- Enjoy my audition Family! Tell me what you think!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
P1050248.MOV October 24, 2010 My Audition Video for the New Testament Production/LDS Church
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Keeping up with the Balluff’s! October 11, 2010
Not to be outdone by Connie’s recent blog about her Halloween Pumpkin Patch escapades, on Monday the 11th in honor of Columbus Day, Lynn and I were both off from work, so we spent our day in similar fashion! This first picture is of the bake sale. My favorite goodie was a brownie, chocolate chip bar! Yummy! When I figure out the recipe for this one, I will share!
We got that feeling for fall that is so common this time of the year, even though the weather that day was 80 degrees!
We took our couples picture that I love so much! Lynn was happy with just one, so this is it!
It was hard work picking the “perfect pumpkins” but I walked away happy with our purchases!
I really had fun with my handsome one, your father, and Jed Rock to the grandkids!
This is the “pumpkin patch” we have the tradition of going to—it is off of Quaker Lane, and Seminary Rd. The address is 3606 Seminary Rd. Alexandria, Va. It reminds us of Grandma Nelson as it is an Episcopal Church.
After we left the pumpkin patch, I was hot and thirsty and in the mood for ice-cream from Baskin-Robbins!
Later that day we put out our pumpkins for a picture only! We can’t leave them out for fear of squirrels! In fact, our neighbors bought a pumpkin that day as well, left it out, and not it is history for all the hungry squirrels in the neighborhood!
I wanted a quick dance with someone, but found this guy a little “stiff!”
Later that night we walked to Fairlington Pizza as part of our Family Home Evening. O’ yeah, we walked to breakfast this morning to Bob and Edith’s Cafe. All in all, we logged in over 9 miles of walking together this day. It was a great way to stay fit and welcome in our fabulous fall!
I told Anne I would show her my new magnetic “spice rack”. The rack is actually the side of my frigerator! I am so proud of this. I now have room for food in my cabinets, instead of just spices. My labels were made with the new label maker Lynn suggested I get that is computer compatible. Go ahead, spice up your life like I did mine!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Lynn’s 51st Birthday
We went on a 5 mile walk on Saturday morning, ate dinner at Outback Steak House on Friday, drove to the mall and laughed at and tried on funky Fall fashions on Saturday evening (Dad got a new I-Pod Nano), bought frames for Dad’s Army awards, and rented videos later Saturday night, and finally his actual birthday arrived on Sunday, September 19, 2010. I made a homemade breakfast of French Toast, we went to church, took a nap and I made him dinner. Only then was he able to open presents from Connie, Tony and me. I got him “stuff” for his Droid phone and Connie and Tony got him cool music---Jon Schmidt from Connie and Hans Zimmer from Tony. In summary, Dad’s birthday was wonderful’; made even more wonderful by the sacrifice and phone calls from his children and sacrifice of his wife. (That last sentence was almost a direct quote from Dad!) Thanks everyone!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
She had a “good run” in life! He was a good cat!
This has been a hard post to do for me. My main reason is that I am trying to use scanned pictures,
and this program is not one I am familiar with. Bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of using
old scans. The main thing I am trying to do is remember 2 old friends and family members:
Molly May Nelson and Smokey Nelson. Molly came to us May 1st of 2005, having been born
the year before, and Smokey was saved by our children from the abuse of the neighbors dogs
around the same time frame. Molly lasted until Saturday August 28th, 2010 and Smokey
was with us until February 2, 2008.
One memory of Molly is that she always stole the couch when she could---
Perris had to give up his spot for Molly!
Hey, we were tired!
No doubt we had recently returned from one of our long runs
through the streets and hills of
Yucaipa, Ca. Our runs went anywhere from 4 to 6 miles long!
Perris is opening his birthday present: Molly sleeps peacefully by! 
Molly loved being with us, even when we washed the car! She enjoyed
being sprayed as the California sun was usually quite warm!
Quintessential Molly May 2001---As Jolly as any Christmas Day!
This last picture was taken at the San Antonio Koa in June of 2004 and shows
the Lynn and Melody Nelson family having a last hurrah of sorts
(I know you all LOVE IT WHEN I SAY THAT). We were never
to be the same again---or as small as a family unit again! I remember Perris
helping me to make a mean barbecue at this time.
Mike graduated then as a medic from Ft. Sam Houston and we were so proud
of him---He’s such a smart boy! Perris began Lacrosse in 2004 at Wakefield High
School in Arlington, Va. and was an honor student (such a smart boy as well)!
Anne married November 27th that
year to Silas Molino, and had
Alexander Perris November 16, 2005,Everett Spencer 2 years after
(November 9, 2007) and
Clara Macie (our daisy) just last year (November 3, 2009). Connie married
Tony Balluff on Columbus day (October 12, 2006), and had
Brody Michael March26, 2008. Hyrum
is expected on black Friday of this year, but I think he will decide to come
a few days earlier.
At any rate, I think that Molly (and Smokey) would have us remember them for the
good times we had for them. I read a scripture on the morning of Molly’s passing
that said be glad and don’t fear!. One of the things that helped me during this time
is that I had my Perris with me when Smokey died and the whole family around
loving me through this time of Molly’s death—even Grandma Nelson and my Mother.
My Mom said she would miss Molly because---“Molly was the best dog!” Michael even
shared the video he made of her when she was much healthier jumping over the
laundry basket at the Avalon. As we all know, she loved running, tennis balls, and
any people food that could give her diarrhea! She had terrible allergies and arthritis!
She was a mess, but she was our dog, a real family dog, even though she had
bonded with me inseparably over running. We stopped running when she was 13 1/2/
2 1/2 years ago. Molly stayed at a pet hotel in Springfield during the last week before
she became so violently ill. They wrote of her: “Age has not taken away from Molly’s
poise and grace. She is as majestic as a goddess and as beautiful as an early sunrise.
Her sweet, compassionate eyes relfect a love and ambition that will never die.
She relishes the fresh breeze on her fur and the scent of the grass in her nose".
Truly she had a “good run” even if she did hate old ladies, blondes, and little
children, and Smokey was, as usual, Smokey---a true scaredy cat!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Introducing Lieutenant Colonel Lynn Andrew Nelson! Friday August 6, 2010
Dad gets pinned by General Ierardi (pronounced earardi---I asked him for the proper pronunciation). The rank goes on his chest and hat---I pin his hat. It is a black colored oakleaf on his camoflauge uniforn, and on his hat, it is a silver oakleaf. Perris handed the rank to the General and is watching here.
Here I am pinning Dad’s hat!
Shaking hands with the General. Actually, the General is very nice. He took the time to meet with Perris, Dad and I separately in his office prior to the ceremony! He even asked us the names of all of you guys who weren’t able to come and he wrote them down! I asked about his family---it was a nice visit.
Dad taking his oath of office!
Dad takes his oath seriously!
Dad gets his chance to say a few words:
He’s a natural at oration and making people feel welcome, and does very well. I’m so proud of him!
Then he does something totally unexpected on my part! He thanks me and presents me with these beautiful roses! Our home teacher remarked that I looked like a “beauty queen” carrying these roses! I want World Peace….
He also thanks Perris!
It’s a gift certificate to “Best Buy!”
A Father/Son Hug---I try to capture these whenever Dad hugs Mike or Dad hugs Perris---It’s one of the most beautiful things to me!
We are called up to form a reception line for people to thank Dad. I ask for a family picture and get this!
So we try again! Much better, I think!
And again! It’s a little dark, but it’s us together! Afterwards, everyone had a bit of lunch---Perris and I had gone to get Subway sandwiches in Shirlington that morning, and Dad had already made arrangements for the drinks and chips. Colonel DeGuzman talked to me about getting our families together, though at this point living in Virginia, that would be just Dad and I visiting his family and their two young sons in Gainsville, Va., since you all are on the West Coast!
Later, Dad showed Perris and I his cubicle.
Perris fits right in---he’s in charge now!
That’s our home teacher with Dad---Randall Epperson---He said the invocation at the pinning ceremony and was influential in helping Dad get promoted and is generally just a good guy! His office, where they are is at the juncture where the plane hit the Pentagon that fateful day of September 11, 2001. He also gave Dad a coin with the date he got officially made a LTC---July 16, 2010. It is shaped like the Army Staff badge. It is a really nice gift.
Randy explains the green windows, and explains the memorial out below his window.
I try to capture as much as I could.
This was the design concept facing his office.
0’ Randy Epperson is not a man without connections. He works for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. He also gave us a tour of the building, and took us to the office of the Chief of Staff—General George Casey Jr. 
I’m looking at a picture of Korea in General Casey’s office. Your Grandfather Conrad B. Nelson served during this war.
The flag by Perris shows all the battles the United States has been in---Revelutionary War and up. You can make out ….Surge 2007-2008. Each battle ribbon is distingushable by the color of the ribbon. Vietnam was green and yellow.
The Chief of Staff of the Army has a lot of cool memorabilia in his office including this badge for being on the Army Staff, It was designed by General Douglas McArthur when he was Chief of Staff of the Army in the 1930’s. He was over the Pacific Theater.
Though not as big, your father received one of these for being a part of the Army Staff during Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle in 2003!
This globe belonged to General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the red pen shows where he thought Germany would extend after World War II, the war your Great Grandfather , Leo Ray Jensen, served in.
More memorabilia---A sword from Saudi Arabia! 
We learned that after 9/11 the Pentagon received such an outpouring of quilts of concern, that they now have a warehouse devoted to housing them all and they rotate them for hanging in the hallways.
These are just a few of the many we saw.
Before we leave, I ask Randy to take one last picture in his office of us. Since it is the place the plane came down in 2001, I think it is an appropriate place. Afterall, Dad came here to the Pentagon on our 20th anniversary, August 25, 2002, specifically because he wanted to help with the war on terror. It changed all of our lives that day. I think it helped us all progress from spectators to participants. You all do your part well, and I thank you for it!
Afterwards, we came home and Dad and Perris enjoyed some video games, some 24 and we went to dinner at the Lone Star.
These are the plates we have on our car now. Dad earned this Bronze Star for his service in Iraq during 2007-2008! I have one amazing husband and you have one amazing Dad! Congratulations LTC Lynn Andrew Nelson!
