog Misty delivered nine of the sweetest and furriest puppies! We took Conrad skiing for the very first time and he did remarkably well.

March: Bron and I spent a few days at this fantastical resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for a PDS meeting. We ate, we relaxed, we swam with dolphins and went scuba diving and whale watching. A week or so later we took the boys to St. George, Utah for a long Spring Break weekend where we played hard on our bikes and at the pickleball court.

April: We said goodbye to Misty's puppies and hello to Gus, our newest furry family member! We celebrated Easter and Jed's 12th birthday with a handful of friends at an escape room. We also traveled all over the state with Jed and Levi's lacrosse team.

May: It was probably the coldest and rainiest spring we've ever experienced here in Idaho. We celebrated our 15th anniversary and Ezra turned two years old! We hosted Tyrel's family for a day of bowling and shooting. I joined my cousins in Tetonia for a weekend of hiking and moose spotting. The youth of our ward had a successful Work Hard/Play Hard Saturday. Jed played his trumpet in a pops concert. And importantly, I spent lots of sweet time at the park with the two little boys.

June: We began the summer with outdoor movies and a hike down into Box Canyon. I also survived a week at Girls' Camp! We mountain biked at Galena, hiked up to a mountain lake and rafted the Salmon River - of which I captained a boat for the first time and learned how on the job! It was a riot. We also enjoyed some late evening firesides and a disco dance party.

July: The pinnacle of summer and chuck full to the brim with family and fun. Bron floated the Middle Fork of the Salmon River for a week with some friends. We attended both the Nelson and Kelley/Wade family reunions. We floated the river, spent a day jet skiing at Lucky Peak, played at Roaring Springs waterpark, and kayaked to Pillar Falls. Jed and Levi visited Commander and Liz in California for a long weekend of rollercoasters and building ping pong guns. While they were gone, Bron and I took the little boys on an epic hike to Baker Lake. We spent an afternoon swimming and playing volleyball at Bron's 20th high school reunion. I shot two weddings with my camera. The youth went boating at Murtaugh Lake and floated the drops in Shoshone. Mountain biking practices began for Jed. He has found his passion in that sport!

August: We enjoyed more boating at the lake and Dave's fireworks show! We celebrated Levi's 10th birthday with friends at Ritter Island. Football practice started for him. Ezra ate a couple of earrings which came out in his poop a day later. We went on a family camping trip into the Sawtooth Mountains and stayed overnight in a cabin. The mountain lakes we saw on that trip were so memorable! I sent three of my boys off to school for the first time! Jed started 7th grade, Levi is in 5th grade, and Conrad attends half day kindergarten. Ezra and I began a tradition of sitting outside to wait for the bus every afternoon.

September: We spent an exciting but exhausting week at the Twin Falls County Fair where Jed and Levi showed and sold their dairy heifers. I made pickles, salsa, and tomato sauce from the vegetables of my very first successful garden. I began volunteering as a coach for the Magic Valley Youth Symphony on Tuesday nights. Football games and mountain bike races dominated our Saturdays. The young women made a jean quilt for our youth fundraiser. And the funniest part might have been the insane amount of candy that Conrad and I collected during the Homecoming parade!

October: We basked in warm weather as my photography sessions went into hyper drive. Jed officially became taller than me! Conrad got his birthday present a month early - a new mountain bike with gears. He's such a stud on that bike. We hosted an adult Halloween party at our home where we played ridiculous and embarrassing games. The boys did their first 5K run and were minions for Halloween.

November: Swim team began again for Jed and Levi. I made delicious apple pies with my friend Danielle. Levi and Conrad sang in a sweet primary program. We celebrated Conrad's 6th birthday with friends and games at home. One of my photos won fourth place in the 2022 Voice Competition and three other images won honorable mentions. The highlight was celebrating Thanksgiving in St George, Utah with my dad and sister and their families. We ate, we swam, we played games, we hiked and biked, and the kids stayed up way too late giggling and making memories.

December: Bron and I began the month in the most epic way - scuba diving in Cozumel, Mexico with friends! We also spent a day exploring some Mayan ruins and swimming in a cenote. Our last day there we rented motorcycles and puttered around the island. It was beautiful, warm, and relaxing. The month brought Christmas parties - such as Conrad's kindergarten party and our annual adult white elephant gift exchange. The ski season began. Jed had a band concert. Bron and I went on a date to see some lights and drink hot cocoa with friends. We celebrated Bron's 39th birthday and surprised the boys with a trip to Florida for Christmas!

*****

Since blogging has been put on the back burner indefinitely, I'm going to write up a quick summary of every member of the family. This is who everyone is and how he or she is doing these days. It's a hoot having all these personalities under one roof.

Bron:

The man of the house who puts family and work over himself. He's our steady provider and fixer of many problems. Bron takes a lot of pride in our home and yard. He put up a fence this year for the 4H cows and planted countless trees! He's pivoting a little bit and beginning a brand new job in January as the manager of a budding feed mill. It's an opportunity that I think caters to his personal strengths with numbers and people. I'm not expecting it to be an easy transition, but one that comes with many benefits instead. I'm hoping one of those positive benefits is finding a little more time for taking care of himself! Bron still loves to mountain bike ride and spend time outdoors whenever possible. He's also still crazy about his wife and enjoys spending time with me out on dates or at home late in the evenings.

Jessie:

Desperately trying to balance the hats of wife, mother, homemaker, photographer, and young women's president. My whole world revolves around my boys and their needs and schedules -- which are getting more full each year! It's a life rich in love and occasional exhaustion.

This year I teamed up with my photographer friend Carli to shoot any weddings she double books through her business. She pays me well to shoot the wedding on the bride and groom's big day. Then I turn around and give her the SD cards to edit and deliver. I think I shot half a dozen weddings this year. A one thousand dollar Saturday without any editing strings attached is a dream come true for me! So far, it's been a great deal for both of us and I'd love to work with her again in 2023.

This was also my first year acting as young women's president of the Rock Creek ward. It's a weight I feel every day and it takes up a lot of my time and head space. It's a calling that has highlighted both my strengths and my weaknesses. Honestly, some days I want to quit. But I keep my chin up and keep trucking along anyway. Fifteen months in and I still feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants. I just pray I'm filling the girls' needs because I feel like my efforts are often inadequate, but at least I've landed into a good routine and groove with my presidency. They are an amazing set of women whom I've come to love and appreciate for their unique sets of talents. I truly could not fulfill my calling without them!

Wow. I didn't know I was capable of so much! From family and home to a small photo business to leading an entire auxiliary group, I'm impressed I'm still standing with a smile most days. And as I keep learning, I know I'm capable of more. Maybe not capable of actually doing more, no, but of slowly becoming the person the Lord wants to shape me into. I've been humbled many times. It's been a crazy rollercoaster of a ride in all the ways.

Jed:

Jed had a great year. He's thriving in the 7th grade, learning to be organized and responsible and getting all A's and B's in school. He's a typical 12 year old boy who loves to pick on his brothers when he's bored, be suuuper obnoxious because he thinks it's funny, and sometimes loses his brain. We're teaching him good hygiene like a squeaky wheel, "Did you scrub your face, brush your teeth, and put on deodorant?" we harp daily. But there's a more mature part of Jed that comes through often and makes me so proud. He can be witty (read: make me laugh) and helpful and even fun to hang out with! Jed is a voracious reader; he reads multiple books at once. Just this summer, he found a passion for mountain bike riding! He also passed me in height this Fall and his voice has gotten deeper. My little boy isn't little at all anymore! But he still lets me kiss his cheek as he heads off to bed.

Levi:

Levi is ten going on sixteen. The curly haired kid enjoys working! He loves to work alongside his dad whenever he gets a chance, from planting trees to building fence. I can always depend on Levi to get his chores done, whether it's feeding and watering the cows in the frigid cold or taking out the trash. He's also an intense child who occasionally takes too much responsibility upon himself. He has a short temper and very high expectations of himself and his brothers. It sometimes results in level 10 fights and loads of push ups as punishment. Levi is as smart as they come; he's especially quick at math. So many things come easy to that boy. He has the best group of friends at school. I hope they stay friends all the way through high school; that would be a sweet blessing. Levi also has a passion for football and snow skiing! He ate and breathed football this Fall and now begs to go skiing any and every possible chance. I love hugging my curly haired boy every opportunity I get.

Conrad:

Conrad is the boy I prayed long and hard for and who continues to be a daily ray of sunshine in my life. Conrad is enjoying half day kindergarten. He hops off the bus in happy spirits ready to tell me all about his day. His mind is sharp and fast. And his vocabulary is impressive for a six year old. He never stops jabbering says the funniest things! While we were discussing Misty's next litter of puppies, he chimed in, "Let's name the fattest one Sugar Plum!" Conrad is very creative. He hardly ever plays with toys but I can always find him creating a blanket fort or using all the tape and paper in the house for a very important art project. He's always gifting me little drawings or hanging them up around the house. Conrad learned to swim this year and is also a little mountain biking stud. How many kindergarteners do you know who can ride the steeper trails at Auger? Conrad is an impressive kid all around! I just wish he'd cool it a bit and quit trying to boss his big brothers; it never seems to go well for him.

Ezra:

Ezra is two and a half but will forever be my baby! It's partly because he will not get another sibling to dethrone his youngest status but also because Ezra has not learned to talk yet. Ezra is as ornery and stubborn as they come. He does have trouble forming words but he also refuses to try. He just screams and whines despite our encouragement. Some days the thought crosses my mind to drop him off at the nearest firehouse! But I would never do that. Ezra is also a joy. He loves to laugh! He can be such a tease. Ezra is enthralled with trucks and trailers and trains these days. He spends hours with his toys, imitating engine noises. He even brings Bron his phone to watch "Vroom, vroom" a YouTube show about mechanics and their shop and a particular yellow truck. He and Bron have really bonded this year. Ezra's hugs are precious. I cannot get enough of his chubby little hands and feet and the way he excitedly waddles down the hallway. My toddler days as a mother are numbered and I'm just soaking him in, smelling the top of his baby shampooed head and kissing his soft cheeks a hundred times every day.

12.31.2021

This happy rollercoaster of a life just seems to be gaining speed. Our year 2021 was busting at the seams with things to do and places to see. We made our new house into a home, put in a yard, added some animals, squeezed in some adventures, and tried our best to keep up with four wild and independent boys.

I admit, adding a fourth child has been hard. There's so much joy in having a baby and I wouldn't for a second wish Ezra away, but meeting one more child's daily needs has stretched my time and overwhelmed my mental load. I think I honestly forgot how demanding it is to keep a tiny toddler alive and happy! So I've been doing my best to write everything out in my planner (I became my own mother after all! Lol.), say 'no' whenever possible, and to remind myself that nothing is usually wrong in any given moment. It's just me, stressing out. If I had one wish it would be more time. Time to dedicate to myself for exercise and creative outlets. Time to listen intently to each of my boys and to play with them. We just seem to be jumping from one thing to the next! School, dinner, sports, bedtime... and before I know it another day has passed us by.

I'm doing my best to just appreciate this phase of life. I know it will last too long and simultaneously not long enough. I have everything I ever dreamed of for myself and more! So I make a conscious effort to notice the good things the boys are doing -- they really are amazing -- and to cherish that hug, that laugh, that "I love you too, Mom". And then I pray to my Heavenly Father to make up for all that I lack.

As for Covid and the current state of the world, well, I'm expecting to prove my 23rd booster shot for a $55 dollar Hot and Ready Little Ceasar's pizza by the year 2026.

These are the highlights of 2021:

January: We sold our home of nine years and moved into our white farmhouse on five acres. A dream come true! Pinch me. I still cannot believe I get to wake up every morning here.

February: We spent the month unpacking and organizing. I fed a chubby baby 7-8 times a day. I just remember spending hours either spoon feeding or breastfeeding Ezra! Jed and Levi also started practice on swim team twice a week.

March: Bron and I got scuba certified! We took the whole family to hike and bike in Moab, UT for spring break.

April: We celebrated Easter and Jed's 11th birthday!

May: My baby boy turned one year old! Bron and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Jed and Levi brought home their 4H dairy heifers, Domino and Pepper Jack. My dad, Liz, and Mia visited for a fun filled weekend. We did a lot of dirt work on our property and planted two dozen trees and even more plants!

June: Ezra started walking! Conrad began the summer with swimming lessons. Jed and Levi boarded their very first airplane alone to spend a weekend in California playing with Commander and family.

July: We enjoyed an epic family hike along the Fishhook Creek Trail. We also attended our first official Nelson family reunion. Jed had a fun three days at a golf camp. And we played hard when my sister Lauren and her three kids came to visit for a week! Then we gathered in Boise with more family to go through the temple with my little brother Michael and send him off on his LDS mission.

August: Conrad became a fish and took more swimming lessons. Bron enjoyed a week of high adventure with the young men. We planted GRASS in the yard! Football and mountain biking practices began dominating our evenings. Levi turned 9 and started the 4th grade. Jed started 6th grade at the MIDDLE SCHOOL and picked up the trumpet in the band. At first, he sounded like he was blowing his nose when he practiced but fortunately now he can carry a tune!

September: We spent a week as a family at the Twin Falls County Fair. Jed and Levi washed and showed their cows daily; they even won a few ribbons. Conrad started preschool five days a week and can now write his name and sing lots of silly songs. Our church stake split and we were organized into the brand new Rock Creek Ward. Then I was promptly called to be the young women's president!

October: We went on an overnight family adventure to Redfish Lake where we stayed in a cozy cabin, went for a boat ride, and did a lot of hiking. I flew to Arizona to conquer the 24 mile rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon with my sister Lauren and two cousins, Rachel and Necia. It was a blast! The boys went trick-or-treating on Halloween.

November: Conrad turned five years old! We celebrated Thanksgiving at the Nelson dairy and tried not to drown in new church callings and responsibilities.

December: Bron and I escaped on a week long vacation to Cozumel, MX (aka Paradise!) where we went scuba diving and soaked up the warm sunshine. Then we enjoyed a magical and chaotic Christmas with our four boys. Finally, we ended the year with some freezing temps and a snow storm!

It's a crazy beautiful life!

12.31.2020

The year 2020 definitely took a few unexpected turns. It's been a stressful and emotionally taxing year. And strangely, a very lonely feeling year. I do NOT recommend having a baby, selling a house and building a home all amidst a global pandemic and political/civil unrest.

I feel like my head is on a swivel from being pulled in so many directions at once. My time is not my own. My plans get derailed nearly daily. Four boys = noisy crazy town.

Ironically, most of these challenges can be pointed back to myself or humanity in general. In other words, 2020 was a man made problem! Lol. Everything from choosing to build a home while pregnant, to the lockdowns that had dire economic effects, to the protests and destruction of cities, to protocols in the health field that are making the jobs of doctors and nurses feel insurmountable, and to a presidential election that was just plain awful.

Wow. I'm glad we're in the home stretch of the year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that many of our problems will resolve in 2021. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to moving in to our new home in just a few short weeks!

But for all that went wrong, so much went right too. Everything has its opposite and I would be ungrateful if I did not recognize the mountains of blessings that Heavenly Father bestowed upon our family this year... beginning with the most smiley and squishy baby named Ezra who joined our family!

12.31.2019

I selfishly love putting these year at a glance collages together just to see how cohesive and colorful my photography is! It's surprisingly gratifying. Plus, it's of course fun to review all that has happened and all that we have done. I can't help but feel grateful for this one crazy BEAUTIFUL life and the people I get to share it with!

2019 was a really great year overall. My boys are getting older and more independent. There always seems to be some mess to clean up, some fight to referee, or some unwanted behavior to redirect, but there's also always something to laugh about, something to look forward to, and most importantly, someONE to hug. These boys of mine (yes, especially the big one!) bring so much sunshine into my life daily. I can't wait to add one more someone in 2020!

Here are the highlights from 2019:

January: Bron and I enjoyed an overnight ski trip to Grand Targhee and I began potty training Conrad.

February: We enjoyed sledding and snowshoeing to Ross Falls in the snow. Jed and Levi wrestled. Everyone in the family caught the actual flu except Conrad.

March: Jed and Levi participated in their first Pinewood derby and we spent a week playing in St. George, Utah over Spring break!

April: Jed turned 9 years old. Bron and I spent a blissful and adventurous week in Maui!

May: Bron and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. I spent a special girls' weekend at Women's Conference in Utah with family. I got to play my violin for MCO in both Boise and Orange County; it also meant I got to spend a fun weekend visiting my dad. We got rained out during our annual Nelson Camp and Climb event at the City of Rocks.

June: The boys began spending all their free time in the water and at baseball. We started our Sunday evening tradition of roasting marshmallows in the South Hills. Bron took the young men on a four day High Adventure Campout and got snowed on!

July: We celebrated Independence Day! I visited New York City with my mom and sister and played my violin in Carnegie Hall. Bron and I rode our bikes in a relay race called El Doce. We went on our first mountain bike ride all together as a family of five!

August: Levi turned 7 years old. We took a fantastic family vacation to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Glacier National Park. We found a camping spot with the most incredible view of the stars. The boys started 4th and 2nd grades.

September: The kids and I performed in the Primary Program at church. The big boys started swim team. I found out I was pregnant!

October: I took the boys to their first Haunted House, we carved pumpkins, and celebrated Halloween! I tried not to fall apart with a calendar full of family photo shoots coupled with morning sickness.

November: Conrad turned three years old! We celebrated Thanksgiving and got to see our newest addition on the ultrasound screen for the first time.

December: We closed on five acres of land to build a new home, hosted a delicious donut party with friends, played in the snow, and celebrated Christmas! Lastly, Levi got 13 stitches in his face.

12.31.2018

When folks ask how we're doing and I answer that there's nothing exciting to report but we're doing well, it's the truth! It may have been a relatively drama-less year (counting my blessings) but life is anything but boring. In fact, I feel like with two boys in school now, our lives are becoming more full of absolutely everything! It's downright busy. I am neck deep in motherhood. I am learning and relearning every single day about patience, unconditional love, time management, self-care, and what selfless service really looks like. I fail and I fail again, but I get up to try over and over again because this unquenchable love for my family fuels me. I know I live a charmed life. I am so grateful for all that I have. Cheers to a new year ahead and all of the fun memories and lessons that 2019 will surely bring!

Here's what happened in 2018:

January: I spent a week visiting my sister in Arizona during her radiation treatments. The warm sunshine felt divine!

February: A big snowstorm blew in and then the weather warmed up so much that we spent a Saturday exploring Black Magic Canyon as a family. I started coaching the Magic Valley Girls' Lacrosse team.

March: We enjoyed an epic Spring break week as a family playing in St. George, Utah. My sister was technically declared cancer free!

April: Jed turned eight years old and Levi lost his first tooth! I also attended the Instainspire retreat to geek out about all things photography.

May: Bron took the leap and started a new job as an Independent Dairy Nutritionist. We were overwhelmed by the love and support we felt from family and friends at Jed's baptism. We went camping and rock climbing in the City of Rocks one weekend. Finally, we found the elusive Phantom Falls on a Memorial Day hike.

June: We played on the tallest and fastest slide at the Nelson Family Reunion and enjoyed all things summer: mowing and weeding the lawn, fishing and swimming at Bass Lake. Our lives were also temporarily consumed with baseball.

July: Bron and I snuck away to McCall for a weekend of food and mountain biking and sweet alone time. I backpacked into Lake Imogene with the Young Women and Bron floated the Middlefork with the Young Men.

August: Bron raced Pierre's Hole for the 5th time. Levi celebrated turning six and we visited my dad in California for his big 60th birthday! We had the best time with the big boys at Disneyland! Jed and Levi began 3rd and 1st grades.

September: My photography business took off for the season and the boys began their first football season. Levi began piano lessons!

October: We enjoyed all the Fall colors and things with a visit to the corn maze and walks in the South Hills and around town. We teamed up with what felt like the whole neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating on Halloween night.

November: Conrad turned two and went on his very first "mountain bike" ride when my mom and brothers visited for a day. We celebrated Thanksgiving on the Nelson Dairy. The boys started their wrestling season.

December: We welcomed a puppy into our home to love! We spent a weekend in Utah visiting my grandma, touring the lights at Temple Square, and swimming at Crystal Hot Springs. Our Christmas season was full to the brim with family and friends, cookies and candy, a little service for the boys, and a LOT of new toys.

12.31.2017

What a year! 2017 was our first year as a family of five. It was such a joy and juggling act. It was also the year my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. The year was chuck full of personal triumphs and personal failures. And a year our loving Heavenly Father poured out innumerable sweet blessings.

I'm honestly not quite sure what to expect for 2018, but I'm working on a small list of goals. In short, I want to be more intentional over the next twelve months. I want to keep my priorities in order. I want to use my time wisely to take care of myself, to pray and read my scriptures, and to show my family that they are my first loves.

Let's take a look at what happened in 2017:

January: We experienced sub zero temperatures and a snow storm that canceled school. We beat the winter blues by taking the boys out on their very first snowshoeing adventure. I caught Conrad's sweet smile on camera for the first time and he was blessed by his Dadddy in church.

February: Another blizzard blew in and the boys had two more snow days! We also enjoyed a wonderful weekend tucked away at a cabin in the mountains of Utah for a Wade family reunion. While visiting Utah, Conrad met his Great Grandma Smith for the first time.

March: During Spring Break, I took the boys to see the Lego Batman Movie in the theater and we visited the Nelson Dairy where we met baby Flint for the first time and got to tour Nicole's family's sheep farm. Bron and I also escaped to Sun Valley (with Conrad in tow) for an overnight getaway.

April: We celebrated Easter, Conrad ate his first solid meal, and Jed turned seven years old! Jed also performed as a rabbit in his very first school play. Then Bron and I traveled to St. George with friends for a weekend to rock climb, mountain bike, and hike in the sunshine.

May: I enjoyed a girls' weekend at BYU Women's Conference with my mom, aunt, cousins, and grandma. The entire Nelson family spent a day rock climbing at Castle Rocks. Conrad learned to sit up by himself. And last but certainly not least, my sister Lauren was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer.

June: Bron and I raced in the River Dash Kayathalon. It was also the month the little boys and I began our weekly trips to Bass Lake--our personal piece of paradise beneath the Perrine Bridge.

July: We went camping at City of Rocks with friends for two nights and sat directly under the fireworks show in Burley on the 4th of July. We also went raspberry picking at Grandma Nelson's house. But the highlight was our family vacation to Bear Lake where we went hiking, swimming, boating, and ate delicious raspberry milkshakes.

August: We experienced Totality during the Great American Eclipse. Bron and I mountain biked in the Pierre's Hole race again. Levi turned five years old. And the kids started school: 2nd grade and kindergarten.

September: Bron ran the Cedar City Half Marathon. Conrad got his first ear infection. Our family spent a memorable day hiking to Titus Lake and back.

October: We enjoyed all things Fall by visiting the pumpkin patch and celebrating Halloween. Conrad took his first steps. I flew to Arizona to visit my sister and participate in the "Love for Lauren" 5k race.

November: Conrad turned one year old and we celebrated Thanksgiving.

December: Levi had his appendix removed. Bron and I enjoyed dates to the new climbing gym that just opened. We visited Crystal Hot Springs as a family, went sledding, and celebrated Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

12.31.2016

It's been a good year. As I look back, I am amazed at how much we did! We were busy. This year was one to remember for sure. We've been blessed with so much: health, loving family members and friends, and the opportunities to travel and adventure. The crowning highlight, of course, was welcoming Conrad earth side. I have to pinch myself. We're a family of five now and I couldn't be happier.

Here's what happened:

January: We celebrated Kaleb and Chantee's wedding! We visited the Living Planet Aquarium in Utah and hiked to Ross Falls as a family when there was three feet of snow.

February: We enjoyed a fun day of sledding as well as an epic date snowshoeing in the South Hills with our friends, the Horsleys. I also attended my very first photography conference, but the highlight was getting to hang out with my Grandma.

March: I traveled to Arizona to see my sister and cousin's new babies. I also found out I was pregnant!

April: We celebrated Jed's 6th birthday! We took the kids to Park City to see the Imagination Movers live in concert! I don't remember anything else because surviving morning sickness was all I could concentrate on.

May: Bron and I went on vacation to Kauai!!! We will never ever forget our legendary overnight backpacking trip to Kalalau. It was an amazing trip.

June: We celebrated the beginning of summer with a party and a pool full of kids. We had fun at the Nelson family reunion. Jed played his first season of t-ball.

July: We rock climbed and sat under the best fireworks show we've ever seen on Independence Day. We found out our growing baby was a boy. Bron exhuasted himself on a week long 50 mile backpacking adventure with the scouts in the Whitecloud Wilderness. Jed and Levi learned to fish with hot dogs and we went camping.

August: We celebrated Levi's 4th birthday, Bron conquered Pierre's Hole for the third time, and Jed started the first grade!

September: Two of my photos won prizes at the county fair. Jed played soccer for the first time. We saw the Wagon Days Parade in Ketchum. Bron and his brothers tinned a barn in just one day. And Bron and I stayed out way past our bedtime at a Boise State football game one evening.

October: We took the boys to the Hogle Zoo and celebrated my grandma's 80th birthday in Moab, UT surrounded by the beautiful chaos of family. My girlfriends spoiled me with a baby shower and pedicures. And the boys were the Dark Side for Halloween.

November: We welcomed Conrad to the family!!!

December: Bron did some snow skiing. We adjusted to being a family of five and enjoyed another magical and blessed Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1.01.2016

A Quick 2015 Review:

In January, I turned 30 years old. Bron treated me to a weekend ski trip where we got lost in a snowstorm at dusk in Teton National Park.

In February, Bron's brother got married and I got to take a weekend girls' trip to Park City.

In March, Jed learned how to ride a two wheeler bike! I also babysat my three nieces for a week and came away with some really great toddler poop stories.

In April, Jed received a brand new big bike for his fifth birthday and then promptly rode it straight into an irrigation ditch! It was also the month I sadly miscarried a baby.

In May, Jed graduated from preschool and the four of us went on a fun trip to California to see family. We visited the beach, Sea World, and Medieval Times. Bron and I also ran the Insane Inflatable 5K race with some good friends.

In June, Levi learned to ride a two wheeler bike at a whopping two years and ten months old. We also started taking weekly trips to Bass Lake and the South Hills to picnic and play.

In July, the Smith family reunion was held in Lake Powell and we jet skied till we couldn't hold on anymore. We went raspberry picking and cooked s'mores over an open campfire. It was also the month that Bron and I experienced our epic backpacking adventure!

In August, Levi turned three years old, Bron and I conquered a 30 mile mountain bike race called Pierre's Hole, and Jed started kindergarten!

All of our weekends in September were spent rock climbing.

In October, I ran the Just Cuz Half Marathon with my friend, Amy. We visited the Boise Zoo and the pumpkin patch. Plus, our family were the Avengers for Halloween.

In November, we got our first big snow and celebrated Thanksgiving with family.

In December, Bron and I got to escape to Salt Lake City for a beautiful night at Temple Square. We also went sledding as a family and celebrated Bron's birthday and Christmas.

This year has been one of polar opposites for me: unforgettable highs and emotional lows. Somehow though, I am overwhelmed with great gratitude for it all. Countless adventures and fond memories made this year with the people I hold most dear to my heart, it's a life blessed beyond measure. This year I think I have learned to let go of my own expectations for the future and cherish what I have now because Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, seems to have other plans. I'm not sure what those plans are, but I am sure in my faith that my Heavenly Father does indeed love me. 2015 you've been a good one; a year of a lot of monumental firsts. You're not to be forgotten. May the next year be as adventurous as the last.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1.01.2015

A Quick 2014 Review:

In January, Jed became a handsome little Sunbeam at church and Bron and I had a grand day skiing at Grand Targhee in celebration of my 29th birthday.

In February, Jed started preschool and I was an emotional mess. We also took a special trip to Boise to visit my mom and explore the aquarium!

In March, we attended my Grandpa's funeral and Bron and I went on a rejuvenating Spring Break mountain biking vacation in southern Utah.

In April, Jed turned four years old and I spent a weekend in California celebrating my brother's marriage! See also: Why I bother to clean the house

In May, we played happily in the sun and made a special Mother's Day video that I still cherish.

1.01.2014

A Quick 2013 Year Review:

In January, we bought a new car and went to a Jazz game

In February, Jed was officially potty-trained!

In March, we had a ton of fun with our sweet friend, Anna, who came to visit from New York.

In April, Jed turned three, I bought a piano, and we celebrated Easter.

In May, Bron and I celebrated our sixth anniversary and we kicked off summer with a visit to the Nelson dairy.

In June, we spent the most blissful days just playing outside. Dierkes Lake is most definitely a favorite.

In July, we hiked Alaska Basin, I attended my ten year high school reunion, and Bron conquered his very first triathlon.

August was busy. We celebrated Levi's first birthday, attended the Smith family reunion in Utah, and drove to California to visit my dad and family where I ran my very first half marathon.

In September, Bron went on a fishing trip, Levi got his first haircut, and we cooked s'mores up in the hills.

In October, we took full advantage of the beautiful Fall colors and went trick-or-treating on Halloween.

In November, we spent lots of time together as a family and ate ourselves silly on Thanksgiving.

In December, we found our Christmas tree in the snowy South Hills and celebrated Christmas for five days straight.

Browsing through ~~this~~ last year's archives has suddenly made me feel very grateful. What did I do to deserve a life so richly blessed? 2013 was a good year. Not only were we able to do a lot of fun things, but my marriage to Bron has never been stronger. And both the boys grew so much! Levi morphed from a rolly fat baby into a full blown toddler while his big brother Jed is proving to be the sweetest most energetic preschooler around. I just don't see how 2014 could do better.

Can I let you in on a little secret? There's a little piece of fear that lives in the back of mind, a little shadow that is scared that something out of my control is waiting to bring tough problems and heartache at the opportune time when everything seems to be rolling along seamlessly. But I try not to let fear rule my life and rely on hope instead--hope that no matter what life throws at us, everything will be okay. A little growth is actually good for the soul after all, isn't it? So 2014, I have high hopes that you'll deliver just as many smiles as the last year.

*******

A Few Personal Goals to Make 2014 the Best Year Yet:

Add five new clean eating recipes to our regular dinner regimen

Turn my photography hobby into a legitimate Idaho business

Lose a couple of inches off my arms and belly... just in time to get pregnant again?

Slow down. Though there are instances when being punctual is important, right now, 90% of the time, my little boys and I really don't have a strict timetable. So I will tell myself that it's okay if it takes an extra ten minutes to load the car to go to town. I will not tell Jed to "hurry up" as he explores the weeds on a walk through the neighborhood. And I will say "yes" more often to playing with my boys while leaving the dirty dishes in the sink. It's about enjoying life in the moment.

Spend significantly less time on the internet (by checking Facebook and reading blogs just twice a week?) and spend more time tackling personal projects like paint touch-ups, putting baby books together, and sewing stockings for next Christmas. Believe me, I have a project lined up for nearly every month this year. Wish me luck!

*******

I ushered in 2014 rocking a sick one year old, but I actually didn't mind too much.
Wishing you all the health and happiness that 2014 can bring!

Happy New Year!

Nelson Notes

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