The "Sara's"

OK, just so everyone knows, we are THRILLED that Lex wants to look like Sarah P. or Sara N. We think both of them are cute, especially Sara N.

Say CHEESE!

Ok, I have a pretty nice camera and my secret dream is to be a good photographer. So this holiday I took my kids pics to try to get some good enough for the wall. Here's what I did. What do you think? Brek is alot harder to get a good pic of because he moves so much but I will keep trying. I think the background and setting and what make these pics so great.

Lexi's new Glasses

Lexi got new glasses because her old ones are HURTING!! They are at present held together by hotglue. She loves her new glasses. She calls them Sarah Palin's. Eric calls them Sara Nielson's. Do you think they are cute? In about 6 months (after the newness wears off) I'm sure she'll be sporting an new look, contacts.

Christmas Morning

We had a fun Christmas morning at our own house and then left to Freeman's for a little while and then on to Nielson's. Lexi got an Ipod, Sum a doll with a horse, Bode more geotrax (airplanes) and Brek a big, fluffy dog.

Christmas EVE

We had a fun Christmas Eve with our Nielson Cousins. Here are a few of the pics of the Nativity.Summer as Mary and the angelThe animals and Mary, Joseph and baby JesusSamuel the LamaniteThe 3 wise men

The shepherds and the donkey, cow and sheep

2008 Christmas Letter

Dear Family and Friends!!
Merry Christmas!! We have had a busy year as I’m sure all of us have. Some of the highlights are:

BREK KOLLIN: Born January 18, 2008. What a fun addition to our family. He is a maniac crawler and walks along the furniture and between people but hasn’t got the nerve to just stand up and start walking. He LOVES Bode and laughs at him. He also can tolerate the girls and all the things they do to him. He has teeth and is still teething. We are so blessed to have him in our lives.

BODE: turned 5 in May and so after a series of shots (I didn’t get them for him until later in life), he was ready to go to school in August as a Kindergartener. SOOO HARD!! I have a tough time sending him everyday. He just seems too little. He struggled at first with school and rules but now he’s settled into the whole routine and can you believe it, HE’S READING!! Unbelievable that these tiniest are reading and the demands of time that they have on them. He’s still a farm boy at heart and any chance he gets to stay home with mom, he will. Bode also lost his first tooth and is teething also.

SUMMER: turned 10 this year. She was able to be in band this year and is playing the flute and she practices EVERY day, several times a day, the same songs over and over. I beg her “to turn the page” and start on a new song. She has a whole mouth full of metal which includes a spreader for her palette and braces on every tooth that she has. All of her adult teeth haven’t come in yet so she’s teething also and when they do come in, brackets will be put on them and they will be wired into the braces. She’s a great babysitter and would much prefer to do that to any cleaning or working outside or anything like that. We love her fun personality.

LEXI: turned 12 this year which meant, YW, make-up, high heels and getting her ears pierced (that was interesting). She also started 7th grade and is having a great time with new friends and old friends and growing up. She is the Secretary in the small BeeHive Class. She’s playing a little VB and BB and has asked if she can play tennis?? That ought to be fun!! She’s a great big sister and helper around the house. She still likes school and does very well. She could be teething as well because she has to get her 12 year old molars.

TRICIA: had another baby in January, so glad it’s not this time last year, I wasn’t feeling very good as I was pregnant and my wisdom teeth were killing me. So after Brek in January, I had my wisdom teeth pulled, OUCH, but what a relief!! I’ve kept myself busy with chasing kids around to all their activities and games, doing a little volunteering at the school, referring a few VB games at the Jr High, scrapbooking, sewing, working with my vinyl. I’m still in RS Presidency and love it. It’s incredible to see the behind scenes of the good sisters in this area as they go out and do kind deeds for others. I’m also a blogger so to get everyday stuff on us you can go to mom2mykids.blogspot.com

ERIC: our hero and provider for all the things we have. He has been busy with farming and cowboying. It’s funny to watch him try to be a cattleman. He has a bruise right now from a steer that kicked him. He is still ward activities chairman and has a big to-do this year as we are trekking in June as a ward. He also farms our little plot of acreage around our house and keeps himself busy trying to pick up the slack that I can’t. He’s a great daddy (especially to our teenager types) and husband. We love him and are so glad that he loves his job and comes home with some $ to support us.

We hope that this letter find you all well and healthy. We look forward to this time of year with great hope and love for our Savior. How appreciative we for the great sacrifice that our Savior preformed on our behalf. We know there would be no reason for Christmas if there wasn’t an Easter.

SICK, SICK, SICK

ME! ME! ME! WHY, WHY, WHY, NOW, NOW, NOW?

Lexi and Summer's Friend Gifts

What do you think? They are wooden letters that I purchased at Walmart for $2.88 and then we put scrapbook paper on them with Mod Podge, attached ribbon, buttons, beads, flowers, bows and WAH LAA. There you have it. The first intitals for their good friends. We spent the afternoon making them (or maybe I did). Lexi stuck with it pretty well until she got into a show but she did alot of the tracing and cutting of the paper. SOO cute!! What do you think of the wrapping?

More Projects

As you can tell I have been very busy doing vinyl projects. Here's some cute one's I did recently. I will try to get pics of them when they are all finished. Don't you love them!!On this one, she's going to put on some claps so that she can hold her kids art work on it. SOO CUTE!!

My Latest Creation!!

What am I thinking. I need to come up with this stuff sooner than 2 weeks before Christmas. I'm doing these Christmas balls for my VTing Sisters and families and my partner, etc. I bought the plastic balls at Walmart (med sized) $5/for 6. Then I just cut the vinyl and stuck it on there. I will show you more when I get them packaged!

DON"T KNOW IF I MADE MYSELF CLEAR

For those of you who didn't win in my drawing, you get a 30% discount on your next order of vinyl. Thanks for participating!! Please send me your email so I can send you a coupon!

Are you the lucky one??

And we have a winner, or two!!! I used Random.org to pick my numbers and here are the results of my drawing...(drumroll please)...
JOY-Mijken
Serve the Lord-Kira Lee and Jande McGary (Why do you girls have to grow up and change your names???)
Stockings were hung-RNewey Family and Jennifer (Weston) Nielson
Flower-Jenny Hokanson and Danell Naef
Pencils-Jennifer (Bret) Nielson and Jenni
Christmas-Katie and Sabrina
For everyone who didn't win, send me your snail mail and I'll send you a little treat too, cuz everyone's a winner!!

Ok email me tyfree@hotmail.com with info like snail mail, colors and names of teachers etc. Please do it ASAP so I can get it sent out to you. Thanks for participating and be watching for another giveaway in the near future!!

Give Away Time

Ok do I have time to do this, YES!! I'm starting my give away!! Please leave a comment and I will randomly pick the winners at the end of the week. Most of the things I'm giving away are JUST the vinyl not the boards or tiles they are on. It's too hard to ship them, etc. Not exactly these, but 9" JOY for your home. 1 set

Biggest size 14 x 11 /2 to give away. Color choice black, white, cream, choc brown, tan

Not the board just the gold vinyl size 4 x 22/2 to give away.

24 x 24 inches only in black or white/2 to give away

Just the vinyl not the cups or pencils. Customized for your teachers. Max of 4/household. 2 sets to give away. Color choice: black, white, cream, maroon, choc brown, tan, purple, gold, silver.

Red writing/green trees 3 x 24/2 to give away

THANKS for reading my blog!! And good luck. I will draw on Sunday!!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

The holiday weekend is over!! We had a great time with all of the Freeman's. ALL of Eric's siblings and their children excluding Aaron (on a mission in the Phillipines) came to Grandma's house. We had lots of fun. The kids played alot of games and outside. We did alot of visiting and eating. It's hard to go back to "normal" life after such a fun weekend. Here are a few pics of the weekend. For the Nielson's, we do have a Christmas present. We did get to have family pictures. Here are some pics.Jayson, Charie's oldest, Lexi and Ryker, Ray's middle.Emma Sue, yes her real name is Emma Sue, Ame's baby.Maci, Tyson's Middle, Parker, Chaelaine's baby and Brek
Josie, Jason's oldest, Charie and Camilla, Charie's baby

Happy b-day Mijken!!

Tomorrow is Mijken's birthday but as I know that I won't get a chance to post anything, I will today. Mijken is so fun and happy. She's not a pot stirrer therefore, everyone likes to be around her. She's a good mommy to her cute kids. She likes to do lots of other things like craft and paint her home. Hope you have a great day tomorrow!! Can't wait to see you!! Love ya Sis!!

This is Erica and Mijken. Don't you just love the couch?!!

Mijken and Kollin. CUTE PICS!!

Mijken always thinks everything is funny!!
OHH!! LAAA! LAAA!!!

Thanksgiving

In light of this season, I'm going to say 10 things that I'm thankful for...
1. The gospel and especially my knowledge and understanding of the Atonement. It's a great thing that I can keep learning about it and applying it in my life.
2. My Temple Marriage, at many times I have relied on the covenants that the Lord, Eric and I made when we were sealed. Especially when I'm really struggling or having one of those moments, I'm SOOO grateful for my temple marriage.
3. My husband, pal, friend, sweetheart, Eric, who loves me now matter what bumps I have or where I have them and puts up with all kinds of crafts, scrapbook pages, vinyl and me wanting to coach every sport.
4. My parent's temple marriage and Eric's parent's temple marriage. They are great examples of love and perservance.
5. My siblings being married in the temple. Both Eric's bros and sis and mine. It puts us on common ground. And Sara gets to have Kollin forever.
6. My children, Each is an incredible miracle in our lives. I know that we aren't the "conventional" Mormon family as we have an interesting and LONG story to each of our children coming into our home and that we are the "right" size but I love each of them.
7. My country. I feel so blessed to be able to VOTE! However, I might have to become involved in politics to change some of our state's laws. I love that I can go where ever I want to go and not have to worry about being bombed or shot.
8. Those troops who are or who have fought for these freedoms. Also their families. They sacrifice so much for me.
9. My car!! I drive alot!! And for the most part, it starts and moves and gets me where I want to be. There are some complaints like, AC/heater, doors open if they feel like it, the driver's seat can't be moved, windshield wipers do their own thing too. But for the most part, it starts and runs!
10. My house. So grateful that I can run the AC or the heater. That I have a nice place to lay my head at night.
I have many more tender mercies. But this post could go on forever. So I'll stop for now.

Black Friday

Are you all going shopping on black Friday??? I am enrolled on a website that has posted MANY of the Black Friday ads already. Here's the site http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/ You might have to sign up to see them but they are there!! Good luck shopping!! I'm still going to do my giveaway post. Just still trying to get organized!!

Dogs and Babies

Ok, don't go to the temple without your husband one night because you might come home to a new DOG!!! Yes, I went to the temple on Tues night and when I got home, we had a dog. She is a Keltie??? Ever heard of it, me neither. Her name is Bella after, dun dun dun dun, Twilight. Hopefully she will be a good dog. I will post pics later of her. Also Kameron and Christine Jenks had their baby, cute!!! Kutter Austin with a LOAD of dark hair however, it does look like it has highlights!! CUTE BABY!! Big horray for them!! So excited and amazing how different our lives are from a year ago!!

Random stuff

Brek has a tooth on the bottom and is standing in the middle of the room without holding onto anything.

Bode is finally feeling better and is READING!! It's just amazing that he can read. Of course,only words like I, A, see, me, Sam, etc. But still amazing

Summer was in the GRaphic as she wore her Flag dress to Veteran's Day program and was just too cute to not be photographed.

Lexi is becoming so independent that I don't have to be home all the time when she's here!! Horray!!

John and Erin moved into their house. Mom and dad have new neighbors now. Their house is SOOO fun and big, I'm jealous!!

What have I been doing??

Ok, I know it's been awhile. Here's what I have been doing. Vinyl!! YEH!!, Bode has been sick so a trip to the dr. BOOO!! But we did get antibiotics! YEH!! Scrapbooking! YEH!! (Love scrapbooking) Planning a spelling bee. Hard and frustrating! BOOO!! But have alot of help this year so I don't have to do it all! YEH!!! Relief Society meetings, Veteran's Day program, lots of little girls' hair, LOTS of driving people to where they need to be. But Christine Jenks took Lexi to MIA last night!! YEH!!! Going through Brek's clothes, no where to put them! BOOO!! But have some to replace them from Erin and baby Jace!! YEH!! Still have lots of laundry! BOOO!! But looking for new laundermat!! YEH!! Still looking for a new vehicle. BOOO!! Selling our cows!! YEH!!! Don't have to take them to the sale, Dusty Porter is!! YEH!!! And that's about it!! YEH!!

Happy b-day to my sis-in-law

Hope you have a great day Shannon!! Sorry I don't have any digital pics with my camera but she has sent me some pics but they are really small. Sorry!!

Happy B-day Sis

Today is my sister, Erica's birthday. We had a LOT of fun growing up. We liked to play ball together and she hung out with me a little when I was a Senior and she was a Freshman. Then my parent's moved and she went with them and I stayed behind to finish high school. I guess that's when she decided she could do her own thing and have fun with her own friends. She's always liked clothes and style and stuff like that and still has a great talent for it. Growing up I didn't know that she would be such a great interior decorator but she is. She's also an incredible mom to 5 boys, hard!! I don't know that I could stand all that boy-ishness! However, it would be great for her to have a girl too!! Wasn't she a cute baby? Sorry about the pics as they were scanned with my "awesome" scanner and she looks kind of funky in some of them. Hope you have a great day. Do you have to work?

Her teeth are lookin' a little BLUE!!

I voted!

I voted and then I cried and I have decided that when my children are all grown up that I might have to get into politics because I can't stand that my vote (at least in the general elections)doesn't count for anything. I want to change WA state constitution and make our electoral votes be divided like Nebraska's are. Then I would feel like at least my voice is heard. It looks like on a whole, our nation is divided. Half voted for McCain and half voted for Obama. I'm SOOOO glad though that CA voted yes on Prop 8. Thank you CALIFORNIANS as well as ARIZONIANS and FLORIDIANS!! Marriage and family is what will save this nation.

Halloween

As usual, we got a LOT of candy. People are so good around here and just love to give. I'm trying to pick through it for my granuity tax. They have alot of great stuff. We have trunk or treat at the neighbors' house every year, so nice of them to let us do it there. There are alot of kids that are coming. Lots of families are now decorating their homes into haunted houses. At Corrales' Lexi got scared pretty good by Grayson. It was great! So much fun to be had!!Picutre of the whole group. Not everyone is in it because people show up late. I bet there were close to 70 kids there.

Some explanation about...

(the outside of the hotel, yes this is exactly the place we stayed at) Great Wolf. Their website http://greatwolflodge.com/grandmound/lodge Great Wolf Lodge features an eight-story, northwoods-themed resort with one of the largest indoor waterparks in America. Make a splash in your scrapbook with a family vacation conveniently located in Centralia, Washington between Seattle and Portland. And our Conference Center is also available for corporate and social functions for groups from 8 to 800. Start your getaway today! It is like a mini Dinseyland located 20 mins south of Olympia. We did everything there at the hotel/waterpark. They have restuarants, spa, waterpark, a fun, electronic scavenger hunt called Magi Quest. They have several over the US but mostly in the southern, eastern US. So the closest one to us and Idahoians is here but you NE's and Wy's might be closer to one in the midwest?? I don't know. We went with Matt and Danell Naef and their kids. We arrived Tues afternoon @2:30 and stayed until Thrursday afternoon 2:30. We started swimming. Waterpark is opened from 9-9, Magiquest is open 9-10. There is an arcade, a tweeny, teen room with Wi-Fi, Wii, dancing. (we didn't do that, and it all costs $ except the waterpark is included in your stay). This wasn't a cheap outting but it was well worth the $. The rooms weren't huge or great but we were only there to sleep. We happened to go at the time of Halloween so they were having a trick or treat activity so we brought our outfits and dressed up and had a fun time with that. Kyle and Justin Naef and Bode playing Magiquest Lexi showing her fashion in the hottub.Fort Mackenzie is a four-story interactive treehouse water fort offering 12 levels of super-soaking fun for the family. Younger kids can climb with their parents to reach the slides at the top. The older ones will love making their way over suspension bridges and cargo nets to spray stations and soaker buckets. (Watch out below!) The GREATEST of soaker buckets is the 1,000-gallon tipper that sits atop Fort Mackenzie. Every few minutes, the warning bell clangs, and the bucket begins to tip its contents over the roof and onto the giggling group below. Bode had a great time on this gym. There were 2!! fun water slides (not baby ones, although they had them) that were perfect for him and you didn't have to ride with him. In the back ground you can see stairs up to 3!!! huge waterslides. Bode was tall enough to go on 2 of them but not the Howlin' Tornado, too short. But you had to ride with him on those 2. It was HUGE fun!! I went on every side yes even the tornado however, I only went once on it. TOO SCARY!!Howlin' Tornado at night. Grab up to 3 other members of your pack willing to drop into the 6-story funnel. You'll quickly learn how this ride earned its name. Repeatedly swish and swirl 30 feet up the sides of the funnel, before making a safe splash landing.

Here's a picture of our room nothing fancy but you can get pretty fancy rooms too. Eric did talk to a worker there that said they were currently at 19% capacity but on every weekend they were at 100% capacity. We didn't have to wait in any lines. We picked the perfect time to come during the year and during the week. SOOO MUCH FUN!!