Nelson Family Blogspot

Lorenzo Joel Nelson

2010-11-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

Lorenzo Joel Nelson, born November 4, 2010

Grandparenting is turning out to be everything it's cracked up to be. The treasures that come to this earth through your own children give such inexpressible joy. And they offer such a wonderful trade-off for wrinkling skin, graying hair, and aching bones. Aging is all worth it somehow when you hold ones of these angels. Even better is watching the full-grown angels crying and cradling and cuddling and marveling and experiencing the miracle that they once were in your own arms not so long ago. And it IS a miracle. Every time.

Miles and Nixon meeting Lorenzo

Nixon has told us many times, before and after the baby was born, that he is going to be "the BEST biggest" brother, echoed quickly by Miles repeating, "I a big bruh-der, too." They are both completed enamoured already. I don't know how many times Nixon has said, out of the blue, while doing any number of various activities, "Isn't my baby brother so cute?"

Uncle Rex & Aunt Nina with Nephew #3!!

Grandpa Erv holding "Little No-Name" when he was just a few hours old.

Lorenzo didn't have a name for a day - He and Hayley have that common distinction, now, in our family. But, it had to be just right, right? "Lorenzo Joel" was how he left the hospital, just one day old. We love it! And we love him. Congratulations, Derek & Lindsey.

Little Enzo - welcome to our family!

Return to Blogging

2010-11-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

I've heard it said by journalers and scrapbookers and diary-keepers who are in the 'know' that the best way to catch up is to keep up. In other words, don't try to go back until you're moved forward. Therefore, I re-enter the blogging world with a fresh update or two, and THEN go back to other times and places for my own journaling satisfaction. Chronological correctness be hanged. I'll leave the current happenings to Facebook. Paige: this is for you.

HAPPY EASTER!

2009-04-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

Easter is one of THE BEST holidays! So welcome this year -- it came at the end of our Spring Break Vacation and capped the week off beautifully.

Grammy Lisa with her Easter Lily...Lily did her make-up all by herself!!

To introduce the slide show below, a few notes:

After a day or two of Easter eggs and flowers and cookie-making, we woke up to a rather cold but eventually clear Easter Sabbath. Everyone donned their new Easter wear and headed for church after a mouthful of Easter basket candy and then let Mom take a few pictures afterward before the sweats and slippers replaced our Sunday best.

Here's where one of the more embarrassing moments took place -- Mom talked everyone into sitting for a family photo out in front of the house with the flowers and all dutifully, if not begrudgingly, cooperated. While Mom set the camera on a rock behind some bushes and tried to trigger the self-timer, the rest of the family situated themselves looking at it which meant that they were also facing the street and our neighbors' homes. The camera was not visible from the street and so as I pushed the timer, raced to my spot, and we all put on our broadest grins for the camera (which we kept waiting to click), our neighbors pulled up to their home and saw our entire family grinning broadly toward them in the perfect posed arrangement of bodies for, as far as they could see, no apparent reason other than to greet passers-by. Yes...I know....it was mortifying. The story ends with them coming over and helping us take the pictures instead, which is a good thing because after visiting and laughing with them and our next door neighbors, we went inside to check the pics and discovered that our self-timed one never happened! So, next time you need a family photographer, try posing in front of your home and simply smiling!

We had a lovely Easter celebration. It was just so serene and filled with the Spirit. The family almost felt complete because while we were waiting for dinner to cook and Joel's family to arrive, we skyped with Derek's family and enjoyed the darling sight of all 4 of them - giggling, dancing, singing, and showing us their toys, their fat, and their smiles (the little boys, of course -- I didn't see an ounce of fat or one moment of high-stepping from either Derek OR Lindsey).

The family gathered around the big dining table for a traditional Nelson Easter dinner of glazed ham, au gratin potatoes, peas, rolls, and Val's delicious raspberry pretzel-jello which was by request via our girls. And, I introduced "frog eye" salad as an appetizer which some already knew about and loved and others squinted their eyes to because of the texture and probably the name and decided to demurely set their serving aside. All the more leftovers for those of us who really liked it! We didn't even make it to the lemon pound cake. We're still working our way through that one.

We also didn't get to watch our traditional "Ben Hur" movie - I suppose last year's viewing was enough for our youngest ones to be satiated with that show for a while, but we did watch the church's Easter video with Elder Holland's talk and images of the crucifixion and resurrection. Truly beautiful. And perfect. Plus, we opted to play Apples to Apples which is always kind of fun for a group like ours with so many different age groups. We play the Junior version to ensure the content will be G-rated and it's just great fun.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The weater was cold but our hearts were warm and it was actually kind of sad to see the whole thing come to a close, but it made us so very grateful for the many blessings we have been given by our Father in Heaven - our family, our surroundings, our Savior, and our testimonies of His true church and gospel.

Happy 2009

2009-01-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

At the end of the year we took some formal family portraits which we had every intention of using as a New Year's card, but when we got the proofs, we were disappointed, so instead? we just post them all over the internet!! Whatever. It was a huge treat to have our entire Nelson Tribe all in one place for the holidays. We loved it...

Our least formal but Mom's favorite family pic --

Handsome sons....
Gorgeous daughters....

Beautiful families....

Joel, Val & Lily

Derek, Lindsey, Nixon & Miles

Twas the night before Christmas and all through our pad

were visions of Nelsons in every kind of plaid....

It's a really long story, but Rex got a puppy for Christmas...

Dahlia Noel Nelson (yes, after Black Dahlia - purely Rex's preference)

She's already demanding, insatiable, and back-talking - very similar to the other teenaged girls in the house...observe how we even caught her chewing on her instruction manual.

This past winter was a particularly cold and snowy one for Las Vegas.

We don't often get to see our house and yard looking like a winter wonderland. So...there weren't many complaints around here.

The kids had lots of fun playing with the white stuff and I froze myself trying to capture it all on camera. Still....I was in heaven! Nothing makes me happier during the holidays than snow. Nothing.

Just had to go to a UNLV at least once this season -- they even beat BYU!! which made Paige happy and a few of us grumpy!

Janury 5th - Erv's 53rd Birthday. Surrounded by love and a new coat!

SADIE'S DATES AND SISTERS

2008-12-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

SADIE HAWKINS DAY...

In keeping with tradition here in Las Vegas, Hayley and several of her friends went on a giant group Sadie Hawkins Date. It takes lots of planning and shopping, of course, because matching outfits are a MUST!

The evening started out with another tradition - group pictures. This time, at our house on our staircase. Moms and dads love this tradition because we all show up and take lots of pictures and get to see all the kids in the group, meet each other, and beam with pride for a moment or two. Always lots of fun....

Hayley took her good friend Laurent Gontier

Don't they look great?!

They did lots of fun things including dinner, a scavenger hunt along the Vegas strip, and a bus trip to Disneyland (Laurent's first time!).

Paige was excited for her "sis" - and, of course, gave her many sisterly squeezes before she sent her on her way.

It was a great adventure - exhausting but fun. And since most of the kids were seniors, a great way to end their high school Sadie's Days.....

Labor Day Weekend

2008-11-22T06:19:00.000-08:00

Rex & Erv went with on a fishing trip

Rex and Erv went with good friend Larry Turner and his son Bryan along with some other men to Oregon for a salmon fishing expedition. It was cold and kind of crowded but a great experience. Rex didn't catch anything but saw one of their group make the largest catch of the season - almost as big as he was! A great time ....

Summer 2008 update

2008-08-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

It's been so long - I'm embarrassed. But, I think I better update things a bit before another school year comes and goes. Our life has been jam-packed - just the way we like it!!

First, we must say that Nina's horribly disturbing injury has totally healed. We are tremendously blessed that her leg healed beautifully and her mobility is almost back to 100%. And, just in time for all the summer fun.

Just before summer vacation, we went to Salt Lake during Memorial Day weekend and had a beautiful experience where we remembered our dear Uncle Ken.

Aunt Suzanne and her girls had a bunch of blue balloons that we took to the graveside and wrote messages for Ken on, released them into the air, and watched them float to heaven where we're sure he could see and read them. It was cloudy, but for a moment the sun burst through and made us all feel a little happier.

Little Kate kept us smiling, even through our tears.

Rex and Erven went with their King cousins to a Fathers-and-Sons that same weekend at BYU and had a very active and busy time. It was filled with sports events and lots of Las Vegas friends and neighbors and sight-seeing in Salt Lake City. What more could boys and their dads want?

Nina, Grandpa Rex, & Rex

This weekend was also the weekend that our cousin Cameron gave his mission homecoming address. We loved seeing our Pinegar family....

Then, it was time to send Hayley off on the Church History Tour and the following week take Rex to BYU Football camp with his friend and his cousins. Mom had a great time keeping up with 3 9-year-old boys, 2 7-year-old girls, and various cousins and aunts and Grandma that we gathered with to do everything from movies to museums to arcades to bumper cars. It was great fun.

At the movie "Kung Fu Panda" in Ogden - we LOVE that movie!!

Visiting the Monte L. Bean Natural History Museum
at BYU

There's was also a trip for Paige to Spain with Derek and Lindsey and Nixon. She had the time of her life as she lived for 4 weeks in El Escorial, Spain, with side trips to Rome, Paris, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, and even Pomplona to do the Running of the Bulls. It was wonderful in every way except for the homesickness that came on every once in a while. Well worth it, for sure.

Pomplona, Spain - San Fermin Festival and running with the bulls!!

Perhaps the highlight of our summer was our 4th of July trip to Folsom. What fun we had with so many of our Pinegar cousins, grandparents, and friends. Mayor King and family were quite the hosts, complete with neighborhood parade, jumping water castle, barbecues and chinese food, rodeo with VIP box and private tour of Folsom City. It was marvelous, all of it.

Watching the neighborhood parade

Hayley and Spencer in the chow line - it was as delicious as it was beautiful

Ready for Mutton-bustin' at the rodeo--Alex, Adam, Carter, & Rex

Before summer ended, Derek and Lindsey surprised us all by flying down from Utah to be with us for Joel's 28th birthday! They had been at a wedding and decided to detour before heading back to Florida for another year of law school so we all rejoiced and partied hard.

There isn't anything greater than having all of us in one place at one time. Pure Heaven!!

<---Grandson Nixon (almost 2!!) before his haircut....gorgeous boy! He LOVES his Grandpa "BoBop" Erv

<---Lily (almost 1!!) We call her our little owl...she makes us laugh so much.

She's our little cherub....and a Grandma's Girl!

Cute cousins....our sweet friend and fantastic photographer Jamie Poort came by and took pictures for us and we're so glad she did!

Brothers with babies --->

That weekend was more full of surprises than we knew. Marian (Erv's mom) eloped that same day (July 21st) with her longtime acquaintance and recent boyfriend, Jack Purcel!! As surprised as we all were, we are all so very happy for both of them. Their story is one for another blog and another day, but suffice it to say that they have found great happiness being together after so many years of them both being alone. Congratulations!!!

August 21st & 22nd - Our three birthday people at Cheesecake Factory

Suzanne was next - Sept 1st birthday celebration at The Venetian and The Phantom of the Opera

Lots of relatives came to see Nina get baptized -September 6, 2008

Two days later - Paiges 19th Birthday! First, roses from Landry and then a night at Phantom of the Opera.

A very necessary trip to Florida for "Gammy" (as Nixon likes to call her) Short and very, very sweet. And VERY nostalgic -- it was only 26 years ago that she was doing the exact same thing as Lindsey and Derek: having a second baby boy during a second year of Law School! Crazy and wonderful...

Helping Gammy with pancakes.....Meeting little Miles.....

Playing Bus Stop in the shower (No singing, Gammy! No - no singing Wheels on the Bus!!)

"All Smiles" Miles - smiling and cooing at Daddy while Daddy eats Gammy's homemade Tapioca

Home JUST in time for Homecoming.....Hayley and good friend Camden heading for a great night of fun. Isn't she gorgeous?

Erv and Lisa took a quick trip up to Provo during Homecoming weekend for their 30th Law School Reunion and saw lots of good friends they had not seen in years...

here they are seated with Stuart & Angie Hinckley, Jon & Shauna Butler

Our little Lily Lee also turned 1 this month!!! We can't believe it! She is such a character and loves singing, hooting and barking at our fake owl, wearing hats, says "kitty," and does signing for "more" when she wants a drink, not to mention that she is now walking. We adore her!

Brooke and Hayley's turns for birthdays - Brooke's in Provo and Hayley's at home.....

....and then at Disneyland! Which is for a separate blog at another time .

Let's just say she had her "Dreams come true!" More later....

Halloween was spent in Disneyland as well, which meant we had to leave our sorry, shriveled, moldy, truly scary Jack-O-Lanterns behind. Hm....a striking family resemblance!

Just before we left for California - a little skunk came by to see us. We all just fell in love with her - love that bushy tail!!

We like to call her "Lily LePew"!!

Whew!! That brings us up to the end of October and into November, which we'll tackle another time - just don't have time or space to get into Disneyland and Election Night right now. More later!......

Poor Nina

2008-04-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night Nina and Rex were jumping on the trampoline and Nina had a bit of a fall and completly broke her leg from the middle of the shin down. Everyone was very scared, especially Nina who kept asking Erv if she was going to survive. We rushed her to the hospital and she was being very brave. Now she's stuck in a big pink cast and is a little discouraged that she can't walk around or do anything for herself but she's still trying to be tough and happy.

Lily Lee Nelson

2008-04-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

Uncle Rex makes her laugh so hard.

Her favorite thing is to stand in front of the mirror and giggle and scream at herself.

She loves her Grandpa Erv and he loves her too.

She's growing up so fast...and we just can't get enough of her!

Rex...Our Football Star

2008-04-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Rex is playing football for the first time. We're having him start out doing flag-football and he's loving it! He recently became the new quarterback for his team (after "wow-ing" his coach with his good arm) , he's also the wide-reciever and the center man for kick return. He's going to football camp and a quarterback camp this summer, and he can't wait. He's doing great and we're so proud of him!

Hawaii pt.2

2008-04-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here are more fun times from Hawaii!

The Polynesian Cultural Center...

Aloha & Mahalo

2008-03-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

At what can only be called "the last minute" - our family decided to go to Hawaii for Spring Break. Thanks to Erv's very dedicated and determined secretary, Susan, an opening was found through our timeshare on Oahu, and off we went....at MIDNIGHT, which was the only flight we could find that could accomodate all 7 of us.

It was fine until we had to find a place to sleep during our 5 hour layover in San Francisco. We found a very secluded hallway and lots of bare floor and experienced the life of the homeless for a brief and very pitiful moment in time. Good thing our children are such good sports and that we were only one of several various people and families that were in the same predicament we were.

Fortunately Paige and Hayley brought blankets...Nina actually slept like a rock and didn't want to wake up when it was time to go.

It was a bit of a wait after we woke up and got down to the gates. Our plane was delayed for an hour and it seemed, after the long night, that we were never going to get there.

Thus, the happy smiles when we reached our hotel and actually had BEDS to sleep in.....
Aren't our kids cute? Even when they're being cheesy?
Dad sure thinks so...

Our resort, Ko Olina Beach Club, is on Oahu and is very beautiful, very family oriented. We took a walk our first night here along the beach and had lots of fun taking pictures and enjoyed our first sunset which is always one of the best parts of each day. Climbing trees like monkeys was our first indication that the kids' energy was back. Nothing short of seeing a really "hot" movie star could have made the evening any more wonderful when, what do you know??.....

We did! Gerard Butler. Gerard "The Phantom-"300"-PS I LOVE YOU" Butler.

Walked right past us wearing a light blue golf shirt and jeans and sipping his water bottle. The 3 girls were ahead of Erv, me, and the youngest ones so we got to watch their reaction - and his. He was walking the opposite direction of us and passed them on their left after making brief eye contact and it took me just a second to recognize who he was. Then he passed us and I just waited for the girls to turn around - which they all did - with the most awe-struck, flushed and breathless faces you can imagine. Followed by vigorous fanning of their faces and near-swooning and hushed squeeling and a vow to never leave the hotel room again, "EVER", this entire trip without looking gorgeous.

Nina didn't really understand all the fuss. While the girls couldn't get over how "gorgeous" he was and quit fighting over whose eyes he actually made contact with and Rex wouldn't stop gleefully yelling, "We just saw a MOVIE STAR!!", Nina just shrugged and sighed and very seriously said, "well...I'm not so 'relieved' about movie stars. I just don't care about them more than real people.' Whereupon, she asked me every 30 seceonds for the rest of the night if 'he' really was a 'real movie star.' My, oh my, what a stir one milli-second of "star sighting" can make!

So - we'd made it here. And Day One was finally over. With very real and new appreciation for our fine accomodations, we crawled into our beds and blissfully slept safe and sound.

STELLAR STUDENTS

2008-03-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Students at MJ Christensen are recognized for any academic and attendance achievements they have made in each trimester. Yesterday, Rex and Nina both received awards....

Rex loves his teacher, Mrs. Kip, who "hired" them to be her "Professional Students" in her class at the beginning of the school year and his career is booming!!

Rex earned Straight A's for the second trimester in a row! So did some of his close friends, Bryce and Sam, who got to stand next to him on the stage. And the principal, Mrs. Gerali-Schwartz, signed his report card with a personal note.

Nina got a new teacher after just a couple of weeks as a 2nd Grader - Mrs. Vincent - and she loves her. Mrs. Vincent sings all the time and loves to tell stories, just like Nina's mom, so that makes her feel right at home!

Nina received the Superior Musician Award from the music teacher, Mr. Kuda. She LOVES her music class!

WE love our MJ Kids - the last 2 out of all 7 Nelsons who have attended there since it's grand opening day. Keep up the great tradition, you two!

Just in case...

2008-03-10T17:44:00.001-07:00

This is a better way to watch the video below. Just copy and paste this link into your address window and wait a few seconds for it to download. It's faster and you can watch it play more smoothly. Sorry it's such a big file, but I thought as long as I had it, I would share......it takes about 30 seconds to load. 'K....have fun.

http://www.mydeo.com/videodownload.asp?YID=120&CID=171037

ROADSHOW VIDEO

2008-03-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

Our stake decided to do roadshows for our youth conference this year. Yes, a massive undertaking to be sure. And one that I found myself taking charge of. Our stake called me to be the Stake Specialist and my ward asked me to head ours, so it has pretty much been my every waking and sleeping thought since New Years. The theme - Steadfast and Immovable As the Stars. I know- you're right. Stars aren't steadfast. But, that's what the Youth leadership chose simply because I think it sounded nice.

Though mine and Hayley's original idea of a take-off on Beauty and the Beast was ultimately rejected because no one in our ward Youth is a song-and-dance type, we eventually ended up doing it anyway in video form and used the ideas of other youth in video form as well and made our skit be an Academy Awards show where we "cut" to the final segment and award of the night - Best Film. We played "trailors" for the 3nominees and then, when ours won, all the cast members flooded on stage dressed in evening gowns, etc. (after entering with the paparazzi and red-carpet treatment and sitting on the front row), started their acceptance speech and were cut-off by the orchestra music - curtains close.

At least, that's what was supposed to happen. With all the resident technical glitches, it began and ended minus the music and the lights that were to show our "stars" coming in and a few other minor things, but it was that way for everyone. I won't get started on my ire over the absence of a promised technical rehearsal (rrrr....). I think I just have done too much theater.

Ah well, it's over. And it was fun. And it was a great learning experience and a great discovery for the youth of our ward who found out that they actually like each other and they like singing and they like acting and they like performing. We got kids out to participate that haven't come regularly for many, many months. Mission accomplished.

Okay - it's a little rough. The lyrics came first and very quickly - the easy part for me. The Film? Yikes.... My first-ever attempt at videography. I filmed about 30 pieces of film and edited as best I could and took all the kids to a recording studio to put together the sound track. A great experience though it almost killed me (it took me a couple of weeks to figure out what I was doing wrong with the download that wasn't allowing me to view anything I'd downloaded off of a video card or put on the cd with a dvd player - HUGE learning curve...argh). But, it came together in the knick of time.

Anyway, Colin and friends, move over. There's a new Belle in town (Hayley was the voice of Belle - another non-singer was the face). Enjoy.....

Babies, Birthdays, & Basketball

2008-02-17T12:32:00.000-08:00

Has it been six months yet? I know it's been a long time....So much has happened, it's really impossible to catch up - but highlights will do. I suppose it IS about time I take my poor Valerie's pregnant belly off the front page of this site and replace it with what was actually hiding inside there. Thanks, Val, for being such a good sport.

Paige turned 18 in September (right after 3 of us had our Disney birthdays, remember?)
We surprised Paige with dinner and a concert with Hayley to the Celine Dion followed by a surprise visit from her favorite male person in the world (sorry Erven) whom she thought was out of town, but who had actually come home early and helped us cap off her birthday with a bang.

Paige first had presents from family and then from friends - Lane and Carlee were some of the surprise guests.

Cheesecake Factory!!

Landry showed up after Paige got home with flowers and a birthday hug. He had been out of town but came home earlier than she thought he was going to and saw her turn 18 after all!

Hayley wouldn't let us do any of the cliche Sweet Sixteen stuff so, in honor of her newly legal driving privileges (which we're assuming she will be interested in enough to actually go get her learner's permit), we went as a family to Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix and ate pizza and rode carnival rides and drove go-carts. It was a blast. Then she went on her first real date with her friend Mike. A thoroughly appropriate 16-year-old initiation if I've ever seen one.

Paige and Hayley went to the Spice Girls Concert as part of Hayley's Birthday Celebration

Lindsey and Nixon came for a visit so that Erv and I could take a trip back to China to visit Brooke who was there teaching English again, in a different city this time. I thought this perfectly safe in the timing of things because Joel's baby wasn't due until well after we were to get back. Which means, of course, that she was born right after we left!

Lily Lee Nelson - what an angel from the very start!! Uncle Rex is kinda getting used to this!

Our trip to China was very fun and wonderfully interesting and we loved seeing Brooke in her school with her students and back in her former stomping grounds she took us to visit that had been so hard for her to leave just the year before. I absolutely loved everything! Except for when my purse got stolen and I was stranded for a few extra days trying to replace my visa and passport so I could go home!! Naturally, it made for a very memorable and unique trip and kept us true to form - never a dull moment and returning with GREAT stories to tell.

Rooftops of Wuxi - Brooke's first Chinese home. We happen to see one of her former students in a little grocery store. He was shy at first but had spotted her before she spotted him and made sure she saw him.

Brooke's favorite place in the entire world - Lloyd's Noodle Shop in Crazy Town, Wuxi, China. Lloyd is the English name she gave this sweet man a year ago and he immediately recognized her and fed us free of charge and smiled and nodded and kept us company. It is easily one of my favorite places now too. Favorite people, too.
Visiting a giant Buddha out in the countryside - one of Brooke's BYU friends (Chris Rains, who was also in Nanjing, China studying Mandarin) joined us for the day. It was breathtaking! And HOT!

We rode the trains a lot - on our way to Zhongshan, Brooke's current home.

Landry and Paige - Homecoming 2007

It's no secret that Erv and I were heavily involved in the Mitt Romney campaign and Nevada Caucuses. AND - By now it is known that his bid for the White House is over (Oh! I suppose I should say "suspended") but it was a great experience while it lasted and we got to meet both him and his wife on more than one occasion and Rex and Nina even got to shake his hand! Our children got into it and the older ones helped us with the caucusing and I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish. There's lots more to do as far as politicking goes this year, so we'll remain busy until November I suppose.

The holidays descended upon us immediately thereafter and we enjoyed a gorgeous fall and Halloween and a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Every year our family participates in the Live Nativity Pageant put on by the church. This year Mom directed it and got to use Lily as the Baby Jesus. Lily was so good every night outside in the freezing air. She was always quiet and wide awake and made the audiences ooo and aaah and whisper to each other about how cute "he" is. It was such great fun and always a wonderful experience.

Dad as Innkeeper, Nina, Joel & Val holding Lily, Rex & Mom, Paige and Hayley on the back row.

Just before Christmas we went to Utah to see Lily be blessed by her daddy, Joel and witnessed by all of her Rodabough and lots of Pinegar relatives. That was a great occasion. Everybody had to have a chance to hold the star of the day -

Daddy-Daughter - what a pair!!

4-Generation group shot!!

We had spent the evening before with Grandpa Rex and Grandma Bonnie at their home with many of the Pinegar cousins and it was a very happy event. We hadn't had one of those in a long while. Kevin and Susan had finally returned home after 3 years in Seattle serving a mission and it was a real treat to have so many of us reunited, with the ever-growing collection of spouses constantly being added to the mix. Who knows WHO this coming year will bring?

Rex with dearest cousins Adam and Carter

We had a very wonderful Christmas - complete with the arrival of a Wii Game System after it was made clear that Santa's elves had run out!! Miracle of miracles, they must have found one more - to the great delight of the Nelson household!

The New Year took Derek and Lindsey and Nixon back to Florida, but not before they announced to us that Lindsey is having another baby sometime in August!! We're thrilled and will miss them all so much.

Fortunately, we've had Rex's basketball games to keep us occupied and distracted and we've loved every minute of them. He's getting better and better and he's entering tournament play this coming week so we have at least a few more games before the season's completely over. He has improved so much!! And Dad likes it so much better than baseball when it comes to being a spectator. We'll see if we can find a Spring ball program. Go #11!!!

January 5, 2008 - Erv's 52nd Birthday

Valentine's Day has just passed - it was low key but pleasant. We send all of you out there our love in honor of Love's honored holiday. We'll post more updates as we can. Now it's off to church and entertaining Brooke and friends who are here for Presidents' Day weekend. The fun just never stops.......this one's long enough.

August Madness

2007-09-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

<----Just before everyone left Utah, Paige went boating with Derek and his in-laws in Logan. The bonneted-baby is little boy Nixon. He'll just have to grown into that life-vest, I guess

----> Paige ended up loving to tend Nixon,

and he ended up loving her!

You can see why we are going to miss this little family so much!!

Nix loves his mommy Linds!!

Aunt Brooke with her "Booh-Boose"

Bye-bye Nixon. We are going to miss you soooooooo much!

----> Here are my 3 dear boys visiting Boulder Dam on the first leg of a looooong 2-day road trip to Miami. Erv is taking the picture and the 4 of them spent lots of 'bonding' time driving across the country. First "guys" trip ever!

DISNEYLAND!!

<---Our family vacation--just the 6 of us. Brooke left for China just days before.

Disneyland on Rex's birthday. We had breakfast with the characters and Pluto nabbed Rex right away.

<----Don't laugh - Hayley was a good sport and went with us even though she had been extremely sick for 2 days and sick all the way there in the car and sick that morning when we forged through the gates. We got her a wheelchair and she lasted through the morning and into the early afternoon before she had to go back to the hotel and take a nap and more medicine. It was a rather pathetic sight. But, she held our bags and got us on Splash Mountain without waiting so it must have been worth it.
<---Taking care of little Sis. Nina was kind of scared to go on the Indiana Jones ride, so big brother put his arm around her and she ended up having a ball. Rex always seems to make everything better.

Three August birthdays in 2 days!! All three Birthday kids try on Cake Hats at the hat shop. And, NO, Mom is NOT pregnant with Birthday Kid #4 (she just looks that way - for some reason.....)

...and THESE girls are just BAD to the BONE...

.Three princesses visiting with............

........three princesses - Aurora, Cinderella & Ariel

Before leaving, Rex wanted this shot of him and his best friend for their birthdays. Can it get more perfect than this?

The vacation and summer were wonderful.

We came home to see everyone off to school:

First day of school - rainy! But, after a few jitters, lots of fun......

Now on to a very hectic fall season, as always.