June '19- Week 4- Dance Recital!, Dinner with Grandfather, Swimming at Winegar's. Gpa's Work BBQ, Anna's BD, Ben Cub Camp, Kangaroo Zoo, Dan's BD!

Saturday was a day I had been looking froward to for a while!  I ran 4 miles with Sarah Moulton. My parents came to town for my dad's annual work conference.  They came to my house and hung out for a while (Jonathan as well), then we left by 1:30 for the girls' recital up in Ogden.  They both did so awesome and had fun!  They smiled and knew their routines.  Anna also surprised us and won the "Shining Star" award for working hard and being a great student all year!  She gets $50 off dance tuition for next year!

Bethany danced to Hot Wings from "Rio 2"



Anna danced to Trashin' the Camp from "Tarzan," and Jungle Rhythm.  




Anna winning her award!

My parents babysat the rest of the night while Dan and I left straight from the recital to go to a special dinner at Grandfather and Wendy's home with several other cousins.  We met a security guard in the underground parking beneath the Church Office Building, then we walked through the tunnel and were met by another security guard.  After an elevator ride, we were warmly welcomed by Grandfather and Wendy and were shown around their "hospitality wing" as she called it, where they host.  The other wing of their apartment is where they live.  Next, we found our name cards and sat down to eat.  The food was PERFECT!  Our chef was the head of Temple Square hospitality!  We had bread and salad to start, then lasagna that wasn't too hot or too cold!  We sat across from Melissa and Todd Glover.  Once dessert came out (spumoni ice cream on that beautiful cookie flower), Wendy went around the table and asked us to each say what's been on out mind and hearts lately?  What occupies our thoughts?  Many cousins got emotional and it was so wonderful to hear some deeper thoughts that what we often get from cousins on the surface at a Nelson Family BD Party.

I shared how Dan and I are working on improving our companionship studying and how I've been thinking a lot lately about when our kids are grown and gone, will we look back and think "we did a good job at ______." Or "we did NOT do so well at _____."  Dan shared about the beauty of repentance and the power of Grandfather's example in the lives of our ward members.

If a cousin shared something in particular they were struggling with, Wendy sweetly encouraged Grandfather to give some council.  Here are a few insights I gained from his council.  It's importance to keep an eternal perspective and it's ok to say NO to things.   

During Heidi Maxfield's time to share, she told us a story about during Thanksgiving, she had the words of a fourth and fifth verse to "Our Prayer to Thee" just come to her mind.  She wrote them down, sent them to Wendy, and thought that was the end.  Haha.  Well, Wendy wanted her to share that spiritual experience with us and then we were able to sing it all together.  It was a beautiful, amazing, uplifting experience!  After that, we enjoyed each other's company more and worked on some puzzles they had out.  It was a night I don't ever want to forget!

Sunday I taught "Behold the Great Redeemer Die" in Primary.  It went really well and the kids were reverent and there was a peaceful feeling in the room!  After church, Mickelle and my dad hung out at our house.  McKenna didn't feel too well.  We watched shows and played a little Catch Phrase.  We fed my dad dinner and then Jonathan came and picked him up.  

Monday I ran three miles with Amy and Sarah.  The kids had a "fighting" morning, but McKenna and Ben also worked on their auditions for Backstage.  After lunch McKenna played at Olivia Stock's, then we had swim lessons.  After that, we had our Webster dinner for the month at Winegar's pool!  

We also celebrated June BDs.

Tuesday I went walking with Dan and the cabinet guys came.  Ben had piano and I had my personal history story class. We went straight to swim lessons, then I took Anna to Dance Company auditions!  

We went to Grandpa Mike's work picnic dinner that night at This is the Place.  They had snow cones, train rides, face painting, dancing, prizes, and inflatable bubble balls.  So FUN!  

Wednesday was Anna's 6th BD!!  She opened some presents before Ben left for Cub scout day camp.  Then we had McKayla Searle over to play.  McKenna had piano, then we went to "special juice and bread" for lunch.





Then we had swim lessons (Anna swam a bit in the deep end!) and Anna's dance company auditions.
We went to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner- per Anna's request.

We opened presents there and sang quietly. :) Dan had church interviews that night.

She also got lots of phone calls and BD wishes from family.  We love our sweet, helpful Anna and are excited for her future!

She opened presents from my parents and Aunt Pickle a few days later.

Thursday I ran 2.5 miles.  Dan was able to go with Ben to Cub Scout Day camp and they had a blast together!  Ben said he loved shooting the BB Gun the most.

For the rest of us girls at home, after lunch, we went swimming with Grandma at their hotel pool then went straight to swim lessons.  

That evening I accidentally melted our treat bowl in the oven since I had put it there to be "out of the way."  The oven was preheating and I smelled something sweet.  I was so mad at myself!  My parents came over for dinner, then we had a ward game night.  

Friday I went walking with Dan.  I worked on a grocery order and McKenna and Ben did their chores (vacuuming and cleaning toilets).  We did some curlers in Anna's hair and they turned out so cute! I also got these cute pictures of Alice making the rounds and interfering with McKenna and Ben doing their work. :)

My parents babysat while I rode with the Remingtons up to Girls Camp for the evening.  Dan was already up there.  We had a yummy pasta dinner and a lovely testimony meeting.  McKenna went to a movie night at Aliza's house.  

Saturday Alice seemed to wake up with a cold/pink eye.  I ran 4.5 miles.  We all worked in the back yard weeding, raking, picking up pine cones, spreading new mulch, and setting up the fairy gardens.  We also cleaned the back windows and hung the outdoor movie screen.  After lunch, Anna got some special mail and found out she made the MINI Dance Company!  

Then we headed to Kangaroo Zoo to celebrate the rest of Anna's BD.  We had Chick Fil A for dinner, them home for showers.  We watched a little bit of McKenna's Peter Pan play and Dan got a haircut.  

Sunday was Dan's 37th BD!!  I did some curlers in the Bethany's hair the night before and they turned out pretty good. :) She was just mad I was taking her picture.  She liked the hair.  

We opened presents when he got home from church appointments.  We had a dinner of steak, potatoes and carrots.  

I'm so thankful Dan was born and I get to be a part of his life! 

June '19- Week 3- Chalk Art, Father's Day!, Park Recital, Swim Lessons, "Under the Sea" Dance, Nick P. Temple, Dan New Phone,

Saturday I ran 3.5 miles.  Anna went to Lizzie Jaynes' BD party.  I ran errands.  McKenna played at Lia's.  Dan was gone at his work Chalk Art Festival all day.  We headed down there around 5pm.  We had dinner in their hospitality room and made it home in time for baths and bedtime.  I worked on Primary stuff as well.  I took pictures of McKenna's Pearler bead creations.  She made up these princesses on her own, no patterns!  Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Snow White. 

 Chalk Art highlights.  

 Kids always want to play on the escalator.  

 The kids got to chalk their own tiny square.  

Sunday was Father's day!  We were on time for church!  Amy Hamblin had broken her arm falling off a ladder while painting their deck, so I led the kids in their Sacrament Meeting singing for Father's Day and taught both Jr. and Sr. singing time.  After lunch, we gave Dan his gifts! 

 He was definitely surprised to get socks with our kids faces all over them! 

We had our traditional scones and bacon.  Then we played outside a bit and got everyone's bikes tuned up a little.  We called grandpas to wish them a happy Father's Day then kids went to bed.  I'm so thankful Dan is the father of my children!  He's so great at understanding our kid's needs and they all adore him! 

Monday I ran 3 miles with Amy and Sarah.  The cabinet guys came, the kids had Summer camps, then we went to Target for new swim suits.  

After lunch, I was vacuuming some of the sawdust in the cabinets and I bumped a glass vase which fell down on our glass top stove and broke it! :(  I was so mad at myself because I knew that little accident would cost us hundreds of dollars!  The kids had their first day of swim lessons at the Kofoed's!  They were all so brave and had no fears!  Dan met us there and then we all headed to Anna and Bethany's Park recital.  They both did awesome!  Anna was cute and sometimes looked like she was trying not to smile.  

Bethany looked like she was just having lots of fun!  I also love that so many cousins also did Expressions Dance this season.  We got to see Mia, Ellie, and Hailey dance as well.  

Anna danced to Trashin' the Camp from Tarzan, and Jungle Rhythm. 

Bethany danced to "Hot Wings" from the movie Rio 2.  

We had pizza for dinner since I couldn't cook on our broken stove top and we watched "Lady and the Tramp."

Tuesday the cabinet painter came and painted all the old oak wood white.  McKenna went to Pineview with Activity Day girls.  We picked up some groceries, went to school lunch, the headed to the personal history story writing class.  Bethany went to play at Arlee's, then we had swim lessons.  We had a nice sizes buck in our back yard for a bit.  He even sat down for a while.  

Ben and Alice were adorable reading together.  After swim lessons Anna had dance and I was feeling pretty defeated and tired!  Having a kitchen in shambles can really put me in a funk! I made quiche for dinner but we ate it late and we had to pick up Dan from the rental car return as he had been down in Price all day.  Dan was nice enough to send me to bed from 7:50-8:50.  While I was resting the kids worked on cleaning the basement.  McKenna went to Lia's for a movie night.  Once kids were in bed, Dan and I worked on cleaning drawers and putting some things back.  Dan also installed a new white oven hood.  

Wednesday I ran 2.5 miles.  The new cabinet doors came to be installed.  Meghan Johnson and Rachael Alexander took care of getting my kids to and from Summer camps.  I stayed home to clean and get ready for hosting book club that night.  Alice started hugging her sippy cups.  And here's a few cute pictures from swim lessons: Alice brushing my hair and wearing some goggles.  :)

Dan came during swim lesson so I could go home and continue to clean and prep food for book club.  After dinner I hosted and we discussed the book "The Unthinkable" which talks about people's "disaster personalities."  It was a good discussion and most everyone liked the book even though I was worried it would give people anxiety.  :)

Thursday the cabinet guys came again to caulk and fix a couple more things but we were still missing two corner cabinets which they ended up needing to remake in order for them to fit.  I took Ben with me to my yearly thyroid ultrasound appointment.  After that we picked up Ben's new glasses.  Henry came over to play and swim lesson happened to be kind of cold and rainy that day!  I love seeing Bethany brave enough to go down the slide during free swim.  

I went to a Relief Society potluck that night and we put together newborn kits.  Dan installed the new light fixture above our kitchen sink and McKenna and the kids performed an "Under the Sea" dance.  I love her creativity- complete with bubbles and little fish!

Dan and I went on a walk that evening after kids were in bed.  

Friday Brooklyn Ulmer babysat while Dan and I went to the temple for Nick Paulson's own Endowment.  This is Dan's first priest he's sending off on a mission!  We got home in time for me to take Anna and Bethany to their dance recital dress rehearsal up in Ogden.  They both fell asleep on the drive home. McKenna played at Grace's.  Dan and Ben watched Thor.  Dan also got a new phone since his old phone battery wouldn't hold a charge for very long at all!  

We went to 5 Guys for dinner then walked around Lowe's.  After kids were in bed, we hosted a friends game night with the Alexanders, Johnsons, Sam and Lara, and the Days.