10% in 2010

Hey Everyone! Come visit our new Braley Blog. We've set a goal to lose 10% of our body weight by June 1, 2010. Janell and her family arrive in Utah the next day and we want to be svelte & beautiful for the Adamson family. Come join our family. We know many of you don't need to lose that much weight but we sure could use the encouragement. Hopefully you will be part of our 10% club!

http://jolynn-10in2010.blogspot.com/

Jim & Margaret Nielsen Family Reunion

There has been lots of interest in having a family reunion this summer. I would love to see my cousins, aunts & uncles and meet some new little 2nd cousins! We thought it would be fun to have a reunion in San Diego. If we could get a date on the calendar, everyone could "plan" their vacation around this reunion, especially those who live out of town. Here are some ideas I have.
1. Find a location where we can all stay together, whether it's a cabin, campground, motel, vacation rental, etc.
2. Spend 2-3 nights/days together.
3. Have lots of getting to know you activities, family history stories, evening programs, good food, etc.
4. Go on a "tour" of SD. I would LOVE to see Nana & Pop Pop's old home. I can barely remember what it looks like. I would love to see all the old hang out spots, where Nana worked, where my parents lived, etc.
5. Attend the temple together.
6. Take a nice family photo.

Please add your thoughts and let's get talking about this idea!

Nana's Old House (Kordel)

I was in Nana's old neighborhood the other day and took a picture of her home.

Braley Update

Virginia and Earlan have a pool in the backyard for the grand kids (shown: Holly, Tessa, Julianna, McKay, Hayden, Corinne & Shane)

Jerrod got a cat. His name is Tiger.

Virginia and Earlan made a trip to Rexburg and got to hang out with Kurtis, Jenni and Ashton.

Virginia says: "Check out the new veggie boxes. The yellow bricks - in the gravel are from our great grandmother's house here in Spanish Fork that was torn down 3 years ago. Annie Thomas home where our grandfather Thomas John Thomas lived for a while."

Thanks for the update!

The Dead Plant

Why am I showing you a picture of this dead plant? Because this dead plant belonged to Nana. It was one of the plants that she had me water when I would go over to her house. When she died, I took it. I replanted it after I brought it home and it flourished. I had it sitting on top of one of my kitchen cupboards. I was really diligent with my watering schedule and I made sure I watered it every week. I don't know what happened the last little while, I just sort of forgot. I'm sure Nana would be very disappointed in me. Shhh. Don't tell her :)

I think there is something else that she might be disappointed in and that is me not keeping up the family blog. I guess I sort of appointed myself the family link...trying to keep us all together. I am feeling like this blog looks a little like the plant above, kind of dead. So, I'm here to redeem myself, and I'm hoping you can help me. As the holidays approach, and families gather, lets try to document our gatherings and goings on. We all love to know how you are doing.

So let's try and get our family blog to look like this other plant of Nana & Poppop's:

Flourishing, active and happy. (I'll try hard not to kill this one either :)

Who is with me?

Calling all Cousins!

You have seen the emails, you have heard her ask politely and now she is having me do her dirty work.

Aunt Virginia is putting a Nielsen history book together. This isn't just about Nana and Poppop, it is about Poppop's parents, his siblings and all of his offspring. So what does that mean to you?? Here is what Virginia needs from you:

A short history about you, how you met your spouse (if you have one) and a family picture.
(Who DOESN'T like to brag about themselves?)



AND



Any memories you may have of Nana and Poppop.



Pretty easy, right?



She needs these ASAP.



Not to name any names, but we are still waiting on the 3 "K's" from Virginia's family

ALL of The Howe's

Erik (you're off the hook!)

Scott

Steven



We realize you are busy, so wives, if you wouldn't mind typing up a quick history on your family and sending it off to Virginia at this email , 1498familyhistory@sfcn.org that would be great. And ask them to share any memories they might have of Nana and Poppop.



Or better yet, put it in the comments section of this blog while I have you here.



This is a big undertaking for Virginia. We would hate for the other Nielsen families to show us up. Let's get a 100% response on this! Thanks!

End of lecture.

Following the Commandments-Kurtis & Jenni

Yeah that is right...we are multiplying and replenishing the Earth!

Here is my first ultrasound of baby #2 at about 9 weeks. I am due January 21 and we are really excited.

Cousin Party

Set aside July 25th for our first ever cousin get together. More details to come from Kordel & Jeff who came up with this good idea!

It's a boy!!

Hi Everyone,

Here are pictures of Thomas Benjamin Howe.
Born May 26, 2009 @ 5:22am 6 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long.
Mom and Baby are doing great.
The family is adjusting well to life with a newborn.
We are very greatful for this new blessing in our life!

Love,

The Howe Family

Memorial Day Weekend 2009 part 2 (Virginia)

First cousins luncheon - the "thorn with all those roses" !! or is Doug the "rose with all those thorns?"

Virginia, Uncle Weston, Barbara
The Wilson Siblings -Nolyen, Bert, Klara, Janice1 father - 4 different mothers for each of these kids. Their father - LeRoy Wilson is the polygamist brother to our grandmother - Mima Wilson Nielsen.More 1st cousins - Daughters of the triplets Leona - Alan's daughter, Robyn - Walter's daughter, Danette - Weston's daughter
Barbara, Doug, Virginia
Peggy, Alan, Weston, JeanJulianna & Holly

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Vanessa and Jolynn ran away from their families for a few hours. It had been a while since we decorated the graves together, so we escaped with our mums in hand and headed out in to the rainy Saturday.

I'm sure most of us can think back to a Memorial Weekend where we were instructed by Nana to go out in the backyard and cut some roses, lilacs and any other flowery foliage that may be growing out there. She would pack up her assortment of plastic containers (sometimes covered in foil) and off we would go to the cemeteries. She had her route. First Spanish Fork to where her dad (Thomas John Thomas) is buried. Virginia and Barbara beat us to it. We were surprised to see some flowers already there!The next stop was always Riverton Cemetery. Niels Nielsen (Poppop's father) and his first wife Dagmar and his second wife Mima are buried there as well. Along with Poppop's three brothers Milo, Amos and Walter. As well as Walter's son.
Our final stop was to the Salt Lake City Cemetery. We got a little freaked out, because we thought Nana had beat us to the punch with the ice cream bucket filled with roses from her backyard. Come to find out, Virginia and Barbara were ahead of us once again. Nana and Poppop are buried by Nana's grandmother and aunts.
After our trek, we had to stop for dinner, where we reminisced of all things Nielsen and more. We had our own first cousin top secret meeting. (If our parents could do it, so could we, right?)

Sunday brought us all to Spanish Fork where much to my surprise...a plethora of Nielsen's!! Some from Idaho, California, Washington and Oregon. It was great to meet all of these wonderful cousins. So now if we are ever in the grocery store, we will know if we are related.Connie Nielsen Byers (Uncle Conway's daughter), Virginia and Vanessa

Doug & Jennette

Kalen & Kordel (don't ask) Kelli, Jeff & Graham, Heather, Shane & Jolynn

Heather, Kordel & Shane (Corrinne was too busy playing)

Kelli, Graham & Jeff (Jack was with Jennette and too busy at the playground)

Jolynn & Jay sans kids

Barbara and Bill left before I could get a picture. However, Barbara did scold me for not keeping the blog up. I told her I would try to do better.

It was a great day with a lot of information learned about our aunts and uncles and grandparents. If you would like to learn more, click here.

Some Pictures of Shane....

My good friend just took some VERY cute pictures of my little Shane.
Check it out for yourself!!!

http://currenphotography.blogspot.com/2009/04/studio-mini-sessions.htm

Flashback Friday

PopPop, Jolynn & Janell, Earlan, Nana, Tom

Oakland Temple

1967

Flashback Friday-Trivia

The answer to last weeks trivia question was: Baby Virginia

This weeks Flashback Friday trivia question is:

What is the dog's name that Tom is cuddling with?Tom with dog, Barbara, Nana, PopPop, Doug, Earlan

LaMesa home back yard 1962

*Please remember, when leaving a comment as Anonymous, please sign your name so we know who you are. Thanks!

Flashback Friday-'Who's your Daddy Edition'

Anyone that can correctly identify who this person is, can hit Virginia up for a prize.

He's Here!

Blake Talmage Nielsen

March 3rd

9 lbs. 1 oz.

20 inches

Mirjam survived the delivery and we are glad they are both doing ok!
We went over to see them. He had to stay in the nursery because he is on antibiotics. The kids were bummed that they couldn't hold him.But I got to hold him and he is a chub! Welcome to the family Baby Blake!

Mirjam's Baby Shower

We had a Baby Shower for Mirjam on February 14th. So while the rest of you were celebrating with your sweethearts, we were showering Mirjam with gifts. Check out that amazing diaper cake. One of Cathy's creations. She will be taking your orders soon :) Vanessa, Mirjam & Cathy

We were so glad that Cathy was able to fly up for the occasion.

(Vanessa was especially glad for all of her help!)

Erik was there.

(for moral support of course...or was it for that table full of blue and white candy?)
Somebody stuck ducks and pacifiers in the slush. It was still yummy.

The Nielsen contingency was Jolynn, Heather and Aunt Barbara. We REALLY appreciate Aunt Barbara flying up to celebrate with us! Thanks so much!
Here we are, all showered out.

Vanessa, Aubrey, Shane (cutest baby EVER), Mirjam, Erik, Aunt Barbara, Jolynn & Heather. Kordel took the picture. He just didn't want you to know that he attended the shower and hung out with a bunch of women.Now we just wait for Baby Optimus Prime to arrive.

(that is what Dillon, my son is hoping they name him)

On another note, Tom & Cathy will be up for Erik's graduation in April. We are hoping to have a get together at Vanessa's house. Erik and Mirjam will be then be moving to Oklahoma for Dental School, so we hope to see as many as we can!

More info to come as it gets closer.

Happy Birthday to the Twins! (Virginia)

Here are the birthday boys - all smiles and proud of their 30 yrs!

Ashton watching his daddy blow out all those candles. Kordel - closing his eyes, making a wish - before blowing out his 30 candles!Families of Kurtis and Kordel: Jenni and Ashton Heather with Corinne and Shane. Best I could do with all 3 little ones who were preparing to go home after a long party!Grannie playing favorites with the photos.Couldn't resist showing off this very smiley Shane.He is being entertained by his sister - Corinne - not in the photo.
Earlan and Jerrod participating in the pool tournament. Kordel won the tournament!!

You Say It's Your Birthday! (Vanessa)

(I borrowed this from my blog)

It's my dad's birthday today. I'd tell you how old he is...but then I'd have to kill you. Let's just say he was born the year that the TV show "I Love Lucy" premiered.

After 20 years in law enforcement, I have learned a lot from my dad. Here are a couple things that will also help you:

-Trust no one.

-Never sit with your back to the door. You just never know who might burst through the door with guns a blazin'.

-Lock all windows and doors even if you are leaving your house for 5 minutes.

-Cross breeze is a must when rollin' down the street in your patrol car.

-Trust no one.

-I only need the facts...please don't bore me with all the froo-froo stuff.

-Always watch their hands.

-Trust no one.

Following those rules will make your life much simpler.

Me, T-Bone & Erik. Circa 1984. I don't think my pants can go up any higher.

Hope it's a great day. Wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Instead, here is what I sent you in the mail:

Two Old Guys Having a B.Day

Flashback Friday

This Flashback comes from Vanessa's blog dated December 30, 2007

There is a big hill in Pine Valley that is always fun for sledding. Everyone from St. George that doesn't know what snow looks like, comes to this hill for some winter fun. Luckily we got there just before the barrage of people showed up and got a few good runs in. With only a few minor crashes (Aubrey bouncing off a snow bank) Dillon, Aubrey, Elton, Erik and even Mimi took their turns on the hill.Erik & Mirjam


Elton is sort of invisible due to the camo, we can only see his legs and head! hahahaha!

Dillon & Grandpa T.
Aubrey has a pretty cool Grandma! Look at her and Mimi go! Even though she has a look of sheer terror on her face, Aubrey said she had fun!

Aubrey & Elton

I think she had her eyes closed and there was no way she was falling off due to the death grip she had around Elton.

Dillon was next! It is hard to see where he is since him and Elton BOTH have camo coats. Hope you can spot him!