To my husband

I wanted to say thank you to you for all the many things you do and put up with. You sacrifice many things for this family so we can have what we want. You're an awesome provider, a fantastic role model to our children, you take care of them and spend quality time, which they love. I love that you are handy and that you can pretty much make anything. You help me be a better person everyday. I'm glad that you lift me up when I am down. Especially being my favorite friend.

Snowflake+ Family =fun

A cool picture of a Barn.

This year, Mike and I wanted to go on a vacation but we didn't want to spend a ton of money. We hadn't been to Snowflake for a few years and it had been 9 years since the last time we spent the 24th of July in Snowflake. We decided that was the place we wanted to go.
Since the last time we had been in Snowflake, for a wedding, Jersey has been asking when we good go back. When we were there the last time she loved being near a farm and horses. Some how she got the idea that if we went to Snowflake she would get to ride a horse. So she had been asking when we could go again.

Jersey so happy on Frosty.

Dallin, Lauren, Megan and I 

When we pulled up to my Aunt's house she was already asking to go ride a horse. We had to calm her down and tell her that we couldn't just yet but we wouldn't leave until we did ride a horse.

Grandkids and Greats with Grandpa and Grandma.

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon. It was pretty stormy. I love the monsoon season in AZ but I'm really not a fan of the humidity. I had be plans for us to go into the White Mountains and see where I use to go camping but that didn't seem so exciting after we had driven all the way there.

Great Grandparents with the Great grandkids.

The first log home in Snowflake.

Jersey and I on her FAVORITE horse, Frosty.

The bull riding leprechaun

We visited with family. I made a sweet cake for Phoenix. Helped in the kitchen, got pedis and manis with my cousin and aunt. We went to see a play about Joseph Smith on Thursday night. It was really good. My cousin had a small part in it. Then on Friday we spent some time in town checking out "The Barn" My mom's uncle has this barn full of cowboy stuff. It was pretty neat to see. We also found it interesting to see so many statues everywhere. Uncle Sank had a giant elk on the top of "the barn."
A trip to Snowflake is never complete without a trip to the Wal-mart to see the locals. When we were driving into Show Low, Mike said " I just saw a leprechaun riding a bull." I thought he was nuts but it wasn't until we were driving back that I saw what he was talking about. We of course had to stop to take a picture.
Friday night we went to see Beauty and the Beast musical. It was great. I really enjoyed the show. Jersey was laughing so much. My cousin Shannon played the part of a plate. She was a beautiful plate. The character Gaston, was played by David Bowman, he illustrates and writes "Who's your Hero?" books. He was a great Gaston.

Cute Phoenix

Saturday morning Mike and I ran in the Snowflake Pioneer day 10k. The course was all around the golf course. It was a tough course but it was still fun. I improved my time by two minutes. Now if I could run a little faster so I wasn't always last. But I was still happy that I finished. We went to the parade, craft fair, had some lunch and then we went to the Willis Farm. Where we rode horses, did a corn maze, played cowboy games and went on a hayride. Jersey didn't want to leave. Mike and I also got to ride a horse. I thought was fun since the last time I rode a horse, it kept trying to eat my foot.
We had to leave on Sunday to go back to Utah.
I miss Snowflake already.

Ragnar/ Scout camp

Mike ran Ragnar on June 18-19th. He did fantastic. Last year he made the commitment to get there. I wanted to do it too, but I was nervous about running that much. So when his sister was trying to get a team together all the people that said that wanted to run back out, including me. Mike ran with her and her husband  and some of their neighbors. They were the Gingerbread Men.

Heather mad an awesome Gingerbread costume. Mike wore it, not when he was running, but around the exchanges. He would pass out gum drops to people. I was the teams volunteer. I didn't get to see the team anywhere but I got to see all the other people that were crazy. I got to call in runners along with writing down the numbers and times of the runners at the exchange. (not all at the same time) I loved the Spirit of the Ragnar. I will get that good to run next year.

Since Mike's sister and husband were running I watched the kids when I got home from volunteering. My niece watched the kids when I was gone. The next morning we woke up and went to Park City to met them when they finished. Mike was the 12th runner, He would be finishing the race and I wanted to see it. My other sister in law came with me. It was nice to have someone else there to help keep track of everyone. We waited and waited and no Mike. I got a call from him telling me that they were behind. So we waited some more. Finally we saw him make it up the hill to the finish. Of course I was crying for joy for him.
I'm pretty proud of him. Way to go Mike!

After the race we went home and got to enjoy the family time for a little bit before Mike was off again to Scout camp. I wasn't feeling so bad for him since he was going to my favorite place in the world.

BEAR LAKE!

He was packing up and telling me that he was going to go to La Beau's another favorite place of mine. Lucky. He and the other leader didn't have that much to worry about since they only had two boys from our ward attend scout camp this year. Phoenix told mike I want to be one of your scouts so I can go to scout camp. They all made it home safe on Saturday. 

I had to take most of the week off so that I could take care of the kids. I liked my time off. I had all these plans to get things done but I only got half done. I liked being to sit around. That is rare in my life.

Dinosaur Park

For Jers's birthday we went to the Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden. (Mike was having a training class for Scouts in Ogden on Jers's birthday so we thought it would be fun to go to the park and then to Mike's meeting.) The kids are really into dinosaurs and love watching Dinosaur Train on PBS so we thought it was a good thing for them to see the park and museum.

The park was fun. We walked around learning about all the dinosaurs, trying to convince Phe that the dinosaurs weren't real and the bones were not going to hurt him. The whole park took us about 1 1/2 to see. There was a park for the kids to play on while Mike and I watched.

We even met DINO the Dinosaur, I'm so glad Fred let him come to Utah.

Having a grand time!

Things are crazy around here. I'm sure I could complain about it and be a downer. But I won't.
While Jersey was off track last month we were a little more relaxed. We did some family fun things. We of course hit the slopes one day. Then just Mike and Jersey went skiing. He took her to a bigger hill and she loved it. We played with cousins and this time our older cousins watch my kids. It is nice to have older nieces who love to babysit.
Now with School back in session, life feels a little nutty, {work, school, homework, dance, scouts}. Mike and I are looking forward to time off that is a few more weeks. I didn't realize how much I need to have a moment to talk to him during the day. Well I did know that, I just didn't know that he can feel the same way. Since we work opposite shifts and he is asleep when I get home and I'm asleep when he leaves for work. Then during work we are both so busy we can't talk. We have been practicing the art of speed talking, I also make an agenda and right it down just so I can hit all the points I want to say before hanging up the phone.
It's a great relationship. I'm serious. I sometimes I think that the way Mike and I met was great because we are use to not seeing each other and using the phone or email to communicate when we can't communicate in person.
Both children are doing great, I can't leave them out, Jersey is improving in her reading and loving dance. Phoenix has mastered the art of the Wii and the home computer. We now have to set up time limits for him for "computer time" He is loving Legos. I love Legos and I buy them for him just so I can put them together. They are quite relaxing.

Feeling like Batman

We are all about Super Heroes in our house. Someone is a Hero everyday.
Whether it be Mike, who will clean out the kitty litter, clean the basement, build shelves, do dishes and most of all work hard. Showing his Super Hero power LOVE.
Or Phoenix with his super whine that can cripple any mom to give in so he will shut the whines. Or his super human stink that is called poo, seriously, it like krypton to Superman. Last week I don't know if it was a bug or allergic reaction to something but I was really wishing that I had the super power to make Phoenix use the toilet.

Jersey having the super power to do well in school. Two weeks ago, I had her parent teacher conference. The last time I was told that she didn't like to share and was overly sensitive. It looks like Jersey over came those problems. She is showing more confidence and is a great student. She is really good at math and loves to read. With he birthday in a few weeks she is telling me she is growing up and I need to let her stay up longer, wear make-up and have a cellphone. I'm wondering if she is turning 6 or 16?
Well I have my own super powers to keep my family healthy and happy. Juggling work, laundry and finding time for mom. I wish I could find more of the later but I know in time that will come.

I think it is time....to go PRIVATE

I have had this debate for years, since I started this blog. Mike has wondered why I haven't gone private. Well one reason is because I wanted to share my life with lots of people not just my few close friends and family. But then it was only my family and friends that were viewing not anyone in the "outside cyber world"
I'm trying not to be an Elitist but I'm wanting those that really care to read the little snippets about my life and about my children.
If you would like to be added to my list that can view my blog. Please send me an e-mail @ rhiannonnielsen@yahoo.com or leave it on this post.
Thanks
-the Nielsen's

Saying good-bye

Yesterday was Grandpa Nielsen's funeral. It was wonderful service to celebrate a wonderful man. It was nice to see all of Mike's cousins. Some that I haven't even met before.

Mike was asked to be a pallbearer. He did a good job. I thought he would be pretty stone cold about the funeral. I did see him shed some tears.

We didn't take the kids because the night before at the viewing they were crazy. I'm not being over dramatic about it. So I thought taking them to a funeral would be a nightmare for them. It was good that they stayed home because of the recent snow fall the graveyard of course was covered in snow. If they had come there would have been some snow balls being thrown. Other kids were doing that so I'm glad I didn't have to worry about my kids hitting anyone.

Because Grandpa served in World War II and the Korean War. He was given a military graveside salute. Mike was going to go help his dad by taking pictures. His Dad didn't need any help so Mike stayed were he was watching the Military people. Well that was under a tree, he got hit by a bunch of snow. It had fallen off the tree and landed on his head. I tried to crack a joke that because Mike had been shedding some tears his Grandpa was getting the last laugh. I know it's a horrible joke, but I still laugh at it.