Multiple Nelsons

Fun moments with each other and daddy this weekend.

Here are the three older kids waiting for the bus on the twins first day of kindergarten.  They did great!

I think our new (Craigslist) bar stools are getting used very nicely.   :)

I am really excited about this year... I will have more kids in school than at home.  Finally after 7 years of at least 3-4 kids home, I will only have two.  I am not the mom that cries or gets emotional when they start school.  I rejoice!  Don't take me wrong. I just love my kids when they can be independent.   Being able to make their own lunches/breakfast (we worked on that this summer), choosing their outfits, learning to socialize with new friends, waiting they turn patiently at school, riding the bus with their siblings, learning and applying safety rules with strangers, seat belting themselves in the car, putting on their own shoes, playing without being entertained, learning to do their chores and telling me about their day when they get home... All of these things show me how far I have come and that I am taking the time to teach and spend time with each child to become independent.   I am passing into a different stage of life....

We have been laying low the past four days.  Jacolena had surgery to reinsert her VNS at Duke Children's hospital the day after we got back from the beach.  She is sore but doing good.  She is still having seizures and this device once again will help.  As you can see in the picture for her, it does not effect the family movie night.  

On last Thursday my sister in law Alex texted me.  She had a friend that had a beach house that they did not rent and wanted to know if we were interested for a very discounted price.   Of course I was!  From Sunday afternoon to Tuesday night we relaxed at the beach. I went with my parents, my sister Colette and Hannah and my cousin with her husband.  Unfortunately, Troy could not take off work that quick and could not come.  We went to the beach twice, the aquarium, the fishing center, Bodie Island lighthouse (me and only two of the kids), napped, relaxed, played games and visited uncle Andy's work.  We did all of this just a day before miss Jacolena's surgery.  It was a whirlwind but the kids and I needed it.

 Day 3 of WVB Family Reunion - Going to the Beach I guess I did get one or two pictures from that day.  Sunday night after our Family Reunion - hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's The kids were in a wrestling mood and Grandpa joined in. First eggs that have hatched from our chickens.  Joyner Park - Historic Park Chicken coop building.  Swimming Lessons  Crazy A and Jacolena's class - waiting their turn.  I didn't even realize I took this pictures, but pretty cool.  Jacolena practicing her bubbles and kicking.  Missa practicing the breast stroke?  Not sure which one she was doing, it was hard to tell.  Jacolena going down the slide for the very first time.  Missa going off the diving board, she has been off many times before.  Yeah, not the best picture.  I was trying to hold Baby D back, keep Jare Bear from pushing the stroller into the pool and take...

Jared bare is finally riding a bike without training wheels!  Now the hard part is getting on by himself.

 The last Activity of the Family Reunion was an Open House/Social Gathering for all the "Oldies" in the Raleigh LDS Stake.  I was put in charge of this activity and have been planning/preparing for months.  Most of the work I did was before hand.  It wasn't easy but worth it.  On Saturday I felt like crap and rested the ENTIRE day to get ready for this. If you haven't noticed by now, there are a LOT of pictures.  I was the UNofficial photographer of the reunion and this WVBart Open House.  This is my way of doing my family history and documenting our great memories. Cousin Elise Hall Getting ready for the crowds of old people. My mom talking with Sis Creech. Card games played by the grandchildren/cousins. Jeff Garrison and My sister, Colette. Koko Thornton, Colette and cousin Tami Gandolph Stark Jare Bear. Chris Buchanan, Becky Buchanan-Williams, Neil Buchanan, my sister Rachel, and Jan Buchanan Ric...