This Hoopla

Happy 18th Anniversary to us!! 

We were married in the Las Vegas LDS Temple on May 4, 1996. That was eighteen years, two kids, three houses, numerous trips to Disneyland, zero dogs but one desert tortoise, and several extra pounds of fat ago AND we still like each other, so I guess we are doing something right!! 

May 11, 2014

Mother's Day!! 

The best thing about it is that Lauren and Jace are absolute angels on that day. They smile for pictures, make me lunch, and keep the peace. It is wonderful!! And I'm not being sarcastic, it is for real!! We had family dinner at the Judd's house, and the guys planned, cooked, and cleaned up dinner. The kids were outside and saw these adorable baby birds emerging from a bush in the backyard. We told the kids not to touch them, but as you can see by the picture, Jace is practically strangling one. Hopefully they survived but I told my sister not to tell me if they died because they were so cute and fuzzy it would break my mama heart. To top it all off we got a few "mom" pictures; some intentionally hideous- gotta make fun of yourself once in awhile!!

*oh and I finally got a new computer- HOORAY! 

Celebrating Lauren

 April 28, 2014

Time is a train

Makes the future the past

Leaves you standing in the station

Your face pressed up against the glass

-U2, "Zoo Station"

That's how I feel about my little girl turning 15!! Only my distorted face is pressing on the glass wide eyed in amazement, drooling in denial as my jaw lies wide open like Picasso's "The Scream." Time has once again tricked me.  I'm not going to lie: this teenager, freshman in high school stage has not been all lollipops and roses, more like hormonal flares and outbursts, but we are all hobbling along and doing our best. Lauren wanted clothes for her birthday, so we went out shopping and picked out some things that she opened up on her birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Nelson stopped by and brought her a gift as well. Lauren chose Red Robin for dinner so we all met there, including cousin Ava, for her birthday dinner. It was a pretty low key birthday (gotta save our energy for the Sweet 16) but we all made Lauren feel special and loved and that's really all that matters!!

This happened one night......

we must have a teenager that somebody has a crush on, right??

End of Freshman year Legacy choir concert. They really were impressive!! Way to go Taylor and Lauren!!

June 2014

Girls night at the Spring Mountain Ranch. Lauren, myself, Sydney, and her mom Liz enjoyed an evening watching the hilarious Monty Python's Spamalot. Before the play we walked around the grounds at the Spring Mountain Ranch, it is so lovely nestled in the mountains. It was a fun and relaxing night for sure!!

Lauren and Sydney

Lauren holding the tree

Easter 2014

April 20, 2014

Easter morning.

In years past the Easter Bunny found it amusing to hide all of his Easter surprises around the house or outside in the yard. The kids would search high and low to discover all of the fun things he had left behind. This year, due to the teenage plague having infected our home, the Easter Bunny found it quite acceptable to put the goods in a simple Easter basket. In fact, he was so nonchalant about it that he neglected to put the hollow chocolate Easter bunnies in the baskets and they were later discovered hiding in the refrigerator. After Lauren and Jace checked out their goods we got ready for church. Somehow, someone thought it would be a fabulous idea for me to speak in church on Easter Sunday. I wholeheartedly begged to differ, but ultimately I agreed, took on the challenge, and survived. 

Normally we would have a Saturday Easter party then a Sunday Easter dinner with my family, but this year there were too many conflicting schedules so we combined the party and dinner on Sunday. My mom had the tables decorated festively and we enjoyed ham, potatoes, and all the fixings. Afterwards the Easter Bunny, aka Grandma Nelson, joined us for an Easter fun hunt. Everyone got lots of goodies and we enjoyed time together. Can't wait to do it all again next year!! (well minus the speaking in church part)

My mom's cute Easter table decor

Hannah, Grandma Bunny, Lauren, and photobomber Steph

finally set free from his box prison, only to be mutilated and dismembered!!