How has it been this long?

Wow...6 months! That's a new record. So sad dude, but that's how much I care about updating a blog. Sorry. I admit I'm the worst around. My friend Tara recently sent me an email that simply said, "Marlie, your blog sucks." It made me laugh. Anyway here are a TON of pictures (that's how I best document things) from the past 6 months. Lots has happened! A visit from Danica and her 2 cuties, Disneyland, San Diego, my little brother Dallin got home from his mission...so we've been busy. Also, my latest endeavor is studying up to become certified in group fitness. I'm hoping to teach kickboxing. Kind of freaks me out, but it is something I have wanted to do for a really long time now. I LOVE being a mom more than anything else in this world. Little Wes turned 1 in April. Crazy to me. He and Jack have become really good buddies. Anyway, life contines to fly by. It's busy, but wonderful.


Jack and Whitney (Tyler's oldest) making scary faces.
Grama hooking Wes up with the good stuff.

J-man and Grandpa Nelson hiking the "Y". That was a freaking joke with kids. What was I thinking??

Our little fam up at American Fork Canyon Falls.

Jack, Cole and Whit playing with the hose on the trampoline.

Mom and Dad with some cuties (our 2 then Tyler's 3).

Me and Katherine...aka Emma!

Me and D up at the falls. He's so grown up!! Darling boy.

Me and the little angels on Mother's Day.

Ah yeah! Disneyland was even better than I remember it! I could have stayed there for an entire week!

The mock Palace of Fine Arts at California Adventure. Kris proposed to me at the real one up in San Francisco. Had to get a picture of that!

At the beach in San Diego. SO darling!!! I could seriously eat his cheeks right off!

My big boy having a blast with his dad.

At Balboa Island (I think?).

This picture cracks me up. Jack was loving the Toy Story ride at Disneyland.

Some fun in the backyard a few months back.

Jack's 3rd birthday party.

Jack and his cousin from PA, little Carson Nelson.

Wes and his cutie new cousin Camille (Zack's youngest).

Sweet Sweet Neil

So for Kris' b-day, I surprised him with tickets to Neil Diamond. Amazing, I know. We do have somewhat of a history with Mr. Diamond. Our second date was to a Super Diamond concert up in San Francisco. They are a hilarious cover band for the man. Anyway, we had a blast. I was dying laughing. That guy was such a great entertainer though. I left feeling like a genuine fan. I'd like to share a couple of my favorite comments from his show: "Those of you who have been to my concerts know the rule...there are no rules!" (after which the place exploded with cheers--awesome); "Let this next song take you away. Just sit back, relax, and let the music wash over you. We'll do all the heavy lifting," (awesome). He was great. By the way, the picture of Neil above...with the hand outstretched, the palm up...well that was a favorite pose of his throughout the night. He closed multiple songs with that amazing form...although sometimes his eyes were closed and his head was back. Hilarious. Below is the cake I made for Kris...it says "This train stops for Neil!" I was pretty proud of myself seeing that I stink at cakes (almost as much as I do at blogging. Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to flip this picture around).

So below are a few fun recent pics. Jack has informed us that he's getting married at Winchell's someday. Cool Jack. Then my little cuties at Costco. It was Wes' first time sitting up in a shopping cart. Lastly, J-man having a ball in the backyard after a recent snowfall. And one quick story. We've been watching the Book of Mormon DVD's (which we may put away for a time) recently. Jack made an inspired comment the other day after having watched the one about Abinadi and King Noah. We were in Sacrament meeting and he was bugged for whatever reason and yelled, "Dad, I'm gonna burn you in the fire!!!" Yes!!! I love those moments. We got a few turned heads for that one.

The latest

Kris and Jack outside the Denver Temple.

Wow...three months and no blogging. As afore mentioned, I am the worst with this stuff. I feel like anytime I sit down at the computer too much of my time is sucked away, so I avoid it in general. Anyway, lots has happened, which will be shared primarily through pictures. Since my last post, we celebrated my b-day up in Half Moon Bay, CA (it was amazing!!) right there on the coast, we had a fun trip to Utah (Katherine's surprise 30th b-day Stake Dance Party), and enjoyed a great Halloween. You'll see my little Wesley isn't so little anymore. He's SO darling. I can't stop kissing either of these boys. I was telling my mom the other day that I've never been so happy. Motherhood is the greatest blessing.

Well, little Jack is trying to master the potty little by little. I was laughing to myself the other day at how being a mom is anything but glamorous. I love wiping up my kid's dung (the stuff that doesn't quite make a clean drop), his pee on the wood floor...sweet. So funny. And yet, I love what I'm doing. Things that Jack has said that crack me up:

Me: "Jack, want to go to the park?"

Jack: "Yeah mom. That would be amazing!"

Me: "Jack, you need to stop getting so big. It's making me sad."

Jack: "No mom, it can make you happy in your face." (with a super high-pitched voice to encourage my happiness)

Jack (first thing one morning): "Hmmm Mom, what do we do today? The toy store or McDonalds?" (I love his clever little mind...just giving me my 2 options)

Jack (one morning getting ready for church): "You look pretty mom. You getting married?"

Jack (at breakfast): "Mom, I just want toast and chocolate milk. Just toast and not butter. Butter is too dangerous for me." (I have no idea where he got that, but it made me laugh).

Jack: "Mom, I want to watch Mermaid. Don't say no. Say yes, like Nephi." (We've been learning about how Nephi always had a good attitude and said yes when asked to do things).

Yeah, life is pretty amazing with these sweet little boys. We sure love them. Hope everyone is doing well. I love peeking in on your blogs and seeing your beautiful families. Until 2009! Just kidding...maybe.

Me and Kat with our new babes (Mary Jane and Wes)

Cute missionary mom at the Bishop's Storehouse cooking lunch

HECK YEAH! It's THOMAS!!
Dad and Wes

My b-day outside our hotel at sunset

Mom and I ran her 5K together at the Senior Olympics

Our little monster and Buzz

Ward Trunk or Treat with my cuties

At Kris' office Halloween party for the kids

Me and Kat at her surprise birthday party

Are you kidding me?? I'm dying!

This is the cutest video ever of Jack making Wes laugh. It was back at the beginning of September. Way too precious.

World's Worst Blogger

I fully admit to being the biggest slacker with the blogging thing. So here we are...almost 3 months since my last post with our update. :) Little darling Wesley is growing so fast and is such a precious baby. He's been sleeping through the night since about 6 weeks. Unreal! I didn't think that actually happened! We spent the 4th of July in Southern Colorado with Kris' family and enjoyed a fun family vacation to our favorite place (San Francisco) and got to see Tyler and Nats while we were there. Jack kept asking, once we were home, if we could get on the airplane and go to Cole's house. Boy do I wish! Oh yeah, and how about someone breastfed Wesley! Right? Kris and I are still registering that one. It's a crazy story in and of itself. My cute cousin Lesley came for a visit and we had so much fun together. We devoted a good amount of time to watching Twin Peaks and finally discovered who killed Laura Palmer. Freaky crap!

On another note, I am delighted to have acquired recipes similar to those of Cafe Rio. That's pretty much all we eat right now. Can you blame me? Anyway, life is great. Jack is psycho...but so funny and I still can't ever kiss him enough. We love our 2 little guys. Here are some pics of the past few months...This one below is Jack at Kung Fu Panda for the 3rd time! Yes! Awesome when your biggest thrill is collecting the entire set of Happy Meal toys from the movie for your kid.

Jack and Cole

Whitney and Wesley

Darling little Annie

Natalie rockin Guitar Hero

Kris and I after he worked his buddies from Townsend in basketball

This guy is the smiliest man in town! Love it.

Cute Jack helped me pick zucchini from the garden and just bit right into it. Awesome.

Fireworks on the 4th after the Rockies game

Rafting on the Rio Grande with cousins

Playing with Sabey cousins at the cabin

All ready to raft...thanks to the great new swimsuit from G&G Reed

Rockies game last weekend with Katie and Arek

Les and I in Kris' office downtown

Cute little W with Lesley

Jack at his friends b-day party...going nuts at the candy bar

Me with the guy with the cutest little buns in town!