giving thanks

st

We all met at my big sisters to eat.

There was lots of food.

Lots of teenage girls (we run heavy on girl grandchildren

on my side of the family....poor Josh!)

Grandma Ladanye came for the day.

It was our first Thanksgiving without Grandpa,

it made my heart a little sad.

Olivia ate from 1 PM onward until she finally

threw up at 1 AM.  My peanut butter cream cheese

pie made a reappearance then.  

At least she made it to the toilet!

Three cheers for that right?

Kyle geared up for his usual Black Friday routine.

He had 3 helpers this year.  Josh, Grace & Eliza.

They each took a line at Walmart to "score" some

good gifts for Christmas.  Kyle said it was

actually the MOST crazy year he's seen in a long time.

I slept and went BACK to Target  & Walmart at 9 AM-

the stores were strangely "empty". (The quietest I have

ever seen them on a Black Friday morning).

This year I am thankful for family and friends, I am grateful

for dear friends who walked me through grief and surgery

and held my hand without asking why I was crying.

I am grateful for a husband who is still picking up pieces of my life

that seem to be left falling behind me.  Some days in huge chunks.

 It's been a hard year emotionally for me.  

Death, fear of cancer, a surgery and watching a big son grow up

and get wings.  In many ways, a harder year than I thought it would be.

I am thankful for a house full of teenage boys many days

and many nights.  I love to hear the sound of their laughter

drifting up from the basement.  I love to watch them eat me

out of house and home.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

I am thankful for 3 beautiful (albeit very spirited) daughters.

They teach me about love, and sometimes its painful.

I'm grateful for all the primary kids in my ward that make

me cry when they sing.  I'm grateful to work with amazing,

strong and wonderful women who teach me so much.

There have been lots of tears this year 

and lots of breathing IN and OUT.

I'm thankful 2011 is almost over!  

It will be a good one to shut

the door on. 

 Lastly, I'm thankful for peanut butter cream cheese

pie.  Dang! That stuff rocks!

Seriously, seriously rocks!

josh's eagle court of honor

 Kyle*Josh*Dor

 Josh

 Patrick*Alex*Josh...the newest Eagle's.

All pushing 18 the day they got it done.

 Josh and his Grandparents & Great Grandparents

 4 Generations of Nielson men

 Kyle saying some nice stuff
(although he looks kinda mad--he's not!)

 Getting pinned

 Josh entering the "Eagle's Nest"

Josh*Patrick*Alex & Harland Hammond...

tireless scout leader who helped (shoved

and pushed) them along the way to

get their Eagle's.

Congrats Josh, we're so proud of

all your hard work.  And I'm so

glad you're my ONLY son. ;)

The whole dang crew--longways--

the real deal

Halloween came...and went.

The Seniors went to a party.

Sharpies were used for creating facial hair, well,

since honestly none of them have any (facial hair).

All decked out.  Flashing gang signs (like they know what a gang sign is!)

The girls got ready to go on the hunt for candy.

Walking shoes on....laced up and ready for travelling.

Waiting anxiously to head out.

A witch and her shadow headed to the neighborhood hot dog roast!

Some of the neighborhood gang.

Treats were given.  Tricks avoided.

Pumpkins lit on the porch waiting for trick or treaters.

A witch in the window keeping watch.

It was a good one.  PERFECT weather.  Lots of treats,

with no tricks.  Happy kids high on sugar.  As it should be, right?

Happy Halloween 2011

Monster Mash

The Monster Mash AKA Halloween Dance for Oly High was

this past weekend.

Lucky for me, I got stay up until 3 AM.

(waiting for the boy to come home).

USUALLY I doze, this year for some

reason sleep would not take me until

he came home.

I LOVE dance nights....

(hint of sarcasm in case you missed it).

There are no pictures of the date--he was asked

by a sophomore who he had never met/talked to/

spoken with until Saturday night.

Sounds awkward to me, but he says it was fun.

Their 60 person group went as Mobsters & Flapper Girls.

                                                  Move over John Gotti, or The Godfather...

Josh Nielson is here.

(And he definitely needs a new name if he is entering

the world of the mob.  "Josh" is no where NEAR

tough enough sounding to be dealing in the shady world of gangsters.)

witching hour...an hour early

Halloween came early this year.  Four days early to be exact...at the school anyway.

They decided not to have Parades and Parties ON Halloween (Monday) this
year...I am not sure the reasoning on this, but I just showed up anyway and took
pictures.

One witch.

One cowgirl.

One store bought.

One from Grandma's costume closet.

After 18 years of doing this...I'm down to cheap and easy.

Mostly easy.

Happy (early) Halloween!!!

10 pound bag-- revisited

There it is...

The 10 pound bag of chips from Costco.

I am either proud or embarrassed to say (or admit) that in LESS THAN one
month the entire thing was used up.

Finished.

Completely Gone.

In fact, on Monday I had to go get ANOTHER 10 pound bag from Costco.

I will blame it on the facts of no less than 3 birthdays, numerous teenagers
begging for food, a few neighborhood parties, one pig roast and A LOT
of baking.

I feel tired just typing that.

And I know for a fact how spoiled "the boys" (as in "Josh & friends")
are when they were at my house for lunch today and were pouting, sulking
and overall disgruntled over the fact that I had no cupcakes waiting
for them today.

I'll work on it.

Happy Birthday to the Big Guy!

(I don't have one with Grace & Kyle....not sure why)

Happy Birthday Kyle!!


Enjoy 39 (again!)


We love you!


Thanks for all you do.


And for putting up with 4 hormonal women daily.  It's more than a mortal
should have to do some days!


We can have a duel (or smack down) to see who gets to go with Josh
on his mission.  And who gets to stay home with all the girls.


Love,

Your family