Oh, how festive!

So, what would the Christmas season be without making gingerbread houses? We're still not ambitious enough to make genuine gingerbread houses, so graham crackers are what we use. One day, perhaps, I'll be brave enough to try the real thing.
Here's the construction zone:
Ma and Dito made a cute little ranch style home:Adam made either an apartment building or a castle...it depends on who you're talking to:
I made a church:With all the variety we had, we decided we could make a little gingerbread city. Nathan's creation helped us determine what city it was. His house collapsed. Therefore, it must be Cleveland since most the homes there are vacant and falling apart. ;)Here's our mini-Cleveland:

Charlotte Meets Santa

Last night we took Charlotte to meet Santa. They take free pictures at Pro Bass Shop, and they also let me take pictures. She was so good for Santa, but did look a little confused as to what was going on. She wore the new hat we bought her yesterday. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but it was WAY too cute for me to wait until Christmas to put it on her.

My Heart Sings

My first love was motherhood. I was always "the mother" when playing make believe in my childhood years and being not only the eldest child, but also the only girl, created the perfect opportunity for me to become a "mini-mom". My second love was music. I used to make up songs about how sad my life was because I had no sisters to play with, only rotten brothers (they seemed rotten at the time, now I wouldn't trade them for anything).
Visiting home always seems to make me nostalgic for my high school chorus days. I sang various alto parts all four years of high school and loved every minute of it. The other evening I went to a play that was put on by my old high school. I went with my best friend, Heidi, who was right by my side for all those years of chorus. We used to sing for fun. In fact, our friends who weren't in chorus were often embarrassed by our need to sing for no particular reason. While there, we bumped into another chorus friend of ours, as well as the accompanist from all our chorus concerts.
Seeing the faces of these wonderful people brought so much joy to my heart as memories flowed back about all the great times and learning experiences I've had from being involved in chorus.
Now we get to tonight and the reason for this post. My younger brother, Nathan, had a chorus concert tonight. He goes to a different high school than the one I attended, but at the end of the concert they invited all those who know the Hallelujah Chorus to come up and sing with the choir. Now, my high school choir performed the Hallelujah Chorus every Christmas season with the orchestra. We had rehearsed the song many times with no real incident. The night of the performance came, and I was ready to sing my heart out. Standing in the dim lighted cafeteria, the strings began their tune, and as I opened my mouth to sing, I found that I was choked up with tears streaming down my face. While I have always loved to express myself through singing, I had never felt such strong emotion come over me. At that moment, I was able to sing about Jesus Christ and let everyone know that He is my Savior. "Hallelujah! King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He shall reign forever and ever." So much joy filled my heart as I was able to share what I know through that holy song.
I had not had the opportunity to sing that song since I graduated from high school. Tonight, I was able to stand next to my brother and testify of Christ through that song. The tears filled my eyes again as I felt of the love that I have not only for my brother Nathan, but also for my brother, Jesus Christ. As I stood up there singing, I could not help but think of how glorious it'll be to sing my own glad tidings when the Savior comes again. I hope that when that time comes, I will be able to stand and sing with all of my family and the friends who have become my family. This Christmas, I wish that all could know of the love that the Savior has for each and every one of us. Tonight, I was given a gift through song. I was reminded of how precious all of our souls are, and I pray that I will be able to be an instrument for good in helping others find the joy that comes from opening our hearts to Jesus Christ.

Damp Washcloth

Charlotte thought it was so funny when I'd place a damp washcloth on her face and then remove it. Enjoy!

The Things I've Done

I saw this on a friend's blog, who saw it on a friends blog, etc. I don't know where it started, but I thought is was kind of cool. A way to reflect on life a bit. The things I've done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (Does Stone Mountain count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (I do this for fun...they're everywhere in Ohio)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (Adam, you need to work on this!)
53. Played in the mud (I had never played in the mud until I got married to Adam...no joke!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (My family made a silly movie for my Aunt Karen one Christmas)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (I really have a wonderful husband!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (I still have all my Barbies in a box in my parent's attic)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Charlotte Eleanor's Blessing

The Friday after Thanksgiving, we blessed Charlotte. She was blessed at my parent's home and it was so nice to have the quiet, family setting for the blessing. We just wish Cassie, Jonny and Hailey could have joined us, as well as Dario and Joshua.
Charlotte was able to wear the same blessing dress that I wore wore when I was blessed. Which I didn't think would be possible since I was blessed at one month and Charlotte was blessed at almost four months. Luckily, Charlotte is on the small side and the dress fit her beautifully.Adam, his dad, my dad and Bishop Sheridan stood in the circle, and Adam blessed her. I am so grateful for a worthy Priesthood holder. It was a wonderful experience to see the Priesthood work within our own small family once again and bless our baby girl. It was a beautiful blessing.

Thanksgiving

I know I'm a little late with the Thanksgiving post. Okay, a lot late. So, here goes...
For Thanksgiving this year, Adam and I didn't have to choose which family we were going to spend it with. We were fortunate to have both of our families around for the holiday. Adam and I went down to Georgia and Adam's family joined us from Texas. It was GREAT to have all the noise and bustle in the house. It really made the holiday!The girls (Mom Nelson, Charlissa, me, Ma Zuluaga) had a great time in the kitchen baking pies and rolls, cooking the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the other delish food that goes along with Thanksgiving dinner. Where were the boys???
Entertaining Dito (or were they just entertaining themselves and using Dito as an excuse to play Legos?!?) and playing NERTS.
Then we just ate,and ate,and ate.
It was a great meal and everyone took a nice, long nap afterward!

Twilight Happened at Midnight

I admit it...I went to the midnight showing of Twilight. I bought my ticket days in advance. I showed up to the theatre early. I survived all the squealing high school girls who were swooning over Edward. I swooned a bit myself,but for Jacob, not Edward. Also, I never squealed. I wasn't alone in this fanatical event. There were other post teenagers there...lots of them, and I have proof:
In all seriousness though: I went, I watched, I witnessed. It was so much fun to be there with all the energy that was buzzing through the theater. Things got exciting enough to bring out a camera man from one of the local news stations. I really enjoyed the movie. It had it's weak spots due to the fact that it was a lower budget film, but I think they did an excellent job with all the characters. Most of them looked just they way I had pictured them in my mind when reading the book. I think the best part though was going with a bunch of the other podiatry wives at midnight. It was fun to feel a little carefree again!