Happenings in the Springs

Garden of the Gods

2012-01-17T23:38:00.002-05:00

Christmas 2011 at our House

2012-01-11T10:47:00.045-05:00

Snow before Christmas, we loved it!

Cookies and milk for Santa Clause!!! (Notice our dead Christmas tree, don't buy a tree from Wal-mart people!)

New Pajamas! (Christmas Eve)
Thank you Natalie and Jared!

New toys! (Christmas morning)

Thanks for the dollies Grandma Nielsen

"Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman, once there was a snowman tall, tall, tall..."

New coat, new p.j.s, new ring, new shoes, sweeeeeet!

New hat, new head lamp, new earrings, new necklace, new p.j.s, new slippers, oh ya baby!

Mayhem.

Christmas night after dinner with the missionaries, we left for Utah at 9:30 p.m. and arrived in Scofield at my families cabin at 6:30 a.m. (Thanks for driving all night Matt!) We surprised everyone when we showed up! It was like Christmas morning all over, only better because family is better than anything from a box!

My mother made these dresses, and the girls ball caps and Dani's p.j.s and Carlee's nightgown or pajama dress as Matt called it. She also had my Teddy Ruxbin and Grubby restored! Thank you so much Grandma!!!

Thank you for all the amazing gifts and wonderful time everyone! It was so good to see everyone.

For part of our Christmas vacation we took a little trip to Idaho and visited a lot more of our family:
Aunt Molly got to visit us in the van:)

Sean, Shannon, Ashlynn, and Taylor Reed (friends from Dental school!)
Carlee and Dani's Great Grandpa and Grandma Nielsen
My Grandpa Pincock
My Grandpa Jemmett

Carlee and Dani's new cousin Zeelee and cousin Cora

We also visited Matt's sister Jenny and her husband Scott and their 4 adorable kiddos, Matt's friend Steve, and my friend Alyssa and her husband and kid. It was so good to see you all! (Sorry we didn't get pictures with you.) We love you all.

Thank you to Matt for taking all of these amazing pictures and preserving our memories of a wonderful Christmas this year.

Sledding at the Pincock Cabin, Christmas break 2011

2012-01-11T09:33:00.033-05:00

Go Quinn!

Go Matt!
I might be too big a pansy for this now from the looks of it:

I survived!
Go Cyrie!
Quinn and Dylan jumping over each other. NOT safe, we know!

Carlee loved sledding,
and so did Dani.

Go Harper!

Yeeehaaaa!

Sledding sure can be fun but it definitely isn't the safest form of entertainment. Of all the years we have been doing it without getting hurt, this year we were not so lucky. Little Trev, my six year old nephew, broke his femur! Poor guy. He had to lie in pain for over an hour waiting for paramedics to arrive at the cabin and a helicopter to fly him quickly to Primary Children's Hospital for surgery. He is alright now, just immobilized for 2 months! Hang in there kiddo!!!

We saw big foot at the cabin this year!

Holiday Happenings

2011-12-18T21:50:00.010-05:00

Julee made these cute snow men in tin cups full of little mint marshmallows covered in white chocolate; and then gave them to our neighbors with a note that read, "We hope you enjoy your snow men poo, and hope you have a merry Christmas too!"

Danilyn is getting big!

Carlee is too!

This is our view in the morning!

Dani has been taking a few steps here and there but this week she decided it would be her new mode of transportation!

Carlee is loving this whole Christmas thing!

I woke up early to get pictures of the lunar eclipse last week. The only problem is I set up too close the mountain and, after I took this shot, it shortly disappeared behind the hill.

Visit from Santa

2011-12-08T00:10:00.005-05:00

Carlee what do you want Santa to give you? "One, two, three, Kitty Cat and mama cat."

Thanksgiving at our House with 10 Members of my Family!

2011-11-29T14:19:00.007-05:00

If you want to see pictures go here http://bonedoggy.blogspot.com/ to my sisters blog. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, we did!

Some of my favorite pictures from the last few months

2011-11-18T22:56:00.002-05:00

My love climbing
Check out those teeth!
This is at Sea World San Antonio, thought I would add it because I don't have many pictures of myself.
This is a repeat from an earlier post but I love the smile
I love the hair! Unfortunately it stopped doing this :(
Montezuma's tower, Garden of the Gods with Joe
Top of Pikes Peak
Enjoying the sun set over the flight line.
I love this picture! It is from back in August
This picture is from a while back but Julee wanted me to post it.

Rock Climbing!

2011-11-12T17:41:00.010-05:00

We had the day off Friday and so decided to go for a climb and the Garden of the Gods. It was so much fun! Kerry and Katie (Some friends from church) came with us and we took turns watching the kids. I didn't have any size 10 shoes for Karie to wear so he wasn't able to climb, we will see how long that lasts!
So Julee hasn't climbed in over four years and I will have to admit I didn't have high expectations. She totally impressed me though, climbing everything I did and making it look easy!
What a beautiful climbing Partner! How could the view get any better?
Needless to say I was happy!

Julee totally freaked out when it was time to rappel down. I accidentally gave her a little push to get in position and she gave me the deadliest look I have ever seen (and I have seen some good ones).Katie climbed for the first time in the Garden. Thanks for coming Katie and Kerry!
Carlee put on her harness and was excited until it was time for her to climb. I think we waited too long and she was ready for a nap.

She had fun swinging though!

Danilyn's First Birthday Party

2011-11-06T22:43:00.007-05:00

We had a monster mash with some friends and neighbors, it was fun!

This year with her has been incredible!

Radom Pics

2011-11-02T00:29:00.009-04:00

Fall cookies

Dani had her first birthday (more pics coming)
Daddy is gone to Texas for a training for three weeks (thank goodness for Skype)

A big snow storm came in, the snowman was gone the next day

The girls and I stayed at my sister's in Toas, NM for a week (more pics coming hopefully)

Misses Pumpkin Head

Had a fun Halloween as cute pink monsters

Danilyn's First Steps

2011-11-02T00:19:00.003-04:00

Pumpkin Heaven

2011-10-25T23:11:00.018-04:00

Well, Matt has been gone for a little over a week now and I am feeling exhausted and missing him. I spent a week at my sister's house in Toas, NM which is only 3.5 hours away from us, yipee! She has two boys Rowan age 3 and Harper age 6. It was a busy week running around after a 1, 2, 3, and 6 year old but we had fun. I have only been home for a couple of days and I am wishing Matt was not going to be gone for almost 2 more weeks. How do families do it when a parent is deployed for half a year or more?

While we were in Toas we went to the amazing McCall's Pumpkin Patch. It was so much fun. A few days before that my friend and I took our girls to the Wishing Star Farm and Pumpkin Patch here in Colorado Springs. It was not as big of a production as the McCall's one but it was still so much fun. Pumpkin patches are just one more reason to LOVE this time of year!

So below are some beautiful pictures that my friend Heidi took at the Wishing Star Farm pumpkin patch here in town. I will also be posting pics of the fun times Carlee, Dani and I had in Toas with my sister and her awesome family as soon as I get the pics from my sister:) And, hopefully Matt will be posting Danilyn's 1st birthday pics soon so stay tuned!

A train ride, pumpkin patch style

A really cool swing

A really big slide, yeeehaw

Heidi, her two girls and us on a hay ride

A big bouncy pillow that Carlee didn't like jumping on on her own, Dani loved it!

Carlee riding a pony!

Dani petting the pony that Carlee rode. They both loved the experience!

2011-10-13T18:13:00.009-04:00

Well, we haven't posted for a long time. Sorry folks. We can't use all of the pictures we have been taking until we get this certain program that we are waiting for on our new computer. Plus, there has been so many other things to do...excuses, excuses!

I don't even know where to begin. I don't want to bore you. We have been rock climbing again which is cool. I have only gone once, last night, but Matt has gone a few times and is gone doing just that, right now. We went and checked out an indoor climbing gym called City Rock. It is a sweet gym in my opinion because it is parent/kid friendly! They have automatic belay so you can climb while your partner watches the kids. The one watching the kids doesn't have to keep them entertained though because there are two swings that you securely fasten your child into that hang from climbing ropes and swing clear across part of the gym. They are awesome! And, there is a boldering wall right behind them so after you get your kids swinging across the gym you can boulder and slack line too! Plus there is a gym for kids upstairs. Fabulous.

We went with a friend from our ward climbing outside last night, tough chick! She whooped us climbing up the slab we did and helped us watch the kids so I could climb too. I haven't climbed outside for several years. The best part was the view. The full moon was just coming up and it was so fat and huge. It was a kind of peachy color from the sunset and there was a red glow to the cliffs on the opposite side of us. Very fun to do something other than mothering and homemaking!!! unfortunately that was probably my last outdoor climb this season because Matt is going to be gone to a training for several weeks and early darkness and winter are rushing in.
(below is Montezumas tower int he Garden of the Gods, the climbing in the park is surprisingly good and close, I love it!)-Matt

I have been doing Zumba classes at the gym here on base. Wow, is that a fun way to work out! It is a one hour workout. I like it. Carlee and Dani go with me and hang out in a little room separated from the gym by some glass so I can see them. Carlee has been trying to follow some of the moves lately...she does better than me sometimes!

Carlee is not only learning Zumba but has also learned to use the potty all by herself. Yes, she is 100% potty trained, even through the night. It was much easier than I thought and the fact that she goes all night long without going and doesn't even go when she first gets up makes me think she has a huge bladder, or is not getting enough to drink! She caught on quick and was most definitely ready.

Dani turned one yesterday! We are having a little party for her on Saturday with some family and friends. She is working on her 7th tooth at the moment. Teething and her do not get along so well. She is velcroed to me and if I un-attach her she wales like it is the end of the world. Her tricks right now are waving hello and by by and flashing an adorable toothy grin, giving open mouth kisses (just lovely), giving high fives, barking like a dog when she sees any kind of animal or insect, walking holding on to mom or dad with just one hand, and sharing: she likes to pick up whatever she can find and hand it to you while saying, "Da-Da, Da-da" which refers to anyone she is trying to hand an object or piece of food to. She gets great satisfaction when that someone takes the object from her and thanks her.
She is in the 90th percentile for height (get out of here!) and the 80th for her weight. She is beautiful.

I promise we will post pictures of Dani's party sooner than later!

Crazy Summer

2011-08-24T12:31:00.064-04:00

Here is a review of our crazy summer:
After saying goodbye to all of our friends as well as to New York and New Jersey in May...

We stuffed our selves in to our Carola and drove across the country (with a stop at our friends Garrett and Mindy's house in Detroit, thanks guys!)...
Garrett has grown another foot since the last time we saw him. I think he has an overactive gland.

We made it to Colorado,
and signed for our new house on post.

The move-in date wasn't until July. But while we were in the Springs, taking care of some business, we had fun checking out the area:
We rode a cog-rail train to the top of Pikes Peak, 14,110 ft up. It was a beautiful, fun, and relaxing way to climb a mountain! It was cold and windy at the top but they had a gift shop (of course) that sold some really deliciously memorable hot chocolate and nutmeg donuts.

Carlee made some friends on the train.
We also visited Garden of the Gods, a place of spectacular rock formations.

Then we drove to Utah and had fun with family and friends.

This is at my Parent's cabin in Scofield, Utah:

This is the Nielsen Family Reunion in Bear Lake. I think we all agree that is was so much fun!

This is at my brother' house. So fun for all of us, but Carlee was afraid of the pool.
All of my siblings, some of the kids, as well as my dad, hiked Little Wild Horse Canyon. So amazing!

Big thanks to my parents for letting Carlee, Dani and I stay with them for the 5 weeks that Matt was gone to COT. We also owe a big thanks to Cory, Kara, Quinn, Dylan, and Trevor for watching Carlee and Dani while I went to Montgomery, Alabama for Matt's COT Graduation. It was HOT and HUMID!

We are now in our new home trying to get settled. The weather is great. The house/garage/yard/washer/dryer/dishwasher are also fabulous.

This summer will be remembered as being full of changes and Fun!

The end.

2011-08-21T21:52:00.002-04:00

Danilyn has done a lot of firsts in the few weeks that I have been back from O.T.S. I am glad she waited for me. She Said "Dada" for a day before she forgot how to do it and two days ago she started crawling. What a fun age!

The Failing Husband

2011-08-17T21:19:00.003-04:00

So today I asked Julee how helpful I was on a scale of 1 to 10. (Earlier today after work, and prior to asking this question, I had helped her hang up a wall decoration, convinced Carlee to use the potty, fed both kids, and cleaned all the dishes). She gave me a 6! A little hurt I asked her what she thought other husbands did, and pointed out that a 60% is a failing grade. Her response: "You do something good, but then you always follow it up with something that cancels it out.

Oh My

2011-08-01T16:50:00.002-04:00

Matt has been enjoying the cafeteria food I guess...

Hairs Cut Part IV

2011-07-24T21:32:00.020-04:00

Funny (or not so funny) story: the girls have been swimming in a little blow up pool at their Grandma and Papa's house. Well, as any of you with kids know, swim diapers are not easy to remove...especially filled with poo. So, rather than risking dragging poop down Dani's legs as I pulled off the swim diaper, I decided to just grab my mom's sewing scissors in the next room and cut the diaper off. It was successful. Do any of you know where this story is going yet? The story sort of changes gears here. I lay the scissors down on top of a tall dresser in our room and we all went back to what we were doing. Later, I was trying to get something done on the computer. In order to do that, or anything else for that matter, I have to ignore Carlee for a minute. Now I bet you all know where this story is going. Yep, Carlee some how got the scissors, got in Dani's crib where she was sleeping and cut her hair. Yep. A nice chunk from the right side of her head just above the ear. She had a little scrape on her for head but nothing else was cut, not even carlee's hair. Carlee came down to the kitchen where me and her grandma were talking and said something about her sissy. When I went up Dani was all smiles until I saw the shinny silver scissors next to her head, then the hair on the sheets, and the bald spot on her head and screamed. I scared Dani so bad she began to scream too. Poor Carlee, who knows what she was thinking, probably that she was doing her sister a favor. It is my fault in two ways, first because I was lazy and didn't put the scissors away and second because I wasn't being watchful. It could have been so much worse than it was so I am not upset, just grateful and I can't help but chuckle when I look at Dani's hair. It's just hair, it will grow. Oh, and I am glad it wasn't me with the scissors this time!!!

Where it all began:
The scissors went from here...
To there...
The results as follows: The chunk.
The bald spot.

Ah, well, she doesn't seem to mind so why should we?

On a different note, my nephew Quinn and I decided Danilyn needs a couple of specialized onesies: one that says: "I love food...but food doesn't love me." And another one that says "My Grandpa said I need to go on a diet, what do you think?" (It would also be funny if it said boyfriend instead of Grandpa but in Danily's case it would be a true story if it said Grandpa.)

Enjoying summer

Cookin' with Mama

Stories with Grandpa

Enjoying Uncle Jordi's hammock

Missing Matt

Officer Training School

2011-07-23T18:24:00.005-04:00

Half way done with OTS and I can't wait to get out of hear! Not that it is bad... I just can't wait to hold my girls in my arms again! I miss you and think about you when I can.

By Chance Brandon is here at the same time. I owe a lot to Brandon. Without him I night not have gotten into dental school. It is cool to be doing this together.
They are keeping me busy. I now a marching machine and can sleep through class while keeping my head up. I have also gotten somewhat functional with only four and a half hours of sleep a night.

2011-07-05T17:38:00.004-04:00

This past month it seems like we have been blown like a dandelion in the wind. We've been this way and that, here and there and back again visiting ALL of our family and having tons of fun with everyone. Matt, as a newly commissioned Captain in the Air Force, left today for Montgomery, Alabama where he will stay for five weeks. When he comes home he will have been whipped into shape and know how to function as an officer in the United States Military. Carlee, Dani and I are grateful to be hanging out in Utah with my parents and my brother who just returned home from a mission to the Philippines while Matt is gone. Our final destination in Colorado Springs won't be reached until the end of this month for me and the kiddos and the first of August for Matt. Here are some lovely pictures of my lovely family- if I do say so myself. Matt is the photographer...of course. (Gosh, my husband is a dentist, a Captain, and a photographer...Man, I sure did hit the jack pot:)

Graduation from NYU College of Dentistry

2011-06-11T10:30:00.051-04:00

Matt is officially a dentist!!!! We were so blessed to be able to secure a house in Colorado Springs on base. It is a three bedroom home that is only a year and a half old. It has a garage, a yard, and everything else...happiness:) We hung out for a little while in a Military hotel that was bigger than our apartments of the past 4 years in NY/NJ and it had a washer and dryer!!! What we saw of Colorado Springs we loved. The weather was fabuloso...more happiness:) We purchased a Toyota Sienna all wheel drive...even more happiness:) We are visiting family for a little bit and then we get to move in. Matt thought he was done with school, tests, graduations, etc. but as it turns out he is not, dun dun dunnnnn. He has to go to officer training for a month and has to get whipped into shape, study, take tests and even graduate from it! It is incredible what Matt has done to become a dentist and what he is about to do to so that it can be paid for. Thanks for bringing us along on the adventure Matt and for working so hard! We love and admire you!!!

Graduation gift to Matt (and me too)...more debt.

Here are some pictures taken before we left Hoboken:

Carlee got really into "playing monsters" which involved taking turns chasing each other around the apartment growling while the other screamed (or in Dani's case, giggled). The masks were a fun addition but didn't last long. Fun memories we will cherish from Madison Street...

including playing at the splash park and our incredible neighbors the Lincolns.

We will miss Hoboken and all of our friends!!! These are pics from a little street fair:

Five Guys, good times.

So, the last thing on our bucket list before we left the New York area was to go see Intrepid, a World War II air craft carrier. We got to go down in a submarine as well. It was cool.

We have a picture of the house and pictures of our trip to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to come as soon as Matt gets them ready so I can post them so stay tuned!

P.s. Dani cut her first tooth!

Bye bye!

Hello

2011-05-15T21:53:00.004-04:00

Matt's Art Work God's Beauty

2011-05-05T11:02:00.027-04:00

Getting the girls ready to go see the cherry blossoms in Central Park and get lots of pictures taken.

I love, love, love this picture. Thanks Matt!

(Yes, Matt does have a blossom tucked behind his ear in this picture...
and in this one too.)

It was hard to get a picture without Carlee in it.
I think the one with her watching us is more cute!

If you live here and haven't been to see this yet, there is still time (there will just be more blossom pedals on the grass which is beautiful too)! Go, go, go!!!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Matt is an artist. We had a wonderful time in a place that is breathtakingly beautiful this time of year. God is good. See ya.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

2011-04-28T18:51:00.002-04:00

1. Carlee and Dani
2. My husband
3. Autumn time
4. Blossoming trees and springtime flowers
5. Sitting around a campfire
6. Sunsets
7. Birds singing in the morning

Hope you all are enjoying some of your favorite things!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T15:37:00.009-04:00

Carlee and Danilyn were visited by the Easter Bunny today. They had a great time!

Snot Nosed Kids

2011-04-17T15:30:00.009-04:00

I have some videos I would love to share with you guys but they just won't upload...too long maybe? Bummer. One is of Dani in the Jumping Jack (it is so cool to see her jump in that thing), and the other is one of Carlee blowing on Dani's fat belly making very loud sounds that just make you giggle. Sorry we can't share but here is a picture of Dani in the Jumping Jack with green goo hanging from both nostrils: Yum. Here is Carlee at the same age with the same green goo coming from one nostril. Man, it must stink not being able to blow your own nose and having to rely on mom or dad to wipe it when instead, they take pictures of it! Carlee playing with the sticky Easter decorations in the window: These are the only two pictures that we took on our family trip to the circus and Gettysburg... Nice one eh?

Half a Year, 65 Degrees, and Claiming What is Yours to Claim

2011-04-14T15:50:00.006-04:00

Danilyn had her 6 month check up. She weighed in at 18 lbs putting her in the 75th to 95th percentile, same as her head circumference. However, her length is 25 inches which puts her at the 25th to 50th percentile. Short and stout, that's how we make em'...except Carlee wasn't really stout at 6 months. She was 25 inches long too but under 15 lbs, but she seems to be running a little short and stout at 24 months:) As soon as Matt gets the picture and video onto the computer that I want to post I will. In the mean time, something funny happened at the park today. It was 65 degrees, that is not the funny part (that is the fabulous part). Carlee and I were digging in some dirt with sticks at the base of a tree while Dani was swinging near by. A little boy decided to push Dani in the swing. When Carlee looked up and saw this she abruptly yelled, yes yelled, "MY SISSY!" very sternly and with her best grumpy look ever. It took some coaxing to convince her that it was alright if he pushed Dani too. I told her they could take turns pushing her. She gradually decided that was OK. It hit me then how important Dani is to Carlee and what a big part of her life she is. I hope she stays this protective of her all her life:o) Watch out boys, Dani has her own personal body guard!

Family Time

2011-04-13T13:54:00.007-04:00

Dani, Carlee and I had out first experience at the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Baily Circus in Baltimore on Thursday. Matt was their too but he has already seen the circus a few times. It is too bad that a show primarily for children is so late, starting at 7 and ending several hours later. Carlee was already tired going into the circus. There was so much going on between seeing her second cousins, eating junk food, tons of people, sweating from the hot arena, so many lights and so much noise...she had a total melt down about half time. Dani did great. It is interesting to note that when I was younger and people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say that I wanted to be an acrobat in the circus even though I had never actually seen them perform! It did look fun and very challenging indeed. It was an interesting experience. Driving through parts of Baltimore made us feel grateful to live where we do! We were so preoccupied that we didn't take a single picture! Hopefully we will get some from my cousin Jess and Brian who invited us and let us stay at their place after words. Thanks again Jess and Brian!!!

We made a weekend of it. Friday we headed from Port Deposit, Maryland to Gettysburg. It was a rainy day. We checked out the newly opened visitors center which was actually a museum really. There was so much to see, read, watch, and learn. We spent a long time in there. I was engrossed. Luckily our girls let us enjoy our time there. We listened to "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara on the drive. It is a 1975 Pulitzer Prize winner that tells the story of the horrible 4-day battle at Gettysburg. Between that and the visitor's center, I really learned a lot. We ate at the Lincoln Diner and then got to stay in a hotel! It had a king sized bed, a bath tub and a pool, yeehaa! It was fun. We checked out the actual battle field the next afternoon and it was crazy to actually be walking around the place where so many people suffered and died. Anyway, we then ate at a really yummy pub and I walked into this antique store called 17 on the Square while Matt was playing with Carlee outside. I thought I would just quickly check it out but as it turns out, I could have spent hours looking at stuff in there! There was live music, jewelry, specialty candies, antiques, toys, you name it and for cheap! (Matt finally came looking for me and said he couldn't wait any longer but I had enough time to buy a Gettysburg Glow candle that smells soooo good, an adorable dress for Dani for $4.95, a very cute old school little "Myself the Elf" doll for Carlee for $6 and a picture book for Easter, ya baby!)

So, the little Nielsen family get-away ended up being a very well rounded one indeed: some entrainment, some learning, some relaxing, some swimming, some laughing, some good (and bad) food and some shopping too! It was good quality family time and we needed it! We didn't take a single picture of any of this. Matt had his hands full and there really wasn't much to take pictures of anyway...we just have one picture that we stopped and took on the way there, stay tuned:)

Me n' My Girls

2011-04-12T20:22:00.001-04:00

Family Picture

2011-04-04T22:50:00.000-04:00

Monsters

2011-04-01T14:16:00.004-04:00

Carlee and I have been reading this book below that we checked out from the Hoboken library. It is about this sock monster that steals socks (it is an explanation for why so many socks lose their mate). It is a cute book. Carlee loves the picture of the little girl, Maja, putting on her sock and then pulling it off and having Flusi, the monster, biting her toe. We desperately needed to get out of the house so I decided we would go to Michael's Craft and buy some stuff to make our own sock monsters. We had fun at Michael's. Carlee was too little just yet to be able to help with the cutting or hot gluing but she was still excited to be making sock monsters to put in Daddy's slippers. She couldn't stop talking gibberish about it and carrying his slippers around. Our sock monsters were made out of warm fuzzies (pom poms), felt, and googly eyes. Ours are not the bite-your-toe kind of monsters, but rather the tickle-your-toe kind! When daddy finally arrived home we ask him to hurry and put his slippers on before he even took off his coat. He played the part well and really made Carlee giggle. It was super fun. So if you come to our house, watch out, you might end up with a sock monster...(in your shoe)! Heehee.

Moments

2011-03-30T14:58:00.030-04:00

Finally, a moment to post about Carlee. She turned two on March 25th. Life has been full of special moments because of her. She is an incredible little person. What makes her so is her tenderness, mixed with the same amount of toughness. She is one tough cookie, and equally tender hearted and concerned about others and their feelings. She falls, bites her tongue, bruises her head, etc. and gets over it so quickly (I am trying to be more like her in this sense). She will be selfish or grumpy toward a friend and then feel bad, hug and try to say she is sorry, and then share. She is forgiving and seems to understand others emotions better than I would imagine a two year old could. Her favorite thing right now is imitating others expressions; whether real people, or characters in her books. As of late she is starting to have her own opinion, and likes to tell (or rather show) me what and how to, or not to, do things. I have been telling her not to be bossy, but then I realized she has two bossy parents soooo... She says some cute things like calling Dani "Sissy" and repeating the word of unknown origin "Nano" to express excitement and proclaim a resounding yes! We have been teaching her to take a deep breath when she is getting out of control (and it works incredibly well, I just keep forgetting to do it myself). Up to this point it has been in her nature to be obedient, lets hope and pray it lasts. She does not like to get in trouble. We count to three and by the time we get to three EVERY TIME she is doing what we asked. She will stay in-time out until we tell her she can come out. She can obey requests with multiple tasks like: "please go throw this away and then get me a wet wipe." I like that. Her initial response is always no, but I am teaching her to replace that word with the sweeter sounding word, sure. When she leaves the room we are in she sticks out her finger and says "ba" meaning She'll be right back. Her dad taught her that the way to get what she wants is by smiling and saying while signing "please" very sweetly. So that is exactly what she does, after being told no: she signs and says "Peeeeeeease" showing you her front teeth, (thinking she is smiling), and squints her eyes. Here is a list of other words (not many) she is using that I have been able to decode: Shoo=juice or shoe, Melmo=Elmo, Nana=Banana, I wan da (said very fast and many times in a row)=I want that, Sy=outside, seesee=t.v., Moo=milk, cheese=cheese, two=two, boo=balloon, meme=excuse me, more=more, beebee=blankey, baby=baby, booboo=something hurts, yellow=yellow, and of course, mine=mine. She can say some letters and she knows her colors. I feel like I have to hurry and post this before it all changes because she seems to say and do new things every day. For her big day she woke up to a new tent that barely fits in our apartment. Inside was Jessie and Bullseye ready to play with. The ideas was to wake up before her and wake her up to see her reaction but I awoke to the sound of her in her tent already. She seemed pretty happy!

She got to take a nap with Dani in her special tent on her special day. Also inside her tent was a sleeping bag and headlamp, an Ergo doll carrier just like her mom and dad's, Toy Story 2, and a couple of presents and cards to open. Needless to say she likes Apple Jack the pony. she enjoyed the rest of her day watching Toy Story 2, playing with her new toys, pointing to her happy birthday banner and saying me and eating her favorite dinner: cheese raviolies with marinara sauce and peas.

The enjoyment continued into the next day with her cousins (actually my cousin Jess and her husband Brian and their two daughters from Maryland ) at a primary activity, the Liberty Science Center and a little party with her neighbors and buddies Greg, Carma, Thurman and Nico Lincoln. She is happy to have more Toy Story loot, a new book, a kiss from Thurman... and the wonderful Tinkerbell with a mini kitchen all her own!!! She is one happy Camper. Thanks everybody so much!!! I made her a quick Jessie hat cake and some cupcakes that were trying to be Jessie's shirt. She liked it. The adults liked the root beer floats though:) Life is good when you have family and friends to enjoy it with!

Some cold Spring pictures

2011-03-24T22:16:00.007-04:00

New Foods

2011-03-14T23:09:00.003-04:00

Dani has added solid food to her diet...

(She is such a mess because the first few times she wouldn't stop trying to suck on her hands while I was trying to get bites in her mouth; we have gotten much better since:)

and Carlee has added crayons to hers!

Awesomeness

2011-03-14T21:50:00.008-04:00

Matt's brother Ben came to stay with us for a few days and we went to the Brooklyn Bridge and Ellis Island while he was here. Matt took some awesome pictures. It was awesome to have Ben stay with us!

Oh Baby!

2011-03-10T16:52:00.012-05:00

This little Piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none and this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way to Colorado...

It is almost too good to be true, oh my gosh. I am going to cry I am so happy. We just found out we are going to Colorado Springs in May to live for the next three years where Matt will be stationed at Peterson Air Force Base as a dentist. CHECK IT OUT! http://www.coloradospringscorealestate.org/

Port Deposit, Maryland

2011-02-25T15:45:00.024-05:00

We took a trip to see my cousin Jessica, her husband Bryan and their children Madalyn and Anabelle. Matt had fun taking pictures of the babes and I am sure you will have fun looking at them below.

5 1/2 month old baby Anabelle

Beyond cute.

Carlee had so much fun playing with 4 year old Maddi and all her toys. She took as many baths as she could while we were there since we don't have a tub at home!

Jess and Bryan do search and rescue with their three German Shepherds. We got to go to a training with them out in the woods. It was really cool. After the training for the dogs we did a little training of our own. Their was an agility course just down the way so we, after all confessing how out of shape we are, decided to get a little competition going by doing the course and timing each other. It was super fun....and super tough!

We had a really good time. We got to have a campfire in their back yard and have s'mores. I love campfires...I even love the smell lingering on my coat and cloths afterwards. We owe a humongous thank you to the Cox family for taking such good care of us while we were there and for welcoming us with such short notice! Man, it is good to get away, be outside and be with family!

Hearts and Flowers in February

2011-02-18T19:39:00.014-05:00

Daddy's favorite valentine treat

Carlee's valentine breakfast: pink heart pancakes with flax seeds and wheat germ inside and raspberry jam outside

Carlee's valentine

She got to check out her loot in her high chair while she awaited breakfast

Matt randomly bought a bulb at the grocery store about a month ago, planted it and placed it on top of the microwave to get direct sun. We watched that thing grow so tall so quickly and then about three days before Valentines Day it revealed one of it's gorgeous flowers. A few days later we had four of those flowers to marvel at. Then we woke up the day after Valentine's Day and found the whole thing on the floor. It was so sad. Carlee found it and came in our room to try and tell us what she found. We tried to salvage it but the flowers died. Boo hoo but what a beauty it was!

Hairs Cut Part III

2011-02-10T18:03:00.003-05:00

Okay, I threw the hair cutting scissors away so I can't do it ever again!

Happy Valentine's Day...in 4 Days!

2011-02-10T14:11:00.008-05:00

Thanks for the suckers G-ma! Much:

She's our little chubby cherub:)

Hairs Cut Part II

2011-02-10T13:38:00.004-05:00

Look, I was just trying to even up her hair a bit, make it look less scraggly... or something. But it did turn out looking a little bit like you know who...I'm sorry Carlee!!! Whatev.

While I am posting I have something I'd like share. Last night a received a phone call from U.S. Bank in Rexburg, Idaho. It was the most pleasant conversation and left me smiling, inside and out. I felt like I was talking to my Grandma. Seriously. She simply called to tell me that I have a zero balance in my account with them and that it is going to be closing because there has been no activity for a LONG time; she wanted to make sure that was what I wanted. But before she got to that, she told me who she was and sincerely ask me how I was doing. Then she told me why she was calling and then asked if we were still living in New Jersey (not exactly sure how she new that...). Anyway, she mentioned how that is a long ways from "home" and she asked me if I like it. I said, "no, no I really don't." She was concerned and really wanted us to make it back there. She asked about why we are in New Jersey and wished us the best of luck, several times. I truly felt that woman's charity (as in Christlike love). It was incredible considering who it was coming from: a stranger who works at a bank in Idaho, yet I could feel her sincere love for mankind I guess. She really wanted the very best for us even though she doesn't even know us and will never talk to me again. The truth is if I had gotten a call from a bank in New Jersey for the same purpose...well, lets just say, the feeling would have been much different. I just thought this was incredible and it makes me want to live in a small town in the West again someday even more!

Hairs Cut

2011-02-09T21:37:00.005-05:00

Julee got out the scissors again... she is obsessed with cutting hair.

I am not sure if I like this look for Carlee

Check Up

2011-02-03T14:59:00.008-05:00

Danilyn had a check up today and she weighed in at almost 16 lbs at 3 months old (4 months on the 12th). She is just over 23 inches long. Her weight is in the 97th percentile! Her head is in the 75th to 95th percentile. Her length is the 50th the 75th. At least I think that is what the doctor said...she spewed out so many facts so fast I am having a hard time remembering everything she said. But she did say she is a big girl with a big head. To compare, Carlee wasn't 16 lbs until she was about 8 months old. Wowzers.
Dani at 1 week old.

Danilyn at 15 weeks. Double the weight!

If you all haven't seen the movie "Jump" or the movie "Flipped" you ought to because they were both good.

For those of you with restless youngsters stuck inside because of the cold, try making some salt dough to entertain them for a while. It kinda makes a mess when they play with it but it dries and sweeps/wipes up easy and is just as easy to make really quickly. Here is the recipe (I cut it in half):

2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
Slowly add 3/4 cup water and 1/2 T. oil
Mix and knead for five minutes.
Add food coloring if desired.
Store in an airtight container.

YES! Loads of stress off!

2011-01-31T20:59:00.001-05:00

This was the last big test hopefully of my life. I am so glad I am not taking it again. I didn't do it all by my self though, I have a great wife and kids that helped me through it, and even more importantly the Holy Ghost to guide me and help me remember random facts.

Craziness

2011-01-27T10:38:00.032-05:00

First crazy: Matt turned 30 two days ago! That is crazy. How does it feel to be 30 years old Matt? It must not feel too good because a week before his birthday he matter-of-factly told me he discovered a hair growing in one of his ears...well, if it puts you at ease at all Matt, my mother just said that it seems like the worst things don't start happening until after 50 so you you still have some "crazy good years yet." I sure hope you have a crazy good 30th year:)

I designed this cool mouse pad for Matt on Shutterfly using pictures he took of Carlee and Dani's feet and hands.

I got him some other cool stuff...

What a NERD

Second crazy: the snow storm! I am in shock how much snow fell in one night. WOWee. Now this is crazy.

These are the garbage cans in the drive way of apartments we live in

This is a car

This use to be our snowman

Third crazy: I cut my hair off...just like Emma Watson. Liberation indeed. I know some of you may not like it but I DO so it doesn't matter and I guarantee that any woman with long hair who cut it short would marvel at the convenience and ease of super short hair. LOVE IT.

Fourth crazy: How fun it was to have my sister Cyrie come stay with us for the weekend after a work conference in Philly.

Attending the MET

Dining out

Painting our nails hot pink with white hearts for Valentine's Day

Diapering Dani

We also went to the NYC Aquarium in Brooklyn, check out Cyrie's blog for more photos.

Fifth crazy: Carlee painting her cardboard fort...and herself.

Enough craziness already.

Carlee Gettin' Down

2011-01-12T16:23:00.002-05:00

Sweet moves girlfriend!

Dani and Carlee's Cute Faces

2011-01-12T15:43:00.010-05:00

This is Carlee's "no no" face. When I get upset at her, she hits me with this look and shakes her finger at me and it is hard to stay mad, in fact usually I have to hide my face in my hands so she can't see me while I laugh. It all started with the "Five little monkeys jumpin' on the bed" song, my action for when "Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said, 'No more monkeys jumpin on the bed'" was to look stern as she is in this picture and shake my finger.

Julee's face

2011-01-09T17:35:00.004-05:00

This is what Julee looks like when we are having fun:

Good thing we don't have fun very often.
Just kidding...

Cool Picture

2011-01-09T13:53:00.001-05:00

I just stumbled upon this picture that I have never seen before and am taken back by what an awesome picture it is. Thought I would share it with you.

2011-01-05T20:16:00.002-05:00

What We Did for Two Weeks in Oregon

2011-01-05T12:31:00.021-05:00

Enjoyed the view of the magnificent mountains (view from the airplane)

Went night skiing (Matt and I snowboarded)at Timberline and had some yummy hot chocolate at the lodge afterwords

Enjoyed Bonnie the dog

Had a blast snowshoeing in the dry fluffy snow near Mt. Hood and drinking hot chocolate again mid way through the hike

Saw Nate for the first time in a long time.

Played games

Lounged around on the couch

Had fun painting our nails with the nail art kit Carlee got in her stocking.

Hung out with Cooper around Granny and Grandpa's gumball machine.

Spent time with Aunt Molly

Not to mention some shopping, eating yummy food, studying...and more studying. It was a great time, thank you SO MUCH Carol and Mike for having us!!!

Carlee's (and Danilyn's) first Snow Man

2011-01-03T22:33:00.002-05:00

She was more interested in the chocolate chip eyes and mouth than the actual snow man.
P.S. Thank you Grandma P. for the matching hats, but I think you forgot to make one for your son in-law...JK!!!!

Christmas in Oregon

2011-01-03T19:15:00.001-05:00

We acted out the Nativity on Christmas Eve with Matt's brother and their five children, Matt's sister Molly, his Mother and Father. Matt and I got to be Mary and Joseph with Dani as baby Jesus and Carlee as a Shepard. It was a special moment as we sang and pondered in the makeshift stable filled with straw.

All the grand kids got new pj's from their Aunt and Uncle Daylong in Idaho. Thanks Natalie and Jared!

Carlee got a fairy toadstool cottage complete with three fairies and a snail from Santa. Mom and Dad got her a Tinkerbell DVD and a book about fairies. Her Tinkerbell pj's were a perfect match! She had fun but was too young to really know what was going on.

Dani got to sit in her Grandpa's lap all morning:)

It was wonderful to be in Oregon for Christmas with some of Matt's family. More vacation pictures coming soon so stay tuned.

2010-12-16T19:13:00.000-05:00

A Day in My Life

2010-12-16T14:44:00.014-05:00

Carlee and I made some really wonderful cookies yesterday. They tasted so good, before baked and after;) Matt is even eating them and he rarely touches the sweets I make so they must be good. I took an already yummy chocolate chip cookie recipe and made it even better. Make some this Holiday if you want, here is the recipe (I cut it way down though).

Oven 350/bake 10 to 12 minutes
2 Cups butter
4 eggs
3 Cups brown sugar
1 3.5 oz box instant french vanilla pudding mix
2 Tablespoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
5.5-7 Cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons soda
butterscotch chips
coconut
chopped pecans
Make like you do any other cookie recipe. Enjoy:)

After making cookies, dinner, and a big mess, Carlee, who only took a 10 minute nap in the car, fell asleep on the couch. It was funny to watch her dose off as she sat next to me while I was nursing Dani. She is holding her dolly Starbright.

I get to see these two ADORABLE faces every day. I am so lucky!!!

And this face too...

What more could I ask for? Merry Christmas to me.

2010-12-13T14:34:00.002-05:00

2010-12-13T14:34:00.001-05:00

What's Up

2010-12-13T10:48:00.023-05:00

Matt surprised me with tickets to the off Broadway production of Les Miserables at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey (about 20 minutes from Hoboken). He got tickets from the radio. It was a fabulous show! Truly breathtaking. The story is incredible and touching. The music is beautiful and powerful. It was such an awesome time. Thanks for taking me Matt! (And thanks to Ryan and Rachael Wood for babysitting so we could go!)
Other happenings:
Counting down to Christmas. We are going to Oregon on Saturday for Matt's Christmas break! This count down my mom made and sent us. It is a cookie sheet and you put a magnet on each day, cool huh!

She also sent us ginger bread boys and the stuff to decorate them so we had fun doing that. Can you guess which one is Carlee Marie's?

I want to cut my hair like Emma Watson's. What do you think Matt? (ya, right.) She said this about her new cut and this is how I feel about really short hair too: "Dear all. Cut my hair off a few days ago. Feels incredible. I love it. I've wanted to do this for years and years," Watson wrote. "It's the most liberating thing ever. Hope you like. Big love from Emma." It is liberating to have short hair that is so easy to manage and do. I use to have mine as short as her's. I want to cut it like that again and never grow it out because growing it out from that short sucks.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-07T12:49:00.009-05:00

This is long overdue but I just don't have the time. Our little family has been sick this week (except Dani, thank heaven)with colds, the stomach flu and Carlee with Croup. YUCK! It is good to experience the bad every once and a while to appreciate the good. Here are a bazillion pictures from our quick Thanksgiving trip to my home in Price, Utah. We had a super good time and had some firsts while we were there too. Dani did great on her first flight. Dani got to meet all her family for the first time including her Great Grandpa and Grandma Nielsen Dani was blessed by her daddy in my old home ward and got to have several of her uncles join in the circle and her grandpa too. She wore a dress that her Aunt Kara got for her and Carlee wore a dress that her grandma made for her. After the blessing Matt took some family pictures: Grandma with all her grandchildren... and a more realistic picture of Grandma with all her grandchildren. I had to post both of these because I love Carlee in the top one. This is Aunt Kara who has three boys and hopefully a girl on the way but for now she likes to buy lots of girly stuff for Carlee whenever she gets the chance. Carlee loved it!
So for those of you who are wondering what you do in Price, Utah for fun over Thanksgiving, here are some ideas: Have a wicked fun dance party in your garage (yes we really did and it rocked!) For proof, just look at the happiness on Carlee and her grandpa's faces. Have a blast swimming at the pool at the Holiday Inn, they won't mind. No pics of the pool party though:( Go shopping at D.I. and try on silly stuff (yes, we really did that too). Oh, you want proof? K: If you do that you'll still have time for the usual stuff like the big feast and family, game, and movie time, which we did. Top: Sister-In-Law kara and sister Angie and Cyrie. Do we look alike to you? We also enjoyed a Christmas gift exchange since we won't all be together for Christmas this year. Carlee got her first Strawberry Short Cake doll, oooh! Other firsts that happened while in Utah: Dani really enjoyed her first Thanksgiving and started really smiling and cooing at everyone. She also went two nights in a row sleeping 10 hours! She also didn't poop for 12 days straight and finally broke the spell with some help from a glycerin suppository. And last but not least, Carlee escaped the pack n' play for the first time!

Home Made Skirts

2010-11-15T14:23:00.006-05:00

These pictures are to show off the adorable skirts that Matt's sister Angela Made for our girls. Thanks Angela!

This next picture is to show you Carlee's pleaser cheeser. Her daddy takes so many pictures of her that she has learned how to fake smile for the camera.

We are lucky parents to have these two angel children. We love them so much.

Danilyn is one month old!

2010-11-13T10:11:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture of Carlee at one month old. Man they look different!

Family photo shoot

2010-11-12T23:40:00.001-05:00

Mothers

2010-11-09T15:08:00.002-05:00

"The love of a true mother comes nearer to being like the love of God than any other kind of love" (Joseph F. Smith).

"There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood" (James E. Faust).

Dear Santa

2010-11-08T14:39:00.007-05:00

All I want for Christmas is a nice hot bath. I wish our apartment had a bathtub so bad, for the girls and for me to have a soak in now and then!

These yogurts are so good I thought I would share. I hate the fat free artificially sweetened yogurts. What is the point of eating them, I mean really? They don't provide hardly any energy to start your day on, they don't make you full, and they certainly don't taste good. It is also my opinion that the artificial sweeteners are bad news for our bodies. I have also tried different Greek yogurts and wasn't impressed. Then I found these, Brown Cow maple flavored yogurt. They actually have a layer of cream on the top that you stir in. They taste so good. There is nothing weird in them either. They are sometimes hard to find though. The maple and vanilla are the best. The fruity ones are not as good. So try em' out next time you buy yogurt (if your grocery store has them).

Little hands and feet

2010-11-03T22:12:00.008-04:00

Unfortunately we might have traumatized our kids trying to get these photos.

Design Trouble

2010-11-02T14:32:00.004-04:00

For those of you who saw the blog yesterday and this morning when it was orange and really cool looking (in my opinion), the reason it is different now is because Matt had a fit and said it was too girly and he hated the picture I chose to put up top as well to replace the one of just us three. So, I have changed it yet again but not back to the original form as he wanted. We will see if these changes calm him down or make him more upset. If the latter, then next time you see the blog it will be back to the way it was before I made the decision to waste my time making some changes...and some trouble here at home:(

Decisions Decisions

2010-11-01T09:35:00.012-04:00

Every day after I put Carlee down for her nap I have to make a decision. I have about two hours, give or take, to myself (if Danilyn is sleeping too that is)during which time I have to contemplate what is most important to get done: doing dishes, cleaning up the apartment yet again, reading my scriptures, reading my book, e-mailing, blogging, working on Primary stuff for my calling, showering and getting dressed, or sleeping...sleeping has been the winner every time for the past several weeks, hence I have not blogged or done much else in my free moments but try to make up for lost sleep at night. Other than that I am feeling pretty darn good. I am starving all the time (after going nine months hating almost all food it is a weird feeling to want to eat). Dani is doing great. She is eating, pooping, sleeping, and grunting a lot. We have been out and about this weekend with the girls trying to enjoy the weather and the festivities. Here are some pictures.

This is Carlee's new down coat from Campmor. It is the exact same coat as her daddy's only miniature! The back drop here is a race that was in Hoboken.

Carlee was suppose to be a girly cute monster for Halloween but we got looks like "what is she?" and comments like "oh, cute...bug." You be the judge. It is a Children's Place costume that I got at a garage sale in Oregon for 4 bucks!

Her favorite part of the ward Halloween party, besides eating too much candy, was helping the bishop vacuum afterwords and screaming with delight as the fan blew in her face. She danced, said her version of "trick or treat" at each classroom door and got really sweaty in her costume made for cool outdoor weather. Between her enthusiasm and getting to show off Dani to all our friends, we had a pretty memorable Halloween (and didn't manage to get any pics of Dani in her cute Halloween witch outfit)!

Update

2010-10-20T22:38:00.005-04:00

Danilyn is doing great, she spends her time sleeping with occasional eating sessions to break up the monotony.

Thanks for the help Mom, Carlee loved having a new best friend for the week that you were here.

Carlee loves her sister, for the last six months she has been taking care of her dolls and is now excited to take care of the real thing.

Doing Great!

2010-10-15T12:06:00.007-04:00

Danilyn was born on Tuesday at 3:11pm. No complications. Now Julee and Danilyn are home and doing great. Here are are few highlights:

Thanks for the all the well wishes and visits!

Danilyn Cleo Nielsen

2010-10-12T18:49:00.002-04:00

She was born today at 3:11pm. 8 pounds 7.8 ounces, 21 inches long.

She was born three pounds heavier than Carlee and with a head full of hair!
Mama and Baby are doing great!

Update

2010-10-04T14:13:00.020-04:00

Danilyn at 38 weeks 6 days inside her mama. Talk about chub in the cheeks. She is over 7 lbs. Amazing ultrasounds these days. Everything looks good. No signs of labor as of today.

This is Danilyns's cupboard with her cloths and stuff in it. It is from Target and so are the stickers I used to decorate it.

This is her little pack n' play next to our bed. There is a cheap bug mobile from Ikea hanging from the ceiling. See, we are ready. I haven't packed my hospital bag...maybe that is the hold up...

Here are some photos of my big belly. I have gained 21 lbs.

Here are some pictures of Carlee playing dress up. This is her in my apron holding some plush lettuce

with daddy's shoes on

and these are of her today in some random stuff, earrings from her misses potato head, bug antennas from two Halloweens ago and sunglasses with no lenses.

She got the lenses from the sunglasses and was walking around with them stuck to the bottom of her feet...

We had the young men from our ward over Sunday morning to eat breakfast and watch the first session of General Conference. It was awesome.

Weird Happening...Funny(?) Story

2010-09-29T19:10:00.004-04:00

OK, so today Matt, Carlee and I went to an early morning doc appointment for me (I am not even dilated yet, cum on already!)and then headed to Hoboken University Hospital to check out the facilities where Danilyn will be born. We had previously set up an appointment but ended up missing it a while back so we thought we would just stop in and check it out really quick like we did at Christ Hospital. We were in the lobby and were told to call this number. Well, when we did, we kinda got the run around on the phone with the Labor and Delivery. They were confusing and said someone was possibly going to come down and talk to us. After a few minutes this lady comes down and asks if we are the couple wanting to go up and see the labor and delivery. After we confirm, she explains that usually you have to have an appointment. She proceeded to tell us that this morning it was extremely busy with TWELVE ladies delivering and nurses running around like crazy so it would not be a good time to go up. She asked if we wanted to reschedule. In the mean time, the lobby gets a call and it is a nurse from labor and delivery. The lady speaking to us takes the call and we hear her kinda confused like say, "OK, I'll escort them up." Apparently there was a free nurse after all that could show us around. So, we get dropped off up there and this really awesome nurse starts showing us around. One of the first things she says is: "This morning is particularly dead. In fact, we only have ONE patient right now." Wait a minute...

Done

2010-09-23T13:19:00.002-04:00

I am so sick of being pregnant. Look, I know I shouldn't complain but that is all I want to do. I am really just feeling so overwhelmingly done with this pregnancy. It feels like I have been pregnant for sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long. I just want to be myself again and have motivation and energy...and my brain back. I am going to go crazy if I can't go out and like just run around, jump up and down, do a cartwheel, or something, anything with my body besides feel huge, ugly, hot, grumpy, lethargic, sluggish and sickish all the freakin time. I just needed to go off about this to someone, get it out of my system and move on. Ug.

2010-09-13T19:29:00.002-04:00

I want to drive one of these some day

A Mouse in the Doll House

2010-09-13T12:48:00.043-04:00

Finally I am posting! Sorry the blog hasn't been updated for so freakin' long. There is always so many things to be done so blogging gets put on the back burner. We have lots to share though...before Danilyn comes!

So you are wondering about the title? Well, we have been in Oregon for the past 2 1/2 weeks for Matt's one break from school besides Christmas. Between staying at his parents family home in West Linn, Oregon and then at a huge six bedroom house in Sunriver, Oregon for a Nielsen family reunion, by the time we got home our apartment felt like a doll house, too small to actually live in and...you guessed it; we found mouse droppings scattered about. Dang!

Here are some lovely pictures taken by Matt from our trip. Matt has an amazing family and Oregon is a beautiful place.

Day trip to Seaside, Oregon

Carlee likes the sand

and mom and dad like Carlee

Indian Beach

Pictures of Matt's Family
(click on the one below to see every one's faces better and get a good laugh)

Carlee absolutely loved riding the lawn mower with Grandpa

but she didn't like the bike rides

and mom shouldn't have been riding a bike

I absolutely love these next four pictures of Carleebug

Carlee's first amusement park rides

She liked this one but looked like she was going to throw up as it spun around

Kissen' Cohen

2010-08-11T16:23:00.005-04:00

A little early don't you think?

Carlee was the one chasing him around the house

They do have a lot in common...

they both like to cook

and go to starfall.com

Carlee with things on her head...

2010-08-11T16:13:00.004-04:00

Cowgirl

Chef

Prissy on the potty?

The Belly Bump

2010-08-11T15:54:00.004-04:00

Time Square @ 29 weeks or something like that

Side shot getting yummy pretzel dogs at Aunntie Ann's

Requested Recipe

2010-08-09T11:28:00.004-04:00

Ham and Cheese Braids
(pictured on the previous post)

2 3/4 cups flour
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 pkg yeast
3/4 cup warm water
4 T. butter, melted
1 egg
Diced ham
Shredded Cheese

You can use rapid rise or just active dry yeast. Combine water, yeast and sugar and let it stand for a few mintues. Then add the salt, butter and egg and mix. Add one cup of the flour and stir it up good. Then add the rest of the flour while you stir/knead. It will make a very workable and moderatly stiff dough (not sticky). I knead it until I like the feel of the dough (10 minutes or so?). Then roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle (not too thin, not too thick), cut the rectangle into three equal strips, fill the strips with much ham and cheese clear to the ends and pinch each one shut being careful to leave no holes where all the good stuff will leak out. Then gently braid the three pieces and tuck the ends tight. Brush it with melted butter or egg white wash and sprinkle it with whatever you want. Let it raise in a warm spot until larger and fluffy looking (time varies). Bake at 375 for approx 30 minutes. You want it to be pretty brown on the outside so as to ensure the inside will not be doughy. Let it cool a bit before cutting into it. Enjoy! It is yummy dipped in ranch.

For home made ranch just mix some sour cream and mayo along with garlic salt, Mrs. Dash seasoning, dill and lemon pepper. Delish!

This is What Happens When...

2010-08-05T08:33:00.019-04:00

I try to do something above and beyond my normal day to day, like make a nice meal...

for another family besides my own and try to get it delivered before 6:00 p.m. with a toddler.
This is baking soda, luckily. I just took pictures of it while she played in it instead of cleaning it up right away. What could a little baking soda hurt?

And this is the house...

These are cotton balls

In the end the meal turned out and was delivered a little after 6:00.

Ham and cheese braids, veggies and home made ranch dip (pretty simple, I know)

It was also Matt and I's 4th anniversary. We went to the Brown Stone diner for breakfast and then Matt was gone for just under 12 hours to school. Did he come home to a clean house, a beautiful and capable wife, a clean toddler, and candle lit meal? No. He came home to the mess pictured above, a tired dirty toddler, and a haggered pregnant wife. The norm. Happy Anniversary Babe!

Love ya!

Oh, Just More Photos of Carlee Being Cute

2010-07-27T14:44:00.007-04:00

Looking for toys under the couch

Weekend Adventures

2010-07-27T12:49:00.035-04:00

One Saturday June we drove to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area a couple of hours away. It was a totally spontaneous trip, the best kind. It is a beautiful place and always so good to leave the city and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. We did a little hike with a little swim at the end...

always the perfect way to end a hike on a hot summer day before you turn around to hike out!

This past Friday (Matt occasionally doesn't have school on Friday) we went to do another spontaneous hike at Bear Mountain about an hour away in New York. When we got there it was raining pretty good so we decided to drive ten more minutes to the Military Academy at West Point. We have been before but it is a very cool place to be, very rich with history. This time we did a bus tour and learned a lot.

On our way there we stopped and took some photos at a look out point. It was not a very good day for picture taking unfortunately.

This is the Hudson at West Point. It is a beautiful spot and an area that once had to be protected from enemies.

This is part of a huge chain that was spread across the river to stop the British ships.

This is the Mess Hall where all the soldiers eat three meals a day.

This is a Civil War Memorial.

These last two pictures are of the Cathedral where the soldiers mostly go for church services and apparently weddings. It has the largest pipe organ of any church building anywhere in the world and we got to hear it being practiced!

The bus tour was difficult with Carlee; I am sure our fellow passengers were counting themselves unlucky to have gotten on the same tour as us. We also visited the museum that showcases lots of weapons. There are soldiers all about the area in training. It is a pretty incredible place to witness and to contemplate our countries history and the price for our freedom.

Family

2010-07-16T16:16:00.021-04:00

We had family come and visit us! First was Matt's sister Angela and her husband Kevin and their three adorable children:

Kate

Emily

and Parker

We had a couple of days to play. There were scooter rides all around from Uncle Matt/Daddy:

Kate's turn

Emily's turn

Carlee's turn

Thank you so much for coming to spend time with us!

My parents came from Price and spent eight days with us right after Angela, Kevin and kids said goodbye. It was my Dad's first time here so we did a lot of stuff in the brutal heat. We even went to Palmyra and watched the Pageant. It was so much fun to have you Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for coming! We miss you.

I'll be honest though, I don't care if I ever go into Manhatten again to see all the sights, so if anyone else comes to visit, you can count on seeing the Big Apple without me and Carlee;)

Road Trip Entertainment

2010-07-09T22:17:00.002-04:00

A Father's Day Poem

2010-06-22T15:36:00.004-04:00

The Best Place to Be

I sit in my bed and hold on to my blankey bear
I sit on the floor and feed my dolly with great care

I sit on the couch and look at picture books
I sit in my high chair and eat whatever Mommy cooks

I sit in my Bumbo seat and watch Sid the Science Kid
I sit on the potty and when I’m through, we close the lid

I sit in the back pack and go this way and that
I sit in the red cart and go to grocery store and launder mat

I sit in my car seat and go here and there
I sit in a swing and the wind blows my hair

I sit in the sand and marvel at the feel
I sit in the bath and go splish splash with my toys and just chill

I sit in the grass and bask in the sun
I sit in the pool and have lots of fun

I sit in strollers and eat snacks from the cup holders
But the best place to sit is on Daddy’s shoulders!

Love Carlee (and Mom)

I made this poem into sort of like a little scrapbook with pictures accompanying each line. I think he liked it!