HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year from The Nelson Boys!!!

I got a Flip video camera for Christmas. This video is from that camera. It is my new favorite toy!!

Day #28

I have to be honest about the things I am thankful for and honestly, I am thankful for.....

It's sad but oh so very true!!!!

Day #25, 26 & 27

WOW! I have missed THREE days!!

Day #25- CHRISTMAS DAY!!

The season in general,the joy in the kids eyes, the fun in giving gifts, the happiness in the air during family dinners and the real reason we celebrate are all things I am thankful for today!! I am thankful that celebrating our Saviors birth is both a fun and spiritual time.

Day #26- I am thankful that 7 years ago today my sweet husband proposed to me. I am so thankful to have a wonderful, happy marriage to a man who loves me and our kids. My life is nothing but perfect because of our marriage.

Day #27- I am thankful for my ward family. Without friends, visiting teachers and a Bishop that I know I can count on..things would be different for our family. I am thankful to know that the Gospel gives us an instant connection and we are willing to be there for each other.

Day #24

CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

This post could fall under my "traditions" post because this is a tradition but this one really stands alone. My mom directs a "program" every Christmas Eve. The kids are the stars of the show and she is the director. I love love love this tradition. The kids are always so cute and happy to perform. This year the audience also participated and read some scriptures. It was another fabulous program put on by Grandma and the kids!!

Cooper is yawning in this one!! ha ha ha

It isn't Christmas without the Christmas Eve program!

Day #23

I love holiday cooking!!!! {and eating..of course!} My family has our big dinner on Christmas Eve, Eric's family has their dinner on Christmas so every year we are able to go to both family dinners...Yummy!

Day #22

I am thankful for birthdays! How fun is it to celebrate other people's birthdays?! It was my mom's birthday. The adults went to dinner (at Claim Jumper- YUMMY!) without the kids. We ate, laughed, joked, ate some more and opened presents. It is so fun to celebrate birthdays! I am thankful for the fun of it all!

Day #21

Today I am thankful for GIRLS DAY OUT!! I don't have daughters but I love my mom, my sisters and my nieces. Today Mom, Jamie, Sydney, Klair and I took a girls day.....breakfast, pedicures, a merry go round ride and shopping!! What a great day!! (I didn't have my camera, only my phone so pics are limited!)

Day #20

Today (simultaneously with a dear friend) I realized that no matter how old I get...I default to bad habits. Today at church I judged a book by its cover and I judged wrong. It was a small, simple and quick incident that happened but I looked at someone and misjudged them completely because of the way this person looked. I am thankful that I was able to recognize my faults and want to never do that again (my friend who was with me has no faults..she just happened to have a moment of weakness!! he he he). I am thankful for the simple incident that happened today because it made me want to be "better"!!

Day #19

I am thankful for music. I am not musically inclined at all but I love music. I am thankful that it is part of our lives. We listen to it in the car, we make it when we sing nursery rhymes to our kids and we worship with it. I love music and appreciate it especially during the holidays!!

Day #18

I am thankful for my vacuum, my dishwasher and my washer and dryer!!! My life is so much easier because of them!!!

Day #17

I am thankful for organized sports. Sounds silly I know but I am a true die hard believer that sports do mold a person. Connor is a superstar basketball player. He really is very talented. As he matures and stands out more and more on each team he is starting to learn more about basketball and more about himself. I am so thankful that he has found a talent that requires him to be on a team. I see him growing as a player and remember myself as a softball player and what I learned because of it.

Below are the things I learned by playing sports and the application of them in my life today

1. Learned to be a team player and care more about the team stats then my own stats as an individual- now I am able to care more about my family and their wants and needs and not be so selfish and think only of myself

2. Leadership by being team captain- helps me serve in my callings at church that puts me in positions of leadership

3. 4 hours daily practices- taught me that endurance is necessary in life to succeed.

4. Never playing in a championship game because they were always on Sundays but still winning the MVP award- taught me that Sunday is a special day and observing it does bring blessings

5- Interacting with people on a team that I would not have otherwise been friends with- church, school, visiting teaching, PTO board...I can go on and on about how this is a skill that is useful to me everyday.

6- Making big plays under pressure- being a mom can get stressful :) being able to take a deep breath and deal with the crisis or meltdown takes some experience

7- Cheering from the sidelines even though I know/thought I could do it better than the players on the field- Everyday I want to just do my kids homework or chores for them because I can do it better. But my job is to support and teach them- cheer for them from the sidelines

8-Respect those who have gone before me- My softball coach is in the top 3 of influential people in my life (actually only 2nd to my parents). I learned to listen, respect and love her. I likewise have been able to learn to respect, love and listen to other people who do have more experience than me in life.

9. Work ethic- I learned to work hard playing ball....life requires hard work..it just does...there is no way around that. Being lazy doesn't get you anywhere.

10. Hitting lead off always meant that my team was counting on my to get on base- my kids and husband count on me to do what I say I will do.

11. Hitting lead off also meant that hitter #2 (my good friend) would most likely have to sacrifice herself to advance me on the bases- there is something to say for being the person that people will sacrifice for. I always try to be mindful of the things others do for me that is a sacrifice on their behalf.

12. Being part of a team- people count on you. You owe it to them to pull your weight and do you part- whether its hard, uncomfortable or the 25th suicide of the night....you owe it to your team/family/friends! If we all work together no one has to work extra hard.

{it's hard to believe that we all had lives and things we were passionate about before our we had our families!}

I could probably keep going and going. You can see that I really am a believer that organized sports have a positive affect on kids. I am so thankful that Connor has found something that will allow him (hopefully) to learn as much as I did about myself and life.

CONNOR NELSON #3 RULES....GO BIG 3!!

Day #16

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost"

I can totally remember the day we took these family pictures. I love my family. I am so thankful that I have sisters. I am the middle sister, the peacemaker, our parents favorite, the tom boy, the one who has no fashion sense, the one with the grandson who can do no wrong and the one sister who can't do her own hair or make up for her wedding (because of my lack of ability and style). Even though my sisters gave me all those titles I still love them!! Today is my older sister, Tessa's Birthday. I purposely saved talking about my sisters until today (Tessa's thirty something birthday).

I have more memories of me and Jamie as young kids than I do of me and Tessa. I can remember lots of games and things we played (Kim and Kiera top the list). Growing up Tessa was never really interested in playing with me and Jamie because she is a few years older and was on to bigger and better things. But that didn't stop her and I from playing jokes on Jamie. We used to tell Jamie to watch out for black vans because that is what kidnappers drove. Jamie would freak out when we would be outside playing and a black van would drive by. We would all run screaming "KIDNAPPERS, KIDNAPPERS!" She never did figure out that our neighbors a few houses down drove a black van.. I think we were teenagers before we broke the truth to her about that. Tessa and I also told Jamie that she was adopted and her real name was Jamie Donn Anderson Pollmann. She really did believe us for YEARS...sometimes my mom still uses that full name (including the Anderson) if Jamie does something a little stupid. Despite teasing Jamie I have many many fond memories of playing with her when we were little.

As teenagers we all fought like crazy....pretty much just over wearing each others clothes. But as we got a little older it got a little easier and Tessa seemed to want to interact with us a little more. The first homecoming I went too was with Tessa (she was a senior and her boyfriend was the center of the varsity football team and I was a little ole' freshman) and she hooked me up with a SENIOR as my date. Not just any senior- JASON OPP!!! He was a hottie and I was soo cool!!! Tessa has always been a good protective big sister. Even when our relationship wasn't super close, she was the one person in the whole I trusted the most to tell my biggest secret ever (that secret won't be told now!!)

Now as adults the teasing continues but our relationships are different. We aren't just sisters, we are friends. We love to shop, eat and gossip...I mean talk! I am thankful for my sisters. For all they do for me and my family, for the memories I have of them and for their examples to me.

Jamie is a hard working, loving mom who would do anything for her kids. She is a talented hair dresser and could be a model!! She is active in church and a good example to her husband of the blessings living the Gospel can bring.

Tessa moved to Idaho several years ago so she isn't around for a lot of our family stuff. We all really miss her and her family. There isn't a prayer said during a family function that her and her family aren't mentioned by name. Tessa has made a happy and successful life for her family in Idaho. She is creative and driven in her work and at home. She is beautiful and fun. She is active in church and can handle a schedule with 4 busy kids!

I am thankful for my sisters! I love you both very much!! I am happy to be the middle Pollmann girl!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESSA!!!

Day #15

Have you ever stopped to think about the miracle of modern medicine?



You can take a pill or drink a small amount of medicine and magically....your nose stops running, your headache goes away, your pain is gone etc. Yes, some of these are only temporary but still...the fact that medicine really works...AMAZING...I am grateful that there is over the counter medicine (and stronger meds when needed) that I can take and give my sick kids to relieve their pains, stop their running noses and sneezes. It really is a miracle that medicine has been discovered and the advances that are being made with regards to serious illnesses. We are all blessed to have this convenience.

Day #14

I feel like today's post might be a cop out but....it is true. Today I am thankful for my blog. Today was one of those days, we all have them. I had a morning full of things to do before kinder pick up and another handful of things to do after kinder pick up. I had it all planned, when and where I would bribe the kids with lunch and what movies to bring to play in the car. I was set. 15 minutes into my second errand the school called because Cooper was sick and needed to come home. That threw off my whole day. I had to cancel the rest of my to do list and try not to be frustrated. When we got home...the day continued to be under the control of my 5 and 2 year old. I was frustrated and annoyed many times today and seriously many of those times, I stopped and remembered that I would need to blog something I was thankful for today. I have many many blessing and I am grateful for many many things but today...I am thankful for my blog and this experiment I am doing with the 31 days of thanksgiving. Without this in the back of my mind, the day could have been much worse for me and especially my sweet little boys who mean no harm. It isn't their fault that I am a control freak and want to do things my way. My blog helped me control my emotions today. Hopefully this isn't a cop out but today...it's what I am thankful for!!

Day #13

Traditions! I love and am so thankful for traditions. Tonight my family (including my aunt, uncle and Diane Gums) got together for dinner and the Christmas story. Each year we do this. Each year Aunt Leslie brings the best and yummiest treats! After we snack on the treats, we eat dinner.

After dinner we gather in the front room and Mom tells us a story or too. Then she tells the Christmas Story by asking questions to the little kids and letting them answer.

After we talk about that, my mom and dad give each family a new nativity set.

This years set is very cute. Also during the program Eric sang a song. It was a wonderful night full of traditions that we have grown to love! Traditions help me feel and remember the Spirit of Christmas and the love of my family. I am thankful for our family traditions.

Day #12

Service is sometimes hard to give and even harder to recieve but....it wasn't hard to recieve today!!! Today the Young Women in our ward (along with their very hard working leaders and the primary leaders) provided 3 HOURS of FREE babysitting. The idea was for the ward members to use that time to shop or wrap gifts or whatever..... Eric and I were able to FINISH our Christmas shopping today. We found that one last gift we were having a hard time finding....we even got to have a {short} sit down lunch together without the kids! I am thankful for YW leaders. the YW and the Primary leaders for providing this service and giving up their Saturdays for us!! "Life is like a volleyball-you only win if you serve."

Day #11

I hate ants!! Every year without fail we are "under attack" (as our kids say) by ants. This year, although I am very annoyed and a little grossed out, I am thankful for ants because that means we have food. I am thankful that my cupboards and fridge are full of food (good food, the kind of food our family wants and likes). We are blessed to have the financial ability to buy food and the freedom to shop where and buy what we want. Although I prefer that the "army of ants" don't attack- I appreciate the reminder that their attack means my family has food.

Day #10

Today is pay day! We are blessed to both have jobs. Eric is an electrician and in this economy he really should not have a job. Many of his co-workers and friends have been laid off with no hopes of being rehired. I am lucky enough to work from home. I work 40+ hours a week (mostly at my convienence). We are so grateful that we both still have our jobs, we still have our health benefits and we can take care of our family financially. This is truly a blessing in this ecomony and something we do not take for granted!

Day #9

(internet was down yesterday so I am a day late with this)

I am thankful for holiday parties and the friendship and feeling of love that accompanies those parties. Yesterday, Stefani and I had a little lunch gathering for the sisters we visit teach. We ate, the kids played and the adults sat around and visited. It was so nice!!!
Last night Eric and I went to our ward Adult Christmas dinner. There we sat with Stefani, the Purcell's, Rebecca and the Wuehler's. (or course I have no pictures of any of these events!!) The program was nice, the music was pretty, the food was good and the company was great. I love holiday parties and the feelings that are there. We have another party coming up that we can't wait for....we look forward to it every year!!! :)

Day #8

I love my parents! I could easily do one post for my mom and one post for my dad but as a team....they are awesome!! I am thankful for them both for so many reasons. But as my "parents" they have taught me and have shown me through their examples how to work (I mean really how to work....these people have work ethic like NO ONE else I have ever met!), how to be honest, how to try hard, how to be fair even when it doesn't seem fair, how to serve in church callings, how to be a good spouse, how to be a good friend, how to be a good visiting/ home teacher and why the scriptures are important. I could literally go on and on about what my parents have taught me but above all, they have taught me to love unconditionally. There have been many (and I mean MANY times) when my parents should not have loved or liked my sisters and I. We did things we shouldn't have done that were wrong and even embarassing to my parents but NEVER...EVER...NEVER did I (or my sisters) ever feel like our parents didn't love us. They have always supported us in everything we have done or wanted to do. I love my parents and feel blessed to have such wonderful, fun, happy, loving and righteous examples in my life. A blog post doesn't express enough my love and gratitude for them!!

Day #7

Today I am grateful for BABY GATES.....need I say more?!?!?!?!

His attempt to climb over was UNSUCCESSFUL! whew!!

He wanted in so bad he was willing to give up his plug!

Day #6

I am thankful and very blessed to not only have 5 handsome sons (2 stepsons and 3 of my own) but to have 5 healthy sons. I see my friends who struggle with sick kids (sick as in serious health conditions) and I am in awe at their strength and courage. They all amaze me. I pray for them and their children (including the ones that have passed on from this life) and I thank Heavenly Father that my children are healthy. I always try to recognize this blessing and not take for granted my health and my children's health.

Day #5

Today I am thankful for my best friend, Stefani. I could list all the thoughtful things she has done and said to me or I could use this cute list to sum it up! Every one of these is right on...#7...both soda freaks (and a Taco Bell Burrito craving every now and then!) #3...she didn't even flinch when she saw me with no make up!.... #10...we have reached the point where we can have a conversation without even talking and we totally know what the other is "saying". #4... ALWAYS!

Stefani, thanks for knowing when to call me to get a pedicure, thanks for watching my kids, thanks for being an example to me and THANKS for being my best friend!!

Day #4

Today was not a good day for me. Last night, when I planned my day it was full of Christmas fun and errands. I thought I was sooo smart and hit a 9am grand reopening of Ulta. First 100 customers got to pick random gift cards from $5-$100. I had Cody with me hoping that we could get in and get out. After all there was ONE thing I wanted. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. Cody was not a good boy. The lady in front of me picked a $50 gift card and the lady behind me got a $25 gift card. I got a $5 card. Ugh...I was so annoyed. Then it was off to make Christmas cards wit Stefani. Another "Christmas" thing I was looking forward to working on. Again, Cody was not a good boy and could not keep his hands off the Christmas Tree or out of the candy bowls. I left there in hopes of hitting one more store for a specific christmas present (I had a 40% off coupon). I get to the store and my luck they are already having a sale and I can't use my coupon and the sale price isn't as good as my coupon but I drove across town so I had to buy it...blah blah blah....by 3pm, I was a little fed up with the hustle of Christmas. Not to mention, I told the kids we would doorbell ditch treats tonight- that didn't happen.

And to finish my long drawn out story...this year Eric and I decided not to put up our Christmas tree because Cody (FULL THROTTLE 2 YEAR OLD) is out of control. Since we aren't doing a tree, I have been dragging my feet about the other Christmas decorations. But I asked Eric to get in the attic and get down a few things. The first thing he handed me was one of my favorite decorations. This 3 foot snowman:

As soon as he handed it to me I felt better. Christmas was all of the sudden wonderful again (don't ask me why) Then I remembered that we had 2 new nativity sets this year. One that I love and one that Eric loves. From there I continued to decorate and I was HAPPY about it. I didn't do as much as I usually do but you can tell it is Christmas time when you walk into my house now.

Today I am thankful that a little decoration could change my whole attitude and help me remember and feel the true Spirit of Christmas.