Ice fishing...just got marked off of my to do list before I die!

So, ever since I saw the movie, "Grumpy Old Men" I have always wanted to go ice fishing. There was something about sitting in an ice fishing tent, digging an ice hole, drinking hot chocolate, and fishing through the ice that caught my attention and gave me the desire to do it. I didn't know how I would ever achieve this dream of mine....but many years later the opportunity presented itself and I took it!
A lady from work loves to fish and her and her husband fish all of the time. I was talking to them one day at work about fishing and I said I am not much of an outdoorsy woman or a fisher...but I have always wanted to try ice fishing. They told me they would take me out in the winter time to fish on Deer Creek. I didn't think much of it because that was back in the summer time but they let me know last week the there would not be many more chances to go before the ice started to melt. I took advantage of that and told them I would go with them on Saturday. Shawn could not go because one of his mission comps was in town visiting and staying at our home so I invited Brock to go with me (who is an obsessive fisherman-and he loved it!) We headed to Deer Creek at 7 am and had to hike down to the lake and onto the ice (which was covered in snow). We found our spot, got out the auger (ice hold driller) and cut some holes. Got into the tent and started fishing. It was actually so nice outside we decided to move the fishing outdoor and continued fishing out there. We ended up with ALOT of fish. I enjoyed the hot chocolate, pulling the fish up from the holes but I would not put the worms on the hooks, touch the fish, and I felt horrible when they would smack the fish in the head with a wooden mallet to kill them, BUT I did end up catching the biggest fish of the day!
We had a great day fishing and I am happy I went, but the best part is I can now cross ice fishing off of my to do list before I die and I never have to go again.
Once we got home with all of our fish, Brock cut them up and we ended up cooking them up for Sunday dinner.
Me with one of my fishes I caught Brock with a fish ( I think they were all Rainbow Trout)

Brock pulling in the sled with all of the gear

Me inside the ice fishing tent

Some of the fishes we caught

Radawn and I with the biggest catch of the day-I would not hold my own fish so she held it up by me (but it kind of looks like I am holding it myself!)

Brock, Radawn, and I with some fish

Brock and I

Elder Nelson is officially in the MTC

Kyle was suppose to fly straight into the Brazil MTC last Tuesday but because of Visa problems they had him wait a week and pushed it back a week, then they called and said that they are just going to have him go into the Provo MTC while he waits for his Visa to come in so he can then fly to the Brazil MTC. I was excited about this because then I got to be there to take him into the MTC and say good bye. I have been able to go to the MTC with all 4 of my brothers and myself when I went of course-so I was happy to be there with Kyle. Savannah and Porter were in town visiting Savannah's sister so her and Porter got to come with us as well as Brock. We all hung out at home in the morning talking and hanging, then we went to lunch together when Shawn got home from class and then went to the MTC.
The drop off procedure is different in the MTC now and it is just a quick hug and a picture on the sidewalk and they whisk the missionary off for the next 2 years. I did not love this new way of saying good bye because I was hoping for more pictures and hugs and good byes...but Kyle was ready to go so it worked out.
Elder Nelson ready to go! Kyle and Porter

Me, Savannah, Kyle, Porter, and Brock

Me, Shawn, Kyle, Porter, and Brock

The night before we all went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner

I am going to miss Kyle for the next 2 years. He has flown out to hang with us a couple times a year and then lived with us this summer and he is the one that helps entertain Shawn when we go out to Oregon to visit so we will defiantly be missing him. But we know that he has been preparing and excited to go on his mission now since he was 9 years old when Blake left. He will be a great missionary and as much as we will miss him he is where he needs to be!

I do have to say that I have some pretty proud parents (and they should be) because they have now sent off the last of their 5 children on a mission. And that is defiantly a compliment to them for being such great examples and wonderful parents to us all.

University of Washinton Interview

Shawn and I just got back from a quick but fun weekend in Oregon/Washington. Shawn got an interview invite to the University of Washington Dental school in Seattle. We were able to plan the interview to end up being the same weekend that Kyle spoke at church for his mission farewell.
-We got in Friday night and went out to dinner with my parents in Portland to a yummy steak house.
-Then Saturday I got to spend a girls day at the fabric store with my Mom , Amy, Savannah, and Porter (Porter is still too little to be away from his mommy for too long and had to come with the girls-and we loved having him) and we got to pick out fabric to make some cute blankets, bibs, burp cloths, summer dresses, and blessing dress for my baby. I am going to bust out my sewing machine and make some of the simpler items but I am so lucky to have a mother who is an amazing seamstress and she is going to make some cute little summer outfits and minkee blankets, and my babys blessing dress-and I know it will look great. We got enough fabric to keep her very busy for the next few months until our baby girl is here!
-Sunday was great because we were able to be with family and friends at church to listen to Kyle speak for his farewell and he did a great job. That evening Shawn and I drove the 4 hours up to Seattle to spend the night so he would be up early and ready for his interview the next morning.
-Monday I dropped Shawn off on campus for the interview at 8:30 and then I spent the cold rainy day in the hotel room taking a nap, eating lunch, and working out at the hotel gym until 2:30 when Shawn called to pick him up. He said he felt great about the interview and really enjoyed the school. From there we drove back home to eat some "heart shaped pizza" with my family for Valentines Day.
-Tuesday we woke up and drove to the airport and headed back to Utah. We had a quick trip but we had a great time visiting Seattle, and seeing the progress on Jared and Amy's new home, listening to Kyle speak, playing with Porter, and visiting with family.
Shawn right before he walked into his interview.

A few weeks back we drove through the Provo canyon and met most of Shawn's family at Taggarts resturant in Morgan Utah for a birthday dinner for his dad. We had a good time meeting with everyone (even though we did not get any pictures of anyone else) we still had fun!

NIKE ID

Shawn finally just got his last Christmas present...and he has been anxiously awaiting for this one! For Christmas Shawn got a new pair of Nike shoes-he ended up taking back the ones I picked out and he got onto the Nike website to pick out a different pair. When Shawn got online he found the NIKE ID site and realized that he could completely design his own pair of shoes. It took him 3-4 days testing out different designs and asking everyone what they thought before he finally settled on his final design. The confirmation email told us that we would not be getting the shoes for 8-10 weeks since they actually had to make the shoes in China and then have them shipped to us, so Shawn was not excited about the wait...but they finally came and he has been loving them ever since!!!
The final product.

I have gotten a kick out of this whole shoe design excitement situation because Shawn has never really cared much about clothing or shoes. He wears what I buy him- and it usually consist of $10 t-shirts from Costco and jeans on sale and the buy one get one free shoes from the outlet mall in Oregon. So, it has been fun watching Shawn get so excited about being able to design and pick out his own shoes and the day the FedEx guy came to drop them off he kicked off the shoes he was wearing, torn open the box, and wore them for the rest of the day. He also said that his ankle (that he had surgery on 6 months ago) now feels so much better in the new shoes!

Kyles Birthday at Tucanos

My parents were in town for a few days at the end of January and we decided to take Kyle to Toucans (Brazilian Restaurant) for his birthday since he is going to be heading to Brazil on his mission on Feb 23rd. We had a good time together and the food was yummy.
My mom, dad, Brock, Shawn, Me, and Kyle Since it was Kyles birthday the staff came around and brought Kyle some ice cream and sang to him in Portuguese

Shawn and I

My mom and dad

We made sure Kyle realized that although we were at a Brazilian restaurant-that is not how he will be eating everyday in Brazil!

Finally the BIG announcement! I figured now that I am 23 weeks and 4 days along in my pregnancy that I can now announce it and put it on my blog...and we are having a girl!!! Shawn and I are very excited!
The great thing is Shawn will be graduating from BYU this April and then the baby comes in May. I have been having fun finding cute little baby girl shoes, tights, and bows!