Boys

As most people know, I am the oldest of 5 girls. Girls ran strong on both sides of the family tree so we mostly had girl cousins who we played with. I had a few guy friends in High School most us whom were dancers, so they didn't really qualify as macho men. I dated lots of guys through my high school and college years who I would classify as gentlemen. I was completely naive when it came to boys and their wiring.

When I started seriously dating Brett there were times when he was either around his brother or other close guy friends that his sense of humor really bugged me. I found their jokes crude and very UN-funny. I did not get them at all. Over time I learned to ignore them and slowly, ever so slowly, I would maybe crack a smile, but mostly I just rolled my eyes.

I remember hearing horror stories of how Brett, at age 5, took a hammer to his grandmas piano and chipped most of the keys. He did the same thing with his fist to her glass coffee table. At 10 he accidentally hit his brother with a baseball in the eye. While serving time in his bedroom for his ill deed, he got it trouble again because he was up there singing his little heart out without a care in the world.

As Brett and I began our own little family we were blessed with not one, not two, but three sweet little girls. They spent their early childhood playing dress-up, ponies, barbies and everything girlie. They played in cute little Laura Ashley dresses and jumpers and always had a big pretty bow to match. Favorite books included Little Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, Twelve Dancing Princesses and Rumpelstiltskin. They entertained each other for hours and really didn't get into to much mischief.

A few years later the Lord blessed us with one, then two, then three strapping boys. The girlie world that I knew and loved was forever altered. They welcomed me to the world of cars, trucks, action figures, dinosaurs and Lego's, thousands of little tiny Lego's. Let's not forget to mention insects, dirt, constant holes in socks and pants, burping and stitches! Favorite books included: There's A Nightmare In My Closet, No David, Big Bad Bully-Bug, Frank was a Monster who Wanted to Dance. I remember being totally embarrassed when one of my little 2 year old boys, while sitting on Grandma's lap, put his hands right on her bosom. She'd gently move them away, and back they came. "Don't worry, boys just come this way," she would say. What?! Are you kidding me?

Now that I've been doing the little boy thing for 8 1/2 years, I can honestly say, they do come this way. Most of their conversations have the words pee, poop, fart, or in Samuel's terms "stinky diaper head". Just two days ago Samuel came in and announced proudly, "Hey Mom, I just peed outside!" They like to take off their shirts and make farting sounds with their hands in their arm-pits. They get a kick out of opening the second floor window and dropping action figures out who in their eyes splat spilling out blood and guts. Joseph used to walk around with butter knives tucked in his onesie. They aspire to be ninjas, "good guys" and in Matthew's case, a great composer. They are learning that physical force is not an acceptable form of communicating. Brett just found a handful of otter pop wrappers shoveled into the front of his radiator. On the way to swimming Friday Joseph who was instructed to put his seat belt on decided that it would be easier to loop it around his waist than to click it in place. When we got to the pool everyone jumped out running towards the pool. Joseph started crying, "Mom, I'm stuck!" The harder we pulled the tighter it got. He had taken off his trunks thinking it would help. He was starting to panic, so I ran into the office grabbed some scissors and ran back to cut the seat belt. "Thank you mom, you're the bestest mom in the whole world (world, pronounced with no "r")."

Who are these people? They can be naughty, but are as equally loving. They are generous with compliments and hugs. I love these boys, they continue to teach me each and every day. So grateful they are mine.

sweet singing Sarah

Here's a clip of Sarah's voice recital back in May. I discovered my tripod was broken just minutes before she started, so sorry for my wobbly camera work.

Hearing her sing this song just makes you wonder who that "someone" will be. She is a beauty, inside and out. I pray that she'll stay true to her values and make wise choices until that someday comes along. Enjoy!

June 2008

It's hard to believe half our summer is already gone. June came and went like a whirlwind, here it is July and I'm just now documenting some of our June adventures.

The week after school was out we ventured down south to make a little music with our violin friends in Cedar City & St. George. We even got Grandma and Grandpa Nielson to join in our adventure and had a ball hanging out with them that week. Tia Moni, Mayra & Crystal kept watch over Sammy and Joseph which freed up room and made the trip a lot easier. I wish I was better at capturing moments through pictures cause there were lots of people we became better acquainted with on this tour. The Drysdales, Glausers and Driggs families to name a few. Brett's sister Carrie's husband is half brother to K. Drysdale which in my kids eyes, make them cousins. We had adjoining rooms to our new discovered kin and had a blast swimming, talking and hanging out together.

He we are driving down to St. George. Baby Kate is listening to her Vivaldi concerto, marking her music in preparation for the big concert. Sarah is shown behind her, um, could it be...texting?! We had to hear hours of her talking to her friend Tanner this trip. You learn all kinds of things driving with your teenagers for 4 hours. Highly entertaining, I might add.



It was so fun to have the kids doting grandparents along, Brother Brigham not included.

Brett, Sarah and Analisa the evening of the performance at the St. George Tabernacle.

The Madsonian Strings did a fantastic job performing for a full house. We loved it! Nice pose Matthew. You silly boy.

Spent a day exploring the spectacular Zions National Park. In the evening we went to Tuacahn and watched Les Miserables. More fun pics on Grandma Judith's blog.



While in St. George we decided to take the kids to the visitors center to see a sculpture exhibit by Angela Johnson. Viewing it on-line really doesn't do it justice. When you choose to go on a tour at a church visitor center a full time missionary is appointed as your guide. Our tour guide was this handsome, handicap Elder pictured above with Matthew. There are about thirteen sculptures each depicting a scene from the life of Christ. This missionary presented a short synopsis of each scene memorized perfectly along with how the message affected him personally. After every presentation he'd ask, "How did I do?" "Great! Just great!" I responded holding back tears. At the very end of the tour he asked us to guess how long he'd been out on his mission. "One year...18 months," we all took turns guessing. "One month," he said proudly. " It's not me, it's not me, it's the Lord speaking through me." It was truly a beautiful experience for our family.


The third week of June was filled with even more music at Suzuki Music Institute. Three of the kids participated this year and spent hours every day fine tuning their craft and playing with groups of kids their level. It was intense, but time well spent. They made lots of friends and connected with teachers that came in for this week of training from all over the world. It was held at Juan Diego Catholic school, hence the virgin Mary in the background looking over sweet Sarah's hand position.

Summer wouldn't be summer without relaxing in a nice cool pool.

And boys wouldn't be boys without sticks, dirt and fire. See my dear friend Michelle's blog for more pictures of our fun cookout.

The kids go nuts when Grampy comes over on his motorcycle. He took Analisa on a birthday ride and of course, everyone else wanted in on that action. My heart always stops beating for a split second when I watch them zoom off down the street. Precious cargo, you know. Grandpa is a safe driver and I know how much the kids love it so I just bite my tongue when they beg him for a ride.


June was busy and eventful. It's been fun listening to the kids make music, spending time with friends and family and making memories together.