Family Pictures

My beautiful sister in-law, Lacey Nielson was so wonderful during our trip to Brianhead for Thanksgiving. She trecked out into the deep snow and took beautiful pictures of my family. She did such a great job, I would definatley recommend her to anyone seeking a great photographer. Look at my Beautiful Blog Buddies list and click on Lacey's Photography Blog. You can check out her work, I am sure she would be honored to be your photographer. Thanks a ton for your great talent in capturing our little family in the white snow.

Gratitude

I am thankful for life, my sweet husband, my adorable son, my kind and loving parents (grandparents Leavitt), my thoughtful and loving mother in law (Nana), my brothers and sisters, for those who stay close and keep in contact throughout the year, the telephone, cute clothes and shoes, the roof over our backs and for Allyse and Patrick being so flexible and Christ like, good T.V shows like Friday Night Lights- Hero's- Prison Break- The Mentalist- The Nine, Vitamin D milk for our growing boy, Cafe Reo Pork Salads, Ice Cream, Chocolate, Fruit, Chicken, OJ and tasty yummy food, tuff teeth, my mind, being able to teach children and loving what I do, education, learning, being loved- appreciated- complimented, building relationships, trials that make us stronger, prayer, scriptures, church, Visiting Teaching, our Honda Civic (even though we had to put $1000 into it right before Christmas for repairs- ouch), fresh air, comfortable bed, humor, laughter, smiles, a good looking- studly- charming man that loves me back, for a man that is willing to go through school for our family, a little baby that cuddles with me for short seconds through out the day, James' huge smile, James' loud and to die for laugh, how James brings so much love and laughter into our home every single day, money $, being able to shop for food when we please, weather, peace, silence at times, but most of all my biggest priority= My Savior! He is the one that has blessed me and has shown unconditional love to me throughout my whole entire life. It is because of him that I am so blessed. I have such a strong testimony in my Savior Jesus Christ, there is no doubt in my mind that he lives and loves me. I am sure of it. I feel it everyday and feel and know that he has sent certain people to my life to feel it even more. I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH IN MY LIFE! It is because of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that I am happy and love my life.

James at 12 months/ 1 year

My little love bug is now 12 months, or even more scary 1 year old. It's scary to me because it has gone by so fast. It feels like I was just in the hospital holding him in my arms, looking at him and just thinking about how tiny he was. Now he is like triple the size and doesn't need his mommy and daddy for everything. He is much more independent.

Some of his favorite friends are his cousins, he just loves to be around them. He has learned a lot from them too, because they are bigger than him. He wants to be just as big as them, so he will try to do just what they do. Little McKay has been a little biter and James has had to take a lot of bites from him, along with a lot of tears too to follow. I just hope this is not one thing he learns from him.

He now has 4 big teeth on top and 2 on the bottom. He loves to eat big people food, especially apples, crackers, etc.

James loves the park. He takes off when he's there. Sometimes I have to keep an extra eye on him, just because he is fear free to do anything. He loves slides the best. When he goes down by himself he prefers to go backward on his belly. When he reaches the bottom with a huge grin he keeps trekking and wanting to go again and again. This kid never stops!

He watched his cousin to see how it is done, and of course he had to try the exact thing, with extra supervision of course.We love Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove the most, there is so much to do there.

James is becoming more of a mommy's boy. I love it! He totally reaches for me and prefers me and daddy out of anyone. There is no doubt that he knows who we are. My favorite is watching him find me in a group of people and him walking over to me with his hands up wanting me to pick him up. That is the greatest sight.

His smile is the cutest thing I have ever seen. As he is one years old now, I have seen a drastic personality revolve. He is a fun kid and full of energy and excitement for life. He is curious and in to everything he sees. He is so ticklish and loves any type of ball. He throws it back and forth, he is a great clapper and he can even give us five. He is amazingly smart for a 1 year old. I am shocked at how he figures things out. I am so proud of him and the little guy he has become in the last, and only year in his life.

Dear James,

You are one now, yet you are still my little angel baby. You have taught me so much about myself and about being a mother. I never knew that being a mother could be such an amazing experience in life. I love seeing you every single day. Everywhere I take you, I show you off and am just so lucky to have such a handsome, adorable cutie as my own. There is no words to really tell you the love I feel for you. Everyday I feel closer to you and feel a strong bond with you. You put the biggest smile on my face. Thank you for being such an easy, special little guy to fall in love with. You have spiced up my life and you are one of the main reasons, besides daddy, that I have a huge purpose in life. You are my everything. I love you and HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY love bug.

Love you always and forever,

Mommy

Happy 1st Birthday Captain Pirate James

Our little guy sure made the cutest little pirate on his first birthday. I went all out for his first birthday party. We all dressed up, had friends and family join us, decorated our basement pirate style, ate some tacos and mingled and played games with everyone. James made a great host and everyone hugged and loves him.

I loved watching him walk around all grown up and interacting with all the kids. I just can't believe that he is one and so independent now.

James even walked the plank (Captain Hook style) all by himself......

.....and with a little help.

The kids watched Peter Pan and played pin the bandanna on the pirate.

The adults got in on the fun with hanging donut competitions.

James didn't know what to think about me stuffing my mouth.

This was Captain Pirate James' ship and some friends and cousins joining in on the fun.

James acted just like a pirate, eating popcorn with no manners at all.

He was loving it.

We are proud parents of our one year old. Each step in his little life has been

so fun and we just love him to pieces.

Here is his pirate treasure box cake that I made,

full of jewels sitting by the ocean on a sandy beach. Here is baby James' first individual birthday cake, decorated as a skeleton.

DIG IN BUDDY.......

He was eyeing the colorful, decorated treasure box cake the whole time. He didn't dig in, but he licked his fingers a few times and messed it up a little. I thought he was going to go crazy over the sweetness, since I have been a pretty big stickler for not letting him have sweets until this special day. But he just took his time and messed around.

After a good bath, he got spoiled by everyone with gifts. He wasn't much into tearing the wrapping paper off, he just watched and handled the gifts that were unwrapped. He loved the Incredible Hulk Figurine that moves and sings, trucks, blocks, winter hat, gloves, BYU jersey, shirts, jeans, Nerf, diapers, wipes and shape placement toy. Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and for loving our little man. He loves you all too.

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet baby!

You are so loved and looked after.

If only you knew how many hugs and kisses you have gotten on this special day and throughout your first year of life. Everyone loves you and I think you are the greatest little one year old out there.

The Walking Hulk

As I said, he walks, talks, acts and looks like the Incredible Hulk. He's my little hulk baby!

Super Hero Family for Halloween 2009

Introducing:The INCREDIBLE HULK SUPERMAN SUPERWOMAN The Nielson Family is pretty SUPER and INCREDIBLE!! I made the pants and bought the shirt. James acted the part very naturally as he does almost everyday, of the Incredible Hulk. He's so intense and has complete facial expressions. Now that he is walking, he even walks like the Hulk too. The evening of Halloween, James went Trick or Treating for his first time. We went to the Provo Town Mall were almost all the stores were giving out candy, than we went to Spanish Fork to see some of our old friends. We took all the kiddo's trick or treating around our old neighborhood and they loved it. It was great seeing everyone and for them to see how big James is now that he is almost one years old.

Here James and Carter Man are checking out the candy, that they "won't be eating", but their parents will. To end the night we went and saw Nana and papa too. James was kinda scared at what he saw. He didn't cry or anything he just sat there looking like this....

SCHOOL PARTYHere are the majority of the 3rd graders all dressed up right after the Halloween parade. Josh and James joined us too- they were a big hit for all the kids. I was Cleopatra, because we were asked to dress as someone that we would be studying in history through out the year.

Dressing up with the cousins isn't always fun for baby James. He hardly even knows whats going on. Yet, he loves the Halloween season with his cousins very much.

Check out these matching cuties in Halloween socks.

I love those legs, I just want to eat them.

Cultural Experience

One of my 3rd grade students that I teach wanted us to come and see her dance at her temple. So Josh and I though we'd support her, so we went. We had a lot of fun and a total cultural experience. Their religion is Hinduism and it was at the Salem temple. They worship the Monte Krishna. They dressed James and I in the complete costumes and I even got to wear a whole bunch of different jewelry. It was fun getting all done up, thanks to my student mother.

I guess my student is a pretty big deal at this church and therefore danced for everyone there, I was surprised at how many BYU students were there. I guess for their first year of school they have to study this religion as a cultural diversity class or something. We had great Indian food, we learned how to dance with sticks and we asked a whole lot of different questions.

In there culture they think of their teachers as one of their mothers, because we give them knowledge. They treat me with very much respect and nobility. They spoil me all the time too. In the evening we all lite a little wax on a leaf , made a wish and released it into the water. The celebration was their Christmas, so we even had fireworks. James didn't know what to do during these, they were pretty loud and all he did was stare strait at them with big eyes.

My student parents own a motel, so they also put us up for the night. They are seriously the nicest family I have ever met. We hung out with them for only one night, and we already felt like family. They have the kindest, most giving hearts and they are always thinking about everyone else. We even had breakfast the next morning. Here's me posing with the dress on, jewels, and glam.And here is my little man all dressed to impress. My student actually bought this outfit for James with her own money. What a sweetheart. Thanks for a great night and a wonderful chance to experience and learn about another culture.