The Happiest Place on Earth !!?

This coming April we will have a family reunion in Disneyland.  All 21 of us will be there.  It is going to be great fun!   Of course ... I am reminded of a previous visit to the park 16 or 17 years ago.

"Are you joking?  You are NOT the Jonas Brothers!"

"Of course we're going to have fun. Smile."

Grumpiness is contagious

Grumpiness is REALLY contagious!

"We can't have the other guests see this face.  The rest of you SMILE!"

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WARNING! Grumpiness may be habit-forming.

Busy Summer

We've had a wonderfully hectic summer.  It was both wonderful and hectic.  We got to see all of our children and grandchildren (except for Craig and Logan), just not at the same time.  Briana started the summer off at the end of May by coming for 2 weeks with her girls so she could attend the wedding of her good friend Allyson.  Her girls are indeed growing quickly.  A month later Lindsay and Todd and their boys came.  We enjoyed watching Tyson run - a lot.  They visited Amber one night then attended the Machen Family Reunion just east of Pizmo Beach.  It was fun.  A week later Steph and Carter and brood came in for a week. Reese and Emery a both so sweet and I almost got Dane to walk (but only almost).  Amber and Branden and their 3 joined us for a weekend.  I'd almost forgotten what it was like having 6 little kids running around the house at the same time (Oh yeah, we only had 5).



Briana and Claire join us around the fire pit.

 We have worked really hard on the back yard this summer and I think it was enjoyed by most of the grandkids and their parents alike.  We're tired, but plan to push on until the little details are all finished.


Our lawn is finally in!





Thanksgiving 2010

This is a great time to tske stock of some of the things that have blessed our lives. We are currently gathered in Visalia, at Amber & Branden's homefor the holiday. In addition to the 4 Nelsons, we are thrilled to have Stephanie, Carter and their 2 children and Briana and Craig and Claire here also. Logan is spending Thanksgiving in the Mission Training Center in Provo, UT. He began serving as a full-time missionary on November 3rd and is currently waiting for his visa so he can leave for Peru. He is enjoying his time in the MTC but is looking for to actually being in Peru amoung the people there. We spoke with Lindsay this evening. She and Todd seemed to have had an enjoyable holiday.
The Lord is very good to us. I can't do enough to praise is name.

Time?

After 6 years as bishop, I was released at the end of May. I am now serving on the Stake High Council, over music and missionary work. I have found that things can again get done around the house. Projects, like finishing the kitchen, which has been on hold for 2 years, are now pushing forward again. At church, ward member are always asking if I notice a difference - is there more time? With 4 to 5 hours of fewer meetings on Sundays and no Tuesday and Wednesday meetings, I just smile and say that I seem to be keeping busy. I loved my time serving the Lord as bishop. I was richly blessed. But it is time to move on. I'm looking forward to my new assignments.

End of a busy week!

We've had Steph and Carter's girls this week. We returned from Philadelphia and Carter's dental school graduation last week with Reese and Emery. They have been so sweet and fun to be around, but they also command a bit more attention than we've been used to for along time. After driving across the country with Carter, Steph flew from Denver to Sacramento last night. Amber drove up from her home in Visalia with Nora and Ike, arriving in the late afternoon. Although the noise level has increased exponentionally, it has been fun to have them all here.
Barbara celebrated a milestone birthday on Saturday. I'm not allowed to say how old she is now, but her gifts had items that added up to 50. (You're on your own to figure that out.)
To top off the excitement, Mark was released as Bishop, after 6 years, in church this morning. He's looking forward to the next calling. Barbara is looking forward to having him around the house more often.