Playdate!

We were so excited to have our friends the Shirley's come over this week to play. Andy, Karrie, Bradley and Daniel lived with us in the same apartment complex for three years. Karrie watched Nathan for me for a semester of school. Bradley and Nathan hit it off and have become best buds. Daniel is just three months older than Cade and they enjoy staring at each other and smiling. Here are some pictures of Nate and Bradley playing in our (unmowed) backyard.

Here they are trekking through the "jungle."

I couldn't get Nathan to slow down for any pictures, but her is cute Bradley.

Coming back through the jungle.

Yet again!

So, I think Karrie and I benefited from the play date as much as the boys. We never really do it for them, but for us! Thanks so much for visiting us Shirley's! We can't wait until the next time.

Caden is five months old!

So, Caden is five months old! This last month has brought lots of changes for the little guy. We finally had to do a three day trial of nutramigen formula to see if that would get him to poop on his own. It did! As excited as we were it was hard to give up breast feeding. But, he has been going on his own for over a week now. Unfortunately he also got sick as soon as he stopped breast feeding. He has laryngitis, and it is so sad and so funny at the same time. He can't cry and has this very hoarse little voice. He is the most talkative child I have ever had. Nathan didn't start babbling until he was closer to eight months. Caden started "talking" around one month. Some people have even heard him say, "Hi." I swear he does! He is also rolling consistently from front to back and has almost made it the other way too. He loves to grab his toes and roll from side to side. He is also extremely ticklish. He is always giggling while I try to get his shirt off. It is so funny! He likes to suck his middle and ring finger together. He would rather have his fingers than a pacifier, but he isn't always able to get them if he is really upset so still takes a pacifier. He is such a sweet boy and loves to watch his brother. If he is awake while Nathan is sleeping, he gets very bored and upset. We love our little Cade!

USAA Holiday Prom!

Every year USAA throws a big Formal Holiday Party. It is a lot of fun. This year they had Chicago come. I was so excited. My good friend Amber Martin did my hair. She did an amzing job. She did it for last years party too, so I knew I was in good hands. Jamie Smith went shopping with me and helped me find my dress. It is so hard to find a formal dress that is modest! But we accomplished it. Although I have to say I had more fun picking out outfits for her to try on. So here are pictures of the top of my hair and the back. Thanks so much Amber!





Scott was so sweet and we had such a good time. Unfortunately our baby sitters (my brothers) had some trouble with Caden (they forgot to burp him so he wouldn't quit crying) so we only got to stay for the first two songs of Chicago. We knew it would take us about an hour to get home, so we left and went to dinner closer to our house. We still had a really good time. Although we missed our double dating friends, the Hofhiens, who were going to go with us. Their poor little one has RSV. Get better Tyler!

School Boy Scotto

So I try not to post unless I have new pictures to add, but I just had to let everyone know the exciting news. Scott was accepted to the UTSA MBA program. He will be starting school this January to get his MBA. I am so proud of him. Anyway, that is all my news!

Thanksgiving Adventures

For Thanksgiving we headed out to Queen Creek (Phoenix area), Arizona for some fun in the sun with Scott's family. We were able to convince Ryan, Scott's older brother and his family to come for a couple of days from Utah as well. His sister Ashley is living with his parents, so everyone was there except his little brother Taylor who is serving his mission in Washington state. We had a lot of fun!

Here is Jake and Nathan on their big wheels that Grandma and Grandpa Nelson bought for them. Nathan never did quite get the hang of the peddles, but they had a blast anyway.

Jacob Nelson, showing us how its done!

Nathan scooting himself with his feet instead of peddling.

I'm not quite sure how they managed this in the grass.

One day we decided to go for a hike. It took us a couple of hours to go just under a mile and back. All three boys ended up being carried back to the car. Nathan also decided that cactus' are scary and would cover his eyes every time he saw one (which was quite a lot as we were in the desert).

I tried to keep Caden covered as we forgot sunscreen. He ended up falling asleep, and sleeping most of the way.

This was one of the highlights of the trip. The little boys decided they wanted to do a bit more than just soak their feet in the water and started splashing to make sure the adults got in the fun. I am not sure if it was Scott or his mom that started it, but suddenly there was a war going on. The water was less than 60 degrees, and Jolene absolutely hates the cold, so this was a one time experience. Now I know who Scott gets his playfulness from!

Scott was doing just as much splashing, but I only kept catching Jolene getting him!

Here is a wet and cold Mama.

Ashley and I did are best to avoid the fight, and mostly succeeded.

Gary was smart and took control of the dinner, rendering himself immune from splashage. The dinner he cooked for us that night was excellent I must say.

Scott finally giving up.

This was a fun evening. It was the night before Thanksgiving and Gary was smoking a Turkey so he had to stay up until midnight to cook it. Scott, Ashley and I stayed up to keep him company, and Ashley ended up painting his toenails. As I took pictures, Gary warned me not to put them on my blog. So, here is a picture of happy Gary after his pedicure. We had matching red toenails.

Ashley was a big help with the boys while we were there. This night she kept them entertained by having them decorate and eat cupcakes. They loved it. All the way home Nathan would periodically cry for Ashley.

The boys watched a lot of movies too. Here is Jacob and Nathan curled up together. Nathan adores Jacob!

Friday I was finally able to get Cade and Arden awake at the same time. Arden was born just two weeks after Caden.

Aren't they cute!

Arden doesn't look a thing like Jacob did as a baby. Jolene thinks he looks a lot like Scott's cousins, Caitlin and Alaina.

They actually held hands for a while, it was so cute.

The big boys wanted to get in on the action.

Ahhhh, sweet cousins.

Friday night we went to the Phoenix Zoo to see the Zoo lights. It was so fun to see al the lights. Cade didn't make a peep the entire night. If someone tried to talk to him he completely ignored them and looked for more lights. It was so funny.

This Ashley and her friend PJ, who Scott sweetly dubbed Peanut Butter and Jelly. I think it made her feel like part of the family :).

Here is the whole crew. We had such a good time together, and hope it won't be so long until we can get together again!

My Twilight Cast

Okay, so most of you know about the Twilight books. If you haven't read them, go read them! I am on my second reading of Twilight right now. But here is my Edward. He was Stephenie Meyer's choice for Edward until she realized how old he was. I still think he is the best choice.

Here is a picture I thought would be Bella. I'm not sure who she is. See Jazmin, pale can be beautiful!

These are a couple of Stephenie's picks for Bella.
Emily Browning
Ellen Page

This is Rachel Leigh Cook for Alice. I really like Rachel Leigh Cook and think she would make a great Alice.

Stephenie's pick for Jacob Black, Steven Strait. I like this one, he certainly reminds me of my idea of Jacob.
If you go to Stephenie Meyer's website she has more ideas for who should be cast as which character. I love these books!

Fun Run

So, every year USAA has a fitness 5k Fun Run. Last year we took Nathan who was 18 months old at the time, and he walked over 2 miles. We decided to make it a family tradition, and we came in last this year! We knew we would, but we got to walk with our good friends Kara and Doug Charlton and their two kiddos Timmy, 4yrs, and Tanner, 18 months. We had a fun time catching up with them. We all met in the singles ward way back when.

Here we are at the starting line

Shamu! And Momma and Nathan. Nathan was terrified of him, it was hard to snap a picture because he kept looking over at Shamu.

We love our Spurs! We had to get a picture with Coyote!
Here is Doug and Timmy Charlton.