Monkey Business

Last weekend, after Cassie, Jonny and the kids had left Saturday evening, I started picking up all the extra toys, etc. on the floor here in the living room and the dining area. I smiled remebering all the fun we had that evening playing with the kids and watching them play. Lost in my own thoughts and happy memores.

I thought I had picked up everything when I saw a monkey on the fireplace ledge between a couple of things...so I went over to pick it up and it started its hysterical laughing! Scared me SO MUCH! I had a small scream escape my lips before I could stop it and Dan just laughed!! No hugs to comfort my racing heart either...just laughter. Thankfully not as insane sounding as that crazy monkey!

Well, flash forward to tonight after the Hursts had left our house. I was picking up toys and walked over to the bag of toys by the bar stools and I threw some toys in ....guess what??? That ridiculous monkey started up again and I had to grab it to turn it off. It does not turn off easily either at times and this was one of those times. The battery box with the off and on switch was turned around so I could not get it in the right position to turn it off. And while I was working on it....it just kept up with that maniacal laughter.

I called Jonny right away to tell him what had happened and....he was laughing so hard he could hardly talk!!! And did I mention that Dan was also laughing....AGAIN? I am afraid that monkey may find itself on the trash truck very soon so it does not scare the living daylights out of me so much!!!!!

Oh and as a side note, remember how much it used to scare Hailey and Charlotte? Well, it does not scare Emmett at all!!! If Jonas liked it then I would end up being the only scaredy cat in the house! I am finding that to not be a very fun position to be in.

Even now, nearly 2 hours after the incident....my heart is still a little wimpy right behind my collar bones. I know my heart is not there but it just feels like it is. Guess once again, I am re-living things! Just had to share. If anyone out there is not laughing...thank you.

Strawberry Fields

Today we went to pick strawberries with Jonny, Cassie, Hailey and Emmett. When we left our houses the sky was mostly clear and there was sunshine to keep us warm. However, when we got to Fromberg Farm, it was mostly cloudy and very little sun shining through the clouds. I had a jacket we were able to put around Emmett for a while since he had fallen asleep on the way to the farm. He was pretty cute peeking out of the hoodie! When we goi to the strawberry fields, he was ready to pick strawberries and eat some dirt.

Hailey was getting cold so we wrapped the jacket around her after she had picked her fair share of strawberries. She taught Mimi how to look for the big ones and how to look all around them so I would know if they were ready to pick. When she was looking through the strawberry bushes I often heard "Holy Cow" when she came across an especially large one. It was so fun to hear her say that!

So much fun and Poppi was a great strawberry picker! He filled one whole bucket and then finished filling mine. I became busy holding Hailey. I think it made her feel warmer. And look at Cassie...isn't she darling in this picture?

Such a cute strawberry picker...she sure knows how to pose! And Jonny posed for his picture as well. I guess Hailey did not get her posing stances from her Dad.....

Oh, no! Mommy said do not eat the dirt. No more fun for Emmett.

Such a sad face and a heartbreaking cry to go along with it. Mommy falls for it everytime.

Overall, we had such a beautiful morning and fun day together. We are already ready to go again.

The strawberries were excellent!

Elder Chase Nelson

Yes, we have another missionary out now. Chase was asked to serve a Mini Mission here in the Mission area. He accepted, was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthool, and set apart as a Temoporary Full Time Missionary.
He is in Memorial Ward in Richmond Stake....not sure where that is but it is further away from us than Zach was on his mini mission to Pasadena.
We are so grateful to have him out serving the Lord and feel great about him choosing to do so. We miss him, but more than that, we love what he is doing with his life right now.
Please keep him in your prayers.

What to Blog?

Well, I don't have any cute pics of kids growing up...mine are all grown. And we do not do much in the way of activities besides go to work. Boring for y'all. So, what can I share that could be the least bit interesting? Let's see:
Zach (Elder Nelson) seems to be doing pretty well on his Mission. I know he is having some hard times because I can see between his words and I ask that we all keep him in our prayers! I certainly do miss him around our home!
Chase is trying (not sure how hard) to find a job. He needs to get a job and get out of this empty house so he is not here all alone all day long. I would be extremely depressed by now and volunteering if I had to! He and Dan are helping work on an Eagle project for another young man in our Ward. They should be home at any time.
Dan is growing a beard...not my favorite! But he is in some "Let's See How Manly We Can Be" competition at work. Can't hardly kiss him because it itches my nose and lips too much!
Charlissa is in Las Vegas. She seems to be very happy with her new job and the company. I think she likes Las Vegas also, but it is always hard to be away from home and family, so she struggles with that.
My four grandchildren are the JOY of my life in every way! They provide great happiness and love to me. Their hugs and more precious than gold! Their smiles light up any day and any mood! I am so grateful that Hailey and Emmett are so close and I can see and love them so often! But I am equally sad that Charlotte and Jonas do not. I have missed so much of their lives already. Thank heavens for blogs, and skype and great parents who keep us up to date on what is going on with them!
My job is busier than ever and equally as stressful. More responsibilities pouring on and at times I feel I may be drowning in them. But I still love the people and the job. It is nice to have a job where you can be of service to so many people a day.
So...there is our life in a small blog. Sorry it is not very exciting..

Zach's On His Way!! :-) :-(

Elder Zachary Nelson has been called to serve in the California Anaheim Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the next two years. Zach and I (yep, Dan is writing this) left for Utah on Memorial Day, May 30th, so Zach could be turned over to the care and keeping of the Missionary Training Center on the afternoon of June 1st.

We got to visit with quite a bit of family because of a quickly pulled together Memorial Day family gathering (as many as could come) at Jim's and Carol's. Thanks for doing that for us to give us the chance to visit with quite a few family members.

Grandma and Grandpa Nelson (Mom and Dad to me) were good enought to haul us here and there to get a few last minute things done, and some other last minute visiting.

Thanks to all. I have a few pictures of the preparations and change of custody.

On the plane from Houston to Salt Lake City

Hey, here's a poor lonely soul looking for a ride from the SLC airport!

Visiting and last minute things done. Bags packed and almost ready to head out.

Grandmothers like to make adjustments and admire those fine young men!

Driving up to drop off...hopping out to tak out the bags...one last grip and grin with Dad.

There he goes!! Off to start his great adventure...his best two years!!

Baby Goat Feeding Time

Fun at the Rodeo

Hailey on a John Deere at the Houston Livestock Show.