Multiple Nelsons

The Alveraz Family has always had a special place in my heart.  Laura (mom) has twins that are now in their 20s.  When I had my twins, my mother wasn't in the US.  Laura flew out and helped me... she was a life saver.  She was really the first to help me get acclumated with having twins.   I also taught her girls how to play basketball thru church ball and I babysat her kids when they first moved to Raleigh 20 years ago.   Alicia (Laura's oldest daughter) has been secretly my favorite. :)  Jackie and Annie if you read this, you guys are awesome too!  Alicia went to USU and was in Logan, UT at the same time as us.  We visited each other while we both lived in UT.  She is like a younger sister to me... we watched out for her while living in Logan, UT.  So finally after 4 years of not seeing her, her two girls and Sam (her husband), I went over to her parents house and chatted with them.  It was so nice to see...

Something we are trying as a family is kid dates.  We have talked about doing these for the past 6 months but wanted to do mommy, daddy and one kid date.  But then we realized how many times we would be gone and need a babysitter in addition to going on normal dates and the temple in one month. So we finally decided to start (with the help of a friend) to do one-on-one dates.  Troy and I will rotate months.  We will take each kid, on a weekend or weeknight somewhere of their choosing (with some options).  They budget has to be less to be between $5-10.   I am still trying to find some parameter because Crazy A and Jare Bear still think it is us taking them shopping, but that isn't the point.  Right now I am scouring Pinterest ideas to print out so the kids can choose activities and places to go. We are hoping this will help the kids fighting for our attention.  That has been the struggle over the past few months.  The kids c...

Christmas morning this girl just kept eating candy after candy. She kept hiding here so the other kids won't bother her while she was playing with her new stuff. Troy putting together Crazy A's present but Missa wanted to play with it. Jacolena photo bombing Jare Bear's picture. In the afternoon we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for some family time. The craft Aunt Rachel and Missa worked on. Arm wrestling contest by Uncle Les and one of the missionaries. Stick Pulling Contest Chubby Baby Abby enamored by Aunt Cho. "Gwandma" is Big D's favorite person right now.

I made the kids do their "Saturday chores" on Christmas Eve.  It worked! I told them if they didn't they couldn't open presents.