We hope that everyone will have a fun & safe celebration tomorrow!

Rock-climbing fanatic!

Two of my sisters love to rock-climb, so I had to challenge Ake to see how well she could on my house......she did pretty good. I didn't get a picture, but even Kaleb tried. Ake would've done really well if she had the right shoes........bare feet & flip-flops just don't seem to work (ha ha)

My birthday!

Yes, its true - I am a year older & wiser (ha ha). We had a small get-together, ate finger foods & then played a favorite game of mine (Washeroo - Annamarie's family made it up) - it is sooo fun. We had a tournament & my father-in-law Steve and brother-in-law Dave won!

Ake & Anna playing 'Washeroo'

No 'cupcake' cake for me......just a jello cake (ha ha). Andys laughing cos the candles blew out before I got it, I'm just pretending.

I got fun presents - movie gift card & candy, my own lawnchair, lotion & body wash, new shirt, body sprays & lotion, tote bag & a cute 'family forever' sign.

Provo Childrens Parade

Our niece & nephews were in the childrens parade this year......we decided just to watch this time, it was fun.

Veterans Memorial Pool

We finally went to a public pool & it was sooo fun! Every 2 hours they give everyone a break to go to the bathroom, change diapers or eat - Kaleb & Lana chose to eat & Ake caught some rays

Kaleb loved the waterslide

Kolby just played it safe & stayed near the shallow end

Its been YEARS!

Ake, Sarai, Me & Michelle

My sister Ake is visiting this week from Arizona & we were able to go to our friend Michelle's bridal shower on Saturday, here in Lehi. I hadn't seen Michelle since before my mission, so it was soooo great to see her. Her cousin Sarai & I had been close friends after high school & it was so awesome to hang out for a little while & see her two girls - can you believe she has 6 kids?. I love small reunions!

Party for Kolby!

The birthday boy enjoying the bouncer out front

Waiting outside for family to arrive

Lana always seems to find where the presents are

Time for presents......Claudia & I really enjoyed the noodles (ha ha)

He got a little stubborn during presents - I'm not sure what he thinks about his BYU shirt (ha ha). Of course I made my ever famous cupcake cake - shaped into an '8' (ha ha, I really love how Luke is reaching for a cupcake). Kolby loved all his presents.........bubbles, clothes, toys & a DVD.

Just wondering......

I received this through email from my mother-in-law Claudia & friend Jessica, so I thought that I would post it on here so others can get to know Andy & I (I will answer Andys in italics):

1. Were you named after anyone? Yes, my middle name is from Dad & Grandpa - Yes, My Grandma
   
2. When was the last time you cried? Last Thursday (toothache) Same, cos I couldn't help his pain
   
3. Do you like your handwriting? No Yes
   
4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Turkey Honey Ham
   
5. Do you have kids? Yes - 3 Yes - Kolby, Kaleb & Lana
   
6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? Yeah Of course
   
7. Do you use sarcasm alot? Yes, especially to Laisa No & I hate when Andy does
   
8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes Yes, thank goodness
   
9. Would you bungee jump? Yes No, I'm afraid of heights
   
10. What is your favorite cereal? Life Blueberry Mornings
    
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes No, I slide my feet out
    
12. Do you think you are strong? Yes Sometimes
    
13. What is your favorite ice cream? Chocolate Fudge Brownie Strawberry
    
14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their attitude Their smile
    
15. Red or Pink? Red Pink
    
16. What is the thing you like least about yourself? My 'fatness' I'm not sticking to my workouts
    
17. Who do you miss the most? Grandpa Nielson
    
18. What color shoes are you wearing? Brown I'm barefoot
    
19. What was the last thing you ate? Granola bar Chocolate chip cookie
    
20. What are you listening to right now? Swamp cooler Kolby yelling upstairs
    
21. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green Brown
    
22. Favorite smells? Cookies Flowers
    
23. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Leah Andy
    
24. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course I guess so (ha ha j/k)
    
25. Favorite sports to watch? BYU football & Utah Jazz basketball Football, basketball & rugby
    
26. Hair color? Black Dark Brown
    
27. Eye color? Dark brown Brown
    
28. Do you wear contacts? No No
    
29. Favorite food? Chicken Cafe Rio pork salad
    
30. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings - scary movies are lame Happy Endings, but I do love scary movies
    
31. Last movie you watched? Jumper Jumper - it was pretty good!
    
32. What color shirt are you wearing? White White 'I love NY' shirt
    
33. Summer or Winter? Summer Summer
    
34. Hugs or Kisses? Kisses Kisses - especially from the kids
    
35. Favorite dessert? Ice cream cone Dairy Queen blizzards
    
36. What book are you reading now? Just the daily newspaper Are we there yet? (to the kids constantly)
    
37. What is on your mousepad? Nothing Its Black
    
38. What did you watch on TV last night? 30 Days Cold Case
    
39. Favorite sound? Farts, burps, snores - from the kids of course The kids snoring
    
40. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles Beatles
    
41. What is the farthest you have been from home? Illinois Illinois
    
42. Do you have a special talent? That's personal (ha ha) Hmmm, no
    
43. Where were you born? Portland, Oregon Auckland, New Zealand
    
44. Who would you like to "tag" to do this? Mitch & Anna Nate & Tiffany

Thanks Claudia & Jess, that was fun!

Ø

Birthday Party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS KEILANA

Lana had a fun birthday party with her family - they gave her some great presents! From Grandma & Grandpa Nielson she got a swimming pool; Uncle Dave & Aunt Annamarie - a cute pink & black outfit; Uncle Mitch & Aunt Anna - 3 cute shirts; Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Debbie - a doll on a backpack & a movie; Cody, Nicole & Riley - 2 My little pony's; Andy & I - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Princess accessories - including that chair she is sitting in (purchased with birthday money from Great-Grandma Nielson), Mickey Mouse book, Little Mermaid ball & a moon bounce (is that what its called?).
We ate Papa John's Pizza for lunch - DELICIOUS!!

Here Kaleb & Ela are enjoying the bouncer - Luke is hanging out while everyone eats lunch (he fell asleep shortly after, ha ha) & the 3 boys (Marshall, Kaleb & Riley) trying to squish onto the Wiggles sofa (poor Marshall got the armrest, ha ha).

She just had cupcakes for her birthday cake - shaped into a '2' (ha ha, I am sooo NOT creative).

After the party, she enjoyed playing on the bouncer all by herself & then took a dip in the pool.

Kaleb's school carnival

Kaleb & Keilana on a ride at the Alpine Elementary carnival - this was taken just before they left - when they got back Keilana had the saddest face, so we're guessing she didn't like it (ha ha).

Rainy days

Even though I really hate rainy days, it was great to see a beautiful rainbow - Kaleb noticed it & kept singing a rainbow song that he learned at school, it was cute.

Tired Lana

Keilana loves icecream cones, so she had one after lunch, since it was so hot today. You can kinda see it around her nose & mouth......yeah, on her shirt too (ha ha). I gave her a bath & when she was done, I got her dressed but forgot a shirt, so I had to run upstairs to her room to get one, but by the time I got back into my room she was asleep. I guess I just wasn't fast enough.

I'm spoiled

I had a wonderful Mothers Day........I woke up to Kaleb trying to wake me up (ha ha), then he & Andy brought me breakfast in bed - I requested cinnamon rolls & they were YUMMY! My main present this year is to get my hair cut & colored, so I'm excited to get that done sometime. But, I did get some other great presents: a beautiful orchid lei which I wore all day, some yellow daisies to plant in my front yard, a cute movie to watch & sing along to, a planner to keep things organized & my all-time favorite chocolate bar to enjoy.




Well, we went to church & enjoyed 3 youth speakers & of course the Primary sang - we let Kaleb go up. And speaking of Primary - Andy & I are the new CTR 5 -B teachers, yes that's Kaleb's class (ha ha), so that was our first time to teach - it was fun. Later that day we went to Andy's parents house & had a delicious dinner..........it was a great day! I love being a Mom!

New toys!

We finally bought the kids scooters & they love them........I highly recommend it. Kaleb has a habit of going into our neighbors garages' if the door's left open & rides the kids scooters, so I thought it would be best to get his own......it worked, but now he goes into their garages to sit in their motorized vehicles (luckily our neighbors are nice). We just got these from Target - even though the one that Keilana has is for ages 3 & up, she rides it well - she's short, but she still rides it okay (ha ha) & she's not even 2 yet. Kaleb's scooter is for 6yrs & up, but he rides it like a pro. Kolby just doesn't care for it yet (ha ha).

What a handsome boy!

Kolby was really excited that morning because he was going on a field trip to Thanksgiving Pointe for the dinosaur museum & farm country. He's spoiled......his class goes on 3 field trips a month, including swimming lessons & he loves it. If you know Kolby, he has the funniest facial expressions, but the last one is his favorite look.............its kinda like a "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm happy" look (ha ha).