What's up at the Nelson home these days...

It's here.. The end of the summer. The last week of freedom for my children before they return to the task of schooling. It has been a great summer for us. We have had many adventures and road trips.
We got out and did some back to school shopping the last few weeks and I can not believe how much Emeline and Micah has grown. Emeline has gotten so tall she has almost jumped two pant sizes in the last 3 months.. yowza! We found what they needed and all in all spent surprisingly little. (I love clearance and yard sales)
Just a little change in our lives. Trent and I are both taking classes this semester at the University.With Hannah being born so early Trent never finished the few classes he had left for graduation. The HUGE bonus is that now he can take those classes at an amazing price of 5 dollars a credit.. I mean we would be nuts not to advantage of that! Trent will be taking one class and his boss is more than excited to let him break away from work and hour three days a week to do it.
With all this happening I had a huge impression that I needed to see what I needed to do to finish up my degree as well. It turns out that taking about 6 credits a semester will get me my degree in 3 years... so I am going for it! This semester I am taking 2 on line classes. I have made arrangements to trade care with another friend that is also returning to school that happens to live right next door. It is really working out.. oh and I get to attend classes for the same rate as Trent.. did I mention that? Awesome, I know!
Life may get a bit nuts at times around here but I know what we are doing is so important that it will all work out.
I will update with back to school pics in a week.. til then later alligator!

Family Photo session

After the Crook reunion and some showers... we went and had family pictures taken by Aunt Becki and her friend Andrea. They did a great job and with some playing on my photo editing I really love the last picture! Not perfect, but great! The picture of the children with grandma and grandpa was at the end of all of this and you can tell that most of the children had enough of pictures... It was great! Thanks!

Camping with Friends

Down by the water

Emeline and her best friend Maren listening to music on an IPOD... I think they are growing up to fast for me...

Hannah was very happy except when I had to wash the sand off her bum and when she had to go to bed..

Micah and his two best buds decided to create the grand canyon with water erosion... they had fun watching the water carve away at the sand as they poured it

Hannah and Kenzie playing on the older girls scooters.

We had so much fun camping for an extended weekend with some of our closest friends here in Moscow. The moms' were really brave and set out two days and one night before our husbands with all our children ( 3 moms to 12 children under the age of 9). When we arrived at the campsite it was crazy for a bit until we figured out where tents would be best and set up camp, but we got through it all and I have to say.. we did a great job ( I however do not want to go set up camp ever again with out my hubby) It was hot and sunny everyday we were there, we spent a lot of time at the river bed.
the last night we were clouds moved in and it rained.. we had to pack up in the rain and then set out our camp gear when we got home. As you can see by the photos we had a great time and look forward to finding another new place to camp next year.
On another note:
Trent and I have both decided to start taking a few classes again. Trent will take some classes as his work schedule will permit. I am going to start off with taking a class or two online and as I go I have worked out some trade for childcare with a good friend that lives not two houses down from me, She is taking a few classes too so we will both benefit. We hope to both be done with school slowly in 3 years. It will be busy and nuts at times I am sure.. but what else is new!
Micah and Emeline start school on the 2nd of September and are so excited. I have to admit so am I. Cassie is going to do home- preschool two times a week. A small group of moms are going to take turns teaching and it should be really fun!
Hannah is doing really well on her new meds. (It has been three weeks since she threw up and It is awesome!) We see her eye specialist in a month and she has an appointment In December to re-evaluate her digestive track and see where we are at.
Well that is enough from me... hope everyone else is having a busy, fun summer!

Idaho Falls Trip

We completely fell in love with this "hamster ball" and I will hear about it for years to come I think. It will have to be at the future reunions.. as long as no one pops it :D The kids would climb inside it and run around.. they would knock each other over and well just sit in it and have fun... way cool

On the 4th some of the "left over" crook reunion goers got together and finish off the watermelon and salad.. we added pizza (thank you). Hannah loved the watermelon and I was brave enough to let her eat it instead of chopping it up... she loved it!

On our way to the reunion we stopped a lot.. I mean A LOT! This is one of the stops and the kids thought it would be fun to sit on top of the car. Trent liked the idea and they took turns sitting there. I had to take a picture for a few people that told me on Facebook, when I was worried about how it would all fit into the car, to just strap Micah to the top... well there you go!

we have found a new fun food to bring on long car rides... a fruit roll up type thing called "stackers" we had a lot of fun with this and well.... I thought it would be only fair to let Trent have some fun while he was driving.. :D

So I realize that I do not grab my camera as much as I would like to during trips, and I missed a lot of photo opportunities, I did not get any of us just hanging out at Bill and Leanna's house and I did not get any of us with Steve and Julie when we went out to lunch. I also got to go up to Rexburg and see my Nieces, great nieces ( I am really not that old) and Nephew for a bit and of course.. forgot my camera! We got to see everyone that we wanted to on this trip and then some. I missed the Washington Crooks, we may have to make a trip over the sound and see them!
We had a good time in Idaho Falls and hope to get back there again next year. We loved seeing you all!!!

Happy 9th Birthday Micah! (yeah June is done!)

We had a "family" party with some of our close friends that leave around Moscow. I tired out and bought this cake the night before.. I just was done making frosting! He loved it just the same. We will be taking Micah and two of his closest buddies to see Transformers Saturday. He is so excited! It is one of his favorite shows... and to get to go to the movies is just that much cooler.

He grew out of his old scooter and had been saving for this one for awhile now.. surprise he got it for his birthday ( found it for a great deal) he has to figure out what he is going to do with all that hard earned money now.. I suggested save it, He said "I don't think so mom!"

one of the first thing he said was, " Now I have my own tent to use at the family reunion with my cousins." very cute. His buddies want to have a sleep over in a back yard when we get back from our Idaho Falls trip. It is so fun to see him growing up!

Good times! I can not believe how grown up Micah is. He is such a huge help all the time. I was very sick a few days ago with a stomach flu and a looming sinus infection and Micah took care of the kids a good part of the day as I wondered in and out of sleep on the couch. He took great care of his sisters and worked with Emeline so that I could get better. He is such a sweet kid! Emeline helped with Hannah (one of Hannah's favorite people is Emy)
The house seems to be through this stomach flu and on our roads to recovery so that we can make it to Idaho Falls next week. Now to think about what I need to pack and what I can go without.. there is just not enough room to take it all anymore!

Emeline using the camera...

Every once in a while I will go to download pictures to my computer and find that one of the children has decided to take some of their own photos.. some good, some not so much and some are just plain silly!

Good to know the horses where in this book too. There were about 6 photos in order that had the horses moved and the page changed.. Emy must of thought it was important that the horses visit Baby Jesus too.

I really like this one.. very cute picture of Cassie.. Her partner in crime. I love it when they get along and it looks like for the most part all of the pictures taken both are happy (well until the end when there are a few of what i think is Cassie trying to take it away while Emeline shoots)

Very fun pose.. I guess Emy told Cassie to stand on her head if she wanted her picture taken.. I mean what 4 year old does not want their picture taken.. so she tried really hard! I thought the pictures were fun. I love my kids creative minds!

Happy 2nd Birthday Hannah! Trent too but..

I never get tired of that smile.. It saves her life a lot lately!

All our friends

Why do I have to buy the gifts that require assembly?

Hannah just loves books and got a few new ones for her birthday.. she was eager to find anyone that would read to her.. luckily Becki- her second mom was on the case! Laina need to read with them too.

Hannah loved everyone singing to her.. she thought it was so cool. She was not so sure about the candles and actually tried to touch the candle flame... she stopped fast when we said it was ouchy. It was a great birthday party with some of Hannah's favorite people. I had to think back to the first day she was in this world and am truly amazed with my little miracle every day!
(even when she is acting 2)