Girl's Camp 2013

June 29th- July 4th

I wasn't there, but here is what I know....

• Lauren is a level 3 this year
• Camp was held at Camp Stimpson again (Mt. Charleston)
• they went on a hike (see scenic mountain portrait below)
• camp was held Saturday to Thursday due to 4th of July holiday so they got to have church up at camp
• she was surrounded by good friends and leaders
• the theme was Be Not Moved
• she came home pretty stinky
• we had a quiet week at home (haha)

Dropping off  Lauren and Shelby

Haley, Callie, Lauren, Brooke, Shelby and Bailey

Lauren, Taylor, Callie, Morgan, Brooke and friends

Crazy girls!!

Shelby, Lauren and Brooke

The hike was worth it!!!

Scary tent!

Cute and creative...

 Looks like Lauren had a blast at girls camp!!

The End!!

Los Padres

June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day!!

Father. Dad. Padre. Pops. Whatever you choose to call him, we all have one. I was lucky and got a good one. He's tall, he's funny, he can fix just about anything, he's a hard worker and I call him dad.

I was also lucky enough to marry a great guy. We had two kids and they are lucky to call him dad. 

With all these great dads around, we thought we'd make their day special. My mom, me, Tiff, and Karessa organized a tasty dinner for them. We had french dip sandwiches, french fries, and more. It was a fun night!! My mom brought super hero masks for all the fathers too. It was nice to have this day to celebrate our dads and show them how much we love them!!!!

                                                         

Jason, Yin's dad, my dad, Randy, and Yin

Dad and his girls (except Steph-they weren't able to be there)

Jeff, you are my father

Bits and Pieces

 Our community has yard sale days twice a year and these kids count the days until the next one comes along. They set up their little snack stand and hope for the best. This past one Jace was also selling Boy Scout Camp Cards for $5. As noon was approaching a family pulled up to the yard sale (which we always have at my sister Tiffany's house) and gave the kids a $100 bill to buy out the rest of their inventory. He said he likes to help the kids out and liked that they were earning money for camp. To say they were thrilled would be an understatement. That is truly a generous man and it is something the kids will never forget!!

On May 20th Jason had a birthday. We celebrated with ice cream cake that day and that weekend he chose a french bakery/eatery for dinner. Totally exciting, I know!

On June 8th, Jace had his first official camp out as a 12 year old scout in Young Men's. There were piles of dirt and innumerable rocks scattered about, so I'm guessing he had fun...... Jason got to go along too....

If you peer into the corner of that overturned plastic trap you will see a heinous creature. My keen peripheral vision caught sight of this slinky monster on the bathroom floor as I tinkled. At first I thought it was my imagination, but then I saw it again. It was fast, I couldn't keep a visual track of this creepy crawly. My first instinct was to lift my feet and relish in the safety of the porcelain throne. But a wise voice in my head wondered, "Could an insect blessed with a plethora of tiny legs be able to scale the slippery white porcelain in a single bound?" I had to decide: high feet or high tail it out?? I decided to run for help. Barely escaping with my life, I was able to enlist the help of Jason and Jace. After some quick maneuvering and high pitched squealing (we won't divulge by whom) we managed to trap the darter under the plastic dome. Then Jason used an age old killing tool a.k.a. a shoe to squash this demon into an oblivion. I'm still not sure what kind of centipede this is, but I am pretty sure I didn't want it anywhere near me.

Fremont Street

Jason found a hole in the wall Thai restaurant down on Fremont and insisted that we try it. Good choice. It was delicious!! I never knew I even liked Thai food!! So if you want something different, want to step away from a chain restaurant you need to try it. Plus while you are down there you can check your weight at Heart Attack Grill and enjoy the people watching or make fun of the crazies, which ever you prefer to call it!  

Memorial Day 2013

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
George S. Patton 

Heroes. Whether on the battlefield or at home, our ancestors were fighters. They made it possible for us to be free in many ways. So in an effort to remember their sacrifices we set out on a trek. It was good to remember those that have passed, to recall memories and share those with the kids. My kids never got to meet my Grandpa Nelson, but through our stories they can know about him. We visited Nana's grave, she lived to the ripe old age of 95, passing in 2007. Lauren and Jace were old enough at the time she died and still remember their great- great grandma Leona Ray (Nana). We also visited my mom's parents (Wagner) and step dad in Boulder City. My kids were able to know their Grandma Dottie (died 2005) but not Grandpa Charlie (died 1994) or step Grandpa George Clark. 

After our "grave hopping" as my mother so eloquently calls it, we all had lunch at a "greasy spoon" diner on the main drag in Boulder City. There was fry sauce so it was legit.

Cousins Trenton, Jake, and Clark + Jace

Cousin Hannah, Cousin Ava, Lauren, and Lauren's friend Taylor

That evening the crew swarmed my parents house for a barbecue and swimming extravaganza. As usual that early in the season the pool was a tad chilly for my taste, but the kids enjoyed it.Family bonding time!!

 I love that we can create new memories while building upon the old ones. Sharing stories, laughing together and at each other; that is what makes us a family. The End!!

Twelve

Twelve. That squished, inbetween year when you are almost a cool teenager but the child in you still wants to create battle scenes with the Legos you meticulously assembled. 

The Saturday before his birthday he invited a few friends to eat at CiCi's Pizza and then go to the movies to see Iron Man 3. Then on his actual birthday, May 20th, we devised a plan to have dinner then drive out to Bass Pro Shop and get Jace a hiking backpack for scouts as part of his birthday present. Well Jace envisioned his birthday evening going a different direction, more eastward, in fact. He was determined to go to the mall.... O.K. We obliged, it was, after all his birthday! So we had dinner at Schlotsky's then searched the Galleria Mall for that item in which Jace's birthday money was hopping out of his pocket to buy..... a pair of Supras.

Yep. Some shoes.

Had to have them, couldn't wait.

Lucky for him Grandma & Grandpa Nelson met up with us for dinner and gave him his birthday gift which included CASH!! 

Twelve things about Jace:

• plays Minecraft way too much
• likes BBQ sunflower seeds
• is now a deacon
• doesn't like to brush his teeth
• remembers everything
• still likes Legos
• likes Regular Show & Adventure Time
• can't stand the sound of people chewing
• can sleep all day if you let him
• likes Boy Scout stuff
• favorite cereal- chocolate little bites mini wheats
• wants a pet sloth

Birthday dinner

G&G Nelson, Jace and presents!!

The infamous Supras... along with the Nike Elite socks he talked me into

 Priesthood: The authority to act in God’s name

On Sunday, June 2nd Jason ordained Jace to the office of a deacon and conferred upon him the Aaronic Priesthood. A deacon's duties include passing the sacrament, collecting fast offerings, and serving others. G&G Nelson and G Robb came to our ward to support Jace.