HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE... NELLIE

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down.

I've been trying to put a blog together for Nellie
for over a week now.
And....
those of you that know Nellie well,
will understand when I say
"WHERE DO YOU START????"
NELLIE
Our first girl!
Our first girl after 3 boys.
She was born the 9th month
at 9 in the morning
at St. Marks Hospital
The Nuns prayed for her.

It wasn't until the next morning
when I was holding her
just staring at my little girl
that I noticed she had Red hair.
She truly was and still is...
the "apple" of her Daddy's eye.
We learned early on
Nellie was a character.

To list a few...she
...spray painted the inside of her closet.
...drove Grandma Soelberg's station wagon
down the street and left it
when she was about 10.
(she fessed up years later)
...lied to the orthodontist
so he would take her braces off.
(she figured they were ready)
...left school a few times, unexcused.
(nothing compared to what the kids
do these days... huh!)
.....I won't go on.....
She brought "color" to our world.

There was never a bored moment
with Nellie around.

She loved to sing
She loved to dance
She loved to wear make-up
(funny...she now wears the least of all of us)

She was good at sports
And was really involved with her friends.
She always had (still does) SO MUCH ENERGY.

If she wanted something...
SHE WENT AFTER IT.
(and....still does)

She wanted to be a QUEEN
"VOILA"
When she was about 6
She asked us if when she grew up
and had an alcohol problem,
would she have to go to
Raleigh Hills Hospital!

(remember those old commericials)

She's just plain fun to be around.
(girls night...before Nat came into the family)

(blurry again...sorry)
Her brothers love her dearly

She is best friends with her sister.
She turned all that energy into
...Creating a beautiful home
...Making shelves
for more than just a few lucky ones
(sorry for the blurr...it's late)
...Creating works of art
for her walls and nooks and crannies
in her home.
This picture of Lila reminds me
of a picture I took of Nellie
when she was one.
She was asleep in a little rocking chair.
Every time Nell looked at the picture
she would cry.
We could never figure it out.
When she was finally old enough to tell us
she said that she thought she was "dead".
Oh.. it was soooo sad.
You should have heard us explain
that one to Nellie.

...being a great Mom
...and a great wife
(we know you have to
"deal" sometimes Richard)
...and most recently
has taken up
PHOTOGRAPHY
If you haven't seen Nell's photography
just visit her blog.
Did I already mention what a great Mom she is?
The Neices and Nephews love to be around her.
She's always doing fun little things
for all of them.
She is definitely not a hiker.
(self proclaimed)
She is our "party girl".
She showed up as the Easter Bunny one year.
We know there's a picture out there
of that Rabbit!

Thanks for making life so fun
For all of us Nellie

You have been one of the greatest blessings
in my life.
I must a have "banked" a few points
in heaven
for when I put in for daughters
I was given one of the choicest.
How do you solve a problem like Nellie?
... How do you hold a moonbeam
in your hand.
(I know... it's lame)

again... HAPPY BIRTHDAY
I love you Nell