Palmer Family: 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve with the Palmer's

Today was a fun family day!
We started everything off with a yummy breakfast and then did a little work to get our house looking great for Santa. (The boys did yard work while the girls cleaned inside.)
For lunch we B-B-Q hamburgers/hot dogs and had a little picnic outside. Then we played a few games of "Boston". It was a ton of fun!
Later in the evening we drank hot chocolate while Dad read us the story, The First Christmas (wonderful book about the baby Jesus). Then we talked about the true meaning of Christmas but also talked about how Santa works into everything.
Then PJ the Elf came and left gifts for the kids at the front door. Every year he leaves them a pair a pajamas but this year he left a note saying that he noticed that they already have a lot of PJ's and so he brought them other clothing items they were in need of.

We then opened one present each. The kids opened "Rock Band" which Grandpa Rick gave us. I had taken apart the huge box and wrapped three smaller boxes so that everyone could open the gift together. Well, when we went to open the gift...one was missing. We search forever! Finally, after about an hour of looking we found it hidden in one of Drew's purses. I was a true Christmas miracle! :)

We ended the night by frosting cookies for Santa and throwing reindeer food on the grass outside (you know to make them come to your house faster).
The kids are now asleep on the floor of my room and hopefully visions of sugar plums dance in their heads. Have a Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

And who through our wondering eyes did appear?

That's right...Santa! Good ol' Saint Nick himself showed up last night at our ward Christmas party. The kids were so excited to see him! Jake was absolutely certain that he was not going to be the real Santa Claus. In his words, "Mom, I have seen a lot of Santa's and they all look different and have different voices". Yes my child is observant! So I explained again to him that Santa can not be everywhere so he has helpers. But I told him that one way to know if it really was Santa was to see if his beard was real. So when we were close enough in line to actually see him, he looked at me with the biggest smile and said "Mom, his beard is real". It was a fun moment!

Nash had this idea that if you give Santa a quarter he will say "HO HO HO!" for you. I don't know how Nash came up with this but I think that Santa should cash in on the idea! So when he sat on Santa's lap we told him about the quater and he took it from Nash and very sweetly laughed "HO HO HO!". Then he gave the quarter back to Nash and told him that he should put it in his bank and save it for another day. Nash was thrilled to have a quater from Santa!

I thought that Drew would be terrified of Santa but she wasn't. She walked right up and sat on his lap. He asked her what she wanted for Christmas and without any hesitation she said, "A Dora House!". It was fun to see her so happy!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My baby boy is growing up!

So tonight a wonderful and magical thing occurred. Nash read his first book (with a small amount of help). It is always such a joy to see the "light" come on in a child's mind when they can look at a word and read what it says. He was so happy but was trying to be very modest about it. Like, "No big deal Mom...I always knew I could do this!". It was a very proud moment! I just love him so much and am honored to be his mother. Keep it up Nashy Noddle!

For those of you who were wondering, the book read something like this:
-Mat
-Mat sat.
-Sam
-Sam sat.
-Mat sat on Sam.
You get the picture!
They just kept sitting on each other. It was full of excitement!

Monday, November 17, 2008

My Baseball Boys

Okay...I am not above plugging my husbands baseball camps. He is an amazing coach and I am so proud of how hard he works and how much he loves the game!
If anyone is interested in signing there child up just type in the address below. Sorry I couldn't get it to link.

http://collegebaseballcamps.com/calendar.cfm?ID=189&src=CBC

It is fast, easy and a wonderful way for your child to learn the game of baseball.
Here are some of the upcoming camps:

November 2008
11/28 – 11/28 ~ Friday to Friday

Phoenix College Shopping Day Clinic #1

Location: Marich Field, Phoenix College | Ages: 6-12

Time: 8am - 2pm Cost: $ 80.00 (Is NOT Sold Out)

11/29 – 11/29 ~ Saturday to Saturday

Phoenix College Baseball Clinic #2

Location: Marich Field, Phoenix College | Ages: 6-12

Time: 8am - 2pm Cost: $ 80.00

December 2008
12/19 – 12/20 ~ Friday to Saturday

Phoenix College Christmas Prospect Showcase

Location: Marich Field, Phoenix College | Ages: Grades 9-12

Cost: $ 125.00

12/26 – 12/26 ~ Friday to Friday

Phoenix College Christmas Future Stars Camp #1

Location: Marich Field, Phoenix College | Ages: 6-12

Cost: $ 95.00

12/27 – 12/27 ~ Saturday to Saturday

Phoenix College Christmas Future Stars Camp #2

Location: Marich Field, Phoenix College | Ages: 6-12

Cost: $ 95.00

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Our newest arrival and currently the most loved member of the family!

A sneak peek as to how it all happened.
The sun shone gently overhead while the crisp morning air lingered close to the moist earth. Kurt worked at the far end of the yard mowing the tall grass, his strong arms and cut build made the daunting task look like childs play. While he mowed, I worked on raking up the freshly cut grass on the baseball field. The sweet aroma that surrounded me awakened my senses like only it could and with the children playing in the front yard I was able to fully take in the calm serenity of the moment. That is when it happened...
The lawn mower broke and I realized how much over seeding bites! This was going to take us all day! That is when I threw down the rake and told Kurt to put the kids in the car...we were going to get a riding lawn mower!

And here he is...John Deere!

Drewbie Turns 3!

So I have been a slacker these last two months and have not posted anything. During that time there where a few things worthy of posting but most important was the fact that our little princess turned 3! It is so crazy to look back on these past 3 years and think of how fast they have gone by.
On Drew's birthday we went down to Aunt Sandy's house (she is the mom Drew wishes she had) and had dinner, presents and cake/ice cream. Then we celebrated her birthday again on Sunday just with our own little family. Her grandma's and grandpa's gave her so many fun things. Unfortunately, I am bad at taking pictures and so the follow ones are all we have.

Happy Birthday Drew! Don't look too excited. Can we at least get a smile?

Here it comes! Wait for it...wait for it.

She is trying to hide it! Come on we know you want to!

And there it is. It does exist! Looks a little forced but we'll take it.

We know that she is happy because she actually played with her gifts afterwards.

Here is Drew twirling with her new jump rope and "Cinderella" nightgown that she got from Grandma Laine.

This is her "Princess" pose.

We love you Drew(even though you have crazy mood swings)!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Time Warp

This is so much fun! I went in ten year increments, starting in 1956 and ending in 1996. What do you think?

Friday, September 12, 2008

A Day At The Museum

For Labor Day this year we decided to do something different and take the kids to the Science Museum. It was so much fun as well as educational. (Score one point in the parenting department!)

The kids had tons of fun with all of the hands on activities.

You can actually see the light going on in Nash's head. It is so bright, it is shining out through his eyes!

The kids where able to flatten pennies in one of those machines that charges you 50 cents to do it. They were so excited that I let them do it this time because I usually say "No way am I paying 50 cents to flatten a penny!" Little did they know that this machine did it for free...score!

Future Science Club Member!

Wannabe Future Science Club Member!

Our CUTE little kiddies!

This station was kind of cool but mostly creepy.

Our little geologist. I guarantee you will never find one that is as cute!

This was the funnest station. You throw a bunch of balls into this giant nose(which was fully equipped with giant nose hairs) and it would sneeze out all of the balls right into your face. Good Times!

You know it was a good day when you leave and everyone is still happy and smiling. Even dad had a small smile on his face. Might I say...miracle!?! No, he is the BEST dad ever!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Retry to see if I could get Reese Witherspoon!

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

She still does not pull up, but I got Rihanna...Yeah!

Jake Looks Like...

Kurt Looks Like...

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Drew Looks Like...

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Nash Looks Like...

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

I Look Like...

Friday, August 8, 2008

Nielsen's Rule!

Our family just returned home from one of the funnest get-togethers I have had in a long time. That's right the Nielsen clan finally had a reunion. It was a blast! We went up to the same cabin in Paragonah that we had been at a mere 5 YEARS EARLIER. The reunion contained all the right activities: mafia, food, late nights, kids activities, food, an assortment of games, 4 wheeling, long conversations and again food! It was so good to see everyone and meet so many new little ones that had recently been brought into our family (sorry kids but to be a Nielsen is to be a little bit crazy, don't worry you will get use to the madness). I would also like to thank my mom (a.k.a Suz or Aunt Suzie) and my aunt LaRae for working so hard to make it happen. They did such a great job that we have all decided to reunite again in June of 2010. Until then we will all have to enjoy our pictures.

All the little ones-