Last night in Virginia!

Sunday was are last day in Castleton. We went to church, sang a duet, came home, Tyler performed his last show (matinee), and packed up the car. It was like 6:30 pm when we finished and Tyler really badly wanted to go fishing with James one last time. So we went! The ponds were so close and it was such a beautiful fishing day, we just decided to go! And good thing too, we caught like 7 fish in about an hour! James is a great fisherman...probably after the Nelson side of the family. He can cast out like 20 feet! He loves to cast, but has a hard time reeling in SO many times. It works well, for him to cast, and mommy to reel in. But he really does love it! All the way home he wanted to stop and fish, and show Grandpa Nelson and Grandpa David how good he is! Here are just a couple pictures!

We are HOME!!!

We made it from Virginia in 3 days! Crazy, I know! Monday we went 8 hours (ended in Louisville, KY), Tuesday we went 10 hours (ended in Lincoln, NE) , and yesterday we went 11 1/2 hours (ended HOME). The first day was really not that bad and we were still planning on being on the road for 4 days. We chalked up 8 hours in the car as being one of our longer days. Then, I think, we just went crazy. I was feeling fine (pregnancy-wise) so we just kept pressing on. We got in yesterday at 9:30 pm....so really not that bad! PLUS we had time on our side because everyday we passed another time zone and had an extra hour in the day! Anyway, we made it and I am glad we DON'T have to sit in the car today!

James, of course, was a rock star! And Tyler who entertained was also equally a rock star. I drove most of the way - (I read in a baby book when you travel, it might be better if the pregnant lady drives - it helps her prepare for the bumps and curves along the road). Tyler sat in back with James and pretty much sang silly kids songs the entire way. James really LOVES to sing. We also watched movies from the laptop, but in surround sound. (He hooked up a transmitter to the laptop that feed into one of the radio channels!) James definitely liked that! Anyway...we had a good time, but am really glad we are home! James was so overly excited about sleeping in his WALL-E bed again, that he couldn't focus on getting ready for bed - running around, jumping on the bed, etc. And, of course, there is nothing like sleeping in your OWN bed! Every time I get home from traveling, the one thing that I look forward to most is sleeping in my own comfortable bed! LOVE it!

So we were lame and never took one picture on the road...sorry 'bout that!

10 Inch Bass - caught by James Hart Nelson (age 3)

So a couple days ago, we cave in and decide to buy James a kid's fishing pole. Of course, he chose the CARS one. We got some fake worms, big Bass hooks, and some weights. Terry (one of the workers on the farm) said we could go fishing in any of the ponds, so we decided to start with ours (a really very little pond). Tyler first taught James to cast. He got a little frustrated at first, but then all of a sudden things clicked and he was throwing like 10 to 15 ft casts. Tyler then put the hook, worm, and weight on. We have fished almost everyday since never really catching anything, but James still seemed to be enjoying just casting, reeling, and watching the fish follow it in. Yesterday was nice a overcast and Tyler had rehearsal at the Festival Tent, which is close to another (bigger) pond. We decided to drop dad off and try our luck there. The weather was soooo great, and Terry told us that it would be a great fishing day! Well we (James and I) get down to the pond and he hardly waits for me to pick a spot...he ran over to the edge, cast about a 10 ft cast and started to reel it in. I was trying to coach/discipline/parent while trying to get over there, when all of a sudden his line starts swimming away. His fishing pole really isn't that great and can't reel in a normal size fish, so I run over grab the line and help James reel it in, by basically pulling it out with my hands. It was huge (especially to James and me) and we were ecstatic. While the fish still on the hook and line, I grabbed my new iphone (Tyler's old iphone) and took a couple pictures. I only had time to take two because the fish broke the line and landed in the grass. I then had to drop the phone and take care of trying to get the huge hook out of the fish. I am sorry to say that I think I took to long trying to get it out and ruined the hook, worm, weight, and unfortunately I think the fish didn't make it. I, of course, tossed it back in the water, but think it never recovered from my horrible pulling and prodding. James however got to touch it and couldn't stop talking about how we caught a fish and killed it! He immediately wanted to cast out again and catch another one. Well, me being the lazy mother, didn't take anything to re-bait the hook. We tried repairing the little worm we had left and cast out a couple times, but it was a pretty sorry excuse for a worm.

After playing around a bit, we picked Tyler back up, told him the great news, showed him the pictures, and headed to lunch. Tyler was soooo happy! And James decided he needed to show everyone at lunch the pictures of him catching his first fish! He actually took my iphone and walked up to people and started telling them the story. Needless to say, he has caught the fisherman bug and the rest of the day (which turned out to be really hot) he asked to go fishing. Who would have thought that James could catch a fish, about 10 inches, all by himself and only with his mother there (who knows relatively nothing about fishing compared to the rest of the Nelson clan)!!

Opening Grandma B's Present...

The Tricycle

More Birthday Pictures

This was the beginning of a great birthday! We started by having all the boys over and singing "Happy Birthday." James was pretty stoic and didn't really know how to handle all this attention.


He got over it pretty fast with the help of the sugar from the cupcake and realizing he liked being in the center of attention!!


Opening presents...


Jessica's Gift....Helmet and knee pads to go along with the scooter!! He was so excited about this present....since he knew what it was this whole summer, he had just been waiting and waiting to finally open it and use it.


Dad helping out with the new scooter!

Pictures of the Birthday

Here is James displaying the gift from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. He loves it and almost has it memorized by now!


Of course, here is James with Grandma B's gift....had to read it right there. She always gets the best books. One of the many things that Grandma B and James share is an affinity for cookies, and this book is the PERFECT thing to remind James that he and his Grandma are cut from the same mold...the only thing wrong with the book is that "dad" had eaten all the cookies...But we all know that in real life it would have probably been James or Grandma B!


Here is James and Grandma Joan - They were watching Grandma Michele and Jess on the paddle boats down in the lake.


And here is said paddle boats and lake with Grandma Michele and Jess. They LOVED it and said it was the "BEST" about the trip....(well that and everything else - like James' Birthday!)


We did things a little backwards...Opened presents, had lunch, went boating/played tennis, then had the birthday cookie and cupcake. He didn't know any better.

Birthday Bash...

So I am dealing with shoddy internet and trying to catch up, so I wrote this on his birthday so forgive the wrong date...

James’ 3rd Birthday

Today was my son’s 3rd birthday. Throughout the day I felt all different kinds of emotions, like - I can’t believe I have a 3 year old, or I can’t believe how grown up he is. And then I would have emotions like - wow I feel like I have been doing this mother thing forever and he is ONLY 3, or I can’t believe he still is acting like a 2 year old right now...GROW UP. So like I said mixed emotions!

Anyway our day was overall really pretty great! In the morning we raced to town to try to get cupcakes and balloons...it turned out to be more stressful than I wanted, but maybe worth it, because when James saw the helium balloons - he was in heaven!

At around 11:30, we first had cupcakes with all the kids in the house and of course Claire and Thomas came over too! It was a pretty rockus chorus of “Happy Birthday” and James seemed to experience his first feeling of total self awareness while everyone watched him blow out his candle. Watch on the video and after the chorus he gets really serious not really knowing how to react. Needless to say...all the boys (and there were a lot - Thomas, Cade, Daniel, Richard, Ryan, and Matthew) all loved the cupcakes!

When Frandpa Daivd, Grandma Shell, Grandma Joan, and Aunt Jess came over we left to go to a pavilion that is close to a tennis court and a lake with paddle boats in it. The weather was perfect - overcast and windy with a little sun peeking through. We opened presents, ate subway sandwiches, dad and Frandpa played tennis, while Grandma Shell and Jess went paddle boating, and James, Grandma Joan, and I played with presents and gathered the fly away tennis balls! We ended with another chorus of “Happy Birthday” and some more cupcakes and a huge cookie we were ‘pooped’.

James seriously had a great birthday for being only 3 years old. He got books from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson and one from Grandma ‘B’. He got cool (dollar store) helicopter spinning toys, a small basketball and football, and a paddle ball from Frandpa David. He got a Lightening McQueen helmet and knee pads with a (hand me down) scooter from Jess. Clothes from Grandma Joan. AND the biggest surprise of all - a new tricycle from Grandma Shell! She bought it in Utah, took it all apart, packed it in a suitcase, brought it to Virginia, put it back together, and wrapped it in a big garbage bag. Only you mom would do something that crazy! James, of course, LOVED it!!

James, of course, did have a couple like 3 HUGE melt downs during the day. Maybe too much attention, maybe too much sugar, or maybe all play and no nap - but they happened. Two right after the first cupcake thing and one right before dinner. We were actually pretty impressed that during the actual “party,” there was no tantrums! He was 100% AWESOME! (which is all I really cared about)

For dinner we all went to BBQ. James kept telling everyone that it was his birthday and how he was 3. I think this birthday made a huge impression on him. The day ended with dad (Tyler) reading James (in his Buzz “LIKE” year P.J.s) his new birthday books! Thanks mom, dad, Jess and Grandma Joan for coming out to help celebrate with us! It was so fun and something that James is really going to remember (at least for a while!).

Beach Day....104 Degrees!!!

So we decided instead of a two hour drive to Richmond, VA we would drive 2 hours to Colonial Beach and spend the day at the beach. (just saying - 2 hours with a toddler is a LONG time!) We also took Daniel (James' new best friend). Anyway we got there and the beach was not all that impressive. The hot sand was rough with tons of rocks, the water was a little dirty and when in the water you couldn't see past your knees (freaky) and there were mossy rocks everywhere. But we had a good time spending about 2 hours in the water....being outside of the water was definitely out of the question because of the burning sand and heat radiating off the burning sand - so there were no pictures...sorry about that! James and Daniel stayed in the water the entire time....they are fishes when it comes to water and could stay in all day! James even learned how to blow bubbles and put his head completely under water, holding his breath and everything! He was pretty stoked about the whole thing. After swimming we went to the grocery store and got lunch, then deciding that since we were at George Washington's birthplace we would go there. It was beautiful. We got to see the plantation of the Washington's, the foundation of the home he was actually born in, the Memorial House, the Kitchen, the Farm House, the Weaving House, and the Barn. His plantation was right on the shore...no sand, just rocks and then water...but so beautiful. It was a very quick trip because of the time and the HEAT!! Pregnant lady walking around in 104 degree weather trying to put the reins on her 2 (almost 3) year old son...not a good idea! But it was still really cool to see the area where he was born!

On the way home, after a big long day, we were basically just trying to survive - and had on one of James' favorite songs ever...."I like to move it, move it" from Madagascar. He was dancing and we passed a cop car. We didn't think anything of it and noticed that he pulled out and started following us...well immediately we turn off the music and question our driving. Minutes later the flashing lights start and we pull over. We were totally confused...because we weren't speeding at all (maybe even under a little). He walked up and looked in the backseat of the car and then told Tyler that he had thought James wasn't buckled because he was flailing around in his seat....Tyler (polite as ever) just responded that it has just been a long day and we will try to keep him more secured in his seat. (BTW - he was 100% totally buckled in) When the officer left, we looked back and extreme TERROR was on James' face. He thought the police officer was going to take him to jail....this reaction might have something to do with the fact that every time we get in the car and he whines about putting his seat belt on, we tell him "we have to wear our seat belts or the police will pulls us over and put us in jail!" Anyway, he was pretty freaked out and we told him he had to not danced and move around so much, but that because we had our seat belt on, we were NOT going to jail! I don't think we will have a problem with the seat belt anymore. Tyler and I really just couldn't stop laughing at the fact that James has now been pulled over and almost got a ticket (or worse) because he couldn't keep his dancing in control....and before he was 3 years old! All I have to say is....Emergency Room 3 times, and now pulled over once - we are really in for it as parents!

P.S. I only have 44 more days of this pregnancy...my favorite number!!

George Washington Birthplace

Our mini vacation to DC (very 4th of July themed!)

So, one of the best things about this gig in Virginia is the fact that when we have a day off we are so close to so many cool places! Today, the decision was between Richmond Virginia and Washington D.C. James and Valerie had never been to D.C., and none of us have been to Richmond, so we couldn’t decide which one to do. Naturally, the choice fell to James, who said that he wanted to go to Richmington D.C., which didn’t exist in the first place, so his second choice was D.C.

We drove out this morning and arrived a little after 10. The place was virtually deserted and the only activity seemed to be all the people cleaning up the aftermath of the 4th of July celebration yesterday. Parking was free and the place seemed deserted so it was a PERFECT day to go. The only negative was the fact that it was literally the hottest day in the history of the entire world, so we all wandered around for close to 3 and a half hours roasting like pigs. It didn’t phase James of course, so we just kept pouring water down him and hoping he didn’t pass out mid sprint. I forget what an incredible place D.C. is and how much about our history I have forgotten. It was pretty amazing to see all the reminders of what has happened in our country and to see the way that people have chosen to memorialize those events and important figures. We started out at the White House, which is so much smaller in person! There were a few protesters yelling things which was interesting to see right in the middle of the street. Some were camped out in tents and others were trying to distribute materials about their cause. James didn’t even notice them, but Val and I found it very interesting. Next we walked down to the Mall and looked at the Washington Monument (I had forgotten how COOL it is!), and then over to the WW II memorial where James couldn’t resist dunking his head and hands even though the sign asks you not too. I figured all those who served would understand if they knew James. We next made our way to the Lincoln Memorial where James got to run up the stairs in 100 degree heat and I decided it would be an awesome idea to drag the stroller up so I didn’t have to wait for the elevator...I took the elevator back down 20 minutes later when we were done. I think that was pretty much the highlight of the sights. James actually held still for a picture or two. After that, we tried to call Grandma Nelson at work to tell her what we’d just seen but someone else answered the phone and James talked to whomever that was for a good 5 minutes before he gave the phone to Val and we figured out that some lady just got an ear full about the “Lincoln Statue,” and random facts about Charlie who James misses very much.

Anyway, we wandered around a little more and took some pictures, then headed back to the car. On the way, James fell asleep, but not only did he fall asleep, he died, like sleeping pill/tranquilizer kind of sleep. We stopped for lunch...couldn’t wake him up. I started yelling random things in his ear like “Scooby Doo,” and “Lightening McQueen,” and “Buzz Lightyear.” No go, not even a partial eye open. So, we walked back to the car, I picked him up and put him in, still nothing. He slept for the next hour or so then finally came back to life just in time to pee at a gas station. Mom and Dad for the win.

All in all, it was a FANTASTIC day, and I think James even had fun. Tomorrow, off to Richmond, to see where the Civil War ended. Also, we will get to see James favorite thing so far on this trip, “da Cannonth.” Virginia, is a pretty cool place!

Washington DC

The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial

Dishwasher Explosion

I learned something new this week. If you have a 12 year old boy living in the house, you will probably experience this same thing. He was really just trying to help out and start the dishwasher and put in dishwashing soap instead of dish detergent. He was mortified when he saw bubbles start streaming out of the dishwasher. Tyler was just returning from his morning workout and saw how scared and mortified he was. He told Tyler "I think I put in too much soap." Tyler then proceeded to ask what kind he put in and then explained that the right "soap" was the detergent underneath the sink. He was so embarrassed. Anyway, all day long we ran the rinse cycle, trying to clear out the soap and the bubbles. We soaked like 20 bath towels, then dried them in the dryer and soaked them again...repeat for all day. I was getting a little upset because we had been doing this all day with the same amount of bubbles coming out each time. I decided I needed a break and went to go see one of Tyler's rehearsals. While there, I talked with Terry (the maintenance guy that does everything around the farm) - he said he had no idea, but to try putting the dish detergent in. I was like "what more soap?" But then he said "well maybe the detergent will get rid of the soap, like it does on the dishes..." Well it was worth a try...and it totally worked the first time. No bubbles came out, no nothing....YAY!! So word to the mother who this will happen to...when and if your child puts in dish soap - counter it and put in the detergent!

The Battle of Chancelorsville

We had the day off yesterday and decided to go to Fredericksberg, which is about an hour away and has a great mall. On the way, we kept seeing all these historical signs and decided to stop at one. It happened to be in Chancelorsville where Stonewall Jackson was injured and killed by accident by his own men...crazy! We saw the old memorial and then the new memorial both for Jackson. James' favorite part was the canon and pretending to load it and shoot people.



This is the new memorial...



And this is the old memorial. I think it is out of Quartz and when it was dedicated in 1888 more than 5,000 people attended...crazy huh? Especially for such a small memorial stone.

Bails of HAY...

After boating and being so close to tons of bails of hay, we decided to go touch them, which resulted in climbing, pulling hay out, and then sliding down them. Needless to say James had a blast (and even Tyler joined in the fun!)

Peddle Boating...

This is one of the beautiful ponds that we live next to....and the one that has these cool peddling boats that we tried out. It was a really great day - overcast and 80 degrees. Perfect.

Just writing...

Today, I am 33 weeks. I can’t believe that it has really gone by this fast. I remember being around 8 to 15 weeks and thinking this is taking soooo long, and now, this morning, I was thinking only 7 more weeks! Crazy! I have been reminiscing my first pregnancy and comparing it. James was due exactly a month earlier than this baby (July 19th). So at this point I was a little over 37 weeks and was totally ready to have the baby...so much so that I walked for hours out in the hot humid Tallahassee July sun. I was told from one of my friends that after she took a long hike, she started contractions that night. I was soooo ready to get that baby out of me. James came a 9 days early, because I needed to be induced. I really didn’t care I was being induced and just wanted the baby out. This time around I feel more patient, even though I am only at 33 weeks. Hopefully I can stay patient and let the baby come when he is good and ready. This, very likely, might mean that I won’t go into labor until after my due date (August 19th). Right now, I think I can handle it, but we will just have to wait and see.

Being here on the farm has been good. It has been good to be with Tyler, to not have to make meals, or shop, or run errands. All I have to do is keep our room and bathroom clean and keep up with our laundry. I keep thinking what am I going to do when I get home and have to cook again. (Seriously they provide every meal)

We have had a ton of fun. Everyday it seems we are either feeding the horses purple flowers, or petting the donkeys, or trying not to get eaten by the friendly goats. It is so weird here...animals are not afraid of humans or children at all! James runs up to the field where they are standing close by and they actually come over. No lie, even the fish in the pond behind the house where we are staying, they seem friendly. James was playing with a stick, stirring it in the water and the fish were not swimming off, just swimming around it! Weird right?

Yesterday we watched the machine that bundles the grass and hay into big bails. Really fascinating, especially when it opened the back door and dropped the huge bail of hay off and it went rolling down the hillside. Huge bails like 6 feet by 6 feet.

The summer weather has been really hot and humid...almost impossible to handle. We have gone swimming a lot because of this. But recently, these past couple days has been so nice. The humidity is low and the weather in the morning is nice and cool and then it warms up to maybe 80 during the day. We have loved it! Hopefully it will stay for a while.

I think James misses his life back home. Yesterday he kept asking me if we could go back home. It made me feel sad that he is home sick. I think it might of stemmed off of us talking about people in our family that we could pray for. Upon realizing that he hasn’t seen his best friends, Charlie and Grandma B, for a while, I think he got a little sad. Hopefully they don’t forget us. We will be home in one month from today!!

Tyler is doing great at the operas. They open with their first couple of shows this weekend, so things around here have been pretty stressful getting the ensemble all together. The orchestra is from all over the world and everyone speaks different languages. Needless to say, they seem to be struggling to keep up with Maestro and the cast. Yesterday was the final dress, I thought it sounded fine, but Tyler said there almost were some train wrecks, but they kept going. Today is there day off and tomorrow they open. I was told they are recording it and playing it live...as for what station or where and have no idea. I have no idea if I could sit home and hear it here while they are performing. Sorry, don’t know any more about that.

Ok gotta go. James is running around wild again! Parenting time.