Believe it or not!

Ok, I know that my blog has been dead for a long time now...but hey life is busy. Maybe this little entry will be enough to jump start my blogging habit once again. So enough about that! Here's a little spring summary of our life...

We got to sit through almost 4 innings of Matty's first baseball playoff game tonight (IN THE POURING RAIN). I'm sorry, I pay good money to live in "sunny" California. This is not baseball weather! His game was called/ended due to the rainy weather. They were ahead 1-0, but not sure if they will have to finish the game before moving onto round 2 of the playoffs. It has been a challenging season for Matty. He started off feeling like the worst kid on the team (which he wasn't), then he started making contact with the ball at the plate. They funny thing to me was that he thought he was the worst because he was striking out often, when most of the players on his team had the same problem. He didn't notice that strike outs were a team struggle. In the end, I am just happy that he is having fun being on a baseball team and that he wants to keep playing baseball. He had me worried there for a while. I was beginning to think we jinxed him when we named him "Mattingly". He has learned a lot this season about perseverance.

Tomorrow night is Olivia's first playoff softball game (highly doubt that game will happen, dumb rain). We are the #2 seed. We have to win 2 games to make it to the championship game. I really think her team can do it. She made me so proud last Saturday when she hit a hard ball off of the best pitcher in the league. She got on base and got an RBI. It was a very big moment in our game and I was so happy for her when she came through for her team when they really needed it. She is having so much fun with softball. It's hard for me to believe that she is old enough to be in the dugout singing softball cheers with her team (wasn't I just doing that??). Livie is very busy with school, homework, reading, school choir, playing the recorder, piano lessons, and now she is in beginner band at school (playing the flute). She loves spending time with her friends from school and from her team. Sometimes I feel more like her manager than her mom. I tell her all the time that she has a better social life than I do. It's ok, I love that she is involved in positive things. If only her allergies were better :(

Nathan is so close to finishing his Kindergarten year and that makes me so sad! I love everything about Kindergarten and I just don't want it to end yet! He is so smart and so funny. I am just happy that the "funny" hasn't become a problem at school like it can at home. He is everyone's friend (boys and girls) and I love that about him. He has become a pretty independent little boy. He really doesn't want me walking him up to his classroom anymore but I told him "too bad, I'm doing it anyway". He recently had his first ambulance ride when he accidently ate a small Snickers at school. I could really live a calmer life without those allergic reaction experiences. He has turned into a baseball stud this season. He is playing "coach pitch" and he impresses me each game with his hitting and fielding. He loves playing first base (of course, all the plays are to first base). He looks forward to every game and practice. His season ends this Saturday and he is going to miss playing on his Yankees team. Maybe soccer in the fall?

Derek is the champion little brother. This boy goes to at least 5 baseball/softball games a week and cheers for his siblings and their teams. He has learned some cheers and he loves to run out at the end of the game to put his hand in the huddle for the after game cheer. He follows Nathan's team to go and shake the other team's hands. He dresses for the game (his own baseball pants, an old t-ball Yankee shirt, his Yankees hat and his black high top Converse shoes). He's the cutest little bat boy out there. He can't wait for it to be his turn and I don't blame him. He gave me the greatest Mother's Day gift. He decided that day that he wanted to use the potty. I wasn't planning on potty training until after the baseball season, but he is doing so well with it. So independent and so excited about using it. How bad is it that there is a little part of me that is sad to see him wearing big boy undies? How did he get to be 3 so soon? He is completely addicted to his Razor scooter and he tells me he loves me at least 10 times a day. He likes to sing to me and it just melts my heart.

David is a very busy man this time of year. He has lots of school activities going on that keep him at work late into the night, but he makes the time to help Matty's team as an assistant coach. The two of us are having fun coaching Nathan's team. We have a great group of kids on the team and really nice families. These parents help out on the field and in the dugout. It helps make our experience enjoyable and not stressful. David and his dad recently built a mantel for our fireplace. It is almost completely finished and I really like how it looks in our house. I wish he had more time for projects. He's good at them and I know he enjoys them. Someday. He his recovering from the butt kicking his Lakers suffered in the playoffs. Hopefully the Yankees won't disappointment him as well. He had a proud daddy moment a few weeks ago when Olivia completed a research project/presentation on "Why Everyone Should Be a Yankees Fan".

As for me...well my spring days are filled with wife & mom duties, coaching 2 teams, volunteering in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, teaching the 6,7&8 year old kids each Sunday, fighting my battle with allergies and trying to get some exercise. I am beginning to really enjoy running. I have to admit that I am looking forward to the kids being on summer vacation. No homework and no school schedule to keep up with. Can't wait to swim, play, watch movies, BBQ, camp, visit family & friends, sleep & relax. Just a few more weeks to go :)

I think one day I will look back, read this and think, man I was busy! And believe it or not, I think I will miss those days.

Next post will include some pictures!

Winter Vacation is Here!

I just have to say how happy I am that winter vacation has finally arrived. Don't get me wrong...the school year really is flying by. I am just so happy to have my husband home with us for the next 3 weeks! His new job as an elementary school principal has been such a blessing to our family, but the downside of this job is that it keeps him away from home lots of days for very long amounts of time. We get to have him home with us now for the next 3 weeks and I am very grateful. No school schedules to worry about! Lots of play ahead...and maybe a few "honey-do" chores.

It's Great to Be 8 !!

Olivia Madeline
8 years old

Olivia turned 8 years old on Friday. Her birthday celebration began a little earlier in the week. She invited 5 friends over for a sleep over. The girls each created their own personal pizza, we baked cookies, had cake & ice cream, presents, watched a movie and were asleep by 11:40 PM. One friend felt a little homesick, so at midnight, she called home. In the morning, David made chocolate chip pancakes and then the girls did a little more baking (chocolate dipped pretzels). They played and laughed and really had a good time together. The boys did a good job being the "pesky little brothers", but overall it went well. I was very impressed with how well the girls all got along. It was a great party.

On Friday, she had the traditional birthday breakfast in bed and then we celebrated at home with our family and my parents. We had a steak dinner and more chocolate cake! Olivia opened the many cards she received, as well as some gifts. She got a new bike, a new yellow lab webkinz (she of course named Sophie), an easy bake oven and some boots that she hasn't really taken off yet. She couldn't wait to ride her new bike, so she bundled up and went out in the dark to try it out. It's a good thing we live in a court. She loved when the boys went to bed and she got to stay up a little later to play some Uno with her dad. It was a very nice birthday evening together.

So pretty in her baptism dress. David's dad (Papa) took some wonderful pictures of Olivia a few weeks before her baptism. These pictures are very special to us.

Dressed in the baptism jumpsuit...ready for her daddy to baptize her.

Saturday, was her special baptism day. It was a very special experience. She had invited lots of family to participate in the program (including a special song performed by her brothers, Hannah, Sydney & Kendall). Grammy & Papa shared very thoughtful words about baptism and the Holy Ghost. The spirit was very easily felt by all of us. I know that Olivia will remember this day with lots of love in her heart because of the efforts by everyone that participated in the program and who came to support her. One of the thoughts that continually ran through my mind during that great day was how blessed we are to have so much love and support shown to us by so many people. Truly a blessing.

Mommy & Livie right before her baptism program began.

This photo was taken after the baptism. Olivia had been so excited to wear her special white dress. She looked absolutely beautiful. David looked awfully handsome too.

Olivia picked out a chocolate cake with all white frosting for her special baptism day. After her baptism, we enjoyed cake together in the cultural hall.

Group shot of most of the kids! They were all so sweet and happy for Livie. I am so proud of Olivia and the example she sets for all these kids.

Livie & her brothers!

Nelson Family photo with our 8 year old daughter!

Here is Olivia opening cards and gifts that family & friends had brought for her. She received some very special things (scriptures, scripture bag, bracelets, bookmarks, journal, baptism keepsake book, stickers, pens & highlighters).

After a quick clean-up at the church, family joined up back at our house for some pizza, salad, and more visiting. It was really fun getting to spend some more time together. Mark & Becky, Steven, Bill & Helen all headed back to R.P. Thanks you guys for traveling and sharing this day with Olivia. It really meant a lot to her and to us.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!

Ok, believe it or not...I have worked on my blog with updated info and photos. Now, hopefully I can stay committed to posting once in a while. We will see. I realize life is always going to be busy, but I really do want to find a routine again for posting more often. Ok enough about that.

Last Tuesday night was a super fun evening. Olivia, my mom, Sean & Lisa and their girls, and I all went into San Francisco to see "Wicked". It was amazing. I can't say enough about it. We bought tickets back in September. Olivia and I had been very quietly counting the days until our special night. I am so glad we went and got to experience it together. Olivia was familiar with the music (her 2nd grade teacher played the music often in class) and she kept up real well with the storyline. It was so interesting to follow the stories of the witches. The performance done by Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) was incredible. I just loved how the storyline unraveled. It ended up being quite a late night for all of us, but totally worth it (the following day was a school holiday). I hope this is a lasting memory for an almost 8 year old. I would really like to see it again sometime. We have had so much fun listening to the soundtrack.

Here we are just outside the Orpheum Theater doors. I thought it was so cute that Olivia wore her green sweater to the performance. On our way home she told me that the "Popular" scene was her favorite.

Mom, Lisa, me, Olivia, Sydney & Hannah
(photo taken by Sean)
Orpheum Theater
San Francisco, CA

April Happenings...Part 1

Well...I know it is already May, but I am still going to blog about our crazy month of April. We managed quite a few exciting milestones in our family this month. I will work this blog starting with the happenings from the end of the month and work my way backwards. We celebrated Nathan's 4th birthday with a small family party at home (with a walking fieldtrip of fun to the park). Nathan really enjoyed playing on the slides, being pushed on the swings by Grandpa, racing in Derek's red car...courtesy of Uncle Jon's speed, and doing somersaults down a little grassy hill with all the other kids (and this was only the excitement at the park).

Here he is blowing out the 4 candles on his Lego cake. The Lego character cake was a surprise for Nathan. David, my father-in-law (Bill) and I all helped decorate the b-day cake. We had Lego Indiana Jones racing across the cake in a raft and the "good" Lego Star Wars guys battling with the "bad" Lego Stars Wars guys. Nathan really seemed to like the surprise and that was all I wanted.

How can Nathan already be 4 years old? Here he is loving his birthday breakfast in bed. He wanted pancakes and a piece of his leftover strawberry cake for his breakfast. Let's just say, he didn't eat much of the pancakes. I just can't believe how fast time has gone. He seems like such a big boy to me now. He has such a funny and silly personality. He loves to make others laugh. I love that about him. He makes the funniest faces and sound effects. He constantly changes his clothes throughout the day (and that drives me nuts) and he prefers to wear shorts and colored socks. He cracks me up!
I love you my little Nathan William.
Happy 4th Birthday you crazy kid!


We had a few warm days in April. One Monday evening we spent time outside having squirt gun fights and washing David's car. Derek discovered the hose. He had such a good time playing with it. He later managed to find the soapy bucket we were using to wash the car. He dove right in while no one was looking, and his mommy had to rescue him from drowning during the car wash. He had solid bubbles from the top of his head all way to his belly button. You couldn't even see his little face.
Babies + buckets = trouble.

Here is a picture of Matty and Nathan riding bikes together in our court. Nathan is loving his new bike and helmet. He is really coming along with his bike. And notice, Matty is riding without training wheels! He had set a goal (homework assignment from a few weeks ago) to learn to ride without training wheels...and he accomplished it. He has never really been all that into riding his bike. We had practiced a couple of times before with taking the training wheels off, but he just wasn't ready. Well on this particular night, we took them off, I held on to the back of his bike for about 20 seconds and let go...he rode off without any problems (he even turned and came right back towards me). He was so proud of himself and he now just loves riding his bike. He actually rides better without the training wheels. It's one of his favorite things to do now. Great job Matty Boy!

Derek loves riding on the back of my bike. David rode around with Derek during Matty's exciting night of bike riding. I just think he looks so cute with his little bike helmet (he doesn't mind wearing it anymore...thank goodness).

Well like I said, this is just some of the April fun for our family. I still need to catch up on Easter, our Spring Break trip to R.P. and Bodega Bay, and of course Baseball Season 2009 has begun! Have I mentioned that Derek is now walking???