When I Asked

When I Asked

1.03.2017

The new worldwide church youth theme for the year comes from James 1:5-6. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  As the teacher presented the new theme to all the young women at church on Sunday, I became lost in thought and was taken back to exactly this time last year.

I was aching and I was desperate.  Two years, one miscarriage, and countless tears later, we just could not conceive a baby.  I know I sound like a broken record when I mention our struggle, but it was one of the harder challenges I've ever had to navigate through, not knowing why or if I'd ever become pregnant again.  And I wanted another baby so badly!  I had hit my low point, the time when I had absolutely no where else to turn but to God.  No one in the world could possibly provide an answer; not a doctor, not family, not a friend.  Only my Heavenly Father had an answer for me.  It was truly humbling.

And so I fasted and I prayed.  I asked Heavenly Father to bless us with another baby and if it was not His will, I asked Him to bless me with peace; peace to know that raising the two amazing boys I already had was exactly His plan for me and that it was enough.

As I prayed, I felt a distinct impression: 2016 was going to be our year!  We would have a baby!  I also felt that I just needed to hang on a little bit longer, it would happen soon, February or March to be exact.

And so I pressed on with faith and hope.  But oh how easy it is to forget and become discouraged.  By the time March arrived, I'd given up hope that I would ever be pregnant again.  But that's when it did.  That's when I saw two precious lines on a pregnancy test!

Sunday, I looked down at the baby peacefully sleeping in my arms.  Tears filled my eyes because here he was: Conrad, that perfect baby whom fills my heart with so much joy and is more than I could ever dream.  Conrad is a living reminder that my Heavenly Father does answer prayers, that He has gentle lessons to teach me, and that He loves me.

 ^^A little experiment with in-camera double exposures and little Christmas lights.^^

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Christmas Day 2016

Christmas Day 2016

12.28.2016

Due to the demands of a newborn, this year was a little bit harder for me to catch that magical Christmas spirit that makes me so excited.  I mean, I didn't even have anything wrapped until two days before the big day!  Instead, that Christmas spirit came in waves as we visited the lights at Rock Creek, made peanut butter balls, went sledding on Christmas Eve, and of course as I anticipated both Bron and the kids' reactions to the presents I'd bought.  Plus, it was Conrad's first Christmas!  Having a baby at Christmas feels so special.  I told Bron to just wrap Conrad up and place him underneath the tree.  I didn't need any other gifts this year.

The boys are still at such fun ages.  Young and innocent, they believe!  And they make the magic of Christmas come alive.  We got out the globe and tracked Santa on Bron's phone as Santa made his way around the world on Christmas Eve.  "Where is Santa now?!" they'd excitedly ask.  "He's in Colombia now and heading North towards us!"  They screamed.  "We gotta go to sleep so Santa can come! Hurry!"    

The boys slept in with the sun.  No one got out of bed until 7:45AM!  Santa brought Jed and Levi big Nerf guns this year complete with refillable magazines.  And he brought Bron an automatic Nerf gun because dads need an unfair advantage against their formidable offspring, right?  Right. 

Upon seeing everything that Santa had brought, Levi exclaimed, "I guess we WERE good this year!"  Bron and I laughed, but Levi's comment means one of two things: A. We're awful parents and make our kids feel guilty or B. Levi knows when he's being naughty but tries to get away with it anyway.  I'm going with the latter.

I'll let the pictures do the talking.  We have been blessed with so much.  I am grateful for my Savior who made it possible for this family I love so much to be together forever.  It was another magical Christmas!

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Co-Sleeping

Co-Sleeping

12.27.2016

^^Christmas Eve. This sweet scene stole my heart for a minute.^^

I have never co-slept with any of my babies... until now.  I've cautiously thrown the experts' safety warnings to the curb in exchange for my sanity.  Sleep deprivation is REAL!  And it is hard.  I was an absolute mess for a few days, teetering between flat out bawling and irrational anger.  I wasn't myself.  So for the last week or so, Conrad has slept curled up on my chest or next to me all night long.  We wake several times to nurse, but I'm finally feeling rested. I love hearing his soft sighs of contentment and feeling his small comforting weight.  There is no better feeling than snuggling a sleeping baby... except my arm starts to hurt being in the same position for so long!  A part of me knows that this is just a phase and I tell myself to just enjoy.  But the other part worries that I'm creating bad habits.  Motherhood is so perplexing.  Third time around and I still have no idea what I'm doing.  Just hoping for the best and loving with all I've got and then some.

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A Birth Story for Conrad

A Birth Story for Conrad

11.25.2016

Written in a notebook in the hospital and over the next few days...

He's here!  And I am still in thankful disbelief that he's real.  This perfect little body with a wide nose, big eyes, and soft cheeks is now a part of our family forever.  He's a cuddly ball of endearing reflexes and tiny intuitive instincts that make me 'ooh' and 'aww'.  I can't wait to get to know him!  So far he seems pretty chill and I am already hopelessly head-over-heels in love with him.  Conrad was worth the wait.  He is worth every sad and frustrated tear over the past three years or so, a testament that God is good and mindful of me.  I can't help silently thanking my Heavenly Father over and over again for this precious gift.  The depth of sweet joy I feel for this baby is indescribable.  I am so, so happy.

Conrad Joseph Nelson was born 8 days before his due date on Friday November 11th at exactly 3:30PM.  He weighed 9lbs 5oz and was 22 inches long.

Perhaps part of my disbelief that he's here and real is that going into labor was absolutely the last thing I expected to happen that day.  Friday was Veterans' Day and both Jed and Levi didn't have school.  My plan for the day was to prepare for my induction Monday morning by cleaning and picking up the house (the house was trashed!) followed by the boys playing with friends. We were also completely out of essentials like milk and eggs, but a shopping trip could wait til Saturday.  Or so I thought... Ha!

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Third Baby Bumpdate: 38 Weeks

Third Baby Bumpdate: 38 Weeks

11.06.2016

I am thrilled to announce that this is the very last bumpdate of this pregnancy!  In fact, it could possibly be my very last bumpdate ever.  The thought makes me feel a bit nostalgic as I look at this big round belly in the mirror.  Wow, my body does amazing things!  The idea that I may never do this again makes me both sad and happy.  Never again feeling those kicks and rolls from the inside, the exciting anticipation of bringing another life into the world--it's pretty neat and I feel so grateful I get to do it three times over.  It's sad to let that go!  But never again feeling nauseous and exhausted and just plain hurting for months on end sounds pretty amazing too.  So I suppose I'll soak in every last drop of this pregnancy for all its worth as we excitedly anticipate meeting our new little guy!

The thought of a third child still blows my mind.  This is real?  This is going to be real?!  There will be another real live body in that room peeking over the crib rails at me in the mornings?  No way.  It's like a far-off dream.  I wonder what he'll look like.  I wonder how I'll survive the sleepless nights again.  But I absolutely cannot wait to get to know his little personality.  He will be his own person, different than his brothers.  How can I possibly have a third opposite of Jed and Levi?  And how are their little relationships going to play out?  It's all a mystery to me now.  I think I'm ready for this next big life change and challenge.  Or maybe more accurately I'm just tired of being pregnant and know that this big life event is inevitable.  Either way, I'm happy and excited with just a tinge of worried nerves on the side.

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Happy Halloween from the Dark Side

Happy Halloween from the Dark Side

11.02.2016

The Holiday Season is officially upon us.  And I am feeling the buzz!  Lucky for us, the Holidays are made 100 times better with little kids around.  Their enthusiasm and excitement just seems to rub off on me.  Plus, we'll be adding another little jumping bean here in just ten days or so.  TEN DAYS!  It's going to be a crazy but special year.  I can just feel it.

This Halloween, we found our costumes more than a month ago at Costco one day. I wasn't too concerned about Levi changing his mind because the kid is dead set on becoming a storm trooper when he grows up.  He talks about it all the time.  I did convince him that he needs to finish high school first though before he flies a tie fighter... which perhaps the military will develop in a few years.  So maybe that dream isn't too far fetched.

I'm not sure what the boys' fixation is with the dark side of the force, but since Jed chose to be Kylo Ren, we just ran with it.  Bron became Darth Vader and I became the Death Star on account of my huge pregnant belly.  It was super simple and fun!

However, I admit, those pictures up top were anything from simple.  Ha!  I spent a solid hour or more in Photoshop editing each of those individually.  But I am silly proud of how they turned out.  And the boys are "over-the-moon" stoked about how cool they themselves look in them!  Definitely a fun experiment and worth every minute.

Now pictures from Halloween Night!

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Hiking in "The City" and Other October Highlights

Hiking in "The City" and Other October Highlights

10.30.2016

This Fall has been a little different for me.  I just haven't seemed to have the energy to get out and go and do {and photograph!} all of the fun seasonal stuff that I love.  But that's understandable.  I'm very pregnant for the third time.  So I'm cutting myself some slack.  But we have managed to squeeze in some fun and beautiful colors.  And I don't want to forget it.

On Saturday October 22nd, we joined our friends at the City of Rocks.  We meant to help the kids do a little rock climbing but the place was crawling with people.  Imagine that.  A super nice day in October brings people out.  :)  So we wound up hiking and exploring.  It might have been even more fun!  (Side Note: Let me just insert here that hiking up and down rocks at 36 weeks pregnant is no easy task because I can't raise my legs more than 90 degrees; there's a baby in the way!)  The views from within "the city" are just incredible.  Such a unique place out in the desert.  I feel lucky we get to visit so often.

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Grandma's 80th Birthday

Grandma's 80th Birthday

10.14.2016

^^Grandma with five of her great-grandchildren: Jed, Levi, Jaxon, June, and Carter^^

We spent the most memorable weekend with extended family at a cabin way up in the La Sal mountains outside of Moab, UT.  We all gathered there to celebrate my grandma's 80th birthday!!!  She just radiates love.  Words cannot describe how much I admire that woman. There was no cell service and it was wonderful to truly unplug from everything: no internet, no advertisements, no pressures of the everyday grind. It was just family (noisy family!) and food (sooo much food!) and some small adventures. I wish we could relive it because I'm missing my weird but loving tribe of people already!

On Friday morning, I dropped off this studly man (and my uncle Ed) at 11,000 feet at the top of a mountain to ride 27 miles of what is called the Whole Enchilada.  Pretty incredible, yeah?  You bet I was jealous!

You guys, I married a good one. I can't imagine my life without this man. He's the one I talk late into the night with, adventure with, work and plan with, and parent with. He is patient and loving and involved and does his best in every facet of his life. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I love you, Bron!

View from the front porch of the cabin.  These horses just wandered in and out of the yard nibbling on the grass (and pooping all over the lawn).  And would you look at that scrub oak?  The leaves were changing colors and it was beautiful in its own deserty way.  

One afternoon, my cousin Rachel, Aunt Becky, Kelsey, and I all went for a little exercise walk that turned into a hike!  And another afternoon, our family of four strapped on helmets and took off in the razor that my Uncle Jeff rented.  That thing was buttery smooth over the dirt trails!  We let the boys take turns riding in the front seat.  "Step on it!" they commanded.  It goes without saying, they had a blast. 

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Wrapping up Summer at Ross Falls

Wrapping up Summer at Ross Falls

8.22.2016

For the entire past week Levi has been walking around {and going places!} wearing one green size 8 sandal and one yellow size 10 sandal.  I swear, that kid would lose his head if it wasn't attached.  I keep waiting for the other sandal matches to show up someplace, but they haven't.  It's kind of funny.  I have a feeling I'll find them sometime after school starts... which is in exactly one week!

For the first time in my entire life I think I am actually okay with saying goodbye to summer and welcoming a new school year.  Part of it is because I'm getting bigger and slower with each passing week.  The commencement of Fall just means I'm that much closer to meeting our newest family member!  Plus, a regular routine is sounding awesome.  Jed and Levi are frankly bored at home.  A few hours away from each other every day will do them some good.  They're cute and play well together most of the time, but gee whiz are they competitive and wow are they physically cruel when they fight!  On top of that, Levi seems to calculate whether the punishment is worth retaliating; it almost always is.

For instance, just earlier this week, I oversaw Jed scrub his toilet and sink after he severely scratched his brother.  Levi waited until Jed was done cleaning and then got his revenge with a mean scratch of his own!  I took him outside to weed the front courtyard.  I'm not sure what we're going to do with that kid.  We've tried taking away toys, time-out, spanking, chores... but revenge always trumps the consequence.  "But Mom, I get angry a lot," he said to me when I sat down and talked with him one day.  I laughed.  I know!  Hopefully we can channel that competitiveness and aggression into something productive one day.

Anyway, the shopping is all done and both boys are super excited to start school.  I can't help but be excited along with them. Jed will be going into first grade and Levi will start preschool.  We live in such a great community and school district.  I feel at ease knowing the boys have supportive teachers and a good group of kids from which to choose solid friends.

But until then, we're going to enjoy our last sunny and completely carefree summer days doing the things we love to do best.

These pictures are from an afternoon trip into the South Hills last week when the boys needed to get out of the house and burn some energy!  I packed my camel backpack with water, jerky, cheese, crackers, and apple slices to eat at the top of the short Ross Falls hike.  Clouds moved in over the sun and we got to explore the falls in balmy 70 degree weather.  It was nearly perfect.  I'm hoping our last week of summer has many more moments like these.  I love my boys.  And I love spending quality time with them.       

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We Beat the Heat Camping

We Beat the Heat Camping

8.01.2016

We escaped the 100 degree heat this weekend and headed into the South Hills for a little camping adventure!  The boys had been looking forward to this trip all week and they were busting at the seams with excitement.  (Full disclosure: I drove home to sleep and drove back first thing in the morning because camping while pregnant sounded like self-torture.)

When we arrived at our spot, it was twenty-five degrees cooler and it actually started to rain.  What a pleasant relief from the heat!  Fortunately, the rain didn't last long.  Our evening was full of fire starting, roasting hot dogs, exploring trails, s'mores, and all sorts of silly shenanigans.  At one point, I sat with Levi in what's left of my lap in front of the fire.  He and Jed traded off telling long and intricate stories about Green Ninja and Blue Ninja and Red Ninja.  It was a hoot just to listen to!

I helped Bron tuck the boys into bed around 10:30PM and headed down the mountain in the truck.  Except for a lousy night's sleep, I didn't miss a thing!  Jed and Levi did surprisingly well sleeping though.  I arrived back first thing in the morning as the boys were clamoring out of the tent.  We ate muffins and Donald Duck orange juice (Levi's favorite) and packed up.  Because Bron has everything organized into bins that we can just throw into the back of the truck, camping was a virtually painless chore!  I was impressed.  We can totally do this over and over again.

I hope the boys will remember this little one night adventure for a while because it's a sweet family memory I'm going to hold on to.

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A Day in the Life 2016

A Day in the Life 2016

6.07.2016

Welcome to the fourth annual "A Day in the Life" post!  Though it may have been late in the month, I still managed to document a fairly typical day around the Nelson home before May was over and school got out.  Whew!  Pregnancy morning sickness has been kicking my butt, but I knew documenting a day would be worth it.  These yearly posts have come to mean a lot to me because someday I'll forget; someday I'll forget what life was like with just my two little boys when Jed was in kindergarten.  It's been a wonderful school year for sure and I'm anticipating that next year will look completely different!  So please, take a peek at what Wednesday May 25, 2016 looked like here on the home front.

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Stories of a Threenager

Stories of a Threenager

2.23.2016

Is it a real legitimate thing that children turn into little monsters every time the weather is about to change?  Please tell me it is because I think I'm seeing a trend here.  My boys drove me absolutely crazy last Fall just as the weather began to cool off.  And now that winter is coming to a close and we're eagerly looking forward to spring, well, I'm pulling my hair out.

Or maybe it's not a change in weather thing at all.  Maybe it's just a three year old "threenager" thing, or more specifically, a Levi thing.  Don't be fooled by that curly blonde hair, those squishy round cheeks, and contagious smile.  I've been played more times than I'd like to admit!  It's no secret that both my boys have me wrapped around their tiny pinky fingers, but Levi--ohh boy, watch out!--is he good at pushing those limits to get what he wants.  I'm at the brink of my sanity.

Let me tell you a few short stories to clarify:

1.  We were at the shoe store a couple of weeks ago picking up some new shoes for both Jed and Bron.  I happened to look down and see Levi chewing on something.  "What are you eating?" I asked as I took his chin in my hand.  He opened his mouth to show me something blue.  Gum?  A skittle?  Bron interrupted, "Levi, that's gross.  Spit it out right now," he held out his hand.  That's when Levi looked his dad straight in the eye and visibly swallowed right there on the spot.  The look of fury on Bron's face was serious.  It took all my self-control not to giggle.  Obstinate little turd!

2.  One afternoon Levi came to me with a piece of paper and asked me to make him an airplane.  I gladly obliged and whipped one up.  When he saw what I'd made, he fell to his knees on the floor.  "Noooo!" he sobbed.  "You made the wrong one!  I want the one that doesn't fly good!"

In case you're wondering it was THIS ONE he wanted, not THIS AWESOME ONE that actually flies long and straight.  I'm still scratching my head.

3.  I turned around to shoo some neighbor kids out the door following a fun afternoon of playing at our house when Levi suddenly and deliberately threw a metal can straight at Jed's head!  It wasn't just any metal can either.  It was a giant empty coffee can that Jed had brought home from his Valentine's party at school.  Jed came to me screaming, his face dripping in blood.  I sternly told Levi to go to his room and not come out.  He wound up taking a nap.  Then I calmed Jed down and had him lie on the floor so I could get a better look at the half inch gash on his forehead.  I ultimately decided--with Bron's help (Yay for picture messages!)--upon some neosporin and a butterfly band aid.  Then we topped off the healing process with a movie, the Jungle Book.  Poor kid deserves a little relaxation after all that!  And I'm happy to report Jed is all healed up now.

As a mom of boys I have learned a couple of things so far pertaining to bumps and bruises: First, if the cut is questionable, it probably doesn't need stitches.  Chicks dig scars anyway, right?  Secondly, it's a good idea to keep a stocked first aid kit and some liquid bandage on hand.  That's some incredible stuff.

4.  Boys will be boys.  Mine fight a lot.  Sometimes I give up and ignore them.  Other times, I want to pull my hair out!  It's happened more than once.  I restrain Levi from hitting his big brother, giving both boys a minute to find some space.  But Levi apparently always has to have the last say.  As soon as I let go, Levi charges after Jed and delivers a punch anyway.

5.  The other day while I was talking on the phone, I opened the pantry door to see Levi tip-toeing on the stool eating candy!  Little sneak.  He thought he was getting away with it.  Ha!  He turned on all the smiley charm at that moment.  And I'll admit, it was hard to be mad.

6.  I enjoy making myself chocolate protein smoothies for breakfast.  For some reason, the boys always seem to fight over who gets to press the buttons on the blender.  One morning, Levi was in his room quietly playing when I was in the kitchen.  Jed asked to push the blender buttons for my smoothie.  Of course, I let him.  But then Jed went gloating to his little brother.  Levi charged out of his bedroom SCREAMING!  "Oh, dear.  Is this really my life?" I thought to myself. 

7.  The day I wanted to put Levi out in the kennel with the dog.  That was the day I went to take a shower and came back to find Levi on TOP of the refrigerator chowing down on a giant lollipop I thought was hidden out of sight.  Nope.  The kid is part bloodhound, part monkey, part bottomless pit.  It's a daunting combination.  Keeping the pantry locked gives me about thirty extra seconds to slide my rear into the kitchen as soon as I hear the chair grinding its way across the tile.  Levi is such a messy kid!  He ate at least five granola bars that day too... among a bunch of other frustrating maneuvers and tantrums that I'm choosing to keep to myself.
    

Whew!  Levi is a handful.  Remember, I only pretend to be good at this parenting business.  I actually have no idea what I'm doing at all!  It's not all craziness though.  We have had plenty of good moments this month too--watching movies together or playing card games or riding our bikes outside, to name just a few.

Motherhood is the most bipolar ride I've ever been on.  One moment I'm up and loving the faces off these two cuties and the next moment takes all my self-control not to scream in frustration.  But one happy smile, one sweet hug, or one belly laugh and I'm all in again.  They're totally worth it.  This beautiful family of mine is worth every soul-stretching sacrifice.  These boys make me feel like the luckiest mom in the world. 

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Snapshots of Life Lately: December Festivities

Snapshots of Life Lately: December Festivities

12.16.2015

Sitting close to the CD player to hear every magic syllable of the Polar Express.  Our advent countdown includes opening a Christmas themed book each night before bed.  The boys dance around the tree and often forget hugs after family prayer... they are sooo excited to open a "present"!

  

Little snow snitcher... wherever we go!

This painted vintage desk is the newest piece of furniture in our home.  I accidentally won it at a school benefit auction a few weeks ago.  Meaning, the first desk went for $175!  I raised my hand when the bidding began at $50 for this one.  To my surprise, no one else bid.  It was mine!  Woohoo! 

On another note, a load of fertilizer (aka manure) went for $2K.  My friend Amy and I had a good laugh over that.  Two thousand dollars for a load of poop!  Hahaha.  Only in a community as rural as Kimberly, Idaho.  But really, those farmers are pretty savvy.  That's probably exactly how much a load is actually worth.  But I digress...

Jed's little desk has turned out to be the best little accident as it has become his creative corner.  Jed loooves to cut and color and create.  It makes him happy, the excited look-what-I-made proud of himself kind of happy.  And he should be!  For a while there, our tree was littered with Christmas "ornaments".  And now the house is cluttered with artwork.  I don't dare throw away anything with my name on it.  But I love the thoughts behind Jed's blue-green eyes.  Better yet, I love that Jed has found a way to express those thoughts and his need to give gifts to those he loves, all in the form of paper and crayons.   

Christmas crafts!  I have to be careful about what traditions I put in place for Jed because he will ask for the same activity year after year.  He remembers!  And like me, he's a creature of habit.  Fortunately, Michael's craft store has a plethora of cheap kid-friendly holiday crafts to choose from, so I picked up some more this year.  They've been a hit.  Plus, it makes me feel like a stellar mom to have us gathered around the kitchen table putting something together and having fun at the same time.  Whatever it takes to make Christmas time feel magical!   

Whenever track 03 begins to play from my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD, both boys exclaim, "It's the cowboy song!  (I think they've seen the Man from Snowy River one too many times?!?)  Levi rushes to find his boots and a horse and a hat.  One day, this is what Levi's outfit looked like.  I laugh every. single. time.  It just doesn't get old!  (Hashtag: momblinders.)

Funny story: Last night I asked Jed if he had brushed his teeth. "Yes, Mom!  See?  Smell my breath!"  That's when Levi grabbed Jed, leaned into his brother's face... and burped.  Long and loud.  We all busted into giggles.  This boy stuff.  I don't teach it to them.  It just comes naturally.

The boys have also become quite adept at playing pretend.  (Have I ever mentioned how grateful I am that they have each other?!  Biggest blessing ever, brotherhood.)  One day Bron and I had to listen to their entire commentary in the car.  It went something like, "And then, Jed, pretend my robot went like 'shing!' and cut off your robot's arm!"  "Then my robots got around your robots and sliced off their legs.  And they fight like this!  (Insert boy exploding noises.)"  "And then, 'shing!' mine popped off your robots' heads!"  As you can imagine, the robot fight escalated and the boys got a bit upset.  Finally, Bron brought the hammer down.  "Dad just dropped a big bomb and blew up ALL robots!  They're all dead.  No more robots."  "But Daaad!  What about the sleeping ones?..."     

Levi reading up on my '21 Day Fix' meal plan.  The counter is his new hang-out spot while I'm in the kitchen. 

Three year old hands are still kinda cute and pudgy.  Also, below, going straight to the good stuff.  Haha.

There's something about the holiday season that makes me want to bake.  Fortunately, the kids don't mind one bit.  Yummy!  It's been a fun--and messy--December! 

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The Week of Thanksgiving

The Week of Thanksgiving

12.01.2015

We enjoyed a busy yet relaxing wonderful break from our daily grind last week as we celebrated Thanksgiving!

I think it all started Tuesday morning when Levi and I showed up--along with a host of other parents and little siblings--to the annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast at school.  Those innocent five and six year olds didn't disappoint in their cuteness.  Jed walked in wearing his handmade Indian costume eagerly looking for me.  I'm so glad I was there to witness it.  He was sooo excited to show off his costume and say his lines!  Levi, on the other hand, was just excited to eat.  Haha.

We wound up bringing home an entire untouched Costco pumpkin pie with us.  I had no idea that Costco pie would be so tasty!  For $6, I may never make my own ever again.  Not kidding one bit, between Levi and I, we ate an entire half a pie in 24 hours.  Gobble!  Gobble! 

Wednesday morning we woke up to a beautiful blanket of white snow!  Add on the fact that there was no school and I was officially in vacation mode.  The kids and I dressed up and played for a full hour together in the front yard while the snow continued to fall.  I attached a rope to one of the boys' sleds and proceeded to drag them around.  The boys were all smiles from there!  Whew.  I think I need a four wheeler or something.  That was a workout.  But their giggles and laughter made it all more than worth it.  Can't wait to play again. 

^^Jed has the right idea.  Future snow boarder right there.^^

^^Yummy!  What's with kids always eating snow?!^^

We decided to leave for the Nelson Dairy Wednesday evening to beat the potentially icy roads Thursday morning.  And we are so glad we did.  We had plenty of Nelson family Thanksgiving traditions to uphold and we weren't about to be late!

Our Thanksgiving morning began with more snow.  Why can't the magic of snow last all winter long?!  There's nothing like waking up to a layer of fresh powder.  It is sooo pretty!  All three of us, (Jed, Levi and I), were anxious to get out and play.  First, we gathered eggs... ahem, I mean chased Grandma's chickens.  Then Jed and Levi caught a tractor ride with Grandpa.  They were so excited they practically oozed happiness out their ears.  They think Grandpa hung the moon because who else could possibly be cool enough to drive real life monster sized tractors?  Levi even went out again the next night... in the freezing cold and dark.  He's a die hard fan.

But enough about the farm.  Let's talk food and traditions.  Flint and Bron smoked the turkey and ham this year.  Delicious!  And naturally, we had more pies than we knew what to do with.  It was a weekend of gluttony, I must admit.  After Thanksgiving dinner, we played games, opened up matching Christmas jammies, and finally broke out the store ads to plan our Black Friday shopping spree.

It was Nichole and Chantee's very first trip and I think Merri Sue and I indoctrinated the girls very well.  We were out the door by 6AM and shopped til we dropped, or actually, sat down to a warm breakfast at Perkins.  I love getting 90% of my shopping done in one swoop like that.  It really helps make the Christmas season feel less stressful for me.

Then we met the boys in Rexburg for our traditional bowling game followed by pizza.  Yum!  (I told you we ate a lot.  Haha.)  And we talked and teased a lot too.  Good times.  Oh, but I can't forget our little date Friday night with Kaleb, Chantee, and Call to play laser tag!  It's been so long since I've done something like that.  I got killed.  A lot.  But hey, it was a riot.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!    

^^Loving on the baby calves.^^

^^Happiness in a nutshell for Jed and Levi.^^

^^It always surprises me how cool something as ordinary as a stack of wood can become when given a few tweaks in Lightroom.^^

^^Beautiful log cabin looking quite festive and inviting during a snow storm!^^

^^Sandy, 'ol girl.^^

^^Snowball fight with Dad!  Notice how Bron is growing facial hair!!!  No shave November, or something like that.  I'm actually really liking it and so is he.^^

^^Eating more snow.^^

^^Freeezing in the single digits or not, I cannot get enough of these GORGEOUS frosted trees lately!^^

^^I know!  I need to force the family to get used to my camera.  We need more pictures of everyone, right?  Right.  Documentation is important.^^

^^The yummiest dinner and cutest name card!^^

I feel so very blessed to belong to such an incredible family whom love and work and play.  It's hard to put all my feelings of thankfulness into words because as I've looked around me this past month, my blessings become numberless.  It's the big things like a home and heat and food on the table.  But it's also the small things like the pretty light on that leaf in the picture above and the way Levi just thanked Jed for doing something thoughtful.  Every single blessing is no more important than another and they weave themselves into the most beautiful tapestry that is my life.  All these beautiful blessings and moments that I am surrounded with everyday but hardly take the time to notice!  I want to bottle up my children's silly jokes, chatter, and laughter, their limitless imaginations, and all the affection I am smothered with daily by all three of my men.  No, life isn't perfect, but I'm learning to appreciate the here and now.  And I feel so very happy and whole.  Life and God are good.     

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