Happy Valentine's Day!!

It's so true, the best thing you can do for your spouse is love your kids, at least for me. Todd knocked it out of the park today. He texted me on Wed "don't get the kids anything for V-day, I have it covered." This was a relief b/c I had tried to buy them a bunch of stuff at Target about a week ago. I bought things from the dollar bins etc...then picked up some fabric softner. I put the fabric softner on top of everything then discovered at the check out that it leaked all over everything. The cashier took everything out of my cart that was ruined and threw it away. Instead of being a big girl and going to buy more, I got mad and left. Todd is just smoother than me as a rule.

I'm so impressed with this man. Really, even after almost 11 years of marriage...still impressed. He got everything right today, and that's not easy when shopping for 3 kids.

He got each girl a sweet card, an outfit (even got the sizes right!), a stuffed animal, and candy.

It's alot to remember...let alone making it out of the store without ruining everything.

Anyways....here are some pics of our day...and Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Good Morning

I love days I don't work, I get to sleep until 7. Up at 7, wake kids up at 7:30, leave the house at 8 to get Rylee to school. Today I didn't work.

So when our house alarm started blaring at 6am today, I wasn't thrilled. I have thought about what to do in this situation (thanks to the monsoon in August that blew the door so hard the alarm went off at 2am). I knew that Todd was out of town (in Vegas, lucky sucker) and the girls were in their beds. Rylee and Maddie came running into my room, screaming and crying. I yelled to the girls and asked if they had opened a door or window, they yelled back "no." I checked the alarm panel, back door opened. SO...I left the alarm blaring (sorry residents of Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek for waking you up at 6) so that the alarm company would dispatch the police. I yelled at the girls to hudle on my bed while I ran to get Kennedie. I knew I would have to run by the ajar back door, and was shaking. I then grabbed the phone and started to dial 911. Luckily, I only dialed 9 when Maddie started yelling "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I immediatly hung up the phone and asked her what she was sorry for. She started yelling (yes, alarm is still blaring) "Worms, I wanted to find worms!" I turned off the alarm while she explained that she woke up early to go digging for worms. When she opened the back door, the alarm went off, so she slammed it and ran to get Rylee. Which is when they ran into my room and our drama began.

I knew that having three girls would bring drama into our lives, but at freakin 6 am on a non-work day???

Our hearts go out...

To the friends and family of the Gilbert Officer who was shot last night.

There are constant reminders to us of the frailness of life, especially with Todd's job. This officer was shot 3 miles from our house. If Todd was working last night, he would have been one of the officers following the suspects, as they were shooting and throwing things out of their vehicle.

We visited the scene tonight, and read the cards on the flowers and candles. Amazing support for this officers family. We ached for his two girls (10 and 12). We explained to our kids that an officer was hurt there. Rylee felt it pretty hard and had lots of questions for us. Maddie thought that that was where Jesus was buried. Either way, we talked about praying for the officers daughters. Rylee was very upset that some people know the rules, but still break them. She asked why the bad men couldn't express their anger appropriately, by walking away or talking about it (nope, she's not a therapists daughter).

Our hearts go out to this family and to all the officers who worked with him. Truly the loss of a hero.

I thank God that Todd has been kept safe. I'm so thankful that he was able to call me after the shooting he was involved in 2 years ago. I'm so thankful he wasn't injured.

The Joy of Having Girls

I get to re-live my childhood. Asking my mom to put soft hair rollers in my hair at night "but leave the front out so I can make big bangs." Sleeping in rollers all night, knowing that in the morning, I would take them out and have gi-normous hair, the best! I would couple the big hair with my ankle-zip Guess jeans "mom, you have to wash my Guess Jeans and Sweatshirt so I can wear them with my curly hair." Now, if all of these fabulous things lined up on a day where there happened to be a Skateland skating party that evening, it was true heaven. I knew that I would look hot, skating with big hair and Guess Jeans. Ah, bliss.

I love that my sweet Rylee wanted soft hair rollers. I love that she woke up at night, excited for the morning. I took them out in the morning, now....I remember looking hot, not like a poodle. Seriously, I thought, this is what I looked like? But just like me, my little poodle felt like the most beautiful girl in the East Valley. How fun!

In other news....Maddie related, just this week:

-She shoved yet another bead up her freakin nose. Luckily we got it out, I didn't even have to use Daddy's cop flashlight to look for it up there, progress?

-While at the park, in front of lots of lovely families, she yells (because I'm never standing in whispering distance when she says crazy thing, always yelling distance) "Mom, how long are you going to be in jail for this time?" I turned beat red, and ignored her. I had nothing. Maybe she was thinking of her "other mother"...let's hope

Christmas

Well, Santa delivered again (seriously, why does he get all the credit for bringing the best toys??). The big girls got bikes, daddy got a new electric remote controlled car, mommy got a coach purse, and Kenzie got all things Elmo. Some pics of the big day:
Alright so I only found one picture. Geez. I guess my New Years Resolution is to take pictures.

Catching up after the Holidays

The girls had their first real dance recital in December. They have been going to a dance studio for about 6 months, and got to perform in a recital, on stage, at a High School. Special emphasis on "stage" and "high school" as it was the coolest thing in the entire universe to get to go to a High School in the first place, then to get to "check out their backstage" (as Rylee squeeled). Dress rehearsal (all 6 hours of it) was a bit rough, Maddie had a complete meltdown because they didn't open and close the curtains "I NEED curtains!!!!," then another fit when it was over "I'm not done, put me back up there!!" They did a fabulous job during their performance, both of them just lit up getting to be on stage in front of hundreds of people. Of course afterwards, daddy gave them each a dozen roses...aw!

Dear Santa,

We are certain that you check blogs for updates on what children would like, and parental recommendations for the Naughty or Nice list. So here you go:

Rylee - Age 6 - Favorite colors: Red, Blue, Purple, Pink. Size: 6 (sometimes 5, but if you bring her size 5, please remove the tags as you will be told that you have not purchased the right size. You and I both know that someday she will appreciate being thin, but not today).

We would recommend that our sweet 6 year old be on the Nice list. We would however, recommend you talk to her about her attitude, specifically when being told "no." Please let her know that sometimes parents don't have 52 reasons for everything, and are usually too exhausted by giving the excuse the 2nd or 3rd time to continue. We do love this precious girl, and are thankful for what a great Big Sister she is.

Rylee would like: An Aqua Sand (Santa, really....what the heck is this??? Your little helpers cannot find it in any freakin retail stores), a Wii (which we were told would be on sale at Costco after Christmas....can you pull any strings?!?), and that's it. Pretty simple.

Madison - Age 3 - Favorite colors are Pink and Black. Size 4 or 5 (yes, you read that right....and she's only 3).

We would recommend the Nice list for this one as well. However, when asked if we should tell you if she has been naughty or nice, she said "just tell him I tried." So there you go. When upset, she still lets us know that "my real mom and dad will be here soon to get me anyway." Maybe you could address that with her, we get strange looks from others when she does this. The other thing that gets us strange looks is her insistence of wearing her swimming suit every day "in case it gets summer this afternoon." I did "win" yesterday, and she wore a shirt with her swimming suit bottoms and skates...go mom! Otherwise, a very sweet, creative, unique child she is.

Maddie would like a pink baby bottle. That's it. She has consistenly wanted this for 6 months, even though we have 52 in our house.

Kennedie - Size 12 - 18 months (she's a peanut!) Love of her life: Elmo

We would recommend the Nice list for this one as well. Just seems wrong to recommend the Naughty list for anyone under 2. She does do a great self time-out. When she's upset, we tell her to walk herself into the front room. She does, and turns her siren on (yes, she can scream louder than a police car), then calmly walks out. Impressive, I know.

Daddy - Likes Black, and anything boy-ish (who can blame the poor sucker, in a house with 4 girls).

I would recommend the Nice list. Despite one incident this year, when he spent more than our mortgage on a watch, he really is a gem. He has more patience than any man, and is almost as nurturing as any woman (please don't tell his Police friends that, Santa). He is a keeper.

Not sure what he wants....if you find out....please drop me a line.

Mommy - Size: yah, right...not happening, Santa! Likes anything that Sparkles

I think anyone who births a child (or 3) deserves to be on the Nice list. I think the hours of labor, hours of praying for our children and husbands, gives us immunity to being on the Naughty list. If you only knew the hours we spend, tears we cry, joy we feel, all related to or dependent upon the actions of those in our family, however small or large....you would agree.

Mommy would love anything, really....just loves to watch her kiddos on Christmas Day (although another Cancun trip this year would make me smile alot too!).

Thank you Santa...with love,

The Nelson's

****My wonderful Sister in Law took our family pics....blogger is not letting me put more on for some reason...will post them soon. Erin Wilkes Photography is on Facebook!****