Quick Catch Up!

Happy Birthday Tate! 4 Years Old!

 Thanksgiving in Texas!

 Setting up Christmas Tree

 Candy Cane Lane

 Sorry, not in order - back track to beginning of November - visit from Grandpa and Grandma Nelson! So happy they were able to come see us . . . and the ARCH! :)

34 weeks along! I feel like I finally caught up with time over the Thanksgiving Break. I had a moment where I was ok to have time move forward instead of wondering where it went.  I love December - a month full of birthdays and Christmas. Then on to January with Darla's Baptism and then a new babe - hopefully in that order! :)

fantastic fall

 We were able to go camping near Elephant Rock. I guess we were near or at the "highest point" in Missouri. Let's just say it wasn't very high, but it was beautiful. I wasn't going to go, just letting Erik take the older three, but then I could just imagine how devastated Lucille would be watching everyone load up and head out. She and I joined them and it was worth every second. SHE LOVED IT.

 Erik and the kids had never been to Nauvoo. It is only a quick three hour drive from St Louis so we went for it. Darla would have listened to every tour of every house. We had a wonderful time (despite the little Citrus Air Freshener event). Again, the drive and leaves were so beautiful.

 This little girl ALWAYS has her arms full in every store we enter. Imagine how fun it is to leave the store? Good thing she has a birthday and Christmas coming up in December!

 Lucille likes to dress herself these days. This outfit is very accurate on what she usually picks. She loves skirts because she can get them on and off all by herself.

 Pumpkin carving is one of my favorite Halloween traditions. The kids always mention how gross it smells, and yucky it is clean them out. But they seemed very pleased with their end results. Darla did the majority of hers on her own.

eternity is now.

First day of school for Darla and Bennett - 2nd grade and Kindergarten! They have been loving school and their teachers. I love picking them up and hearing the other kids say good-bye or hello to them. I hope they always know how AWESOME they are!

Came down to the basement one day and wondered - "Where did all the toys go?" All I needed to do was turn around . . . .

HI MOM!!!

I LOVE being with these two every day while the others are at school. They are SUCH good friends and play hilariously together. I love watching Lucille pick up Tate-isms. She thinks he is the coolest thing in the world. . . I can't blame her.

Bennett had a fabulous 6th birthday on Sept 6th! We swam at the rec center for 6+ hours, opened presents, ordered in his favorite Dewey's Pizza, Mint Brownies and chocolate ice cream for dessert. The day ended with watching the movie Rio. He felt very celebrated and was so grateful for the fun day. We love you Bennett!!

Today I am 24 weeks along. I cannot believe that I am already nearing the 3rd Trimester of this pregnancy! I have the best kids and the best husband in the world. Life continues on with the ups and downs and in-betweens but every day my testimony grows of the importance of the small things in life and the HUGE difference they make from this very moment until all eternity.

Ready or Not

I know I say it every year, I believe I will keep saying it the rest of my life; Time in Hebgen is what I imagine time in the next life to be like - non existent. I am happy, I am content, I am at peace. The same can be said for my kids running free with their cousins. Not a care in the world. No schedule, no place to HAVE to be, no expectation, no stress.
The kids and I drove out. I would do it again in a second. They did fabulous (despite the throwing up that occurred :) We made it all the way to Cheyenne the first night, slept at Little America and were at  the cabin by dinnertime the next day. All 10 of my siblings and their families were there at some point. I find it incredible that we can make this gathering happen almost every year. I believe at one point there were more than 55 of us. I love my family. I love Hebgen.
We spent a quick day and a half in Utah on our way back and then a stop in Denver as well to see some of the Nelson side. By the time we pulled in our driveway I already wanted to go back. It was hard to leave this year. I was more emotionally attached than usual, may be it is because I am pregnant (due in January), or who knows. Or may be with time I realize the importance of those relationships and people. God gave us families, to help us become what He wants us to be. This is how He shares His love. For the family is of God.
Darla lost her other front tooth quickly after we got back to St Louis, Tate jacked his eye on the corner of a wooden kitchen chair so to the ER we went. Bennett got shots and Tate had a cardiologist appointment. So in the 6 days that I have been back half of them have been spent at a hospital/doctors appointment. School starts tomorrow - Bennett in Half Day Kindergarten and Darla in 2nd grade. Don't know if I am ready, but life doesn't wait until you are ready - which is why I wish some how I could bottle up the air from Hebgen and have brought it back to St Louis with me, then in those moments when I am not quite ready to do all that is required of me I can just take a big deep breath in and be back to the place that motivates me to keep going - ready or not.