Not as Bad as it Sounds

So, the other day I went to the doctor to have a small bump removed that had grown in my elbow-pit, if you know what I mean. The doctor thought that it would be really quick and easy so, I thought I could handle it. When I get there the nurse hands me a paper to sign saying that it is OK to perform surgery on me. I laughed, and thought I would have hammed it up a bit if I'd known I was going to get SURGERY. Then, as I waited for the doctor, I started to look around the room. There were big tanks of who knows what kind of gas, there were cabinets labeled for different kinds of splints, bandages, and numbing medicines. At first I thought this was novel; I had never been in this room in the doctor's office. I have never broken a bone or even had to get stitches. But, looking at the bed with the big light above it I began to get a bit nervous. I hate needles, and the idea of being cut open, no matter how small, just gives me the willies. Anyway, The doctor gets there, and we get started. I carefully look away so I don't see anything going into my arm, and take deep breaths when I feel the sting of the numbing medicine. I have had two babies, so I have had to develop a few coping techniques. I stared at the ceiling and counted dots, I tried desperately to think of a happy place, I reviewed the plot of the last book I read; and that got me through five minutes. I asked how much longer it would take and he said he didn't know. Five minutes later he says he says the bump isn't what he thought it was. Five minutes later the nurse leans over and says "that's big." I said, "don't say that," and she laughed. Finally, the Doctor made a diagnosis. It was a tumor. A benign fatty tumor... not a big deal, but a tumor none the less. After twenty minutes of digging around in my arm, he got it out and me stitched up. I was depleted of coping techniques, and on the verge of a serious wig out, so that was a good thing. I came home with four stitches and a sore arm, but if I''d known I was going in for "surgery" to have a "big" "tumor" removed, I would have been prepared with more happy places.

Nielsen Family Reunion

A few weeks ago we went up to Idaho for Kendal’s family reunion in Island Park. We left a day early to break up our trip. We made a slight diversion to go to Independence rock and found Martin’s cove instead. Kendal had heard stories but had never put it together that there was an actual place to visit. I think he was really touched by the stories (I chased James so he could actually listen). He kept saying, “Why didn’t they just wait?” Later, at the reunion we were talking to his dad and found out Kendal had an ancestor who died in Martin’s Cove. He was part of a wagon train that came behind them, and stopped to try and help. I was touched, later, when Kendal blessed Marshall to recognize the sacrifices of his pioneer ancestors and do his part to contribute to Zion. We really do have a noble heritage.
The next day we went up through Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. It was a lot of fun. In Jackson we went to Teton National Park and man was it pretty. We took a ferry across Jenny Lake and saw some beautiful falls. James loved the hike, even though he did it in crocs and pants that kept sagging (to our enjoyment, the kid has the cutest plumber’s crack I’ve ever seen). He almost did better than me. On the way back we saw a moose and her baby, which was way cool. I saw it from the boat and said, rather loudly, “Moose! That is totally a moose!” Everyone looked, and the guide said “everyone stay seated, she’s not going anywhere.” I felt like the biggest dork… A MOOSE! I just get so dang excited, especially with a two-year-old who loves moose. What can I say, I am used to a young audience, and they love enthusiasm. I’d like to think I was cooler before, but I may just be kidding myself.

The Grand Tetons, and the Jenny lake ferry. Doesn't this look like a post card... minus the random hand in the corner.

On the ferry.

The family at the falls. That is Marshall all snuggled up on my belly.

Our little hiker

The infamous buns

Moose

Baby moose following its mom.

At Yellowstone we got some really yummy raspberry ice-cream, and watched Old Faithful. I fed the baby while Kendal walked around a bit. He saw some bison, and some really stupid people who wanted to snuggle the bison (don't worry I have gotten over my desire to cuddle with big dangerous herbivores, last time I was up there I got a little to close to a moose for a picture and I haven’t heard the end of it). Kendal remarked about this to the guy standing next to him, and he replied "Oh, they're really tame, and he's just eating." At that point Kendal decided the guy was too stupid to have any further conversation, and walked away. But he wanted to say, "I guess those fliers that the rangers hand out to EVERYONE who enters the park telling people to stay away from the buffalo with a big drawing of a man getting gored is just a pretty picture then." I thought, those people think they are OK, but it could be my two-year-old son running to join them, or my strapping husband frantically running after my two-year-son, that sets those "tame" animals off. Tourists (enter eye roll here).

Bison

People trying to snuggle a bison

Island Park was lovely. All of the Nielsen clan was there including 18 grandchildren under 14. James had lots of friends to play with and argue with. His favorite part was the "bath" (hot tub), where he probably spent way too much time. We toured Yellowstone one day and got our fill of bubbling mud, rotten egg smelling steam, hiccupping puddles, and ominous looking pools which I tried really hard not to imagine my two-year-old falling in. My favorites are the dark blue ones that have rainbow algae at the edges. Terrifyingly beautiful I tell you. Reminds you of the power of mother earth.
Other than that we took some lovely hikes, got tons of mosquito bites (it's been incredibly wet this year), cooked s'mores, attempted to fish with no luck, got up with the sun at 5:30, ate good food, and fed a muskrat some bread. James had a few falls, and combined with his bug bites he came out looking like he had been through a war zone. I was able to keep him fed and rested enough so he didn't get sick, but I did, so everyone got sick when we got home. Dang it!
On the way down to Utah we stopped in Bear World in Rexburg. Awesome! James loved the baby bears, the white elk was just cool, and I got to cuddle a moose after all... with a wire fence between us. Safety first now that I have two kids. Kendal's favorite was the pot-bellied pig. James didn't approve—too grumpy. Funny thing is, as much as he loves to make animal sounds himself, once they start to make sounds he is absolutely terrified. Go figure.

A Blessed Day

On July 5th Marshall Allen Nielsen was blessed by his father, and my wonderful husband, Kendal. We filled pews and pews with family, and I just felt surrounded in love. My brother, Curtis, brought his whole family from Utah. Kendal’s parents were able to make it too, even though they had barely unpacked from our family reunion. And, of course my Mom and Dad, my aunt Tricia and uncle Greg, the Johnson crew, and both of my Grandpas were there too. Add the bishopric member, Mike Cardall and our home teacher, Paul Robbins, there was a big circle and a tight fit around that baby. Kendal blessed him with health and strength in his infancy and throughout his life. He blessed him to go on a mission and to get married in the temple, and that he would develop a love for the scriptures. He blessed him to remember his pioneer heritage and the sacrifices that they made, and in turn do his part to serve and contribute to Zion. And, he blessed him that he would recognize the spirit prompting him. After that I couldn’t help but feel so much love for my husband who is such a loving steward over our family, and I felt so much hope, almost relief, that if the Lord blesses Marshall with all of that, he is going to do just fine.
I bore my testimony about families. I said that I felt so much love and support having so much family here today, those sitting in front of me, and others who had passed on. My family is so tangled up in my happiness from day to day; I wouldn’t know how to function without their love. People talk about not wanting to bring children onto a world with so many evil influences, but I can’t help but believe that the scales are tipped in favor of good with a family like ours. There is nothing so humbling as looking at the face of a child you have just brought into the world and feeling overwhelmed with love for this amazing being, and then feeling the overwhelming responsibility to guide them through their life that is only so powerful because of your love for them. I am so excited to watch my children learn and grow. It is like witnessing a miracle daily. I am so grateful for the different roles all of my family plays to help guide my children and me along.

A Sad Farewell, and a New Arrival

Sadly, our Mazda has passed on. Literally, I sold it to some guy who will probably cannibalize it for parts. I got a few hundred dollars for it, which didn’t quite cover the cost of a tow from Vail, Colorado where the transmission decided its days of shifting were done. I don’t think I will ever pass that stretch of highway without recalling how Kendal luckily made it to a safe stretch of shoulder where we could put our car out of its misery. And how luckily, we were only two hours from Denver and not in the middle of nowhere, Utah. And, how luckily I have a wonderful father in Denver who hopped in his truck and made awesome time to come rescue us. And, how luckily James was asleep, and didn’t get grumpy. And, how luckily our AAA membership didn’t expire for one more month, and I knew who to call for a tow. And, how after all that good luck it started pouring rain right when we needed to transfer all of our luggage from our car to my dad’s. What can you do? At least we were safe.

Even though it made a dent in our “down payment for a new house fund,” we now have welcomed a 2000 Honda Odyssey into our garage. Kendal’s brother was contemplating upgrading their van to something that would fit their seven-person family better. I told Kendal that maybe we should relieve them of the annoyance of selling their old van. They said they’d sleep on it. The next day they started test-driving new vans. So, Kendal flew out to Utah and drove back our new bundle of joy. Oh minivan how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
1. Easy access so I don’t bang my kid’s heads every time I put them in their car seats. James can even climb up into his chair by himself!
2. Tinted windows that shade my kids’ eyes, keeps them cool yet, I can still see through them to my blind spot. Plus, they’re big, so James has so much to look at he doesn’t get so impatient in the car.
3. Stow and go seating-I can pack a double stroller and still have room for groceries. Yea trunk space!
4. Remote key chain- the Mazda had an automatic lock button on the driver’s side only. So, I would have to go around the car getting kids out and then come all the way back to get the lock. A whole new world of convenience has opened up to me that I especially appreciate now that I have one more kid to load/unload, and one less hand to do it with.
5. Electronic doors: all I have to do is push a button and they open by themselves. I just want you to take a minute and ponder how awesomely convenient that is!
6. Rear air-conditioning: No more sweaty babies!
Ok, now that I have thoroughly professed my love for my new van I will just say to all you minivan poo pooers out there: you don’t know what you are missing.

Isn't that the cutest car model you have ever seen? Check out those legs!