"The Day My Mom Saved My Life" by Morgan Barker

All the kids entered Reflections this year. The theme was Wow!!! Creighton and Bennett did Visual Arts and Morgan did Literature. Morgan ended up being a finalist in her school in the Literature category. Tonight we had an award ceremony where all the finalists were honored. Morgan wrote a story, and it is handwritten and all in her own spelling and grammar. Here is the story, just like she wrote it:

The Day My Mom Saved My Life by Morgan Barker

Based on a true story

I was jumming on the trampoleen with my brother then he went inside. A few minets later I fell in between two springs and hit my head on the wall and got stuck. I was haning upside down with my head barly touching the ground. I was crying and crying for help. then a thout entered my head saying say a praery. So I did. It was three days befor my step dads birthday. My mom was tring to hid a present because it was almost my step dads birthday She thout ubout hiding it in the garauge but somthing told her to put it outside. She followed the coice inside her head to put the present outside. She did. Wile she was doing that, she heard crying and she found me hanging there. She took me inside. Allthough I was outside hanging for thirty minets. My feet were tingling like crazy cause my legs were bent. After she took me inside she rubbed my legs, and feet. After a wile I felt better. then my head started to hert. She rubbed my head and I felt better for the rest of the day WOW! I am glad my mom saved my life!!!

We are so proud of her.

Here Mousy Mousy.

I discovered last night that we have an unwanted guest in our kitchen. Under my sink I found little mouse poops, uggghhh. I'm sure the little mouse has been having a blast rummaging through our garbage. After I cleaned everything up, I went to the store and got old school mouse traps. I was thinking, there is no way a mouse is going to be this stupid. Haven't mice evolved by now to know not to go there? But sure enough, in the morning, we had to have a little mouse funeral (not really, I just threw him in the garbage can.) SUCKA!!!! I was going to take a picture of the dead mouse, but I thought I might get hate mail from animal activists. If there are mouse lovers out there I'm truly sorry...lol.

Thanksgiving Tag

Things I am thankful for:

A: Adam...he helps me in so many ways.
B: Boys...lets face it, where would we be without them???
C: Cycling...its fun and good excercise.
D: Down time...especially at work!!!
E: Email. Sometimes its just easier.
F: Family. Oh-and food.
G: Gym...when its too cold outside to ride.
H: Holidays...gives you an opportunity to hang with family.
I: In-laws. They make life interesting don't they?
J: Jesus...my savior.
K: Kettle corn
L: Little girls...I love my Morgan.
M: Makeup.
N: Nursing...I love my profession. Be kind to nurses.
O: Outdoors.
P: Pictures
Q: Quotes...puts things in perspective sometimes.
R: Rio...Cafe
S: Sleep...(a Nelson through and through)
T: Trials...otherwise, how would we grow.
U: Undershirt...thank you SHADE clothing
V: Vision.
W: Work...teaches us a lot.
X: X-mas...are you ready???
Y: Youth
Z: Zion National Park...we are so lucky to be so close.

Ok I tag Toni.

Halloween Slide

"Cereal" Killer meets Dr. Pepper

I haven't dressed up for Halloween for so long, so this year was fun. We decided to do "punny" costumes. We had a lot of fun.

Painting Party

Grandma and Grandpa Nelson are finishing their basement and they are making the cubby under the stairs a "playroom" for the Grandkids. Mom and Dad wanted the kids to paint the walls so we had a painting party during the annual Halloween Party. Here are the works of art. It will be so fun for them to look back on these pictures in the years to come. Each kid put their own thought and creativity into what their paintings and had little help from the adults. They are so creative.
Mackaylee's work of art.

Morgan's profile and Dixie Mountains.

Bennett's art.

Creighton's "Big Foot"

Cute Zaiden's foot print

We will get Jake, Maddie and Maclayne's work at Thanksgiving time.

Shout Out

I wanted to give a "shout out" to Grandma and Grandpa Phillips. These pics are from our visit to Idaho in July. Adam wasn't able to get time off for more than a few days this summer, so I decided to take the kids up north for the week. We had so much fun with them and they were so awesome to plan some fun things. Some things we did are:

1. Camping in Island Park.

2. Dinner Theater at Mac's Inn. Sooo Fun. The kids loved it!!
3. Big Springs in Island Park. This is a natural spring that flows into Henry's Fork. It produces 120 million gallons of water every day and is one of the countrys biggest springs. Huge fish, very cold. The next day the news reported that this same area was evacuated shortly after we left because of a bear sighting. Scary.4. Of course swimming at the sandbar.5. Story telling by Grandpa Phillips. 6. Playing with Sarge and Toby.
And many more memories were made. We all made our Mii's on the Wii. The kids boxed, jogged, played baseball etc. on the new Wii. We were able to visit and play with Uncle Jared and Aunt Amy and all the "C" cousins.

Love you Mom and Dad Phillips

The Law of the Garbage Truck

This is a bulletin board in my office at work. I liked the "take home message" so I thought I would share.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car by just inches. The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck" He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it, and ninety percent how you take it.

I would like to give the author credit but I don't know who it is. So if anyone knows...please share.

Hopefully we can all abide by this "law."

Farm Time

Morgan and Bennett had a field trip to the Staheli Farm. They got to learn about pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, roosters, hens, turkeys and cows. I actually learned some interesting facts about them that I didn't know before. Since it is 4 am, I can't quite recall them right now. It was fun to go with the kids. This week I volunteered to help Morgan's class, and next week I will be helping Bennett's class on their next field trip to a play. It is awesome that they are in the same grade and I get to see them both on fun field trips like this. This piggys name is Bacon. She is a pot bellied pig. She hasn't been feeling too well over the past couple of weeks. One of the workers at the farm gave her a blanket 2 weeks ago to help keep her warm one night, and ever since, she has been attached to it. She wont let anyone take it away from her. If anyone has ever had a favorite blankie, you can relate to Bacon.

Morgan took this pic. Good job!!

Way to go Bennett!

Whoa...hope nobody is wearing red.

Havin fun on the hay ride.

Tour de St. George 2008

Well, my first official cycling event. The Tour de St. George. You had the choice between 30, 65, or 100 miles. I really wanted to do the century ride, but the event happened to be on Adam's birthday, so I opted for the 65 miler. (I didn't want to be gone all day) I decided to do the event, then my parents really wanted to join in so we planned to do it about 2 months in advance. My cousin Diane ended up being able to come down, and my uncles decided to do it at the last minute also. It was so much fun. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

My Cute Hubby

Wedding Day November 12, 2004

Idaho 04'

Christmas 04'

Calf Creek 07'Flaming Gorge 07'
Lovin' the new puppy

Taking Sarge for a ride, April 08'
September 08' Happy Birthday Babe. I love you.