Never Boring!

Alright. Anna is one of the most creative little girls I have ever come across. Certainly way more creative than I am. The other afternoon Taylor was down for his nap and the kids had STRICT instructions to play quietly or watch tv as I would be getting my daily beauty nap also. Well, I can ALWAYS count on Cole to sit and watch tv. In fact it was not long ago that he would proudly list that as his best talent (I think it is now playing the DS or on a good day he might say it is math). Anywho, I am always leery when I leave Anna to her own devises. Let me explain some of her "art"...

And the categories are: Nail polish
Tin Foil
Tape
Dried food (noodles, rice, popcorn)
Glue
Cotton balls
beads and ANY type of string
bowls, cups, plates, silverware
paint
Alright-really the list could include anything that you might find laying around your house. I mean ANYTHING she can make into "art". A couple of my favorite things have been:

Painting the toilet seat with pink nail polish so that is would look "prettier".
Using dry noodles put into two cereal bowls and then glue the bowls together to make maracas(only ONE of MANY ways that she can make maracas).
Chipping off the green paint on her bedroom wall and then gluing it onto a paper because the color was too pretty to throw away...
Going through a WHOLE stack of Sam's club paper plates-painting them and then putting prices on them to sell on the corner of the street.

Those are only a FEW of my favorite "art projects" that Anna has created. But, I think this beats all. Yep, she painted Cole's bike pink so that she could ride it and everyone would think that is was a girls bike and not a boys bike. Cole was pretty upset until I whispered to him that the paint was washable. Yes, I have learned that with Anna in the house, everything needs to be WASHABLE.

FAILED

I sit, my knees shaking, in the drivers license testing center. I am hoping against hope that I will not get the old white haired man. You see, he looks sweet, but experience has taught me that he is anything but. I think to myself, "I will fail for sure if I get grumpy gramps! Why does he not like me? I am youngish, cuteish and niceish. If anyone should like me it should be that old fart!" I heave a big sigh of relief when a man, no I mean a woMAN calls, "MS. Nelson?" Thankful that I did not get gramps, I stand up and walk to the front of the building. I put on my most enduring smile and wait for instructions.

"Vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number?"

"Ughh"..., I stammer. Already I am failing. What kind of a person can't recall the make of their vehicle when they drive it 25 times a day! Finally it comes to me, "Dodge caravan, silver, 2000, license plate number is...just a sec, let me look", I look out the window trying to see the numbers. Do you think I would pass if I got the numbers wrong? I couldn't really see the last one-it was either an 8 or a 2...I guessed 2 hoping it was right.

"Alright Mam" (mam? I am not 40...) "Go turn your car on and roll down the drivers window. Do not put the car in gear. Wait for me.

As I walk out, a nice black gentleman gives me a smile and tells me to keep my cool.
The woMAN takes a minute to come out when she does she asks me to beep my horn, turn on my blinkers and hit my breaks. I think I pass that part as she nods and climbs into the van. She explains that she will tell me way in advance when to turn and so forth. First we start with maneuverability...

"Pull up to this first cone and line your front bumper up with it. Good. Now go out and around the middle cone and line up your back bumper with the middle cone in the front. Now put the car into reverse and back up around the middle cone and back to the side..." Watch the back cone on my right... Too late. Put your car in park so that I can check the cone."

I sit there a little stunned that I ran over a cone that I did not even see.
"Mam, put the car in PARK as I am going to be behind you. I don't want an accident."

"oh, sorry", I muster as I put it into park.

Once back in the car, she tells me the directions to go out onto the street. I drive very slow (st least 5 under the limit) and cautious. It takes us 20 minutes to go around the block (app. 1.5 miles I am told). Back at the building the woMAN turns to me and says, "You passed your driving test, but failed the maneuverability. Would you like to come in and reschedule?"

Duh...? "Sure".

Now to summarize this story...

Make sure your kids are out of my way when I am backing up.
Never let your drivers license expire.
I probably would have been better off with grumpy gramps.
I am supposed to drive with someone 21 or older in the car at all times until I have a valid license.

Is it a felony to drive with out a license?

Check it out!

My good friend- yah, you know who you are- told me about this awsome blog. I have spent more then 3 hours on it at one sitting. It has recipies, stories, pictures... I have rarely seen anything quite like it. Check it out and leave me a comment after you look at it! I am interested to see if everyone liked it as much as I did. it is

http://thepioneerwoman.com

No, it does not have anything to do with mormons or old fasioned stuff. And you simply must read her "romance" posts...

Jane J Hanson

New Baby

My little sister, Mary(the one on the floor-only pic I could find of her), just had a new baby girl! It is her (and her hubby, CJ) first. They are both going to school at BYUI. Litte Jane J Hanson was born May 14th. She weighed in at a tiny 4lbs 13oz and 18 1/2 inches long. I am told that she has lots of dark hair and a little dimple in her chin and from the back she looks like a little monkey baby. Both mother and baby and father are doing pretty well. As you all know how difficult that first one is, it is hard not to feel a little sympathy for Mary. What with the soreness from latching on, bursting boobs, bad cramps, soreness sitting (and pooping), extra skin on your belly that resembles wrinkled jello, having to wear maternity pants home and the general yuckiness of that first 2 weeks that you did not expect, nor could anyone have explained it properly to you how it would feel. And not to mention the stuff that you DID expect like no sleep, endless crying, diapers out the wazoo, and a bad body image. It is a wonder that something thats head is as big as an apple and who probably resembles "grandpa" can overshadow all the discomfort and make everything worth it. I have not seen pics of the little bean ( her nickname) but as soon as I do, I will pass them along.

And for Mary-hang in there girl! I know what you are going through and how tough it can be. The mental stuff stinks just as bad as the physical stuff (maybe even worse), but it gets better and little bean is yours forever! Call if you need an ear...

Bad Blogger

I blog like I write in my journal. The goal starts out at once a week and then by the end of the first month, the goal is once a month, then...Maybe on important days? Anyway, sorry it has been so long since I have posted, and even longer since I posted pictures. A lot has happened this past month. First, Anna had her six year birthday! She did have a party. It was High School musical themed. There will be some pics following. Then, Cole had his very first choir concert. His class sang "supercalifradilisticexpialidocious" and some song about dreaming...The whole time I was sitting there thinking that this is the beginning of the end. I will probably be attending all sorts of concerts and performances for years and years to come. I had my birthday. Yes, I can proudly (and honestly) say that I am still below thirty-29 to be exact. I feel like I should act so much goofier being in my twenties still. I feel so much older than that! The other happening is that I am up to 12 miles in my training. So far so good. No knee problems, no more side aches. I LOVE this training program I am doing. If any of you would like the info on it, email me and I will get you the details. Also, my sister Michelle came out to visit me last week. She brought her darling 3 month old baby girl, Julie. We shopped and ate out for 2 straight days. The kids loved meeting Julie. Taylor especially loved her! I am so lucky to have sisters whom I love and who love me. They are truly my best friends. I can't wait for the day when we live nearer each other to hang out whenever we want. I will make the boast that I will be the most favorite aunt on this planet!