Happy Halloween 2019

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

What better photo to post on this day then this amazing photo 

of Lottie as a punk-cheetah 2016.

This year Lottie has chosen to be something
 very similar to her punk cheetah...and you'll see tomorrow.
 She loves her cats!

Halloween day for our family a filled with traditions old

 (Halloween dinner and pumpkin carving), and new 

(floating candles and donuts).

We dodged a bullet today when the opponent
 of Oliver's football team

forfeited due to lack of players.

( Because seriously, who plays a football game on Halloween ;)

Also a bonus: it's early out AND no school tomorrow!!

Have a wonderful spooky day!

( I can't get over how long my hair is!)

The Halloween Sisters.

Clane has been hard at work creating their Halloween costumes:

They are SO busy with school and when they find a little 

spare time to work on their costumes, it's usually like 10:00 at night. 

Right now it is nearly midnight and I hear them laughing and sewing

away in the kitchen.  I love it. 

(But I don't love it at 6:45 when I wake them up for school.

They are NOT laughing, then.)

They found (designed even) the fabric and the pattern 

and are sewing their creations.

In the past few years, Clane has tried to find costumes that correlate

 with each other, and this year is no exception--but you'll see in the coming days!

(Dottie & Betty: Rockford Peaches)

(Day of the Dead)

 (Jenny & Patsy)

Happy Halloween, friends!!

Happy EIGHTEENTH Birthday Claire

Today my oldest child, my beautiful daughter Claire Aurora turns 18.  

HOLY COW: E I G H T E E N!

Tonight I actually googled what happens when your child turns 18,

and I read this:

Eighteen is a magic birthday, a milestone into adulthood 

accompanied by great privileges as well as serious legal implications. 

At 18, your teen can vote, buy a house or wed her high school sweetheart. 

She can also go to jail, get sued and gamble away her tuition in Vegas.

I know this is a special birthday for Claire, but in my mind

Claire has been 18 for many years.

She has always been a mature and a steady young lady.

She's not a typical teenager with mood swings and an impulsive attitude.

She's always been grounded and sensible.

She's calm and collected, concerned, and intelligent.

She's one of the most beautiful souls I know, and her

 beauty radiates from the inside to the outside.

I am overwhelmed and honored that God allowed

me to birth, rear, and love this beautiful girl.

I put up the Happy Birthday sign over our kitchen table last night

so she would wake up and see it, and for a split-second

I wondered if this would be the last time I would do that for her.

Where will she be next year?

I shoved that thought out of my mind because I can't be thinking

about that, it puts me in a very somber mood.

I am going to savor every single second this 18th year brings us.

One of our favorite children's books says it best:

"And no matter what places you travel to,

what wonders you choose to see,

I will always belong right there with you,

and you'll always belong with me."

We need prayer again.

“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer, 

and we need prayer again,” said President M. Russell Ballard, 

acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 

who spoke at a devotional in Massachusetts on Sunday. 

“I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, 

for our leaders, for our people and for the families that 

live in this great nation founded by God. 

Remember, this country was established and preserved 

by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly 

acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”

Sign the Nielson family up!

We are eternally grateful for our country, for

the freedoms we enjoy each day, and especially for

those who have paid the ultimate price for that freedom.

We're not praying for a political party, we are praying for

our beautiful country and those who lead it- everyone.

Tonsils update

This morning I took Nicholas to a ear, nose and throat specialist.

Last week I'm sure he had his 600,000 sore throat,

 and it was time to take some action.

And just as we suspected:

1. his tonsils are giant

2. he snores because of those giant tonsils

3. he is unusually lethargic because of his tonsils.

4. most of his mouth sores will clear up once his tonsils are out.

Basically his tonsils are giant cesspools of bacteria.

The doctor told him he will be in pain for about a week, 

but then it's smooth sailing,

and I concur!  After my tonsils came out in 6th grade, 

I hardly ever get sore throats!

After his tonsillectomy next month he might be a completely 

different boy for all I know!

(2015)

Here in The White House we are gearing up for Halloween!

 The girls are making their costumes this year and will have

 to work on high-speed this weekend to have them ready for the big day!

Lottie has had her costume since September (of last year),

and the boys are still deciding.  They want to dress up, but not 

overly dress up since they are teenagers (and boys). 

Have a happy weekend!

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Beauty of Holiness

So long Utah

Our last days in Utah were lovely as ever.

The days were chilly, sunny, and full of color.

 Utah never fails in October which is why we love visiting then!

Seeing my family and friends was wonderful, but frustrating too.

There are so may people I want to connect with, and I don't have the time

it takes to see everyone I love. Sometimes it's the worst.

I guess I can always go back-- and that is a good feeling,

except for the flying part.  I hate flying.

Here's how the rest of our Utah trip ended:

Christian and I took Claire and Jane, (and Umi too!)

 to Logan, Utah for a tour of Utah State University.

What a gorgeous campus! 

I should note that our tour guide walked backwards

 the WHOLE time, and it was very impressive.

Claire likes that freshmen don't have to live on campus, 

and Jane liked the Ag department.  

Something for everyone, I think.

We spent time at my parents house in the familiar Tree Streets

 where I grew up and the children love.

(But it is changing to much!!!....Stop!!!).

The boys hung out with old friends:

And cousins:

Both Claire and Jane went on dates.

(They wouldn't let me take photos of that...Obvs),

but here is Claire waiting patiently for her date:

We had traditional "Sundee dinner with Umi and Gramps:

We had lunch with several of the Clark girls. 

 (My niece Lindsay has the cutest baby in the world):

Lottie reunites with ADA!!!! :

They hiked together, played together, and

 ate their favorite "curly noodle soup" together.

The girls have been eating this magical soup (aka: ramen noodles)

at Ada's kitchen table since they were like three:

My heart aches thinking about their sweet friendship

 because they are the best of friends, but live so far away.

We enjoyed our last day at the Sundance Resort:

What a special place it has in my heart, 

and will forever and ever.

Then we said our goodbyes to Mr. Nielson who drove to New Mexico

 from the Salt Lake City airport to attend a cattle convention.

I hate travelling without Christian, 

but the Little Nies are so easy,

except for Lottie who had a severe ear ache and cried

most the flight.

(That was a long flight). 

We had a 3 hour layover in Nashville,

so we drank Dr. Pepper, ate chips,

 and had a mad Dutch Blitz tournament.

We finally made it home at 1:00 am.

 Goodnight.

While in Utah....

Here's what we've been up to while in Utah:

Staying up Provo Canyon at Sundance with all the

beautiful fall color!

Eating at our favorite places in downtown Provo:

The boys go on the deer camp with their cousins:

Clane and cousin Lydia go to the BYU football game with Gramps.

  It was cold and wet, but the Cougs won!  

Church with my brother Topher and his family.  

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

Family photos with Justin Hackworth, and we discover

 he has been photographing our family for TEN YEARS!  

I sure love that guy!

And...Squaw Peak out my parents living room window.