The AZ Nielsons

Bella's highlights 2010

2010-12-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

Starting the 3rd grade, reading tons, and making more crafts and art work than we have storage/wall space for

A baptism in April with friends and lots of family

A rockin' recital with her dad as a dance partner. They jazz danced to It's Raining Men

A role in the musical version of the Legend of Sleepy Hallow (posted is a picture of Bella and "Ichabod Crane")

One of my favorite trips of 2010

2010-12-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

Highlight of November? Spending time with my best friends since childhood. We took a road trip to southern California and spent two fabulous days in Disneyland. . .which brought back so many fun memories, namely, going to Disneyland with these same girls when we were in the 7th grade. And yes, that is DMITRY CHAPLIN with us. I recognized him from Season II SYTYCD. I said to Katie, "Katie, there's your celebrity. It's Dmitry!" And she shouts, "Dmitry!" And he turns. And we ask for a picture. And he says yes!!

To these girls, thanks for a rockin' childhood, fun, easy teen years, and all the good times since. Love you!

2009-09-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

Bella's first day of second grade.

Holding one of Grandpa Rick's Cavalier King Charles Spanial Puppies before dance class.

Lincoln's turn!

Wyn's first birthday. . .we had Cinnamon rolls (thanks Grammy Beth), eggs, and sausage and a little family birthday breakfast. For a present, Wyn got his very own roll of toilet paper and paper towells. The boy has an obsession with paper products . ..kleenex, wipes, toilet paper, paper towells. . .he can spot them a mile away and then, with a deliberateness and almost reverence, he begins to tear them apart. Slowly at first but then he really gets into it and goes to town!

Disneyland

2009-09-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

Grammy Sherida and Wyn

These next two are for my friends Katie and Cory who didn't beleive that I was a level 7 space ranger or galactic hero. That's right. I got more than 1,000,000 points . . . so many that the counter thing didn't have the capacity to go any higher. It just stopped at 999,999. Eat your heart out Buzz Lightyear.

Disneyland June 2009

2009-09-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Wyn flirting with passersby in New Orleans Square.

Lincoln and Bella with the big guy.

Lincoln's first time on Grizzly Mt. River Run. See the gold star in the lower right? Those are Bella's Hannah Montana cowgirl boots Lincoln has on. They gave him the 1 inch he needed to get on that ride.

Grand Canyon

2009-05-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

Guess who hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim? Paul and I (with many friends) hiked down the north rim, across the bottom, and up the south rim. 24 miles. 95 degrees. "all in a days work." And dude, it was serious work (at least for me). We had a great time though. I had never been to the Grand Canyon before (shameful for an az-native), and it was absolutely beyond what I expected or imagined. I am planning on it again next year. Anyone else want to go?

Spring Dance Collection

2009-05-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Remember my post in the Fall about wishing to be on stage again? One of my dancers was unable to perform, and I took her place (that is why I am wearing so much make up). It was great fun . . . even the nerves backstage were fun in a wierd way.

L is 4!

2009-05-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

Do you know any other 4 year old that wants to go bowling for his birthday? We took 4 of his friends bowling and then to Dairy Queen. It was the best kind of party--little planning, small number, and the kids all loved it. ALmost as fun as bowling itself was chasing the cosmo bowling lights all over the floor and dancing to the 90's dance hits they were playing. When was the last time you heard "No Limit" by 2 Unlimited?

Oahu

2009-05-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

P had a convention in Oahu so we took W and made the most of it. North Shore, Pearl Harbor, PCC, Waikiki, all the usuals. Plus an unusual . . . we happened upon "Spam Jam." A huge party that occupied a few blocks and was giving away, you guessed it, SPAM! W was fantastic on the plane and loved the beach. He even learned not to eat the sand by the end of the trip--a skill he has since forgotten . . .

Easter

2009-05-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

So we do the Easter bunny thing on Saturday instead of Sunday. My mom and sister decorated eggs with us and were able to come help hunt them which was so fun. I have posted pictures of what my kids and my house really look like on Easter, and then a posed one after church.

impromptu garage sale

2009-05-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

B and L and two friends decided to have an impromptu garage sale on our front side walk. No takers for the items as priced. . . this was disappointing to my entrepreneurial daughter. After the success of previous weeks' impromptu bake sales, B was sure she was going to make a fortune. The story ends on a good note, however. We participated in a legit garage sale the next weekend and she made a bit of cash to add to her private stash.

Petting the Sting Rays at the Phoenix Zoo

2009-05-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

B turns 7!

2009-05-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

Because the chocolate fountain was such a huge success last year, we asked Gpa H for a loan again this year. B is not a huge fan of cake, but she loves dipping strawberries in melted chocolate. We also decorated flip flops, had a relay race, bounced in the bounce house, and climbed trees. All in all, B's kind of day.

New Years at Disneyland - January 2009

2009-02-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Lincoln worked really hard this whole last year to eat healthy, sleep, and exercise so he could grow tall enough for some of the big rides at Disneyland (okay, as hard as a 3 year old can). And he did it! He went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Soarin' over California . . . he was pretty excited. Now, he is working on growing another 6 inches so he can go on Indiana Jones

Bella and Mickey Mouse. What would I do without Bella my helper? She is such a sweet girl.

Wynston's first trip to D-land. He did excellent. He even stayed up until midnight the first night so he could ring in the new year Disneyland style.

This was extra-fun. Liz, Paul's sister, came with us to Disneyland. She is moving to Phoenix this summer! We are so excited!!

Mom, Ty, and Missy were only with us in Disneyland for a Day and a night, but, you know us, we crammed a whole lot of playing into that time. Here is the whole crew. P.S. Bella and Lincoln both fell asleep in that car seat thing. . .

Christmas

2009-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hands-down, Lincoln's favorite presents were bubble gum (the kind with sugar instead of NutraSweet) and this Nerf gun.

My cute niece, nephew, Bella, Lincoln, Wyn and I at the Phx Zoo.

Bella and her cousin Kate wore that Baby Bjorn around for a surprisingly long time. Wyn loved it, and the girls felt really grown up.

My Dad got Bell and Lincoln these helmets for Christmas. Lincoln loves riding his battery-powered quad in the wash by our house and is hoping to upgrade to a real one soon. . . these helmets are a step in the right direction.

Bella, my cutie, and Santa.

Fall Dance Collection

2008-12-28T22:29:00.000-08:00

So I teach dance at Paradise Valley Community College. Every semester I get to choreograph for the dance collections. This year, I was working with 23 dancers of all levels and abilities and ages (youngest dancer was 16; oldest was in their 50's). It was a challenge but, as always, watching it performed gave me the kind of high I imagine people get from marijuana--a mellow kind of buzz/warm fuzzies. Is that a good comparison? The other dance was brewing in my brain all last summer while I was huge and pregnant. I can't tell you how great it felt to get to really dance it out once Wyn was in the world instead of in me. That dance was harder to watch. . .mostly because I wanted to be up there with the dancers. I guess the itch to perform is something I will never really get over. In fact, the other day while eating teppanyaki with Paul and my bro and sis in law, I told Paul that I think being a Teppanyaki chef would be something I would like to do when I am old and can't dance anymore. Paul whole-heartedly agreed, calling me an exhibitionist. . .so in 50 years, maybe I will be working at Sapporo.

2008-12-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

India. I have never been anywhere like India . . .not even close. It was amazing to be there with someone--my brother--who had lived there for two years. So I got to see all the touristy stuff like the Taj Mahal, Charminar (a mosque in Hyderebad), and the streets in Old Dehli, and the intimate stuff you wouldn't get to see unless you knew someone who lived there. For example: I got to visit several families in their homes. They were so kind and welcoming! I was shocked, surprised, and amazed all at the same time. There were 8, 9, 10 people living in one house that was no bigger than my family room. They all slept on the floor together, cooked and ate off of a small supply of stainless steel dishes, lived, studied, loved, and laughed in few square feet. I had such a great time meeting some of Ty's favorite people in India. . . There is so much I could write but I want to be brief so I have composed a quick list of my favorite things:

1. Eating with my hand! (Right hand only; left is considered unclean)

2. the way the Southern Indians shake their heads side to side (like the pendulum of a clock) to answer "yes"

3. poo mugs (a little pitcher of water used for cleaning yourself up after using the bathroom)

4. Watching Indian men dance at a wedding party. They punch their fists in the air and kind of hop around to this awesome Indian techno music. We saw them from our 5th floor hotel room, and we all couldn't resist opening up curtains and the windows and dancing with them. I think they thought we were just as hilarious.

5. The crazy, crowded streets and the insane traffic. People, cars, rickshaws, autos, cows, bicycles, motorcycles everywhere!

6. The beautiful sarees and chudidars that women wear

7. learning all about Shah Jahan and his beloved wife, Mumtaz Muhal, and the whole story behind the 22 years it took to build the Taj

8. Bartering for everything (although I must admit I was a little timid and had Ty do the bartering for me at first. By the last day of the trip, though, I did my own negotiating for a pretend cobra in a basket for Lincoln and some Indian Bollywood cds. . .I even got the shopkeeper to throw in a cd no charge!)

9. The Hindu Temples and the calling of the gods (there are thousands of Gods in the Hindu faith and they are "called" by name in Hindi over a loud speaker on the temple grounds)

10. My own personal tourguide (little bro Ty) and being able to ask him a million questions, some of them more than once.

All in all, it was very hard to leave my family, especially little Wyn, but I would do it again. One of the best experiences of my life. And, despite the odds, everyone survived and due to my diligent pumping, I was even able to resume nursing!

The pictures are of a snake charmer coaxing a king cobra out of a basket; Missy, my mom, and I in front of Charminar (check out the auto rickshaws on the right and left); and Ty and I up in Charminar (look at that insane traffic in the background!)

INDIA

2008-11-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

I have to unpack, do laundry, and spend time with my kids (to make up for leaving them for 10 days). But I had to take time to post this and say "INDIA ROCKS!" This is me in front of the Taj Mahal. I will post more later . . . it may not be until after Christmas!

Cousins

2008-10-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

We spent five and a half days in Boise with Paul's family this last week for Fall Break. The kids had a great time! Paul's brother, Mark, came up with his two kids for two of the days. Bella and Lincoln LOVE their cousins! Here they are: Lincoln, Bella, Kate, Alder, Wynston (in Alder's arms). They harvested veggies out of Grammy Beth's garden, picked raspberries, made cookies, built forts, shot home made bow and arrows (thanks to Paul's craftiness), painted pumpkins, karate chopped the dead corn stalks, invented new versions of tag, and wore each other out. I have never seen kids fall asleep so quickly!

Wynston

2008-10-09T23:09:00.000-07:00

Man, I love this kid.

Grandpa Rick Celebrates 30 Years as Harley Franchise Owner

2008-09-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

Whoah. That's a long title . . . and also self explanatory. Here are a couple of pictures from the event:

My dad (Grandpa Rick), me, my sis Meliss, Bella, Paul, Lincoln and Wynston is in the stroller. This is taken in the showroom of the dealership.

Lincoln riding around the dealership on a motorcycle with his Grandpa Rick.

My Dad holding Wynston in his showroom.

As ALWAYS, my dad throws a great party.

Wynston meets Great Grandpa Brimhall

2008-09-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

My Grandpa Brimhall (my mother's father) is Wynston's only maternal great-grandparent left. It seems fitting that Wynston should love the porch swing that Grandpa Brimhall made so much. We spend a lot of fussy evenings on the porch swing: doing Bella's homework, reading, or watching Bella and Lincoln jump on the trampoline. I should post a picture of the swing! I think I will . . .

Wynston's Bath

2008-09-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Wynston loves bathing this way. It won't be long before he will be far too big to fit in our bathroom sink. . .we'll enjoy it while we can!

Lincoln's 1st Day of Preschool

2008-09-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

Lincoln was all smiles on his first day of preschool. He was excited to take his batman backpack that his little brother Wynston got for him. He loves both of his preschool teachers and telling me about the Bible stories (it is a Lutheran preschool). There is a little girl named Bella in his class and so now he qualifies which Bella he is talking about (preschool-Bella or his sister). We are really proud of Lincoln!

Wynston's 1st Hike

2008-08-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

While Bella and Lincoln were at a friend's house, Paul and I took a little road trip to Payson to do some hiking. Wyn was quite the trooper. He did great on the drive and LOVED riding in the front pack during the hike. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was cooler, and Paul and I had a fabulous time chatting for hours.

Paul is pointing to his pocket because we caught a horny-toad, and he was carrying it back in his pocket so Bella and Lincoln could see it. I hadn't seen a horned toad since I was a kid. It brought back great memories with Colter and Ty. . .

1st Day of School

2008-08-24T22:41:00.001-07:00

August 11, 2008: Bella's first day of school was Wynston's 3-day birthday. Bella picked his outfit and introduced him to her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Glenn. Don't you love their uniforms? I think they are so dang cute. Lucky for me, Bella loves them also.

August 24, 2008: Bella is the best big sister (besides my own of course). She fed Wynston his first bottle today (which he took fabulously!), burped him, and held and loved him while I got everything ready for church . . . I love that girl.

Wynston Paul Nielson

2008-08-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Aunt Missy and Wyn. She was the first to meet him just a couple hours after he was born.
Grammy Sherida met him next. . . she was on Bella and Lincoln duty :)

Grandpa Rick came to visit when he got back from Sturgis on Tuesday.

Wyn made his debut on 08-08-08. He weighed 8 pounds and was 21 inches long. He came into the world very fast. . . Paul recorded my last contraction at our house at 3:00 a.m. and he was born at the hospital (a ten minute drive normally but Paul ran a few lights) 29 minutes later. Basically, they got me in a gown, checked me, wheeled me to a delivery room, and the ob missed the birth of our son but arrived in time to deliver the placenta. . . needless to say, I didn't get any wonderful drugs like I was hoping for. . .
Bella and Lincoln brought homemade presents for their new brother when they came to the hospital and Wynston had presents for them too. It was so fun to have them on either side of Wyn, looking at him so adoringly.

Paul has been fabulous, taking Bella and Lincoln to the waterpark for hours the last two Saturdays, making cookies with them, building castles, etc.

Wynston has dark hair and blue eyes and looks like he is Bella and Lincoln's sibling. He has been sleeping really well so far. . . knock on wood. . .knock on ALL the wood.

I am feeling great. Best delivery (besides the pain) and fastest recovery yet.

Wynston is healthy, beautiful, alert, and really, what else matters?

no longer virgin ears

2008-08-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Bella got her ears pierced this year and talked her grandma into doing it at the same time! Bella was EXTREMELY brave. In fact, she didn't even flinch or blink her eyes. I thought maybe the lady missed her earlobes. . . wish I had that kind of strength.

My claim to fame

2008-07-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

My friends from our Seattle days will recognize this lady. This is Kari Anderson—owner of ProRobics. She was a presenter at the IDEA World Fitness Convention that I went to in Las Vegas earlier in the month. I took three of her classes during the 4 day event. She is so fabulous and down to earth and actually remembered me (and my name!) from the days when I taught group fitness for her in Seattle. I haven't found a class (at a gym) that I enjoy as much hers. And yes, I am very pregnant here. 37 weeks to be exact.

Lincoln - lover of all things creepy and crawly

2008-07-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Lincoln is so unafraid that it makes me afraid! Here he is with a bunch of beetles and cockroaches and a live crab. Paul found that crab while digging a huge hole at Mission Beach (think of Joey in Season 3 of FRIENDS). The kids played with the crab without actually touching it for about an hour. Lincoln eventually couldn't take it anymore and picked it up to examine it more closely.

Bella - a fish in the family

2008-07-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

Bella is one of the youngest and by far the smallest swimmer on her swim team. But check her out! She tied for first in breast stroke, took second in freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly, and received another 1st place for completing an "I.M." or individual medley. The IM is an optional event that some of the older kids didn't even do. We were so proud that Bella completed the 100 meters of breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle and butterfly!

Intro

2008-07-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I am doing with this blog thing. I have felt the pressure to put one together and this is my attempt. . . no promises.