Nadaulds Are in Dixie

My sister called first thing this morning wondering why I didn't tell her my in laws were moving to St.George. I was totally baffled. She had just read the morning paper and on the front page she read that Stephen Nadauld was going to be president of Dixie State.

Well it's true! We just found out about it today also and we are sooo excited to have both families in one town. Hopefully they'll love it as much as I do!! They are going down on Sunday evening and start on Monday. The old president, Lee Caldwell, stepped down for personal reasons yesterday and Taylor's dad will be taking the interim position for up to 18months.

This will be great... I hope!!

I'm ALIVE

So -- I posted about 10 different posts -- I'm back in the game now -- so if anything is happenin with the Nadaulds, you'll hear about it!

Giddy Up Cowboys!

My whole family was getting together at our Ranch over Easter and I was about sick thinking about not being there. That's when my wonderful husband decided it was worth it for me to go for the weekend. YAY!! I was sooo excited and so were the boys. I talked to Taylor about it on Sunday and by monday we had tickets and Wednesday we left for UTAH!! Jake was so excited the day we were leaving he woke up saying "wahoo!" that was the first thing he said as he rolled out of bed. "we're going to Utah" was the second. Taylor had work in DC so he was bummed he couldn't come -- but I had enough fun for all of us. Thanks TAYLOR and MOM for making my Easter SUPER!!

Walking sticks ...................... ATV rides with uncle kirk ........ horse rides with uncle Lonny


Grandma, cousins, and Dogs for everyone. What more could a child want!?! .........




Maybe some kite flying, more horse riding, and more cousins!


Decorating Easter Eggs...

We decorate eggs the old fashion way -- with flowers and red root dye. It's such a fun tradition my grandma Hafen taught us, and I'm glad my mom keeps us doing it each year.


My mom and dad have 22 grandkids and 1 due in July ranging from 13 to newborn. We were all together for Easter.


Brindee and Gavin -- 2 cousins that are just Jakes age! All three of them will be in school together.

The trip FAR surpassed my expectations, and they were pretty high as I was leaving Columbus. I got to visit with family, go swimming with friends, and just let my boys get to know their cousins better while roaming the range at the BAR 10.

On saturday we had an Easter Egg hunt. All the kids went for a walk and the parents hid eggs. Each child got 12 colored eggs and 1 special gold or silver egg that had money in it. It was only $1, but that was enough to buy a great treat in the gift shop (aka the trading post).

Here is a before the hunt picture -- look close and you can see all the eggs. Also, I have to brag about the view from our lodge. The blue mountains in the background is the Grand Canyon -- isn't beautiful with the blue skies? I just love it there. I hope my brothers will run it forever!




Some of the dads wanted to test the bigger kids -- they were climibing trees and buildings to find all the hidden eggs.

We drove back to town for Easter Sunday and we got to go to church with my mom and eat a yummy dinner at home.

Before my brother and family headed off to northern Utah, we all stopped by the cemetery to visit my dad's grave. I just love this picture of my dad.

My mom designed the most beautiful headstone for his grave. I always visit there with such a peaceful feeling.

The day after my dad died, my brothers found a note he left to all of us. Among other things, he told us all that he loved us and that we needed to take care of each other. He wrote, "we're a family forever." My mom has that saying engraved upon his headstone. It's times when we are all together (and especially when we are at the ranch) that I miss him the most. I am so lucky to have such great brothers that will teach my boys the things that Grandpa would have wanted to teach them.

Cute Kids

My friend Angie is having a baby today! They didn't find out what it is and I'm so excited to meet the newest little Kelly.

To honor the 3rd time mom to be, I thought I would post a picture of her cute kids. My kids LOVE Olivia and Andrew. Angie and I have been taking pictures of Jake and Oliva over the past 4 years -- just incase we need to use them for a wedding video in the future! :)


Jake asked me (well, lately he's been demanding more than asking for things) to take this picture of him hugging Luke. Jacob loves his brother -- anyone that watches them for longer than 30 seconds will agree that they may just LOVE each other to DEATH.

Insider Fun

The winters would be unbearable without Rec Center classes! They are cheap, indoors, and my kids get out all their energy.


Once a week I get "mommy & me" time with Luke. During Jake's preschool on Tuesdays, Luke and I go to a class. The teacher is "Miss Jodi" and Luke loves it. They play games, read stories and we even had a fun tea party the last day of class. This is my time to just enjoy little Lukie. He is such a funny kid to be around.




On Wednesday mornings, Jake comes with us to a gymnastics class. They love it and are little monkeys!




Luke in all his brave glory (left). Luke and buddy Griffen. He's only 18months, but he can wrestle with my boys any day. I wish I had a better picture of Griff. He is soo cute you'd just want to eat him up! :)


I brought my camera on the perfect day... Jake learned how to do a flip all by himself. I thought he might break his neck, but then the pride took over and I was so impressed. I kept making him do it again and again and again. :)

Pinewood Derby and Chili Cook off..

Beginning.................................. Middle........................................... End

I was a little worried Jake would think our car wasn't cool next to all the others, but he was true to our blue beauty. He thought it was the greatest.

Jake and Luke had such a fun time at the Church Party. Each car raced 3 times and we actually came in first one of the times. That was enough for them to think they won the whole thing. Our car is now placed carefully on our mantle for all to revere.

Enrichment... Is it worth it???

I am the enrichment counselor in my ward and I have to tell you --- it's been pretty challenging for me. If it weren't for my awesome Enrichment Leader and her committee, I would seriously consider asking to be released. After 4 years of being in this calling (not always counselor, but somehow involved in enrichment) I am at burn out!!

On a more positive note... we just had a fabulous activity a couple weeks ago and so I'm now posting a couple pictures. Thanks to Kirsten and Annie for letting me steal some photos. The activity was actually pretty easy (now that it's over I can say that), and I think it was a lot of fun. Amidst all the snow we were all ready for a sunny vacation in Hawaii! The Luau wasn't quite as good a hawaii trip, but close right? :I

Ali, the person who keeps me alive in enrichment. She and her sister have the same calling and me and mine do -- we feel it's meant to be that we work together. :) At least I do. We are standing next to one of two palm trees we constructed for the luau decor.



The tables were Ali's idea and turned out so cute. It's butcher paper with green platic tablecloths wrapped around like a hula skirt. The center pieces were just pineapples with grass and lay flowers spread around.

Every sister got a lay upon entering our luau. We served hawaiian haystacks, had a samoan sister introduce the luau and explain about the ceremony and had a hawaiian sister sing and do the hula for us. We played a little hula game and just enjoyed each others company. There were some fish nets and colored ball lights that added to the decor. I can't forget the yummy pineapple cakes and coconut cream pies for dessert. Yumm

MORE SNOW FUN

A Picture of the snow the morning after the storm when the weather was clear.

So, the big snow day was on a Saturday and we promised the boys we would take them sledding. Well... after our catastrophe with our neighbor's snow blower and 4 hours of Taylor shoveling our driveway, we didn't make it to the slopes.

Don't worry, Jake didn't let us forget our promise and for FHE on Monday, we geared up and headed to the ONE hill in Columbus that is worthy of sledding. As you can see the warm weather quickly melted the snow -- it was a good thing we went when we did, because by Tuesday the snow was pretty much melted. 2 feet of snow, gone in 2 days. That's how I like snow. :)

Jake & Luke sledding together (left). Jake & Luke not wanting to use a sled (right).


Taylor going down with both boys... The end of the snow and on to the road.

What a great FHE night. We went home to yummy hot cocoa from my newly acquired (christmas gift from Rebecca) Cocoa Latte maker!! I love that thing.

A BIG BLIZZARD SNOW DAY!

We woke up this morning to this! The most snow Central Ohio has ever had. (sad for some Utahns to hear that -- I know.)


It was a level 3 snow emergency in Columbus for most the day. It's midnight now, and we have accumulated 20 and 1/2 inches so far! That is a lot for us. We spent most the day in our jammies with a few intermittent bundling up's and braving the cold to have some fun.

This is a picture of our back yard. There were some snow difts that were several feet high.
As you can see, our play house has snow up to the window.


So, you can see our foot prints in the one picture -- that is a little porch area, and
then the patio (where the playhouse is located) is about a foot lower. The snow blew
right up to the door. It was cool looking.

I usually don't like snow, but when it's this much -- it's great!

Poor Taylor

Taylor spent most the day snow plowing our drive way. According to him, it's a mile long these days.

Our sweet neighbor Norma let us borrow her snow blower, but about half way through -- it broke. Note to everyone: Never let us borrow things -- they always break!!!


The wind was pretty strong and it made some pretty cool things with the snow. Look at the picture of our roof. The snow is sweeping down and then back up over the rain gutters. It looked pretty cool in person. :)

SNOW ICE CREAM!
Our friend told us about the GREATEST thing for a snowy day....

It's snow ice-cream and is awesome! so I have to share with everyone the recipe.
My kids LOVED it.
They 2nd's and 3rd's and then I had to limit them.
It was such a fun thing to do during our blizzard day!


RECIPE:
1 cup 1/2 and 1/2
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1: get fresh snow from outside in a big bowl
2: mix ingredients together in separate bowl
3: scoop snow into bowls, and then pour syrup mixture over it

Yummy and FUN!