Nelson Update

Well as usual we are still here (on a semi monthly basis) and are trying to stay caught up in the blogging world, but more importantly in the real world!

Things are going well and for those who don't want the long picture version here is the somewhat brief update:

We are are looking forward to Thanksgiving this week and are enjoying the time that Mia has off of school. Kathleen's Mom was able to come out so the girls are having a blast with Grandma.

Mia is enjoying school and we have been really happy getting to have her home for half the day still! We've been happy with the school she's going to, her teacher, and the other kids in her class. She's enjoyed getting to go on field trips every month, doing some fun Art projects with a wonderful retired teacher who comes in once a week to help out with their "Messy Wednesdays" and coming up in December her class will be putting on "The Gingerbread Girl" play (Mia is playing the part of the Gingerbread "Girl" so they had to change the name!). She comes home talking about it and singing the songs and she just can't wait for us to see it! And other than school she is still our energetic happy little girl. Lately she loves tumbling around the house, doing flips on anything she can flip over, and riding her bike any chance she gets. She is such a good big sister and great helper around the house.

Maddi has started to really enjoy preschool (it took her a little while to warm up to the whole idea and adjust to the change) but she just loves the other kids in the class and it has been a fun experience for both of us. If you would like to see what Maddi has been doing in preschool you can check out my preschool blog: www.creativeartsandsciencespreschool.blogspot.com

She has started to take her role as big sister to Ella very seriously and they've started to become really cute little buddies.

Ella is becoming an official toddler. She started attending nursery at church and loves everything about it (except the part about being left without Mom or Dad). :) She's actually taking to the change much better than we expected and sometimes can last half the time without us but it's been fun to see her cute little personality emerge as she tries to participate and interact with the other kids. At home she is our ultimate climber and seems to reach new heights as well as new experiences every day. Her latest "experience" involved the bathroom counter, and tub of Vaseline that she managed to smear over her entire head/face. After about 5 days the greasy glow of her hair finally went away. She is still our sweet little Ella though and is just loving trying to be a part of the family and keep up with the older girls.

I am staying busy with preschool and keeping up with Mia and Kindergarten. Her school is great because they require at least an hour a week of parent involvement and because of this they have tons of opportunities to be involved. She has 2 teachers in her class of 20 at all times and then every day they have at least 3 other parents during their center time. I wish I could be there all the time! but for now I am staying busy working as the room-parent and helping her teacher coordinate parties and other activities, and then what I really love is doing their "Artist of the Month" program. I share this responsibility with another Mom so every other month I get to go in and teach a 1/2 hour lesson on a famous Artist from history. So far I've done Rembrandt and Picasso and it's been such a blast. It's fun getting to know the kids in the class, get a taste of teaching again (without the full responsibility!), and Mia thinks its the greatest thing to have me come into her class (If only she could feel that way forever!!!).

Lance is really enjoying work, and just being an awesome husband, Dad, and only guy in the house! He's been busy taking us all on dates (the girls love their dates with Daddy) and trying to fit in some running and surfing when he can. And he's looking forward to a trip to see All of his family in Utah after Christmas.