In HIS memory...

In December, we are always reminded of our Saviors Birth and the life that he lived while he was here on Earth and His atonement made in our behalf. I can't think of a better time to also remember Galen Nelson and his life that he lived and shared with us. In dad and grandpa's memory, we went to go and visit him this past Saturday before Christmas. On the 11th, was the anniversary of our beloved father and grandfather's passing. It has been a difficult year, but also a year of finding out a lot about each other and about him. We hadn't been to visit the grave by ourselves since his passing. We have been there a lot with Quenalee and other family members, but we decided to go and visit him with just our little family. We took a tree up and the kids had made ornaments with their pictures and hung them on the tree. We also had a stocking that hung from the tree that we each wrote a memory about him on a piece of paper and then placed it in the stocking. It was special to talk about him and to remember him. We love you dad and grandpa.

Plus 2

Okay-sooooo......let's just chalk it up for moment of Christmas weakness. I gained 2 this week. All that I can say is that I am going to do better this week and I will get right back on track! I didn't do 4 times of exercise, but I did do 3. I will do much better this week-I promise all of you!

No Change

Today was weigh in day and there was no change. I didn't lose anything...but I didn't gain either. I am pretty happy with that result considering that it was the week before Christmas and I haven't been eating a lot of healthy stuff if ya know what I mean?? This week is Christmas and my goal this week is to at least exercise 4 days this week and then try to maintain again! Good luck to all of you that have shared with me that you are trying too and have a Merry Christmas! Just remember that it isn't all about the food right?

Kindergarten Christmas Party

Mrs. Kholers afternoon Kindergarten class 2008-2009.

I helped with the Kindergarten party for Mack's Class and we had a great time.

Mrs. Kholer read The Polar Express to the kids and then gave each of them a bell to take home so that they would always believe. We decorated cookies, made photo ornaments for their trees at home, and had a snowball fight in the classroom (with soft marshmallows of coarse). When we pulled out the marshmallows for a snowball fight, I was a little worried what Mack's teacher would say-but she just said-"That is so cool!" She ran around the room with the rest of them! It was so fun to watch them. I love this picture that I captured with Mack throwing his arms in the air. I think he just made a hit-what do you think?

New HAIRDOS!

So...I am one of those people that only get my hair done every 6-9 months! I am sorry-especially to my bestest friend who is a hairdresser. I know that it bugs ya Val-however, I am too cheap-and I miss you, Val doing my hair for cheap and telling me when my roots are atrocious! With that being said...It was time. I do love the gal that I have in Idaho Falls and she does a great job. This time-I sat in the chair, told her I wanted to go darker and shorter and then I let her at it. I didn't give her any instruction as to what else to do-just told her to have fun....and this is what she came up with.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calli also went a lot different and got a pixie do! It is so dang adorable. I wish that I was as bold as she is when I was her age. She knows what she wants and you can't change her mind. She also loves her hair and so do I!!!

Dear Santa,

I love the tradition that we have of writing letters to Santa. First of all, it is a fun keepsake to put in scrapbooks (I make copies of coarse) and also-it really helps Santa out with what to get the kids!! (Quentin is humoring me as of this year!!) Since we moved to IF, there is this huge Santa that you can drop your letters off and Santa even writes back!! This year, we actually dropped them off in the daylight and I got some pictures!!! Dear Santa...This year I have everything I want-just eat the cookies!

A Merry Christmas Stylish Girl!

My daughter....what can I say? She is nothing like her mother where she often does what she wants, wears what she wants, etc. without wondering what anyone else might think of her! Her latest style is a hat. Anytime she can wear one,and it matches the outfit, she will wear one! I love that about her. Today she got up and put this little Christmas ensemble together without any coaxing from me and she looked adorable and so I took a picture! Speaking of Christmas...The other day, we had the opportunity to go and watch the Nutcracker which we both thought was so much fun that it may become a mother/daughter Chritsmas tradition!

Merry Christmas my stylish girl!

6 Total!

Okay! I am feeling like I totally just squeaked by this week! I wasn't thinking that I would lose at all, as a matter of fact, I thought that I would gain some! I lost one more this week! YEAH! I can officially say that I have two more pairs of pants that I can squeeze into!! he he! They are tight but at least I have more of a selection!!! Thanks for all of your support!!!

A SHOUT OUT to all the girls!!!!

GIRLS!!! Here is a shout out to all of the girls that I have spoken to in the last 48 hours!! You all know who you are!! You are the women behind all of the scenes that are happening in your homes right now! Who are struggling with one thing or another. Dealing with a lack of sleep because of her children, leaking roofs, sick kids, financial problems, new life, losing someone, struggles with a child, the list goes on!! I just wanted to give you the recognition that you deserve and the love from those around you that you may not recognize! No man is an Island!! We are here for each other and I am here for you! I know that it is hard to accept that care and concern and help-but you need to receive it when it is given and be grateful for the knowledge that we have that we are daughters of a Heavenly Father that loves us and knows us and our struggles!!!! You strengthen me and I want you to know that you have had a prayer said in your behalf and I love you!!!!

Minus One

Hey there all of you possibly following my progress with weight loss!! I like to imagine that there are a lot of you!!! It seems to be helping me...I lost another pound this week which is especially wonderful considering the yummy goodness that was produced and brought to my home for the cookie exchange!! Thanks girls!!! That was a lot of fun and every year the yummies just get better and better! It is also fun to anticipate some of the regulars that we have come to expect. Thanks!!

Minus Two AGAIN!!!

YEAH!!!! I weighed in today and I was two pounds less again!!! I am feeling pretty good about myself considering that it was Thanksgiving week! I really tried hard. I have to admit that having one my sisters-in-law trying to do weight watchers helped me stay motivated because we kept talking about it and it helped me stay good!! Thanks Becca! (yes-her name is Becca too) I know that it will get harder, but for now-thank you to all of you that have cheered me on and that have motivated me even though you really don't read my blog....(that means you will never know that I am thanking you!) Anyhow, on to the next week! This week I am going to try harder to do more sweaty exercising! I don't really know what yet-but I will report to you next week. Only 16 more to go!!!!

Thanksgiving

This year I am most grateful for living close to home when the holidays come because our siblings come home and we get to see everyone. It' s hard some days too because we have to split our time with the families-but we are so grateful to be here so that we can spend what time we do get.

We spent Thanksgiving Day at Nelson's with Quenalee and with Jeff's siblings and families. The only one missing was Andy who is in Argentina serving his mission. Ryan and Becca came up from Vegas and Alex came home from BYU. It was fun to be able to see all of them. My cute husband got to carve the TURKEY!

The boys helped their mom set us her enormous Christmas tree

and we all got to help decorate it.

Mack even got up on the ladder to put a few ornaments up high.


It was difficult not having Galen there. We missed him for our first Thanksgiving without him, but Quenalee is so amazing and created a delicious meal and continued on with her traditions. She always gets the girls a nativity scene and the boys an ornament and she gives it to them early so that they can display them that year. It was a chore to get them all together and of coarse they aren't all smiling or even looking-but here's the Nelson Grand kids waiting anxiously to open their gifts.

AND.....OPEN!!!!


A tradition that my family does on Thanksgiving is to decorate Turkey Cookies. So, I took some cookies over to decorate for the Nelsons.

My family had gotten together the Night before Thanksgiving and had dinner and fun together. It always is so much fun to watch the kids together and see all great they get a long with each other. I just love that the next generation are getting to know one another and building those bonds.

All of the BOYS (minus the youngest)

"Tanner and Maddie" were here from Utah. That is what all three of my children call my Brother Jon's family. When our families are together, no one is ever bored. Even me! I love to be by my brother Jon and his family. Quentin, Calli, and Mack have a corresponding cousin their same age and it is just so much fun to see them all hang out.

The only girl cousins in the house are Calli and Maddie and whatever you do....Do not try to separate them! There will be tears! I promise! They are adorable!!!

We also got together one day and went to go and see BOLT. It was a really cute show and I really liked it-especially the Hamster! ha ha! Michael and his family hung out with us most of the time and as always, it's fun to be around them too. I offered to have all of the cousins over for a sleep over one night (minus the baby) and so that night, Jeff and I had 9 sleeping children under our roof. It sure was fun-for one night!!

I especially enjoyed the night that we got together and had a small birthday party for my Brother Tim. We don't get to see him very much-even though we live by him, and so it was great to see him and to play the Seinfeld Scene It game (which I held my own-even though I don't watch it nearly like my brothers-thank you very much!) That night, Dad was around a little more than he had been. He hasn't been feeling very well and had had a procedure done earlier that week which he was recovering from and so that night he was out and about a little more and it was nice to see him! I love you dad!

Favorite Song

Even though I am mostly listening to Christmas songs right now, I do love this song and video by Taylor Swift. I just think that she is an amazing young girl who writes all of her own songs too!

http://musicjesus.com/song_51234_Taylor_Swift-Love_Story.html

AND THE WINNER IS....

Okay- so I guess that no one wanted to go visit my Sister-In-Laws store! J/K!! I only got two comments and that is okay! I am grateful to Jenni and Julie who went. I too love the things that they mentioned especially the Red chair!! I keep thinking that someday no one will buy it and I will buy it and plan a whole room in my house around it! :-) So I put numbers on your comments Julie 1, and Jenni 2, and made Jeff pick one! He picked 2. So congrats to Jenni-sorry Julie! I will get you your cute apron Jenni! Thanks for participating guys! If you haven't gone to the store all of you other readers-GO!! It is adorable!