Weekend Away

Here are some of the highlights from our weekend rendezvous in California. Thanks Blaine and Amy for inviting us to come and stay with you!
Classic Disneyland picture.
Belle seemed to like the carousel ride, but her favorite was It's a Small World.
Ethan, Abigail, and Belle were so tired by the end of the day!
This little seal swam up on shore at La Jolla beach. Blaine snapped a picture before a nearby seal advocate reprimanded us.
Perfect timing, wouldn't ya say?
Our first time at the San Diego temple. It really is so beautiful!
Belle's first time in the ocean. She cried for the first two minutes...then LOVED it!
Look at those cute chubby legs.
Nothin' like a day at the beach with no tan to show for it!
It was so fun watching the kids play together.
Belle venturing off.
Yep, still always trying to get the camera.
Belle's future beau?

Nielson Family Reunion...and then some

As Platte often says, "we've made some good memories" in June and July. (He always asks Belle, "Do you want to make a memory today, huh?") We made a trip to Blanding for the Nielson Family Reunion over the July 4th weekend. Part of the reunion was held out on Elk Mountain at Platte's old cabin. We caught frogs, went hiking, rode horses, looked for deer, and ate lots of good food. Afterward, everyone watched fireworks from Josh's (Platte's brother) front lawn. It was a good ending to a long and eventful day: running the 5K bright and early, going to the parade, and making the trek out to Elk Mountain. It was great to be around family. All together, there were over 100 descendants of Platte's grandparents, Joseph and Marian Nielson.

After we returned, my sister Whitney was able to come spend a few days with us in Mesa. She hadn't seen Belle for 4 months and was amazed how much she had grown up! She seemed to think that Belle's hair had grown a lot, even though there still isn't much of it! She had fun watching Belle eat normal "grown-up" food, crawl, stand up and walk against everything, and read books. (Belle can turn pages with the best of them.) Her favorite book is "That's not my puppy..." because it is a touchy
-feely book and she loves to play with the different textures on each page. While she was here, Whitney took us out to one of our favorite restaurants. Thanks for everything, Whit! Come back soon.
Family picture in front of the saddle shed.
Belle's new favorite game.
The Preston Nielson clan.
Belle is scared of horses just like her mom (or as Platte says, like her Uncle France).
Beautiful picture, isn't it? Ha ha.
Trying to catch frogs in one of the Peavine ponds.
Our favorite bear's ear.
The bear's other ear.
At the classic Blanding 4th of July Parade.
Trying to get in touch with our Nielson pioneer heritage. This was at Bluff Fort.
She LOVES ice cream!
"I want to walk over here, Dad!"
Silly girl.
Whitney reading Belle a bedtime story.
Dairy Queen--a Ricks favorite!
Belle seriously loves to read!

Summer Fun

We are so happy that it is finally summertime. For us, summertime means time with family, fun in the sun, good books, and most importantly...no school! We visited with our families over Memorial Day weekend and had so much fun. It was great to be away from the heat and enjoy the Utah weather. We wished we could have stayed longer but Platte had to come back to start his job. He is working as an intern in the legal department of U-Haul International, Inc. U-Haul's corporate offices are in Phoenix. He is excited to learn a lot from working there this summer.

Belle has been growing up so much lately. She has increased her crawling speed to an all-time high, and thinks she can go anywhere she pleases. She is obsessed with standing up on anything and everything in the house--chairs, couches, walls, you name it. She has so much energy it is unbelievable. Belle's new favorite hobby is making all sorts of funny noises with her mouth--she chatters away, she spits with her tongue, and most recently she makes fish faces. It is hilarious. She seriously does it all day long. As you can see we are having so much fun observing her and watching her grow up!

Belle was supposed to be helping grandpa weed the flower beds. Instead she ate dirt.
Belle just hanging out.
Belle's first time swimming. It took her a while, but she eventually loved it!
Swimming with my family at the Rec Center in Bountiful.
Belle and Olivia playing together, or at least that's what we were trying to get them to do.
Dinner with my family, except Whitney. We missed you!
Belle with her favorite friend.
Belle loves playing with her Dad!
Fish Face.
Johann Sebastian Belle.

Belle's New Adventures

This past month has been so fun! My youngest sister Amanda came down to visit during her spring break. We had a blast going to the park, on walks, shopping, and going to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant! Belle loves to be outside, especially now that she can crawl. It has been so exciting to see her realize that she can move around on her own. Now there is no limit to where she can go in the house. We have been waiting for the swimming pool to warm up, and hopefully it will in the next few weeks! We can't wait to put Belle in her swimming suit and play with her in the water. We love hearing her "talk" all the time, especially in the morning while she plays in her crib before she gets up. She is growing up too fast. Way too fast.

Belle and me in our matching Easter dresses. She will be so embarrassed about this fifteen years from now...but I loved it!
A close up of Belle in her Easter dress.
At the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple.
She LOVES to swing.
She doesn't really know how cool slides are yet!
Crawling in action!
Crawling to get the camera! Always trying to get something.
Finally a great picture of Belle's real smile!
She will put anything in her mouth, even toothbrushes. Funny, since she still doesn't have any teeth.

Meeting Miss Olivia

The primary reason for going to Utah was to meet my new niece, Olivia! She is such a cutie and it was so fun to hold and play with her. We got to go to a shower for Andrea and Olivia and also got to attend Olivia's blessing. What a wonderful week we had with family!
It was so funny to watch Belle and Olivia look at and play with each other. Yes, Belle is a chunk and Olivia is just a tiny little thing!

Daniel, Andrea and Olivia--such a cute family!

Just the girls.

Holding Miss Olivia at her shower.