Independence Day with the Nielsen's 4th July 2010

We started out our celebrating by going to the Centerville Children's Parade that is held each year. The kids all decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons, etc and walk for about 1/2 mile down the street. At the end, they are rewarded with a popcicle, so of coarse they love it.

This is Olivia and Cassi just waiting to get in line.


In line, just waiting for it to start. We walked in the parade with Uncle Bryan, Aunt Darci, Tori, Tessa and Elle. For another year, we talked Grandma Nielsen into joining us.




After finishing popcicles (actually they are Pace's Dairy Ann Astro bars), it is time to head to the carnival booths. After all what is a 4th of July with out going to the "fish pond" and the "ring Toss".

The night is ended with a concert and fireworks in the Park. Centerville has had this tradtition for as long as I can remember.

After the fireworks, it is time to head back to Grandma's house and get out the sleeping bags. Uncle Kelly and Aunt Jennifer and their family were the only ones that slept over this year. After getting everyone in their sleeping bags and telling stories and making several trips to the bathroom, finally about midnight everyone finally went to sleep. Fortunately this year, Grandpa remembered to shut the sprinklers off, so we did not wake up to water.

At 6:00am, the alarm goes off and it is the mad dash to get everyone out the door to go back to the park to run the races. The first one is the 5K for all who wanted to brave it. Travis, Mason and me (mom) ran it this year. This was Mom and Mason's first time. It was fun to be with all those people. Mom didn't do to bad as she got 14th in her age bracket. When the 5K is done, then it is time for the younger kids to run. Olivia ran in the 1/2 mile race. She enjoyed it a lot more this year as 2 years ago when the gun sounded to start the race, she got knocked down and stepped on. The kids just ran over the top of her. She was pretty bruised up with a fat lip and swollen eye.

Next comes the pancake breakfast at the park. By ow we were all hungry and ready for food. Two pancakes, eggs, hashbrowns and orange juice. Not a bad deal for $3.00 a person.

At 9:00am the jets from Hill Air Force Base fly over which is always a high light. Then the parade begins. The day before, Grandpa goes down to main street and sits for hours holding a spot until it is officially time to put chairs out on the sidewalk to save places for the parade. It has become a huge deal and every year he has to go a little earlier to save a spot. He has been such a trooper to do it for so many years. As it has become a family tradition, most of the Nielsen's come to watch the parade and best of all collect all the salt water taffy that is thrown from the floats. The parade usually lasts about 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours. The floats are all local schools, businesses, church groups, and bands. It is a lot of fun!!


Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen, Scott and Michelle Nielsen (Mike's second son) and their 2 daughters, Trisha Tanner (Sherry's daughter) and in the back ground, Julie and her friend Levi

Pioneer Trek 24-26 June 2010

So for Youth Conference this year our Stake, Austin, Oak Hill decided they were going to do a mini pioneer trek. Steve and I were asked ( ro volunteered actually when we heard they needed people) to be a Ma and Pa and be in charge of 10 - 12 kids. Travis was the only one of our children going as it was limited to 14-18 year olds. We were excited for the opportunity and went to work making the necessary preparation. Clothing was the biggest part. I made a bonnet, skirt, pantaloons, and an apron. We searched high and low for clothes for Steve and Travis and we finally located some at Walmart and Khol's. Now we were ready.


Looking good!!!

We first met at the church where our families were formed and then we headed out to a 300 acre Ranch in Lampasses, Texas where the Trek began.

Our Trek Family

We went about 1 mile on Thursday evening and then set up camp for the night as we did not get started until after 8:00p.m.

Starting off on our Trek.

Preparing our dinner (veg. stew) for the night.

After cooking and eating dinner which took much longer than expected, be had a fireside put on by the stake and then we had a family devotional and finally tried to get some sleep. It was a full Moon and between the wind, the hard ground and the Moon, not much sleeping was going on. When the 6:00am cow bell sounded, we were all still very tired. First matter of business was to get the coals going to cook our corn meal mush for breakfast, While it was cooking, we had our morning devotional, cleaned up camp and prepared for the rest of the days excitement. Following breakfast, we headed out again. Our family was the first to leave camp. Not long after we started out, we were attacked and raided by a gang of Indians (members from the singles ward posing as Indians). Once we took care of them we were off again for a 5 mile trek. It began to get very hot and humid, but the kids pressed on and did not complain. Everyone was great to take turns and help each other out. We had a great time singing songs and telling stories as we walked along. Around about lunch time we stopped for a break near a creek and cooled ourselves off in the water and had granola bars, beef jerky, an apple and hard tak for lunch. There were some little fish in the water, so Travis and some of the other youth dared each other to catch and eat them alive, which they did. I think Travis ate 3 of them. After lunch, we headed across the creek and up the hill to play pioneer games and learn more of the Texas Pioneer History.

Ready to cross the creek - pants rolled up and water shoes on!

Travis ready to cross the water.

Working together to cross the creek.

Following the games, we were back on the trek headed up the path when we were greeted by the Pony Express delivering letters to each of the youth (letters written to them from their parents). We carried on and found a shady location to take a water break and read the letters.


Taking a water break - Travis, Kaili Detmer and Kevin Lucus

We are looking a little more worn and sweaty then when we left home the day before.

Ma and Pa Bloomfield

After our break, we concluded the last 1/2 mile of the Trek and set up camp.

Just arrived at the final stop and getting ready to set up camp for the night.

We prepared dinner and while it was cooking in the dutch ovens, we had a testimony meeting with all the youth in the stake on the hillside. Following the testimony meeting, we ate dinner, cleaned up and then had a dance. At 11:00pm after being so overly exhausted, we headed to bed. We got a much better nights sleep other than the fact that our bed rolls were placed on a huge ant hill, so we had some friends crawling all over us in the night and when we awoke. Got to love nature!!!!

In the morning, we made breakfast, cleaned up and then did some service for the owners of the ranch. The Young Women gathered rocks from the fields and the Young Men hauled hay.

The Young Women gathering Rocks and filling a hole.

About noon, we called it a day and loaded the cars and headed back to Austin for showers and a nap. We then met at the church for a closing dinner and dance. All and All, it was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed getting to know the Youth in our "Trek Family"

Trek Family at the Stake Center after we got all cleaned up.

We had a great time and hope that we can go again in 4 years when the Stake does it with Mason. I think we would have made pretty good pioneers!!!!!