Nielsen Family Reunion

I was talking to Lillian last week and she mentioned that she and mom (Alice) are in charge of a Nielsen Family Reunion this summer. She asked if I had any ideas. I thought we could all check into specific things that our individual cities offer for groups or reunions and give Mom and Lillian some ideas. For example, we could reserve our pool here in Pleasant Grove for a couple of hours one evening. There are parks, pools and other things I haven't even thought of. I know it is early in the year, but probably not too early to reserve some things for this summer. Let's post some ideas and really help shape what we would like to do.

Thanks all!!

Gonna Be a Bear

In this life I am a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear.

When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are only 1/2 pound) while you're sleeping and wake up to partially grown, cute cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate expects you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup.

Gonna be a bear!

Hi Everyone,
I just got back from the doctor and Alice has the Croup with symptoms of RSV. Just thought I 'd let you all know in case your kids start showing the same symptoms. She had a fever of above 103, and trouble breathing. Dr. Cornish said that this Croup has been turning into RSV a couple days later.

So, if your kid has a wheezing sound when they breathe in, along with a fever, I would probably go to the Doctor to get some steroids.

Also, he told me that if the fever stays for longer than 5 days, or if it goes away and comes back with a mucus-y sounding breath, then she has RSV. So, those are they symptoms to watch out for.

Just an FYI...Love ya!

I am going to play the Tabernacle Organ!!!

Melanee arranged for me to play the Tabernacle Organ!! I am so excited!!! You are all invited. I have scheduled Saturday January 31. I will play after the noon recital. Sister Bonnie Goodlife is the organist. You can come into the Tabernacle for the recital.

The organ recital is 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Tabernacle. Entrance to the Tabernacle is at door 11. (on the East side of the Tabernacle). If you want to sit in the choir seats for the recital, you need to be at door 2 at 11:45 am. Sister Goodlife will take us in then. If we are not at door 2 (on the South West side of the Tabernacle) at 11:45, we will be able to sit in the audience and come up to the organ/choir seats after the recital ends.

Apparently the sound is better in the audience than in the choir seats, but you are able to see the organ and the organist better if you are sitting in the choir seats.

Sister Goodlife said that security gets really nervous if people wander around inside the Tabernacle and go backstage, etc, so we need to stay as a group in the choir seats after the recital ends. She said she can show us anything backstage in the Tabernacle if she is with us. She also suggested that we not bring young children. Older children who can sit quietly and are easily controlled are okay.

(Some guidelines on the website: We respectfully request that no photographic or recording equipment be used during the recitals. Visitors are free to take pictures before and after the recitals. Visitors who desire to leave early may do so after the first selection. Thereafter the doors will remain closed until the recital concludes.)

We can fit 7 people in the Acura and we can park that car in the underground parking. Anyone who wants can ride with us, up to 7 people. We can coordinate rides if you want, let me know.

The Tabernacle organ has an interesting history. President Brigham Young asked Joseph Harris Ridges, who was born and raised near an organ factory in England, to build the first Tabernacle organ. Suitable timber was located and brought by volunteers from the Parowan and Pine Valley mountains, 300 miles south of Salt Lake City. In the beginning, the organ was powered by hand-pumped bellows, later by water power, and today by electricity. With improved techniques in organ construction, the instrument has been renovated and enlarged several times. Now comprising 11,623 pipes, the organ has 206 sets of pipes (ranks) or voices, and the console has 5 manuals, or keyboards. The Tabernacle organ is considered to be one of the finest organs in the world.

onnie Goodliffe has an extensive background in organ performance, music theory and composition. She has served as a Tabernacle Organist for nearly a quarter of a century and in key positions with the American Guild of Organists. As one of the Tabernacle organists, Goodliffe performs with both the Tabernacle Choir and the Temple Square Chorale. She also joins with her fellow organists in presenting daily 30-minute organ recitals in the Tabernacle. In addition, Goodliffe teaches music theory in the three- month Choir training school conducted twice each year for new entrants to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and as in- service for current Choir members. Goodliffe has been a Tabernacle organist since 1979. She studied piano and organ at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Bonnie received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in music from Brigham Young University. Goodliffe was a member of the executive committee responsible for the new hymn book. She also wrote the hymn "We Meet Again as Sisters." Goodliffe and her husband, Glade, a CPA and business consultant, are the parents of seven children.

Alison's Flood

Alison's basement flooded, starting on Sunday night. Marshall said it is frozen outside right now, so there is no new water coming in at the moment. They had to tear up carpet pad and throw it away. Carpets are propped up and drying with big fans blowing on them. Thanks for those of you who have loaned fans to help. Marshall was up digging trenches and bailing water out of the trenches until early Monday morning. Does anyone remember the adventure of the floods in their house on 100 North in Orem? There should be a picture somewhere of that. I have not heard of any more floods on that road since then.

Stefanie remembers the 6 inches plus of water in her basement in the old house. She said she just walked upstairs and closed the door and didn't know what to do. But there seems to be a correlation with great sledding hills in the backyard and floods in the basements.

Mom's present from Denise and Bryan and Dani

Remember those gross stories Mom would tell us about how they used to make Freeze-dried Potatoes on the Alti Plano in Bolivia, where they would squish the juices out of them each day with their feet, and the potato tasted like toe jam!! Well, we found some for her! They were at a Peruvian Market, and Denise has the funniest video on her phone of mom opening her present and figuring out what they were. We can't get it downloaded on the blog so the next time you see Neasie, ask to see the video. You've only got a week until she leaves so don't procrastinate or you will miss out on some hilarious Mom Freak-out Action!! See you tomorrow at Family Dinner!!! See below to see what mom remembers them looking like! I bet she'll show you her's tomorrow if you ask, cause I doubt she'll be eating them anytime soon. :)

David Posting #1

I'm about the same as last time any of you saw me. Will post next time with witty story about something.