Sledding Fun

We have had a lot of snow the last week. The kids have loved it. The day after Christmas we braved the frigid temperatures and took the kids sledding. There is a big tubing hill at third reservoir, however my dad brought his four-wheeler and the kids just wanted to be pulled behind it.

Brigham was just proud to put all his snow gear on. He loves to wear his snow boots in ANY weather.


The kids are getting ready for another trip. Buddy, our dog followed them wherever they went. Brigham didn't last too long on the sleds. He wanted to ride on the four wheeler with us.

The girls being tricky doing 360s.

I was on the back of the four wheeler trying to take these pictures. It was fun to hear the squeals of delight.

Christmas 2008

CHRISTMAS EVE

We had Christmas eve at my parents house with my Grandma, Aunt Paula, and Jeff and Alisa and their family. We started with a big Prime Rib dinner and ended with a Christmas program.

Is this Christmas or Halloween? The kids got into my mom's dress-ups and decided they needed to be fabulous for the program.


Brigham, I mean scary snake, did not want to miss out on the dress-up fun.



All the kids performed a talent for us. Here Bodell and Abby are showing off their musical talent.

Shae asked me at six o-clock if it was time to go to bed. She wanted to skip the program and go to bed so that Santa would come.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

I thought that the kids would wake up at their regular time. I was wrong! Shae woke up at 5:45 and went in the living room to check if Santa had come. She ran back and woke up Bodell. They were in our rooms jumping up and down with excitement that Santa had come and hoping we could open presents. It was so fun to see the excitement in their faces. Having kids definitely makes Christmas very fun.

Brigham loved all the presents and toys. His favorite gift was probably a new Disney cars sleeping bag and flashlight.

Bodell's favorite gift was her iPod. Shae's favorite gift was her portable princess cd player, althougth her robe comes in at a close second.

Here We Go Caroling

The Tuesday before Christmas we went on our annual Nielson hay ride. Instead of hay this year, our trailer had snow in it. The kids loved singing Christmas Carols and looking at the Christmas lights around town. This is always one of their favorite traditions.

Here we had to stop to put air in our VERY flat trailer tire. Can you tell that it was COLD outside?

Brigham did not mind the cold. He thought this was fun. After the hayride we went back to our house for chili, cinnamon rolls, and hot chocolate.

The First Annual Candy Making Party

My Aunt Susanne had a great idea to have an annual Christmas candy making party. We decided it was GIRLS ONLY party (much to Brigham's dismay.) We all met at my mom's house had lunch and then spent the next couple of hours making different kinds of candy.

Here is Alisa nd her girls getting ready to make chocolate suckers.


Bodell and Loren making fudge- yum!



Bodell, Abbey and Loren EATING fudge. YUM! YUM!

Here is the rest of the candy making crew (except my mom.) Of course great-grandma did not want her picture taken. This is the best picture I could get. We had a great time and have already made plans for next year. Thanks Susanne for a great time!

Seeing Santa

I took the kids to the annual High School Play performed by the High School drama department. After the play the kids had a chance to sit on Santa's lap.

Shae asked for an American Doll for Christmas.

Bodell asked for an IPod.

When Santa asked Brigham what he wanted for Christmas, he looked around and said, "some popcorn and a sucker." Guess what they were handing out...popcorn and a sucker!

Christmas in Kindergarten

Shae's kindergarten had a Christmas party the last day before Christmas break. I helped with the party. I forgot to get a babysitter for Brigham so Brigham "helped" too.

An intense game of "Don't Eat Pete." You can see from this picture that Brigham thinks that he belongs in kindergarten.

Shae showing off her reindeer cupcake. After all the fun, it is not surprising that shae says, "SCHOOL ROCKS!"

Recitals, Recitals, Recitals!!!!

Tis the season for Christmas recitals. Although it makes for some hectic weeks, I love watching the kids perform!

Bodell played "All I Want for Christmas is my two Front Teeth," for her piano recital. She did a wonderful job!

The Hold that Note recital is always one of my favorites. Hold that note is a singing/dancing performing group. Shae is in her element when she is singing and performing. Bodell is definitely coming out of her shell. They both did great on their solos. Even Brigham had a part in the program this year. He and another two year old friend were "boogie woogie sheep," for one of the songs. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it! Brigham is not much of a performer on stage at this point. He just wanted to chase the girls when it was his turn. At one performance, he sat down and started taking off his shoes and socks during the song. Then he flung them at his friend's mom. I was afraid we were going to have a striptease on our hands. Luckily he stopped at the shoes and socks!

Bodell, Shae and their cousins Presley and Sidney.

Shae at her dance recital. Shae thought this was "the cutest costume in the world." She begged me to let her wear it to school. I refused! So, we compromised. She could wear it as soon as she got home from school. So that is precisely what she did. Everyday as soon as she came home she would change into the costume.

Gingerbread Houses

Grandma bought the kids gingerbread house kits. They asked me everyday for a week when they were going to be able to put them together. Finally on Sunday we let them make the houses.

FYI- make sure you read the package before you start. The gingerbread houses need to sit for an hour before you start decorating them. They kept collapsing on us. For any of you that are thinking of doing this with your kids. I would suggest putting the houses together yourself the day before than letting the kids decorate them later. I learned the hard way!

The kids wanted us to judge their houses. Brigham won "Most Eaten!" Once Brigham realized there was candy involved he didn't care too much for the decorating. He just wanted to eat the candy.

Shae won "most colorful"

Bodell won "Best design." Thanks Grandma for a fun activity!

Trimming the tree

The kids were excited to get the Christmas tree up as soon as we were home from our Thanksgiving vacation. Amazingly we only broke one Christmas ball in the process. Brigham's favorite part was the Christmas train that goes around the tree. That train is going non-stop at our house.

Do you Believe?
The other night we were driving in the car. I heard Shae tell Bodell, "I don't believe in the Easter bunny. I saw mom buy those things from the Easter bunny." Bodell was amazed that Shae did not believe in the Easter bunny. Then Bodell asked about Santa. Shae promptly replied. "Oh, Santa! now that is easy to believe in!"

Brigham's fast thinking

While staying at Heather's house, I was tucking the kids into bed. Josh came in to say good-night to them. He broke a huge parent rule and brought in a soda with him. It was a fountain drink so all you could see was the cup and straw. Of course Brigham immediately wanted to know what he was drinking. Josh said it was medicine in his cup. Brigham waited a minute and then said, "I'm sick!" I told Josh that is what he gets for lieing to the kids.

Temple Square

We all went to temple square on Saturday. We took the kids to the Joseph Smith movie in the Legacy theater. Shae told me she didn't like it. "It was too scarey." After the movie we went out to dinner at the Nauvoo cafe and then looked at the Christmas lights at temple square.

With all the beautiful Christmas lights, the kids were most interested in the water fountains that are there year round.

Now there's a happy bunch!

Belle's Blessing

On Saturday we went to the blessing of our newest niece, Belle (Platte and Heather's first baby.) She looked so cute. As you can tell all the girls were in love with her!

Heather, Heather's friend, Belle, Sage, Shae, Bodell and Preston.


Bodell couldn't get enough of the adorable baby.



The whole Nielson crew (minus Paris and France--we missed you guys!)

Mindy's Game

While we were in Provo, I took the kids and went to my cousing Miny's basketball game. They played SUU. It was fun to watch the game. I felt proud to be related to one of the players! The kids were most excited to watch the cheerleaders and play with the Reed cousins. Thanks kirk and Stephanie for the tickets!


What kind of look is that Shae?



Say "Cheese!"

Turkey Day

We spent Thanksgiving with Josh's family in Springville. It was great to spend time with everyone and the kids loved playing with their cousins for three days straight. Wednesday night the adults went out to P.F. Changs (yum yum!) and a movie. Friday the kids got their turn. We took the kids to Madagascar 2. When I asked my kids what their favorite part of Thanksgiving was, they all say the movie!

Here is Sunny on pie duty. We had a little problem with our cooking the morning of Thanksgiving. Heather scortched her fruit salad so she ended up making three batches before it was all over. But, boy was it worth it. I think I had three helpings of fruit salad. I scorched a batch of banana cream pie filling, so I ended up having to try again also.


Christian making her yummy lemon pie!

Look at all that food. It is not easy to feed the entire Nielson family!

The happy turkey tasters!

Chef Bodell

Every Sunday we get together with my parents and Grandma for a Sunday dinner. We were in charge of dessert this Sunday. Bodell said that she wanted to make the dessert "all by herself." she chose chocolate chip cookies, "because they are Grandpa's favorite."

Look at that concentration.

You can see Josh in the background cleaning. He was a little stressed about the mess that was being made by our novice cook.

The finished cookies. Shae was VERY jealous that she was not allowed to help.

The cookies turned out delicious. Bodell did have one accident. She burned her finger when taking the cookies out. She has now been initiated into the cooking club.