End of Year Book Report

So I was just realizing how many books I have read this year.  2008 was a definite book year for me.  I read 25 books this year.  The last three with Dave and we are starting number 4 of the series tonight.  Its possible to finish it by Wednesday, but I am thinking we won't have time to read tomorrow night and New Year's Eve, so most likely it won't happen.  But still, I can't believe I read that many books this year.  I also started The Host by Stephenie Meyer that I plan on finishing, eventually.  I told Dave about it and he asked me to hold off reading it until he can join me, but the new series we just started has I think 14 books in it, so it might be awhile.  I have several other books on my list to start reading as well.  But we will see.  A new baby in the house might change that.  

Here is the list of books I read this year in order based on series/author, not chronologically:

1. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
2. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
3. Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
4. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
5. High Five by Janet Evanovich
6. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
7. Seven Up by Janet Evanovich
8. Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
9. Visions of Sugar Plums (Holiday Novella) by Janet Evanovich
10. To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
11. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
12. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
13. Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
14. Plum Lovin’ (Holiday Novella) by Janet Evanovich
15. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
16. Plum Lucky (Holiday Novella) by Janet Evanovich
17. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
18. I am Legend by Richard Matheson (also with Dave)
19. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
20. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
21. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
22. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
23. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
24. The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton
25. Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton

Not that any of these books will make me smarter or increase my vocabulary or anything.  They were all for fun, and all fiction novels/novellas.  But hey, I still feel pretty good reading that many in one short year.  I don't know if I have done that since being out of school.  We shall see what next year brings as far as the reading goes.  Lets see if I can top it!

P.S.  25 days until I am due!

Holy Crow!

Today marks the 30 day mark from my due date.  I can't even believe it!  Before I know it I will have a bouncy baby boy!  : )  I actually can't wait to meet him, if only I could bypass the part where I deliver him.  Dave and I were realizing that next Christmas we will have an almost 1 year old.  We are so excited!  And its a year away!  We can't help it.  We know he won't understand what's going on, but we will and we will love it!  Its amazing to think that we will have this little one experiencing everything for the first time.  It will make it magical to us again.  We will get to see this child getting to experience everything and get excited and it will in turn get us excited.  We can't wait!

As a side note, Merry Christmas everyone!  I wish you all a wonderful holiday!  

Looky, looky!

Check out my way gorgeous family!  These are my brothers and sisters.  Man, do I love these guys!  Thank you family for being so wonderful!  This christmas season has made me think how lucky I am to have such a fantastic family and how much I love each of you wonderful examples.  I am so lucky to have siblings like you!

  

Movie Lines Fun!

I saw this on my friend Mirrim's website and just had to do it.  I love movies and guessing lines from movies has always been fun.  My brother Blaine and I have done it for years.  A fun game that we can do back and forth on long trips, etc.  He is really good.  And much better than I am.  And I hear Sani (his new wife) is excellent at it as well.  I challenge anyone to guess mine, following the rules and to do it themselves, so I can guess theirs.  Here are the rules: 

1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies.

2.  Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.

3.  Post them here for everyone to guess.

4.  Strike it out when someone guesses correctly and put who guessed it and the movie.

5.  NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search or other search functions.

6.  No looking at my favorite movies on my Facebook/MySpace/LJ/etc.  (I personally don't think I have any listed anywhere, but you never know --Angie)

Here are my movies, in random order:

1.   

D: So what do you recommend to encourage affection? 

E: Dancing. Even if one's partner is barely tolerable.

Pride and Prejudice (Melissa)

2.  

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. And then, one not-so-very special day, I went to my typewriter, I sat down, and I wrote our story. A story about a time, a story about a place, a story about the people. But above all things, a story about love. A love that will live forever.

Moulin Rouge!  (Melissa)

3.  You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

4.  

Little beat big when little smart. First with the head, then with the heart. You can remember that? 

The Power of One (Melissa)

5.  Oh Sammy's so confused he don't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt.

6.  

Whenever I'm in a room with a guy, no matter who it is - a date my dentist, anybody - I think, If we were the last two people on Earth, would I puke if he kissed me? 

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Melissa)

7.  

That woman deserves her revenge and we deserve to die.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Emily)

8. 

Don't you ever talk about my friends. You don't know any of my friends. You don't look at any of my friends. And you certainly wouldn't condescend to speak to any of my friends. So you just stick to the things you know: shopping, nail polish, your father's BMW, and your poor, rich drunk mother in the Caribbean

Breakfast Club (Melissa)

9.  

I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man felt free.

The Shawshank Redemption (Melissa)

10.  

It's about fairness, Curtis. It's about people paying their dues. Isn't that what you keep telling me? "Get in line, Effie. Wait your turn". So why am I sitting here without so much as a B-side on a 45, when an amateur like Martin Luther King Jr. gets his own freaking album? I mean, can he even sing?

Dream Girls (Melissa)

11.  

I'm sure there's nothing I do that you'd find exciting. I don't open beer bottles with my toes, I don't sit around and count what's left of my teeth, hey, I don't even enjoy a good tractor pull. It's been a limited existence, but I've gotten used to it.

The Cutting Edge (Melissa)

12.  I think I would probably come to the conclusion that I'd like it for a while... but in the end, I'd still prefer the sound of the wind in the firs across the brook more than the tinkling of crystal.

13.  

I was wondering, just between us girls, what did you say to Pai Mei for him to snatch out your eye? 

Kill Bill Vol. 2 (Jen G.)

14.  

I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.

Labyrinth (Melissa)

15.  You had a gorram time bomb living with us!  Who we gonna find in there when she wakes up?  The girl?  Or the weapon?

Good luck everyone!  Just post the name of the movie and the number of the line and I will let you know if you are correct.

My whittle brover Blainey's wedding!

Yep, the final Nielsen has gotten hitched.  All eight have done the wedding thing.  Congrats, Blaine and Welcome Sani!

The wedding was beautiful!  And had some neat parts.  Because of Sani's Polynesian heritage they wore lays and wreaths on their heads.  And the music she walked down the isle to had a Polynesian feel to it.  They wrote their own vows and the tears were flowing.  Not just Sani, but me as well.  And I think Dave might have even been a little teary eyed.  President Orgil of the Grantsville West Stake, performed the ceremony and did a fantastic job.  It was very well done.  Then we had pictures, and ate dinner.  The dinner was so yummy!  I couldn't get enough.  And the groom's cake was awesome.  Not the taste because they didn't even cut it, but because it was a star trek cake!  I wish I would have taken a picture of it.  It was in the shape of the com buttons that they use to communicate on the ship.  Perfect for Blaine!  He is a major Star Trek fan.  He loves it!  He even dressed up as Jean Luke Piccard one year for Halloween.  Shaved his head to fit his hair style even.  It was pretty awesome!  They cut the cake and were nice to each other.  No shoving the cake in.  And finally at the end of the night Sani sang Jason Mraz's song "I'm Yours" to Blaine.  See my post below "New Found Love".  I thought that was really neat.  And she sings beautifully!  I was so impressed!  Overall it was a wonderful wedding!  And off they went to Lake Tahoe!  Have fun guys!  

Blaine and President Orgil.

Blaine waiting for Sani.

Sani being escorted by her brother.

The Beautiful Sani!

Thanksgiving and Surprises!

This year was really nice.  We were able to have all of my siblings at Thanksgiving this year!  Plus we had the newest additions with us.  Emily's new husband Jared and Blaine's finance Sani.  And it has been years since us eight siblings were all together with my parents too.  Needless to say it was a full house.  Two parents, 8 siblings, 7 significant others, and 12 grandkids.  I think with my mom being home after being gone for two years helped.  That and Blaine's wedding on the 29th.  Alan came from Texas and Melissa and Ben came from Seattle.  It was nice to see everyone.  

We also got to surprise my eldest brother Alan with a surprise birthday party of sorts.  We all submitted clues about Alan for a Crossword Puzzle and we did it all together.  I didn't get any pictures of that, but it was really fun.  My brother Alan has done some interesting things in his life.  I even got to learn a few new things about him that I didn't know.  To me it was pretty cool.  His birthday is actually on the 7th of December, but he was home now, so...  He turns 40 on the 7th, and we hope to be able to continue the tradition with each sibling as they turn 40.  

Thanksgiving was yummy!  There was lots of great food, family, fun and laughing.  It was a good time!  The big guys even got to go our shooting.  I think that was fun for them.  Dave was excited to shoot a muzzle loader.  Thank you, Jared! 

Here's a few pictures of the big table the teenager table and the little "guys" table.  

Mom explaining "how to get your food in the proper order".  Yes, there is a correct flow.

Mom still explaining, she shows us how to walk soon after this.

Here's one side of the table with our food.

Other side of table with food.

Ian, Maddy and Shayla at the "teen" table.

Kara, Savannah, Kamille and Mallory at the "teen" table.

Quinten, Connor and Rowan at the little "guys" table.

Alan sucking his helium from his birthday balloons.

Sister's Day

We sure are trying to pack everything in this weekend. Yesterday after my shower was one of the infamous sisters days. Where my mom and all my sisters and sister-in-laws go for a day of shopping, eating and laughter. And boy was there a lot of laughter. We went to Salt Lake, did shopping, went to Gardner Village for fudge, and a quick photo, more shopping, ate at Chick-fil-A, and went to Twilight. It was a blast. It also became a quick impromptu wedding shower for Sani. We asked her questions about Blaine and gave answers to the same questions that Blaine answered about her. Then we gave her a gift card to get her hair done and a pedicure on her wedding day. All in all it was a great time. We were sad that Emily couldn't make it, being married the day before and sad that Maren had to leave early due to a baby-sitting conflict. But we were glad she could come while she could. It was a ton of fun! And I look forward the next Girls Day, as always!

Baby Shower

My sisters and my mother threw me a baby shower yesterday. I felt very loved. They put together a really nice event. We had lots of good food and great company! Thank you all so much for putting it together. You are all wonderful. Here are a few photos from the shower.Here is one of the quilt that the guests tied while at the shower. My neices really got into it and finished it off with the help of Sani. Here are all the wonderful workers helping to get the food and drinks ready.

Here are some of the guests we had in attendance.

Here is my Aunt Gayle, my cousin Pam and her two girls, Alaina and Collete.

My neices, Madeline, Kamille and Savannah (mini Madeline).

My soon to be sister-in-law Sani.

Mi Madre.

My Aunt Linda.

My sister-in-law Maren, Loren's wife.

Here is me and my cousin Sarah.

Here are my neices Shayla, Kara and Mallory.

Here is my cousin Katrina and two of her three boys.

Here are some of the cute and fun presents I got.

A way cute finger puppet set from Maren. I really look forward to playing with this one.

This is a nice big hooded towel that Sani gave me. I think this is going to be really nice to have. Its plenty big so Xander can use it for years.

Here are the two big presents I got. A stroller (all terrain) and a bouncer/swing that is compactable to take with me when we go places. From my sisters, Marianne, Jen, Melissa and Emily, my sister-in-laws Maren and Sani (soon to be anyway), and my Mother.

Thank you all so much for everything. I know there were several other gifts given, and I truly appreciate those. I also have to apologize to Melissa, Marianne, and Jen. There were no pictures taken of you three. Melissa was taking the photos during the presents, Marianne was in the kitchen still getting things ready, and Jen was busily writing down what gifts I got what advice people gave me. Thank you all so much! I love my sisters more than words can express. Thank you so much for a wonderful shower. Maren, Sani, Mom, Marianne, Jen and Melissa. You are all so wonderful!!

Emily's Wedding

My sister Emily got married last night. It was a really nice ceremony. Then we got to experience the Chocolate Fountains that the Johnsons put together. I tell you they were amazing. Anything you could want to dip was there. Sorry, I know the pregnant woman going on and on about the food. Emily looked lovely and it was nice to see the new little blended family. Jared is way awesome and we are all so glad to have him part of our family. Not to mention he makes my sister very happy. Here are a few photos from the event.

Here a few of the family that I took. I didn't get a lot taken. And I am wishing I got one of the food and the fountain. Maybe one of my siblings or mother did that I can post later.

New Found Love

I happen to be scanning on the radio and came across this song, and fell in LOVE with it.  I don't know what else his other songs sound like, but this song is so fun.  Its bouncy and happy and I can't get enough of it.  Check it out!  Hopefully, I did the video thing right.

Jason Mraz

I'm Yours

Sweet sweets from a Sweetie!

I got such a wonderful surprise this morning.  My sister from Seattle come knocking on my door at 8:00 am, just as my alarm was getting ready to go off, with breakfast for me.  I had gone to see her last night and missed her and mom and she felt bad and wanted to come and bring me a nice treat.  Cinnamon Rolls, Orange Juice and some great morning conversation.  It reminded me of the days when we shared a room.  If you wanted to wake up Melissa just go and start talking to her, she will be wide awake in two seconds.  It was a nice trip down memory lane.  I loved it!  It was really nice and a great way to start my day.  Thanks, Melissa!  

The importance of November 12th

Nine - the cardinal number 9

Year - a period of 365 days (or 366 in a leap year), measured exactly or approximately from any date.

Wedding - a marriage ceremony, or the act of marrying.

Anniversary - a celebration or other commemorative ritual marking the date of an important event.

Cleave - to cling closely, steadfastly, or faithfully to something or somebody.

Love - an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion.

Flowers - what my husband gave me for our 9 year wedding anniversary.

I love you, Dave!  Thank you for a wonderful 9 years!

Fridge Fairies

The Fridge Fairies visited my home.  Yes, that's right, the Fridge Fairies!  I couldn't believe it, either.  Let me explain.  Since we moved into our house a year ago, we have been using a mini fridge.  We got it for free, and it worked for the time.  But being pregnant and wanting milk all the time, and not being able to fit a gallon of milk in the fridge, really got annoying and got me thinking, "I need a big fridge."  So I started looking.  Well, with Dave losing his job recently and things being "tight", I was looking at KSL.com for cheap fridges, like $50-$75 cheap.  But ones that weren't too far away, either.  So we didn't have to pay a lot for gas to haul a trailer, etc.  But hadn't found one.  I have been looking for a long time and stressing about this.  Well, Saturday night we get home from Amtgard and low and behold, there is a big fridge in my kitchen.  Not only is there a fridge, but it is in place in the kitchen, everything had been moved from the mini fridge to the big fridge, and we were even given a few items of food.  A loaf of bread, apples, salad lettuce and lunch meat.  It was amazing!  The fairies had got the fridge, brought it in, placed it and took care of all the hard parts.  They even moved my pictures and magnets to the big fridge.  It was all cleaned out and beautiful.  Dave and I don't know who did it, but we are so thankful.  It might not be brand new, but it is perfect to us.  And every time I get into the fridge I am reminded that someone, somewhere loved us.  I woke up Saturday night after dreaming about the fridge, just crying.  Because I was so grateful.  It has been a real blessing.  I know that words can't express my intense gratitude, but I am going to try.  The stress was just lifted.  I no longer had to figure out how I was going to find a fridge, pay for a fridge, and get the fridge into my house.  It was all done for me and anonymously.  Hopefully, the fairies read my blog and see how full of thanks we are.  It truly has been a bright time to our otherwise bleak couple of weeks.  So Thank You, Fridge Fairies!  Thank You!

Home again, Home again, jiggity jig!

Welcome Home Mom and Dad!  They are finally home from their two year mission.  Well, 23 months, but close enough to two years.  It was a long, hard wait.  But I can see how much it meant to them to go, so it was worth it.  But we are all really glad they are home.  We went last night to the airport.  They had shirts made for all the grandkids that stated Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa!  Each child was a letter, except for the smallest Lia, her shirt said Grandma and Grandpa and I was the exclamation point.  So that Xander could be involved.  It was a little disheartening, because we thought they would be coming to one portion of the airport in Terminal one and they were in Terminal two.  So we waited for like an hour in the wrong spot and they were wondering where we were in the other terminal.  But eventually we found them and it was good times.  Then we all went to Chuck-A-Rama to eat.  As is tradition when a missionary gets home.

Baby Lilian

I got to meet a beautiful little girl today, Lilian Faye Chance.  She is so beautiful!  She is the new daughter of my friend and co-worker Kelly Chance.  She is so adorable!  She was born a week ago and is so little.  She was 6 lbs, 11 ounces.  Baby and Kelly are doing well.  It was good to see them both.  I had to put her on my blog, because she was so dang cute!  It was nice being pregnant with Kelly.  And I knew that as soon as she had her, I would have three months left.  Its on the down hill slope.

Election Day

Yep, we voted!  As you can see from our stickers.  It was nice going in with Dave and voting as is our patriotic duty.  And no, I won't tell you who I voted for.  I feel it is a personal thing and everyone has the right to tell or not tell.  If you want to, by all means, but I personally feel that it is my decision and mine alone and no one needs to know.  Everyone who can, please get out and vote.  No matter who you vote for.  Take the time to do it.  It was 15 minutes tops for Dave and I to go over there this morning at about 8:00 am.  I was surprised there were no lines.  It took longer to go through the ballot.  I appreciate my right to vote and I hope all of you do too. 

Kingdom Crown Qualifications

Saturday November 1st we went to Elko, Nevada for an Amtgard event.  I wasn't in the mood for taking photos, so I don't have many.  We went for the Arts and Science competition and Fighting Tournament.  Then later that evening they had a masked ball for feast and court, with the feast being catered.  It was way yummy food and the company was superb.  We didn't have masks because I couldn't find ours from Halloween 2006.  But that was okay.  We still dressed up fancy.  It was sort of Halloween, but not, since we dress up for Amtgard all the time.  The person we had snap the photo got this photo and then a blurry one of us full length and a full length one with Dave's eyes closed and I'm not smiling.  So this is the best we had.  But I wanted people to see the beautiful dress.  A good friend of mine, Sindari (Michelle), made it and loaned it to me for the event.  I needed something I could wear being pregnant, and it worked great.  So yes, we both look goofy, but at least you can see our outfits.  It was a good weekend.  We both really enjoyed ourselves.

Halloween Time

So Halloween was weird this year.  I ended up not dressing up on Halloween.  And I didn't get to see any of my nieces or nephews.  Which was odd.  I had a Dr appointment in the morning and then went to work.  But every year there is a Downtown Trick of Treat.  And since the Transcript is Downtown, we get to participate in the trick or treat and get to see all the little trick or treaters.  So a few employees and ex-employees brought their kids down to do the trick or treating.  So I snapped a few fun photos of them all.  

Melissa and Zoey 

(Melissa was the tree for the monkey to climb-CUTER!)

Chelby and Connor (another cute monkey!)

Shawn's cute boy, Ben as a Scary Ghost!

Heidi's Girls McKenna and BrookeAnne  (A Princess, and a Snow Tiger Princess)

Alaura, Kelly's girl as a pretty witch

(she didn't want her photo taken, so this is the best I had that wasn't blurry)

That night we passed out candy and played games with a group of friends that didn't have kids, and therefore needed somewhere to go that night.  It was a good day, but not my typical Halloween.