Happy Vegetarian's Day

Bradon runs home from school yesterday and bursts through the door:

"Mom, mom we don't have any school tomorrow!"

I reply as though I know nothing about the upcoming holiday,"Why do you get the day off??"

Bradon replies, " Well because mom, it's Vegetarians Day!"

So to all you non meat eaters Bradon celebrates with you.

And to all you Veterans I do hope that you had a great celebration also!!!!!

AAARRGGGHHH MATIE!!!

This years edition of the Nilsson Halloween Extravaganza was a Pirate Theme. We had a great time, great weather, and of course great CANDY!!! I think we should have Halloween once a month, if not, at least once a quarter.

VOLKSLAUF 2008

This Year we did the Volkslauf a little different. Darron and I ran together as a team instead of separate. In turn, I ran it significantly faster, and he significantly slower!!!! But the point being, we were together, dirty, and had a great time. The kids ran in the Junior Volkslauf after, it was great. Yes.....Even MORGAN!!!!

"PRETTY NAILS"

This is what happens when you leave a two year old alone by herself for to long. This actually happened one afternoon in late August when River's End was so busy that I was just happy she wasn't being loud in the office while I was on the phone with customers. Luckily she had the sense enough to take it in the bathroom and not on the carpet.

Can Summer Really Be Over????

The Nilsson house has started school again!! We blinked and completely missed summer. Granted, summer is ridiculously busy around here, but we are sad to have our children back in school. Morgan started the 5th grade. At Harris Elementary the 5th graders are the oldest kids on campus. What a fun year this should be for her. Bradon started 2nd grade. He is really excited about school, but more excited about selling his candy bars after school. My little Evan started preschool. He is going twice a week and had his first day today. He loved it, and can't wait to go back Thursday. So for now Raia and I are loving life and getting lots done, well, we will as soon as the darn river runs out of water......come on Labor Day!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL

Morgan turned 10 years old on Wednesday, the only thing I can figure out is that maybe I was 12 when I had her since I feel about 22. In all seriousness....Morgan is an amazing young girl. She is a great sister, wonderful daughter, awesome singer, and fabulous friend. Morgan changed my life in so many ways, and I imagine in her lifetime she will have the same affect on lots of people. To the most beautiful, friendly and wonderful 10 year old I know...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

"I CHOSE THEM"

In Church on Sunday someone was relaying a story about a young mother struggling with one of her children. She was complaining and wondering why she was given such a difficult child to deal with. She was counseled by her bishop that she wasn't given this child....she "chose" this child. Sometimes it takes only small stories like this to remind me how much I love my children and that although being a mother is one of the most difficult roles in the world, , , I CHOSE THEM!!!!!

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU"

To all of you that participated in my 30th Birthday Extravaganza, I thank you!!! To my wonderful husband who thought of the great idea, you are amazing in so many ways. To those of you who don't know, Darron found 30 people including friends, family, old roommates, college friends starting the 30th of March to SHOWER me with gifts. One a day to be exact, for 30 days, for my 30th birthday. A clever and very thoughtful idea!!!! I kept a list and wanted to share. So here it goes...

March 30th: Raia Nilsson-$30.00 I-Tunes Gift Card

March 31st: The Moore Family- Homemade Hot Fudge (oh so delicious) with Ice Cream

April 1st: The Biron Family- $25.00 I-Tunes Gift Card

April 2nd: Aimee Olson- Spa Pedicure

April 3rd: The Mulkay Family- $15.00 Tahoe Joe's Gift Card

April 4th: Nicole Ferra- Smelly Good Candle

April 5th: Myron Nilsson- $20.00 Target Gift Card

April 6th: The Dowd Family- Jake's Tex Mex Sheet Cake and Ice Cream

April 7th: The Sorensen Family- Various Lotions :)

April 8th: Adam & Pek Nilsson- $25.00 Barnes and Nobles Gift Card, and Flowers

April 9th: The Walker Family- Jon Walker Photo of my choice, $5.00 Mannings Yogurt

April 10th: Amy Judd- Family Photo Album

April 11th: Dave Nilsson- Ceramic Knife (the coolest knife I've ever used)

April 12th: Micah & Cheryl Nilsson- Sago Palm, Smith's Pecan Pie, Date with Morgan

April 13th: Dan & Sarah Nilsson- Norman Love Gourmet Chocolates

April 14th: Lindsay Dugan- 2 Spa Pedicures

April 15th: Natalie Dadey- Leather Wallet

April 16th: Bradon Nilsson- Reef Flip Flops and A New Key Ring

April 17th: Michelle Nixon- Super Fantastic Carrot Cake Cupcakes

April 18th: The Maughan Family- Kitchen Fun (stuff you want to buy for yourself but don't)

April 19th: Evan Nilsson- Black Fancy Shirt and Flip Flops

April 20th: Ben and Stephanie- Fishing Rod and Reel and all the gear to go with it

April 21st: Kevin and Beth Swann- Card with Whoopee Cushion (hours of fun) $20.00

April 22nd: Darin and Wendy Swann- Edible Arrangement (see photo)

April 23rd: Kip Nilsson- 2 cleaning ladies for 3 hours to clean my house (AWESOME)

April 24th: Morgan Swann- Meat Thermometer (I really wanted one of these), pot holders

April 25th: Cara Swann- Scrapbook of the last 30 years(made me cry) Chocolate Malted Crunch

April 26th: Holly Griffiths- Earrings and Necklace

April 27th: My Mom & Dad- Homemade Jam, The most gorgeous Quilt (see photo)

April 28th: My WONDERFUL husband- Microwave and Non-stick Pots and Pans(I REALLY wanted these)He's learned that I love practical Gifts!!!

WOW......I am comletely spoiled and loved. Thank You again to everybody. It's somewhat overwhelming. I've had a great month. I love you Darron, you are the best.

"Mom, I Got To Go Pee"

Those words are music to my ears. We have officially potty-trained our last child. I think Huggies will be sad to loose a loyal customer of 10 years!!! She is so cute in panties, and she knows it. "Good Job" Raia. You're AWESOME!!!

The've Had Birthdays Shout Hooray!!

My babies are now 2 and 4. I'm not sure I really believe it myself, but it seems to be true. Raia turned 2 on March the 16th. And Evan turned 4 on April 16th. A girl at work asked me what I would do without a baby in the house. In my opinion they are both still babies and will be until they are 12 and 14. So Happy Birthday to the most beautiful and sweet 2 and 4 year olds in the world. I love you both!!!!

Easter Green

Sorry about the late entry, but here are the Easter Pics. I love holidays in which you can dress your kids up and make them look alike. We spent the Easter weekend in Irvine with all the cousins on the Nilsson side. It was a blast. And if that picture of Evan and Raia doesn't make you want to melt there is something wrong with you. I sure do love these kids!!!!

Is It Summer???

You've got to love Bakersfield, swimming mid-March!!!

You Be The Judge

Does all of this go against the
Child Labor Acts
or is it just Ingenious Parenting????

You Be The Judge!!

Welcome to the Family

There was an addition to the Nilsson Family made yesterday.
Like all Nilsson girls she is beautiful and unafordable..........yet IRRESISTIBLE!!!