Multiple Nelsons

"Missa" had the opportunity to go with a friend (Kinsey Hill) to Pullen Park.  She finally got to do something by herself without the other siblings!  Thanks Kim for inviting her. :) The Hills are also moving out of the ward like us.  Luckily we still have the rest of the summer and part of the school year left.   NOTE:  Most of the girls "Missa's" age have or will be moving out of the ward.  It is sad to see the good friends we made over the past year, go .  But hopefully when we get in our next ward we can make new friends.

Today we went to the Fire Station with a Dalmatian fire dog and the kids loved it!! Unfortunately my younger two kids stayed home with Grandma (well she ran errands with them) b/c they are getting better from being sick again. The kids had a blast and loved Higsbee the Dalmatian! A few weeks ago Grandma Loanne styled this little guys hair.  Looks good! A month ago we had a tropical storm come through and dumped 4-6 inches of rain in two hours.  Yep this is the pond in the back yard overflowing.  Almost taking away the roof of a picnic shelter my dad built. Here is the bigger dock's view.  You can't even see the smaller dock across the pond b/c it is under the water. The bridge across the overflow area that is slowing collapsing because the wood on the left side is rotting out.  I thought for sure the "river" flowing out of the pond would have swept it away.  But it didn't.

Yesterday we went to the NC Fort Fisher/Wilmington Aquarium for our 12th Anniversary, with our kids!!! Happy Anniversary Troy and happy Be-lated birthday!!! Disclaimer:  I forgot to put it on the blog but I didn't forget his birthday.  We celebrated his b-day with our extended family on Father's Day.  I just didn't get any pictures.   We decided a few weeks ago to purchase the membership pass that includes the NC Zoo, all of the aquariums and a few other places.  We have tried to go twice in the past 8 weeks but every time we would get up the day of departure, one or two kids would have this nasty cold and cough.  Then, we would decide to stay home so the kids could get better to be able to go to church the next day. Guess what?  The same scenario happened again.  "Crazy A" and "Baby D" woke up with nasty colds and coughs.  This TIME we decided who cares and we went.  If I couldn't make it to church the next da...

A few weeks ago my Uncle Alen Hunter died (his wife in the red) and so my parents drove down to Florida for his funeral.  I wish I could have been there but it was over Memorial Day weekend and I needed to spend time with my family.   Pictured are my dad and his siblings in birth order: Ann Bartholomew Hull  Joyce Bartholomew Stovall  Carol Bartholomew Hunter Paul Bartholomew Marica Bartholomew Gandolph John Bartholomew (JB) Thank you Aunt Joyce for the photo!

My siblings in Utah made this video for my sister, Anne/Annie for her 40th birthday last month. AWESOME!

Wow, I can't believe it has been over a week since I last posted.  Time is flying.  I highly think it is due to ALL my kids being home and the days are filled with trying to keep them busy.  This summer I have "pledged" to keep them and me busy like I did last summer. Mondays - "school" and speech therapy Tuesday - "school" and swim lessons Wednesday - "school"/field trip and sometimes playgroup Thursday - Library and play in our redneck pool Friday - Occupational Therapy and "School" And two nights a week we are trying to go the the pool to get the kids tired (we joined the YMCA).  "Mom!  Can you see me looking at you, while I try to be like Grandpa?" Last week I realized I was exhausted by Thursday afternoon and lost it on pour "Jacolena".  I was trying to keep the others busy and in return it was WAY TOO much for  her.  I now have added in naps almost everyday I can.  AND My ...

 In our short time here... I have made some good friends.  I was really afraid of getting emotionally too attached to people b/c I knew that once Troy got a job we needed to move closer to it.  So that has helped me with my emotions..... BUT it still doesn't help the fact that a good handful of families in our ward/congregation that are around are same age with kids will be or have moved out of the ward in the recent months. We are going to be moving out (yep... I finally said it) in the following months.   The Harris's moved to another ward, the Wests are moving back to Fayetteville in the fall and the Hills are buying a house like us and then there is the Strawns~!  They moved back to UTAH this week. At least with the other 3 families we can still see them for playgroups and etc... but the Strawns decided to move back to the "homeland".  I understand but it is still hard to see good friends move. Their 3 yr old daughter was one of "Crazy ...

Here is "Missa", her friend Ellis and her Teacher Mrs. Kerr.  She was a great teacher for her this year.  Mrs. Kerr helped "Missa" grow in some many ways.  We shall miss her greatly!  Hopefully we can be at the school some of next year to at least keep in touch.  Some more of "Missa" and her friends.  I would like to do some things with her friends this summer.  We never really got a chance to do that during the school year.  Hopefully! This is where "Jacolena" was half of the time... on the floor.  This also was the FIRST time I took all four younger kids with me to "Missa's" school.  The first 30 minutes were a disaster and I wondered why I even attempted this adventure.  Then after the eating stopped and games started to be played, my younger kids weren't too overwhelmed/afraid and then finally we had a blast (and didn't demand my attention 24/7).  So maybe it wasn't too bad by the end of the Party....

While we were out "getting the mail" we walked around to see all the flowers and wild flowers.    I can't believe the amount of flowers that keep blooming.  You don't see them until you get up close and they are so precious.    The Raspberries were eaten on site and literally right after I took the photograph by me and the kids.  We are taking swimming lessons for all of June and July.  There is a lady who does private, group and etc... at 4 different locations in the N. Raleigh area.  What is so good about her is that she is giving us GREAT discount and she has worked with many children with special needs.  I basically have my own "group" lesson.   It only took her about 10 minutes to figure out the twins and the level they were at.  And she did awesome!  Miss "Jacolena" did freak out quite a few times for slipping under the water just b/c she is not very good at knowing her bound...

 Our "Redneck" Slide  Waiting for the "real slide" to get opened up and put together.  Might as well use the "redneck" slide again.  Near a dull moment with her... always making funny faces.  Outfit change again.  Just a little hesitant to slide, so we get stuck..... And then someone else is waiting for us to get off.  "UH... mom stop taking pictures... I am sliding down here".  "Well I guess I should look at you, while my picture is being taken."  "Ok, I will smile and make this look fun."  "Yes... I finally am back up." At 8 months old this kid wants to change "scenery" and do other stuff.  Sitting is just not enough.  I see crawling in his future. :)  But he has to be on his tummy long enough to get good.  One of her hiding places so the other kids don't find her.  I got "crafty" and made teacher gifts. :)  The ...