Pictures

Each day, I am amazed that my Heavenly Father entrusted these spirits to come to our home and for us to have charge over them for a little while. They are truly what this life is all about. Having children has been such a joy in my life. There are some stages that I have enjoyed more than others, but right now I am just so in awe by them and by things that they do and continue to say. Their strength continues to strengthen me and their small wisdom gives me something to ponder everyday. I know that we are supposed to be guiding them, teaching and helping them understand the things of life. However, especially this past year, they have taught me, helped me to grow and have guided me to places that I never would have gone without my children. Quentin and his sensitivity to others around him and always listening and faithfully obedient. Calli and the way that she views life and the questions she asks blows me away sometimes and makes me think of finding more out about things as well. The there's Mack...What can I say other than look at his face! This face and the kisses that I STILL get from him is something to live for each day! The gratitude in my heart for these three special people is more than I can express in any word!

I took them out one last summer day before school started and took some really fun photos of them. Idaho Falls has these great benches scattered all over down town and I have to admit that they did an incredible job posing so well and of coarse-it wasn't hard for them to look adorable because they just ARE!! Their faces exude all that they have in their hearts. I can't get enough of them!! Growing up too fast? Yep-but bring it on. I love each new stage better and better!

Yummy Family Home Evening

We had a really yummy FHE tonight! I wanted to share it with all families out there! Yesterday in our Primary Sharing time, our primary president gave an amazing lesson on reading the scriptures and how as we read the scriptures, we learn more about the Savior and the more we learn about the Savior, the more he can be a better friend-because the more we learn about someone, they become a better friend...So tonight we expounded on that a little more and used the "Scripture Cookies" recipe to make some DELICIOUS cookies-and we learned while we baked!

Scripture Cookies

1 C. Brown sugar

1/2 cup Butter
1 egg
1 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 C. oatmeal

1 C Rice crispies

1/2 C coconut

1/2 C chocolate chips or raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together sugar, butter, and egg. Add remaining ingredients and bake cookies for 12-16 minutes.

1 Cup of: ________________(Jeremiah 6:20)
1/2 Cup of: _______________(Psalms 55:21)
1 of: _________________(Isaiah 10:44, beaten)
1 1/4 Cups of _____________(1 Kings 4:22)
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/4 tsp. of ________________(Amos 4:5)
1/2 tsp. Salt________________(D&C 101:39)
1 Cup of: __________________(D&C 89:17)
1 Cup of Rice Crispies
1/2 Cup coconut
1/2 Cup of:________________(Samuel 30:12)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together Jeremiah 6:20 ___________Psalms 55:21____________and
Isaiah 10:14_______________. Add remaning ingredients and bake cookies for 12-15 minutes.

Some things that happened early 2010

Since I am so far behind, I am just going to recap the early months of 2010. Some of the HIGHLIGHTS.

My Beautiful, AMAZING mother had her 60th birthday!!

Another Nephew comes to the Pinson (Ostenson) Clan!!

Baby #5...Just Jack!



My ADORABLE brother-in-law, Andy came home from his mission in Argentina.

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Here's all of the Nelson "BOYZ" now that Andy was home...except for the newest addition Stratton...

(Greg and Becky's 5th)

EASTER 2010

We officially became true members of the 8B community. They sent these plates to me without even asking my permission!! Anyone have any ideas of how to diplay old liscense plates? I am a little sentimental to my 1A plates!!! I miss you Boise!

Road Trip to Vegas with some great friends. We had so much fun!!! Highlights...Gaining a brand new friend, Lion King, Hash House a Go Go, seeing Ryan, Becca, and the kids, reuniting with my long friend, Leslee!

And one of my favorite things that happened this spring was Mack's 1st grade class doing a dance presentation of dances through the years. They did Stayin' Alive, YMCA, Fishin' in the Dark, the Electric Slide, the Macarena, etc. It was one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Mack and his buddy Justin both dressed in their best suits and were just your regular Blue's Brothers out there "gettin' down" together. I do believe that they were the stars of the show!! I am including a short video that will give you just a teaser. They were soooo dang cute!

Catching up...

It is finally SUMMER! YAHOOO! I am so grateful for no school, (for me and for the kids...) and for warmer weather finally!!!!! That means that I may have some more time to blog. I will try to catch up as quickly as I can! It is good to be back. A quick shout out to Jeff's Grandma because I am pretty sure that she is one of the only people that continue to check my blog per chance I may have posted something new! We love you and thanks for checking it every once in a while.

Have your own STYLE!

My little Mack. Who isn't sooo little anymore! Where does the time go? I love him and I totally love his style. He plays so much with clothes which cracks me up. Hats, vests, shoes, socks, wristbands, hoodies, layered shirts, etc! One day, he was wearing his suit coat jacket with the sleeves rolled up with a T shirt and jeans. I asked him where he got that idea and he looked at me and smiled and said "From Marty in Back to the Future!!" I have a son that every once in a while takes his fashion ques from an 80's movie...what? Sometimes when he has his own money he chooses to buy a hat or a pair of shoes rather than candy or toys, etc. One day, he decided that he wanted to start wearing his hair in a fauhawk (sp?). It was fun to have someone that wanted me to help them with their hair and he looked so cute in it-the very next day, he wanted it straight down and spiked only in the front. Another day,, he wanted it parted and combed over. Everyday is different. Who knew boys could do that?? Here are a couple of my favorite outfit creations that he has put together. (Yes, we are even sporting a black eye in one of the pictures...)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! I usually don't really want to draw attention to myself intentionally...on purpose....on my birthday. However, I have been feeling some "stuff" today that I wanted to share and wanted to document.

My grandpa (Papa) called me today to wish me a happy birthday. It is adorable that he has started calling everyone on their birthday. He is just a smile on my face. He is always loving, witty, cute and sweet all at the same time. He said something to me today that I have been telling everyone about and I think I keep doing so because it is probably something that affected me, especially today on my birthday. In Papa's true fashion, he asked me how I was feeling being one year older, and after I told him that I didn't mind being one year older-he told me that he doesn't get one year older anymore, he gets one year "closer". I got after him for even mentioning that his time may be getting closer. I seriously wouldn't know what I would do without him around. I know that it is inevitable, but I will miss him when it does happen. However, after he said that, I thought a lot about me being one year older. I always look forward to my birthdays. Not because of the attention, maybe a little for the cake, but mostly because I really do enjoy each year more than the last. This year has been a year full of more challenges than I would have even thought possible-let alone more than I thought I could survive! So how could I even fathom this being a better year than the last? With that, my Grandpa's comment about being one year "closer" means a lot to me this year. My Grandpa intended to refer to it as closer to being gone physically. For me, I would like to think about it as being one year closer to who I would like to be. One year closer to who my Heavenly Father would have me be. One year closer to knowing who I am and where I am going. One year closer to knowing my Savior in a more intimate way. So today on my birthday I have been given some amazing gifts from those that I love. I have received some wonderful words of Birthday wishes. But after thinking long and hard about what my Grandpa said, the best birthday gift that I felt I got today was when I decided that I am proud of who I am and who I am becoming and for that, I am grateful for the challenges (gifts) that have come to my doorstep to mold me and help me become one year closer to who I am. Here's to 36 (plus) more years of learning and growing!

Calli Skiing

The school offers a Ski Club option to the kids that are in fourth grade and up for four weeks. They take the bus up to Kelly's Canyon Ski resport together after school on 4 consecutive Wednesdays, and offers a discounted price for the group. Calli really wanted to do it this year. All of her friends were doing it and so we worked out a financial deal that I would pay for the first time and then if she wanted to keep doing it, then she would have to pay for the other times with her own money. She ended up LOVING it and kept going. It was as if one of her best friends had died when it was over. She was so sad. My brother Michael took her up with his youth group a couple of weeks ago too. She really took to it and really enjoyed it! She has been waiting for her Uncle to come home from his mission to go snowboarding with him. That would be the next thing that she wants to try. It is so fun for her to have such good friends and enjoy something like that together. I love it when you have them try something and they enjoy it so much.

My little snow bunny and friends...