Nie Nie's story

I can never, ever, never, never, ever, never, ever complain or be down--only grateful for everything I have-- after reading this: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/stephanie-nielson-intro-120609.html

The baby is a.....

To find out the gender of the baby, you have to answer a riddle. The first letter of the first name of the 22nd and 24th president of the US is either a "B" or a "G". Technically, it's his middle name, but you wouldn't know it. He was the only president to have two non-consecutive terms as president. He was president when Utah became a state.

the boys can ice skate now!

skating by themselves:

Katherine watching her brothers:

tricks:

a good dad:

"holy!"

We went on sesamestreet.com to let Katherine play a toddler game on the computer because she wants to play on the computer like her brothers. She made lots of stars on her game so Nathan said, "Holy!" Katherine repeated him and kept saying, "holy". It was so cute! I also thought her little hands were so cute on the keyboard:

guess who came to visit on Thanksgiving?

Mr. stomach flu.
He was rude and horrible and ugly and not allowed back! We're all feeling better today, though, and Todd is going to make a turkey dinner tomorrow for us.

Breakfast with ....?

At Thanksgiving Point they have a "breakfast with Santa" but we haven't gone because it was just way overpriced. However, they sent me an email saying that members get half off this Sat.! So Todd said we could go!

So I told the boys that we were going to go to breakfast with Santa on Sat. (waiting for cheers and shouts of joy).

Here's what they said:

(silence)
Alex: What are they serving?
me: (??) I don't know, probably like bacon and eggs and pancakes and stuff.
(more silence)
nathan: Why don't we just take the money that we would have spent on it and have Daddy make us a yummy breakfast.
me: But what about Santa??
(just silence...)

So I guess the boys would rather have breakfast with Daddy than Santa! They really love their Daddy!

ice skating

The boys have really liked ice skating lately. We went last night and here are pictures and videos. They have walker things to help them learn to skate.

the christmas tree

Cute girl!

Katherine loves her dolls. She wanted me to put a diaper on it. So cute!

Katherine's new outfit

Here's the outfit I got Katherine today-- so cute!!

I have a white shirt to go under this sweater dress:

puppy mittens:

It's a......

Dec. 1 at 4pm-- gender ultrasound!!
Merry Christmas to me!!
Two things for you to do:
1. make your guess (winners get a treat)
2. pray it's a girl (so Katherine can have a sister and they can share a room)

The Christmas tree is up!

It snowed today, so...
we put the Christmas tree and our few Christmas decorations in the house up! It looks beautiful, but I can't find our camera so you have to come visit to see it. But it looks like this (except the bottom half is sans ornaments):

(well, maybe not exactly)

The boys helped and did a great job. The lower half has no ornaments because we have a destructo-baby in the house! I got all the Christmas tree decorations after Christmas last year for really cheap because we didn't really have any ornaments. We also bought a new tree today because we were using the tree that Todd had during his childhood and it was shedding really bad and had seen its last day. We'll put it upstairs for the boys though. The boys asked if they could have it for their children. All that's left is getting a star or an angel for the top and I ordered some candles (we won't light them) to clip on the tree--hopefully they'll be here soon.

Todd and I went on a date last night and did some Christmas shopping. It was so fun looking at girl toys and not just all boy toys! I think you kind of re-live your childhood through them.

By the way, it is possible to celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving at the same time. Christmas needs to be celebrated for at least two months!!

Being manly

The boys lately have talking about how to be manly lately. The first thing for being manly, is stuffing your mouth with food. The second thing for being manly, is fighting your brother with sticks. I overheard Alex ask Nathan what the 350th thing for being manly is, and Nathan said, "staring at something with your eyes open and not blinking." Wrestling without shirts on is another thing for being manly.

Thanksgiving and Christmas thoughts

This morning we read in Alma 27, when Ammon and his brothers ran into Alma. They were so excited to see each other, it says this:

Alma 27: 17. Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.
18. Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.

We talked about being penitent and a humble seeker of happiness-- about taking the time to think about our blessings and being grateful even for the little things. If you can find joy in the little things, you will be happy. I told them a long time ago, Christmas was a lot different. Kids only got one or two presents, and they were probably homemade presents. Kids were used to this, and they were still happy and excited about Christmas and those humble presents. Now kids write long letters to Santa, and expect lots of elaborate commercial toys. Am I taking away my child's happiness by giving them too much so they can't enjoy the little things? It's hard not to want to give my kids everything they want for Christmas! I wanted to spend $250 on Alex and Nathan for Christmas, but Todd said he wanted to do $200 so we don't go overboard.

The only two presents I ever remember growing up, is the Christmas I got my flute and the Christmas Allison made me a soft purple scarf. Those are also the only two presents that I still have.

To help them be penitent and humble seekers of happiness, I can help them find joy in decorating the Christmas tree as a family, listening to Christmas music, doing fun Christmas projects together, etc. -- simple joys of Christmas.

Having Thanksgiving first, we can focus on being thankful for the little things we have and continue that into the Christmas season.

Happy Halloween!

Park City condo 2009

Todd's parents have a timeshare in Park City every Oct. and the family gets together and spends the weekend/week together. We all look forward to it every year.

Pumpkin carving:
Alex's:
Nathan's:

Katherine in the bath after eating a brownie sundae:

This year it snowed while we were there. It was very pretty:

The boys in the hot tub while it's snowing. I wish I could've gone in, too!

The pool there is heated (somewhat-- I thought it was still pretty cold) and half indoors half outdoors. Katie and Alex playing:

Alex and Nathan pretending to be asleep:

Grandpa is explaining football to Alex. Alex just went swimming that's why his face and eyes are red.

We all ate too much junk food:

Katie was so funny with these lais! She loved gathering them all and putting them on and running around with them on for a while:

The family in the pool:

This year was the first year someone was missing... Tawnya and family:(. She lives in Iowa now and is sick pregnant and didn't think she could make it on the plane with her toddler while being sick. We missed her but we'll all be there next year, with 2 additions!

Family Picture Oct 2009

Things I don't understand about pregnancy

First, I am grateful that I can be pregnant and bring children into the world. Nevertheless, I HATE being pregnant!! Here's some things I don't understand about pregnancy:

1. Why is it that when your gag reflex is in hyperdrive and you are constantly nauseaus, do they make prenantal vitamins as big as ostritch eggs?

2. Why is it that this time is a time when vitamins and nutrients are so important, does mother nature cause you to throw up everything and only be able to eat french fries for dinner because that's all that you could keep down?

3. Why is it that at this time when smells can make you throw up, is your sense of smell keener than a bloodhound? One night I was about to throw up because I could smell our headboard....

4. Why are humans the only ones who get nauseaus during pregnancy? I've never seen a dog or elephant going around throwing up when it is pregnant.

random stuff

Mom and Dad, does this picture remind you of....

this one of me?

This girl LOVES her dog!

When Nana put Katherine to sleep at church:
The kids spent about an hour today doing this:

*Nathan is always trying to find ways to get money. Today he told me he would give me "lego training" for 25 cents. He really never wants to spend his allowance-- but his only weakness is Build-A-Bear.

Boardwalk

Nathan, Alex and I just finished a Monopoly game that we've been playing the last few days, and I lost. I was even trying my best, and I lost. Funny thing is that Nathan won, by only buying Boardwalk and Parkplace (nothing else) and put hotels on them both. Alex and I both landed on Boardwalk (me first), and even if we mortgaged everything we couldn't get the $2000. Alex was pretty close to winning.
Funny boys! I don't think a career in business is in my future...

Nana

Nana just came, and we've been thoroughly spoiled! She arrived with a 7 foot tent she made for the kids which was a big hit with all 3 kids. She gave me a break from being a mom-- she played with the kids (Monopoly, Indians, etc.), changed all the poopy diapers, took the baby during church and magically put her to sleep, cleaned my house, did my laundry, made the kids peach crepes every morning, let me take naps, took us out to eat, pulled the weed jungle in the front yard, etc. etc. etc.! Katie instantly loved Nana and always wanted Nana to hold her, which she never does with anyone.
Thanks, Nana! You helped me out more than you'll ever know!!!! We love you!!!

Good news and Bad news

Bad news:
Looking for clothes for me at the mall.

Good news:
I got a really cute church outfit! I LOVE the skirt and got a cute black top for it:

Good news:
My mom came to visit! She made a huge 7 ft. tent for the kids which they love!

Bad news:
She has to leave on Wed.

Good news:
My nausea is getting better!

Bad news:
It's still here, though.

Good news:
I'm still pregnant at least.

Good news for me:

Todd and the boys (and now my mom) are taking care of everything for me. The boys are such good helpers and Todd cleaned the nasty bathrooms for me.

Good news:
Todd made homemade cinnamon rolls tonight and tomorrow he's making homemade lasagna.

Good news:
I have the cutest kids in the whole world!

1st picture of baby #4

(The round thing is a ball for him/her to play with if he/she gets bored)
Here's baby's first picture! Today I am 8 weeks and 2 days. He said my due date is May 19, which means I can get induced on May 12. Katherine was born on my sister Allison's boy's birthday, and she has another boy who has a birthday may 13- so we could have 2 babies with the same birthdays!

too much food network challenge

The boys are building lego buildings and saying "I need at least 31 indgredients!" And they are hurrying around because there's a time limit. Then when they are done, Nathan says in an announcer voice, "Alex Carlson, move your masterpiece." Then he took his tall lego masterpiece and slowly took it upstairs to the school table. Then he said, "Nathan Carlson, move your masterpiece." They both made it.

learning to count

On Fridays the boys go to PE at the public school. I drop them off and then pick them up, and they each have their own time. When I was driving Nathan home, he said the teacher was talking to him before the class came. She asked what his favorite subject was. He answered math. She asked him if he started learning how to count yet. He said that right now he's at 27,000.

Yesterday Nathan told me, "If I get $70 a month, I'd have $840 in a year." He told me he did 70 times 10, and then added 140.