New table...or is it?

When you want a new table but your husband doesn't want to buy you one you should just paint the one you have. This was my bright idea a couple months ago and I finally got around to doing it last weekend. Here's the before:


Here I am painting it:

And here's the after! Looks like a brand new table now.

Laurel's art show at the Governor's mansion

Yesterday we got to go to my mom's art show at the governor's mansion. Gov. Huntsman invited her to do her own show there to thank her for the paintings she had given him and his family. We found out that this has never been done before so it was a great honor for my mom. Governor Huntsman was there and gave a very nice little speech. He said some wonderful things about my mom and her artwork. He seems like a really great person. Then my mom got to speak for a minute and she also did an excellent job. We had a great time visiting, looking at the paintings, and eating the yummy food! Thanks to all of you who came and supported us!

Way to go, Mom! I'm so proud to be a daughter of such a talented artist and person.

My mom, the famous artist

One of her beautiful paintings

Governor Huntsman giving his speech

Jim and Laurel

Here we are listening to my mom talk

Can it be true?!

The Hart softball team won their first game ever! You wouldn't believe it if you weren't there to see it! Luckily, I had my mom's camera there to document it. Everyone played so well. The final score was....24 to 2. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment:

The loyal fans

The team on the bench. Notice Jake's taped on numbers. After the game the lady in charge came up and said, "Have you ever heard of iron on? Don't come to the game next week without permanent numbers!"

Bill definitely made the play of the game! He is always willing to sacrifice his body for a good play. After his hit he was safe on first base and the other team over threw the ball. Bill started to take his base slowly but surely because he thought the ball was out of play. Well, it turns out it wasn't and the first baseman started chasing Bill. Bill looks over his shoulder and starts running. As he's nearing second base Bill starts falling to the ground, the other guy tags him but drops the ball in the process and Bill crawls to the base and is safe. He got this nice battle wound in the process. It was classic! I wish we had it on video.

The team after the game

The final score. No, your eyes are tricking you, that does say 24 to 2.

Afterwards we had to go out and celebrate so we went to Astro burger for some dinner and dessert. What a fun night! Way to go team!!

Weekend fun with the Nielsens

Jake's parents got him a tool chest for his graduation present. Jake loves taking good care of his tools so this is perfect for him! I don't think any chainsaws will fit in there thankfully!

I got Jake a humidifier (that's right, a humidifier) for his present. Sounds lame, I know, but since I've been married to Jake I've come to learn that the more practical a gift I give him, the more he'll like it. Our old humidifier was a cheap one and it stopped working about a month ago so I thought a nice humidifier would be the perfect gift.

Jake's mom got this graduation pinata about 7 years ago and Jake took it from her and has had it ever since. He's been waiting to graduate from college to fill it up and bust it open. Here's a picture of Dylan taking a swing at it.

Braxton taking a whack at the poor pinata

Jake's mom made him this awesome scrapbook from his first day of school to his graduation day. It is so cute! I wish I was as talented and creative as she is.

This is a video of Jake trying to hit the pinata. Our brother-in-law James was such a good pinata-holder that Jake had a hard time finding it.

Jake's Graduation Day

He did it! He graduated!! Hooray for Jake! We had a great weekend celebrating. Here are some pictures from the big day:

Jake was SO excited to graduate! I don't think I've ever seen anyone as excited for anything in my life. He's starting his new job in Salt Lake next week and he can't wait to get out there in the work force and not have to go to school anymore (well...at least for a little while!).

Jake's whole family came to Jake's graduation! They all had to fly/drive hundreds of miles to get here. Their support meant so much to us! Here's a great picture of Craig and Jake at graduation.

LynnAdele and Jake

The proud graduate!

Jake and his family

Jake and our nephews

Me and Jake

Scooter and Michelle graduated too! Well, Michelle graduated in December but attended this ceremony. Don't they look happy? We've had so much fun living in Logan with Scoot and Michelle that when they decided to move down to Salt Lake we had to follow them. Thanks, guys!

Jake up by the "A." Notice his chin is healing up nicely. Everyone just thinks it's one of those ugly sole patches (is that what they're called?). No offense if any of you have one of those.

My parents were able to come up too. We had fun watching the Jazz game and eating dinner with them at their sweet hotel the night before.

Thanks to all of you for your cards and gifts to Jake! Everyone is so thoughtful and we really appreciate your love and support.

Fast Healer

I thought I'd give you an update on Jake's chin since it looks so much better now. He only had his stitches in for about four days and it has healed beautifully! By graduation day we'll hardly know it's there.

This is the day his stitches were taken out.

Here's a good close-up of his fixed tooth. You can't even tell it was chipped! Thanks again, dad!

Chainsaw Massacre

So the other night Jake calls me from the emergency room to inform me that he has been cut in the face with a chainsaw. That's never a good way to start a conversation with your wife. He proceeded to tell me that he was cutting up pieces of the huge pine tree we had to cut down in our yard and the chainsaw ricocheted (sp?) off the tree and sliced open his lip and chin. Part of the cut went all the way through his chin into his mouth and he had to have so many stitches he couldn't even count them. He kept telling me he was fine and it wasn't a big deal. Then he sent me these pictures:


*Warning: if you get grossed out by blood, guts, etc. do NOT look at the following pictures.


Hmmm...how would you feel if your husband sent you these pictures of himself? Needless to say, I freaked out a bit. I told him that he wasn't careful enough, that chainsaws are too dangerous, and that he'll never be using one again!

I was in Salt Lake working so I didn't even get to take care of him that night. Thankfully, our neighbor Joe was with him and took him to the emergency room.

Jake is a real trooper. He hasn't complained a bit about it except he is sad that his front tooth is chipped. Luckily, I know a great dentist! I'm very grateful Jake has such great guardian angels watching out for him or else he could be blind, noseless, armless, legless, or even (heaven forbid!) dead.

Internet down

Sorry that I haven't been blogging lately. Our internet has been down for a few weeks now. Hopefully I'll be able to post some new pictures soon!