I'm Sorry So Sorry.......

I'm sorry that I vanished guys...just life! I think if I get any busier I just might go crazy!!! I don't know how my sisters do it with so many kids! I have been busy school shopping, getting Spencer in the swing of things for school, baby well checks, and three yr old physicals, Belle's birthday, and company coming into town! Not to mention going to Vernal to collect all the stuff my husband took to Vernal, when he was working there. I am also trying to finish up a couple of paintings that I am going to try and get into the Redlands Gallery, thanks to Micalanne. It has just been a crazy couple a weeks! So either my children needed me, or Allen needed me, or the housework and meals for company. Either I am inept at all this housewife/mother stuff....and everyone is much better at it, or none of you guys get any sleep!!! So which is it????? Okay enough of the poor me, I am really glad that I am missed in the blog world! So with out further ado......the much anticipated....drum roll please....Hawaii Pictures!!!


These first pictures are of us in Waimea. It is the grand canyon of the South Pacific, as John Wayne said back in the 50's, according to the reading material over there. It was absolutely amazing, unfortunately, you will not all see the amazingness because the day we went there it was engulfed in a cloud, and we all got soaked. But in person it was truly something else. I think the canyon pictures themselves look a little bit like another world or the moon or something....kinda freaky.

I really loved this tree laying down like this....cool...

Took this while driving by a beach...I loved the colors of the two blues..the sky and ocean.

These are called the twin falls. They are the falls in Fantasy Island show....Remember that show???? Da Plane Da Plane. There was a really cool hike that you could go on that ended in swimming down at the bottom of the falls. I would have loved to go on the hike, but it was real steep, and the girls never would have made it.

These next pictures are the day we took the train ride, and toured the sugar plantation. There was some gorgeous scenery!

Little plantation cottage....didn't get the whole thing...so quaint!

Look at that sky!!! I just hardly ever see a sky this blue...especially here in Utah.

feeding the animals on daddy's shoulders.


I wish that I had more pictures. Both of the girls got sick on the trip and were down for a day each, but luckily felt better quickly. This day Belle was still not up to par, and started running a fever. I have to say that I really want to go back. I want to see the Na Pali coast, and do some of the hikes. I cannot even tell you of the majesty of the NaPali Coast. The sheer black cliffs are absolutely breathtaking with the blue ocean and the white capped waves crashing onto the black rocks below! Just amazing. I wish I had a camera on the plane, and I would have taken a picture, I have really never seen anything like it. I "heard" that it was where they filmed Jurassic Park.

Well, I do have lots more pictures coming up, and of course Belle's birthday post....so until next time....I bid you farewell. (now I get to make dinner and drag my children to back to school night without hubby who is working......fun)

*I promise next week I will have my wordless wednesday and Thursday thirteen up!

We are back.....barely

I am not sure when I will fully regain my sanity and sleep deprivation from our flight home. We went from the high stress situation of almost missing a flight to a two hour delay....I didn't know that my body could actually sustain such high stress without going into the fight or flight syndrome. At one point when Allen had to check our baggage in again in Honolulu, then meet us at the gate for the trip to the mainland, I really thought that he was going to lose it. I could see the headlines in the news...."desperate father arrested after breakdown at security gate trying to get to family", or, " missing man found in mental hospital due to airline stress", or, "desperate mother left penniless at gate 14 in Honolulu airport. Okay, we really are alright except for the sleep deprivation. We left Kauai at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, and arrived home in our driveway at 12:00 pm Wednesday! We learned many things about what NOT to do traveling with children. The only good thing is that Rose has been sleeping a WHOLE lot, and I have already gotten unpacked! I will get some pictures up soon! Hope everybody had a great week, we really did have a wonderful time in Hawaii....thanks mom and dad!

Wordless Wednesday

My Tenth Thursday Thirteen!

Thirteen Things I don't understand 1…. math 2. why I dwell on mistakes, and negative things 3. I cannot seem to organize my life, as hard as I try 4. why desperation always leads to failure 5. why I want to eat food when I am stressed 6. why it seems to take me so much longer to do things than other people 7. why people cannot be more cognizant of other people's needs 8. Why when you really need something, it is never there 9. Why my least favorite plants are flourishing in the garden and my most favorite are doing poorly 10. Why I am always cold, and Allen is always hot 11. Why my children can never find anything 12. Why do your eyes hurt after you cry 13. Why all good things must come to an end Okay I realize that my little list a bit of a downer, but I just needed to complain a little bit. :) ....sorry Janet and Judy...I'll be better tomorrow. I better get off the computer....Belle tells me I am in "time out" if I don't get off... *sigh* Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



New Store at Etsy

I have a new store at Etsy, check it out when you have time! I discovered Etsy a few months ago, and I was really impressed with what they offer. If you are looking for a one of a kind gift for someone, you have got to shop here! I only have a few things listed right now....but am hoping to get more if it is successful.

Wordless Wednesday

Fantastic Giveaway!

I can't believe it, but when I was reading a post by Melanie from Our Happy Happenings, I discovered an amazing giveaway! You can enter at 5 minutes for mom. They are giving away 37 inch LCD flat screen tv sponsored by Best Buy! Well of course I immediately entered my name....hope I win, but if you enter, good luck to you!!!!

Cousin Camp

Well, my camera was really causing me a lot of difficulties so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. I also got a massive migraine on Saturday, and have no pictures from Saturday:( (it was so bad I was on the couch with a cold pack.) Some of these pics are a bit fuzzy....but here we go.....


Katie my sister in law married to our youngest brother, taught the kids how to make flowers out of napkins. They turned out super cute! The Jr. Campers really liked this project. While the cousin campers were busy with lots of projects, the Senior Campers were hiking in Bryce Canyon, and having a great time.

During some down time, Madi, LaRae's oldest was blowing some bubbles for the little ones...they sure enjoyed that.

Spencer's highlight of the weekend, was poppy teaching him to drive the lawn mower! Spencer told me driving was a piece of cake, and he is ready to get his license......(oh yeah! Thanks Dad) This activity abruptly ended when one of the kids ran the lawn mower into a ditch......oh well all good things must end.

Madi, highly excited that it is her turn!

After the hike it was just pouring rain....and the kids were so hot they stood out in the rain and let it pour all over them. This is Lili, Janae's daughter, and Katie, LaRae's second oldest.

Jr. camp activity, learning to make cookies with Aunt Janae.

This picture really cracks me up! This is Vivi with her mom, I think she is telling her she absolutely does not need her help doing this task. ( on a side note, take a look who is in the back ground in the pantry. I did not recognize myself, I am getting so skinny!!! Wooo Hooo.........)

A little game of "Jared says" is always a delight, and really kept the kids occupied while waiting for lunch.

Belle and Ryan, (Jared's oldest boy) got along famously. They made a big fort in the front room with all the fleece blankets that everyone made, and ran and chased each other a lot. I think they became really good friends on this trip.

My dad's birthday was on Sunday, 61! (doesn't look a day older than 40, well at least my mom doesn't........ Anyway we had a great dinner, roast, potatoes, carrots, squash from my garden, corn on the cob, and chocolate molten cake and cheesecake from the cheese cake factory!!!! Too yummy. (just a side note....the molten cakes were 600 calories a piece!!!!!) Man were they delish.

The kids made the cutest fleece blankets....(wish I had a pic.) and they learned how to make gift boxes, necklaces and they all read lots of books. This cousin camp theme was dedicated to charity. All of the cousins have been reading like crazy since December. My mom told the kids for every book they read she would contribute so much money for each book depending on how many pages it was. Each child did just stupendous! I am really proud of all of them. Some of the kids are going to contribute 100% of their money to their charity that they chose. Spencer and Isabelle are choosing to contribute to National Autism society in the name of their brother, Jp. I am really proud of them! All in all it was a very memorable cousin camp, and I am sure the kids all left with a lot of good memories.

Resurrecting Old Posts--a meme

Hey everybody, we are back from the cabin! We had a great time but I will talk about that in another post. Right now Ihave to tell you that I have been tagged!!! I must thank a really cool, great and energetic fun lady!!! One Wacky Mom, Ev Nucci. Doing this meme actually taught me a lot about myself...maybe some things that I need to change, and some things that I really enjoyed. I even finally learned how to insert a link! Which is huge for me!! So, thank you Ev...I know my readers will love you too. She is wacky, and has a great blog, check her out sometime.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13044848418718299713

Anyway, the meme is one that resurrects old posts so here it goes, hope ya'll enjoy it!


1. This first post must me an old post about family. (well, that is not hard!)

http://niftynicholsonnews.blogspot.com/2007/04/saturday-at-zoo.html




2. This one was a very challenging one for me, which actually taught me a lot about myself....like I need more friends, and I need to blog about something other than my children! This is the only blog that I could find that actually mentions friends. Very sad, I know.

http://niftynicholsonnews.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-first-thursday-thirteen.html





3. This link is about myself. It is a weight loss update. At the time I wrote this I had lost 56 pounds. Today I have lost 80 pounds! Wow, I am truly amazed! (This was also enlightening....I just don't write too often about myself, really, hmmmm wonder what that means?)


http://niftynicholsonnews.blogspot.com/2007/05/weight-loss-update.html





4. This link is about something I love.....can you guess....come on really.....can't you guess??? Okay other than my kids!!!! Yes you are right, ART!!!! I do really love everything about art. Painting, drawing, viewing, learning etc. etc. etc. the list goes on and on. Nothing gives me peace like a paint brush in my hand.

http://niftynicholsonnews.blogspot.com/2007/06/wordless-wednesday.html



5. This one was my choice......it has to be my favorite post!

http://niftynicholsonnews.blogspot.com/2007/04/conversations-with-two-year-old.html

Thanks to Ev for the walk down memory lane. Make sure you stop by her post, she is one great lady, and has become one of favorite blogger friends to visit!

Now I have to tag five others so here goes!
http://momimhungry.blogspot.com/
http://arewethereyetmom.com/
http://ourhappyhappenings.blogspot.com
http://girlsjustwannahavefun.blogspot.com
http://5toomany.blogspot.com

Cousin Camp here we come!

Well, no Thursday Thirteen today, I have been too busy getting ready for our annual cousin camp! We go to our parents cabin in the mountains, with the whole family, yes the whole family. (minus the one couple who don't have children yet, Mike and Karla.) We have projects and crafts, and smores and lots of cousin fun. I will return on Monday with lots of pictures! So everyone in blogger land, have a great weekend.

Scroll Down for WW!

Garden pictures

Well here are the pictures from my garden. Now, I have learned a lot from my garden this year, like to prepare the soil better, and to plant certain plants farther apart. Also I learned to plant much earlier so that the weather is not so hot! As you will see, some plants are doing fabulously, and some are not doing anything at all!!!!

It was strange because the previous years when we had a garden and we lived in another house, our garden was just so successful. We also lived on property where horses had lived for years, so I think that it was very fertile soil. (all the manure ya know?) I am not used to a garden that doesn't produce, so this was a weird experience, but I know what to do next year....I think.




this is my saddest loss of the season. $12.50 down the drain, and my little raspberry bush is really dead, dead, dead. I am so sad!

This is my raspberry bush that is doing well. We will have some really nice raspberries next year. I will also plant more of them, and some blueberries.

These look like weeds, I know. They are actually three very sad looking tomato plants that have just sat there and done nothing. No blossoms, a little bit of new growth, but that is it. They are still alive...but I can't figure out why they won't do anything?

This is our one good tomato plant.

This is our one good pepper plant....we do have maybe two more that are doing okay, but this one was the best.

The corn is doing magnificently.

Cucumbers....we have had two so far, they are doing pretty good.

This is our pumpkin plant, that is too close to the squash. It looks like there are about four pumpkins that we will get out of this.

This is our huge squash area that is prolific in their vegetable bearing. Lots of summer squash for us! There is a small watermelon plant in front of it, I have two that I think will give us some melons. Next to the water melon is the cantaloupe, hopefully we will get a few of those soon as well.

This is our cherry tomato plant that is in a container. It is beautiful and big, and if you look closely you can see some little tomatoes!

Next year I want to add zucchini, strawberry batch, and somewhere I want to plant a cherry, pear, apricot and peach tree!