Thankful...

If I can't blog I certainly can't post something on facebook every day that I'm grateful for. So I'm going to catch up, and be thankful at the same time...watch these skills.

28 Things I am thankful for (in no particular order).

1. I am thankful for this amazing little 1 year old! Can't believe it's been a year and I fall more in love with him every day.
2. I am thankful for this amazing big man in my life who sacrifices a lot to take care of Miles and go to school and always be watching-out for me.

3. I am thankful for this home and the projects that get done (like a new sprinkling system and grass!) and the projects in the works (the list is too long!)
4. I am thankful for a job, that albeit exhausting and more work than one human being can do, it's a job and it takes care of my family. On top of that I am learning and growing and pushing myself on a daily basis.
5. I am thankful for Rudy and Lulu and the fact that they still love me even though they don't get daily walks or ball time.
6. I am thankful for Logan, a two-minute commute, no traffic, and the good friends we've found here.















7. I am thankful for my Mom. Man, she would do anything for me, including give me the coffee table out of the middle of her living room (I changed my mind, but she was willing!) Or hop on a flight with me so I have help with Miles, heck I bet if I asked her to come clean my toilets she'd be here in less than 2 hours (it is a 1 1/2 hour drive, and she'll need to get a coke).
8. I am thankful for my Dad who is a role model, a leader, and an example far beyond measure. He works tirelessly and never complains, he will break his back to help you out, and then crawl down on the floor to play with Miles.
9. I am thankful for my big nieces and nephews who despite being too old and too cool still get down and play with Miles and always try to share a little love with their littlest cousin.
10. I am thankful for my little nieces and nephews who gather around Miles and show him how to play toys, or chase him around the house, or lock themselves in the rabbit cage cause he thinks its funny.














11. I am thankful for all grandparents, old, young, near, far, actual, and just pretend. For loving every picture, giggling at every video, and spoiling my little one to pieces.

12. I am thankful for my oldest brother Kyle, for being a fighter and a superman. For having a positive attitude and a back strong enough to carry everyone when he has the legitimate reason to be weak.
13. I am thankful for my oldest sister Kassie for being my creative inspiration and not being afraid to be herself. For being strong in the face of many frustrations and always being an incredible mom, no matter what.

14. I am thankful for my brother Bud for being my friend when I was an awkward teen and the only one left in the house. For making me feel 'cool' around his friends when I'm sure I was a total dork. For growing into a strong man and a role-model of a father.







15. I am thankful for my sister Heidi for being my rock, and my reference for all things childbirth and pregnancy. For staying by my side for 52 hours of labor, pushing me and holding me up all at once. Now realizing, that's what she is so good at in all aspects of life.
16. I am thankful for my siblings spouses, for being original, unique, and not afraid to be themselves - but at the same time fit into this strange Nielson family picture.
17. I am thankful for my In-laws, although far, always thinking of us and doing all they can to be a part of our lives.
18. I am thankful for my own cousins and the friendship they have always given me. Now it seems they're all so far apart and we don't get to be together enough, but I'm not sure what I would have done without a hoard of cousins around.
19. I am thankful for good friends. I've never been very good at the friend thing (see #17) but I'm grateful to have a few folks I consider good friends who I could ask for about anything and they'd be willing.
20. I am thankful for a principal who believes in me and sees in me potential that I don't see. I am thankful he pushes me to do things I don't even know I'm capable of, and then supports me to success.
21. I am thankful for the arts. I am lucky enough to be able to dance, draw, sing and act with my students this year and when the day is long, I am totally reinvigorated to stop and dance the Bele Kawe with a group of 2nd graders.

This is church...not sure about the gospel study part.

22. I am thankful for the gospel, and although I am not a scriptorian or church historian, I am thankful to know that it's true, and to know that my Heavenly Father loves me in spite of all I lack.
23. I am thankful for prayer, especially in the dark hours of the night when a sick baby is crying, or a heart is heavy with hurt, or a brain is racing with frustration. I am thankful to be able to stop, and think, and connect and then feel that it will all be alright again.
24. I am thankful for blankeys - mine and Miles, and the great comfort they bring.








25. I am thankful for cool air, and approaching winter. Yes, I will miss warm walks but I love the chill and I am so grateful to not be hot.
26. I am thankful for nature and this beautiful state we live in, and the fact I can look out my front window and see a beautiful mountainside.
27. I am thankful for this day, and the opportunity to cook (yes, I'm thankful for that), and be thankful, and read a really thick newspaper full of ads.
28. I am thankful for my family, yes I said them all before, but I'm just so thankful to have them, they are such blessings and make me so happy. I can't imagine life without them.

Still Reading...

Amidst it all, I can't help but pick up a book. It's an escape and an adventure... Here's the latest reads.

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms
This was such a fun book with a little history, magic, and adventure. It made me want to go to a magic show, and solve a mystery.

Emily's Fortune
This was a quick and easy read with a bit of history. It made me giggle, and squeal a bit too.

The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy

This is my dirty little secret. 

I haven't watched a chick flick in a long time. Like years. Cause I go to bed...early. And when you only get an hour to watch a show a day, I can barely make it through my food network DVR list. So I found this series late one night when I finished my book and I had to find something available to check out right then. I wanted light - romantic - and it talked about remodeling. Yes it's serious sappy romance, Art read me a page one day, we both laughed really hard. But frankly, I like it and when you don't want to think about data and numbers and assessments and schedules, this is an escape.

Currently Reading:

Cold Hard Reality.

School has started.
Life has ended.
Ok, that's a bit dramatic, life has not actually ended. But time to enjoy it has.
That's not true either, I get home from school to big (little) open arms and a cheesy grin, then we lay on the floor and play and hide in the curtains and cuddle and it makes me forget everything until morning when it all starts again.

I have a very busy school schedule this year, my job has multiplied and reproduced. Now I have many big jobs, as well as lots of little baby jobs, and frankly there is not enough hours in the day.
What do I do you ask? (Well, someone recently asked me, and it was not easy to answer, so I'll try it in writing)
I am the ...
- Assessment Director (Coordinate and organize testing for the whole school, report the data to teachers, parents, and the state, blah blah blah)
- Intervention Specialist (Use the data from assessment to determine students needs, meet with grade levels to make intervention groups, help provide instructional support, and teach intervention groups for K-5)
- BTSALP Arts Integration Specialist (Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program...see, the abbreviation is shorter, but only barely - I go into all the classrooms and teach integrated arts lessons with drama, dance, music and visual arts, and some other stuff, but this is new this year so I have a lot of figuring out to do)
- ELED 3005 Beginning Classroom Management Co-Instructor (I team-teach this with a colleague, once every other week. It's a lot of online grading and discussions and a short lecture, but 97 students so a lot of papers to read!)
- ELED 4040 Assessment and Instruction for Struggling Readers Instructor (This is a Level 3 (almost student teacher) class with 23 students. We meet every week for 3 hours and I'm on my own. It's new and a lot to learn, I'm loving it, but it's a lot of figuring out this semester!)
- Leveled Library - ian (I order, catalog, and organize all the books for our leveled library. Then I help teachers find books, and reshelve when they come back. I'm supposed to be printing some thousands from a phonics reader site we purchased, but have yet to have time.)
- School Musical Director (I've picked the play, decided to do it earlier in the year, and can't figure out when to have rehearsals. no time.)
- I also sit on the Governing Board, Management Team, Gifted Team, PLC Team, and Specialists Team at school.

I'm tired.

In other news. I've been reading (in the middle of the night, when I'm not grading discussions, while I nurse my baby, that still doesn't sleep through the night)

While on vacation I read a sappy teen romance, I can't remember the title, but I did finish it, so that says something.

Then I read, Turtle in Paradise - Cool setting and historical perspective. A good easy read, but not one I'll read again.

Next up was Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. I have read many of his books, they are African American historical fiction and are generally very good. This one was my favorite! The story was so engaging and a different view of the culture and country during the late depression. It wasn't overly complex (some of his novels are) but was full of life. Definitely recommend this one.

I just finished a book called Auditions, another teen romance, that was fairly interesting. It's written in verse, Patricia Reilly Giff style. I really liked the authors ability to paint a clear picture and still keep the language beautiful. If you're a dancer, it would be even better because you'd understand all the french ballet terms. It was good, but kind-of somber and did not leave me with a happy feeling.
(can't get image to upload, stupid)

I'm currently reading a book called Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms, so far so good.

That's all for now. Miles will be walking any day, I can't believe how fast the time goes by.

Back from Bliss...

I had a 7:45 AM meeting Monday morning. Talk about a cold hard return to reality.
We got back from a weeklong vacation to Oceanside late Saturday, and it sure was hard to return to real life.

Morning visits...

• We were lucky to have a great drive (except the route between Glendora and Oceanside that was too much traffic, and a bad night going home.)
• An amazing view, from the bed! Not to mention the sound of ocean waves crashing...
• Fabulous food (the best burgers we've ever eaten)...
• A great master bedroom suite complete with Miles' own room (A walk-in  closet big enough for a dresser with his things and his pack & play. Not only did it drown out the sound from the Washingtons downstairs, but it was dark and warm and provided optimal sleeping conditions as he napped 2 - 2 hour naps every day!)...
• Wonderful morning visits with Kassie and my Mom on our balcony overlooking the ocean...
• Sand building fun (Not as much as I would have liked, but you can only allow your child to consume so much sand - 9 month olds don't quite get the concept of keeping something out of their mouth. It killed me to not get to build all day with everyone, my meager additions and artistic consultations are nothing in comparison to the talents of my family)...
• Daily swims to take off a layer of sand...
• Most importantly lots of family time. Not as much as I would have liked as naps are essential, and bedtimes come early, but we tried to enjoy evenings together and some fun outings. We each snuck away from a few naps to golf, boogie board, shop and play in the sand. But the time we spent as our own little family was pretty awesome too. Art and I enjoyed our incredible balcony and view, a good book, and some quiet stress free time together. 

A little sand and ocean time. 

It's really hard to put into words what a great vacation it was. Sure Miles is all the wrong age for traveling (too big to sleep/sit in your arms, too little to play alone or miss naps), but it didn't matter. It was impossible not to enjoy being there and make the most of every minute. I wish we could have one more week. Or two. I really wanted to get the whole family in the pool at once, and I didn't get one game of Phase 10; I was hoping for one night of late night girl giggling, and at least one more play session for Miles and Shelby (She's just his favorite). But we made so many memories it just makes me look forward to next year. 

He likes to play with the girls, as long as Mom is within view.

And yes, I believe wholeheartedly the whole family will be together next year.

(There are already over 1000 pictures in the family dropbox (I took very few as my hands were always full), and we don't even have Dorien's yet (and she has well over 1000 alone), I'll try to pick a few favorites....)

Miles screamed through every kid picture. No matter who held him or how entertaining everyone was trying to be. 

Just FYI

I have about 720 oz. of milk in my freezer.
The freezer is full.
One half milk, the other half cookies. Seems fitting.
We have no ice.
I'm considering not pumping in San Diego.
The thought is making me nervous.
I think I'm a milk-hoarder.

Ok, it's not this bad, but I aspire to such greatness. 

Oh what a book....

Last night I finished My Family for the War by Anne Voorhoeve, I stayed up until 10:00 - for 4 nights in a row - because I couldn't stop reading.
I haven't seen 10:00 since, well I can't remember the last time I was up that late.
That should say something.

The story takes place during WWII and focuses on the life of a young german girl. She was persecuted for being Jewish but wasn't 100% sure if she was Jewish. When the war began to really effect Berlin she was sent away on a Kindertransport to England to seek refuge, and that's really more than I should say already.
The story is full of history, rich - thought-provoking - mind-drenching, history. But I don't like to read history, and yet I seemed unable to stop myself from becoming so engrossed in the tale of this young girl that all I wanted to do was read.
Her story is full of very real adventure, probably not the word she would use to describe it - perhaps, misfortune, circumstance, life. Her wit and strength in coping with the 'things' that lie before her reinforce a love for this character.
Despite that it is set in WWII, during horrific circumstances, it is not a sad book. There are sad moments, there are losses that are heart-wrenching and made me cry. (There is an entire blog post in the understanding I gained from watching her deal with death, but I'll get to that another time.) But overall, there is joy, hope, faith and love. A lot of love. (not sappy kissing romance love - burying your head in someones neck and holding them tight kind of love)
I kind of wish I hadn't finished it. I'm pretty sure I could pick it up and start reading again (solely to better understand all the German names), just to put myself back in her story.

Recommend it? Yes. For everyone - no, older kids, 5th grade and up; adults, absolutely.
Makes you think twice about your family.

Random What-Nots

So stuff has been happening, just random stuff about this and that, seems exciting to read about huh? My favorite picture is last, so if nothing else scroll to the end to see.

We picked a car seat, it was option......none of the above. I found some in stores to 'touch' and debated and hum-hawed and finally picked a different one. It will arrive Tuesday so we can take it to California on Friday. I hope I love it, I've only doubted my decision 25 times.

We're getting a new sprinkler system and sod. Currently we have dirt. But I'll take dirt over the dead sod that filled a 30 foot trailer, thanks to the young men it was gone in an hour! (That is about the most ridiculous sentence I've ever written, and I'd fix it, but I can't figure out how, and I don't want to try that hard!)

Last night we had Butch & Sharon, and their good friend Ted & Sharyl over for dinner. We had them last year and I made tapa's which everyone liked. So this year I decided to switch cultures and make antipasti (my version, which isn't very accurate). It's really fun to have them because they're all foodies and such great company.
Here was the menu:

• Chicken Alfredo Puffs with white sauce
• Mini-Calzones with meaty red sauce
• Open-face Spinach and cheese ravioli with zucchini
• Caprese Bruschetta

For Dessert:

• Creamy Lemon Butter Cake
• Chocolate Caramel Tartlettes with Marscapone cream

You'll have to imagine the rest of the food as I was busy preparing and didnt' take pictures!

More than anything I like to plan a menu (It was MUCH larger, but i'm glad I simplified since I have a ton of leftovers!) I also like to gather all my pretty white dishes and set a fancy table. 

This morning I had to figure out how to get them all back on the shelf and looking nice, I climbed on and off the chair about 25 times.

As for Miles, he got his first tooth, it made him grumpy(two nights of waking up every 1 1/2-2 hours - hooray!)- looking forward to 19 more! 

We celebrated the 4th of July, he's dang cute in red, white and blue.

He is the master of clapping and will randomly just stop and clap. I think he's proud of himself. 

He is almost standing on his own, and will be walking soon. In the meantime he is incredibly proficient at crawling and getting into everything. 

"Miles that's not for you!"

"What?"

"What's that ya' got?"

"I wanna see!"

"Hey, let me SEE!"

"By 'see' I mean 'touch'"

One day I let him help me open the mail and read the ads, he's very thorough. (And may have eaten a bit of paper)

We've done some other stuff, but I can't remember. Summer is almost over, I better get my brain functioning again. Until then I'll just enjoy the sunny days, blue skies, and fresh watermelon.