To Learn With Joy- 2010

This year, our Family Back to School Feast was better than ever. 

I was more energetic from last year and even had a desire to cook this time!

 I really had fun setting the table and preparing the crowns for my children.

I felt like me.  I felt normal.

Our Family theme comes from my Favorite Book,

and found in Jacob Chapter 4:3 

"Our children will receive them with thankful hearts, 

and look upon them that they may 

learn with joy and not with sorrow"

This year I gifted my children with beautiful stained glass stars

with their names and their school grade.

By the time they graduate from school, they will have an

amazing collection of stars!

 I also had a family star made with our new family theme.

On the Menu:

Heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and basil. 

Corn fresh off the cob bake Herb-rubbed Tilapia 

Mini string beans. 

Cold Mexican Coke in bottles.

It's good to be back!

Autumn Afternoons And Handprints

(Nicholas and Mr. Nielson doing hand-prints in the new concrete)

We caught four more mice today.

When I say "caught," I mean, like, caught and killed.

They are sure adorable, with their little ears flopped over and their bucked

 front teeth are still attached to the cheese in their doom trap. 

It's sad, really, but necessary.

Last night, Mr. Nielson and I lay in bed and heard a distinct "slap."

 and we both knew that it was the mouse catcher.
It was midnight, but doggone it. Mr. Nielson was going to get to the bottom of this

mouse infiltration problem in our basement,

so he put on his Uggs and went downstairs to our chokey.
Upon examination, it was discovered that a pipe was not insulated correctly,
and the mice were coming in like we were inviting them over for dinner.

I know you think this is gross, but I also know YOU have something lingering 

around your house, too, whether it be rats, mice, scorpions, 

cockroaches, flies, ants, or the worst for me are flying ants.

I hate flying ants!

 Or perhaps this?

(The kid's hands. Our to follow. Oh, and Jimmy's)

Mr. Nielson has been digging a large hole in our backyard

to safely put our trampoline in the ground.
(Goodbye stitches!!)

 And he poured concrete for a shed. 

 He's been working really hard, and I like it.

 He looks so manly and handsome, shoveling dirt. 

It's so manly!

Unfortunately, pouring concrete means, Jimmy will probably 

walk on it while it's drying and

Nicholas will throw rocks at it, and Ollie will shoot his bow and

the arrow will "accidentally" get in it.

Fortunately, pouring concrete will also mean leaving our handprints to remember the 

autumn afternoons when Mr. Nielson worked really hard in 2010.

I went to the grocery store today and saw an assortment of pumpkins. 

I went crazy. Ollie, Nicholas, and I picked the plumpest, 

happiest-looking pumpkins we could find. 

 Then I smooshed them in the back of the trunk

and drove home with the car low-riding.

Oh yeah.

Today, I decided it was time to bring out the Halloween decorations, 

and the girls and I have planned Saturday as the day dedicated to 

Halloween decorating. I'm probably more excited than they are!
*******************

Also, to note. I will be speaking at BYU on September 30th. 

 If you are around and want to come, please do. 

 It would be a pleasure to have you.

The New Jersey Goose.

Before I introduced The NieNie Dialogues, I had this other blog

called: Graciejbrunswick. (don't ask why).
Anyway, in that blog, I mused about my life in East Brunswick, New Jersey

 with my hard-working husband, Mr. Nielson, and my daughters,
Claire and Jane (I was also pregnant with Ollie).
I wrote about my hectic but mostly beautiful day-to-day life as a

 young mother experiencing severe

homesickness especially on those winter days 

when the sun would go down in the depths of winter at 5:00.

And, Christian worked SO MUCH.

But I was happy. Really!  Among the amazing events of our little lives

like, delivering Oliver on my bed with hippy midwives, or the time I was

gone in Utah and Mr. Nielson surprised me and painted the girl's room

BRIGHT RED! Everywhere, ceilings too!
But, my favorite part about living in New Jersey was my neighbor's goose.

Each month and holiday they dressed up goose in amazing little outfits.

And I, as a mother living at home without a car found that little monthly

exchange the most exciting thing that happened to us all month.

So exciting that I remember calling Mr. Nielson to tell him the news:

"Hey honey, I know you are busy at work, but 

guess what they dressed the goose as for Halloween?"

Every day I would watch for Stanley and Adele to leave their home 

so the kids and I could sneak over and photograph the goose.

Today I read a fun article about people (lots of people)

who dress up porch geese.

This is a real thing all across the country! 

I had to laugh because it reminded me of New Jersey 

and my young moments as a mom living quietly on Harvey Circle.

 It also reminded me of that one night that Lucy tried to 

steal the goose when she had come out to visit me from Utah.
No such luck, it was like 500 pounds.

I think I know what I want for Christmas.

A post about naps and stuff.

 

Just looking at these dishes in the dishwasher makes me tired.

Have you ever wondered why your babies sometimes wake up from their naps grumpy? 

I totally know why.

 I have this little problem that I have been battling since the accident. 

I can only do one project a day before I want to die of exhaustion.

Someday's it's making dinner. 

Sometimes it is making the girls their lunches in the morning. 

Sometimes it's just getting up at all. 

Sometimes, it's awesome and I can make lunches, four loads of laundry, clean the kitchen, 

make dinner, do homework...and well that's usually where I run out of gas. 

So, I've decided to take a nap to give me that extra boost I need

 during the day to keep on going until 8:30 when the children are all in bed. 

But instead, I wake up from my naps grumpy in pain with 

thoughts of the pizza delivery man at my door.

(Betsy and Lucy July 2010) 

Today I opted out of the nap. 

After my 100 millionth yawn, Lucy and Betsy came over to save me from giving

 into the temptation of napping. 

I welcomed her into my house and we went into the basement where it's cooler. 

On the way, I slipped and fell down the stairs. 

My feet slipped down half the stairs and my backside zipped right down behind them.

 I looked at Lucy and she looked at me. 

Then we began laughing hysterically, except that it really hurt but I was too tired to 

cry so I picked myself up and sat down by her on the couch. 

And we stayed there watching our children play. 

We both begged each other to help one another get-up. 

 The 4:00 blues were coming on fast. I told her I would count to 10

 and then we needed to get up. 

I got to 10 and neither one of us moved. She said she would get up the next time Betsy cried. 

Then Besty started to cry and still, we sat there like blobs. 

And we all needed naps. And now it was dinner time (Me and the Mr. in San Diego in July)

Mr. Nielson came to my rescue like he always does. 

He helped us up, made dinner, soothed my sore back, and put me to bed early. 

So, I am still undecided about the naps. 

 I still hate 4:00, but I hate being grumpy too. 

But mostly I hate waking up grumpy with nothing planned for dinner. 

Blue Lily's Balloons

I had a dream one night.
In the dream, my family was being photographed by the talented 

Wendy Whitaker with big, colorful, fat balloons in the background.
I woke up and immediately emailed Wendy my inspired dream.
The stage was set.
Large colorful balloons were coming from California to 

be used at our usual spot—the beautiful apple orchards at the foot of the

Wasatch Mountains, near our home on Briar Avenue.

But, unfortunately, one by one, the balloons disappeared.
One, as we were putting the balloons on the car, one flew out of the car window, 

one out of Ollie's hand, two by Nicholas, and one by Jane.
We were down to five. Wendy and I got creative with the remaining balloons.
It's OK. The pictures turned out perfectly:

Thank you, Wendy Whitaker from Blue Lily Photography.
Wendy and her sweetie, Tyler, are talking the show on the road. 

 If you are near or in her area, give her a call. She is amazing.

Introducing her International Tour:

Perth, Australia April 4-8th
Melbourne, Australia April 8-10th
Auckland, New Zealand, April 15-16th
Toronto, Canada May 19-22
England/Ireland/Germany TOUR May 26th- June 7th
British Columbia, Canada, July 28-30th
Calgary, Canada August 2-10th

Check out her blog for exact dates and other information.


Flower on Jane's dress, Claire's flower clip, and poppers on her shoes.
How about my yellow hairpin? All from EmersonMade.