My Christmas thoughts.....




I'm counting the days before Mark and I leave for Oregon to be with family for Christmas.

I have so much to be grateful for. Spending time with family is Christmas to me.

I can't imagine what it would be like without the. I am blessed they love me as much as I love them.

Scott and Melissa will not be with us, but they will call often and we were able so be together for Thanksgiving.

What a loving family I have. The blessings of Heaven had been poured down upon me and I think the

greatest blessing of all is I truely know they honor me as a mother. I know they are just as excited to see

me as I am to see them. Merry Christmas to all.................................

Mom has hair!!! I tried out a hair piece and went ahead and purchased it. Life has it's moments........

It is snowing in this picture...

but it is slowing down. We have over 20 inches.

Dad's car - so far there is

15" of snow and it's still snowing.

Mark and I have driven through the great Rocky Mountains in Colorado this summer. It is a beautiful state. This was talken at a summit near Estes Park....

Hi Everyone, I am staying at my Grandma Neslen's for a few days. I love the dog park and Grandpa. I miss my Mommy, Daddy and Tanner.

I will see them tomorrow.

We went to the Renissance Festival in Larkspur, Colorado.
It was an adventure.................Celtic Drummers (Celtic Legacy), Turkey legs, Snot and Puke (a comic team), jousting with real horses and knights, fairies, jugglers, wenches doing laundry, etc.....It was a day filled with enthusiatic acting and crazy fun.....
Here are a few pictures...and my favorite...the Celtic Legacy.....I posted a video to enjoy.

Renaissance Festival - July 11, 2009

A fairy blows a kiss.

The magic of fairy dust.........

Kevin waits patiently for his bride.

She is a social butterfly.

Will they ever be alone?

Tanner slips into the picture.

Annie and Scott snuggle.

Cedar is a doll.

Scott with the bride.

Sara prepares the food table.

Annie and Melissa

Karen's gift--the candy jar!!!

Nicky with the brownies and strawberries.

The famous candy bar.

Spicy ladies despite a day of work.

Kimmie's wedding was beautiful. The sealing in the temple was a memory the family will always cherish.
Her reception was spectacular. Annie, Ryon, Spencer, Sara, Nicky, Richard, Mom, Dad, Scott, Melissa, Lynn, Jenna, Katie and Paul transformed the gym into a formal dance and reception hall. The ceiling, walls and table covers were black and the seat covers were white with black ribbon. The serving table offerred ham, salad, rice, rolls, chocolate, white and carrot cake.
The candy buffet was a hit. Enjoy the pictures. It was a night to remember. Kimmie and Kevin .................... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Isn't it amazing how my little girl is suddenly all grown up and getting married. It seems like yesterday I was going to her ball games. I remember the days she would chase her shadow in circles and watch her feet run. I love you Kimmie.

Kimmie had fun opening her bridal shower gifts.

It was fun being in Oregon City and seeing all our friends.

Annie did a fantastic job with the shower.

The lunch consisted of lots of taco trimmings, rice and cake.

Elder Neslen's first baptism in March 09.

Tim Elton (the gentelmen in the center)

Thanks Tim, for keeping Elder Neslen in line.

You go Scott. We can't wait to see what's next.

It's a good thing you can't get swine flu from eating pork. We'd all be at risk. The ham itself was yummy. The ear....onlyScott knows.

They are getting married June 19th in the Portland Temple.
They are an adorable couple. It is fun planning the wedding.
I will be in Oregon next week for a month to help with the planning.
Thanks Kimmie for being such a fun and wholesome daughter and friend.
I am stopping in Utah to spend time with Scott and Melissa.
I will get to see Karen for her birthday.
I am excited to see my grandkids, Annie, Ryon and Kimmie soon too.
Waaahoooooo............................................

Kimmie graduated in April from BYU Idaho.

Annie, Tanner, Cedar Mark and I drove there. We met Kevin's family as well. Dad was saying we only have one more son to go. When Curtis gets off his mission he will go back to school. He has a lot of years because he wants to go into the medical field. He may have to rethink that if the health care system goes to a social system. Doctors are not going to have the privilage of being independant or autonomous...which is where the personal rewards are found.

Congratulations Kimmie. She wants to start her masters in a year.

This is Annie updating Mom's blog, you guys, since she has been slacking since the grandkids have been here. But just to update and record a little, Grandma Neslen has been having a great time with the grandkids! We've been to Kansas, Utah, and are on our way to Idaho tomorrow.

When we first arrived in Colorado three weeks ago, Cedar would not let me out of her sight and would not really let Grandma hold her. Now she has a certain whine/cry that she uses when she wants Grandma to pick her up. It's a little "hmm hmm hmm" cry.

Grandma and Tanner have had fun snuggling and reading stories. She bought Tanner a new Transformer, Prowl. It's the one from the cartoon, Tanner makes sure we know, because there is another Transformer named Prowl who is a Deceptacon. But this one is an Autobot.

Kimmie and Kevin had tons of fun with Tanner. Tanner has not had a chance to wrestle with his daddy since we left, and so he tried to make up for it with Kevin when he was here. We had to tell Tanner to give Kevin a break, he wanted to wrestle so much.

We've missed Dad being around. He flew back to Denver after conference weekend to work, and is flying back in tonight. He stayed at home while we spent over a week in Kansas, too. We wish we could have seen hime more.

Kimmie chose and ordered her wedding dress last weekend, and we will start the planning as soon as she graduates and moves to Oregon. She and Kevin have set the official date: June 19. They have booked the O.C. golf course for the reception.

We've had fun staying at Scott and Melissa's, although Scott and Cedar got the flu randomly. We'll be in Rexburg tomorrow through Saturday or Sunday, and then the kids and I head back home on Tuesday. Ryon took the day we are coming home off from work! Yea!

Mom is coming to Oregon to help with the rest of the wedding plans in the middle/end of May through the wedding. That will be so fun!

Well, that's our last few weeks in a nutshell. Here are a few photos of the fun times.

This picture was taken at Christmas time, but it reflects how I feel today.

I know the Lord answers prayers. I've been praying about how I was going to spend time with my daughter, Annie, and my grandkids, Tanner and Cedar, during their month long visit in March/April. It was going to be very hard for me not to be with them while working full time. I also have Kimmie's wedding coming up and I want to be available to help but there was the work problem. I love being a Mom and Grandma more than anything and I always carry a prayer in my heart that these relationships will remain strong. The Lord answered my prayer...I was laid off 4 work days before they came. For most this would be a difficult thing...but for me I know it is an answer to prayer. I struggled with feeling like I was making a difference in this job anyway and now I can put ALL my effort and energy back into my family. Thank you Heavenly Father.........I won't be making any decisions about work until after Kimmie's wedding this summer.

Only a week before I get to see Annie, Tanner and Cedar.
Can I last that long?
I'll have to do it, but it won't be easy.
Life is to short to live so far away.
See you soon.

Kimmie and Kevin came for Valentine's Weekend.
Kevin and Marko cooked Chicken Alfredo and Marko bought a most delicious fruit cake.
The weekend was especially something to remember...
Kevin and Mark had the father and soon to be son - in - law talk.
Kevin passed. Boy was he sweating bullets for awhile...not really...Mark is really just a big teddy bear...But Kevin went away knowing how much Marko loves his girl and wants her to be loved and treasured.
We are all anxiously waiting for the acutal proposal now.
Kevin--"Way to be the man!" You are a wonderful person and we are so blessed to have you be a part of our family. Thank you for honoring your priesthood and being respectful to Kimmie's dad. You have won our hearts. Your future together will be blessed because you both have chosen to lead your lives with purpose, respect and integrity.

We only had one day left before leaving Oregon and flying back to Colorado. We woke up and it was sunny. To the beach we go..... It was snowy through the Coastal Range, and the beach was cold, but the sun did come out to say hello.
All in all we had a blast. Of course the memories of our beach house will always be with us.