A fun email I had to share...

In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear.

When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definately deal with that.

If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

In retrospoect...

I decided to delete my last post. If you hadn't read about it, I had a horrible experience with a woman on Black Friday about the way I choose to raise my kids. But it was just bringing negative energy to my blog. So every time I'd work on my blog I'd be reminded of how awful it was. I woke up this morning and read a few articles of shootings and of an employee being trampled to death at Wal-Mart. I was stunned and ashamed of what commercialism has done to us. I realized that by indulging in my anger I was no different than the millions of crazed shoppers. Even though I feel that I was right in defending myself...hashing out the past and revisiting moments of weakness for anyone is a dangerous game. So only happy posts from now on...

Thanksgiving Pics...

Here are the pictures of the kids making Gingerbread houses with their friends, Marcus, Tyler and Brady. They had a great time! If anyone wants a quick way to make gingerbread houses with your kids, try this way: Take a milk carton or small juice carton. Frost the sides and stick a graham cracker on each side. Use dry cereal for shingles on the top. Pipe in the edges to fill the empty spaces. This way the houses are a lot more sturdy and can stand up to kids decorating them!

Some things I am thankful for...

Yesterday was a tough day on a few levels. First, I woke up throwing up with bad morning sickness. I was a little depressed that this pregnancy will probably be like the other ones. I was having two families over for dinner so I managed to just get my house clean and put together some kind of a meal. Anyway, the second thing that was hard about yesterday was that my better half and sweet husband was not here for Turkey. My friend Amy brought over the makings for gingerbread houses and all the kids had a great time putting them together. I had such a nice time seeing the kids create and have fun. It reminded me that whatever our circumstances are...there is always a reason to smile and enjoy life. My other friend, Dianna and her son joined us for dinner also and we had a nice meal together. After dinner we all sat around the table reflecting on our blessings. We had a nice chat about all of our wonderful husbands and how grateful we are for for their sacrifice for our families! Here is a rather abbreviated version of my gratitude list!

• My AMAZING husband and best friend, Ned
• Tatum and Carson who give me a million reasons to smile everyday
• A new baby joining our eternal family is the Summer
• The great healthcare that my husband's job provides us
• Living by the ocean that is peaceful and beautiful
• My WONDERFUL friends
• The love and support of my family
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Being able to travel with the kids and give them memories
• Zofran, Ultrasounds and Epidurals!!!

Well that's just a few things that came to mind today. I appreciate the examples all of you set to me in your life and in your blogs. It is great to be around positive people who are striving to be good people and parents. Thanks for all that you do for me! I have pictures coming from Thanksgiving...

My Halloween Suprise...

I have debated on when the right time would be to tell you all of our Halloween suprise...so I figured now is as good as any...I'm expecting a new baby in the Summer. Although this was a bit of a suprise, I am happy about it and excited to enter this new chapter in our family's life. I am a bit worried because severe morning sickness holds me prisoner for about 5 months. So far, I haven't been too sick, but it's also too early to tell if it will get worse. It seems with every deployment I have a new trial and have to deal with it while Ned is away. This will be by far the most difficult hurdle I will have to surpass. It's hard having him away when I'm in perfect health....let alone sick, pregnant and trying to be a mom and dad to Tatum and Carson. So I guess I'm posting this because I could sure use the prayers and support of my friends during the hardest part of the pregnancy. It's hard that it's almost taboo to talk about a pregnancy in the beggining...and that's when I need my friends the most. So I'm throwing caution to the wind and putting it out there. I am so grateful for my friends and family and especially for the chance to be a mom. As hard as it is, motherhood is the greatest blessing in my life. Everytime I see my children, I am reminded of our eternal nature and divine potential. It is worth and and every price I must pay to experience that true joy. But in the meantime, I have to just get through the next 3 months without my sweetheart and know that this, too shall pass.

My little Turkeys

I have been wanting to do these Oreo Turkeys with Tatum for a while now. You take an Oreo, split it in half and stick on some candycorn for the feathers. Then you attatch the two halves together and stick a Hershy Kiss in the middle with a Red Hot underneath. They turned out pretty good for Tatum's first attempt. She has chocolate all over her face from "taste testing" but it was fun. Carson hasn't been smiling for the camera lately. I kept trying to get pics of him and he kept running away. Maybe next time...

Trying to keep up...

Well the past couple of weeks...I have never been so busy. It seems like everyday gets crazier than the one before. We are slowly getting into the groove with Ned deployed and we're doing our best to keep smiling. We have had some crazy changes over the past little while...but we're doing our best to adjust to everything all at once. If there is one thing I've learned over the past few years, it's that things will not always be perfect. But I try and just find peace and joy in the situation. Tatum is loving preschool. It is the best thing for her. She's been much happier at home because she's being challenged and gets plenty of socialization. Carson has developed a bad habit of pulling Tatum's hair. It's become a big problem, as he does it to her at least half a dozen times a day. But besides that, he is a playful and fun-loving little man. I'm staying busy with church, Navy stuff and emailing my honey. And a big congrats needs to go out to Neddie. He made Petty Officer 2nd class!! YAY! I'll try and do better with pictures and updates from now on...

All done!

Take a bow...

So I finally finished the bow on the cake. It only took me like 4 hours from start to finish. AHH! I'm just glad this thing is wrapping up. No punn intended.

The almost finished product

I had a lot of fun doing the baby shower cake today. I hope the mom-t-be loves it as much as I do! I still have to assemble it into tiers and add a bow, but I think it turned out nicely!

Baby Shower cake...

I am doing a baby shower cake for someone in our Ward this week. I am SO excited about learning how to do another cake. It's going to be two tiers with pillars in the middle. I made this little bassinet pillow with the baby on it...and I'm going to put it in the middle of the pillars between the two cakes. The topper will be a fondant bow. I can't wait to finish the rest Tuesday. Pics to follow...

Just a random thought...

I am such a product plugger. Sorry, I can't help it. Today at the store I saw the new Woolite Rug Stick w/cleaner. I had seen a commercial for it, but thought it would be more expensive that what it actually was. It was only 9 bucks, so I totally indulged in it. I have had some annoying and nagging stains on my carpet that I have been trying to get out FOREVER! I used it on almost all of my carpet space and I feel like I have brand new carpet again. Not only did it get the stains out, but the brush just got down deeper than anything else and freshened it. Now my carpet looks and smells awesome. Of course, you have to keep buying the carpet foam cleaner, but I say this one has already paid for itself in just one use. I promise I'm not getting paid to write this!

Rain, rain...go away...

What a day. When we moved to Whidbey Island last year we expected the rain. To our surprise it wasn't that bad and it seemed to hardly rain at all. Well, that was last year. This year, I feel like it has been raining nonstop. Today, the rain was pouring down harder than I have ever seen. It was freezing cold and the wind blew it every which way, so it didn't matter if you had an umbrella. I suppose it was fitting that it rained so hard...kind of matches my mood right now. Ned left today and I'm rightfully bummed. Hopefully the clouds will part in both Seattle and my heart. I could sure use some Sunshine for both.

Trick or Treat '08

This Halloween was spent with Amy and Scott in Utah. It was so fun to have all of the Neilson cousins trick or treat together. Carson is obsessed with Halloween. He loved going to all the doors and saying trick or treat. Tatum was ahead of the pack this year, determined to get the most candy possible. It was a fun night.

This is Ben, my nephew. He graced the camera with a super cool Power Ranger move!

Tatum and McKenzie are such good friends. I just love that they get to spend so much time together even though we live so far away.

Brayden was "a horse of course."

My little Princess.

This is a picture of all the Neilson cousins. What a shot... two one year olds, two four year olds and a seven year old...all looking at the camera!

Having some loves...

The kids had a great weekend in Salt Lake. They loved seeing Kristopher, Grandma and Papa and everyone else in Utah!

Tatum is performing her "Sleepinig Beauty" song for Grandma.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the James' on Sunday because Ned will be gone for the Holiday. Turkey... I could eat it any day of the year.

Tatum with Lydia!