4th of July 2009

We had a busy and fun 4th of July. Friday we had off for the holiday. We worked around the house till 2:30 and the went golfing intending to play 18 holes. Rigby is the only course I know that allows 5 some. It was slow and then a storm came in after the 7th hole. We picked up and decided to quit. Cheryl and Geoff had come down. The evening I went to my friend Carol Stevens reception and dragged dad a long. Ran into alot of people we knew and hadn't seen in a long time. The week before her sister in law Kathy Stevens had a bridal get together at the Sandpiper. They had made these hats out of wrapping paper and had us wear them. Cute idea.

Bride front and center

We got home around 9 and Avry, Justin, Sam and Sav had arrived. Avry wanted Justin to see what real fireworks were like. She said on MSN IF's was rated #3 in the nation. Girls excited to see us and wanted to sleep in the Yoga Room (exercise room, renamed it when they were here for Geoff's wedding. We went out in the circle and watched Rigby's fireworks and then retired to the deck where we watch the kids fireworks and roasted marshmallows. Avry will have to post those pictures.

Up bright and early and headed to IF at 6:30 am to decorate our boat for Miss IF.

Decorating boat

I then walked most of the parade route and met up with Avry and family. Didn't have my camera. So Avry will post pictures of us at the parade. Probably the first time I stayed till the very end. We called Dad and he rode his motorcycle and met us at Iggy's for lunch. Kaden rode home with him.


Lunch at Iggy's

Dad took Kaden golfing and the rest of us headed up to Heise to either rock climb or sit and watch. Avry and I watched while, Geoff, Cheryl and Justin took turns. Sav and Same had a ball exploring.

Cheryl climbing! What a good wife to indulge in her husband's Passion

Justin waiting for his turn, Avry being her goofy self.

We headed down to the river to stake out a place to watch the fireworks. Geoff and Cheryl had a special invite with her aunt and uncle to have dinner at the Shilo and listen to a concert and watch the fireworks. We wound up at Civitan Park in the place we usually watch it. Headed down to Memorial and found some food to eat. Hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, italian soda's, doughnuts and funnel cake. Picked up some kettle corn and headed back to wait for fireworks. Kaden had to much junk food and got sick. Of course Avry and I didn't bring our purses and had to bag for Tylenol and plastic bag from people around us. He did recover to watch the fireworks. Traffic slow and didn't get home till almost midnight.

Waiting patiently for the fireworks to start.



One sick boy


The wait was well rewarded and yes Justin did agree they were the best he has ever seen.

Sunday afternoon we cooked hamburgers and then sent everyone on their way home. It was a nice fun weekend and the only thing that would of made it better was having all the kids here. Maybe next year.

New Daughter in Law

On June 19 our youngest son Geoff married Cheryl Green from Shelby, Michigan (near Detroit) in the Rexburg LDS Temple. The sun was shinning in the morning and glad we had the reception scheduled inside the church instead of in the yard as it was cloudy and cooler in the evening.

I didn't take very many pictures and didn't get pictures of the grand kids all together. Hoping maybe Scott, or one of my kids got pictures. I got a few in the parking lot and video taped some at the temple. Cheryl is a gem and is majoring in music education and plays the flute. She was in our BYUI 7th ward for 4 semesters. So we feel fortunate to have taken one of the college kids home to be in our family.

I had the reception catered and my girls said that is the best thing I could of done. We served over 250 people. We had a steady line all night long and didn't get to sit down till the very end. I did the luncheon at the church also and did that myself since I was splurging on the reception. They are so cute together. They honeymooned at Big Sky, Montana where they got in some rock climbing. They found a small government subsidize apartment in Rexburg. We have an open house in Michigan the 8th of August.

We had all of our kids here for the wedding except Clint and family as they are still in Germany. We really missed them. Tiffany got here on a Monday, Jeralee Tuesday, Avry Wednesday and Jason Thursday. They all left on Sunday except Jeralee who left on her birthday on the next Tuesday. It was nice to have them all here. We did a shower on Wednesday at 1 for Cheryl then she went through the temple that evening at 6.

Saturday everyone went swimming and then pizza afterwards.

It is now very quiet around here and Scott and I realize its just the two of us. Starting the next phaze of our life. EMPTY NESTERS

Oh What Do You Do In The Winter Time?

When all the world is white!
Buy a new car

Of course we had to stay with another SUV. We like the way they ride on trips and our last one really protected me. It a 2007 silver Chevy Tahoe. I haven't even driven it yet.

Remodel the Family Room

Well, Scott did all the remodeling. I did very little. He even arranged the furniture different. Notice our new basement windows. It really makes it warmer. Now to do the other half of the room.

Enjoy a winter sunset

This is Scott on the top of Kelly right at sunset. It was so pretty.

Ski

This is at Kelly Canyon. We have gone night skiing the last three Saturdays and of course I ski every Thursday at Targhee with about 30 ladies I ride up on a bus. This last Wednesday they were closed because of water problem. I was already at Claudia's "Blue Heron Inn" www.idahoblueheron.com. when I got the call. There are four of us that ride up to Rexburg to catch the bus. Claudia, Jamie, Carol and myself. We were deciding what to do since we had a free day. Claudia had two guests and invited us over to the Inn where her husband and her made us a gourmet breakfast. We then went and got our cross country skis. Claudia couldn't find her boots. So Jamie, Carol and I went up to Teton Lakes in Rexburg. They groom a trail around the golf course. It was fun. I had gone Cross Country Skiing with Jamie and her hubby and friend up the dry bed last Friday. I had bought some new CC skis and they are nice. I have been around my yard a few times also. After skiing we went back to Claudia's where we had a salad for lunch and then spent the rest of the afternoon hand quilting on a Quilt Guild Quilt. Then Quilt Guild that night.

Quilt

This is Jamie in the loft of the Blue Heron Inn. I have really enjoyed just going over there and enjoying the serenity, the view, friends and quilting.

Sewing

This is a quilt top I just finished called "Cherry Pie" it will have pink minky on the back. I have Jason's quilt done and at the quilters. I have decided to keep my quilt frame and learn how to use it. I am working on another top called "Road Block".

Birthday's

Tiffany February 6, Rowan January 17, Lia February 6, Marshall January 7. Went to Red Lobster

Avry January 24

Double dating with your son and his girlfriend

We have been to the movie and dinner, Saturday night skiing, pizza at Heise and Sunday dinner at our house. We have enjoyed having Geoff close and know some day this to will end. Its been fun to get to know Cheryl and how much teasing she takes from Geoff. They really are cute together. Ahhhhhhh young love.

Of Course hanging out with my hubby


I don't have pictures of Thursday morning bowling, BYUI FHE and activites, snow mobiling, Cheryl's concert. She is an amazing flutest. So as you can see winter can be as busy as summer. Every monday I hurry home from the office and within in two hours I have ground wheat and made 6 loaves of wheat bread and made brownies for the FHE group that comes that evening. Can't decide if I will miss that when dad is released.

Blessings and Protection from Above

In the midst of our life we have incredible experiences that lets us know our Heavenly Father loves us and is constantly watching over us.

I was headed down on Thursday to go skiing with Jason on Friday and then Saturday was Avry's birthday and Tiffany's birthday is on the 6th of February. I was taking the girls shopping and lunch. I was then going to stay with Tiffany and go to church and watch her boys for an hour on Monday while she went for a job interview. Then head back to Idaho so I could get back to have a FHE group come to our home from the college

Thursday morning I bowled. Jenny Huskinson who was on our team a year and half ago got back from her mission from Uganda. It was so nice to see her and hear of some of her experiences. We are glad she could be back on our team, even tho we will miss Bonnie Peterson I had to do payroll at the office so hurried down to IF right after bowling as I wanted to leave at 3 so I wasn't driving very much in the dark. I started on my SUDA report and it ended up taking me longer to do it and didn't get away till 4:30. I was going to try and get to Ogden and stop at Joann’s before they closed and find some floss for a friend.

I had my Yukon loaded with the rest of Tiffany and Marshall's stuff that was stored at our house. It was mostly, things from their childhood, school, college, and mission. Six 18 gallon plastic totes, a couple of boxes, misc things. The roads were clear and I was making pretty good time. The forecast had said 30% rain and 50% in the evening. It started raining around Marsh Valley and the temperature was about 35. It was raining on the Malad pass but I slowed down some. I stopped in Malad and filled my car with gas, the ground was wet but not icy. I was hungry so I went in to get a hamburger. There was one girl that they were filling her order and 3 other people doing I don't know what. After waiting for 5 minutes I decided I couldn't wait any longer and needed to get going to make Joann's Fabric before they close.
As I entered the freeway I checked the time 6:33 and temperature 34. I called Scott and was talking on my bluetooth to see how he golfed as he was in LV. It was really raining and I was watching the temperature and thought if it drops to freezing the roads could be bad. I had passed the exit to Plymouth and had slowed down to 65 and noticed the temperature at 32. I had just passed the Plymouth exit and made note that there were a few cars way a head of me and I could see cars a ways behind. It was about then that I told Scott I am slipping I don’t know what exactly happened next if I tried to turn the wheel or touched the brake or what but I started spinning. I thought just let it go and it will stop and what ever direction I am going I will get it turned around. The next thing I knew my headlights shined on the snow on the side of the road which was about a foot deep. My car started up the side of the snow and started rolling. I know I rolled at least twice. When I stopped I was upright and facing east aways from the road. I didn't know it was east at the time. I was disorientated and thought I had rolled across the middle and the north bound lane. The policeman had to keep telling me I was on the south bound side. My car still running the wipers still going, light on. I sat there for a few minutes looking straight ahead and thinking I am OK. I know my head hit the roof. I turned the overhead lights on and tried to find my phone. I found my phone and called 411 and thought what am I doing that's not the right number. I then tried 911 but kept hitting a letter. I finally got it right and told them what had happened and where I was. She said they had been notified and help was on the way. I called Scott to let him know I was OK. He had called the Box Elder police and they said their had been multiple accidents. He then said he called the hospital and they said they were told their were multiple accidents and they were getting ready for it. I then called Jason.


You can't tell that the roof was caved in




A guy and his boy stopped and he said he was a retired firefighter and I couldn't’t get out of my car I rolled the window down and he asked if I was OK. Just a little in shock but I seemed to be OK. I crawled over to see if I could get out the passenger side. The snow was very icy and it was still raining. They asked if I had warm clothing. I found my ski coat but could only find one of my snow boots. It was then I notice the windows on both back side and the window in the back was out. The guys son started picking up things and handing them to me and I was putting them in some bag. When the police came he told them to go ahead. He asked if I was OK and said their were 5 accidents in the last few minutes between the two exits and that it had frozen suddenly. He asked for my insurance and registration. As I handed him my registration. An ambulance came. They made me come and sit in the ambulance and check me out. I was OK, they said they had 5 calls and got a 6Th while I was there. Another ambulance came by while I was inside. They gave me a bandage for a tiny glass cut on my finger and said since I was OK they were going on to check on another one. They walked me back to my car as the policeman was getting out of his car to hand me the paperwork. A truck went by and he said theirs the salt truck finally. He told me the wrecker had been called and what the guys name was and apologized that he couldn't stay with me as he had to go check on another accident. He told me to sit in my car. As I sat waiting for the wrecker I looked to the south and could see cars stopped and a police car and then farther down another police car. I looked to the north and I could see two police cars quite a distance apart.



Another car stopped to see if I was OK, I told him the police and ambulance had already been here and I was just waiting for the wrecker. I noticed a wrecker go by and thought maybe he didn't see me. So I waited who knows how long. The wrecker finally got there and he said he didn't see me and headed to the other one and it was a white SUV also, but they had not called it in. He had to go to the next exit and turn around and find me. He pulled my car on to the flat bed and picked up what stuff we could see. There had been a small box with Marshall's missionary letters and it was all over the side of the road and wet. I was so cold by now and my hair was drenched I took my scarf off around my neck and put it on my head. My ski coat was completely soaked through along with my pants. I sat in his truck while he finished picking up things. Jason and Avry had decided she was closer and since she had a Tahoe would come and get me and clean out my car. The policeman told me to tell her to come to the Riverside Exit but since she was aways a way the wrecker guy told me to have her come to Tremonton and meet at Denny's. Tremonton he said was only 5 miles away we had to wait for Avry for a few minutes and then she followed us over to their storage area. He got the car off the bed and Avry, Kaden and I started cleaning out my car. It was still raining but only 34 degrees at Tremonton and not icy. Things were a mess and lots of tiny glass in everything. Two of the tubs were completely broken. Avry was being funny as usual.

We got to her house and Justin and Kaden started hauling things in. We spread all the letters all over the floor to dry. I couldn't sleep so I spent most of the night drying the letters and rotating them.

Avry's family Room


Avry's living Room

Friday I went and got 4 new tubs for Tiffany and started the process of sorting and repacking and calling her and telling her what I had to throw out. Scott flew in at 1 and we decided to take the girls for birthday dinner at Red Lobster and head for home in the morning.

Sorting stuff from broken tubs in Avry's family room

I have thought and analyzed this episode in my life the last several days. There was no promptings like I have had in past experiences. I know my Heavenly Father could of prevented this from happening, but I also know that things happen for a reason. We may not know or understand for sometime. I know that I was protected. I had my seat belt on, I was alone, I was in the Yukon and not my smaller car and there were no other cars involved. What is more amazing is that I have no bruises, cuts and its been 3 days and I haven't developed any internal symptoms. It is interesting that I was never scared. It seemed more like a ride at an amusement park.

It has affected each of my children. From a call from Clint in Germany after reading about me on Geoff's facebook. He said he had a sense he had to talk to someone that day. To Tiffany sobbing on the phone apologizing for every mean thing she has said or did to me. To Geoff knowing he had told me he loved me just half an hour before to Avry being ok till she saw my car and me. From Jason's sincere love of checking up on me that night and the next day and would drive all the way to just give me a hug to Jeralee's wonderful humor of looking for a stunt driver for the next James Bond movie. She had me laughing so hard. And of course Scott for trying hard to find out how bad it was. I am so ever blessed for the family I have.

Christmas 2008 Memories

This was definately a different Christmas but still memories were made. I have to start clear back with Thanksgiving at Avry's in Syracuse, Utah. Avry and Jason have had this fun thing with Candy canes for several years. Two years ago Jason gave her a box of 368 green striped candy canes. Avry decided to give them back and with my help we decided to go all out and decorate his house with Candy Canes. I had been buying and finding anything with candy cane on them, from ribbon, to material, placemats, ornaments, window clings, magnet, rug, you name it. We were hoping we could get Jason to go on a trip or go somewhere for the day. Well that didn't happen so after thanksgiving we went to his house with him there and decorated it for him. I had red and white lights (which he said it looked like a Barbie tree from the street) and set to work. We hide all 368 candy canes in his house. I am sure he has found 95% of them.


Jason's tree


We celebrated our 39th wedding Anniversary on the 19th by going to Mountain River Ranch for a sleigh ride, dinner and entertainment. (It was really our office Party) Christmas Eve found us doing nothing, so we opened our gifts to each other. The funny thing is we both had bought each other a new paper shredder. We had bought the exact same thing. Scott bought his at Staples an I bought mine at Office Max. Of course we took one back. Scott did get me a new digetal video recorder. He had copied all our old 8 mm tapes on to CD and said he didn't realize that I had take most of the video's.

Christmas morning we puttered around packing things to go to Island Park where we had rented a cabin for 3 nights. Geoff and Jason got here around 11 am. Geoff had been in Germany for the last two weeks visiting Clint and family. Tiffany and Marshall got here about 3. Marshall had to go back to Utah to work. Tiffany and boys rode with us in the Yukon and Geoff and Jason took the pickup filled with food, clothes, gear, and all our presents. We headed to Island Park in a blizzard. Tried to get gas in two places and they were empty. Found gas in Ashton. We drove very slow and got up to Island Park at about 7 pm. Blowing, snowing and dark we attempted to try and find the cabin.

It was only 1/4 mile from the main highway. We left the pickup at the Subway and drove up Huckleberry Lane. We stopped at one cabin to ask where it was at and they said it was right next door. The drive hadn't been plowed out. Jason and I waded in waist deep snow to the porch. Scott drove up the lane to an intersection and was able to turn around and go back down to the Subway where he unhitched the trailer and unloaded the snowmachines and then we unloaded everything in the pickup into the Yukon. (Pickup has only rear wheel drive). We proceeded to get all 4 machines stuck because of the 3 feet of soft snow. I was busy still in my sweats shoveling a path from the cabin to the road. Jason, Geoff and Scott worked at getting the machines unstuck and making a path to the cabin. I was getting cold so I went in and watched the boys while Tiffany went out to help. By 10:30 pm they had everything hauled in and shoveled a place for the yukon. Avry was coming from Logan and they had a white out and turned back and stayed with Justin's family that night. Marshall even made it all the way to Lehi in the snow storm. It only took him 6 hours.



Friday morning it was a beautiful sunny day. A guy came and plowed us out and said he didn't know anyone was coming till Sunday. The cabin belongs to some people we know and I had reserved it through them and not their central reservations center. Avry and family got up Friday late afternoon. Marshall got their late evening. Tiffany, Geoff, Jason, & Scott went for a ride. Said they would be gone a few hours. Well four hours later I started panicking as the snow is so soft and if they got off the trail they would get stuck (we have old machines) no one took their phones. About 6 Tiffany shows up, cold and miserable. They had wound up in West Yellowstone and then dad had run out of gas. Excitement for the night. We had dinner and then opened gifts.


Snowmachine


Snow Cave

Hot tubbing

sledding. Jason and I did some cross country skiing also.

Snow Ball Fights

Games, Visiting and watching home movies

And Plenty of FOOD!

Sunday morning we headed home in a freezing rain. Had to stop twice to clean the windshield off. Said good bye to everyone except Tiffany and boys. We truly missed Clint and Jeralee's family.

Monday morning Tiffany and I were on the road at 7:30 am picked up Maeli and Kaden in Syracuse and got into Lehi at 12:30. We spent all day moveing the Snedakers to their new townhome in Eagle Mountain (10 miles away). Avry and family helped, Marshall's cusins helped and Jason and Mark came up in the evening to help. I stayed with Jason Monday night and Avry dropped off Maeli and Kaden in the morning to spend the day with me. We went to Body Worlds 3. That was a fascinating exhibit on the human body. Had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen with Jason and then went to the movies and saw "Bed Time Stories". Met Avry at the car wash in Layton and then headed home to Idaho.

Silent Night

I was looking out at my backyard this evening with the light snow falling and it seemed so calm and peacful. It made me think that is how our life is right now very silent and especially in the evening. Today we went to church came home had dinner and we both our on our laptop then I wander to go read and then Scott goes down stairs to rummage through the channels on the TV.

Life is very quiet here at the Nielson's. Yesterday it got down to -9. We stayed in all day cleaning, and working on projects. Checking every so often to see what the other one was doing. We decided to go get something to eat around 6:30 and all our favorite spots had a 30 to 40 min wait. Wound up at the Firehouse Grill and then over to Best Buy, looking at a laptop to maybe get for me at office, to a TV to replace in the exercise room, to a new cell phone. I won't let on which one we walked out of the store with. It seems every year we go shopping one day and pick out something for each other or something that the whole family would enjoy.

3 days before Christmas and the gifts are all wrapped, treats for neighbors and friends are ready. No I didn't do any baking, I bought see's candy through the office. I just need to get some groceries for the cabin. Make the crepes and some bread and thats it. Christmas eve we have about decided to go to a movie and out to eat.

Friday we celebrated our 39th Anniversary. I didn't remember it till noon and called Scott and reminded him. We had an office party at Mountain River Ranch. It was cold for a sleigh ride but was dressed warm. Last weekend we had two more nights at our timeshare so we went to Sun Valley. There was no snow until the day we left and the ski hill was all manmade and only a few runs opened. We decided not to spend the money so didn't ski. Walked around town, ate out saw the movie "Austrailia" and hung out at the condo. Scott did work and I started the "Twilight Series". Yep I liked the movie so I borrowed my nieces books. This is why I don't read as I will stay up all night to read. I started them on Friday and read the first three books by Tuesday at 6 am. I am going slower in the last book and am half way through.

I am looking forward to Christmas Day and 4 out of 6 kids will be here and were going up to a cabin in Island Park till Sunday. So snowmobiling, cross country skiing, sled riding, playing games and eating lots of food with the kids should fill my cup up for a few weeks.

Veterans Day

Yesterday was Veterans Day and I was touched by several things. It was raining and so I didn't go to the HS track and walk but instead walked on the treadmill. When I exercise at home I wait till at least 8 so I can watch part of the today show. They had a segment on mothers who had lost sons in the Iraq/Afghanistan war in the last year and were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. It was so touching to learn of the hopes and dreams of these men through their moms eyes and how they met at the cemetery.

There are over 300,000 soldiers buried there. Go here for some interesting facts about Arlington.


Of course I was crying by the end and thinking of my own son who has been a solider in Iraq and has only one more day before he is reunited with his wife Lia and two girls Nadia and Bianca. How I wish I could be their to see that reunion and to know he is out of harms way.



Then on Jay Leno last night he had John McCain on. He was so funny and very gracious about his defeat and so supportive of Obama. He said no one wants to see a sore looser and that he had this incredible journey of seeing places and meeting people he would of never known. He is looking forward to going back to the senate and working for this country. The audience was mostly made up of military people and the last thing Jay asked he was what he would want to say to these people and veterans. He told the story which I have heard before of when he was in the prison camp. I have copied the full story that he gave last night.
Sen. John McCain: "Just about every day, but especially on Veterans Day, I think of a guy I was in prison with a long time ago. For a few years we were in Hanoi and prison camps in North Vietnam. They kept us in solitary confinement, two or three to a cell.

"They finally moved us into large cells, 20 or 25 prisoners in each cell. The guy that moved in with me was a guy named Mike Christian. Mike was from a small town near Selma, Ala.

"Very poor family. Enlisted in the Navy at age 17. Later became an A6 bombardier/navigator. Was shot down and captured.

"He loved this country. I moved in the same room with him. The uniform we wore in prison was blue, like, short-sleeved shirt, like, pajama trousers, and shoes -- sandals that were cut out of automobile tires.

"I recommend them highly. One pair lasted me five and a half years.

(Laughter.)

"Part of this change in treatment, they let us have some packages from home in which were small items -- some of us -- like a handkerchief or a scarf. He took his blue shirt, fashioned himself a bamboo needle, got a piece of white cloth, piece of red cloth, and sewed the American flag on the inside of his shirt.

"Every evening before we would have our bowl of soup, we would put his flag -- his shirt -- on the wall of the cell and pledge our allegiance to the country.

"It was an important part of our day.

"One day the Vietnamese came, searched the cell, found his shirt, removed it, came back that night -- and I'm telling it fast -- opened the door of the cell, called for him to come out, closed the door of the cell, and beat him very badly for a couple hours.

"Then they threw him back into the cell. The cell in which we slept had a concrete slab, light bulbs in all four corners, naked light bulbs. We cleaned Mike up as well as we could.

"I went over to lie down on the concrete and go to sleep. And I happened to look over in the corner of the cell, and underneath the lightbulb, with a piece of white cloth and a piece of red cloth and his bamboo needle, was Mike, with his eyes almost shut from the beating that he had received, sewing another American flag.

"He wasn't doing that for us. He was doing it for his country. He wasn't doing it for himself. He was doing it for his country and our ability to pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.

"I'll never forget Mike Christian."


Of course I was crying and realizing how blessed I am to live in this country and how I take my freedom for granted sometimes. I am grateful to all who serve and have served in the military to protect our freedom.