early memories

My sister did this fun childhood memory post on her blog and I am following suit. It's fun to recollect so try it if you like.

1. I loved taking lessons as a kid. I wanted to try EVERYTHING. I took dance, tumbling, iceskating, girlscouts (that counts cause it was once a week), skiing, tennis, this singing and dancing thing, painting (several times), and piano. I started piano when I was 8, a little late to become a Suzuki prodigy but I caught on and my teacher said I could "really play the notes with feeling" I wasn't and have never really been great at site reading but I can "play". I took piano till I was 17. It was the one constant lesson I had and I loved and appreciated my teacher. In addition to all the classics you play in Suzuki she valued the Hymns and so I learned and loved those songs from an early age. I cried when I quit. I quit because I was doing track and student government and volunteering and on and on and on. But I loved and still love the piano. I can't wait till the day when Brad takes me to pick out my very own piano for our house so that I can play again and the kids can play and we can just have the piano presence in our home. I love my mom's piano. it's a beautiful upright. I wish we lived closer to my mom because she would teach Chloe and Ezra. And..and...and...this is going to be a long post I can already tell.

2. As mentioned above, I was a girlscout. This was before the achievement girl days. I don't remember much about girlscouts except for selling cookies. I went door to door. I went to gymnastics camp, this theatre type camp, and horse camp. In addition to lessons, I think I was kindof unusual in that I really liked going to camp. I think I went to camp (more than one some summers) starting from age 12 on. Maybe it was the camping, maybe the freedom, maybe just singing Taps and CoomBaYa:)

3. Once my sister Emily and I were riding this little motorcycle we had and we crashed turning the corner up to the cabin. Emily burned her leg really bad and had to be taken to the ER. No one realized I had also burned my leg to the 3rd degree until after the cars left. My mom nursed me back to health and I had a scar on my lower leg for a very very long time. I used to have this raise callous thing until about a year ago when I got really frusterated at it's ugliness and I shaved it off. It actually came off which was part disturbing and part fascinating. It never grew back and the scar is pretty much gone. My sister still has her scar.

4. When we left the cabin if we cleaned really really good my mom would take us for an icecream treat at the gas station by RockPort dam. We did this until we discovered this other delicious restaurant that served icecream cones as big as your head for the same price, but like all good things, the restaurant no longer served icecream cones that big and they raised the price. But those were such fun memories (the icecream) and the cabin of course.

5. Life didn't exist out of Cresthill Circle. I had Cassie, Kristine, Erin, Patrick, Heather, Marja, the Hills, Jed, Jason, and Courtland. We rotated houses and activities from PowerPad (you know it!), making up dances and actually charging people to watch, German, Hide and seek, jumping on our tramp, and more. Wasn't it the best being a kid and hearing your parents call "come in...it's dark." And you run and ask them for 5 more minutes and they let you stay our longer than 5 more minutes. It was a very ideal place to grow up.

6. We had a weiner dog named Loka for most of my growing up. She was the cutest dog. My brother and I gave her a "voice" and would often argue through Loka. (that's really wierd, I know)

7. I used to make treasure hunts. I still like making treasure hunts.

8. I took dance and always wanted to have a "makeup" lesson. I thought the "makeup" lesson really involved getting to put on makeup and I always wondered why the same few people got invited to the makeup lessons. This was the class I also learned what "stagefright" was because we all were set to parade on stage in our carebare costume (I was wish bear) and Christie Olson threw up all over the floor. Her mom said, "sorry girls, but Christie has stage fright and won't be dancing today." I felt really bad and hoped that stagefright was something I never got.

9. My dad owned a little baseball league and we all played. When I was 5 I played on the Jays and this boy on our team hit the ball and ran to the pitchers mound instead of first base. I also was an umpire for this league when I got older and was shocked, absolutely, shocked at the behavior of the parents of 5 year olds.

10. I ran my first 5k when I was 10, I think. It was the Holladay City classic. I ran and my dad ran with me. He kept telling me to just look at the person ahead and concentrate on passing that one person and then move on to the next person and before you know it you're moved way ahead and you don't feel the pain as much. Concentrate on one thing at a time. And now when I run and I am suffering, I still remember hearing him tell me that when I was suffering so badly as a little girl running her first race trying to impress anyone who would be impressed.

2 months

Ezra's blessing day. Beautiful baby boy. Typical big sister pose. If I look tired it's cuz I am very very tired and ohhh...cute Bradley A.

2 months old. Seriously, he's two months??? We went for his check up and he's weighing in at an impressive 12. 5 lbs and 22 inches. When the doctor asked Chloe what Ezra does at home she said, "he smiles a lot." The doctor was taken a back and said, "oh, they usually say they cry." He really is happy and only cries when he is hungry. This little guy melts my heart.

We spend ALOT of time playing hide and go seek. So we have to be creative. He's hiding under the rug. The first time he did this Chloe couldn't figure out where he was. She's smarter now:)

Santa brought Chloe this kitchen. Santa cut his finger, almost off, trying to assemble it. It took Santa 4 hours to assemble. He said he'd be playing with it if Chloe didn't love it, but she does love it. She cooks in her kitchen while I cook in my kitchen.
Snow days. Illinois has had some very impressive snow accumulation. We made paths in the snow and jumped off the deck.
She melts my heart, too.
As for the new year...Bring it on. I am going to be full of "better" this year. Better mom, better cook, better cleaner, better artist and creater, better church member, better "server", better friend and daughter and wife. We should constantly be AIMING HIGHER and that's where my "betters" are going to come from...some place higher.

the best of the best.

Oh how I LOVE Christmas. We had such a wonderful time in Utah visiting family and friends. As always, I can't ever figure out why the blog does the pictures in the order it does so these are in no particular order.

Here is Chloe Christmas morning with her aunt. She was treated very good for Christmas thanks to Grandmas and Grandpas.
Opening her princess backpack which she wore around all day and during our flight home.
This is a picture of Ezra on the plane ride. He was awake for most of the ride and happy as can be. He is such a good baby and very very cute I must say.

Christmas Eve. We always go bowling with the Nelson clan. That's my cute dad holding his bag of quarters he passes out as we bowl. We do a little talent program at my parents house that night, too. That's the 3 of us singing and ringing the bells to Jingle Bells. We also performed an exceptional version of Rudolph (chloe starred as Rudolph) We do a little Nativity play and Ezra was the baby Jesus. I love that picture of his cousin Sadie holding him.
We got to see some friends while in town. Chloe experienced her first sledding and was in heaven. I'm glad because the winter and snow and mountains are all Brad and I can think about so it's good Chloe loves them too. I also met up with my dearest friend of all to have breakfast and meet her new little guy. Chloe and her Lulu (the blondes) sure gave each other a run for their money. So cute.
Each December (for a lot of Decembers) we have been going out to lunch for my sister's birthday. I love the chance to get together with my sisters, mom and sister in law. We are eating Japanese food here. Don't ask if they have eggrolls or fortune cookies. Wrong country.
6 wonderful years. He surprised me and took me to the Little America breakfast buffet. Three things I love...My Brad, breakfast food, and going out to eat. He's so cute!!!!
Every year we do the lights and I take this same picture. This is a special place.
The reason for the season.
Cousins, cousins, and cousins. Chloe is lucky to have wonderful cousins who will play with her. We got to meet Josh (the cute as a button blondey, round-faced boy down there in the car seat. He's 6 months older than Ezra), and our new cousin Carter (3 months older). It's always funny to see who Chloe will just attach herself to each year. This year it was Alex (he's in the very bottom picture hugging her and Sadie) When we got home from our trip, she and Brad were coloring and her new thing is to draw faces. Brad asked her who's face she was drawing and she said, "dad, that's Alex and those are tears because he misses me) She drew tears! We all shed some tears when we had to leave. We love visiting and are so glad our family loves us so.

first crush

I think Chloe needs some ink, so this entry is dedicated to her. Chloe's personality would never lend itself to being forgotten; however, her little brother has been stealing the show lately. So, most recently she has developed a little "man-phobia" For some reason she turns her head and hides from all men at church, the store or anywhere lately. But there is one guy she loves...Skip Williams, a new professor at ISU and our friends in the ward. We had him and his wife over for dinner about 2 months ago and since then every time we see him at church Chloe gets an ear to ear grin, points at him and says "it's Skip, it's Skip" We think she has her first little crush on a college professor. Yesterday he spoke in church and as soon as he started talking she got that grin and came and sat on my lap. 5 minutes of staring at him while he spoke until her 2 year-old attention could no longer focus (I thought that was pretty good for listening to a talk). In our ward you don't sit on the stand so as soon as he returned to his spot, Chloe snuck 4 rows up with the biggest smile she has ever had and peeked at him...but he didn't see! Later she took a starburst up to him, but another failed attempt. Finally on the 2nd starburst and 3rd trip he noticed her, she even got to show him her newly painted fingernails. She came back so proud of her accomplishment. Above is Chloe with her tow monkeys, they look pretty similar don't they? They are exactly the same (that's what we thought at least) one night I gave her a monkey to go to bed and she said "no I need scratchy monkey" I thought what are you talking about, I gave her the other monkey and noticed that she started scratching the back of its head. I picked it up and below is what I saw. She has worn a hole in the back of his head. So now we have "Scratchy and Scratchy's best friend" She will only go to bed with "Scratchy" now

I have been able to see a little more of Chloe's funny personality while Mel has been home with Ezra. Last week I went running and gave Mel a kiss, I went to kiss Chloe and she told me "dad, you're all sweaty, don't touch me." I was very surprised and asked her what she said and it was good to know I don't have a hearing problem, she had definitely told me not to touch her because I was sweaty. Then we went to the Home Depot building project last Saturday and in the middle I asked her if she wanted to pound any more nails in and she said "no, I am getting all sweaty, I need a break"

She never surprises us with the things she says. We sure love you Chloe Blue!

It's 10:03am.

This morning at 6am I awakened to the baby crying. Hadn't I just fed him at 430am? I think i didn't get back to sleep until 530am. I have this monster headache because my fear came true yesterday afternoon when I started feeling that tickle in my throat and then the dreaded sore throat made it's appearance. I caught a cold. And I just lay here in bed (not for very long because I knew I had to get up and get to the sweet baby before Chloe woke up) I just lay there and prayed that he would stop crying and that I could just keep sleeping and somehow wake up healthy and not have this cold. How did I get this cold anyway? That's the reason i haven't been anywhere for 4 weeks. Grrr!!! When I get sick it's for 14 days atleast...I can't taste, I can't breathe, I can't sleep. Joy. But Brad tells me atleast I'll be better for some of Christmas.

So, I got up and fed sweet Ezra...he doesn't know I'm sick. and just as I was feeding him who should awaken in her room but sweet number 1. It's 630. Today of all days Brad had to go in at 645. Usually he is such a great help in the morning and I am able to sleep a little bit.

So what have we done this morning? Well, i lay on the coach and pathetically tried to nap as Chloe watch far to much tv. That lasted for about 45 minutes until she came up and said "why are your eyes closed...I want breakfast." I got her breakfast and then she watched some more tv. Later, I took a "burn out shower". Turn the water way hot. I was too lazy to wash my hair because I have a hair cut tonight so I just stood in one spot and got major red welting as a result. Chloe came in and said "why is it foggy in here?" It's only 10:03 now! What are you doing today?

...and then I was alone with 2 kids!!!!

Today is my second day as a mom of 2 and no one else around. Brad went back to work. My parents got on the "big plane and went to Utah" and I woke up Monday to the task of parenting these 2 sweet angels. It has been terrific and I have managed to survive. It was absolutely wonderful having my parents with us for 16 days. 16 wonderful days! My dad fixed everything from plumbing stuff to hanging hooks and pictures to making shelves and finding materials to make me some garden boxes for the summer. He just quietly went about his projects and it was a true treat to have him come along. I love this picture.

And how could I do with out my cute mom. The amount of laundry she did...! She cooked delicious meals for us and treats that I wanted. She played with Chloe (although sometimes not getting much love in return from our spirited 2 year old) She supported me and loved holding that new grand baby of hers. It was fun at night to play games all together and then to end the week with a grand Thanksgiving.
We're starting her young. She ran in her first fun run race on Thanksgiving morning. She actually ran most of it and crossed the finish line to many many people cheering her on. It was so cute. Her rosy cheeks were beaming with a proud smile and she passed me and my dad waiting for her at the end.
We discovered this cool outdoor nature place in Bloomington. I love this picture because of the great care my mom and I both took to make sure the deer and the raccoon made this self-timed picture.

oh he's so cute.

Here are some more pics of sweet Ezra B.

He sleeps ALL the time.

I love these feet pictures.
We brought Ezra right into the nighttime routine of reading books and singing songs.
He's just so dang cute. I can't get enough of his sweet face and his cuddles.