Lesson Learned!!

Well, this picture honestly doesn't do it justice, believe me, but I would just like to share with everyone the hideous beast that's threatening to take over my entire face!!! I have never been one to get cold sores or anything like that but lucky me.... there's always a first time for everything! I had a few camping casualties last weekend, one of them including getting a little sunburned on my fishing trip with my dad & grandpa. I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to having dry lips so I always have chap stick or lip gloss with me. The fishing trip was no different.....except that I didn't realize my lip gloss didn't have SPF in it. So along with my knees, forehead and scalp getting burned as did my lips. I had a feeling that they may have gotten burned a few days after the camping trip cause they were a little sore and I had a hard time keeping them moisturized.

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It all happened on Tuesday morning when I woke up and my bottom lip was really itchy on one corner and I thought to myself, "Oh crap, I think I'm getting a fever blister" and sure enough by the end of the day the whole right side of my bottom lip was covered in blisters!!! YUCK!!! I'm now convinced that I'm a huge wimp because I haven't stopped complaining about it since then and it just keeps getting more disgusting. Those of you that know me know that I'm not one to take medicine.... well, I have had to talk aspirin a few times this week because I thought I was going to pass-out from the pain that was radiating through my lip!! I am so self-conscious about it too!! I just know that when I'm talking to people they're staring at the living organism growing on my lip!!

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HELP!!!

(Note to self: NEVER EVER let your lips get sunburned or you will indefinitely live to regret it!!)

COLORADO CAMPIN'

For the past few years my parents have pulled their camp trailer to this RV park in Colorado to camp for 2 weeks with my mom's parents and her Uncle Roy & Aunt Debbie. I haven't yet had the opportunity to go until this year! I drove up on Friday with my grandma & grandpa and was able to stay for the weekend. The only way I'll camp is if it's in a trailer or a cabin so this was perfect! We had no cell phone service up there which was a little rough but I survived!:)

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We did a lot of relaxing!!:)

This is my Uncle Roy & Aunt Debbie who live in Texas. They're awesome people and tons of fun! I don't get to see them enough.

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Some of us campers really love smores! We ate a few too many and really made an ooie gooey yummy mess!:)

This is the perfect picture of my mom stuffing a perfectly golden brown marshmallow into her mouth.:)

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My dad loves to go fishing and has this cute little fishing boat so I decided that this was the year I'd learn how to fish! I bought myself a one day fishing license (and took a picture with it because I knew my husband would be proud) and ventured out very early Saturday morning with grandpa Larry & my dad. After I about froze to death then eventually warmed up when the sun came out, I had tons of fun!!! I love fishing......who woulda known!:) Beginners luck was with me that day too because I caught 5 fish while my grandpa caught 4 and dad 3. I'm convinced I need to buy a pink fishing pole and cute little tackle box and begin my career as a fisherman.:)

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Sunday evening my mom, Aunt Debbie and I were feeling a little creative so we decided to add our own rock to the campsite rock garden. We borrowed the paint from the office and went to work! We think they turned out really cute too!

Three days of relaxing, playing cards, fishing, cooking in the great outdoors and smelling nature was perfect for me. They have already reserved their camp spots for next year and I'm hoping that I will be able to take Bryce up there to enjoy it with me!

The Odd Couple- -

For all you Twilight fans!!

This new magazine cover has me feeling all kinds of mixed emotions!:)

1) I am extremely excited to see the 1st Twilight movie!

2) Kristen Stewart looks beautiful!

and

3) Robert Pattinson doesn't even come close to being as drop dead gorgeous as the Edward in my head is!!:)

What do all of you Twilight fans think? I just can't believe they couldn't find someone more hot to play Edward! All I can say is that Robert & Kristen better have some really good on screen chemistry or I'll walk away from the movie a little disappointed! I was under the impression that Edward was supposed to be more beautiful than Bella....well, whoever picked the cast was way off the mark & probably has never even read Twilight!! So, I'm disappointed in Edward but still excited to see the movie!:)

HoMEtoWn FoUrtH oF jUly!!

Nothing says "Happy 4th of July" like a huge patriotic truck/diesel burning up $5.50/gallon gas!!:) I just had to take a picture of it! Isn't it cool?!

I had such a great 4th of July!! Nothing compares to spending this fun holiday in my good ol' hometown of Blanding! It's sure to be a good time!! I was surrounded by my wonderful family & friends and enjoyed every minute of it!

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The day started off with the parade down main street. I heard it was a great parade- -I was too busy collecting candy for the kiddos and reminiscing with friends that have had 2 kids since the last time I saw them! Following the parade we walked down to the "booths" and waited in very long lines in the 100 degree heat for a Navajo taco & a snow cone!! We had fun doing it though! I got to see a lot of friends that I haven't seen or talked to in a long time.

Later in the evening we got the family together for a BBQ at my parent's house. We had steak, potatoes & homemade ice cream......yummy!! My mom and I decided to start a new tradition of making homemade ice cream every 4th of July and this was year #1.:)
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Four generations of handsome Nielson men! They all share the same middle name- -Joseph.


While we were waiting to go down to the park for the fireworks we taught the kids how to do the Poppers. They loved them and when the poppers were all gone Jett kept asking me for more....well, I didn't have any and it broke my heart to have to tell him so. :)

Cori & Eli are basically part of the family so it was very fitting to have them over for the BBQ. Their little girl Indianna is just the cutest, most innocent thing ever! We were so happy they took us up on our invitation!

(Below: This is what happens by the end of the day when the men have had enough of the picture taking) :)

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The fireworks this year were awesome!! They were the best Blanding fireworks I've ever seen! Jett loved them & Tenli really wasn't too sure of what to think of the loud noise. I have so much fun playing with these two kids! I love them sooooo much!!!

It was so nice to "set up camp" on the grass, relax, listen to the live band & the kids playing and then enjoy the fireworks. It was the perfect ending to the day!. . . . . . well, it would have been more perfect had my husband been there with me.:(

4 Years of Bliss & Another Year older!

Yea!!!! I got to go home to see my husband this weekend! It was a special weekend! We celebrated our 4 year anniversary and my 25th birthday!! I know right, I can't believe I'm a quarter of a century old!!! Anyway....it was so good to see Bryce and spend a weekend with him, though it was much too short. I'm so glad he was able to take a break from studying. I miss him tons!!

When we left Omaha we also left our 16 year old living room set in hopes of buying something new and it couldn't have happened soon enough. We decided it was time to end the days of sitting in camp chairs in the living room to watch a movie or play XBox so we treated ourselves to a new leather sofa, love seat & chair set for our anniversary. Bryce was getting really irritated and angry having to study in a lawn chair all day!! I think I would have too!

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Bryce and I spent our actual anniversary day, the 25th, alone and in different states in fact but Bryce being the wonderful husband that he is sent me flowers so that I wouldn't feel quite so bad about being without him on this day!! Gerber daisies- -my favorite!! He knows how much I love getting flowers and I think it's sweet that he made the effort to make me feel special! Love ya Bryce!

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June 29th- -Happy Birthday to me!!

As always, Bryce and I had a combined birthday/anniversary celebration! I totally shot myself in the foot when I decided that the day of our wedding would be 4 days before my birthday so I guess I have no right to complain.:)

We ended up spending the evening in Reno with dinner, shopping & a movie. The Atlantis Casino all you can eat buffet seemed like a great place to stuff ourselves with as many crab legs as we could get our hands on!:) I enjoyed eating a little bit of just about everything they had to offer, then I topped it off with a cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream with sprinkles (a childhood favorite that has stuck with me).:) Yummy!! Surprisingly we made it out to the car without needing a forklift.:)

Below is the evidence of our pig-out! That was just Bryce's 1st plate, there were 2 more after that!!

Our weekend was amazing!! I love spending quality "date" time with Bryce! The next time I go home will be the end of our long distance marriage and I will officially be a resident of Lovelock, Nevada. I'm very much looking forward to moving home with my boys!