The Nelson Family

Mele Kalikimaka!!!

2011-12-25T14:29:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Devan LOVES the car toy from Grandma & Grandpa!! and all the clothes :)
LOVES the clothes and jammies from Brian & Kasey & the kids!
LOVES the 4 wheeler from Papa/Doug
LOVES the books from me

it took him a few minutes to notice there were gifts to unwrap and he didn't really get the whole concept of unwrapping. but he is having a blast playing with everything.
here's a few snap shots from our morning.

making a run for the presents!

pretty proud of his new 4 wheeler

Merry Christmas!

pretty boy :)

2011-12-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

devan gets mistaken for a girl almost daily :) he is a pretty boy if i do say so myself :)

chocolate coconut pie! oh my!

2011-12-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

um yea. going to be making this real soon.
Despite its chic appearance, this dessert is really an uncomplicated icebox pie at heart. And it's gluten-free, to boot. The pie requires only four ingredients - butter, chocolate, cream, and shredded coconut. The press-in crust comes together in seconds in a food processor. After it's baked, the shell is filled with velvety ganache, which sets to a lovely, smooth sheen.

Ingredients
For the crust

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11 ounces (about 6 cups) sweetened shredded coconut

For the filling

1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 61 percent cacao), finely chopped

Directions
1 Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a food processor, process butter and one-third of coconut until mixture forms a ball, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Sprinkle remaining two-thirds coconut over mixture and combine with your fingers.

2 Place a 9-inch pie plate on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Press coconut mixture into bottom and up sides of pan to form crust, leaving top edges loose and fluffy. Place a foil ring over edge to prevent burning. Bake until center begins to brown, 10 to 15 minutes; remove foil and bake until edges are browned, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer crust to a wire rack to cool completely.

3 Make the filling: Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Let sit 10 minutes, then stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is combined. Pour into coconut crust. Refrigerate until filling is set, 1 hour or up to 1 day.

Makes one 9-inch pie.

Jarom and Kayla 2011

2011-12-04T13:43:00.001-08:00

Back to school

Jarom's 11th Birthday

Grandma and Grandpa knows what Jarom likes!

Painting Pumpkins

Jarom's Custom Specialized Mt. Bike

Scary Werewolf

Spooky Witch

devan's 1st Birthday Party!!!

2011-12-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

the party was a lot of fun. there were too many cupcakes-50-and too much food of course, better too much than too little says Doug as he mows the leftover cupcakes :)
Doug rented a 'bouncy castle' which was an excellent idea! it was a MAJOR hit with all the kids (and adults)-the ones we know and invited and some randoms at the park. Our friends gave devan a ball house that we set up and that was a hit as well with the little 'keikis'. devan loved watching and playing with all the kids.

HUGE!

devan & his friend bodhi who was born on 1/4/11 just down the road from where devan was born

Elmo ball house

:-)

did i mention the bouncy castle was HUGE!?

not super thrilled with the gluten free, baked with coconut oil, raspberry frosted cupcake :) that's ok devan, your dad and everyone else enjoyed plenty for you--only a few had raspberry preserves frosting, the others has chocolate frosting btw :)

happy birthday little buddy!!!

2011-12-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

i'm still shocked & amazed that devan is 1 already!!! the past year has truly gone by sooo fast!!
he loves the truck and car toy from grandma & grandpa, loves ALL the clothes mom buys him! loves the farm-yep, it was supposed to be for Christmas, apparently Doug didn't get the memo:) and he loves the balls we gave him.
thanks for all the Birthday wishes! he is my *wish* come true!

a new take on no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies!

2011-11-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

we all remember and love the infamous 'no bake' chocolate oatmeal cookies mom and so many other moms made 'back in the day'. well, here's a new take on those. NUTELLA and peanut butter or for us almond butter!
mmmmm

No-Bake Nutella Peanut Butter CookiesYields approximately 2 dozen cookies (recipe can be doubled for a crowd)

3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup peanut or hazelnut butter
3/4 cup Nutella hazelnut spread (or 1 cup chocolate chips)
2 cups rolled oats

In a medium to large saucepan, melt the butter over medium to medium-low heat. Add the sugar, milk, and cocoa powder and mix until combined. Stir in the peanut butter, Nutella, until melted, followed by the oats. Continue mixing until all of the ingredients are incorporated. Reduce heat to lowest setting.

Working quickly, use a spring-form ice cream scoop to shape balls of dough and place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Refrigerate for thirty minutes until firm. Store in an airtight container.

searching for shells

2011-11-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

it was a rare treat that doug had a day off during the week-yay! so we decided to go to the other side of the island and look for shells. we drove a little past napili and spent the afternoon at d.t. fleming beach. devan LOVES the beach--the sand, the ocean, the coral...it was the perfect day and we scored some nice shells too :-)

doug looking for shells. devan making a b-line for the ocean.

watching the waves or contemplating another b-line for the ocean?

apparently the texture of sand in the mouth and coral are good for teething :)

happy guy

2011-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

he's such a happy guy 99% of the time. notice he has the same open mouthed 'smile' going on in every picture. :-)
he's also been into biting lately. he will come and bite me then shake his head 'no' then do it again. sometimes he pump fakes and just puts his mouth on me like he's going to bite but doesn't and shakes his head 'no'. it's pretty hilarious. i've been trying not to say 'no' to him so instead i shake my head and say 'uh!' well, little bugga, guess what he does when he's doing something he knows he's not supposed to? says 'uh' and shakes his head. he's getting it. sort of.

11 months!! huh??

2011-11-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

i say this every month but seriously, how is he 11 months already??
he gets cuter and more fun every day.
love'n this little guy!

having fun

2011-11-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

devan LOVES balls--ever since we went to Idaho Falls and he watched John & Brian shoot baskets he is obsessed. his 1st word after 'mama' was 'ba'

He loves to read books

goodnight moon being a favorite

he loves playing with just about anything that's NOT a baby toy. the oven drawer, the vacuum, 5 gallon water jug, closet doors-some of his current faves.

at the beach last weekend.

loves to be on dad's shoulders :)

we went to a friend's baby's 1st bday party on sunday and they had rented a bouncy castle/slide--BIG hit w/all the kids including devan

once we let him on it he didn't want to get off it. he raged it! had a blast! he loves being around kids and watching them play.

devan's 1st halloween!

2011-11-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

we didn't do ~~much~~ anything for Halloween this year. Doug gets home from work most days at 6ish, and devan goes to bed most nights around 730-8ish. we did go to Pa'ia to eat dinner and check out a few locals and tourists in their Halloween costumes. Doug and devan dressed up in their costumes for about 10 minutes. :) Swamp Thing and Bear Cub :)

happy fall ya'll

2011-11-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

there are a few things i miss about 'mainland living'. one of them being the changing of the seasons. living in portland there are usually 2 or 3 seasons. some years it's the 'rainy season' and 'the 2-3 months it doesn't rain season' with spring and fall mixed in. and some years it would actually snow a 1/4 inch or so and be 'winter' for a few weeks--well, actually it does get pretty cold in portland sometimes--nothing like idaho falls though! so right now i'm missing the beauty of fall. the colors, falling leaves, the fall smell in the air, the chill-dressing in cute sweaters, layers, wearing socks :) and making 'fall food'

soups, pies, pumpkins, winter squash---a few of my fall favorites.

here's a few dishes i'll be attempting over the next few weeks--devan allowing :)

http://eatnourishing.com/recipe/thai-red-curry-pumpkin-soup/

http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/recipes/baked-pumpkin-oatmeal/

http://glutenfreeeasily.com/crustless-gluten-free-pumpkin-pie/

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/indian_pudding/

http://growitcookitcanit.com/2011/10/31/marlborough-pie/

Now

2011-10-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

"Parenting, I’ve come to understand, is about loving my child today. Now. In fact, for any parent, anywhere, that’s all there is."
if there's one thing i've ~~learned~~ am learning thus far into parenthood it's the importance and beauty of NOW, this moment. children live in the now all day long. children only experience the right-here right-now. “When you’re rushing to the next moment, what happens to the moment you are in?” You’ve missed it! You may be okay with that, but children have no capacity to understand why they can’t enjoy the NOW.

Living in the NOW is where the treasures of life live.
Living in the NOW is where all the answers to our problems are.

The moment we begin to rationalize and feel like we “should” do some thing, we fall out of the NOW. That’s when things get complicated, rushed, filled with stress, pres sure and anger.
The most profound and beautiful thing we experience by living in the NOW…is love. The more you can take it one-moment-at-a-time and simply focus on the task at hand, by remaining really-really present, the more you love you’ll be able to take in.
wise words from a friend.

this little guy is my greatest teacher, my little guru.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

So happy to be the mama of my little buddy.

devan is 5 months!

2011-05-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

day 5*****

*****5 months!

can't get enough of this little guy!

2011-04-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

devan LOVES bath time! his bathtub sits on the counter in front of a mirror and he loves to watch himself taking a bath. :)

we celebrated Easter at Rainbow Park with friends.

Happy Easter!!

since devan only really likes/chooses to roll over when he's naked we've been working on sitting up. he is making progress--with the help of 'mr. shakey'

he likes it :)

devan is 4 + months/april comes to maui!

2011-04-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

Devan is 19.5 weeks and growing soo much! april and i took him for a well visit a week ago and he has more than doubled his birth weight. he's 16.4 lbs! a TANK! he measured 25 inches long--he is a chunk of love!
his personality is coming thru more and more each day. he's a smiler! :) everywhere we go he smiles at everyone! he laughs and loves to 'sing' and babble--he also likes to grunt. when he is not happy about something he grunts, it is kindof comical.
just in the past few days he has started moving his jaws up and down like a 'chewing motion' he does this when he's watching doug and i eat but also does it randomly throughout the day--it's pretty funny!
he's been rolling over more this past week which he is quite pleased about. he is still drooling a TON! no teeth yet though.
april came to maui to hang out with us for a few-short-days. it was a lot of fun! we managed to make it to the beach every day she was here. we shopped-of course!-went out to eat for sushi, burgers-yes john i have eaten quite a few burgers in the last 9 months or so-and eggs beni. we took her to 'sunday fun day/beach volleyball' where april proved she has some skills at serving! she also went w/us to a friends baby shower. we really loved having her here! devan loves his auntie!

4/1/11 4 months!

chill'n at the beach

sunday morning couch/tummy time--big smiles!

chill/n with Dad

April, Devan & Ronda at the baby shower

april showing her volleyball skills!

april has a lot more photos of her trip so check out her blog for more photos.

my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

2011-04-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

1 cup butter (don't use margarine)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups of flour (I usually use a little bit more)

12 oz package of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda and butter. Mix in eggs and vanilla until well combined. Add salt, and flour. Mix until smooth then add chocolate chips. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are golden brown.

and the photo marathon continues...

2011-03-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

here's a few :) more photos...saturday photo shoot trying to capture the perfect shot and well...they're all pretty dang cute!

devan just gets cuter and more expressive every day! love'n it!

random photos...

2011-03-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

buddies---those pjs no longer fit him btw!

snooz'n

march 6th...happy birthday auntie april!

starting to get into his 'chew' toys

double fist'n

if you look closely you can see his birthmark on his bum :)

drool'n buckets of drool

he's been wearing this shirt a lot lately!!!!

a few photos from my birthday

2011-03-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

at the beach...chill'n in our shade tent thingy

hard to capture the perfect moment when everyone is smiling

the waves were epic!! perfect beach day!

waiting for our seats outside Flatbread Pizza in Paia

march 18----happy birthday uncle brian!

happy birthday to me!!

2011-03-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday-32 years! seems unbelievable to me, but i am enjoying every minute of it!
i have soo much to be grateful for--my family and friends to start with. :)

Devan is 3 months!!!

2011-03-01T19:54:00.000-08:00

Devan is 3 months old...time is just flying by!!! here are more than a few pictures (I have nothing better to do than hold him and take tons of pictures--he is pretty dang cute! ok, I do have things to do like laundry, clean the house etc. :) but snuggling and taking pictures is way more fun!)

there's nothing cuter than babies in overalls!

he's loving his bouncy chair--thanks to grandpa and doug for hooking it up with batteries!

he's a pretty smiley guy, but gets quite serious when the camera comes out

love those lips! he cracks me up!!

little 'farmer devan' loves to chew on his fist--he is obsessed with chewing on his fist/fingers!

LOVES to be naked! chunky boy!!

starting to get into the 'dangly floor toy' thing

tummy time

hahahaha!!!

sooo snugly!

03/01/10

sorry for the mega picture over load, but because none of you have had the pleasure of meeting Devan yet besides mom and dad (april is coming to visit in april!!!) you get to share in my obsession with taking tons of photos of this happy little guy. hope you enjoy the pics! aloha!

family photos

2011-02-21T17:14:00.000-08:00

a friend of ours took these photos a few weeks-almost a month-ago. aloha!

Grandma & Grandpa come to Maui!!!

2011-02-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Mom & Dad-Grandma & Grandpa came to Maui for a week. We loved having them here. We had a great time! (Mom has more pictures of the visit on her camera, so maybe she'll figure out how to post some of them.)

Doug took Dad to our last house--beautiful view!

Mom had Devan smiling, laughing and telling her stories every morning

if you look closely you can see Devan's tiny footprints in the sand.

We miss Them already! Come back soon! Aloha!

Devan's debut!

2011-02-12T21:15:00.000-08:00

Devan Phoenix 12.01.2010 3:38am 7'12 19 1/2

day 5...

grandma comes to visit

day 12...

lei-hawaii baby

1st bath 12/20/10

12/20/10

Mele Kalikimaka maui christmas!

Doug & Devan zzzzzz

Cute outfits from Brian & Kasey

my blankee from James & Wendy

loves to chew on his fist

2/01/11 2 months!!!!

future allstar...loves the cozy jammas from grandma!

super smiley!! :)

grandpa and grandma come to maui!!!

coconut sweet potato pie

2010-11-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

I'm going to attempt to make this soon! yum!

Coconut Sweet Potato Pie

FAVORITESEMAILPRINTSHARE

By Cathe Olson
This creamy dessert is full of beta carotene. The wheat-free crust provides omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
Crust:

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter

water if necessary

Filling:

3 cups mashed, cooked sweet potatoes (about 3 medium)

2 eggs, slightly beaten or Ener-G Egg Replace equivalent

1/3 cup coconut milk

3 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey

Topping:

1 tablespoon unsweetened, shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place oats, walnuts, and coconut in food processor with metal blade. Grind until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add butter or coconut oil and pulse until combined. Add maple syrup and pulse to mix. Test dough by squeezing a small amount together. If it doesn't hold together, mix in water until it holds. Press dough into 8 or 9-inch pie pan.
Place sweet potatoes, eggs, coconut milk, and sweetener in food processor. Puree until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake about 45 minutes, or until edges are golden. Cool at least 15 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or cold.
Serves 8
Note: Dairy, soy, or rice milk can be substituted for coconut milk in filling if desired. Also, if you don't like coconut, this pie is still delicious with all the coconut omitted.

Feeling crafty?

2010-11-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

feeling crafty? I've been on somewhat of a 'crafty kick' lately--that is if you count the fact that I'm still-yes still-working on the kitten embroidery project--it's coming along, slowly...
Ever wonder what to do with all your old tshirts? You know, the ones that might have holes in them, stains or whatever...I saw this online recently and thought some of the ideas were cute.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-ways-to-reuse-old-t-shirts.html

Thanksgiving

2010-11-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

It's a little early to be planning Thanksgiving I suppose, but I'm gathering together a few of my favorites and thought I'd share this stuffing recipe I made last year-soo good!. What are you all making this year? Any favorite recipes you'd like to share? Feel free to post.
Give Thanks!
Aloha!

English Walnut Sage Stuffing

Published November 17, 2009

Makes 8 cups

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 cup finely chopped celery with leaves
1 cup chopped shallots
8 cups plain dry cubed stuffing or toasted bread cubes
2 cups chopped toasted walnuts (see note)
2 teaspoons dried sage
Ground nutmeg
Cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Madeira or sherry

Instructions

Melt the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over low heat. Add the celery with leaves and the shallots. Cook until shallots are softened.
Add the bread, walnuts and sage. Add nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Blend the mixture well and moisten it with a little Madeira or sherry. Stuff turkey (see Fit for Dinner on Page FD6) or bake in separate pan.
Note: To toast nuts, spread on a baking sheet and bake in 350-degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until they start to brown.

Aloha!

2010-11-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Aloha!
I'm now 34ish weeks pregnant...feeling great and getting excited!!!
Doug and I usually go to the beach on Sundays with a group of friends. Living in Maui is still an adjustment, but we're enjoying it!

Hope you're all doing great wherever you are!
xo

Japchae

2010-10-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the lovely Brecca Johnson: Japchae!!!
this is one of my favorite dishes-ever!
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/japchae-recipe

n case the link doesn't work:

Korean Dishes: Japchae
Make this healthy japchae recipe for dinner tonight and you'll rock your body as well as your taste buds

The word japchae comes from the combination of two words that translate to "mixture of vegetables." This delish dish can be enjoyed hot or cold, making it ideal for dinner one night and leftovers for lunch the next day.

PREP TIME: 20 minutes / COOK TIME: 15 minutes

2 Tbsp sesame seeds
3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp sugar
2 tsp hot pepper paste (kochujang)
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/2 lb soba noodles
2 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
5 oz baby spinach
3 oz enoki mushrooms, ends trimmed

1 In a dry skillet, toast sesame seeds over medium heat until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove fromskillet and set aside.

2 In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, hot pepper paste, and sesame oil; set aside. Prepare noodles according to package directions.

3 Meanwhile, heat vegetable oil in awok or large skillet. Add yellow onion and carrot; cook for 4 minutes. Add garlic, green onion, red pepper, spinach, 1 teaspoon sugar, and salt and pepper to taste; cook for 3 minutes. Stir in noodles and sauce; heat for 2 minutes. Serve topped with enoki mushrooms and toasted sesame seeds.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS.
Per serving: 332 cal, 9 g fat (1 g sat), 57 g carbs, 889 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 12 g protein

2010-10-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

Aloha everyone! been a while since anyone has posted. i'll make this short.
doug has a new nickname for me...Rounda Lee. :) it fits. i'm definitely round!

hope you're all enjoying the fall weather on the 'mainland'. It's sunny and warm in maui :) I actually miss the pretty fall colors and the light change...not missing being cold so much though, although i do/did sortof enjoy bundling up and wearing layers and sweaters and such.

please post pics-here or on your own blog or facebook or whatever-of the kids and yourselves in their/your halloween costumes! i would love it!

love and miss you all!
xo

thanks!

2010-07-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Doug and I had a great time seeing and hanging out with everyone in Idaho over the 4th this year!!! Thanks for taking the time and energy to come and spend the holiday...the whole family was there, minus Elder John (only one more year in Brazil for him)
Some of the highlights of our visit:
Shopping at Winco--haha not really :) it was a zoo!
Lunch with April and Camden at the Snake Bite in dowtown IF (I ate a burger! we'll just blame that on being pregnant)
Build your own tacos--YUM!
Moms famous Peanut Butter Bars!!! Delicious!
Embroidering the kitty quilt-thanks mom, april and doug and wendy! I took it home to 'finish' it...hhmmm, we'll see. I should have left a few squares for mom and april :)
Fireworks at the River! Awesome!
Tayson's blessing
Playing games at Brian and Kasey's with Kasey's family
Jarom-growing too fast! Kayla-says the funniest things! Brinley-too cute! in love with the coo coo clock just like Kyla. Camden-his big eyes, long eyelashes, 'oohhh'. Tayson-super cute and mellow and sleepy.
Shopping with mom and april
Getting a massage an hour before my flight back to Portland!! Awesome! I highly recommend getting a massage before traveling to everyone!
Going through the airport with the snazy new stroller/carrier combo mom and dad gave us-thank you-minus the baby, getting weird looks from people 'where's the baby?'

Thanks again everyone!! It was great to see you all!

2010-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ron and I went to the Paul McCartney concert Tuesday, July 13th in Salt Lake. The kids gave us tickets for Ron's birthday and Father's Day. It was a great gift and we really appreciated their thoughtfulness. Paul performed for 3 hours without interruption. It was the 200th concert for this group and Paul's first performance in Salt Lake. It was an amazing and spectacular concert. We really enjoyed the evening!

Ron and I attended the Nelson Family Reunion in Logan on Saturday, July 17th. It was nice to see all the extended relatives and hear about the happenings in their lives. Terrie Lee and Mark were able to come from Kansas City and it was great to spend some time with them. It's too bad they live so far away. We are glad we were able to be there. Aunt Lois is the oldest living family member. She just celebrated her 88th birthday.

Dinner at Cheesecake

2010-07-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

A few months ago... Brian, Kasey and Brinley were down here in Salt Lake for some meetings.
We met up and had a most delicious dinner at Cheesecake Factory!

Some highlights were:

The Red Velvet Cheesecake...to DIE for!
Seeing Brinley interact with Camden
Catching up with Brian and Kasey
Camden falling asleep during dinner...

Thanks for dinner! We always have fun meeting up :)

Tayson Brian Nelson

2010-06-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tayson Brian Nelson made his debut on June 7th at 11:48 am, weighing 7lbs. 13 oz.
He's the newest addition to the Nelson fam, joining sisters Kyla and Brinley and his soon to be best buddy I'm sure, Titus.
He's soo cute!
Congratulations Brian & Kasey!!
We love you!

We Love You Kyla

2010-05-11T12:55:00.001-07:00

Happy 3rd Birthday little one--

We sure do love and miss you... Thank you for continuing to have an impact in my life.

Enjoy your day in Heaven! (Eat as much as your little heart desires)

2010-04-21T10:14:00.001-07:00

TODAY IS BRINLEY'S DAY

2010-04-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Brinley! We love you!

Dinnertime!

2010-04-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yup, I made dinner! Yay for me :) We had cheesy ranch chicken (it was a new recipe, and it was decent.) accompanied with red potatoes dowsed with butter and sprinkled with parsley.

And salad with apple and pears slices topped with poppyseed dressing.

My goal is to make dinner every night this week...we'll see how it goes!

2010-04-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. The weather here didn't seem like Easter, it felt more like Christmas. Ron and I enjoyed listening to General Conference. The messages were great and we are so blessed to have the restored gospel upon the earth with a prophet that is leading and guiding this great church. I am going to try to be a better person and apply the messages from conference in my life.

John said in his letter this week: "I also hope that everyone took the opportunity to listen to the words of the prophet. It isn´t too often that we have that opportunity, and what an opportunity it is! The spirit testifies to me every time that I tell people that we have a living prophet that speaks with God. How wonderful a blessing that is!"

Brinley will celebrate her 1st birthday on Wednesday. I can't believe she is going to be a year old. I am grateful for all of my grandchildren and the blessing they are in my life. I love each one !!

I tried a new recipe this past week and I thought I would share it with you.

Hash Brown Potato Pie (serves 6)

5 large eggs or 1 ¼ cups egg substitute
½ cup milk
3 cups Ore-Ida Country Style Hash Browns, thawed
1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced (or equivalent onion flakes)
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. hot pepper sauce (can leave out) (I didn’t use it)
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
8-10 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled or 1/2 cup real bacon bits

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together eggs, and milk in a medium
bowl; stir in hash browns, onions, salt, and hot pepper sauce.
2. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese and half of the bacon. Pour into a greased
9 inch pie plate or quiche dish.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set.
4. Sprinkle remaining bacon and ½ cup cheese over top of pie; continue
Baking 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!!

I served this with blueberry muffins and banana slices.

what's for dinner?

2010-03-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

what's for dinner?
tonight i made mashed yams with cinnamon and coconut milk and a little butter--YUM! and brussels sprouts sauteed with olive oil and a little salt, roasted some pecans in the oven for a few minutes, threw them in w/the sprouts + a little butter until soft/done=delish! we also had an apple..and for dessert, coconut shortbread cookies.
what have you all been making lately?
i hope everyone is doing well and enjoying spring!
xo Ronda

2010-03-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

Ron and I had a wonderful time in Las Vegas. We stayed off the strip at the Orleans. We spent time shopping, walking, visiting with friends, eating, and enjoying the beautiful weather. (not in any particular order) We went to the Lion King production. It was fabulous and I would recommend it to everyone. We went to the show, Legends in Concert and enjoyed some of the good oldies. We went bowling and Ron won as usual. We went to the theater movie, Dear John. As most of you know, Ron and I don't go to movies very often so this was a fun day. We also went on a tour at Ethel's Chocolate Factory and the Botanical Gardens. We enjoyed a session at the Las Vegas Temple and I had a sisters' name from Brazil. It took 9 hours to get to Vegas from Idaho Falls. We also enjoyed two trips to In 'N' Out Burger and two trips to the buffet at the Orleans. We were even able to take advantage of the senior discount (50 plus).

The snow is finally starting to melt in Idaho Falls! Spring is coming!! yeah

It is a big birthday month for the Nelson's.

Happy Birthday!!

April, Wendy, Ronda, John, and Brian.

Elton John/Billy Joel Concert

2010-02-21T17:22:00.000-08:00

Ron and I had a wonderful time at the Elton John/Billy Joel Concert at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake Friday night. It was an amazing concert and the seats were spectacular. Elton John and Billy Joel played for 3 1/2 hrs. We didn't leave the concert until after 11:00 p.m. Thanks again to all of the kids for this wonderful Christmas gift.

maui maui maui!!!

2010-02-20T11:43:00.001-08:00

more maui

2010-02-20T11:40:00.001-08:00

maui

2010-02-20T11:36:00.001-08:00

aloha!!! we finally made it back!

2010-02-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

aloha everyone! doug and i finally made it back to the mainland! we had such an incredible time in maui! it was absolutely amazing! we can't wait to go back!
we stayed in the 'jungle' for a few days, went hiking, played volleyball on the beach, went snorkeling, boogie boarding, swimming in the ocean, whale watching, ate lots of fresh fruit and fish, picked and processed coffee, picked tons of fresh fruit every day and just enjoyed the island lifestyle and all its wonders.
here's a few pics from the trip.
aloha! xo

aloha!!!

2010-01-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

ALOHA!! doug and i are headed to maui next week to stay with some friends and soak up some sun-hopefully!
we're really looking forward to it!

hope you're all doing swell!
xoxo

playlist

2010-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

hi all,
so, i'm having fun with the blog and i decided (if you don't like this feature, feel free to let me know and we can cancel/disable it) to put a playlist on the blog (april and ryan have it on their blog as well) i thought it might be fun if we all added some of our favorite songs to the playlist (or not-if you don't want to hear the songs when you're looking at the blog, mute or turn the volume down on your computer)
so, the 1st song i added is 'good riddance' by greenday. i like the lyrics and the music and it reminds me of bettie "i hope you had the time of your life"
so..here are the instructions for adding songs to the playlist. go to www.playlist.com (the user name is: lovelee108 and the pw is: baba8008) and start adding your faves to the list! have fun! let me know what you think.
xoxo

2010-01-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

Bettie

2010-01-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Bettie was a great friend and companion. We have so many happy memories of her. Those memories continue to make us smile. Here is one of my favorite pictures.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T07:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T06:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry, Ronda! The only picture of you I got was the back of your head.
Thank you all for making this Christmas Season a memorable one. We all loved having you here.

5 days and counting!

2009-12-20T13:01:00.000-08:00

hey everyone!! just wanted to remind you all i am flying into utah/slc on christmas day!! i'm really excited and looking forward to seeing you all!
5 days and counting!
xoRonda

New photos to see from Target!

2009-12-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

Visit The Smile Station to see Jarom and Kayla's new pictures!
Website: thesmilestation.com
Name:Wendy Nelson
Access code: LTTT0894114338TAR
For Album #: 2009-12-04 14:38

Camden Zadek Judd

2009-12-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

Introducing the newest addition to our little family...

Camden Zadek Judd

Born November 25, 2009

Weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz

Length: 20 1/2 inches

He is such a good natured little baby! It has been an adjustment, but the by far the best adjustment we have ever had to make!

OLE, OLE, OLE,OLE! REAL! SALT LAKE!

2009-11-25T05:56:00.000-08:00

We have had a lot of fun following Real Salt Lake. We love it!

2009-11-25T05:55:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Ryan and April!
We love you!

Baby Update

2009-11-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

Alright-- it's been 3 weeks and still NO VOICE!!! AHHHH--- So, I would assume that you have all talked to mom sometime in the last few days to be caught up on the current situation... but if not, you can read my update @ aprilandryanjudd.blogspot.com. Right now it looks like we'll have a baby closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas...crazy!

Voiceless

2009-11-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

Well I know that I don't have the best reputation for always answering my phone, but if I'm not answering your calls right now-- it's on purpose. If you remember my childhood, any time I got sick I would lose my voice...history has been replayed and I am voiceless. I pretty much hate it because not only do I feel awful and rundown, but I can't talk! And that alone is miserable for me :S So, I will be communicating by text for the next few days...but I really do love listening to your voice messages!

On to more fun things: Thanks Mom, Kasey, Wendy, and Kayla for coming to my first baby shower! (Ronda, I know you were there in spirit ) I got some really nice things and it was great to see everyone :)

Jarom's 9th Birthday and Halloween

2009-11-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

The kids had a nice long weekend. They loved trunk or treating. Now they have too much candy!

Happy Birthday Jarom!

2009-10-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Jarom's party was so much fun on Saturday. I welcomed Jarom's friends to Hogwarts as Professor McGonogoll. We then divided them into houses with secret letters. I made Gryffindor and Hufflepuff crests for them to wear. They all got a wooden wand and a snitch to take home with them. They created their own potions and made a wonderful mess on the kitchen table! It was a lot of fun and Jarom said it was the best!

let it go

2009-10-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

so, as you all know (i think) doug has long hair. (and by long i mean longer than mine, like to his waist long.) i've been 'nagging' at him for a while to 'let it go' and...the other day he did!!! YES! he cut his hair-not himself of course, that would be scary! he went to a salon and had it cut-short! it looks really good too! this is major! (if i had known the day he was going to do it i would have taken before and after pics, but he just decided to 'go for it' the other day! needless to say i was shocked and surprised! so stay tuned for a picture of the newly revised edition of doug!
xoRonda

The Procrastinators are Finally Blogging!!!!!!

2009-10-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

It has taken awhile but we are finally blogging. The summer for us was busy with family reunions, weddings, vacations and tennis. Brian and I and Brin spent a week in Florida in August with some friends and had alot of fun at Sea World, the beach and Skydiving.

Brinley is keeping us busy. She loves being held and knows how to get exactly what she wants. She is almost sitting up on her own and is starting to try to get up on all 4's and rocking back and forth like she wants to crawl. She has an adorable smile that wins us over and can get us to do just about anything ...even at 3:00 am! We love her and are having lots of fun watching her grow and learn.

My sister Kortney is living with us until she starts school at BYU-Idaho in January. We are really enjoying her being here and she is a great help with Brin. Abby also moved in with Kortney; Titus is having a blast with his mom. He ripped off his toenail the other day while rough housing with Abby in the backyard. He got blood all over the carpet so i had to tape a feminine pad around his foot and doctor him up! Having 2 large dogs living in our house is alot of work trying to keep the house clean; but Brin loves watching the dogs and getting kisses from them.

pumpkin honey spice cookies

2009-10-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

hi all!
as many of you know, (or maybe you don't) i've had the opportunity to do some beekeeping recently-(yes, i've been suiting up in the 'astronaut' gear) just a few weeks ago i was helping my friends harvest the honey! it is soo cool! so needless to say, i have loads of honey and have been making all kinds of goodies with fresh raw honey that i helped produce! so i thought i would share a fall honey inspired recipe with you all to try, if you like. enjoy!
Pumpkin Raw Honey Spice Cookies
1 15 oz. can pumpkin or fresh pureed pumpkin, if you have it
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup raw honey
2 eggs
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 ¾ cups flour
1 t baking powder
½ t baking soda
½ t salt
1 t each ginger and nutmeg
1 ½ t cinnamon
½ cup chopped pecans, if desired
½ cup golden raisins, if desired

Mix together first 5 ingredients and beat until smooth and creamy.
Sift together dry ingredients.
Combine moist and dry ingredients and mix well.
Drop by rounded soup spoon onto parchment covered baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
Sprinkle lightly with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 13-14 minutes.

These are great served right out the oven with French vanilla ice cream and home made caramel sauce.

79 days!!!

2009-09-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well friends, I am well into my 3rd trimester and have 79 days to go until little (he better come out little) Camden makes his grand entrance! Sometimes I think that 2 1/2 months isn't very much time because I have a huge list of things I want to get done before the little guy takes over my world, but at other times I am just wanting him to hurry up and get here. The nursery is well on its way, and the painting/bead board should be completed this weekend-- I'll do before, during, and after pictures as soon as it is finished. I have really been obsessed lately with Ironman...oh wait, not really :) just kidding Kayla! But I have been watching a lot of HGTV, which explains why I am trying to decorate every room in the house. It really is so much fun and much more rewarding to decorate my own house instead of an apartment or Ryan's grandparent's house. Ryan's volleyball team is undefeated, and its been fun to watch them and think that next year I'll have a little boy to chase around! Crazy... Other than that, life is normal and good!

Kayla Humms Iron Man Constantly!

2009-09-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

2009-09-08T14:39:00.001-07:00

Pictures of Brinley at Grandma & Grandpa's house on June 20 2009.

Family Reunion August 9 and 10, 2009 at Cherry Hill Campground in Kaysville, Utah

2009-09-08T14:06:00.001-07:00

Grandpa and Grandma with Brinley at the Evans Family Reunion.
Brian and Ryan, Kira and Wendy. Members of the family participating in the bean bag tournament.

April and Ryan gave Kayla a princess Barbie doll for her birthday. April and Kayla enjoying each other at the reunion.

Soccer Games

2009-09-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

It's soccer season again and Jarom is excited about playing. They had their first practice on Tuesday. Kayla wanted to practice too. She had a great time with Jarom's team. James said she really kept up with those big boys! James has volunteered to be assistant coach and to also referee some of the games. Jarom's games are all at 8am this year. It's early, but that's ok. I won't have to miss his games because of work. Here are the game dates if any of you were wondering.
9/12
9/19
9/26
10/3
10/10
10/17
10/24
Go Golden Eagles!!

Lagoon

2009-08-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

Jarom loved the old roller coaster
Kayla's favorite ride is the Dragon

Smith & Morehouse Hike

2009-08-31T05:41:00.000-07:00

Annie loves going on hikes with the kids!

Swimming Lessons

2009-08-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

Kayla graduated level 1 swimming. Her prize? A fish sugar cookie!

3rd Grade

2009-08-31T05:03:00.000-07:00

First Day of 3rd Grade

Good News!!

2009-08-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have wonderful news! Well, I'm not sure how great you all will think it is, but I ordered a new camera cord so that I can charge my camera and post lots of pictures! Yay! In the mean time, I am in the process of getting pictures from other people's cameras...

Our trip to St. George was so much fun! We went with 3 other couples and stayed in a condo-- We spent the week boating, golfing, swimming, bowling, eating, having card tournaments, and just enjoying the last few days of summer. The trip didn't last long enough because this week was back to life, and back to reality.

Although we did get to celebrate Ryan's 26th Birthday on Tuesday! Woo Hoo! Thanks for all the Birthday wishes :) Ryan went golfing, we had a Dr. Appointment, and we went to Famous Dave's BBQ for dinner. 26 is getting up there though...it puts you closer to 30 than 20!

Waterford starts school the day after Labor Day, so until then our major goal is just to work on the baby's room! We are going to get the paint today and start working on that-- I'll post some before, during, and after pics ASAP :)

Well, Memo is ringing his little bell, (and we all know what that means) so until next time-- Adios!

2009-08-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

More pictures to come!!!

2009-08-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

Summer '09

2009-08-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

This summer has been very busy for our family.
Jarom enjoyed soccer camp both in May and in August.
In June, we went to Moab. We hiked to Delicate Arch, went swimming in the pool at the camp ground, had car troubles, and listened to a rain storm in the tent.
In July, James and I had the opportunity to go to Youth Camp in Durango, CO. This was our second year going with our church group. This year was a little different because James and I were in charge of everything. We had a lot of fun with the youth.
At the end of July James and I took another trip together to the Tetons and Jackson Hole. Hiking in the rain can be very adventurous. You can see pictures and video from that trip on Facebook.
August 8th we went to Lagoon. Kayla and Jarom loved the rides. We used our bounce back tickets last weekend. Kayla can't wait 'till she is 46 inches tall. Tall enough to ride all the rides. Her favorite one was the Dragon, and Jarom's favorite was Wicked. I liked that one too.
Then of course was the Evan's family reunion the next day. Sorry Ronda, I didn't take my camera. So no pictures from me!
Kayla had level 1 swimming lessons this year at Surf and Swim. She learned how to bob under water, back glide, back float, tread water, front glide, and many other things. She is developing a lot of confidence. She is still terrible in the bath tub though. I guess it's just not the same.
The weekend after the family reunion, we went camping to Smith and Morehouse Camp ground near Oakley, UT. That was my first time camping in Weber canyon. It was beautiful there, and very cold at night. After camping for two nights, and more car troubles, we decided to skip floating on the reservoir and head straight home. The next day we drove back up Weber Canyon to spend the day at different Reservoir we saw on the way home near Eden. We had fun playing in the sand and in the water all afternoon.
Last weekend we drove to Evenstan, WY to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday at Diamond X Ranch. We stayed there 3 nights. We had a really nice time getting to know my in-laws. And spending time with my parents and brothers.
Yesterday was back to school and James and I are getting out of bed early again. Not much fun for us. Jarom loved the first day of school. He rode his bike. Thanks Grandma for helping him learn how to ride it! She taught him how to tie his shoes too!! We Love you! The kids always learn something new when they go and visit Grandma while James and I are on vacation together. Grandma is Grrrreat!
We love you all,
Thank You for helping us make Summer '09 a memorable one.

Yoo Hoo!

2009-08-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
hope you're all doing well. things are good with us. i have today and tomorrow off before i begin a 3 week intensive yoga workshop. i'm excited! it should be interesting. i hear it's torture! lots of hard work! what's new with you all? how was florida brian and kasey? how was camping wendy and james? what's new in judd land? did you figure out how to post pics yet mom? feel free to blog/post about whatever you want-family trips, vacations, pictures, recipes, movies, books, tv shows (although doug and i don't have tv currently) tips, quotes etc.
i'm getting ready to cook a 'farmers market dinner' with all the fresh veggies we picked up at the farmers market this weekend. doug and i love checking out all the goods at the MANY farmers markets in the portland area, it's really fun!
friends of ours are making an attempt at bee keeping, it's pretty fun. i've been suiting up and helping out here and there. we harvested some honey a few weeks ago, they bottled the honey-there was quite a lot! so i've been drizzling honey on everything the past few days! YUM!
hope you're all doing well, it would be great to hear about what's going on with you all!
xoxo ronda & doug & bettie

healing

2009-08-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

hi everyone! whew! things are going well-MUCH better than last week! it's amazing how the body can go from feeling fine to absolutely miserable! i'm pretty sure 'the stone' has left me, and i'm hoping it NEVER returns! i was attending a 'mega yoga' workshop last week, so maybe i sweated it out! (i guess it's kindof ironic that i get hit with a kidney stone when i try to be so healthy and conscious about what i eat!) other than the 'kidney stone episode' things are going really well. we're in for another heat wave in portland for the next few days, which i am looking forward to-it's summer time, it's supposed to be hot, right! i'm going to brightenbush hot springs tomorrow-thursday for my friends bridal shower/party. it should be fun and very relaxing! i hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer!

Lifestyles of the Sick and Studying

2009-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Family! Well, our lives have been pretty uneventful this week. We were in Idaho this past weekend for Garrett Jones' wedding reception and to hang out with mom and dad. Mom and I shopped for the nursery and found some really cute things! (As soon as I get my camera fixed I'll take pictures as the room progresses) However, we came home to Ryan's finals week...Every morning Ryan leaves for campus, either to take a final or camp out at the library. He comes home when the library closes (10:00 at night)...so I haven't really been able to see him much. Boy, it's times like these that really make me glad that I am not in school! I have been sick the past few days...pretty sure it's the flu. All I know is our baby better be cute! I go from staring at the inside of the toilet for 4 months, to feeling better, and when I think that the worst is over, I get 2nd trimester flu! Blah-- Really, I'm trying not to feel bitter towards the little guy, but I think my unborn child hates me. Anyway- we are looking forward to the reunion! Can't wait to see you!

Counting the Days........

2009-08-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th Birthday Kayla! Thank You everyone who made it so special that day.

We are looking forward to our next trip already. 10 days! We loved the Tetons so much that we want to take the kids back to go canoeing. The only thing is, we would love to take Annie with us. It's just she go on the lake with us and she can't go on the trails either. Maybe we'll go somewhere where it's doggie friendly.

HI!

2009-08-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

hi everyone! welcome to the 'nelson family blog'! start blogging and uploading pictures!
i can't believe it's august already! time flies! doug and bettie and i are having an awesome summer! we survived the 100+ record breaking heat in portland this past week-i loved it! i really miss the dry, hot summers in utah and idaho. things are going well. doug is busy working a lot (although he is off fishing today!) and doing various DIY home improvement projects around the house in his 'free time'. i am working a lot also and doing a TON of yoga-which i love!! we took bettie to the sandy river (near our house) on saturday, she loves to swim for sticks! i hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer! i look forward to reading your posts and seeing pictures!! be happy, be healthy! xo love Ronda

The Nelson Family

Mele Kalikimaka!!!

pretty boy :)

chocolate coconut pie! oh my!

Jarom and Kayla 2011

devan's 1st Birthday Party!!!

happy birthday little buddy!!!

a new take on no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies!

searching for shells

happy guy

11 months!! huh??

having fun

devan's 1st halloween!

happy fall ya'll

Now

Mother's Day

devan is 5 months!

can't get enough of this little guy!

devan is 4 + months/april comes to maui!

my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe

and the photo marathon continues...

random photos...

a few photos from my birthday

happy birthday to me!!

Devan is 3 months!!!

family photos

Grandma & Grandpa come to Maui!!!

Devan's debut!

coconut sweet potato pie

I'm going to attempt to make this soon! yum!

Coconut Sweet Potato Pie

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