The closet.

(this picture has nothing to do with my post, I just thought it was awesome.)

Today I woke up to rain.
The kind of rain that is loud and makes it hard to get out of bed.

But I did.

I got up and did the routine. Breakfast, making lunches, trying really hard to do my girl's hair, and then of course prayers before school.

After the girls left the boys were in the living room fighting over who got to be Indiana Jones. Then Jimmy did a flartie (while he was jumping up to the table to eat the left-over toast crust) and they laughed and that was the end of that fight/discussion.

I was in the laundry room folding clothes. My clothes. And for some reason my mind wandered off to the day Courtney took me to her guest room months ago. She was showing me where some of my clothes were kept since the accident and big move to Utah.
She left me alone and went to the closet touching all the clothes. It was like I was touching a dead woman's dresses. It was so strange. I felt dead, yet I was alive-just different.
I even went so far as to smelling them.
It smelled like me. Me in Arizona. Me in Arizona going to church, going on dates, smiling, laughing, creating, and playing around with my children.
I cried and sat down on Courtney's guest bed.
A wave of emotion took me for a few minutes.
I missed me again. I morned for that woman again.
I left that room taking nothing home. It was not time.

After I loaded the laundry in my washer I felt that familiar sadness. But then it was followed by a beautiful, spiritual confirmation that this is my new life. It is good. It is oh, so good!!
And then I felt I should go down to that closet down the street at Courtney's house and
bring home me.

Because it is still me.
And those clothes will still fit.

Spark.

I have a friend.
Her name is Liz.
She is very creative.
She is very beautiful.

And she is hosting a 'creative event' with some of her other very creative friends.
I suggest you take a look and sign up.
This is worth flying in for (you out of towners).

(photo credit: Jefra Linn)

The 'Spark' event will give each of you the opportunity for your Sparks To Fly... There will be amazing classes exploring creativity through photography, mixed media journal, expressive jewelry & fabric frenzy.
Here is the Spark motto, and I love it!

Spark is a creative journey...Spark is a creative lifestyle...Spark is about being a creative woman. Spark is about being inspired by other creative women...Spark is about sharing creative ideas...Spark goes way beyond paper and glue...Spark is getting in touch with your creative spirit...Spark is going to be amazing...

For more information go to here.
also today is your lucky day, Spark is giving away a free ticket today only!
Check it out!!

Where we were and what we did.

What have I been up to you ask?

Well a lot quite frankly.
Ohhhh and it did have something to do with a special celebrity...and since I can't go into much detail yet, I will just share with you the pictures of our amazing trip to the muggy mid-west and the beautiful city of Chicago.

First, Mr Nielson and I visited our favorite chubby nephew Beck.
Beck and his parents S&L live close to Chicago.
We ate delish Greek food and discussed politics
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Oh, and how lucky we are that we are Mormon.
really lucky!

(Beck and Mr. Nielson)


Second, we went downtown Chicago to do some shopping on Michigan Avenue.
I picked up some treasures for the girls at the American Girl store.
Then Mr. Nielson took me to have authentic Chicago pizza.
Oh the crust, the crust the crust the crust!!


(i really love this guy)

Third, we ate at the restaurant 676.
I ordered the margarita flat bread.
it was very tasty.

( at 676)

Lastly, our trip wouldn't complete without visiting the Sears tower.
Unfortunately is is now renamed to the Willis tower.
I think that is dumb.
That is like renaming the Statue of Liberty to something like
"Americas real first lady"
(Oh I am so cleverly funny aren't?!)

So there you have it.

I must admit how excited I was to come home to my babies.
They were all very nervous to have us leave.
Claire wondered if I would come back.
I think the accident has made them weary of any kind of change.
Especially since we were flying.

I don't blame them.

P.S. Someone's been in the kitchen and it wasn't me!
Go here to find out.

Michael...R.I.P.

We woke up this morning to unusual sound of quite.
No chirping I thought.
Then I made a bad move by asking Jane to check on the birds.
Her heart was heavy as she came wandering in the kitchen.

"I think Michael is dead because he is sleeping at the bottom of the cage"

Sure enough, I discovered that it was true, Michael had passed on.

"Jane, now he will have fun when he gets to heaven" Ollie said.

"He is already there" Jane answered back.

"What do you think he is doing?" Ollie wondered out loud. "Poor Sara, she is alone again.
Can we get a new one today, and this time I am going to name him Jack."
Everything is Jack. Jack the bird, Jack the car, Jack the dog, and sometimes even he calls himself Jack.
(All inspired by his favorite cousin Jack in Arizona.)

The girls left to school deciding on where to bury Michael.

Michael is in a plastic bag on the kitchen table.

Michael, R.I.P.

Sunday swinging

Check out what we ate after this picture was taken.

Hope.

Check out this video. It is beautiful. And I am in it.


Kisses-

Cricut

Have any of you ever worked with a cut-out machine?
Well, I never had UNTIL, I discovered this amazing machine from Cricut that can cut out anything. My girls were in heaven while we cut out shapes for their scrap-books and other miscellaneous projects (doorbell ditching friends with notes)

I suggest you check one out. If you scrap-book this is for YOU. With cartridges for everything, you really could do some damage on your scraping pages.

Also, Cricut is giving away travel pacakges. Details here. Check it out!

Check out TodaysMama for more information.

This day in September

Claire.
September 17th, 2005
East Brunswick, New Jersey

Vote.

I voted.

Congratulations to my Dad for making it in the primaries!!!

Here are some pictures of voting day:


In the halls supporting my dad.

The Checketts gang dress to impress
(Emma, Clark, Layton & Liv)

Dad, Lucy, Bets, Mom and Courtney talk after voting

Mr. Nielson and boys advertise in style.

Second interview with Dad-the Mayor candidate

Voting day!
Go Dad!
I sat down with my pops tonight over dinner to ask him a few Mayoral questions.
Shall we...

Nie: Hello again Mayor-err I mean Dad!

Dad: Hello.

Nie: Can I ask you a few more questions?

Dad: You bet you can.

Nie: Today is the primary's, how could you convince a 'fence-sitter' to vote for you?

Dad: Fence-sitters tend to be "sore" because they are not willing to get off the fence and support a candidate. It is a "no-brainer" in a horse race to pick a horse that is fast but also knows the track. I have more legislative experience than all my opponents combined.
And, that doesn't consider my 35 years of business experience.

Nie: What is something you are passionate about here in the city of Provo?

Dad: I want Provo to be a model for other cities. I want Provo to enjoy low taxes because of a good economic base. I want Provo to have a "rockin" downtown where families can enjoy eating, shopping and entertainment with a diversity of BYU and UVU support. I want to protect Provo's neighborhoods, its rivers, its lakes and its Rock Canyon.
I have a vision for Provo that I have been preparing to implement for over 20 years.

Nie: As a young boy living in Provo, what was your favorite thing to do?

Dad: I love the mountains, hiking to the Y, hiking to Buckley's mine, hiking to Devil's kitchen in Rock Canyon ( I always wondered when I was going to meet the Devil there), hiking to Maple Springs through Eagle Pass. My second home in Provo was the mountains.

Nie: Last question Dad, What is your favorite season in Provo and why?

Dad: Autumn is my favorite season because of the cooling temperatures, the leaves changing, shorter days, harvest time, Halloween and Cougar Football!
Autumn is a prelude to a quiet winter sleep.

Nie: Wow dad that last sentence was very well put. Thanks for coming to dinner tonight.

Dad: My pleasure, and thank you darlin'

Now get out and VOTE because Dad needs you to!!!
...and because he has the cutest mug in town.

Hariett supports her grandfather...do you?
(photo Lindsay Clark)

Saturday is a special day {its the day we get ready for Sunday}

I went down to my mom's house to borrow my dad's famous carpet cleaner last Saturday.
I think it has cleaned every single siblings carpet for one reason or another.

Lucy and Courtney were there watching the BYU game. I walked in with my grubby clothes on. They were dressed. I mean, dressed-like cute. I looked at my nerdy carpi yoga pants and then realized I didn't have a bra under my tee shirt.

"Why are you dressed like that" Lucy asked me while nursing Bets.

"It's Saturday...cleaning day...you know it's the day we get ready for Sunday" I added.

"No, its a fun day, its the day you can do whatever you want" she told me.

Then I thought about it.
But if I got dressed and didn't clean, then I would be doing something else and then kids wouldn't be able to be lazy and lay around all day watching the Disney channel. I am content cleaning on Saturday, and I am pretty sure my kids are content having a scrubby mother cleaning so they can watch 'Handy Manny'.

By the way, today I started posting on CuisineNie again!
If you looking to eat, come over and see what's cooking in my kitchen!!

Not just the mayor

This morning as I was teaching "Claine" (jane & claire) how to scrub the tub I thought of my Dad. He taught us how to brush and scrub the bathroom until it shined.
A tool I would use forever he said.
And he was right.

I couldn’t help but think of him the rest of the day.

I thought about the time he and I rode out horses from Squaw Peak to Wallsburg where we had a cabin. We camped and talked. Just he and I.

Then I thought about the time I went on a midnight hike with my boyfriend, his best friend, his sister, and my best friend. As we wandered up the trail, I all of a sudden had a panic attack. I missed my father. I got homesick. I am really a sap. I even think I cried. I think my friends thought I was crazy.

Then I thought about the time when that same boyfriend went on a mission for 2 years. I came home from my 4 hour goodbye at his house late that night and my dad was up. I climbed in bed with him and cried. He gave advice and took me to lunch the next day so I could keep my mind off the heartbreak.

Then I thought about the time when my Dad told me about a very handsome young man who was coming into his office. And I married that very handsome young man. On our wedding day my dad gave Mr. Nielson one of his ties to wear.

Then I had a baby who came out looking just like my father. Nicholas came to the earth the spitting image of my dad. And I was delighted.

Then I thought about the time I lay in the hospital just out of my coma. My dad walked in and smiled. He came to me with sunshine and promises. He promised me that I would be home for Christmas (I was close) and he promised me that I would feel good and be at the grand parade for the 4th of July. And I did. I believed him and healed.

Now my Dad is running for mayor of Provo. He too is making promises to heal the city. And they will happen because they always do.
I know if my dad is or isn’t the mayor, he is still my father. He is still that great, honest leader who leads his children and serves those he loves.


(photo Justin Hackworth)
So, I urge those who read this to consider him for office. Please get out and vote this Tuesday, September 15

First interview with Dad-the Mayor candidate

I sat down with Provo's Mayoral candidate Steve Clark (or, I call him Dad) to ask a few unique questions about his plans for Provo when (not if) he becomes Mayor. I am going to devote my next few posts to his campaign. Maybe this will help you decide who is right for Provo. Please tell all your Provo friends and family about this very important race.
Bottom line:
My dad (Steve Clark) wants to PROTECT Provo, anyway possible. Keeping the neighborhoods, canyons, mountains, and life in Provo safe. No, seriously he does.
Lets begin:

Nie: Hi Dad!

Steve Clark: Hi darlin'

Nie: Lets get going on the questions here. What are your top unique ideas you have for Provo? (different from what other candidates have in mind.)

Steve Clark: I want to dance in the streets in downtown Provo.
I want Dave Matthews to perform in downtown Provo.
I want twinkling lights and quaint shops open in downtown Provo.
I want cozy restaurants and unique cuisine in downtown Provo.
I want clowns and court jesters and jugglers and musicians performing in downtown Provo.
I want the smells of fresh flowers and freshly baked bread in downtown Provo.
I want to be mayor of Provo!

Nie: Oh Steve, your such a joker. You know I would love DMB coming to Provo, but you know that Dave needs beer, there is not much of that in Provo. Ha! Next question, where is your favorite restaurant in Provo?

Steve Clark: I love the smothered burrito with cheese and onions at Los tres amigos topped off with a j-dawg.

Nie: Good, good. Ok, where is your favorite park in Provo?

Steve Clark: My favorite park is Pioneer Park near where I was born. I love its history as I walk its paths. The trees tell stories of what happen on that block of land. I can hear the stream of shallow clear water cooling off children. I can hear the band playing on the large elevated band stand. I can vision trading and bardering for fish, jerky and flour. By the way, is the statue a pioneer leaning on his rifle or a rebel from the civil war?

Nie: ummmm, something to think about. Last question today. Favorite place to go in Provo on a date with Cindy. (Steve's wife, aka my mother)

Steve Clark: My favorite date is dinner and a chick flick at Riverwoods then a stroll through Borders Book Store topping the night off with a chocolate donut from Crest.

See guys, he's just a regular guy.

Remember the primary is this Tuesday, September 15th.
Check out here for details.

Broken Hill

The Movie 'Broken Hill' comes out tomorrow.
Having already seen it, I suggested you go. Rated PG, you can't go wrong and your teenagers will fall in love with Luke Arnold (because I did too).
Plus the Australian accent is too sweet to pass up.

Alexa Vega will be in Provo for a few screenings. It would be fun to see her and chat. Check the listings for show times.

Bedhead

The bigger the hair, the better the sleep.


It was a good night.

Labor Day evening

Labor Day evening, Mr. Nielson and I packed the kids in the car and drove up beautiful Provo canyon which then lead us to Sundance.
Some of the leaves had a hint of autumn color.
Here is our trip in pictures.

I love where I live.