Flashback Friday

This is Niels & Mima Nielsen (Poppop's parents) in front of their home in Midvale. Not sure of the date. Thanks to Midge (our cousin) for emailing it. We were able to learn a little more about them at the reunion. Here is an excerpt from a letter that Midge had written to her mother, Helen (Poppop's sister).

"That big Nielsen family you came from actually started around the turn of the century when your father, Niels, married Dagmar Lubbers. They had two daughters, Leona and May, then Dagmar died suddenly of consumption at about age 21. Later, in 1911 grandpa married your mother, Mima Wilson, 21 years his junior.

Throughout the raising of the 12 children in your family your parents never owned a car. Grandpa almost bought one and then after rethinking the idea decided against it--a good thing as the year was 1929 and the Great Depression was just round the corner. The big buggy shed housed the horse drawn buggies and sleighs that you rode in as a child to go out to see your grandparents who lived in Riverton. A trip like that, you explained, took all day. And once on the way home, the horse got very sick! Grandma had to send someone to get grandpa to come and get them and take care of the poor horse. Otherwise the public transportation would do just fine grandma always said, and ‘shanks ponies’, as she called a trip on foot, was even better. If she could get by with her bad foot going on the bus everywhere with only an occasional lift here or there you couldn't really feel too bad having to walk places on two good legs. By the time I came along the buggies were gone and the tools sat silent on the once active work bench."

Wet & Wild Nielsen Family Reunion

We had a great time at the wet and chilly park in Spanish Fork! Good thing we had a nice pavilion to keep us from the rain! We were able to visit with a bunch of Nielsen's we hadn't seen in a while. (and there was also another family of Nielsen's in the pavilion next to us. . .go figure!)

Jenni, Paula, Virginia & Doug
Weston & Jean

Weston is Poppop's baby brother, the youngest of the triplets. Weston and Jean traveled through 10 states and 2 months on the road to be with us!
Doug & Jeanette

Kelli, Jenni, Ashton & Kurtis

Update: Kurtis and Jenni just moved to Rexburg from Island Park. Kurtis works for The Rexburg Police Dept./BYU-I campus division.

The Cousin's

Joann (Mildred's daughter), Midge (Helen's daughter), Virginia (duh, Poppop's daughter) & Genet (Conway's daughter)

Jeanette, Kelli, Jack (he was ready to be done!), Jeff & Steven

Update: Jeff & Kelli are living in Brigham City and Jeff works for Flying J in Ogden. They are having a baby boy in August. Steven is at home for the summer while Jeannette is beating the girls off with a stick!

Erik & Mirjam

Leave it to Erik to pose for the camera. This pose is his European model look. Update: Erik is getting ready to take the DAT and is in the process of applying to Dental School.

Kordel & Heather

Corinne was having too much fun with Jolynn's kids to pose for a picture!

Jerrod enjoying a cookie while listening to all the Nielsen history!

I didn't get a picture of Jolynn and her clan. I should have, because we would have caught her pre-kidney stone! This morning she came home from work early in extreme pain. Jay took her to the hospital and she was getting a stint put in when I stopped by. They hope to get it all worked out tomorrow. Keep her in your prayers!

Thanks to Virginia for planning such a great reunion and thanks to everyone who traveled far and wide to be there!

Update on Barbara

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that Barbara went home from the hospital yesterday (Thursday)and she is recovering well. I talked with her a little bit ago and she wanted to express her appreciation for all of your prayers on her behalf and acknowledge that they were anwered as the blessings of heaven have been with her.

She did get an update today from pathology that the cancer was removed but they will still do chemo treatments. She is feeling nauseated but loves to take her showers! She is going through this in her typical humorous fashion.

Love you all!

Sandy

Flashback Friday

fIn Honor of Doug's Birthday on May 27th, we flashback to this picture of the handsome Nielsen brothers!

Tom & Doug

Circa?? (Help me out guys, Nana didn't write the date on the back)

American Idol

I have a confession...this year I was hooked. On Tuesday nights the kids got to stay up late and watch it with me while we waited for dad to get home from Young Men's. On Wednesday nights the kids were in bed in time for me to get my stuff done and get downstairs before it started. It has been a lot of fun to watch the kids during the show. They would both get up and dance and sometimes sing with the contestants. A few weeks ago Jillian decided that she too needed to be "talked to" at the end of her "performance." So, I would "talk to" her and tell her what a great job she did spinning or jumping or singing or what words I liked that she sang (she often makes up her very own lyrics LOL).

Last night we had a great time with the Idol Finale. They were both hamming it up big time! Spencer came out with some moves that I have never seen. Surprisingly, my kids have great rythym and even change their "style" of dance based on the genre of music. Funny, funny at least to me.

on a side note: during the commercials we would switch to Dancing With the Stars and Jillian would watch them and try to copy what the girl was doing. So, she will be taking a dance class this summer since pre-school in not in session.

Of course, we forgot to get pics or video of the whole thing. We will have to try again :0.

K&H Braley Disneyland Trip

We were able to go to Disneyland last week. Here are few select pictures from the trip:


Corinne in front of "her" castle.

Kordel holding Corinne and posing with a famous Tigger.

Heather and Corinne after riding "Dumbo."

Corinne was so excited to give Minnie Mouse a big hug!

Luckily Corinne still wears diapers because hearing a tiger roar at her scared the crap out of her. You can't get a kid to pose like that. Don't worry, she still likes Disneyland even though her daddy can be cruel.

Just a Reminder!

Nielsen Family Reunion

Monday May 26th

12-4 pm

Spanish Fork

See directions below:

If you have questions, you can email Virginia:

virginia@libertylake.com

Mom/Sister/Aunt Barbara

Just wanted to let you all know how she is doing.

Barbara has had some mild discomfort in her abdominal about about 2 1/2 months now. About 3 weeks ago, she went to the doctor and they suggested to her that she should have an ultrasound done. Her results showed several cysts on her ovaries. Barbara had a blood test done soon after and her results indicated cancer. She went into surgery for a hysterectomy yesterday morning and the surgery went well. Barbara did in fact have ovarian cancer and the surgeon believes that he was able to remove most, if not all, of the cancer. There is still a possibility of chemotherapy. As of last night, she had regained her color in her face and has kept a smile on her face.

We would appreciate your prayers in her behalf.

Flashback Friday

Poppop with Kordel and Kurtis

February 1981

Flashback Friday (a little early)

Thanks to Virginia that has been emailing me some SWEET flashbacks!

This is circa 1990, Seven Peaks. We have from l to r Scott, Kurtis, Jeff & Kordel. Nice trunks Kurtis & Kordel!

You too can be apart of Flashback Friday! Email me your pictures and I can post them!

Aubrey's Baptism

We had a wonderful morning! We are happy that Aubrey made the decision to be baptized. Thanks to everyone that came! We are glad that Tom & Cathy (Grandpa T. & Mimi) flew up for the event. And thanks to the Utah County cousins that came at the early hour! It was great to visit with everyone!

Earlan & Virginia's 45th

Virginia and Earlan celebrated their anniversary at Outback Steakhouse with 4 of their children. Here is what Virginia had to say about it:

It was pretty low key - except for all the noisy people at "Outback"! haha
Jolynn organized it and invited the sibs to participate with us.
Outback does not sing or dance, but they brought us a large bowl of ice cream to share (Earlan and I).
Jolynn did her best to keep everyone focused on the event of the day - our anniversary - by asking questions about our beginnings.
I told them they needed to look at our wedding album for all the details of where and when we went.
Kalen kept reminding them that some questions might produce a "TMI" answer (too much information).
Maybe Jolynn can give her reflections.
The week before, when Earlan's sibs were here from Maine, Jolynn hosted a dinner at her place.
She ordered a cake to celebrate our anniversary, and one of the aunt's who had a birthday the day before our anniversary.

Flashback Friday

You get two for one this week!

Happy 45th Anniversary Earlan & Virginia!

Vanessa's Baptism

October 1982

Tom, Cathy, Nana, Poppop, Barbara, Bill, Krissy, Vanessa, Cliff & Phil

Click here for more details!

Jay Clegg Update

We had Jay's post-op visit today with his ENT. (for those of you new to this list Jay had surgery last Thursday to remove his parathyroid glands and thyroid cancer was found) His pathology report confirmed that he had a 4cm tumor on the left side of his thyroid (pretty big size) and a smaller one on his right side. On the right side he also had cancer in some of the lymph nodes. His cancer is (or was!) papillary thyroid cancer. He will now need to visit with the oncologist and will have a radioactive iodine therapy to make sure everything is zapped, I guess. He gets to have the pleasure of another stay in the hospital. He is real thrilled about that idea....:-) After his two surgeries his is sick of the place! On the good side he is cleared to go back to work. I think he is tired of hanging around here. :-) Thanks again for the visits and calls.

Jolynn