Nelson's California Adventure

This past week was our family vacation. We had many adventures. This post is dedicated to all our non-Disneyland Adventures.

Adventure #1: Wildfires

.

The blood-red sun was rather ominous. It was also disconcerting to watch the guardrail burn as we drove by.

On the trip down, we called our friends the Cresaps in San Diego to see if everyone was okay. My favorite quote of the weekend: "Go home. California's closed." (That would be Clint, of course.)

Adventure #2: Feeding ducks
.

We fed an astonishing number of ducks this week. There were ducks in the big lake at Disneyland. There were ducks outside of the restaurant where we ate lunch. There were even ducks at Grandpa's office where we all went for our final dental work. We fed at least a loaf of bread and several rolls to various ducks (and geese.) Oh, and FYI: geese are mean, steer clear.

Adventure #2: Finding Q's

.
Yes, that's the letter Q.

.

On long trips, we play the alphabet game in the car. And, since we were stuck in traffic for so long (9 hours total, it's usually 5 1/2), I bet we played it no less than 10 times. I still find myself looking for Q's. (La Quinta, Dairy Queen, Sequoia!)

Adventure #3: Animal Game
.
We also play "I'm thinking of an animal" in the car. This is a great game to play with Spencer because when it's his turn to guess he just asks over and over and over, "Is it a bear?"
.

But, when he's picked the animal it's a different story altogether. He just answers questions randomly until you say something cool, then he says, "YEAH, that's it!" I'll give you an example:

Us: "Does it have two legs?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Us: "Does it have four legs?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Us: "Does it eat meat?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Us: "Does it eat plants?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Us: "Does it eat tacos?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Us: "Is it red, yellow, blue or purple?"
Spencer: "Yes!"
Tyler: "Is it a rainbow?"
Spencer: "YES!"

Oh, of course! The six-legged taco-eating rainbow animal.
.

Outplay -- Outwit -- Outlast

In many ways, my life is very much like a Survivor episode. I am frequently surrounded by hungry, strong-willed people (some of whom are perpetually half- dressed), in constant competition for food, attention, and other resources. The main difference being that in our weekly "tribal council" we sing "Itsy-bitsy-Spider" and eat rice-crispy treats. I have to say though, if our family life were a Survivor episode, Carter would win hands down in the "Outlast" category.

He is the master debater. He can certainly outplay (lob numerous topics at me at once) and outlast (never give in -- never give up) in any debate. If you were a fly on our wall last night, recording just Carter's side of the conversation, you would have heard something like this:

"Mom, are you sure you are going to sell the playstation?"

"Have you talked to Dad yet about me playing football?"

"Tonight is the high school football game. It starts at seven."

"Can I play the playstation for just a half hour since you are going to sell it and then I won't be able to play it again ever?"

"I really want to play football. All my friends play football."

"If I can't play playstation, what is there to do? And, please don't say, 'Read a book.'"

"Jacob plays football."

"How much are you selling the playstation for?"

"So are we going to the game tonight?"

"All the books we own are boring."

"Kade plays football."

"Are you going to sell all the games with the playstation? What about Motorstorm?"

"I really want to go to the game."

"Ethan plays football."

"I started Harry Potter once, it wasn't interesting."

"Ethan says I could play on his team."

"What about Lego Star Wars? Are you going to sell that one with the playstation? I have all my levels saved."

"Jordan plays football."

"When does Dad get off work? Will he take me to the game?"

"Playing catch in the backyard doesn't count as football."

"Lego Star Wars II is mine. If you sell it, you have to pay me."

"Caden plays football."

"Who are you selling the playstation to? Will they even like Lego Star Wars?"

"Jacob plays football."

"Yes, I already finished that book."

"If Dad's not home, maybe I can go to the game with Kade."

"A book is not as interesting as playstation."

"Logan plays football."

"Why did you even buy the playstation if you are just going to sell it?"

"Have you talked to Dad yet about me playing football?"

"Brecken plays football."

I'm not sure from whom Carter gets this maddening tenacity (Tyler), or his sense of personal rectitude (Tyler), or the idea that every conversation has an ultimate "winner" (Tyler). So, I just try to do my best to keep up and be grateful he has traits that will ultimately help him be successful in life. (The funny thing is, all he'd really have to do is flash me that smile and the conversation would be much shorter -- but don't tell him that.)

Oh, and just so you know, I decided not to sell the playstation; he did end up going to the football game with his Dad; and we are still in discussions regarding him playing football next year. Stay tuned...

Chelsea-isms

I was accused recently of having a favorite child. A friend (who shall not be named) noticed that I tend to blog more about one particular child than the others. It is true that the suspected "favorite" is featured on my blog frequently, but I must emphatically state that this is not due to preference. Instead, it is because the age and character of said child provides me ample blogging material. Additionally, this child happens to be home with me during the day while the others are at school. Had the blogosphere been around when the others were three (oops, I gave it away), there would have been many humorous posts about them as well.

In response to this assumed favoritism, I am posting a Chelsea-Only blog (Carter-Only blog to follow). This one is dedicated to all the funny (and interesting) observations and comments Chelsea makes that keep us laughing -- and guessing.
.
Chelsea's insight to politics:

Hillary Clinton was featured on the cover of a recent US News & World Report magazine. Carter picked up the magazine and asked me, "Why don't we like her?" Chelsea quickly responded, "Because she's a Democrap."

(While I don't affiliate myself with either political party because I think they are both corrupt, I am not necessarily a Hillary fan either. The assessment sticks.)

Chelsea's language control:

While I was driving the kids home from school, a left turner made a very dangerous turn in front of me, to which I responded, "Oh, that was stupid!" Chelsea quickly chimed in from the back seat, "What did you say? (Pause, sigh) Mother, I've already had to talk to Dad about using that word!"

Chelsea as informant:

I have on different occasions, heard all of the following during the drive home from school:

"Mom, can you believe some kids at school don't know how babies are made?"

"Mom, some kids in my class still think Santa is real!!"

"Mom, did you know so-and-so has one Mom, two Dads, and six Grandparents! Now that's lucky, her Christmas must be huge!"

When picking her up after school:

"Mom, why are you so late? It's so hot, kids could die out here!"

"Ok, just so you know for next time, I hate these pants, I will never wear them again, they are itchy and ugly and I have been waiting all day to tell you this."

On not wanting me to do her hair in the morning:

"You can go ahead and put it in a ponytail if you want. I'm just going to rip it out on the way to school."

"Hello! Please be aware of the tangles!"

On role models:

"Mom, who is the girl on Freaky Friday?"
"Lindsay Lohan?"
"Yeah! I want to be just like her when I grow up!"
"Uhm... (Redirect) Don't you want to be a mom like me?"
"No, you can't play the guitar."

And, her favorite subject, Bryce:

When cleaning spit up off Bryce, "I don't blame you, Bryce. I'd spit out anything that smelled like that."

"He's crying because he needs his Chelsea."

Color Test

.

Follow the link for a quick brain challenge.

.

http://www.fireworkspop.com/colortest.htm

.

The poor man's zoo

I took Spencer's preschool group to a local pet store last week for a field trip. As another mother in the group said, "It's the poor man's zoo!"

.

I asked each child to choose their favorite animal.

Spencer chose this snake.

.

And also, Nemo and Dory!

OOOO! And some turtles!

Oh, and this puppy!
"He loves me mom!"

This yellow fellow was "way cool!"

.

But maybe that's because he matched Bryce.

These posing lizards were also a hit.

Ultimately, there was no one favorite.
As Spencer put it when we were leaving the store,
"They are all favorites! Let's buy all them!"

Uh oh, perhaps I need to re-explain the concept of
"poor man's zoo."

Boxing for the Cure

My brothers, David & Jon, were happy to participate in the:

.

First Annual

Nelson Family

Dixie Regional

St. George Utah

Marathon Weekend

Sore Muscle Awareness

Pro Am Fun Fight

Box for the Cure

Boxing Tournament

.

Courtesy of Wii Sports (and Bullrider Oversized Checks).

David has a nasty right hook and
Jon is a sneaky left jab.

It was serious competition...
the winner got free pie.

In the end, they both won once.

Plus, they got some pie, and cured

Marathon Muscle Soreness

all in one night.

.

Go Dave & Jon!

.

Oh, and just so you know...

Dave & Jon's (and Kristen's)

cure for Marathon Muscle Soreness:

.

Don't run marathons. Eat pie.

Twins

Spencer:

Bryce:

Good guesses everyone!

Most people were right.

I'm Not Tired!

Every afternoon Spencer and I play this little game.

It's called: "Nap or No Nap?"

Sometimes he is tired and happily goes down for a nap.

Sometimes he is not tired and happily plays all afternoon.

Most often, however, he is tired but insists he is not,

and then around 2pm I find him asleep somewhere.

This (the emptied block bucket) is the most

interesting place I have found him.

It just goes to show that the presence of a blankie

makes anyplace comfortable.