LiFe uNsCRIpteD tAg

I was double teamed here - both Kara as well as Shaka tagged me with this one. For some reason they want to know exactly how messy I am in my every day life ;)

So here's how it works. You cannot clean, straighten, or prep. You must grab the camera and start snapping pics of specific places (it's amazing how much of a mess can be hidden simply by angling the camera one way or another). So behold...my life:

1. The kitchen sinkWe were at an art show last night, so dinner didn't happen until around 8pm...that's a pretty good excuse for dirty dishes this morning...right?

2. Fridge

3. Laundry room

not much to see here...just my 25 year old washer (note my dryer in number 5)

4. Bathrooms/toilets

it's usually not a good idea to get too close to my toilets

5. Favorite room

this is where we spend the most time, that little couch is also my favorite place to take a cat nap...whenever I can (ha ha ha)

6. Bedroom

Yes...I actually do make my bed most days. I find that doing so makes my day run smoother...go figure.

7. Closet

8. Favorite pair of shoes

I'm a super picky shoe shopper! So when I fell in love with these at first sight I knew I had to buy them. They're perfect for me.

9. My kids/hubby

10. Me

When I remembered about doing this tag I was actually standing in the bathroom doing my hair. As you can see I got a little carried away with the camera, but I was having so much fun I couldn't stop (I was actually taking pictures of myself as I made fun of myself in the mirror...the dirty, spotted, streaky mirror).

Kudos to Kara

(sorry Kara, these pics were just toooooo awesome not to share!)

I brought Bryce some leftover cake from a baby shower last night, and as he gobbled it up for breakfast this morning he exclaimed, "that's the best cake I've ever had." Of course I didn't need to tell him that our friend Kara had made it, he knows well enough that she is an amazing baker. So he then proceeded to tell me that I should, "take baking lessons from her." I felt you all cringe at that one...but I didn't cringe one bit. He and I both know that I can't bake/don't desire to bake...even to save my life, and his statement was said in the same way someone might say, "you should learn Chinese" or more accurately in my case, "you should create a Universe." Bryce would LOVE to have the kind of yummy treats around our house on a daily basis that you find at the Nelsens, but the truth is I really have no desire to bake. I mean I do wish I had the ability to make wonderful yummy things if the mood arose, but it would only really be worth it to me if they simply appeared in my oven without the labor involved, and the mess to clean up afterwards...or better yet...it would be nice if they simply appeared...on my doorstep! But until that day I'm sure Bryce will survive on the yummy BlueBell Popsicles in the freezer, and the store bought sugar cookies on the counter. :)

"Where am I?"

Shaka want's to know where I am...and so do I!!

It's so hard to get back into the swing of things after vacation (I think I left my brain in Utah). I look around my house and can't even figure out where everything goes in order to put it away! But despite the mess, the piles of mail, and the missing family & friends out west, it is nice to be back home.

We had a fabulous vacation. It seems there is never a shortage of things to do when we go to Utah. Bryce & The Snack can't get enough of the mountains etc. and I never tire of spending time with family. I was especially excited about being able to spend time with two of my sisters on this trip since they are in Utah & Idaho going to school. And it was nice to be able to make a short trip up to Idaho to see (and introduce Bryce and the kids to) some relatives I haven't seen in around 10 years! We covered a lot of ground on this vacation, had a lot of fun times (including two weddings), and took a TON of pictures! So I'll try to share a few (of the 562) with you....so check out the slide show...

My family ROCKED the 80's!

No doubt about it...you all wish you were as cool as this clan! Is there anyone out there who can claim that the 80's didn't "claim" them at some point, in some way? Even my dad was totally rockin' his Magnum PI mustache! Gotta love old pics. I'm in Utah right now hijacking my sisters computer...and she's got all these terrific old pics on it, so I couldn't resist sharing...so...can you tell which one is me?

It's Baby O time!

Some long overdue pics of this sweet face

Summer Reading

I don't know where that term comes from, for me, "Summer" and "reading" go together as well as "motherhood" and "sleeping!"

I suppose if I spent my Summers lying on a beach somewhere, then Summer might bring time for reading...but then again...if I were lying on a beach somewhere it would likely mean that my children were off eating sand somewhere. Heck...never mind "Summer reading" - reading in general probably means that my kids are off eating sand somewhere!

With that said, this is what I'm "reading" this summer:
Integrative Nutrition by Joshua Rosenthal. I know, I know! Ooo what a page turner! But you've got to understand, I've decided that I have a little OCD when it comes to reading. I get these feelings of guilt if I just pick up a random novel. In general a book has to come to me highly recommended, or I don't trust it to be worth my time. During the day the kids need tending, at night the house needs tending, and on top of that I have a backlog of Ensigns and Readers Digests that need reading (and here is where the OCD comes in...I must read a magazine from cover to cover...or why pay for it!). But this summer I determined that I need to do more for "me." By that I mean I need to better myself, so I did a little self survey to find out what really interests me, and what of those things could be beneficial to both myself and my family. This is one of the interests I came up with. I really do enjoy learning about, and practicing, healthful habits. I didn't select this book based on any recommendations (risky, I know), I simply chose it off the library shelf because it was the most currently published book on nutrition - and it's proven to be a good find so far. Ok, so I've only read the first chapter, but already my perception of what is healthy has been changed! And, my conspiracy theorist brother will appreciate this, I've learned that we are foolish to trust the federal government to inform us of what is healthy and not healthy. Did you know the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine won a lawsuit against the government for the over promotion of meat and dairy products in the original Food Guide Pyramid. It seems the USDA is also effected by lobbyists and big money corporations - just like any other part of government! This is the reason they recently changed the food guide pyramid...but for the last 15 years this country has been becoming obese based on the recommendations of the federal government! Ohhhh the tangled web we weave....look at the health care problems this has created! And it seems this is just he tip of the iceburg with this book. I'm excited to read & share more, so watch for future posts...if my "Summer reading" works out.

So...what are you reading this Summer?

Just another reason...

...why we love the Dad-n so much! Bryce will usually take a day or two of the week and whip up a tasty meal for us. Today's meal was worth a post (this one is for you laina).

We're not big on burgers around here, so Bryce bought some burger sized Portabella mushroom tops and fried them up. He added cheese, and bacon on the side. Very tasty! Better than a burger any day honestly, and I'm generally not a huge mushroom fan (even eating this I couldn't really look too closely at it...looks like squid or something!).

Bryce also whipped up his summer time specialty - Pasta Salad. Bryce makes one of the few pasta salads that I actually like. It's a very lite, simple salad - not doused with dressings etc. Vine ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, cucumber, garlic, whole milk mozzarella (fresh is best...hard to get that in Texas!), freshly grated parmesan, olive oil, salt, and a good al dente pasta. Yummers.

Bryce's Day

Daddy, we think you're the best! Thanks for making every day so much fun!

Happy Father's day

We love you!

Blessed...

Our lives are blessed...

• Bryce gave Baby O the most beautiful blessing last Sunday - words from his heart for our beautiful baby girl.



• She is healthy, happy, and brings joy into our lives daily.



• Grandma Lilon & Grandpa Jim drove many, many hours to be here this week and to share the special day with us.



• Baby O wore the same blessing dress I (and my sisters) wore when we were blessed, thanks to my mother's labor of love in restoring it.

My little Rock Star

Snackie doing a little "tribute" to Bob Marley.

Is there anything in this world that can compare to the joy your kids can bring into your life!? I could watch this video a million times and never stop smiling.