Borrowed Leaves...

We don't have leaves of our own yet. Our mini-orchard trees are just babies and our new Red Maple only spreads a few leaves in our yard. I really don't imagine we will ever have many leaves, as we built our house of wood on a place where the wind huffs, puffs and blows terribly hard on a regular basis.

But... thankfully our church had some leaves we could borrow and partake in piling, throwing, and jumping in.

Birthday Hats...

Kylee turned four yesterday. We can hardly believe it... it seems like it was just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and she needed us for everything. I thought I should record exactly "what is up" with her these days.

She...

-loves Barbies
-loves Polly Pockets
-loves playing dress up
-is working diligently on learning her letters
(there is a deal on the table for a breakfast out with mommy when
she has mastered them)
-wants to wear only dresses and velcro shoes
-is sleeping in her new BIG bed
-has started swimming lessons and loves it
-started CCD with mommy and Anne as her teachers
(this is truly going to be a test for both of us)
-eats endless amounts of cheesesticks and yogurt, but that seems to be about it
-still cries when we take her to pretty school
-enjoys painting
-asks to sleep with someone every night
-is afraid of the dark and must have her nightlight on and her music box playing when we put her to bed
-quotes the monsters from Monsters vs. Aliens quite well
(her favorite is quote is when Bob greets the giant robot and says, "hey there, hi, we are here to destroy you". She does it in a completely animated manner)
-tells us she loves us all day long... we are the best mommy and daddy in her heart and to God and the sun and back.

Tony brought home his retired work hats. It was hard, but he managed to part with them and now the girls are wearing them all the time. They were this year's birthday hats. And, by the way I was joking about Tony having a hard time parting with these blue cowboy hats... not really his favs. This beautiful package from Taunya contains lots and lots of Polly Pockets... yeah! Thanks Taun.

Just The Family...

I just realized that this weekend was spent solely with my family. We didn't hang out with anyone, besides ourselves. I just read a wonderful blog about being content and that is just what I am right now. It must take a 48 hour dose of two adorable, loving, little girls and a fun, considerate husband.

We...

~had our first family movie night, seriously, that I can remember anyway. Tony does not sit still for the length of a movie, ecspecially not a kid appropriate movie. We were able to captivate him with Monsters vs. Aliens. We all started out cuddled on the couch, but needed our space about halfway through (around popcorn and M & M time).

~hung out (the girls and I) at school for three hours while Tony slept. I got my classroom library reorganized by genre. Today I picked up camp chairs for my reading corner (I really hope lice don't like camping chairs).

~BBQed chicken and made twice baked potatoes for a lovely dinner for four. I was sad that I couldn't remember where exactly everyone sat. It has been too long since we sat down for a nice family dinner. We used to never miss... time to slow down.

~dressed the girls in matching pumpkin shirts and went to Tri-Cities to let Kylee pick out her own birthday present. She choose a pre-school teacher Barbie set and a baby nursery doctor Barbie set. We dined at Red Robin and hit Costco and the Mall.

~read books, drew pictures and watched cartoons.

~did lots of laundry and a smidge of other household chores.

~went to church.

~heard I love you about a million times!!! and got oodles of kisses and hugs!!! The girls are so generous with their love... what a blessing!!!

I have to remember to pencil in these family weekends... I do think they are good for the spirit. Next weekend the girls are going to spend the weekend with grandma and grandpa ALONE. I usually always go, but they are ready to go by themselves. Tony is working both days. It is going to be so weird... I am guessing I will cry. At least we will have just had this weekend that was "Just the Family".

Our Latest Insults...

Kyndra and Kylee really seem to be getting on each other's nerves these days. It is hard not to laugh when they are insulting each other because they use such funny words. There is a lot of "head" and "pants" involved. "Meanhead" and "crabbypants" are two favorites. Kylee often tells Kyndra, "I am frustrating at you". Kyndra is constantly complaining that Kylee "is in her business". There is constant mimicking and endless face making. Kylee's latest comeback for everything can be viewed on this video.

Don't get me wrong we are truly working on using our kind words, but I am thankful these are the worst of our insults (for now).

Disney '09...

I labeled this post Disney '09 because we realized on this trip that we are tried and true Disneyland junkies. We originally thought we would wait about ten years before returning again, but we now know that won't be the case. Whatever ails you can be cured with a dose of Disney. We are thinking there will, in the very least, be a Disney '12. To our surprise, Kyndra was a complete adrenalin freak. We couldn't keep her off the super thrill rides. Kylee had her favorites too, but they were a little slower paced. We are hoping we didn't scar her for life with a couple of the rides we did coax her on. Her heart rate was easily slowed with a spin on the Tea Cups or a leisurely trip in Pooh's honey pot.

I was sooooo happy to see Sully...

The Nelson girls...

It's Halloweentime in Disneyland...

First at the gates...
The water park at our pirate hotel...

The characters were everywhere (some were even dressed in their Halloween attire)...

A few more pics from our journey...

I can't begin to express how blessed we feel to have been able to accompany our girls on this magical trip.

We're Off...

I have officially started my 8th year of teaching third grade (11th year of teaching). Kyndra has officially became a 1st grader. And Kylee has joined her buddies at pretty school.


-I love my new room (that would be my 6th new room at my school), I love my class, and I love all the sights, sounds, and smells of school in the fall (not to be confused with the springtime smells P.U.). And, I love love love my Promethean Board. I don't like leaving my girls!!! Thank goodness the day in the life of a teacher exceeds the speed of light and the aches of missing my girls aren't felt much during the day.


- Kyndra has been filled with anxiety about the school year. Her fears subsided a bit right after open house, but returned shortly after. I was worried for her (I don't know where her worrying comes from), but never fear she "LOVES" first grade. "It is better than the best!" Most of the details are unknown of course, but she has been playing school all afternoon with Kylee. I think I am getting a glimpse into her classroom. The discipline policy is clear in my mind as Kylee is not the greatest pupil. I do believe there is also some sort of sign language to use the restroom.

-Kylee, oh Kylee has started back to pretty school much to her dismay. She informed us that a lot of the kids in her class don't really like her. My curiosity sparked, I asked her why that was. She said she just couldn't understand why since she is the nicest girl in her class and the best listener. Hmmm, I just don't know why the kids are a little put off. That part is funny... the tear filled, clawmarked, screaming drop offs... NOT SO CUTE. Doesn't help with the guilt factor.

Here she is ready to go... this is not what she picked out to wear, but her choice outfit required ironing that was just not happening this morning... maybe tomorrow.

Back to school bash...


And now I must go, I am supposed to be cleaning the super dirty trailer for our upcoming Labor Day trip. Whose idea was it to plan a trip the first weekend after school starts??? I'm sure it will be just what the doctor ordered when the time comes.

Have a great first week of school all of you school goers and educators!

Busy Days...

Today was a busy, busy day. It seems like the one and only summer when I have a three and six year old is on fast forward all of a sudden. We are trying hard to meet our mounding obligations and still take the time for summer fun. Today was filled with cheerleader camp, delivering a hot blackberry cobbler to the police department, moving classrooms, piles of dishes, working on cartwheels in the backyard, picking our first homegrown tomatoes, multiple viewings of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, mac and cheese and eggs for dinner two hours late, watermelon, lawn mowing, etc...

I thought we had better stop and grab some shots in front of our Giant Sunflower patch. As you can see we only had one survivor, but he is strong.