Happy Halloween

After our failed attempt at dressing Gunnar as a Lion, we decided to go for something with a little less. 

Spiderman was the perfect fit. As was the Cowgirl and Ninja.

Crew Plays Flag Football

Devin has waited years for this moment. Okay, I have too!

For Crew to play football and for Devin to coach his team. 

There's nothing quite like father/son bonding through sports.

They had a great season and we can't wait for the next.

Back to School

Crew is in 1st grade and he LOVES it.

Finley started Preschool and was more than excited, her poses say it all.

And me and Gunnar can't get enough of each other.

Freedom & Fun

So many fun memories are made on our 4th of July vacations to Idaho.  

It seemed that most of our time this year was spent in or around water. We enjoyed countless activities outdoors, celebrated Devin's birthday and the kids had some much needed cousin time. 

Our Summer in a Picture Post

Gunnar Turns ONE

May 30th came way too fast. 

It's taken me weeks to come to terms with the fact that Gunnar is already one. 

He has brought so much excitement to our family. 

He has a contagious smile and keeps us constantly laughing.

He loves to wrestle and play ball and he gives the best wet kisses. 

He already has a mouth full of teeth and is in the process of mastering his stride.

His stats from his one year check up were,

25 lbs

31 inches

HC 19 inches

Just like Crew and Finley, he rank's in the 75th-90th percentile for all categories.

 

Gunnar is crazy about the show Yo Gabba Gabba so I threw together a little Brobee doughnut cake. He wanted very little to do with it at first. 

He wasn't interested in getting his hands dirty UNTIL he tasted the chocolate doughnut.  

JORDAN GLENN NELSON
MARCH 14, 1987 - JUNE 1, 2013

My first memory with Jordan was many years ago. We were at Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's house. I was dropped off to play with Jordan. Upon arrival it was explained to me that Jordan was sleeping and taking a nap. I was told he was "Jet Lagged" and I shouldn't wake him. You see Jordan was fresh off the plane from Spain for a quick visit before his parents finished their mission. I had no idea what it meant  to be "Jet Lagged" but I waited patiently next to him on the couch watching TV until he woke. Since Jordan was in Spain for multiple years during our young age this was kind of our first meeting since we were toddlers. Once Jordan woke up we didn't waste much time. We went into our grandparents basement and the toys could only hold our attention for a few minutes. We then focused on the pool table and before long we found enjoyment and great laughs sliding the pool balls at each other attempting to slam each others fingers. The rough housing was eventually stopped and our grandparents decided to take us to Tautphaus Park. While we were at the park Jordan told me he needed to pee. With our grandparents just outside of ear shot Jordan and I went behind a tree to pee. Just as we started peeing with our shorts at our ankles Jordan alarmed, "Dude, theres a cop! Were in trouble!" We quickly disarmed ourselves and walked towards our grandparents like nothing was wrong. The cop approached our grandparents and notified them of our public urination. Grandpa Nelson was so embarrassed!

A year or 2 later Jordan and I were up to no good, again. This time we tried to exterminate a hornets nest that was in the trunk of a old willow tree in our grandparents backyard.  We jammed the garden hose into the entrance of the nest and then made it rain. Oh did we laugh. To our surprise the hornets started to escape. As hornets began to swarm around our heads the situation became very intense. Instead of laughs it was dude, dude, dude... Dude, what do we do now, dude? As I was manning the garden hose I looked back at Jordan. His eyes focused on the nest and I was startled as I saw a hornet crawling up Jordan's nose. Without hesitation I made the warning but it was too late. Man down! Jordan got stung by that black and yellow beast and the party was over. The swelling on Jordan's upper lip from the hornet sting was tremendous. Aaron Nelson summed it best when he told Jordan, "I always knew you were a butt head. Look the crack is beginning to form!"

Jordan and I were double trouble. Being both big boned and husky we were quite the force. One day we decided to take on my older brother Adam Belnap. Adam wasn't much older and at the time he was tall and very thin. Jordan and I wrestled him to the ground and tied him up with duct tape. I wish the joke stopped there but we then bound Adam to a chair and forced him to watch a non age appropriate 80's film staring Chevy Chase.

Jordan was always very positive and ready for adventure. He never wanted to spend the day inside but at the same time there is only so much one on one basketball we could play. Jordan's positive attitude was apparent as we would play the classic football video game "Madden." Jordan loved the Dallas Cowboys but probably loved "calling" the game with commentary more. Jordan would call the play as it was happening and every play was called with the excitement that it was a breakaway touchdown. For example. "Aikman hands off the Emmet Smith. Smith makes a MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE! HE COULD GO... for a 2 yard loss." I would laugh and laugh. Jordan would call each play this way regardless of the outcome. Jordan always believed he was destined for a game breaking moment. How much better would this world be if we all saw each moment like Jordan hoping, believing and trying for the best result.

Jordan played hard and worked harder. One day a week in the summer I would be busy cutting my lawn and he would be busy cutting his lawn. Jordan decided that we should start a lawn mowing business. I am proud to say that my first business that I started was with Jordan. I was 14 and Jordan was 12. Jordan posted signs and dropped off fliers all over the neighborhood. To my surprise he landed a few lawn mowing gigs. Our first gig was to cut Doctor Baird's grass. It was a one time deal while he was out of town. The problem I just had my wisdom teeth removed. Jordan came over to my house and convinced me to get out bed and go cut this lawn with him. I think we made less than $200 before we lost interest in the business. 

Jordan is a great friend and one of the funniest people of my life. I was blessed to have Jordan as a cousin and a brother from a different mother. I will never forget him and the fun times we had growing up. I will miss Jordan badly. Rest assured that whenever I think of Jordan I will have a smile on my face.  I wish I could have had one more game of basketball in the driveway. Unfortunately death is inevitable  for all of us and for Jordan it came way to soon. I know that Jordan's death and others is swallowed up in the resurrection which is possible through our Lord Jesus Christ. "O Death where is they sting, O grave where is thy Victory?" Jesus Christ gives victory over death and this is a gift for all us. Life doesn't end at death. Jordan and I's physical bodies have corruption but we will put on incorruption in the resurrection. Jordan wont have knee pain, and I wont have neck pain and we will get that game of one on one and we will play in courts on high. For now you and I will have to wait patiently because Jordan's body is "Jet Lagged" for the moment until Christ comes again but his spirit like all of ours is eternal. I love you Jordan.

Devin. 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

We planted our first vegetable garden...which I know is going to come with much trial and error, 

but we'll take what we can get. 

Crew and Finley did most of the work on their own. They tend to it daily and are already seeing sprouts.