How well do you know me?

I took this list from Charlissa's blog, who got it from Laura's blog, who got it from another blog. I think this is a great way to share what you have done with others and learn about yourself in the process. So, I have bolded the ones I have done.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Thanksgiving With The Zuluagas

The Zuluaga Family shared their Thanksgiving dinner with our somewhat "homeless" family. The dinner was delicious and the company was fun! Here is a picture of their family (those at home at the moment). They have twin sons of missions also.
Nestor and Karlene Zuluaga with sons Nathan and Dallin. Also, daughter, Laura (our daughter in law!!!). Their son in law, Adam and the darling grand daughter we share together....Charlotte.


Here is Nestor and Karlene. We had such a good time talking and playing games. Their home is very cozy and welcoming.

The "cooks" of Thanksgiving. We created a lovely masterpiece of feasting. And it was so easy and fun with so many to share the load. Ask us about our pies, dinner rolls, stuffing, etc.

Everyone loves the food! And there was so much that we had plenty and leftovers for everyone the next day...and some even for snacks!

The other perspective on feasting.

Karlene is the ultimate hostess always serving everyone. She is a great cook too.

Poor baby Charlotte, only fingers to chew on. But she seemed to love them just as much as the rest of us loved the feast. Daddy did try to give her some cranberry sauce and Mommy said NO NO. However, later Daddy thought it would be cute to put black olives on Charlotte's fingers. The olives would not fit her tiny fingers but we had them on her thumbs for a few seconds. After they fell off, she chewed on her fingers and her face did not look as happy as in the picture here. Mom knows what she is talking about!

THANKS ZULUAGA FAMILY

Charlotte Eleanor Nelson's Blessing

We went to Atlanta for Charlotte's Blessing. We drove out and had a fun time on the way. A better time when we arrived and not so much of a fun time on our way home.
Here are a few photos I "lifted" from Laura's Facebook Photo Albums.
We are in the Zuluaga's home and their hospitality was so gracious and we had such a wonderful time. They are always welcome to come and visit with us at anytime!


Charlotte was so beautiful in Laura's Blessing Gown. How special it is to share the same gown.
Two gorgeous girls!


Adam pronounced a wonderfully spiritual blessing on Charlotte. Many damp eyes in the room. The blessing was in the Zuluaga home on Friday evening. I was so proud of Adam and couldn't help remembering the day he was blessed. What a blessing he has always been and how that blessing has been magnified with adding Laura and Charlotte into our family!

Gorgeous Eternal Family! Love and miss them sooo much!

PS Not sure why the pics are not as large as the first one!

My Take on Twilight

For Family Home Evening (night), we went to the theater. We made it to the 11:05 showing of "Twilight". It has been out for days and I finally got to see it. I have read and heard other people's opinions on it ever since it came out. Now, after all is said and done, I can voice my feelings on the movie. I can pretty much sum it all up by saying that I loved it! I am happy with the actors who portrayed the characters from the book. I can even say that Edward was quite hot in the movie. The scenery was beautiful and the story flowed well. So I give it a big thumbs up! And I am excited to see it (over and over) again. I haven't felt this type of obsession since I read the books. Maybe I should re-read them again. Anyone know when the DVD will be available to own??

Attitude of Gratitude

I am so happy that Cassie tagged me to do this Thanksgiving Blessing Count Down. I have more than I can ever describe to be grateful for this year.
First, the poem and after my count down.

Here's a game of tag
That should be great fun
Count ten of your blessings
Begin with number one.
Count to number ten
Then tag four others,
You can tag your friends,
Sisters, children or mothers.


1. My Savior. He has brought me peace in times of turmoil and has healing to give that far exceeds any that can be given on this earth. I am so grateful for him and everything he has done for me and that he always loves me.

2. My Knight in Shining Armor - Dan my man! He has stood by me through thick and thin in every way and treats me like a queen. I am glad we will be together forever! He serenades me with his guitar very often. Here is a pic of that.

3. My family, please see the top of the page. It has my whole family in it when it was taken last Christmas. Since then though, have I mentioned my grand daughters? They are so darling and the light of my days!
First to be born was Charlotte Eleanor Nelson:














A month and a half later, along came Hailey Nicole Hurst:















4. My friends at work, church, and in the neighborhood. My life is blessed with so many wonderful friends. I love helping them out because they make my life so much sweeter.

5. Good books. I love to read and I love having the time to do so. It is so relaxing to me.

6. The sky...beautiful BIG Texas skys! From sunrise to sunset and everything after.

7. Organization....makes my job so much easier when I am very organized. I love list too and marking off things as I go....or adding things if I do them and they are not on the list to begin with.

8. Laughter. I love to laugh. That is why I like to watch so many comedies. And I love to listen to people I love laughing.

9. Air conditioning...thank heavens for that when you live where we do.

10. Mexican food. Lately it is my favorite and my favorite mexican restuarant is Gringos.

BRAND NEW TWILIGHT CLIP - FOREST SCENE - Twilighters Anonymous Website

BRAND NEW TWILIGHT CLIP - FOREST SCENE - Twilighters Anonymous Website

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This Can Only End In Tears

How do you leave
a grandchild?
In tears I have learned!
When I left Charlotte I was sobbing. When I left Hailey....guess what? I was sobbing.

Here are some of the last pictures I took. The ones at the beginning of this blog are the latest ones. The ones at the end of this blog are pics a few days before I left. I just did not want to mess with changing the sequence. So, if it matters to you....start at the bottom.

On the blog this says it is posted by Bald Eagle, but it is really posted by KareBear. Just so you know in case you could not tell.

More Hailey Pictures

So tiny in her new bed.

Hailey had been throwing gang signs and when we went to take a picture of it she was now displaying this sign. At least that is what Daddy says!

Hailey chillin in her new carseat. She really likes it.

Great Grandma Nelson holding Hailey for the first time. Great Granpa Nelson and Great Aunt Robin came to visit too. (Darn, when did we all start having to put greats in front of our names?

Happy Family!

Mimi Loves Hailey

Here we are together on the love sack. We love sleeping together and snuggling!

Do you see a family resemblance other than we are both girls?

Hailey is a very good sleeper and so we have lots of opportunities to hold her while she is napping.

TA DA!

Her eyes. She does wake up and she is recently even staying awake after feedings so we can chat with her.

She loves kisses and I love to give her lots of kisses. Helps her grow happy!!

At least it makes me happy!

Introducing Hailey Nicole Hurst

I did not make it to her birth since she decided to come 3 1/2 weeks early. But I got to her as soon as I could .. before she was 12 hours old!! Thanks to Charlissa for making the reservations and taking care of those type of things. I was busy making 30 lunches and packing. I only had a few hours before the flight took off, by the way, great flight!!! Yea, you heard that coming from me! Something about grandkids makes me braver.


So, enough of this. On to Miss Hailey. She is so darling and so cuddly. I feel like I could hold her forever. She is so snuggly! And she smells yummy!


She weighed in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces and 20 inches gorgeous! Since she was a bit premature, she had to stay in the Special Care Unit because her blood sugar level was too low. She was not allowed to come to her mommy's room ever. She was in the nursery for 4 days. One day past when Cassie was released. But the hospital was SO wonderful and the best nurses I have EVER seen: they let us board there for free for 2 days and a night. I stayed with Cassie that night. Jonny had stayed on previous nights.


Next day, Hailey CAME HOME.





Check her out:

Bundle of Joy!

Sleeping Beauty...

Sweet Pea!!!

Riding in style in her new carseat! First trip to the mall. We realized she doesn't understand the importance the mall may have to her someday because she slept the whole time we were there. It is funny though because Cassie and I do not care for the mall either. But we had to try out the new stroller and get out of the house for a few minutes. It was nice and we had fun.

A Little Help Please

OK everyone. I am to make 30 sack lunches by tomorrow. They are for the men from our ward who have been going around and helping people clean up in Galveston and the surrounding hardest hit areas. The lunches must not need refrigeration. I want to be sure it is as tasty, healthy, filling, and as economical as possible.

Can I please get some ideas from my peeps???

Also, I am making a salad and casserole for 45 people for Sunday. for Galveston ward members who are homeless. Any ideas on something yummy for them?

This is last minute but we have had so much going on lately.

Thanks for any help at all!!!

IKE has come and gone...the recap

Well, we are back in our home. We have power (don't want to be in south Texas in the summer without A/C), we have water and sewer service, and we are very fortunate to have far less damage and inconvenience than many in our area. We count ourselves as very blessed indeed.

Here are a few pictures and a bit of explanation:



We got things all boarded up to leave. With all the boards up it's pretty dark in the house. Our first day back we still had the boards up and the sun had been up for quite a while before we woke up...it was still dark as night inside.

We wanted to go as far west as we could to get out of the path of the storm. We were originally planning to go past San Antonio, but as we were getting close we decided San Antonio was far enough. We asked for a room with two queen-sized beds and a roll-away. We got a room with a king-sized bed and a roll-away. We had to be a bit more cozy than we wanted, but managed well enough. We had complimentary breakfast every morning, ate one big meal out each day, and snacked on stuff in our room. CNN and The Weather Channel were our media lifeblood.

We took Shadow to PetSmart the first day in San Antonio to get her cleaned up and smelling a lot prettier than she did. We tried to get her boarded at least for some of the daytime periods, but she needed a vaccine for something called Kennel Cough, which she didn't have, so PetSmart wouldn't put her in their kennel area. She did get her needed clean up though. The pet groomer said Shadow had a pretty quick snap at her at times, but when the blow dryer came on the blow dryer became the enemy and the groomer was her friend and comfort. Shadow got cleaned up and tolerable for the duration of our stay.

That's not to say we were spared entirely. We knew from previous evacuation experiences that dog farts are silent but deadly. We had to make use of the spray air freshener quite a bit.

Charlissa and I had Shadow in the Grand Am with us both to and from San Antonio, and our eyes were watering big time on a few occasions, particularly as we were within a few miles of home on the return trip. We opened the windows in the back of the car so she could get a snif of home, and the air coming in her nose at highway speed seemed to go right through her (yeah...eyes watering :-o).



Our neighbors kept us posted on what sort of damage we would see when we got home. Fences were down and a couple of spots on the roof with shingles missing.

As we were cleaning up there were a number of military cargo planes flying into Ellington Field (we kind of live in the landing pattern for the main runway). This picture doesn't really do justice to how big these planes really are. They were HUGE and coming in about every hour or every half hour for a while on Tuesday as we were cleaning. I'm sure they were bringing in much needed relief supplies.

Things cleaned up pretty well as you can see. We have two stacks of debris like the one you can see in this picture. The other one is on the other side of the driveway and is mostly garbage bags and extra wood stuff.

Like I say, we are pretty lucky. We'll get out some other pictures when we can, or you can see some of the more major storm damage on the news.