Family Friday: Featuring My Grandson Adam

This week on Family Friday I'm featuring my first-born grandchild; Adam. Isn't he a handsome boy! The day that Adam was born was very exciting for me, I'd never been a Grandma before. I remember standing outside of the delivery room door and hearing his first cries. When I held him in my arms for the very first time, I felt so much love and joy. When Adam was an infant I had the opportunity to tend him a couple of days a week while his mommy worked and his daddy went to school, I enjoyed that time I had with Adam. Adam is now seven-years-old and is in the second grade.

When Adam was not quite three I started my tradition of "Grandma Day". The first couple of Grandma Days were just me and Adam, and then as Zach got older he joined in. We've had fun doing activities together such as: riding trax, going bowling, visiting the zoo, Temple Square, The Clark Planetarium, planting pumpkins and then selling them, lots of Happy Meals, shopping at NPS, visiting Uncle Jeff at Leger's, Cherry Hill, Build-A-Bear, and we've even had a few repeats.

Grandma Day at the zoo in 2008

Last spring Adam's first grade class wrote an opera. Seriously. It was amazing (I think it should have been featured on the news). It was about pirates, mermaids, skeletons, and whales. The scenery and costumes were wonderful and the children did such a great job portraying their characters. Adam was a skeleton, and although he wore a mask I knew exactly which skeleton he was, because....he's Adam; a talented and enthusiastic singer and actor.

Last year at our family Christmas party Adam (with the help of his brother, dad, and uncles) thoroughly entertained us with his rendition of "Feliz Navidad". He reminds me a lot of his daddy when he was a little boy.

Things to know about Adam: He is the oldest of three brothers. He is a very smart boy. He also has a good memory. He's talented in many areas. He loves to draw and color and he's good at it. He is creative. He takes care of his Mom (Mom's like that). He's good at the WII. He's funny. He is very, very polite; he always says please and thank-you. He watches over his brothers. He makes sure that he warns his Grandma when a scary part is coming up in a movie. He is tender hearted. He plays soccer. He is a good grandson. We are all so grateful that Adam is in our family and we love him very much.

Adam's family: Andy, Zachary, William, Adam, and Kristin

We Also Sing 2009

I am more than halfway through rehearsals of my second season in the choir We Also Sing, under the direction of Merrilee Webb. We will perform two concerts on Saturday November 28, at 5:30 and 7:30 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. You can click here for free ticket information. Our concert this year is all Christmas music and it will be amazing; the following song written by David Foster and performed by Josh Grobin is one of my favorites. I have highlighted a few of the lines that are particularly meaningful to me. Which lines jumped out at you?

Thankful

Some days we forget to look around us.
Some days we can't see the joy that surrounds us.
So caught up inside ourselves, we take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for what we can be.
And every day we hope for what we can't see.
It's up to us to be the change.
And even though we can do more, there's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves, there's so much sorrow.
It's way to late to say, I'll cry tomorrow.
Each of us must find our truth; it's so long overdue.
So for tonight we pray for what we can be.
And every day we hope for what we can't see.
It's up to us to be the change.
And even though we can do more, there's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences, there is a place we're all connected.
Each of us can find each other's light.
So for tonight we pray for what we can be.
And on this day we hope for what we can't see.
It's up to us to be the change.
And even though the world needs so much more, there's so much to be thankful for.

Family Friday: Featuring My Great-Niece Hannah

This week on Family Friday I'm featuring the newest member of our family, in fact, she is so new....I haven't even met her yet (hopefully soon). This is my great-niece Hannah. I became an aunt for the first time when Hannah's Mom was born, and when Hannah was born (almost 3 months ago) I became a great-aunt for the first time. Isn't she a cutie!! I'm looking forward to meeting her and giving her a squeeze. I love her already!!

Four generations of our family; each of these generations are exactly 24 years apart: Hannah with her Great-Granpa (my Dad), Hannah's Grandpa (my brother Tim), and Hannah's Mom

Here are some things I know about Hannah: She's beautiful. She has lots and lots of hair. She is a daddy's girl. She likes hearing her great-granpa sing. She is now giggling (I saw and heard her on facebook). She is loved very much by her family. She is the first grandchild. The circumstances in which her name was chosen are very special. She's a good baby. We're all so happy and grateful that Hannah is in our family and we love her.

Hannah's family: Melissa, Hannah, and Adam

My New Chair

This is my new chair. It's a youth chair, and....I LOVE IT!!! I first saw one like it at the Wood Connection about 18 months ago; I decided right then and there that I was going to have one. So here it is. I was able to pick my own color (bayberry), and any finishes that I wanted (I chose antiquing and glazing). I love The Wood Connection! And I think my chair is really cute! But I especially think it's cute when....

Miss Avery is sitting in it!!!

Family Friday: Featuring My Nephew Russell

I have just a few of my nieces and nephews left to feature on Family Friday. This week I'm featuring my nephew Russell who was born just 15 days after my daughter Ashleigh. I remember going over to visit Lilian, Cory, and Russell shortly after he came home from the hospital as a newborn; when we laid the two babies down on a blanket together, two-week-old Ashleigh turned her head and looked at Russell and smiled as if to say, "your here now."

Russell is the eldest of my sisters five boys. They are very close brothers and love each other very much. This picture, which was taken in 2006, is probably one of the last pictures that all five of the brothers were in together. Russell was just about to leave on his mission to Portland, Oregon. When Russell returned two years later, his brother Alan had just left for his mission. Four months after Russell returned home he was married in the Salt Lake Temple to his high school sweetheart; Jessica. They just celebrated their first wedding anniversary two weeks ago.

One of my most tender memories of Russell was on the day of his missionary "farewell". He gave a well prepared talk with such humility, sharing experiences that are very tender to our family. It really touched my heart. Russell was a good missionary, and a great example to his younger brothers who will follow in his footsteps.

In recent weeks I've worked at the Deli with Russell on several occasions. I've noticed that Russell is a real people person. He is friendly and outgoing with the customers and the other employees. The first day that he worked with a particular employee; an older lady, I could hear them talking together. She is from Sweden and as I listened to them talking I was amazed at how much Russell knew about Sweden. When she came into the kitchen she whispered to me, "he's delightful!"

I have discovered (as I have spent time at work and carpooling with Russell) that Russell is very intelligent. Whatever the subject may be, he knows something about it. I never cease to be amazed as I listen to him converse with a customer or a co-worker. Two of the many different topics that I've heard him talk about are movies and music. One day while driving home from work together, I asked Russell how does he know so much. He answered, "I watch special features." I think I'd better start to watch "special features" so that I can be interesting in a conversation as well.

Things to know about Russell: He is the firstborn Nielsen grandson. He attends Weber State University. He is a wonderful artist. He has a great imagination. He has written a book which he's hoping will soon be published. He is a very good writer. He makes a beautiful sandwich. He's friendly. He makes HOT chili. He's a good husband. He's a good son and brother. He has a nice singing voice. We are all grateful that Russell is in our family and we love him.

Russell and Jessica

"The Theatre, The Theatre....

....what happened to the theatre?" Remember Danny Kaye reciting that line in the movie White Christmas? I think I know what happened....all of their Moms collapsed after sewing costumes.

My oldest (Andy)and youngest (Caitlin) children are 15 years and 3 days apart. One thing that the two of them have in common is the love of musical theatre. Since last fall Caitlin has performed in three musicals at BHS and one at RMT. It has been my responsibility as a parent to provide Caitlin with a costume (remember my post last year about Les is Miserable?) for each show. So this year I did it again....made the costume a few days before the due date (please tell me I'm not the only parent that does that). A quick run down of my crazy, hectic, stress-out, last minute costumes.

8th grade Suessical The Musical; Caitlin was Thing 1. I literally finished this costume at midnight and was up at 6 am and on my way to the hospital for surgery (I knew I could stay up late and sew because I was going to get a good sleep during surgery).


This is the one costume that I had finished a week before the deadline. Caitlin played Babette in Beauty And The Beast in the 9th grade. This was not a costume to be avoided 'til the last minute, there were more than 10 pattern pieces just to the jacket (I did enjoy getting a new sewing machine).


Les was Miserable but I survived making this entire costume in one day (and I was cheerful when I finished). This was Caitlin's sophomore year.


And this year....West Side Story. I made this dress in just a few hours one evening last week (I added a gusset just hours before opening night). Caitlin is Graziella; a Jet girl and an amazing dancer. You can still see West Side Story the rest of this week and next Monday at BHS. Caitlin has tickets.


In all of Andy's years in musical theatre at BHS (I must do a post on his theatre days sometime) I don't recall ever making one costume (thanks son). But you know what they say in the theatre...."the show must go on..." and so must the Moms, because after all, it really is....FUN!!!

Mount Nebo Loop

Several weeks ago I mentioned to Mike that I would love to take a Saturday drive in the mountains. Mike took matters into his own hands and planned a great day for us, which included our friends Steve and Becky. It was conference weekend, so after stopping at our favorite Leger's Deli to get some sack lunches, we embarked on our journey and listened to conference as we drove.


It was actually very cold in the mountains. At one point the road was covered with snow. We stopped to eat lunch and then took a short hike for a scenic view of Mount Nebo.


I guess I never actually took a picture of Mount Nebo....but this other stuff was really cool too.




I loved the scenery (and the trees are nice too ;-).


We had a great day!! Thanks for coming with us Steve and Becky!!! Thanks for being the organizer Mikee!!!