Our first REAL tree!

It fits JUST right! (ha ha)....12 feet 6 inches tall!

We just got it last night & I think we'll decorate it for FHE tomorrow - I just wanted to share the 'before' picture. Andy thinks its oddly shaped, but I love it!

Thanksgiving Weekend!

I know, its been over a week since my last post - my computer & mouse won't cooperate with me (ha ha)......I'm hoping that Santa will help me out this year. :D HINT HINT ;) ;).

This year was the first time EVER that I made the whole meal - my sisters, Ake & Lesley; my brother, Muimui & their friend Matt came up from Arizona to spend the weekend with us......so you'd think I'd have helpers (ha ha), but no, they were so tired from the drive, so they slept.

The turkey turned out pretty good!

My handsome helper mixing gravy.

Andy, Les, Matt, Ake & Kolby enjoying the meal!

Lana was a little shy for a while.

We went bowling on Saturday at BYU - here's Andy watching Kaleb & Muimui playing Air Hockey.

I had some time to decorate for Christmas.

Ake & Lesley were able to make some Amish 'Friendship Bread'.

We enjoyed it while we played a 'Washeroo' tournament. We had my sister-in-law Debbie & Lesley's friends Matt & Scott come to play with us........Matt & Scott were the champs!

Thanks for a great weekend guys - it was an awesome Thanksgiving!!

BREAKING NEWS!

My baby brother Dalton went missing yesterday after school. :(

This is the photo they put on the news in Arizona.
Thankfully, I didn't hear about it until this morning when they found him at a friends home. He is doing well & definitely learned a lessson.
To see the reunion on Arizona's Fox 10 news, go to: www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/
"Missing 9-year old found at a friends house"
*If anyone knows how I can download the actual video, please let me know - I would like to post it.

Twilight VIP!

What can I say? It was a great movie!
A big group of us ladies went together & it was a blast.......we ate dinner, got scanned, had to take our cameras back to our car & got these cute VIP passes. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures, I wanted to wait until we were seated, but I couldn't even take it in......oh well - we looked great in our red-white-or black shirts.

I also had some of us wear these buttons that I bought - cute, huh?
Well, I am really excited to see it again with Andy tonight - he loves vampire movies, but I'm sure that this one will be really different for him (ha ha).

Bridal Shower/Mini Reunion!

Kristi Sue Wilcken is getting married!! We both served in the 'Illinois Peoria Mission'.

Kristina (Sis. King) & I thought that it would be really cool to get as many 'sisters' as we could to have a bridal shower for Kristi.

We met at 'Macaroni Grill' in Murray.
From l to r: Kristi(Wilcken), Keli(Harlon?), ME, Lisa(Takara), Kirsten(Malan), Kristina(King), Danielle(Harry), Amber(McDonald), Tia(Arial), Kristi(Sorenson) & Cammy(Child).
We decided to have Kristi take her presents home, but I got her these:

Who doesn't love muffins??

It was soo fun to catch up.......

& to eat a delicious meal!

We thought that they only sang for birthdays, so we were surprised when they had a song for the 'bride-to-be'.

These are my girls - Kristi & Amber.......we ALWAYS loved being around each other during our mission. Amber & I served together in Decatur, IL & it was great! I love the friendships I made during my mission - they are definitely eternal friends!

Primary Program

Last Sunday was our Ward Primary Presentation & our 2 handsome boys were a part of it.
The theme this year is "I am a Child of God"

Grandma & Grandpa Nielson came to see it, as well as Uncle Mitch & Aunt Anna. Kaleb tried to sing so loud, even if he didn't know the words, it was cute. When we 'signed' the song "I'm trying to be like Jesus", he cried.......he's emotional like his Mommy - I noticed it made other Moms cry too.

Kaleb's part for the program was: "I can thank Him for food"......he said it very well & DEEP (everyone asks if that's his natural voice......it is!)

Kolby's part was: "I love Jesus Christ" (he was supposed to 'sign' it, but we thought he'd fuss, so his teacher held him at the podium while she said it.....it was still cute - he has the greatest teachers!)
It was a beautiful presentation & it was nice to just sit & watch.....oh, and sing.
I love serving in the Primary!!

Move over Mr. Miyagi!

While I was putting Lana down for a nap......YES - she is FINALLY taking a nap after all these months! (sorry, that has nothing to do with this story).......ANYWAY - I heard Kaleb banging on the wall downstairs & by the time I got down there, he was holding something between his thumb & finger & staring at it. I asked him what he was holding & he said "A FLY".

I hate any bugs or insects, so I looked at it & said "Ewww"......then Kaleb starts heading towards the trash (I thought), instead he went to the bathroom & said "flush it". I followed him & when he tried to drop it in the toilet - it flew to the ceiling. GROSS...its still alive?!! It flew into our little light cover, so of course I can't reach it, so I spray some air freshener above it so it goes into the cover (I don't know why I thought that would do anything to it - ha ha) & then the fly goes crazy. YUCK!! So, either I have killed it or its going to live in my light cover (ha ha). I just don't know why my kids love touching insects......I'll really panic if they start eating them (ha ha).

New 'do'!

Is it 'Dora the Explorer'?......or 'Cleopatra'?

NO, its our very own Keilana

This was her very first haircut & she screamed the whole time & for 5 minutes after that while she's staring in the mirror.........
fun times, fun times!

It's white outside!!

Can you tell these were taken from inside the house? (ha ha).......of course I'm not gonna go out there in the COLD!!
There's snow on my window screens & my POOR plants are going to freeze!!

I'm so glad that I have a wonderful husband who will go out in the cold & shovel a path for me, so I can get the boys on the bus.
Thanks honey!!
Lana just keeps looking out the window & yells "Christmas!".
Yeah, that's the only time it should snow (ha ha).

44th President!

The new President of the United States of America!

President Barack Obama & Vice-President Joe Biden

10 words!!

I can't believe it! Keilana just said a FULL sentence today, that actually made sense!

"Come on Marsh, let's go upstairs to the toy room" Lana

This is her cousin Marsh (aka Marshall) & he loves to play with the 'Little Einsteins Rocket' in the toyroom!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Who is this handsome space trooper guarding 'Miss Stephanie'?

It's Buzz Lightyear (aka Kolby)!!

Who will you call when the 'Decepticons' come around?

Optimus Prime (aka Kaleb)!

Who do you need to grant you a wish?

A 'fairy princess' (aka Keilana)!

We hope that everyone will have a fun & safe halloween!!

Pumpkin heads!!

Yip - we finally carved pumpkins with our family last night.......okay, Andy did, I didn't. I just barely carved mine today. I love seeing creative pumpkins on everyone's doorsteps!

Halloween Surprise Treats!

This week we got a visit from the 'Phantom Ghost' & the 'Trio' (Vampire, Witch & Frankenstein).

It's so fun to have someone ring your doorbell & then all you find at the door is a plate of treats! I'm just not very good at making treats & delivering them......I was so lazy, I asked my in-laws to stop by my house & get their share of treats (ha ha)........yes, my sisters' famous chocolate chip cookies. We received cookies & candy.......they were delicious!!

(This is not an actual picture, but they did look that good!)
I did get a workout.......last night (during a commercial break of The Office) - I delivered some cookies for the 'trio' by foot: you're supposed to post the picture on your door or window so others know not to go there.......anyway, I ran to a friends' house down the street & didn't see their picture until I got right to the doorstep......so I turned around & tried going to another home - oh, they have the picture......then I ran across the street to another family - their lights were off, so I couldn't tell........so then I ran to our neighbors house (at this point I'm worried that I'm missing the Office, so I was desperate)........it was dark so I don't THINK they had the picture up, so I just rang the doorbell & ran (too much for me, ha).
I heard them open the door, as I'm knocking on my own door trying to get in.

UEA weekend

The fall break started off pretty bad........with BYU losing to:

But, on Friday we went to the:

at Thanksgiving Point & it was a blast!! We went last year & I think its becoming a family tradition now. A big thanks to my awesome family for coming with us!

We did the usual......pony rides, petting zoo, carriage ride, huge bouncers & slides, haunted house (which Kaleb loved) & checking out the booths. This year Kaleb tried the rocket launch & the kids enjoyed the dance performances.

Yesterday, the kids & I went to:

I had never been there before, but heard alot about it........it is awesome! I just wish that I had 'interior designing' skills - everything there is beautiful - they would look great in my home! I'm definitely going back!!

What a great ending to the long weekend......hope everyone had fun!

Lana's ready...........

When Kaleb's school bus arrived this morning, Keilana was so excited and screamed "shoes" (meaning she needed to get hers on)........then eventually she grabbed her Princess purse full of her essentials (brush, mirror, shades, cell phone & necklace) - then she grabbed her backpack & I put it on her........then Kaleb's bus was gone! She wasn't sad, she just dumped everything out of her purse & then turned on the TV (ha ha).
Don't you just love her messy hair & pjs that are too small..........too funny!

What was I thinking?

Mmmm, doesn't that look good?
We went to Red Robin last night with some old friends of ours who we haven't seen since we left Provo. Anyway, for some reason I thought that it would be nice to take Keilana with us........WRONG! All she wanted to do was walk around & when our friends arrived, she screamed & then cried louder & louder. Finally when the food came, she ate quietly, but she had to be between Andy & I to eat.

We tried to keep her happy with taking pictures.

This entertained her for a while.........thanks pumpkin!
Anyway, lesson learned.......

Procrastinating.........

"Hmmmm, what do I want to be for halloween?"

Kaleb wants to be something intimidating....

Lana just wants to be something 'pretty'......

Kolby doesn't care, he'll be happy either way.
(Sorry its blurry, the boys wouldn't keep still - ha ha)

This is what they were last year..............
I guess you'll have to wait in a few weeks to find out what they chose.