Parachute pants FTW

 Last night Lottie crawled into bed with me.  

That isn't too unusual since she frequently hops in bed with me sometime

during the night without me knowing.  

She's a great little snuggle-bug, but last night was the worst.

Last night she just cried and told me  

repeatedly that her tooth hurt.

I'd tickle her back, and she would calm down and even  

fall asleep for a few minutes. But just as I would head back to dreamland,

she would wake up again in pain and tears.

This went on all night.

So I gave her some medicine which helped us both get a little sleep.

When my alarm was off at 6:30, I had to kick myself out of bed. 

I was exhausted and feeling overwhelmed as I led The Little Nies

in our morning routine:

breakfast, scriptures, last-minute homework, prayers, 

and then driving and dropping off children at school(s).

Then I went to the boy's elementary school where I had committed 

to help set up the annual art show.

Lottie followed me around the gym in tears.  

Then I drove straight to our dentist (unannounced), who discovered 

that Lottie had an abscessed tooth.

He fixed it right away. (He is the best).

We came home in the rain and got in a warm tub together.

(I won't get all sappy, but I will miss these days with her

when she goes to kindergarten!!!).

When the Little Nies got home from school, Lottie brought my 

phone over to me so I could help her find the 

photos I had taken of her at the dentist.

As I strolled through, I looked at myself and died. I look hammered. 

I was kind of shocked that I let myself go out looking that way.

AND I had parachute pants on, for heaven's sake!!!

Thank goodness it's the weekend and 

THANK GOODNESS Mr. Nielson is coming home tonight!!!!

Spiritual Enlightenment: All God's critters got a place in the choir.

* * * *

Dentist: Cougar Dental 

Come to The Other Side!

When I pick up Jane from school each day, 

I always tell her to run out the door as soon as the bell rings because she

has about 5 minutes before about 15 school

 buses line up and head out of the parking lot.

Once the buses start moving, 

she's stuck on the other side until they all depart.

Today, she got stuck, and I took photos of her 

while waving in between buses.

Jane, come to the other side!!!

The Sweep

At my house, when the sun is going down, after dinner is gobbled 

and cleaned up and before showers are turned on, and the kids start getting ready for bed,

 I make The Little Nies do a "sweep" of the house.

This is when we pick up toys, put away homework, 

backpacks, and any dishes we find floating around the house (like under couches).  

Me and Lottie were in charge of picking up the porch area tonight.

But that just means me because  

she talked, sang, and took pictures with my phone while I worked.
(She's pretty good at figuring out the self-timer).

Not to be rude or anything, but....

Today was chilly and rainy, and beautiful.  

The earth is greening, and the color is starting to creep up the 

mountains, making my morning hikes breathtaking. 

This low-temperature day seemed perfect for making the Little Nies

 mac & cheese for dinner (Mr. Nielson is at the ranch).

I began the cheese sauce in the oven and boiled the noodles 

when Oliver walked into the kitchen, sniffed really hard, 

then looked at me in disgust.

"Mom!  Not to be rude or anything, 

but it totally smells like Utah Lake in here."

First of all, whenever anyone starts off any conversation with:

"not to be rude or anything, BUT...."

You know it's going to be bad.

Second, Utah Lake is a large shallow lake in Provo and

 is almost always stinky with tons of oversized fish, like crap carp.  

Growing up, Utah Lake always got a bad wrap.  

It was polluted and dirty, and no one ever went in it.

The lake has since been cleaned up, and it's beautiful

 (but still really stinky at times).

 When we had our sailboat, The AuroraMark, you could most often 

find our family sailing on its choppy waves.

Anyway, back to my dinner: it turned out to be very delicious 

and it resembled nothing like Utah Lake.

Even Ollie ate two helpings worth.

Perfect Stovetop Mac & Cheese

Over the weekend...

I went to the temple with my teenagers to serve in the temple together.

I wore Oliver's Pat Tillman Cardinal jersey all day to honor Pat's life.

I even wore the jersey to the mall to return some shoes.

And don't you think malls and jerseys go so hand in hand?!

Mr. Nielson and Oliver go on a Scout campout:

And, church was beautiful, as usual.

(My grey tights, tho!)

 Welcome new week!

I love him so much

I had lunch with my brother Topher today.  He made me laugh a lot.  

He is so funny and pleasant.

We both eat the same (holding the fork with our fists) and use a lot of napkins.

We can relate on so many levels. 

After lunch, I dropped him off at his physical therapy session.  

He buzzed off in his wheelchair, and I kinda felt like he was my child 

heading to school.  I felt protective and proud.

Topher is amazing, brave, and courageous, and I am in awe of his strength.

I love him so much.

Spiritual Enlightenment: Our Father's Glorious Plan

Soaps

As a little girl, I remember my aunt Lisa 

 used to watch "soaps" while she ironed.

Her ironing board was set up smack-dab in the middle of the room in front of the TV.

She wouldn't let us watch the steamy episodes with her and shooed us out the door 

when we'd creep around the kitchen wall.

Today I felt like my aunt.

I had an ironing pile as tall as me 

(Easter tablecloths, napkins, the boy's shirts, and the girl's dresses).

I decided to watch my "show."  

No soaps for me, I'm watching "The Goldbergs."

(Thanks for the tip, Spencer & Lindsay).

Lottie was with her bestie Ada, which meant I had the morning to myself.

In some ways, watching the Goldbergs really reminds me of my childhood.

And also because the 80s were quite possibly the greatest time on Earth.

And also, also, I love to iron.

It's just not the same as it used to be.

Out my window this evening I saw The Little Nies

busy jumping on the trampoline.

I love to watch them jump and scream and yell and laugh 

(and of course, they occasionally fight, which I don't love).

Tonight I was super jazzed because I wanted to show them a thing or two and

  I had some sweet tricks to share/show off.

 When I was little I was actually a whiz on the tramp and

I could do any trick possible and made up new ones, too.

I spent hours on the tramp with my sister Lucy and my cousins.

And now.....it's just not the same as it used to be.

I showed the kids a layout backflip, ariel front twist, 

and touched my toes in my famous cheerleading air splits.  

The Little Nies oohed and ahhed with each magnificent trick.  I felt really cool.

But each trick and bounce had me worried, I actually felt like I needed a diaper.

I finally confessed to my children I couldn't jump anymore and 

then laughed so hard I let it all go (and you know what I mean).

Then in a hysterical mess, I desperately took myself off the trampoline and

shamefully walked back to the house with the Little Nies yelling to me:

"It's OK, Mom we won't tell Dad!"

I share this information with you because I KNOW you know

 what I am talking about, and the first step is acknowledging the problem.  

There, I said it.

Time to really get serious with my kegel exercises.

Easter 2017

I hosted our Easter feast this year at Fox Hill,

 (2015, 2016). 

It was just as beautiful as all the previous years.

To be honest, last year was actually a tough Easter.  

The day before Easter, I learned about my brother Topher's ALS diagnosis.

It was complex information to take in.  

It was, however, quite appropriate to find out about this devastating 

news on Easter Sunday since Easter is about Christ's Resurrection,

meaning second chances-- at everything.

This also means that Topher won't actually die forever. 

His body will die, but HE won't.

And that beautiful promise is because of the Savior.

Christopher's news was hard- it was a punch to the gut, but never hopeless or doomed.  And that is one of the reasons I love Easter so much.  

This year I hosted my brother Andrew his wife Megan, their four beautiful children, 

my sister Lucy her husband Andrew, and their darling three children, 

and, of course, my parents.

Our Easter feast included the following:

-Ham (thanks, Mom and Dad), 

Megan's green salad

Lucy's fruit salad

Andrew's traditional eggs (I call them fart eggs...they kinda stink).

My girls and I made 3-cheese scalloped potatoes (making up the recipe as we went).

Double rolls

Mr. Nielson's asparagus

and Megan B's lemon bars for dessert (THANK YOU, MEGS!).

There was plenty of food and plenty of conversation.

After dinner, we moved into the living room, where we watched THIS VIDEO 

and shared our thoughts and testimony about the Resurrection and the Savior.  

It was really a perfect Easter.  

Saturday is when we celebrate "Springtime" themed traditions 

(Easter baskets, hiding eggs, games, treats...etc.), 

because I think it is important to keep Easter Sunday focused on the Savior.

Also, to note, this may have been the first year I didn't dye Easter eggs. 

 My kids were disappointed, but sometimes when life is busy, something has to give 

and this time, it was dying eggs. 

In those cases, I just smile and tell my kids 

"Welp, there is always next year!  Isn't that great news?"

(But I did manage to find amazing edible grass to 

fill the Little Nies baskets with).

I'm the best.

Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is ris'n today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heav'ns and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave?Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the vict'ry won, Alleluia!

Jesus' agony is o'er. Alleluia!

Darkness veils the earth no more, Alleluia!

-Charles Wesley

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Easter!

Have you heard the tale of the pink Easter bonnet?

HE HAS RISEN!!

(beautiful Easter video...please, please watch!)

Also: Happy Birthday today, MOM! I love you!

Easter weekend

This morning I walked through Fox Hill and opened up almost 

every window I could.

It was such a beautiful Spring day.  

I took photos of Lottie jumping on the trampoline this evening.

Our trampoline is positioned in a beautiful little corner of our property.

It overlooks the valley below, and I must admit, I felt a little ache in my heart.

I will be really sad to leave this amazing place.

But I also feel very peaceful too.

I had to tell Mr. Nielson that when

 I feel my heart hurting about our big moving decision, 

I am not second-guessing the spiritual impression I had,

I am just feeling sad that this chapter in life is closing.  

Also, I mostly hate change.  

Fox Hill has been an incredible oasis and haven for my family.

This will most likely be the last Easter in Fox Hill, 

and I am having my siblings over for dinner.  It will be a bittersweet feast.

I hope you and yours have a very happy Easter.

I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who, through Jesus Christ,

provided a way for mistakes to be made right,

sins to be forgiven, and pain to disappear.

Happy Easter, indeed.

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Prince of Peace 

Beans, beans...

Here in Utah,  Spring here has definitely sprung!

Today after homework, Mr. Nielson and I decided to take the kids

 on a bike ride around our neighborhood. 

One thing led to another, and we found ourselves

 on the bike trails headed to Cafe Rio for dinner.

 It's so good to get back on our bikes after a loooong winter.

After dinner, I called my nephew Matthew 

(we call him Bake) to pick us up, and thank heavens! 

 (I didn't think I could bike up the hills to Fox Hill).

And you know what they say: 

"Beans, beans, the magical fruit..."

* * * * * *

KSL, our local TV station, is reporting on several different faith 

promoting stories in conjunction with Easter.

I was honored to be involved and discuss gratitude with Lori Prichard.

Lori told me she had interviewed my family members and reported on 

my story and progress several times while I was still in a coma.

It was really neat to finally meet her alive and thriving this time!

(I will link to the story when it airs).