The Nelson Family

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

4/8/13

Six Months.

Loves

sweet potatoes,

pulling hair,

naps,

playing in front of the mirror,

laughing,

the stroller,

baths...

Monday, April 15, 2013

Seven Eleven

Adelaide celebrated her long-awaited seventh birthday.

Trust me. She could not wait to be seven. Notice the "Birthday" is missing it's A and Y. She licked it off sometime during the hour (no lie) she sat at the table staring at her cake waiting for Randal to come home from work to celebrate.

She wanted to wear a dress to school to mark the occasion. She wanted her hair done the prettiest way possible. I asked her what she meant by that, and braids and pigtails were her request. I'm glad because it still makes her look little.

The wrapped presents tortured her. Especially the one from Grandma and Grandpa. For some reason she wondered if it could be a pool floatie. And, "Didn't Grandma know I can swim?"

Turns out no floatie, Grandma got it right. We didn't. Since her birthday we have had a bit of a tug of war over her new bike. She outgrew the bike she learned to ride last year, so naturally we thought it would be a good birthday present. She will not ride it. She is afraid of falling, all over again. I don't know what we're going to do about that. What I do know is this girl does not do anything until she is good and ready.

This year has brought a little bit more interest in boys. She got really embarrassed at the prospect of revealing one when she used more than one breath on her candles.

Seven. I know I always say I'm having a hard time with it, but I can't help it. I could freeze her in this spot a little while longer. She is sweet and loving. She loves her friends. She loves school. When she learned we were going to miss one day of school for our trip to Puerto Rico, she was not happy. She didn't want to miss her teacher and mess up her attendance record for the month. She is definitely a "lark" and probably always will be. She is always up early and most pleasant in the morning. Though do not try and rush her. Ever. That pleasantness will instantly disappear. Adelaide is very thoughtful, opinionated, kind and shy. She is a pleaser and a perfectionist like her mom. Something I hope she masters a bit better than me when she grows up. She is Daddy's girl. She still drops everything when he comes in the door to give him a hug. I get plenty of them myself too. Love you, Addie girl!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Puerto Rico

Our family vacationed in beautiful Puerto Rico over Spring break. A trip we very nearly missed in our mad rush to get to the airport on time only to hear our luggage fall out into the road via the open lift gate. Thank goodness for durable luggage, even though they're now a little worse for wear.

That quickly became a distant memory once we got there. According to the song the kids made up and sang incessantly, Puerto Rico is awesome. And they weren't wrong! Albeit a bit annoying.

We swam a lot. Strangely, I have no pictures of that. The closest I have is of Ethan in his swimsuit hanging out in Owen's fort of hotel pillows.

I do have pictures of the kids being invited to make pottery. Randal's Spanish sure came in handy on this, and many other occasions.

On the other hand, Ethan and Addie's song from Spanish class is still ringing in my ears. (That tends to happen around the 1000th time one hears it.) It did get a few chuckles, which was fun.

Rough song translation:

My head,

My heads hurts.

Call a doctor!

Head!

Doctor!

Aiyeeeeeee!

We toured a historic fort (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) in the heart of San Juan. Our photos do not really show just how impressive these structures truly are. They are built out of the ocean's cliffs, complete with dungeons, cemeteries, cannons, courtyards, etc. The fort even managed to impress Ethan who is more often a tough sell when it comes to this kind of thing.

We had us some delicious Puerto Rican food. Pork. Beans. Rice. Yucca. Plantains. And Mufungo.

Then the kids begged us for some Puerto Rican food of a different variety. So we ate at la casa del Big Mac and they were happy.

We hiked in the El Yunque rain forest and played in a waterfall.

It was absolutely beautiful.

However, this is what Owen thought of it all.

He more enjoyed it when he was pushed around in his stroller wearing his shades.

Actually he and I spent a lot of time hanging out in the shade. Even though he is too little to really appreciate the trip, he was patient and pleasant the whole time. Probably because he never had to wear socks. They can be a bit constricting for a chubby guy like him.

While we hung out, Randal and the kids paddled around the water overlooking downtown San Juan.

I love my family. I loved forgetting all the stresses of home and relaxing with them.

There's nothing like a vacation to remind me just how much fun these three munchkins can be.

I'm so lucky they're mine.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

3/8/13

5 Months

19.8 pounds (his new nickname is "Kaiser" for all his lovable rolls (better than his former nickname: "Fat Owen")).

10 fingers now grabbing toys and splashing in the tub.

1 delicious thumb.

And the existance of 1 tooth no longer in question.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

2/8/13

The faces of four months.

Without noticing the camera, a smile for Dad.

And with the camera. C'mon Owen, just one smile.

Getting chatty instead.

And stubborn.

Then bored.

Or maybe nervous?

Nope. Scared.

Okay, now he's getting irritated.

There's a smile. Sort of.

This month Owen started grabbing his toys, sucking his thumb/fingers (as many as he can cram in his mouth before he gags), and following his brother and sister's every move with more excitement. He makes a funny hissing noise just to try and make us laugh. It seems to really delight him when we do. He startles at any noise he cannot identify especially the vacuum and blender. Some days a scare is just about the only time we hear him cry. He is just so easy-going. We thought he was getting an early tooth, but it turns out it was a false alarm and is only a cyst on his gums. The doctor says not to worry, they are common and go away on their own.

Tooth or no tooth, we think Owen is the best baby in the world!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Love Notes

Addie is quite a note writer and list maker. She loves to write her teacher, her friends and sometimes us. Some of you may have received one of her notes. If you haven't it is actually my fault. I've made the mistake of suggesting people she could write. I have since learned the minute I do, that person is blacklisted. Clearly they must be written of her own volition or no note at all. We'll see how long the statute of limitations will be on some of you. Hopefully you'll get one soon.

Her notes are very cute and insightful.

A Christmas note to her teacher:

Dear Mrs. Carlstedt,
How have you been? My baby brother was born on October the 8th. My big brother was born on July the 13th. I was born on April the 11th. Have a great Christmas this year. I love you so much. I want to be a teacher when I grow up to. I love Ethan and Owen. Owen is so chubby. Ethan is nice to me sometimes. I help with Owen. I help Ethan find things like his Minecraft notebook and Legos that fall on the floor, clean his room. He sometimes helps me clean my room. Sometimes I clean my room by myself. I help him he helps me. I don't no (know) if I want to be a teacher, a cheaf (chef) or a candy maker or not. Have you watched a lot of Christmas movies? I have watched a lot of Christmas movies.

Love, Adelaide Marian Nelson

A birthday card to her dad:

Dear Daddy,

Have a Happy Birthday. I can't wait to try your birthday cake! I can't wait to tell the teachers it's your birthday today! I wish it will snow so we can make a big snowman with some gloves, and hat, stiks, snowballs one big one, one small one , one medium one, and a carot nose, and cole eyes, buttons and mouth.

Love your doter, Adelaide

Birthday card #2 to her dad: (Incidentally, Randal suggested she write me a card on my birthday two weeks later. Blacklisted. I got 2 very nice sentences, but that's it.)

Dear Daddy,

Have a Happy Birthday. You are turning 36. I hope you get something nice. I don't know what I want to get you for your birthday. Today I wonder what to give you? I wish I know what to give you but I can't think of something. Mom is giving us two choices but I can't decide what to give you. Just got to think of something I supose. I'm so excited for your birthday. It starts at 5 in the morning. I hope you get a shredder.

Love, Adelaide

My favorite of her lists: