I have the greatest job in the world

The Mediator

2012-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

We've had some drama in our little community that has gotten national attention and as I have read stories and comments about the situation that has taken place, I have felt my blood pressure rise several times. I've had a tough time not "getting involved" and defending a guy when he's down. I have thought long and hard about what to say, how I could be supportive without being controversial. Here's what I came up with. Now I'm just a small part of this whole process so I doubt many will see this. I just wanted to share my thoughts on this whole problem.

I was you. So many of you, quick to call out an injustice and demand payment for a wrong committed. I knew the offender because of the few mistakes that he had made. I knew that he was a terrible person, he must be, why would anyone do such a thing. I knew that he deserved more than he could ever pay for. That whatever punishment he received, it wouldn't be enough. Then on June 22, 2007, my life changed. Again, I was you. I knew this man was evil, terrible, every bad awful word I could think of. I knew him because of his mistake. Then I really came to know him. He had children. He had a bachelors degree. He was educated. He served in the armed forces protecting my rights to freedom. As a young child, he had seen his mother shot and killed by her boyfriend. Did I really know this man? But how could I not know him? I was sure that I knew because of the one mistake he had made against me. Surely this man, who had done such a terrible thing, surely he hadn't ever done anything good in his life. And surely now that he had committed this terrible injustice, surely he couldn't ever be a good man again. And as loudly as I screamed for justice, he cried for mercy. Justice is usually pictured holding a set of scales and blindfolded against the possibility that she may be partial or become sympathetic. There is no sympathy in justice alone—only justice! “In the course of justice [only,] none of us should see salvation.” One mistake-justice and mercy. Mercy provides a probation, a penitence, a preparation. One mistake-justice and mercy. How can both be satisfied. "Each of us lives on a kind of credit. One day the account will be closed, a settlement demanded. However casually we may view it now, when that day comes and the foreclosure is imminent, we will look around in restless agony for someone, anyone, to help us. And, by eternal law, mercy cannot be extended save there be one who is both willing and able to assume our debt and pay the price and arrange the terms for our redemption. Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untempered, unsympathetic, must, positively must fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing." I was wrong. This man deserved mercy as much as I demanded justice. This man had made a terrible, horrible mistake. A mistake that took my brother's life but that doesn't mean that this man is a bad person. That doesn't mean that his life before our paths crossed was a terrible, crime-filled life. That doesn't mean that his life after his mistake will be filled with crimes against society. What it means is, he made a mistake. I have forgiven this man. How? Because one day-or everyday-I will make a mistake. I will plead for mercy even though justice must be served.

And here we are, being a judge everyday of those around us. Judging who a person is by one or two fleeting moments when their lives might impact ours. And here we are, being judged by others for the few fleeting moments that our lives touch theirs. What if I make a mistake in those fleeting moments? Does that mean I always was and will forever be a horrible, terrible person. No. What if you make a mistake in those fleeting moments, doesn't that mean you always were and forever will be a horrible, terrible person. No. So when we make mistakes-and we will-, a cry for mercy will be sounded. However, justice will also be knocking at the door. We as a society have the power to provide both-justice and mercy. You will surely remember this as you make mistakes, mercy, mercy, mercy. But also remember this as people around you make mistakes. Justice is being satisfied, now is the time for mercy.

(excerpts taken from The May 1977 Ensign Magazine entitles The Mediator by Boyd K. Packer and William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 199–200.)

I'm blogging!!

2011-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

Don't fall off your chairs but I actually have a small window to blog a little. These are just random happenings of what's going on except just of the boys and not the girls?? I think it took 5 pictures to get both boys to look at the camera.

GWL 2011

2011-10-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Great Wolf Lodge with our good friends, the Naefs. Bode was finally tall enough to go on all the slides-YEH!! Brek and I spent alot of time wrapped in a towel or in the room. Bode and Brek even got to trick or treat there at the hotel. We have made this an annual trip and have so much fun being together as a family.

Homecoming Game

2011-10-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

I guess they do this all around here maybe in other states too but the girls will ask a guy if she can wear his "other" football jersey. Every home game and a few away games Lexi has worn some boys jersey. In the "olden days" didn't that mean you were like an item? It doesn't now. This week she worn Kelton Syrie's jersey. It was also Homecoming week at Connell and the sophomore class toook 2nd overall!! Their hall decorations won first place although I have yet to see a picture of what they looked like.
The next picture is with a boy from the opposing team. How do we know him? He is related to my friend Jenny Hokanson. He is her nephew (her brother's son). So they stopped and posed for a picture too. Connell won the game 56-0. Poor Wahluke but it was a fun night.

So Busy

2011-09-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so busy with school fundraisers, ball and cubs that I don't have time to do anything. I think I've developed a growth on my ear that when I'm not talking into it, it's ringing and begging me to come back and talk into it. Hopefully things will slow down after the school fundraiser is over. Of course, I have been to one of Summer's games but forgot my camera so I don't have any pics. This week in an effort to keep me home, Brek got chicken pox!! YIKES!! However, it was pack meeting, 4 volleyball games-I've missed 2 this week already, school fundraiser tonight that I have to go to-so E is going to be the babysitter all afternoon and night tonight so I can be at that. Oh and the growth, yeh it pretty much follows me around like a pack of flies on rotting bananas.

Brek-ism

2011-09-21T08:32:00.001-07:00

Brek told me today that the sun got out of bed and got up. And left his family at home. There's 3 in his family and they have 3 cars. But today he is shining and awake.

10,000 years, can give you such a crick in the neck!

2011-09-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, peeps!! Do you know what movie that line came from. Yes, it would be Aladdin (Disney, Robin Williams as Genie) after the Genie comes out of the bottle. Well, there's something else that can give you a crick in the neck and that's going through 10,000 plus photos looking for your girls so you can post some pictures of them and make scrapbook pages. The trek photographers took 10,000 pictures of the youth this summer on the bi-stake trek. A year ago when they started planning the trek we were one stake but by the time trek time rolled around, we had been divided into 2 stakes. They still proceeded forth as planned but had the largest group ever at the Agri Northwest farm located near Plymouth, WA. 390 Youth and 160 support staff attended the event. I even went for of few hours to do a reenactment. Look closely at the pictures and you might be able to pick out my girls. They had a great time and made alot of new friends.

Lexi's VB has started

2011-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, the season is here. I can't go into too much detail about pre season as I live in a small community. Let's just say it was interesting. Anyway, Lex had her first game last night. They played O Town. They struggled (Otown was getting revenge on Connell for the football game. We won 20-15.) None of the teams won. Lexi loves volleyball and has a great time. She's learning alot and getting better all the time. She only has 10 girls on her team-2 quit in pre season-yes part of the interesting-so that helps her get a little more playing time.

First ummm...scratch that..second day of school

2011-08-31T07:38:00.001-07:00

These actual first day of school pictures that my friend took for me. Bode is with his teacher Mrs. Flanigan in his 3rd grade classroom.

which is actually the third day of school because BCE was cancelled on the first day because the Basin City water supply is contaminated with ecoli. Nice huh!! Anyway, you would have thought with one more full day to prepare for the first day of school pictures, I would have done better but alas I didn't. I still haven't gotten pictures of the girls and they both have looked so cute and stylish!! ;-} Bode has Mrs. Flanigan as his 3rd grade teacher. He has alot of his friends in his class so it should be a great year for him!! He is playing his first season of lil guy football. As usual, he has the potential to be great but doesn't have the drive yet. Lexi has chemistry, seminary (with a new teacher which she really likes but we still miss Edmonds), world history, honors english, yearbook, choir, and algebra II. They are both playing volleyball again this year which leaves me running to alot of different places. Summmer is taking world history, PE, choir, drama-which she loves, english, pre-algebra, and science. Also note the completed building-except shelves inside and doorknob. I haven't moved in yet but can't wait too!!! The baby is going to momma school along with Trigger. Every hour Brek asked where Bode, Sissy and Lexi were. He will probably have the hardest time of all of this because he has to play with me...wait maybe I will have the hardest time with this because he has to play with me. If you noticed behind him, is a new door. I'm sure you love the doorknob too. Yes we are trying a new trend. The plaid shirt stuffed into the doorknob holes is all the rage right now. Someone needs to get to town to get knobs.

Fair

2011-08-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

The week before school start is the county fair. We go every year. It was HOT this year. Near 100. Here are pictures of the kids with their friends. We survived and everyone had a good time.

My momma will be so proud!!

2011-08-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

We are finally getting another building for me to live in. I'm so excited. Hopefully it will releave some of the seams of our house. As usual blogger is a pain to get pics and word where you want them. Each pic represents a day Wednesday thru Saturday. All that's left are shingles, shelves and a door!!

I need to blog

2011-08-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

but I got nothin'. We are busy getting ready for school to start next week but we aren't really doing anything. All I got is a few photos of some odd things and some cute boys that Lex took pictures of. Very random and I don't think Lex wants me revealing the pics she took of certain boys. Let's just say these boys live in a place that rhymes with hattama. Like I said, very random!!

I'm still alive...

2011-08-13T17:44:00.001-07:00

barely!! Oh my that was a hard 17 days!! Working nights at the cherry plant was difficult. I made alot of friends. The hardest day was when I had to drive to the trek 1 hour & 15 mins away and participate in it for a few hours (not walking but talking, I do that pretty well even without any sleep) then drive back home and go to work. I got 4 hours of sleep in a 48 hour time period. I also had people ask me if I was drunk or high at work because I was always smiling and happy and never acting tired while the whole time that's how I act when I'm tired, like a complete idiot. I'm sooooo glad it's over!! Now on to the next thing!!

Nothing and everything

2011-07-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

I always come up with these great blogs in my head but can never get them down here. Also my computer keyboard is pretty trashed. Someone spilled popcicle all over it and so now the keys stick and my space bar is completely gone. Its amazing how much of the space bar you use whenyou have to hit just onesmall spoton the keyboard now. One more thing, all I can say is close the door whether it bethe car door the house door or the most recent freezer door. yup we have a bloodly mess on our store room floor. SHUT THE DOOR!!

Summer's 13!!

2011-06-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

Wowzers!! We have another birthday to celebrate. Summer Marie was born 7:58 pm in Spokane on June 28. She has a great birthday turning 13 cuz that's when you get to wear "real" make up at our house. Eye liner and eye shadow. She wants to go shopping for her birthday so finding the time to do that will be interesting.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

2011-06-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

If you didnt know today is my birthday ;D June 12th. Dont forget it. Haha soooo here's just some awesome pics of my b-day at grandma Nielson's house:) ENJOY!!!!

Me looking at the camera, makin' sure i look smokin' in every pic;) haha jk :P

Opening my present......well brek opening my present but thats otay!!!:) It was a supremely legit beach towel, sketchers flip flops and a bomb-diggity awesomespice adidas backpack.....bright yellow I'll have you know! YAAAAAAAY:D

My b-day cake, and no. It's NOT 51, it's 15 I'll have you know. haha ANYWAYS me making a funny face while Brek whines about wanting to blow out the candles (I let him cuz I'm an awesome sister) :)

And Brek blowing out the candles, what a cutie!! He missed the first time tho......but I still love him!!!:) Oh and sorry about the big spaces in between pics the blogger thing is being LAME so anyways......

¡Feliz cumpleaños a ME!

hahaha sanks for reading dis!!!
Laterz

~Lexi.......is awesome:)

mmmmkaybye

Bode's field trip

2011-06-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

Bode's 2nd grade class got to go to CREST Museum in Richland, WA. They had a great time at the museum learning about alot of different things and then we ate lunch and played in Howard Amom park. Could you image just playing for 2 hours without your mom saying, "it's time to go" a 1000 times. They were so hot and sweaty and had a great time. Then on the way home, one of the 2 buses broke down so they packed as many kids as is legal on 1 bus and a bunch of the moms with kiddos got off by Easterday's shop in Pasco. We called Julie Reed (a mom who took her kid after they were done playing) and hijacked an Easterday rig to get us all home. It was a fun way to end the fieldtrip.

How I love BB and VB!!

2011-06-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Basketball and volleyball have started. Lexi and Summer are both going to basketball camp for 6 more days and Lexi starts volleyball tonight with her first practice and then first game on Monday which is also Summer's last music concert. It's a busy time of year!!

I will remember you...

2011-05-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Remember all the good times that we had
We let them slip away from us when things got bad
Clearly I first saw you, smiling in the sun
I want to feel your warmth upon me, I want to be the one
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so tired,I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, we can't be heard
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You Gave me everything you had, oh you gave me life
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

First Pack Meeting

2011-05-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

Bode had his first pack meeting tonight. It went much better than his first den meeting. Thank goodness. I'm not even going to tell you what happened at den meeting but it was BAD!! For pack meeting we had a very fun bike rodeo. The boys had a great time. I didn't see a ton of wrecks but Bode's handlebars were totally bent twice. These pictures load up so weird that I don't know if I can example them. Bode was branded into our pack as a cub. He received his Bobcat. And he did the sprinkler applause. I think that might explain all the pictures.

New York

2011-05-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Lexi and I are getting to go to New York next June with the choir. Lexi will be turning 16 on the trip. Maybe her first date will to the Phantom of the Opera!! Also she won't be able to get her license on her birthday!! New York-drivers license- New York-driver license, hummm tough choice, not!! New York!! All the way baby!!

Wicked

2011-05-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Lexi got to go to Spokane INB to watch WICKED. She went with the CHS Chamber and Ensemble choirs. She loved it!! It was a very enriching experience. She can't wait to go The Phantom of the Opera in New York. So exciting!! I'm really excited too!! Can't wait for New York!!

2011-05-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

Here are pictures from Bode's baptism. He only had to be dunked once. He practiced alot with Eric to make sure that he did it right. Brek wanted to be in all the pictures and nobody else hence the pushing everyone around. One funny that happened on Sunday. He got to sit on the stand and at first his suit jacket came off then his tie. I started to panic, then a necklace that he got from Gma Freeman came off. All that was left were his shirt and pants. I guess he didn't take off his shoe either which he usually does. The ward got a get laugh out of it.

The other gift!!

2011-05-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

We have a fun motorcycle with training wheels. As soon as we get a helmet we will take them off. The boys and the girls have enjoyed it. The girls can't ride it anymore because of weight issues. It has been great time!!

Happy Birthday Bode

2011-05-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here's my million dollar baby. For some reason I can't find any digital ictures of Bode as an infant. I might have still been using film back then. Bode was born at 10:02 pm May 12, 2003. He came to a very excited and grateful house full of girls (and a dad). I layed on my back for 5 months, 5 weeks of that were in the hospital. We moved our house to a different location in the time also so my kiddos and Eric lived with my parents while I lived at the hospital. It was a hard time to be apart. I remember Danell Naef would bring me contraband from Wendy's so I wouldn't have to eat hospital food all the time. Kris, my sis, kept me well stocked in reading material. Rhinda Davidson came and gave me a mani. Lots of people visited and showed their love for our family. Every Thursday, dinner was brought-can you believe that for 5 months. That's true dedication by great ward members. I'm sure I don't know half of the events and blessing that my family received from our ward and community family. My mom was incredible and in fact even noticed the way Eric liked his shirts hung and hung them that way just for him. We were truly blessed. And then this fun boy we had been waiting for for so long came into our lives. His delivery was the most peaceful and quiet and spiritual delivery of my baby bearing events. For a week, he didn't cry until his "boy" procedure was done and then he didn't stop crying. He started walking while Eric was on a trip to John Deere in Iowa. He is busy, busy, busy and has a tough time sitting still. He is so excited to be a cub scout. Finally I have a child in cub scouts. I'll probably get released!! He's a great big brother. He takes care of Brek very well and when Brek hits Bode, Bode doesn't hit back. He will hit the girls but not his lil brother. Here are some pictures I found of him. Enjoy

A super hero

A princess finder

Opening presents on his birthday this morning.

A swimmer

A lego builder

A scripture reader

We love you Bode!

Planting our big neon beacon to the stars

2011-05-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

What a weird title I know but when we have corn around our house that's all I can think of is Signs and crop circles and aliens. I told Lex she should have a party in the corn field. She's too freaked out. Here is pictures of the boys counting how many seeds are being planted by the planter. The company brought out the tractor and planter and Eric planted with Bode's help. Yeh, it's done and yes here we go into a scary summer and fall!!

He Lives!!

2011-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

The girls and Eric were involved a ward cantata, He Lives! It was an incredible experience. Both girls had speaking parts (all the youth did) and Lexi was asked to sing a solo. She did a wonderful job. All of the youth did a wonderful job. I spent alot of the time fighting tears because I was in charge of the art work that was shown during the presentation. It was a just wonderful. I hope that my girls felt the Spirit as much as I did. It truly was a great experience. And I do know that my Savior lives.

Easter egg coloring and hunting

2011-04-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

There are alot of pictures.

It's that time of the year...

2011-04-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

My 3 boys driving down Klamath Hill. Thank goodness for good neighbors. They were on their way to borrow John Salisbury's spring harrow.

3 heads poking up. These 3 have stole my heart.

Look how green it is getting in the basin.

We're busying farming like everyone else in the basin, northwest and US. We are getting our little plot of soil ready for corn to be planted. It's always creepy when we have corn. It's like we put up a big yellow neon arrow pointing to our house saying "Ok, Aliens, this is where we live. Come to our house and build your crop circle so you can summon all your alien friends to our planet." Because of that, that might be the only reason why I like having a body of water close by. Because we all know aliens don't like water!! (If you don't understand why I'm saying all this, watch the movie SIGNS. Then everything will make sense.) Oh yeh that's Lexi driving out there!!

Oh yeh,

2011-04-07T14:36:00.001-07:00

I cried when it happened!!

Note to self...

2011-04-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

don't give Bode a sprinkler tied to the end of a string because he might think that it's a helicopter and just as it's about to pretend to take flight it really does take flight and when it lands, it's not on a nice marked, well-lit,

designated landing area, it's my back window. I really hope it doesn't rain tonight. I just figured that we are officially white trash because we have a bag taped over our window.

Someone new in town

2011-04-05T15:40:00.001-07:00

I don't want to say to much about baby Telford because I'm not sure how his mommy and daddy are going to spell his name and I don't want to take all his mommy's thunder. But he has arrived here healthy and cute and bigger than her usual size of babies. He was born on April 4, 2011. That's all I will say unless his momma wants me to say more about him later.

We have fun cousins

2011-04-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Being one of the olders in the family, makes my kids some of the olders in the cousin world. It's hard to find a cousin friend. But my cousins that are my age have kids that are my kiddos ages. To make a long story semi-short.

My bestie from high school married one of my cousins. Therefore I'm related to my bestie and my kids got some fun cousins out of the deal. They came and visited yesterday and it was alot of fun. As you can see, they got the tall genes. Oh how we love cousins!!

I posted

2011-03-27T17:07:00.003-07:00

on the wrong site. If you want to see some happening, go to my craft blog. I posted something on there.

Happy Birthday Eric

2011-03-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

It was Eric's birthday on Wed. We celebrated Tues night cuz the girls would be gone to mutual. He got a card, cake and some new ties. I don't know if he will wear them because he says their too wide, will make too big of a knot. I said big knots are in. I think I married my dad. Not willing to change!! ;-} Enjoying birhtdya cake.

Yummy!!

Blue frosting on his face.

Brek was so excited about this cake. Of course, it's ice cream cake from Dairy Queen and he told everyone he saw in town that we had cake for daddy and we needed to get candles. We talked to alot of people.

Daddy let Brek blow out the candles. We're missing one cause he was having an attitude problem.

There's the attitude.

Smile everyone. The teenagers were being good. No funny faces.

Eric said I'm not 44, I'm only 43 and I said well if your only 43 than I'm only 38.

Burn down the house!!

Yummy cake!

Is this sooooo 80's????

2011-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, sistas and the three other people who read my blog, is a perm too 80's? Or is the whole 80's thing coming back in? I don't know but I guess it really doesn't matter either because it's too late. We have, drumroll please, a permed hair-do living in our house. It's so cliche!! I feel like I'm back roaming the halls of Adrian E slash Jr High when the aroma a perm hits my nose. It's unbelievable but also, it's cute. Really cute!! And it cost me this much moola-the big zero, zilch, nada!! So what do you think? Could she be a model for a remember when 80's youtube video, or is she really owning it??
PS you can tell she's mine because she's already started on the zit farm. Those were terrible, terrible days when I had to take acutane!!

Lexi's basketball-Freshman year

2011-02-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

Lexi's C Team Freshman Year. They have to wear the yellow uniforms because they didn't all have the same purple uniforms. The Connell on the floor is awesome. And of course, raise your hand if you had Garland as a coach!! The model herself!

I took stats at all the games and didn't ever take my camera. So yeh, this is about the jitzed of the pictures I have of her.

Summer's Basketball team

2011-02-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

Olds Jr High C Team Basketball Team 2011-Summer's 7th Grade year. 15 girls and 8 games later. They only lost 2 girls during the season that quit. They only lost 2 games also. Cute picture of Summer. I don't understand why we pay a certain company a lot of money for them to take a good picture-Sum looks good-but my word, look at the background!! Go to the high school and use their gym, which might be a coach's problem and not the photographer's problem.

Watching someone shoot freethrows. Time out

Timeout

Watching someone shoot a freethrow with her original hands on her hips. You'll notice, she does that alot. Playing a wing, yeh!!

Hustling back to play offense.

During a timeout. Notice her hands. Asking or listening but it looks like she's talking.

Halftime

During halftime, trying to get a ball The two who DO NOT LIKE to go to ball games actually smiling??!!

Listening during a timeout.

Run, baby run!! Playing defense on the wrong side and playing a POST??? Hello the shortest girl against the tallest girl!!

Playing offense against as a post??

She's in the far right side of the picture.You can only see the top of her head behind the balding ref.

Where she spent most of the season, on the bench. I think she might have played at total of 12 minutes the whole season. She didn't get to play much.

Invisible Mother...

2011-02-07T13:05:00.000-08:00

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

A drive...

2011-02-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

Been to Burbank twice in less than a week to watch one daughter play 3 minutes in a basketball game and the other not even get to dress down. At least Burbank High and Junior High School are nice schools.

3 Year old in our house!!

2011-01-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

My baby turns 3 today. Where has the time gone and yet I'm so glad I'm not 3 years ago just having him. That was a tough delivery!! Here's a blast from the past and yesterday's party with Grandma and pa Nielson.
Birth announcement picture. Blessing Day

Brand new baby!!

What babies do best.

Swimming

2nd Birthday present.

Yummy!!

3 year old who won't sit still for one picture!

Opening presents

Opening presents without anyone's help.

"Sissy" Looking on. He does call her Sissy in his prayers and everything. Lexi is Lexi but Sum is Sissy.

Blow!!

Thomas cake

My feible attempt at making a cake. Can you believe that my MIL can decorate cakes and has been paid to do it!!

Still won't sit still for a picture.

Finally!! A half decent shot!!

Men, boys, men, boys---ARRRR

2011-01-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

All I can say is...milk spilt on my new carpet!!
A permanent bar handle mustache (on Saturday, just before Sunday when we have to go to church) with a sharpie
"Fishing" in the toilet with a Lightening McQueen fishing pole!!
BREK KOLLIN FREEMAN, you act like your brother!! Or possibly your dad who cut off one of those ink theft things from Bode's suit coat that he got for Christmas so that Bod could wear it to church.

I'm a good multi-tasker, right??

2011-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

I try pretty hard to get several things done at once. I can talk on the phone and do my dishes at the same time, I can fold laundry and watch TV at the same time. And the most recent, I can cook something on the stove top and cook something in the oven at the same time. NOT!! The story...as many of you know, I'm in a food group with a couple of my friends. Each week I receive a meal on Monday and Tuesday and in return on Wednesday, I cook for my 2 friends. Well, I was fixing my meal for Wednesday on the stovetop and at the same time I was making yummy PKM's for mutual for Lex tomorrow night. Multi tasking Well, I turned down the stovetop burner so I wouldn't burn my dinners. I kept opening and dumping ingredients in. I looked back at my stopetop burner and it was still on high. I thought "I already turned that down didn't I?" Oh well, whatever. Then I take my PKM's out and they're burnt!! What how in the world can you burn kisses??!! Not to mention the fact that these little treats aren't cheap to make. Man, I ruined them. Then when I go to turn off the oven bake, it's cranked clear to 500 broil!! Well, no wonder I burned the PKM's. I had the oven on broil. Then I start thinking how in the world did this happen? I can't blame Eric. He isn't here. Brek's a great culprit except the fact that he's sleeping on the couch. I guess I can only blame myself. Instead of turning down the stovetop, I turned up the oven. And to think, I'm supposed to feed 300 grandparents and kids in a couple of weeks. Maybe we better bless the food before we eat it!!

Some things about me

2011-01-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some little known facts about myself...
1. I'm not scared of many things. Like I can walk outside, in the dark, even when we have a cornfield around us and I can see the alien fingers reaching through the corn and hear them comunicating with their tell-tale clicking language. (Referring to Signs-creepy!!) One time I walked from my Uncle Rick's house to my parents house on Greenacres and back again at 10 o'clock at night. Not scared. Spiders, snakes, medical emergencies whatever. I really don't get that scared.
2. I love to mow my lawn so much so that I don't like it when my kids ask if they can mow it because I want to mow it. It could be the fact that I have a hydrostat lawn mower that turns on a dime. I always have to tell myself that I'm raising kids not grass.
3. I have been a den mom twice in the past 14 years and still don't have a kid old enough to be a cub scout. I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to be learning from these boys but I look at my own boys and wonder-"What are you thinking???" Wish I would hurry up and learn whatever I'm supposed to!!
4. I wish, I wish, I wish that I had been more appreciative and thankful to all the adults in my teenage life. Now that I have children of my own, I had no clue the amount of work it took/takes to run a school, YW program, primary, household. I think of all those ball games I went to and who got me where I needed to go, my parents, bus drivers, coaches, janitors, principals, athletic directors. It's just amazing the amount of time and effort that it takes to provide our kids with enriching activities and growing moments. I don't think I ever thanked anyone, ever while I was a teen for all the things they did for me-TMI-now you know what a rotten teenager I was.
5. Everything I've learned about the computer has been self-taught and trial and error and paying somewhat attention when Tyson tells me to do things. I have never taken a computer class in my life except one that was offered by the RS. People call me all the time with computer questions and I have no idea why because I really don't know much about a computer and haven't had any formal training.
6. I love hot oatmeal. Maybe because we used to have it 3-4 times a week. I also had never really had top ramon until I moved out of my parent's house-my dad probably didn't like it?? I maybe had it once or twice when I went over to the neighbors' house and actually ate there. I don't think we got to spend the night much and when we did, it was for 8 hours, just overnight then our parents were there bright and early in the morning picking us up, therefore never having the chance to stay long enough to eat lunch.
7. I have a reaccurring nightmare that involves me forgetting to bring my basketball shoes to a basketball game. I dream it all the time. And even though I can't run around like I used to and I'm a "skinny girl inside a chubby body" and KNOW that I can't play BB like I used to be able to, I still dream of the good ole days. I can't even call them glory days because I really wasn't that good at BB but I sure loved playing!!
That's probably enough about me. Go to your blogs and post some little known facts about yourself so I can read up on you!!

Christmas Tree

2010-12-20T20:28:00.000-08:00

The tree "ain't got no belly button". Putting an ornament on the tree.

Oh man, this tree tastes so good!! Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, I LOVE YOU!!

Shooting the ceiling. Not paying atttention and just wanting to be in the picture. Shooting the gingerbread man with puckered up lips.

Summer decorating the tree. Standing by the tree.

Don't want Summer to get all the limelight!! Finally a picture with just the tree!! (Didn't last long!!)

Posing in front of the tree. Falling for the tree.

Let me see if I can cut the tree with my BIG scissors!! Pucker up baby!! Oh yeh don't forget about my BIG scissors!!

Questions answered

2010-12-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

We borrowed Hawkins enclosed trailer and put all of the livingroom furniture in it and laid the carper (Dad and Eric) in the livingroom on Tuesday night until 7 pm while mom and I moved furniture around in my bedroom and got the old carpet up and the staples out of it. Then Eric and I moved all the furniture out of our bedroom and made the livingroom a bedroom (the kids LOVED that) for Tuesday night. Eric and I also laid the pad on Tuesday night. Then dad came back over in the am on Wednesday and he and I laid carpet from 8 until 10 when Eric showed up to stretch and kick, etc (all the hard work) and mom and I cleaned other areas of the house. I love it. It looks really good next to the hard wood which was kind of a shot from the hip because I kept forgetting to take a sample of my hard wood with me. The other bedrooms don't have new carpet. Eric says next time we are hiring it done. I tried to talk him into this time but he wouldn't talk-he's never laid carpet before and never will again. I have totally rolled in it, smelled it, kissed it, wanted to marry it. It's so great. I can't wait for everyone to see it! As for furniture. Even my yucky couches look good on my new carpet. Eric made the statement that now we need new furniture so I'm all over that. We are looking on Craigslist.

Pictures of carpet

2010-12-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

The line between the living (on left) and bedroom (on right). You can see the different colors.Bedroom from the livingroom doorway.

Bedroom from the bathroom!! OH MY WORD!! The bathroom carpet is SOOOO crappy!!

Already assumed the position of watching TV on a roll of carpet.

Wiping out but he didn't cry.

Brek about to jump off of the ladder.

Carpet goin' bye-bye

2010-12-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

There she is in all her glory!! A big pile of carpet, stains and DIRT!! We haven't brought the carpet to BC yet but plan on doing it today!! I'll will post more pictures when I get a chance.

My typical day

2010-12-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

This is who I spend my time with all day. Yes, Great Waterton

HiroToby

Sir Handel (I think, because he looks alot like Thomas??)

And the short, skinny guy who at the moment needs a hair cut, Breky. Occassionally he throws in Lightning McQueen, Mater, and some other side kicks but most the time it's Thomas and his friends.

4 words!!

2010-12-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Eric bought me CARPET!!

A boy's brain?

2010-12-02T15:51:00.000-08:00

I just don't understand a boy's brain. It is so confusing to me. I'm at a loss when it comes to why boys do the things they do.Lastest adventure...burying treasure. Yes he found a shovel and he dug through the snow to the frozen ground and buried a box that had marty gras beads in it. He said, "I told you I was going to go bury treasure." I told next time he buried treasure it better be out in the field and not in my yard. Oh and don't worry, his little brother was there to witness the whole thing. Bode is being sure to pass on the knowledge of his boy brain to his little brother!! And Mijken is excited about another boy!!

Bode was trying to knock an icycle off the edge of the house and here's what happened to his glove. Yep, he threw it on the roof. "Well, I wasn't trying to throw it on the roof, Mom." Really then why did you throw it on the roof???

More pics of talent show

2010-12-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

Someone needs to shave, YIKES!!

Cute girls!! Youka never likes to smile!!

YW Talent show

2010-12-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

Doing a lipsync to Veggie Tales "I don't got a bellybutton". Bustin' a move!! Gangster!!

Getting ready.

Lexi singing "The Call" from the Narnia soundtrack.

Still singing.Summer and Youka played a duet on their flutes.

Another picture of the flutist. They did a great job!! They were both really good together.

Still snowing!!

2010-11-30T15:40:00.000-08:00

And I'm so grateful for American Eagle, Columbia, Costco and Peak Performance for all my nice warm clothes!! We were finally able to make it outside to build a snowman. I need one of those wooden snowman kits that we all made a couple of years ago for RS. Every year we are scrounding around for carrot noses, coal eyes, scarves and buttons. Frosty with Bode's head.

Bode posing with FrostyDude, wanna join my cool gang!!

Pucker up baby!!

Calm for a minute but then I notice the background, man my house needs some repairs done on it!!

Gettin' the hat just right.

Summer taking the picture not taking into account what might be blocking the shot. Rump shot!!

Brek checking out the progess and kicking Frosty down a couple of times too.

Me taking a cool picture of a rusty bike by springtime!!

Trig wondering what I'm doing and you can see the snow falling against his coat.

Snow days

2010-11-24T13:00:00.001-08:00

Welllll, the district only allows one snow day (day where school is cancelled because of bad weather) per year. We usually use it around the first of the year, that's when it gets cold and really bad around here. But this year we are getting something else. We used our one snow day-now all other days we miss have to be made up-yesterday. Thankfully we had school today, just a half day but the hs has practice which I'm sure the coaches are happy about because they cancelled practice Monday and Tuesday and with a big football game coming up and basketball season about to start, the coaches like to have their practices. Anyway, it's a good thing we have some days off cuz if we didn't we might be making up more days. It's snowing right now. Big flakes.

Let it SNOW!!

2010-11-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

We are getting hammered with snow. Alot of snow for us!! The kids had 2 hour delay this morning and all ball practice has been cancelled for tonight. I'm guessing another delay for in the morning or no school. It's fun to have snow. It will be sticking too because it's going to be cold for awhile. I love snow!!

Boys

2010-11-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

I was trying to get some pictures of the boys and Bode kept being a weirdo. He kept trying to make faces and his eyes closed, etc. He thought he was great fun!! Here's what I got.

It's all about the shoes.

2010-11-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

No I'd make the dress, just added to the bottom of it and took out the hum to make it longer too. I think she got this dress at Rue 21 too. Yes she danced, she usually does now that it's not so scary and she's braver.

Lexi reads alot and of course we always sign up for our library's summer reading program. It was so easy this year. You could do it all online. Anyway, Lexi completed the reading so many hours to get entered into a drawing for a $30 gift card. And she won!! So she has had a giftcard that needed to be spent. We have a fun new store in Tri-cities called Rue 21. They have lots of cute stuff and of course the stuff she likes best is shoes. I choke on $25 for a pair of shoes knowing that if I just wait they will come on sale for much cheaper. But she on the other hand, had a dance to go to and since she had a $30 just burning a hole in her pocket, she bought the shoes. Now she can't wear them in anything wet because they are satiny and will get stained. She's being very selective about where she will wear them and has to practically put waterboots over them before going out. So of course the shoes make the outfit. Oh and the dress. Let's not forget the cute Old Navy coat (that someone else had at the dance-she was so glad that they were different sizes so she got back her own coat). Oh and of course, the hair, the hair definitely makes the outfit, RIGHT??

DO NOT LEAVE THE ROOM

2010-11-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

even for one little second or (Maybe longer-like a minute) with your 2 year old sitting at the computer cuz this is what will happen to your keyboard. Yes, Brek (didn't dump, the smear happened after I tried to get it off) Breky carefully applied white-out to the keyboard because you know he doesn't care for the letters m,n j, k, l, the comma, half the space bar or the mouse pad. Then Eric dreamed that I got the "paint" off of the computer. I have been able to scrap some of it off of the silver part but not the keys at all. Does anyone have any suggestions? I haven't asked Ms. Google yet either. Maybe she has some ideas.Summer modeling the new computer and was also practicing her typing skills. What a great keyboard to learn on. Even if you wanted to cheat and see what you were typing, you couldn't because we've whited-out all the letters!!

Only in Basin City or some other remote "cowboyish" type town

2010-11-12T16:33:00.000-08:00

like Greybull or Richfield or Lakeside would a funeral procession include the casket being drawn by two tawny horses and a wagon. I thought this was so cool and fitting for this particular family's way of life. I'm not going to include their name because I'm sure their wounds are still deep from the loss but it was so cool to see this cattleman's casket be brought into our little cemetary overlooking Basin City by horse and wagon. There were alot of cowboys there as you can see all of their cowboy hats. It just felt like "going home" in a way. Kind of cool. Something that I will remember for forever.

I also figured out

2010-11-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

how to get the pictures off of my phone onto my computer so here are some random pictures.

The gangsters in the family sporting no make-up and all the gang signs they know, ONE!!Showing off his medal.At a wrestling match, one that I didn't go to. He won his first medal.Modeling some bling at Claire's.Sitting in Southridge High School at one of the 1000's of vb games that we went to this summer.Self portrait, sometime this fall.

Don't fall off your chairs.....

2010-11-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

I'm actually blogging something. I can't seem to make my camera not take orange pictures or pictures with lines in them or a thousand other problems with it so I don't ever have anything exciting to say but the other day I did take these pics of Brek in feeties. He never liked wearing jammies with feet in them so i never put them on him but now he isn't minding so much. Here he showing his "glove" aka marble bag. (Wonder where the marbles are?)

He's showing the back of his jammies cuz, yeh they're cool!!

Piles of kittens

2010-10-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

We have the fortune of owning 9 kitten/cats right now. There is one mama and 3 teenagers and 5 babies. For awhile they were "lost" except one baby but now they have all returned home to the front step to annoy Eric beyond his bearing. However, I try to point out almost every day that they are bring in the mice. Not all of them are named. Any suggestions?? Big fluffly orange doesn't have a name. The black teenager's name is Bullet because she and the dog Trigger get along so well. She's the only one that will tolerate the wild dog. He tries to chase her but she won't be chased.

Mama is the orange cat in the back. The white baby doesn't have a name. It has an orange tail and ears.

Lady Gaga is looking up at the camera nearest the bottom. Lady Gaga is named that because of his incredibly bad "make-up" job. He has "eyeliner" around his eyes. Bad eyeliner, hence Lady Gaga. Mama is also looking up at us too in the back.

Hair cuts

2010-10-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

The kids had 2 days off from school while the teachers and parents have pow wows so we went to town for much needed shopping. Lex needed to buy fabric for PJs. Sum just needed to go to town. Anyway, the girls both got their hair cut. I like both of their hairdos alot. Lexi isn't so sure about hers but I think she'll figure out how to do it and feel more confident. She has bangs!!

Knex

2010-10-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Bode took 7th in a contest at school and he chose Knex as his prize. He hasn't ever won anything so he was pretty excited. We have never played with Knex before and they aren't easy to play with but alot of fun. It's takes so getting used to to use them cuz they are like legos but they don't snap together the same way. Here's his first creation.

Halloween treasures

2010-10-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

We have really great neighbors and we have one neighbor in particular that is a bachelor and he gives A HAUL of candy and toysto our kids each year. Well this year he caught Eric and told him that he would be out of town and handed over the goodies for the kiddos early!! HELLLOOOO-talk about tons of stuff. Here are the boys modeling some of their treasures.
These pictures totally crack me up!!

Teenagers!!

2010-10-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

They like to take pictures of themselves making funny faces!!

Lexi at extreme orange day. She duct taped a hat with orange tape. Some kinda gangster something.

Shoes?? Or maybe feet? Perhaps legs, noticed my pants are rolled up, look at my jeans?? I have no idea what this is about!!

Tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

Ahhh!! Now that's the girl we know and love!

Summer ran for VP

2010-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Summer was really brave and ran for VP of Olds Jr High. She didn't win but she had a good time making posters. She was the only candidate to have her speech memorized which is really good for her. Here are somepictures of the boys sporting Vote For Summer shirts
And you're wondering why no pictures of Summer. They all turned out totally dark or totally white. I've got to figure out how to use cameras!!

I found a camera...

2010-10-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

with some pictures on it. Extreme purple day-Homecoming week

Extreme Purple Day-Yes Olds Jr High changed their colors to purple and silver!! HUUUURAYYY!! They finally figured it out.

Summer playing vb against Finley. She got alot better as the season went on even getting her serves over!!

Winning "fairy" outfit for Lexi on Peter Pan day. She was the best dressed Freshman.

UMMM...

2010-10-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

make that 5 times to Basin City!!

I drove....

2010-10-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

to Basin City 4 TIMES today!!

Grandpa....

2010-10-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

no not Gpa Freeman or Gpa Nielson. We have been relistening (or listening to for the first time) the conference talks. There was some grumbling from a certain boy at our house that "we have do this again???" and I said, "This is the prophet. He speaks with Jesus Christ." Just then Pres. Monson's picture showed up on the TV screen and he started talking. In all of Brek's wisdom he said, "That's not Jesus, that's Palmpa (grandpa)." I said, "Yes, that's Gpa Monson." Then for the next 5 minutes Brek kept saying "Palmpa Monsoon, Palmpa Monsoon." It was so cute. How we love Palmpa Monsoon and all his wisdom. Tonight we were encouraged again to have gratitude for all the wonderful things that we have.

Summer Volleyball

2010-10-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

Summer's Volleyball pictures came. I'm having some technical difficulties this morning so I couldn't divide everything and zoom in better. Sorry!! She's having a fun year playing volleyball and she loves her coach. They are having a fun season with no wins, but she's getting to play-YEH!!

Vb Pictures

2010-09-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

I have some vb pictures now. If Lex would have scooted over just a bit, Eric's name is on the other side of the state champ board you know cuz he was a state champ a hundred years ago. We will try better to get her to move next time so his name will be in the background.

Volleyball...

2010-09-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Lexi is having a fun year playing volleyball. She loves it. The team is doing well and she is have a great time. We are so grateful for a great coach who wants to help the girls get better. Summer is still in practice mode but will have her first game tomorrow. I don't get to go :-( cuz I get to go watch Bode play soccer!! Oh yeh, I have taken some pics of Lexi but Brek got my camera and deleted everything on it!!

Busy...

2010-09-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

with ball, cubs, homework, church, mutual, tests, running a campaign, reading, playing geo trax, cooking, cleaning, laundry, baby kittens. BUSY!!

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it came and went. We were busy but didn't do anything other than hang out with family. Eric's oldest sister's youngest son received his endowments on Saturday morning in preparation for a mission to Farmington, New Mexico. All of the Washington Freemans were here. Eric's sister, Charie had a baby boy on Sept. 1st so they weren't able to come but were here in spirit. We played with the Freemans on Saturday and Sunday and then Monday we stayed home until 5 and went to a bbq at Gma Nielson's house. It was fun. They invited their neighbors over which is the cowboy and his wife and their cutie kiddos. Then after that we came home and got ready for bed. No we didn't get to see Boise State, we did get to see BYU. But now know that BSU's game was really exciting!! Go Broncos!!

First Day of School

2010-08-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

Kinda..the girls had a fake first day. They didn't even have to take their backpacks. However, they both have practice so they had to take their sports' bags. They kind of have a play day today. Not even all the students in the district had to go to school. 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders didn't have to go. Summer is a 7th grader!

The mighty freshman, seminary goer, ball player.

The 2nd grader, who really wouldn't let me take any half descent pictures.

Ben/Franklin Fair, Again this year

2010-08-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

We went to the fair again this year. There are a ton of pictures from the happenings. Brek is trying to get his blanket out from under the stroller. Bode and Brek flying a green plane. Yes Brek screamed his head off when it was time to get off the ride.

Bode gettin' bucked off Ol' Buck. Brek waving at momma.

Bode shooting a nerf bullet at animals. This was free which was great to actually have something free at the fair.

Loading up more bullets.

MMMM, curly fries!!

Curly fries!

More curly fries.

Yummy!

Will it all fit!!

Soft bunnies!!

Riding a JOHN DEERE!!

Bode getting ready for the tractor pull. He was very stowic. And the announcer loved his combo of boots and shorts. He tied for 1st with 2 other kids.

Gettin' ready to pull.

Almost going, make those legs work hard!

Working Hard!!

Brek crying cuz he wanted on that tractor, BAD!!

Rough, tumble and snuggle

2010-08-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

This little boy loves his tractors (at the present time he calls all tractors, combines). He loves to see that John Deere sign on things and always has comments about it but most of the time I can't understand what he's saying. He also loves his "snuggle bear" and so we put the two together and came up with a lovely "snuggle bears goin' green".

I figured out why...

2010-08-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

I can't get full sheets to fit on my full bed. UUUH!! DUH!! Because it's a queen!! We bought a new bunkbed for the boys and we bought a full on the bottom and a twin on the top. Thinking we were so smart about it because we already owned a perfectly wonderful FULL mattress. We got the bed altogether and I said, "That mattress isn't going to fit. Oh my word, I thought it was a full mattress but it is a QUEEN. No wonder I kept ripping the corners out of the full sheets." I thought maybe Walmart sheets were just cheap and too small because you know, you get what you pay for!!

DON'T READ THIS POST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW...

2010-08-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

all the intimate details of my down-there-doctor (dtd) experience. I'm warning you now. This is a bit on the embarrassing side.

Ok, today was my annual exam at the dtd. I really DISLIKE the annual but I'm trying to be a good citizen and mother to my children by teaching them that they should go to the dr for an annual I'd-rather-have-my-teeth-pulled-because-I'm-semi-out-of-it session. After waiting the appropriate time because everyone knows that when you go to the dtd you have to wait at least 2 1/2 hours to get your nerve up so you can stand the chamber of embarrassment, I got to see the dr. He did all the stuff he needed to then he ordered an ultra sound. NOW...the only reason I've ever had ultrasounds was to see if I was preggers, about the right time to get preggers or just after being preggers. So in my mind ultrasounds and pregnancy go hand in hand. The ultra-tech, Libby and I are chatting it up talking about kids and school and such when she says, "Well it looks like you get to start all over again." In your mind what does that mean. Start over again! Start over again!! What are you talking about. So I just flat out ask "Am I pregnant? Cuz that would be kind of on the miraculous side of things because even though I have all the right working parts, my husband has had a visit from the plumber." She said "Oh, NO. You're not pregnant. Sorry about that. I meant that you get to start school goings-on all over." They should have a course on what and what not to say when you go to ultra tech school. Sorry I had to be a little descriptive about mine and husband's workings but we got a good laugh out of it.

Bribing Santa

2010-08-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

With a melted candy bar. Santa?? Really in the middle of August?? My kids are already hitting up Santa for Christmas goodies. This was Bode's idea of making sure he got what he wanted from Santa. The maillady wouldn't take it because it was too heavy, that's when I discovered that he had put a candy bar in it.

For all you record searchers

2010-08-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I looked on Snopes.com and couldn't tell if this was a true story or not. It isn't true of the recent events that occured after Hurricane Katrina but if I'm understanding it right, a similar letter was written in the 1950's. Either way, it's funny!!

Subject: You have got to love this lawyer

Part of rebuilding New Orleans caused residents often to be challenged with the task of tracing home titles back potentially hundreds of years. With a community rich with history stretching back over two centuries, houses have been passed along through generations of family, sometimes making it quite difficult to establish ownership.
Here's a great letter an attorney wrote to the FHA on behalf of a client:
You have to love this lawyer........

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer three months to trackdown. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply.

(Actual reply from FHA):"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the titleback to its origin."

Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:(Actual response):"Your letter regarding title in Case No.189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 206 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the United States from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain . The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Queen Isabella. The good Queen Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus 's expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana. God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it, and the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our loan?"

The loan was immediately approved. (These are the same geniuses charged with the Government mortgage bailout.)

River float

2010-08-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

These pictures are all out of order. But here's our float trip at Island Park. I think we floated on the Henry Fork?? Is that right peeps?

You can see the Telford family in a little dingy that started taking on water. They abandoned it near the end of the river. Erica in her float fishing tube. She was frozen by the time she got out. And Summer and Erin, screaming the whole way.There we all go, down the river. The big raft with all the complainers. We ended up having to row backwards with Bret's legs hanging in the water so he could row on both sides. We also kind of sprung a leak which of course caused mass hysteria.

And we're off!!

The kids testing the water and getting on to their tubes. Wyatt looks a little cold!!Carrying the tubes to the river.Luke happy to be going floating.

Summer excited to get in the water.

Mijken trying to get the tubes to hold air. They didn't and the one tube that went down the river left a pretty good rash on Wyatt so don't use inner tubes for extended amounts of time on a cold river.Erin and Summer getting ready to get in the water. They mostly spent the day screaming and gave up their tube to a big boy because they both couldn't stay on it. Cole posing with his tube.

The girls getting ready to get in the water. They shared a tube too and it wasn't big enough for both of them. They got way behind and ended up getting out of the water early because they couldn't catch up.

Erin excited to go on the river.

Of course, the storm clouds started rolling in and kids started getting nervous. You mention something like the words "shark, Titanic, or bathroom" and there's mass panic. It was a little too long for the littler generation. Dad parked about 1 mile up from the end (maybe 2, I'm not good with distances) and our whole raft unloaded and went with him. It was a relief as Jen, Bret and I were paddling the raft the whole river. It lightened out load alot. We also had Erica strapped to the back of us and Mijken and Ryan were in a little dingy. But once we unloaded the criers, Mijken and Ryan climbed in the raft and we put the tweeny girls in the dingy and tied them way in the back behind us. Then we had 5 paddlers which made it so much easier. It was great fun. Just next time we need to remember.....NO WHINERS, NO CRYING, NO ASKING WHEN IS IT OVER, NO ASKING "CAN I GET OUT AND GO HOME" (when it's obvious that we aren't anywhere near civilization and they would have to hike through bear, moose and snake infested forest with swimming suits and either no shoes or flip flops on) AND NO LOLLIGAGGING!!

Hiking

2010-08-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ren hiking hard. Jill stopping to get her picture taken.

Lizzie looking cute.

The many faces of Wes.

Another self potrait of Lex.

The teenagers Nacho Libre??

Emma and the group.

Brek hiking in flip flops and a hiking stick.

This is what most of my hike looks like because Brek walks slow and doesn't want to be picked up.

We've been hit

2010-08-03T09:50:00.001-07:00

attacked by stomach flu. So far it's the Bret Nielson's suffering most. However, Sara has a sore throat. I'm just waiting for one of my kids to throw up in this pretty house!!

Island Park #2

2010-08-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the girls had fun with the camera. This is Erin. She is 10.
We asked some locals where to swim and fish and we were told about this fun little pond. Jilly, Lexi and Justin testing the water.

The water was pretty cold. Jen and Lizzie hanging on the little beach.

Bode and Luke trying to catch a fish.The one fish that was caught. Actually I think there were two fish caught. They were both caught by Telford girls.

Wy testing the waters. Brrr cold!!

Brek fishing with a pole with a bobber but no hook. Good thing because he swung the pole around more than it was in the water.

Summer fishing. Not really I made her pose because she was always way far away from me.

Wyatt was paid $15 to swim across the pond. Wes joined in. It was really cold. I was too far away to get a close picture because I had tangled Luke's fishing pole into a huge knot. But there was alot of screaming and excitement.

Jen's parents live in a "gated community" and here is their very fancy gate. Kind of cool!!

Island Park

2010-08-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

These pictures might be backwards a little. This is in Yellowstone, Erica driving from Greybull through the park and the buffalo were sharing the road. They turned a 4 hour trip into a 5-6 hour trip. Well maybe not the buffalo were the cause of the traffic jams, it was the rubbernecks.

Traffic jam in Yellowstone.

Mr. Buffalo sitting there enjoying his sun.The Maughans beautiful cabin. We are so grateful for the hospitality and kindness. Soooo much fun!!

Bode traveling.

Brek traveling with food.

Lexi self potrait.

There are pictures of Sum but at present she has the camera and is off taking more pictures so when I get a chance to see the pictures I will post more.

Advertisement for an orchard tractor

2010-07-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

For Sale: Blue Tractor. Can be used for many things including but not limited too...
1. Spraying an orchard
2. Moving bins around the orchard
3. Mowing an orchard or other areas that a small tractor can get in to that a larger tractor can't, like your yard or pasture that has risers in it.
4. A form of transportation for your employees to travel from one field to another so you don't have to provide vehicles for them to drive.
And the lastest and greatest
5. To pull a much bigger loader tractor that isn't working?? around because it has the horse power to do it.Ok, these guys drive regularly past my house all the time going from one orchard to another. This was an interesting site this morning when I saw the small tractor pulling the big tractor. They were going VERY slow you know to be safe and make sure there were no mishaps. But why, why are they pulling this tractor behind them? It obviously works or they couldn't have gotten it on the trailer. If it just went to slow, they were going slow probably slower than they would be going if they were driving it. I know, they are doing an ad for Kabota!!! That's got to be it. I actually really like these guys. They always wave and slow down when they drive past and have even stopped and moved a child out of the road for me.

Waves of amber grain...

2010-07-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

We are sitting in a firepit, woodbox, ashtray-right now because our wheat is on the verge of being ready to harvest. It looks beautifuluntil you see the kosha in the background. Yes, we have received a letter from the weed control that we need to take care of our weeds.
No fires allowed by our house for a while!!

Nothin' happening here

2010-07-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

We really have nothing going on. We're not in charge of the 24th of July so we aren't doing anything with that. It is the boat races this weekend, don't know if we will go or not. Lexi's VB game got cancelled so don't have to do that. Really all we need to do is clean!! Bet my kids are goin' love that!!

2010-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

The earings I chose were called Daisy Rainbow Crystals. I chose them because they were different colors and they matched with mostly anything.When I got my earings done I was shocked at how it didn't hurt!All it felt like was somebody pinching me.After I got my ears pierced they had to put that ear care stuff on and they made it drip so much that it dripped down my shirt!After they put the ear care stuff on they told me that I had to wait 6weeks!Then they told me what kind of earings that I could wear.They told me that I couldn't wear any fish hook earings only straight post earings.After they told me all the information we looked around their store and found cute earings and some pretty sweet hats.Okay so you want to know why I didn't cry?It was because 2 people did it at the same time!!

Summer's b-day

2010-07-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the one picture I have of Summer's birthday. We celebrated at Gma Nielson's house with Kache and Ryder and Dallie. She got make-up, nylons, a dress and someday, maybe, if we ever make it to town-her ears pierced.

FIRE!!

2010-07-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is why smart farmers can't set off fireworks in our little rural area because some usmart people went down in a very sagebrushy area and set off fireworks and caught the whole basin on fire. These pictures are taken from Corrales' home looking toward the north (Othello) on N Wahluke. This is Satakes' home. The flames were close and yes the local farmers who set out fireworks later that evening were given a ticket for it. Sad that people have to ruin it for everyone!!

Answering ?s

2010-07-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ok these pictures are all out of order and it's hard to tell the story but it's to difficult to move everything around so good luck!!
You drove through this flag drapped over the park entrance.Ok, odd to have this in the parade but last night I saw it again coming off the flat bed because someone lit fireworks off down in the draw below Davidsons and Klinkers old house and caught the whole place on fire. It burned right up to Odermotts house, Satakes house, right along N. Wahluke, Grays house. The firefighters were working all day long.If you look at the people on the ground you can kind of get the feel for how large this flag is. And I didn't know that Othello and Connell both had ladder trucks?!!

Brianna Casper spraying people down. It was a silent parade except when all of our trucks came out (district 4) then they started honking, sirens, spraying. All the fun things we usually do.This firetruck came all the way from Issaqua. They were from the fartherest away but we also had trucks from Wenachee, Pasco, Kennewick, Benton Co, Adams Co, Grant Co, Dayton, Spokane, Washtucna, fish and game, Hanford-I can't remember all the places they came from.This funky truck was from Issaqua. The driver of it graduated from Connell or has ties to this area. He flew in to drive it. Apparently only the very important have gotten a firetruck that looks like this because they haven't been issued yet?? The fireman that was coordinating the beginning of the parade told me that.

John Rose (yes Erica your mid wife) and his COOL golf cart fire truck with his grandkids.Some kind of hot rod that has no trannie. It just gets up and goes, so it had to be pushed by a 4-wheeler.

Purple people eater-that ran out of gas during the parade. It was in front of all the fire truck so they were backed up behind it. Chet B. (firefighter who died) built it to be a in crash up derby.

Ms. North Franklin floatWe fed 500 people at the park. We planned for 1500 so there was alot of food left over. The biggest problem we have is not all the community came. The line of cars was INCREDIBLE going down to the park. So that might have discouraged people from coming. Go to Tri-City herald dot com to see the article. The parade went off without a hitch. I'm pretty high strung and like things organized. I had some additional help and they were way more laid back. I don't think mom took any pictures but alot of my of facebook friends did so I will get some pictures from there.

The 4th, well on the 3rd

2010-07-04T13:25:00.001-07:00

Yep, I was co-in charge of the BC parade this year again. It was on the large scale because we had a fire fighter die in the line of duty and the firefighters from around the state came to honor him. We had 87 emergency vehicles in our parade, tripling the size of it. (at least) Here are some pictures taken by the Tri-City Herald. I left my camera at home!! In this picture Bode is on the bottom of the screen by the pink chair. Eric, mom, Brek and I are all standing back behind the blue pick-up. Lexi is standing behind the flag. All you can see of her are her legs.Summer is in this picture with her back to us. She is wearing red with the red, white and blue ribbons in her hair. She was serving food (watermelon).This is a picture of all the fire trucks parked down at the park. It was really cool to see.

Happy birthday Summer

2010-06-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's Summer's birthday today. She got 2 pairs of jeans, 1 pair of capris, mascara, lip gloss and blush and some nail polish. She also got the traditional towel. She gets to go away to girls camp for the week and then next week go get her ears pierced. Do you think she will cry? Ki took pictures of her blowing out candles yesterday so I will get them and post them.

June 22

2010-06-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

I never felt really angry about what happened to my brother. I never hated the person who took his life but oh how I despice the fact that people choose everyday to drink and then drive. I've thought alot about my brother's accident about how it not only changed my family's life, Sara's life, Luke's life, the man who ran him over life, Kollin's co workers' lives but did you know that night (this night three years ago) someone held him as his spirit left his body, her life is forever changed. His accident was so violent and from what little we can gather, his body was thrown into moving traffic where someone else hit him, that person's life is changed forever. Yes, I'm angry about drinking and driving. I want to shack people by their shoulders and say. "please don't do this." But I also want my children to look back at this and realize how one decision can affect so many people. So when my teenager is thinking this one time won't hurt anyone but me, that's not true. Or when they think, me making this one right decision isn't going to matter, that's not true either. Each decision we make will impact those around us. Many decisions we make will directly impact our families, parents, siblings, grandparents and future children. Some decisions we make will impact complete strangers. So it does matter what you do, how you treat people and the thinking of "this isn't going to hurt anyone, or it will only affect me" isn't proper thinking. I'm sad. I'm sad for my parents. I'm sad for Sara and Luke. I'm sad for the man who killed my brother. I'm sad for the lady who held him at the end of his life. I'm sad. But I'm also at peace in the fact that I know I can see him again. That Sara can hug him again. That Kollin can take Luke into his arms and tickle him and tease him and look into Luke's eyes and tell him that he loves him. That my parents can hold their son again. That my children can know their uncle. I'm grateful for the knowledge and peace that the gospel brings. Do I want to shout from the rooftops think before you drink, you bet. But I also know that Kollin is happy and busy and moving forward in his eternal progress. I love you!!

Summer's promotion

2010-06-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

minus any pictures because for some reason I was kind of in charge and I didn't have time to take any pictures. I hope that I can find some some where. Anyway, Summer will no longer have to grace the halls of Basin City Elementary because she is officially a 7th grader. She did SOOOO much better on her report card this last time. She worked really hard and made sure she got all her work turned in on time and done, etc. We are proud of how far she has come. In a few weeks she will be turning 12 and going to girls camp for her first mutual activity. She also gets to wear make up and get her ears pierced. She's very excited about that..oh yeh, and she gets a pair of high heeled shoes!!