Multiple Nelsons

The week before Christmas got really warm, like 60-75 degree weather.  I was at first dissappointed b/c back in Utah it was FREEZING.  It got me a little homesick for Utah. Weird.  Anyway, I then realized that my kids could go outside a PLAY!  While it was really warm the week before Christmas we borrowed my BIL's trailer to pick up their trampoline they were getting rid of.  So far the kids love the trampoline.  I also asked if we could have the trailer too but, nope... :)  ALL the kids enjoy the trailer while it was here for a couple of days.  They pretended it was a boat and they kept fixing it and fixing it. This little guy has figured out his favorite outside toy, the little car. Troy's mom, Barbara came to visit us for 8 days before Christmas.  It was really nice to have another adult around.  She played with the kids, helped cooked dinner, cleaned the kid's room, did the dishes and much more.   Tr...

   Putting on Grandma Barb's makeup  Today we really needed to clean the van.  We hadn't done it since the early fall.  It isn't messy it is just dirty from all the shoes tracking in dirt and crud. Most of the kids had to help.  They use it, they clean it. The little guy just wanted to be outside where everyone else was.  Good thing it was 65 degrees in December! 

We have had the same lazy-boy chair for about 11 years.  We didn't take it out to Utah when we lived because we just didn't have room.  So we stored it at my parents house.  Well shortly after moving a few weeks ago, the Lazy Boy chair just broke.  We couldn't put the foot rest in, it was starting to scratch the floor and the seat was sinking in. What do we "country" people do with left over stuff? BURN IT!  We are trying to be as environmental friendly as possible.  We burn or recycle ALL of our paper/fabric/burnable goods.  The kids were scared but excited.  It burned down to the metal springs.  It was awesome. Crazy Climber Early Christmas present - a rug for the living room.   It has already been used a lot.  I was having a hard time finding a cheap enough rug.  They are just so expensive... finally at Costco I found an indoor/outdoor rug that is water resistant and stain resistant.  If it...

This past Friday I took the four youngest and a friend's little girl (Kaitlyn) to My Gym.  The twin's Class at school was having a FREE play date.  Since I really don't volunteer or go into the class EVER I thought going to this would be good to get to know the other parents better. Let's just say the kids LOVED it.  Crazy A and Kaitlyn fit in so well with the class.  It was actually the Pre-K (4/5) class and the Preschool (3/4) class that the twin's teacher teachers. They did gymnastics, climbing, games, the parachute, the trampoline and dancing. She loved the tunnels. We had fun but we won't be going back b/c of two reasons 1. Jare bear hurt himself bad and 2. it is too expensive (one of the other mothers paid for our class)... Jare Bear tripped off the little trampoline/pads and landed hard on his right ear/side of head.  He passed out for 1-2 minutes.  He has a huge bruise.  I was a little worried that he ...

This year we had great family pictures!!!  I am so thankful that Sarah could get such good photos when the weather was freezing and the most of the kids were crying.  I had originally scheduled pictures back in September.   I didn't want the kids to be COLD again like in years past.  We did family pictures every year in Utah with my SIL, Brittney.  She always did a fantastic job... but it was ALWAYS cold.  So this time around I was going to avoid that.  But with sickness and rain we had to reschedule twice and it ended up being just as cold. So as I was preparing for these pictures 3x, I had already picked everyone clothes out whether it was 70 degrees or 25 degrees.  I laid everyone clothes out and then every time we had to cancel I would have to put the jeans and shirts back in with the clothes (2x).  So when the third time came around I THOUGHT I had everyone ready and didn't.   We woke up that morning a...

 Troy putting up a REAL Christmas Tree .  We really wanted to get an artifical tree but we just couldn't splurge to buy one this year. "Jare Bear" helping screw in the bolts to hold the tree straight.  We put the tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Last Friday I was invited to a Homeschool Activity.  They were making Gingerbread houses.  And soo we went.  I am not homeschooling any of my kids but the girl who does it also does a preschool co-op with kids "Crazy A's" age.  So I thought it would be good for the 4 youngest and I to take an adventure.  Well the first 15 minutes was not fun.  "Jacolena" thru a mini-tempertation.  Once it was over we enjoyed being over there and were there for 2 hours.  That is huge for me, especially right before lunch.  This is the Gingerbread house "Jare Bear" and "Crazy A" worked on together.  Making Christmas gifts for each other One night last weeke...

Food - Double Couponing I finally have decided to get back into double couponing.  Over the past 12 years I have off and on "double-couponed".  I even did it before the "craze" of the extreme Couponers.  Then I slowly stopped just because I got pregnant with the twins.  I knew at that in my point life it was going to get crazy and I needed to focus on my family.  After that, I did it again off and on through the next 5 years.  Finally this year after being students, unemployed and now employed... I realized we really needed to save money and this was one of the ways.  I have never gotten anything for FREE like others.  I have never gotten more than one newspaper.  I have never gone to more than one store.  So that limits you but it helps you get back into the groove.  Double couponing is a different mentally than regular shopping.  Your menus are by what you buy that is on sale... not making menus and then purchasing the foo...

With my 7 year old daughter: This past Sunday I dressed slightly more sophisticated and classy.  I had my hair up in a high messy but dressy bun with bangs up.  My sister's knee length pencil skirt, leggings, boots and a nice cardigan with a blouse. Here is our conversation in the bathroom before church - Marissa: "Mom, you look like a different mom" Me: "Really? And how do I like different?" Marissa: "Well, from the back I don't know you" Me: "Is it my hair, skirt, boots, what?" Marissa: "Everything." Love it... I am always trying so hard not to stay stuck in the same old outfits.  Most of the time is because I don't have the money.  But they are other ways to help you keep up to date... your sister's stuff! Of course I need to keep an "eye" on my 3 year old, Crazy A.  She is the fashion-esta of the family.   She will only wear leggings, boots, a long sleeve shirt, scarf and a certain...