Friday, December 25, 2009
We wish you a Merry Christmas!!
Christmas is a wonderful time to be together. I know the boys would have hoped and wished for snow but I was thrilled with the dry mild weather we were blessed with this Christmas! Santa was good to the good boys and girl in our home. It was an early morning. The boys woke up at 4:30am. So at 5:30 we opened presents and by 7 some of us went back to bed for a morning nap. We enjoyed a yummy brunch with a couple of dear branch member friends. Group hugs to all of our friends and family near and far. We love and miss you and think and talk of you often. When we receive pictures we put them on our fridge to look at every day!! Thanks for sharing your love with us!!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
An ode to Rain...
This is a poem I wrote 2 years ago while looking after a friends sick children while she was away.
Rain rain is such a pain.
We see it everyday.
In winter, summer, spring and fall,
It will not stop at all.
But its OK
'Cause we can play
Inside its lots of fun.
There's a lot to do,
The whole year through,
Its fun for everyone!
I hope you enjoy your rainy day!
Rain rain is such a pain.
We see it everyday.
In winter, summer, spring and fall,
It will not stop at all.
But its OK
'Cause we can play
Inside its lots of fun.
There's a lot to do,
The whole year through,
Its fun for everyone!
I hope you enjoy your rainy day!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Beauty - where can YOU find it?
I have been enjoying a little peek in to my friends and family members lives as I connect with you on Facebook, through emails or blogs. As I was searching I found a post about professionally gifted violinist named Joshua Bell who played in Washington at the Metro station for 45 min. I found the newspaper article Pearls Before Breakfast and read pretty much the entire article. I would like to think I would have been one who would have stopped and listened grinning from ear to ear but would continue on with the day. The article mentions 2 lines of poetry. I love poetry so I looked it up and found it to be a thought provoking poem.
Leisure
W. H. Davies
WHAT is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
There are many things I love and enjoy. Today I am not going to share what I love.
Will you take a moment to ponder what it is you love?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Pumpkin Parade and more!
So Hyrum tells me that tonight's Halloween was so much more fun than last year! My big surprise went great. We went to the lake a lit a few fireworks. It was something we hadn't done before so I started small. They had so much fun! Drew lit the big finale! Then the boys and their friends came here for pizza pockets and to play rock band. (We need a couple more wiimotes, I am told) After the friends went home and things were quiet, Hyrum and I had a photo shoot with the pumpkins! I will be going to bed tonight with a smile on my face remembering the fun we had tonight! I will smile remembering Drew singing Christmas songs and wishing the trick or treaters a Happy New Year!
1. Most of the trick or treat clan. Little man A went with a friend and his Mom (they are the 2 smaller ghouls in the front.) D and H went with a clan of friends. C tagged along with the clan for a little while, too.
2. Hyrum and his Candy!!
3. Homestar runner character pumpkin totem
4. Little man A's pumpkins. The bottom one was done at home and the top one was done at school.
5. Carter's pumpkin.
1. Most of the trick or treat clan. Little man A went with a friend and his Mom (they are the 2 smaller ghouls in the front.) D and H went with a clan of friends. C tagged along with the clan for a little while, too.
2. Hyrum and his Candy!!
3. Homestar runner character pumpkin totem
4. Little man A's pumpkins. The bottom one was done at home and the top one was done at school.
5. Carter's pumpkin.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Halloween tomorrow!!
So I have a million things to do and here I sit at the computer playing with photos and wondering what to be for Halloween.....I love Halloween and I hate it at the same time. Yesterday I bought a great hat that I was going to make a cool costume around but Hyrum loved it and said 'oh Mom that will be a great Leprechan hat' and immediately went to the felt bin and discovered we don't have enough green felt......luckily we had some other green fabric and it turned out great! so the love it Hyrum is happy with his costume the hate...I don't have a hat...
Monday for Family Home Evening we carved pumpkins. Now I LOVE carving pumpkins!!! But I haven't had a chance to do it yet this year....but here is my little hint for the year for those that enjoy it but hate the gross insides...wear gloves! A couple of years ago I did Strong Bad! He was so cool... (the main pic at the top of the blog is my pumpkin from a couple of years ago) This year the 3 teams did awesome ones. (Sorry the camera had no batteries so pics later.) Well Dexter loved it so much he went to the store the next day picked out 2 more pumpkins and carved them Wed. We have more characters to add to our front entrance!! Bubs and Strong Sad
I have a little surprise for the boys for tomorrow!! I hope they don't discover it........
And one last note. The Elders will be here for lunch tomorrow!! Years ago when there were Elders serving in our branch we had them over for dinner each year on Halloween and we would carve pumpkins. I have been wanting to make sugar cookies so maybe we will do that instead. It looks like our costumes will be ready to go by the end of tonight! But I still have to choose what I want to be......what are you going to be?
Monday for Family Home Evening we carved pumpkins. Now I LOVE carving pumpkins!!! But I haven't had a chance to do it yet this year....but here is my little hint for the year for those that enjoy it but hate the gross insides...wear gloves! A couple of years ago I did Strong Bad! He was so cool... (the main pic at the top of the blog is my pumpkin from a couple of years ago) This year the 3 teams did awesome ones. (Sorry the camera had no batteries so pics later.) Well Dexter loved it so much he went to the store the next day picked out 2 more pumpkins and carved them Wed. We have more characters to add to our front entrance!! Bubs and Strong Sad
I have a little surprise for the boys for tomorrow!! I hope they don't discover it........
And one last note. The Elders will be here for lunch tomorrow!! Years ago when there were Elders serving in our branch we had them over for dinner each year on Halloween and we would carve pumpkins. I have been wanting to make sugar cookies so maybe we will do that instead. It looks like our costumes will be ready to go by the end of tonight! But I still have to choose what I want to be......what are you going to be?
Monday, September 07, 2009
sigh, the end of the summer...so many plans not enough time
Tomorrow the boys return to school. We have had a great summer. We have traveled near and far on bike, foot, canoe, boat, ferry, car and plane. We went camping, exploring, visiting, and swimming.
I am not sure what to write so I will post some pics of our travels and adventures. I haven't been very faithful about taking pictures but have discovered what fun it is and am inspired by the Kirk girls amazing photos that I am going to give it a try.
I found some scrapbook software in the drawer and had some fun with some more pictures from Trek!
I am not sure what to write so I will post some pics of our travels and adventures. I haven't been very faithful about taking pictures but have discovered what fun it is and am inspired by the Kirk girls amazing photos that I am going to give it a try.
Here we are in Telegraph Cove with some of our super duper amazing friends the Allisons and Mitchell.
We went Geocaching at the beach and the camera setting was wrong but it made for a cool photo!
Drew and I were Ma and Pa for a family at the Youth Conference Trek. The 3 older boys went also!
I found some scrapbook software in the drawer and had some fun with some more pictures from Trek!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Trek 2009
I feel honoured and blessed to have been given an opportunity to go to the Youth Pioneer Trek. We dressed, walked, camped, sang, played and sometimes ate like the pioneers may have. I truly thought we had the best family. I couldn’t have chosen better. I know that the plans and preparation for Trek were inspired and done with a heart full of love and goodness for the youth and leaders. From the planning stages in the beginning to the last vehicle leaving the church and clean up still yet to be done I know that Heavenly Father is very happy with how this time went for the Youth in the Nanaimo Stake which now includes Duncan. Some of the youth were a little apprehensive about joining the activity because they didn’t know anyone and I feel sad for those who chose not to participate because it truly was a great pivotal moment in time for a lot of us that took part in the 4 days activities together. We have wonderful youth! Youth who are as courageous as the pioneers were. They choose the right each day as they go to school in amongst a large body of non members. They serve in their wards and branches and attend church meetings. They love and support their families. They take opportunities to use their talents and challenge themselves to learn more about them. They have faith in the Lord and continue to share their testimonies of the gospel verbally and by the good lives they live.
At the end of the trail we went to the train station and before we boarded the train we had an opportunity to hear from Pres Van Horne. He spoke to us and let us know at the end of Trek of his love for all of us there but most especially for the youth! He mentioned to us that his father in law who is not a member keeps llamas at the farm where we camped for 2 days was in town talking with someone when he mentioned there were about 60 youth camping at the farm. His friend asked aren’t you worried, you might go back there to find it all burned down? Pres Van Horne’s father in law assured his friend he was not worried. Such are the youth in our Stake! Pres Van Horne went on to tell us of 5 good things that come from Trek from his view.
It was
a time to strengthen our testimonies,
a time to gather together and meet with other Youth,
it was a challenge both physically and spiritually,
a time to be a part of a new family where possibly the youngest at home in their family now becomes the big brother or sister of a family,
and a time to remember our ancestors and the pioneers who laid a foundation for us.
One of the youth admonished us that we need to keep moving forward or die on the trail. The faith of the pioneers to keep moving forward was inspiring. We can take their example and apply this to our spiritual lives. We need to keep doing our part by attending church, reading the scriptures, praying and serving to keep spiritually going forward or spiritually die on the ‘path of life’. There were stories shared of the sacrifice the pioneers made to travel west and establish a home for themselves and for their families. Some perished trying and others suffered great losses but the one thing that they held firm to was their faith in the Lord knowing they were doing what was right. This motivation was the same for the youth and leaders who took part in the Trek experience. I am pretty sure there were some pioneers who really didn’t want to walk the long 3 month journey to the Salt Lake valley but they knew in their hearts that it was the right thing to do and exercising faith they went forward. It was the same for some of the youth and leaders of our stake’s Trek. As I looked around at the youth and leaders at the end of our journey together I saw tired but happy faces. Faces of our youth who have met new friends, strengthened their testimonies, learned new things about themselves of their abilities and possibly weaknesses, and a new appreciation for their families both the family they currently live with and their ancestors.
I learned a few things from Trek.
1. There are things I can do to be a better parent. It is how you ask and with the right attitude – simply will you…and for those who may not be so willing giving choices of this or that….our family was very cooperative and supportive. It takes time to get to know our youth and the time is well spent. As I took time to get to know each son or daughter I learned they were all great youth with a love of the gospel that they carry with them. I learned what they liked or didn’t like and a little of what their families were like. We are all a part of a family and each one may vary in size or style but families are all a part of our lives.
2. I learned to be a better wife. Again it is how you ask and when. I was reminded that we as a couple need time together to study and play. Fathers have a great responsibility to their families and Mothers have the ability to see the needs of the family. Together they can be a great team that through love and cooperation can have a strong family. We had one younger brother that would have pulled the hand cart until he fell over with fatigue but as I watched and paid attention to his body signs I informed Pa that he needed to have a rest knowing there was a long way to go. The son said I’m fine but still listened and obeyed Pa when asked him to switch out and have a rest from pulling the handcart.
3. I learned that truly is wisdom in getting up early. I love sleep and was pleasantly surprised that I could keep going and going and going with so little sleep. I did manage to catch up on it last night. But the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 88 states that going to bed early and arising early is a good thing. I will be working on this, as I have, for a very long time struggled with the ability to get up early.
4. I was reminded of the importance of attending all of our meetings and accepting assignments and invitations to serve whenever they are presented. The Lord will bless us as we serve in ways we would not have known unless we experience it and actually do it!
5. I was also reminded that we need other Saints in our lives. By spending time together serving or attending meetings we gain strength to move forward and we are thus better able to resist and recognize temptation when it comes our way. The other saints in the Nanaimo Stake are great people!
I would like to thank my family for their support and understanding. I love them and sometimes mess up but I Love the Lord and want to keep moving forward together!
At the end of the trail we went to the train station and before we boarded the train we had an opportunity to hear from Pres Van Horne. He spoke to us and let us know at the end of Trek of his love for all of us there but most especially for the youth! He mentioned to us that his father in law who is not a member keeps llamas at the farm where we camped for 2 days was in town talking with someone when he mentioned there were about 60 youth camping at the farm. His friend asked aren’t you worried, you might go back there to find it all burned down? Pres Van Horne’s father in law assured his friend he was not worried. Such are the youth in our Stake! Pres Van Horne went on to tell us of 5 good things that come from Trek from his view.
It was
a time to strengthen our testimonies,
a time to gather together and meet with other Youth,
it was a challenge both physically and spiritually,
a time to be a part of a new family where possibly the youngest at home in their family now becomes the big brother or sister of a family,
and a time to remember our ancestors and the pioneers who laid a foundation for us.
One of the youth admonished us that we need to keep moving forward or die on the trail. The faith of the pioneers to keep moving forward was inspiring. We can take their example and apply this to our spiritual lives. We need to keep doing our part by attending church, reading the scriptures, praying and serving to keep spiritually going forward or spiritually die on the ‘path of life’. There were stories shared of the sacrifice the pioneers made to travel west and establish a home for themselves and for their families. Some perished trying and others suffered great losses but the one thing that they held firm to was their faith in the Lord knowing they were doing what was right. This motivation was the same for the youth and leaders who took part in the Trek experience. I am pretty sure there were some pioneers who really didn’t want to walk the long 3 month journey to the Salt Lake valley but they knew in their hearts that it was the right thing to do and exercising faith they went forward. It was the same for some of the youth and leaders of our stake’s Trek. As I looked around at the youth and leaders at the end of our journey together I saw tired but happy faces. Faces of our youth who have met new friends, strengthened their testimonies, learned new things about themselves of their abilities and possibly weaknesses, and a new appreciation for their families both the family they currently live with and their ancestors.
I learned a few things from Trek.
1. There are things I can do to be a better parent. It is how you ask and with the right attitude – simply will you…and for those who may not be so willing giving choices of this or that….our family was very cooperative and supportive. It takes time to get to know our youth and the time is well spent. As I took time to get to know each son or daughter I learned they were all great youth with a love of the gospel that they carry with them. I learned what they liked or didn’t like and a little of what their families were like. We are all a part of a family and each one may vary in size or style but families are all a part of our lives.
2. I learned to be a better wife. Again it is how you ask and when. I was reminded that we as a couple need time together to study and play. Fathers have a great responsibility to their families and Mothers have the ability to see the needs of the family. Together they can be a great team that through love and cooperation can have a strong family. We had one younger brother that would have pulled the hand cart until he fell over with fatigue but as I watched and paid attention to his body signs I informed Pa that he needed to have a rest knowing there was a long way to go. The son said I’m fine but still listened and obeyed Pa when asked him to switch out and have a rest from pulling the handcart.
3. I learned that truly is wisdom in getting up early. I love sleep and was pleasantly surprised that I could keep going and going and going with so little sleep. I did manage to catch up on it last night. But the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 88 states that going to bed early and arising early is a good thing. I will be working on this, as I have, for a very long time struggled with the ability to get up early.
4. I was reminded of the importance of attending all of our meetings and accepting assignments and invitations to serve whenever they are presented. The Lord will bless us as we serve in ways we would not have known unless we experience it and actually do it!
5. I was also reminded that we need other Saints in our lives. By spending time together serving or attending meetings we gain strength to move forward and we are thus better able to resist and recognize temptation when it comes our way. The other saints in the Nanaimo Stake are great people!
I would like to thank my family for their support and understanding. I love them and sometimes mess up but I Love the Lord and want to keep moving forward together!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Where does the time go?
Ramblings here for you to read and check out...it has been a while since I sat and typed out some of the happenings of our home...
I have been reading lots of things lately from books, to blogs and magazines to recipes. Words are everywhere...yet there never seems to be enough time to read all I want to read. On another note, I am ever so thankful for the invention of recording. Nights I am too tired or just want some me time I can pop in a CD and the boys can listen to someone else read them a bedtime story. Little Man A has read over 140 nights this school year. He follows in his brothers' footsteps and likes to have books on his bed each night. There are a few of us in the house that agree that it takes forever to settle down at night for bed without a good book to read.
There are currently two little starlings in my backyard with yellow beaks and specked feathers. They are in mid change from their winter colours to their summer colours. I love feeding the birds and seeing them visit my yard. Even the piggy Stellar's Jays are welcome and the noisy demanding crows. I feed them the crusts of bread out the back door. The little birds; Finches, Pine Siskins, Sparrows and such eat from the feeder in the front yard and my neighbour feeds the Hummingbirds and we see them perch in the backyard trees each day. They are so fast and I love to hear them buzzz around the yard. The Golden-Crowded Sparrows have arrived a little later than years past and will be here for another couple of weeks on their pit stop to northern breeding grounds.
Sports is a big thing here in the Neilson home. From Gymnastics and Trampoline fun to Soccer and now Rugby we have lots to keep us busy and active. Both Carter and Dexter did very well at the Provincial Gymnastics Competition in Vancouver in March. They both placed in the top 8 in their level. Carter is looking forward to getting certified as a coach. He is also working on becoming a certified life guard. He had an interview this week for a job at the local outdoor pool. He finishes his class the second Sat of May. Dexter played in 2 school soccer games yesterday and was too tired to go to the community soccer practice. He practices 4 times a week between the 2 teams. Hyrum and D are on the same U 15 team this year and this makes me a very happy mom. I only have 2 teams to juggle this year! Little man plays on a U 10 team and is happy with his newer bigger cleats. He has out grown the ones from last year. He had the first game of the season last Sat and he scored a couple of goals!
Scouting also keeps some of us busy. Yesterday we had a visitor from Victoria come up and present our little Beaver Colony with the Council Commissioner's Adventure Award. We worked on it last year. We had to do a couple of service projects, outdoor adventures, joint activities and campfires with another Beaver Colony, and linking activities with the Cubs. It was a lot of fun and well worth the effort. It took us from Novemeber to May to compete all the activities and I sent in the scrapbook in June. I will be hanging up my Beaver hat and moving on to Music. Hyrum continues to go to Scouts and is looking forward to attending a Summer Scout Camp on the Island in August. They have a camp planned for this weekend, including a bit of caving I think. Little man A loves Cubs. They recently had the annual Cub Car races. One of the leaders is VP at the high school and has taught in the shop class. So the boys did their cars at the school and used the facilities to modify them and change them from a block of wood to be a cool looking car. He was very happy with his car but didn't get to paint it because he was at regulation weight. He proudly told me he came in third.
Drew has applied for the One year VP position at Sunset next year. We will be finding out soon. He is looking forward to the possible opportunity of trying out the adminstration hat. Our Principal is taking a year off to travel with his wife and volunteer at the Winter Olympics in Whistler. The current VP will be Principal.
Drew built me a cloche for the garden. It looks like a little mini greenhouse made from PVC pipe, rebar and thick clear plastic. Our garden doesn't warm up very well so I am excited to get gardening again. I have started radishes, carrots, peas and beets. I see the radishes and beets but not the carrots or peas. The slugs have spotted them too. :0{ Eggshells. I am trying eggshells and death. I squished 2 of the little monsters. I am going to sprout the peas and then plant some more. Hyrum helped me build a scarecrow, with some of the leftover wood from the grape arbour. The arbour was rotten at ground level and Hyrum and a friend hacked it down. All the scarecrow needs is a head, Hyrum thinks we should use a football. Hopefully this weekend we will add it to the body and complete our little project! I am contemplating getting a few chickens to eat the slugs and wood bugs that plague our backyard as well as give us a few eggs! First we need a place for them to live in....Town laws say we can have 7 adult animals including turkeys, horses, cats, dogs, fowl, reptiles....so who knows. If not chickens maybe a couple of ducks! I love birds remember!! I should sign off for now, I will be stopping by the library on my way out....books and birds.....oh and boys, boys, boys..........that is my life for now with work as Mother Goose tossed into the mix.........love you all!
I have been reading lots of things lately from books, to blogs and magazines to recipes. Words are everywhere...yet there never seems to be enough time to read all I want to read. On another note, I am ever so thankful for the invention of recording. Nights I am too tired or just want some me time I can pop in a CD and the boys can listen to someone else read them a bedtime story. Little Man A has read over 140 nights this school year. He follows in his brothers' footsteps and likes to have books on his bed each night. There are a few of us in the house that agree that it takes forever to settle down at night for bed without a good book to read.
There are currently two little starlings in my backyard with yellow beaks and specked feathers. They are in mid change from their winter colours to their summer colours. I love feeding the birds and seeing them visit my yard. Even the piggy Stellar's Jays are welcome and the noisy demanding crows. I feed them the crusts of bread out the back door. The little birds; Finches, Pine Siskins, Sparrows and such eat from the feeder in the front yard and my neighbour feeds the Hummingbirds and we see them perch in the backyard trees each day. They are so fast and I love to hear them buzzz around the yard. The Golden-Crowded Sparrows have arrived a little later than years past and will be here for another couple of weeks on their pit stop to northern breeding grounds.
Sports is a big thing here in the Neilson home. From Gymnastics and Trampoline fun to Soccer and now Rugby we have lots to keep us busy and active. Both Carter and Dexter did very well at the Provincial Gymnastics Competition in Vancouver in March. They both placed in the top 8 in their level. Carter is looking forward to getting certified as a coach. He is also working on becoming a certified life guard. He had an interview this week for a job at the local outdoor pool. He finishes his class the second Sat of May. Dexter played in 2 school soccer games yesterday and was too tired to go to the community soccer practice. He practices 4 times a week between the 2 teams. Hyrum and D are on the same U 15 team this year and this makes me a very happy mom. I only have 2 teams to juggle this year! Little man plays on a U 10 team and is happy with his newer bigger cleats. He has out grown the ones from last year. He had the first game of the season last Sat and he scored a couple of goals!
Scouting also keeps some of us busy. Yesterday we had a visitor from Victoria come up and present our little Beaver Colony with the Council Commissioner's Adventure Award. We worked on it last year. We had to do a couple of service projects, outdoor adventures, joint activities and campfires with another Beaver Colony, and linking activities with the Cubs. It was a lot of fun and well worth the effort. It took us from Novemeber to May to compete all the activities and I sent in the scrapbook in June. I will be hanging up my Beaver hat and moving on to Music. Hyrum continues to go to Scouts and is looking forward to attending a Summer Scout Camp on the Island in August. They have a camp planned for this weekend, including a bit of caving I think. Little man A loves Cubs. They recently had the annual Cub Car races. One of the leaders is VP at the high school and has taught in the shop class. So the boys did their cars at the school and used the facilities to modify them and change them from a block of wood to be a cool looking car. He was very happy with his car but didn't get to paint it because he was at regulation weight. He proudly told me he came in third.
Drew has applied for the One year VP position at Sunset next year. We will be finding out soon. He is looking forward to the possible opportunity of trying out the adminstration hat. Our Principal is taking a year off to travel with his wife and volunteer at the Winter Olympics in Whistler. The current VP will be Principal.
Drew built me a cloche for the garden. It looks like a little mini greenhouse made from PVC pipe, rebar and thick clear plastic. Our garden doesn't warm up very well so I am excited to get gardening again. I have started radishes, carrots, peas and beets. I see the radishes and beets but not the carrots or peas. The slugs have spotted them too. :0{ Eggshells. I am trying eggshells and death. I squished 2 of the little monsters. I am going to sprout the peas and then plant some more. Hyrum helped me build a scarecrow, with some of the leftover wood from the grape arbour. The arbour was rotten at ground level and Hyrum and a friend hacked it down. All the scarecrow needs is a head, Hyrum thinks we should use a football. Hopefully this weekend we will add it to the body and complete our little project! I am contemplating getting a few chickens to eat the slugs and wood bugs that plague our backyard as well as give us a few eggs! First we need a place for them to live in....Town laws say we can have 7 adult animals including turkeys, horses, cats, dogs, fowl, reptiles....so who knows. If not chickens maybe a couple of ducks! I love birds remember!! I should sign off for now, I will be stopping by the library on my way out....books and birds.....oh and boys, boys, boys..........that is my life for now with work as Mother Goose tossed into the mix.........love you all!
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