Barbados Birthday Funnies

In February we took a wonderful vacation to Barbados. We brought along Grandpa Steve and Jodi for some extra company. Our villa was perfect. Well situated on a cliff above the ocean we enjoyed many beautiful sunsets and even spotted a green flash. The approximately one acre grounds were so luxurious that a family of about 7 monkeys came to play on the grounds daily. Usually about 8am for a breakfast of bananas and mangoes that the boys would toss them through the bars of the front porch. It was an reverse zoo experience. We were locked in the villa throwing food out to the monkeys. The boys of course loved this start to each day. One monkey came up quite close and had shoved as many bananas in his mouth that he could fit then grabbed a piece in each hand and then walked away upright. Zak and Owen laughed pretty hard at that and now we look for monkeys in every tree- even in Iowa. Each of us tried to get Steve to leave his briefcase in the car or at the villa when we would go to the beach each day. It wasn’t until the third day that Jared remarked “You never take anything out of it and it’s just going to get sand in it,” that Steve was able to relax a little more on the beach without his briefcase. The beaches were beautiful, the food was excellent and the company enjoyable. It was a fabulous vacation.


On Monday Aoril 14th, our baby, Owen, turned three. He was never one of those kids who would tell you his name or how old he is- too shy. But that day he proudly announced “ I’m three”. His favorite breakfast of two pancakes and two sausages with berries was topped with a candle. He was very excited about his breakfast candle and afterward said with great realization in his eyes and voice “It’s Owen’s Happy Birthday”. After a fun playgroup birthday party we took Jared his lunch. Owen wanted to bring his green lightsabre and wear his birthday crown which all of the office staff enjoyed. We had a fun family party that evening with the family of one of Owen’s favorite playmates.

Zachary received a medal for his participation in the school science fair on Tuesday. His project was on Binocular vision and he showed people how to create a hole appear in their hand with some PVC pipe (an optical illusion).
Zak is also playing soccer and t-ball this spring and is enjoying honing his skills in both sports. Zak and Hillary received their Orange belts in Tae Kwon Do.

Funny Things at the Nielsen Residence

Owen loves to sing his own version of Old MacDonald had a farm- “Heavenly Father had a farm!”

Owen loves to say “Cheese, Grommit, Cheese” from the Wallace and Grommit adventures! Sometimes very loudly in church, but it’s still cute.

Owen taken up playing Lego Star Wars with Zak. He finally started letting Mom steer for him while he shoots, forces, grapple hooks and jumps. Now everyone is happy.

Jared likes to call Owen –Mr. Oedipal. He has definitely been exhibiting a preference for Mom, even screaming her name when Jared tries to hold him.

When we woke up on Apr 12 to snow on the ground and still falling. Zak remarked “Mom, It’s just like Horton hears a who- Maybe we are living on a tiny speck.”

Zak has become Mr. Environment. He requested that we walk to soccer practice the other day so we wouldn’t create un-necessary smog(It was a mile away and we were late-I agreed that we would take our bikes next time). He also found something on the top of the garbage that he recognized could be recycled and tried to find the culprit who improperly disposed of the item. Finally Hillary has a recycling ally!