Los Alamos, NM

In August, we loaded everybody up in the van and headed south to Los Alamos, NM. Home of the top secret government lab. My Uncle actually works there. All I know is he supervises 1400 people and that's all he can tell me.....or else he'd have to kill me. Although I'm pretty sure he's hiding a UFO in his backyard garden. The corn is so tall you can't see it, I'm convinced. We made the trip to attend his wedding, see my Grandma (who's health is failing), and get together with family members, some of whom I haven't seen since I was 16. I love when we get to spend time with Jerry, Kirsten and the boys. It doesn't happen often enough. Even though it was a short trip, it was worth the drive to spend time with family. Here's a few pics.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

The inevitable is happening. My baby is getting older. Last month (yes, I know I'm behind on posting) Logan turned two! In some ways I can't believe it's been two years, and in other ways it seems like an eternity ago that he joined our family. Logan's birthdays seem to be a raw and emotional time for me. Not necessarily because he's the baby, but because all that happened surrouding his birth. Not to sound dramatic, but most I still can't openly write about, as the tears will no doubtly make an appearance. But suffice it to say that his birth literally almost killed me(infections, hemorrhaging, pain, fluid in my belly,etc etc etc), Joel was unemployed, Logan screamed, and I do mean SCREAMED every minute he was awake, Reagan was going through a difficult time, and it was just a miserable time for everyone. Poor kid, I still have terrible mommy guilt that he missed out on being a baby for the first six months of his life. I don't feel like we had the opportunity to enjoy him the way we should have been able to enjoy our last little bambino.

But we sure do enjoy him now! Logan's truly a character and found his place rather quickly in this family of boys. He figured out early on that he had better be LOUD to be heard, and he had NO problem adjusting to that need. We used to think Eli was extremely loud, but he pales in comparison to his baby brother. Logan LOVES to laugh, and will repeat jokes he hears and bust out laughing at himself. His latest joke is "Your name? THROW UP!" It's a VERY condensed version, complete with wrong words, of a joke he hears his older brothers tell. Logan is definitely spoiled...not by Joel and I, but by his big brothers. They dote over him and basically give him the sun, the moon, and the stars. Whatever he wants. They want to match him in clothes, they want to draw his name for Christmas exchange, they want him to sleep in their beds, and they want to tote him around like he's their living cabbage patch kid......and it warms my heart to see it all happen. I love you to the moon and back, Logan!
Logan's Top Ten At Age Two (in no specific order)
1. "Daddyyyyyyyyy!"
2. Fire trucks
3. Books
4. Outside
5. His Blanket
6. His Duckie
7. Noah, Eli,and when they aren't home....Jack.
8. Cookies
9. The Honda
10.The Bathroom

Tidbits

It's been so long since I've posted, I have almost forgotten how! Why have I not posted in so long? A combination of things..... my computer won't even boot up, this means that I can't upload pictures or videos for my blog. Joel's computer doesn't have any photo editing software on it. Also, I had a TON of videos and pictures to post.....Daniel and Randu's visit and their performances, Elijah giving a detailed description on how the tooth fairy works, first day of school, etc etc etc. Aaaaaaand.....they all were MYSTERIOUSLY deleted. I'm absolutely SURE it has nothing to do with any of the four children in my house...yeah, I'm sure. I have some tidbits to post, some to catch up, some just so I don't forget them ten years down the road (or ten days down the road at my rate.)

---Our garden is growing! We have three pumpermelons. What are pumpermelons you ask? Well, it's what you get when you plant your pumpkins next to your watermelons and the bees cross-pollinate them. They are growing on the pupkin vine, are shaped like a pumpkin, but look mysteriously like a watermelon. Green, stripes, and all. I'm curious to see what the inside looks like. We've also grown several hot peppers, and when I say hot, I mean H O T! These things are not edible! I think I will dry them and send them to my dear sister to use in her pasole that she makes and gives to unsuspecting people in need. BAHAHAHA, I'm cracking myself up here! We have LOTS of roma tomatoes, some serrano chiles, and four cantaloupe. The boys are loving it and check on the garden every day. I think it may even get over watered after all of them take their turn at it.

---Here's a funny....Eli brought home his vocabulary words from the book they are reading. One of the words is "veil." Although he was pronouncing it "VILE." I corrected him and told him how it's pronounced to which he replied, "What's a veil, anyway?" I said "You know, brides wear them on top of their head, and...." He jumps in and says "OH YEAH! It hides their face and they wear them so the guy can't see who he's marrying and decide not to do it!" I laughed myself silly for a good ten minutes.

---Another funny: Jack being DEAD SERIOUS said to Joel "Daddy, what do you want to be for Halloween? You can be a piece of paper, a glass, OR you could be an END TABLE!" I suggested he be an end table with a piece of paper and a glass on top! Jack thought this was a grand idea. Joel.....not so much.

----Here's a confession: I stayed up until 1:30am researching the history of the tooth fairy in a believeable story that I could print off for Eli. I also wrote him a note from the tooth fairy because he left her a letter asking where she lives, if she has any brothers or sisters, and just how many teeth she collects in one night. I dunno, but my guess is that he's on to me. This reminds me that I need to go get his tooth out of my dirty pants pocket and throw it away before it gets re-discovered in the laundry.

----The boys had their "jog-a-thon" fundraiser today at school. I must precede my next statement by telling you that 5 laps = 1 mile. Noah ran TWENTY SEVEN laps, NON STOP. Maybe he'll be a track and field star? This kid amazes me and makes me realize how TERRIBLY out of shape I am.

----Tuesday was a sad, SAD day. We have come to the end of an era in the Nielsen Nuthouse. The crib. Our last baby has finally figured out how to escape his little "prison" as I like to call it. The bigs were at school, Jack was was at pre-school, and I was enjoying a quiet afternoon in the kitchen. Suddenly I hear a very happy "HI MOMMY!" It scared the crap out of me and when I looked up, there stood Logan with the proudest smile on his face. I was hoping it was a one time fluke....but no luck. He's shown off his new skill several times since then. He did last the longest though! All my other kids were climbing out at around 15-16 months.

----We got our carpets cleaned! YEA! While we were in New Mexico, Larry, being the great guy that he is came and cleaned the carpet in our entire house. We were being SO careful not to wear our shoes or barefeet on the carpet. Enjoying it's pristine condition.....then, the inevitable happened. Milo got sick. VERY sick. He threw up in EIGHT different places in the front room and hallway. But he was so sick we had to take him to the vet twice on emergency calls...so how could I be mad at him? Then, just for good measure, Logan topped it off by pooping in the living room. Aaaaah, I live SUCH a glamorous life!