Out With the Old and In With the New

Carley got her first big bike from Santa when she turned 3. She loves to ride it. Lately she has had trouble because her legs have gotten too long for it. So Cody and I knew that she needed to get a bigger one. Well this week there is a great deal on trading in your old bikes for money off your new ones and the same thing for helmets at Toys R Us. So today Cody surprised Carley and took her her sweet little princess bike from Santa and they traded it in for a new Barbie bike. The bike came with hand breaks, a bell, and a mini bike on the handle bar for her doll. She is heaven. Man, she looks so big though. Time sure does fly, doesn't it? I had to post the ones from when she just turned 3 as well. What a difference 2 years and 2 months make! Finally, here is my little man looking SO big too!

Friday Fourteen

Bloggers, remember when we all started blogging and we used to do the Thursday Thirteen each week? Well this is the spin in the form of the Friday Fourteen.

Fourteen Things about our Spring Break

1. Alyssa, Clint, Lauren, Camryn, and Addison came to visit. I love this Fantastic 5 so much! I have no pictures of the trip, but we had a great time. That little Addie J has be wrapped around her chubby little fingers. Carley loved playing with her cousins and Corey loved being carried around by them. They were all really good for each other. I am so thankful for that little family.

2. Went to the Science Spectrum - Whenever Lauren and Cam come visit, this is always on their list of things to do, so on Monday my dad and I took my 2 and L & C to the Science Spectrum. It was so fun. We went to an animal show and basically let the kids run around wild. We also went back later in the week as a family of 4 to the Dinosaur exhibit. It was overrated in my opinion.

3. Barbie Fairy Secret - Carley got this movie and a couple of the dolls this week. She has watched it at least once a day and LOVES IT!

4. Haircuts! - Carley and I both got our hair cut by Miss Tiffany this week. I am sure glad she is back from Maternity Leave!

5. EASTER PICTURES- On Wednesday Cody and I took the kids to get their pictures taken. They are SO cute. Corey was a mess and kept running out of the studio. Carley looked too big and grown up and I teared up looking at her pictures. How do I have such a grown up girl?

6. Social Network - Cody and I rented the Social Network. I really liked it, Cody thought it was okay.

7. Adjustment Bureau - Cody and I went on a date to see this. We both really liked it. It was different than I thought, but very good.

8. Anniversary Date - Along with the movie, we went to Triple J's for dinner and Cody got us a room at the Overton. it was such a fun surprise and nice treat!

9. Cleaning and Cleaning - I went through Carley's closet and got rid of lots of clothes she has outgrown. I also went through the filing cabinet and things like that and got rid of or organized many items.

10. Laundry - As of this moment, all laundry is done and put away INCLUDING sheets! WHO HOO!!!!!

11. Shopping - I took the kids shopping for new shoes and some Spring Clothes. I also made a huge trip to Walmart for some food necessities. Walmart in the middle of the day is so much nicer than Walmart after work or on the weekend.

12. 90! - Yesterday it was 90 degrees! YEAH!

13. naps - I took a nap every day. Even if I just slept for 5 minutes, it was heavenly!

14. 75,000 mile check up - Yuck, we did the 75,000 mile check up on my Pilot. I was glad to get it done and needed to do that and an oil change badly. I also had a broken key I needed fixed. Turns out two of my engine mounts were broken as well. $825 later, I have my car. I am so glad to get that taken care of over the break instead of trying to maneuver work without a car.

I am hoping to fit in some more fun and productivity over the weekend, but right now, I need to go take one of those naps. :)

7 Years

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Married couples resemble a pair of scissors, often moving in opposite directions, yet punishing anyone who gets in between them. ~ Sydney Smith

"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. ~ Mark 10:6-9



Today is our 7 year wedding anniversary. There are no words to say, no stories to tell, no actions to show that accurately or effectively express the way marriage works, the blessings that come from it, the trials you endure, the obstacles you overcome, the fears that haunt you, and the faith, hope, and love that carry you through. My prayer is that our love lasts beyond a life time and that every hard day, season, and year, are followed by a deeper love that lasts. Being married to Cody is the most wonderful journey I have ever been on and as I back over my life, it is hard to remember that he was not always there. We did not meet until I was 24 and in a way the 24 years before seem like he was there with me, a fingerprint on each page of life. I don't know if that makes sense, but all of that is to say, that today, I want to stop and really think about the GIFT of love and being married to a Godly man who wants to lead our family the best that he can. Cody, thank you for always sacrificing, always listening, always laughing, and always loving. Happy 7 years.

18 Months Old!!

HOLY COW! How is Corey Wayne Nelson 18 months old? This little boy is growing up right before my eyes.

Here are a few things about our little cutie

- He talks all the time. He says anything, but his newest words are outside, book, please, Carley, and cheese.
- He knows all of his body parts and can point to them.
- He does the motions to Itsy Bitsy Spider and My God is so Big.
- When he wants you to pick him up, he walks over to you, turns his arms out and says "Me". It is precious.
- He does more and more animal sounds each day. My favorite are the dolphin, the rooster, the owl, the seal, the snake, the lizard, the fish, and the elephant.
- He LOVES men and especially my dad (Papa) and Cody. He will go to just about any male.
- When he gets mad he crosses his arms, sticks his bottom lip out, and looks at the ground.
- He loves his teachers at school and says versions of their names (Diane = DiDi, Brittany = BeBe, etc)
- He loves being outside.
- He sleeps 12 hours at night and then takes one 2 hour nap at 11:30am.
- He is a bottomless pit most of the time and loves to eat.
- He answers every question with a yes or no answer. It is so funny to see him nod and answer out loud like a little adult whether he knows what he is talking about or not.

We love this happy, easy-going, little guy. Our world, our home, and our hearts would not be the same without you!

This and That

Not too much is going on at the Nelson's which is nice for a change. I turned the big 3-3 last week. Cody bought be a beautiful bracelet and the kids gave me willow tree angels. My parents gave me new watches. It was a great time with family.

I finished the Jodi Picoult book, House Rules, this week. I really liked it.

My sister-in-law Mandie does nails out of her home and I got a really fun Spring manicure and pedicure with the Shellack Gel nails. It has Spring started off the right way.

Carley had watch week at her dance class last week and I was amazed to see her progress. She is working SO hard this year.

I bought the kids Easter clothes this week and I can barely wait to have them wear them.

Cody is on vacation this week. It warms my heart to have my hubby at home.

Spring Break is next week and I CANNOT WAIT!

TV is decent right now. I love Parenthood, Modern Family, the Office, and the Bachelor.

Beauty and the Beast

Jennifer K and I took Carley and Elise to see Beauty and the Beast when the Broadway Musical came to Lubbock. We had so much fun with our big girls. They were hilarious. Carley recited every word before it was said and Elise sang with every song. They really thought it was magical. Then we loved our family date with our husbands and sons after.

Marcy and Candace

Weekend before last was very special for me. One of my very oldest and dearest friends came in town with her kids for the weekend. Marcy and I became friends in Kindergarten and best friends in 1st grade as I remember. Since this blog is for me to look back and document memories for my kids, then I am going to ramble on about Marcy and I for a minute. In elementary school we sat by each other for the 1st six weeks every single year because both of our maiden names started with C. We enjoyed SO many of the same things like the Boxcar Children series, Kirk Cameron, choir, and being dorks. Marcy's family was similar to mine in many ways and our parents had many of the same values. I feel like I spent the night with Marcy or vice versa at least every other weekend for years. We both loved to sing. I have a little talent in this area, Marcy is gifted beyond belief. We sang together for years, and even though we went to different high schools, we stayed connected through choir, show choir, and being life long friends. Marcy met her hubby Chris when we were sophomores in high school and they have been together ever since. Chris is talented musically as well. I mean if you call singing in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York City talented, then I guess that counts. :)

After college for several months Marcy and Chris lived in the same apartment complex as me and we said it was our dream come true. I am so thankful to have had such a strong Christian friend growing up with the same morals and values I had. It really helped me ignore peer pressure because we were there together. I pray the same close friend for my kids as they go through school.

ANYWAYS, Marcy was in town with her two kids, Jordan and Jaron. Chris was busy singing on Broadway. :) Marcy's little sister Candace, who is like family to me as well, invited the Nelsons over. We had such a good time. Watching all of our kids play brought back a million memories. Candace has two cuties, Jaden and Claire. It was so great to all be together. Here are a few pictures from the evening.

Candace, me, and Marcy

Our kids
Claire, Jordan, Corey, Carley, Jaden, Jaron

Claire and Carley
Carley, Marcy's precious mom, Claire, and Jordan

Carley and Me with Marcy's precious kids

Marcy, Cody, and me