Whirlwind Week!

First of all....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET ABBY JADE!!!!!

Abby is such a sweet wonderful fun spirit in our family! I can't believe she's already 3!!! No fun to celebrate your birthday with pneumonia...but I'll cover that later in the 'whirlwind week' coverage. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABS!!!

Abby chose this cute little set as her gift from Grandma Debbie. How could I say no?

She was so excited when she saw it was The Little Mermaid movie in her present!

Emma and I made a week trip to Arizona to find a house to rent when we move at the end of July. We flew with Katie and Liberty Wilkins, (Katie is from Mesa), and we stayed at Katie's parents house for the first few days of the trip. During this trip we as a family were helped out by SO many people...so here go the heartfelt thanks....

First of all, THANK YOU Katie for the hours of driving me around with screaming kids to help me get to know the areas better, and find a house. Thank you for the tips about schools, areas, neighborhoods, rent, etc... Thank you for putting up with my countless texts, phone calls, emails, chats, etc.. over the past few months, and all of your help to get us to find the best place we could in Arizona. You have been so selfless of your time and resources to help us out. You are such a great friend...THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!

Thank you to Katie's family who gave us first-class treatment for an economy price. Oh wait...who am I kidding? For free! Katie's family let Emma and I stay at their house, they fed us, they had a carseat base, bouncer, bassinet, and pack'n'play all waiting for us at their house. They put up with Emma's night fussiness, and gave me so much advice about where to live...and they are such sweet people. Thank you Dale & Jan! (And Katie's sisters and Mindy!)

Thank you to Pauline and Tasha who watched the girls for us when Nate's mom wasn't here. Nate's 'board study time' is so precious and few...that really helped out so that he could stay on-track and not fall behind.

THANK YOU ONE MILLION TIMES to Nate's Mom (Mom-diggity-dawg) for coming out for a week and stepping in as mom for Caitlin and Abby!!!!! She took a week off of work (missed Joseph's graduation), to fly out here and help so I could find a place, and Nate could still study. She dealt with an emotional Abby the whole time...and was such a sweet help to my girls. She took them swimming, played games, made them meals, and even took Nate his lunch to school every day. Thank you just doesn't cover it for what you've done for us this past week...but THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And last, BUT NOT LEAST....thank you to my mom...who last minute decided to make the trip to AZ to help me out. It was definitely a blessing and I wouldn't have made it without her help! Emma LOVED her so much, and was all smiles around Grandma Debbie. Mom was so good to drive around and stop anytime Emma needed to eat. She even had to eat lunch by herself for the most part at the Cheesecake Factory...as Emma decided to be super-high-maintenance in the restaurant. She never complained with my wishy-washy decision making, and she was such a good sport even when Emma was 'less than perfect'. THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM for you help and love and support in AZ. It was so wonderful that you ended up coming, I really truly appreciate it.

Emma's 1st plane ride (on the way to AZ)...she did wonderful!

Emma with Grandma Debs
Emma lovin' 100% attention from Grandma!
Big girl on the hotel bed.
This is the house we decided to rent. If you are familiar with Mesa/Gilbert...it's in Val Vista Lakes...La Jolla (something or other) neighborhood. It has a 3 car garage, and the owner is putting in all new flooring, among other finishing touches. Nate is so darn thrilled to have that 3rd spot in the garage for a little makeshift shop!The front of the house is around that side path...
Ignore the mess (the owner hasn't moved all their stuff out yet)...just imagine Nate workin' away in the 3rd spot...

This is the view from the street driving in...but that's the front door of the house (yes, it's on the side).

The park right down the street-the girls are gonna love it! Smart to cover the playground...why don't they do that at all parks?

Here's the kicker...the clubhouse area includes a lap pool, hot tubs, this man-made beach in the picture (like a pool only with sand on the shallow end), racquetball courts, tennis courts, a gym...and I'm sure there's more. The girls are pretty darn excited about this cool beach too! It's about 1/4 mile from 'our' house.

Another view of the 'beach' with a playground too!

Lap pool, hot tubs...

Whew! It was a week that flew by trying to find a house. The first day of looking was pretty discouraging, but I'm so grateful that Katie emailed friends and someone led us to our house. I had a hard time being away from Caitlin & Abby so long. The last few days of the trip Abby had a really hard time, and cried a lot. I thought it was just from missing me...but we found out the day after I got back (yesterday) that she has pneumonia! No wonder she was so sad. I feel so bad that I was gone when she was sick, but I'm glad that Nate's mom was there to take care of her. She's feeling ok now though, just on the mend.

A week or two BEFORE I headed to AZ we had a BBQ with some friends. It was so much fun, yet so sad to think that in 2 months we'll all go our separate ways. I'm going to miss the sweet friends I've made during the past 2 years in Kirksville. I've learned so much from them, and grown so close to all of them.

This is Caitlin & her friend Ellie horkin' the chips!

The guys. (I'm sure right now they all look a little more stressed than in this picture!) Oh...and I love Cade's pose...what a ham!

The gals...I love you all!

The ambulance district here has an open house every year. This year they had a blow up slide, bounce house, and pony rides, among other fun things. The girls loved it, and it was such a great day to get outside!

I don't know if I'd trust these two to save my life in the life flight helicopter!

Caitlin on the pony ride. Abby wouldn't get NEAR those ponies!

Once again...cute...but I wouldn't trust her to save my life! ;o)

Well, that about sums it up for THE LONGEST POST of my life! If you've stuck around for this whole post...sweet diggities! Hope you enjoyed!

8 Weeks!

Say hello to this cute little 8-week-old beauty! I can't believe that Emma is already 8 weeks old. However, she is getting so much more fun and more responsive every day. She is now 21.5 inches and 11 lbs 6 oz!!! She's started smiling...and it just melts my heart. Last night she fussed and wanted her binkie every few minutes until 1:45am. She had a hard time sleeping after I fed her through the night. I was exhausted by the time she woke up at 8am to eat. However, I rolled over and looked over the edge of the bassinet and she gave me the most heart-melting wide-eyed smile I've seen so far. How can you be frustrated with the night when you wake up to that sweet face? I tried to catch her on camera smiling...here are my attempts....(as you can see...I never really caught the smile)

So sweet and precious.

Caitlin took this picture, but I thought I'd show off her chubbalicious thighs! Yee-haw!

Well, I caught the smile..only she turned her head darn it!

I'm getting anxious to fly to Arizona next week to find a place to live. The girls are getting so EXCITED to have 'gramma Nielson' come out to stay with them for a week. Just Emma and I are making the trip to AZ...I just figured it'd be a little easier that way. Nate is in 'cram time' for boards...so his mom is coming out to watch the girls so he doesn't lose study time. It will be nice to find a place and have that stress off my shoulders for a while.

Everything else is going well! The weather is still just trying to warm up...but the wading pools open on Saturday for the summer so we're pumped and ready to swim! (Well, at least Caitlin and Abby are!)

The Circus & Reptiles

Elephant Ride!!!

I took the 3 girls to a little circus that came to town this week and they LOVED it! Although it was a smaller circus, it seemed pretty clean, G-rated, and entertaining. Besides...where else can you ride an elephant for 5 bucks?!!! However, it was cash only, so Caitlin rode with Braden and Jenny, and I convinced Abby that it would be too scary for her until she's 3...because I was out of moola. I'm so glad that we sent Caitlin though...she loved it! The circus had tigers, lions, acrobats, a camel, a dog show, among other things. It was small town fun for sure!

Today I took the girls to the Reptile Presentation at Truman State University here in Kirksville. They pet snakes (including a HUGE python), turtles, frogs, lizards, geckos (oh wait...those are lizards), etc... Caitlin LOVED every minute...until one of the snakes wrapped it's tail around her wrist and wouldn't let go. Then she got a little nervous. Abby on the other hand...sheesh! She is 100% ME...and wouldn't get close to anything unless I heavily bribed her. (I guess I'm getting her a Ferrari when she turns 16 j/k). I guess this goes to show that even though we live in a small town...there are fun things to do! Once in a blue moon.

Abby and Braden...holding hands. Braden insisted that Abby hold his hand, and then insisted that we take their picture holding hands. Then later when another little girl was holding Abby's hand, Braden grabbed Abby's other hand and started screaming "Mine!" He ended up smacking his head on the table and then bounced off the table and smacked his head on Abby's head during the fight. Ah...the things boys do for love. ;o)

Notice how 'close' Abby got to this HUGE turtle...

Caitlin holding the Gecko. No fear I tell ya...she is her father's daughter!

Closer to the snakes than I got the whole time...

Um...yeah. Notice how far away I stood to get the picture...there's no way I'd get close to that beast! I guess Caitlin doesn't mind...(she doesn't realize it eats animals her size for snack...)

And Caitlin hugging the Python. How sweet (not)! And then there's Abby...once again heavily bribed to at least TOUCH it for the picture.

Some kind of Chinese or Japanese lizard. How's that for precise?

Caitlin's last day of preschool was last week. She LOVED her teacher Miss Karrie, and has already misses going. She had so many cute friends, and loved every minute of being there. I can't BELIEVE she is starting kindergarten in August!!! (Am I THAT old?)

These are the beautiful roses that my Dad sent to me for my birthday. I've never gotten roses shipped to my doorstep before...they are so pretty! Thanks Dad...I love you!

The girls made this cake for me. Ok...I made the cake, the girls decorated it. And YES Mom..it's 'candy cake with candy frosting'! And you thought I'd grow out of that stage...he he he. My mom sent a 'prompt' ;o) birthday card with some moola for some shirts that I desperately need. Caitlin & Abby got me the movie Hitch (well, they wrapped it ;o), and Nate got me a card/waiver that I signed that said I didn't want anything for my birthday. BUT...he's letting me out of the waiver and he got me some perfume, and tomorrow we're headed to Columbia so I can pick out a few things. Like a Ferrari. HA! It was SUCH a gorgeous day for a birthday!

Had to put in a pic of little Emma. She's getting so darn big! She's still just a little sweet bundle of chub and fun. Being a mom is challenging but so fun and rewarding!

Happy Mother's Day!

I wanted to wish my mom a happy Mother's Day...and thank her from the bottom of my heart for everything she's done for me in my life. How can you thank a woman for EVERYTHING she's done for 27 years in your life? Being a mother of 3 now...I have realized how much my mother has done in my life. From countless hours of feeding, diaper changes, singing songs, countless kisses, hugs, smiles, and Family Home Evening lessons...to being there to watch my children when I'm in the hospital again after having a new baby. I owe so much to my mother! I first of all am so grateful that she felt the Spirit and joined the church about 30 years ago. My life would be so different now, and so much more empty if she hadn't joined the church. I am so grateful that she raised us in Righteousness, and taught me that my Savior loves me. That my Savior hears my prayers. I am so grateful that she taught me the joy of having children...and how much joy children can bring into our lives. There's no way to thank you, Mom, for everything you've ever done for me....but THANK YOU for being willing to be my sweet mother. Thank you for staying home and raising us the right way...and for always being there for me. I love you forever Mom, Happy Mother's Day!!

I am also SO GRATEFUL on this Mother's Day for the gift of Motherhood. I am grateful for 3 beautiful healthy girls, and the ultimate joy they bring to me every day of my life. The last 6 weeks have been hard adjusting to the demands of a new baby, with 2 older kids needing their mommy too. But I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I am so lucky and grateful to be able to stay at home and raise these sweet children of our Heavenly Father. The joy of motherhood far exceeds any other joy I've ever experienced, and it is so rewarding. Each of my sweet children hold such a dear and special place in my heart. It is indescribable to think how much I love each of them. I now know the meaning of loving someone so much it hurts. I love these girls so fully, and so deeply, and I am so honored to be their mother!

Caitlin and Mommy
(She was in the NICU at 1st, so I don't have a newborn pic of us together...this will have to suffice!)

Abby and Mommy

Emma and Mommy

Just a side note..I've had a lot of people asking about our move to Arizona. We are moving to the Mesa area at the very end of July. I am flying out with my friend Katie, who is from Mesa, and Emma on the 28th of this month to find a place to live. We most likely will be renting a house, and it will most likely be in the Mesa or Gilbert areas. Then in August Nate will start the 2nd two years of Medical School, which is called rotations. It is 2 years of rotating in all different medical fields...usually for 6-8 weeks at a time. We have loved living in Missouri, and have met and made some of the most amazing friends. We've learned, grown, and enjoyed the beautiful small-town life. We are, however, ready for the move (well...I am at least :oD). It's going to be hard to say goodbye to so many wonderful people, but I am ready for warmer climate, and to be a little closer to family in Utah. So that's the scoop on Arizona for now!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you amazing women out there!!!