Hurray for ONE!

 

Kate had a Birthday shout hurray!

Kate turned one on Sunday.  

We celebrated a day early with a fun party with family.

We started the day off at Lava Hot Springs to swim in the indoor kiddie pool.

It was fun for everyone and the temperature of the pool was a perfect 92 degrees. 

We then came back to Pocatello for pizza, presents and cake.

Kate sure loved her presents! 

 

 She was excited about everything she received.  

She would give her presents hugs and kisses.  It was sometimes difficult to get her to open another present because she was so excited about what she already had.  Her facials were priceless and perfect.  It was so fun to watch her reactions to the all the fun gifts. 

Kate was pretty delicate with her cake.  I thought she might like getting the cake everywhere since she sometimes makes a mess of her food but she took little bites and only ate about 5 bites of the cake.  I was totally fine with it!  I didn't have a huge mess to clean up and didn't have a baby who was on a sugar high. 

Kate's birthday went so much better than I expected.  She wore the hat I made her!  When we tried it on her the day before she kept ripping it off so I was sure she would do the same for the party.  I'm in love with the hat and so glad she kept it on.  It made all the pictures so cute!   She also loved swimming!  She loved her gifts and her expressions to her presents made everyone feel like a million bucks because she was so excited about them.  And she didn't love her cake too much!

I don't think I could have planned it any better!

It was so fun to celebrate Kate's day with my parents,

Nate's parents,

 Ryan, Rachel, Noah,

and Camille and Andrew who we didn't get a picture with:(

Nate and I are pretty lucky to have Kate as our daughter.  

She is full of spunk. 
She has quite the expressions that make us cringe but laugh at the same time.

She keeps us on our toes with her speedy walking skills and her love for discovering new things!  It seems like she is always pushing the limits of what she can get away with but we realize it is all part of being a toddler and trying to figure out this crazy life we live in. 

 She may already be a handful but she is the joy of our lives.

  She loves life, which helps us see life in a new light.  It is the little things that really bring true happiness!

 So glad you are apart of our family Kate!  We love you!

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Arnold and Sun Valley

 Two weeks ago we went to Sun Valley for a couple days to be with my family.  My brother Cole and his wife Sara just got back from being in Hawaii for 6 months and this week they are moving to Missouri for medical school.  This was last our chance to spend time with them before their big move and new adventure. 

Nate was not planning on coming with me and Kate but last minute decided to come.  He wasn't able to do the activities with us during the day but he enjoyed eating, talking and playing games in the evening with everyone. 

The weather was not ideal but that did not stop us from enjoying beautiful Sun Valley.  

We rode bikes, hiked to a lake, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Red Fish Lake while sipping hot chocolate.  

One our last day we had breakfast at The Kneadery.  When we were waiting for a table to open up, in walked Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Nate looked at him straight in the face and gave him a nod.  Arnold kind of acknowledged Nate has he went into the restaurant.  We ended up being a table away from him so Nate sneaked a picture of Kate and I with Arnold in the background.

Me and Kate with "the terminator."

Getting out of Sun Valley was quite the process.  Right before we left, I locked the keys in the car.  Well I cannot say I really locked them in there because I never pushed the lock button.  I had no idea the car locked itself but it does.  It took the locksmith an hour to get to the cabin and then it took him 10-15 minutes to unlock the car.  He didn't know how to unlock the Civic and he didn't want to look it up in his book so it took him much longer than it should have.  

Once we got on the road it took about 3 minutes for Nate to get pulled over.  He wasn't paying attention to how fast he was going and right after my dad said he should slow down we were passing a cop.  The cop turned around and pulled Nate over.  It is never good to speed in Sun Valley.  The cops always pull you over.  

So the cop comes up to the window and Nate gives him his drivers license, registration, and insurance.  He asks Nate if he knows why he got pulled over and of course he does cause he was going like 25 over.  Nate then explains why he wasn't paying attention: we just locked our keys in the car and the locksmith just helped us and now we are trying to meet our family.  The cop decides to give Nate a warning, which I was so surprised but happy for.  Like I said, the Nielson family knows all too well that cops like to pull people over and give them tickets in the Sun Valley area.  

The cop then says well next time you get locked out of your car just call me cause I used work for this guy as he looks at my dad.  The thing is we don't know he is looking at my dad cause he is wearing sunglasses.  When he first said this we thought he was talking about working for the locksmith but he was talking about working for my dad.  The cop then goes on to tell my dad how he just saw his father, my grandpa, 3 weeks ago.  He tells my dad how he worked for him a couple of years ago but my dad does not remember this guy.   The cop talks some more and when he is about to leave Nate asks him if he went to Pocatello High School, which he did.  Nate then asks what year.  The cop responds, the same year as you.  Haha.  Man it was so funny.  Nate then asks him to take off his sunglasses to see if he recognizes him.  Nate did recognize him but he didn't know him that well in high school.  It was so crazy the cop knew my dad and Nate but they didn't really know him.  It was pretty awkward. Haha.  I think the only reason why Nate got off was the fact the cop knew my dad and Nate.  It was a huge blessing that cop was the one to pull us over!

Pocatello in May

Before Nate started studying for the bar we spent some time in Pocatello. 

While we were there, my little, big brother received his mission call!  He will be serving in the San Fernando California Mission.  I am so proud of him.  I know he is ready to serve and will be a great missionary!  He leaves on August 28th.

We were in Poky over Memorial Day so we spent some time at the cemetery visiting my Grandma Nielson's grave, along with other Nielson relatives and family members on the Carlson side.

 I was really close to my Grandma Nielson.  I spent a lot time at her house when I was a child.  I always enjoyed playing games with her, doing puzzles, painting our nails, making cookies, picking raspberries, helping her in her garden and selling cucumbers on her front lawn.  I have such fond memories of her.  I am pretty lucky that I get to remember her each time I look at my wedding ring.  My main diamond was hers.  My grandma actually left it to my mom but my mom decided to give it to me.  I love that I have a little part of her with me.  

I always thought Grandma Bonnie would be alive for when I got married and always hoped she would be here when I had children.  She may have not been alive when Nate and I got married or when Kate was born but I am positive she was watching over me with love and excitement in these important times in my life.  I am sure she would have loved Nate and would absolutely love Kate and her big, bright eyes.

On one of the days I went to Utah with my parents.  We stopped to see my Grandpa Stratford.  This was Kate's first time meeting her great-grandpa.

We also visited my Grandma Stratford at the nursing home.  She has dementia and cannot remember much.  It is hard visiting her because she rambles and nothing makes much sense that she says.  So... it is pretty difficult to have a conversation with her.  The one great thing about seeing her is she is usually excited to have visitors.  I am sure it gets lonely at the nursing home so she loves when people come to see her.  She loved meeting Kate!  She couldn't get over how cute she was.  I am sure we made her day by introducing her to Kate.  Kate enjoyed Grandma Barbara, too, and gave her some great smiles!  

Kate also met some of my aunts and cousins. 

Kate loved grabbing the leaves on the tree outside grandpas house.

Kate is getting good at standing on Grandpa Nielson's hands.  

She is starting young at being a "flyer!"

Kate has started to become more cuddly and lovey dovey.  

It makes me a happy momma!

Pocatello, we will see you again soon.

Spring Break

Last week was Nate's Spring Break.

We spent the first couple of days in Sun Valley with family and friends.

 Nate skied and I stayed with Kate.

Kate and I met up with everyone in the lodge while they gave their legs a rest.

 

I had to add this photo of Tanner.  He has some serious hair issues.

Kate had a rough couple of days when we were in Sun Valley.  

As you can see from the pictures she wouldn't even crack a smile.

When anyone besides me or Nate held her she would pretty much freak out.

Grandma Sally was so sad about this.  

She likes to pride herself on her baby soothing techniques but Kate was not having it.

Kate just wanted her mommy:)

I decided to go off of dairy and it seems to be helping.

Kate has been a much happier baby recently! 

This face kills me. I love her!

 

After Sun Valley we headed to Pocatello. 

Me and Kate spent our days hanging with family, sleeping, Kate even took a nap in her car seat so I could play tennis, picking out fabric for Kate's crib, shopping, and me taking way too many cute pictures of Kate.  Nate spent a lot of his time working on his upper division paper:( Not the most exciting thing to be doing on his break but he needs to get that stupid paper done!

Luckily, Nate did take some time to hang with his little gal.

It was a nice little break for our family. 

We have loved being close to family these past couple of months.

Every couple of weeks we get to see them and they get to see Kate and how she is changing and growing.  They sure spoil her and love her.

We love that they love her so much!

Kate's Blessing

 Kate received a special blessing from her daddy on February 17th.

Nate gave her a beautiful blessing.  I am so grateful he holds the priesthood and uses it on a daily bases to bless our home.

Nate blessed  Kate that she would have no other desire than to return to her Heavenly Father's presence.  That she would come to understand the Atonement and how it works in her life.  He blessed her to have a desire to read the scriptures and come to know the promises and blessing in store for her.  He blessed her to have a desire to come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus through prayer.  He also blessed her that she would associate with good people and have a healthy, strong body.

 Kate was an angel during the blessing.  I was nervous she was going to start screaming if she was awake so I hoped she would fall asleep right before the blessing. Of course she didn't sleep but she was perfect and wide eyed the whole time.

 

 Kate was lucky enough to get her dress made by her Grandma Sally.

The dress turned out so cute and looked beautiful on Kate.

These great men held Kate in a circle as her dad gave the blessing.

Kate is lucky to have so many great men in her life who love her. 

We were blessed to have most of our family at the blessing.

We love our family so much and were grateful for those who traveled to be with us for Kate's special day.

Grandma and Grandpa Cuoio

Cuoio's and Grandma Carlson

There are only granddaughters on the Cuoio side.

4 generations+me

Grandma and Grandpa Nielson

Nielson Family

4 Generations

I am so lucky to be Kate's mom. 

Kate's blessing day was so special and I really felt the love her Heavenly Father has for her.