Sean's Surprise Party!!

Sean had his golden birthday this year.  He turned 23 on the 23rd of December.  So we got him 23 golden balloons.  Mom arranged with his roommates beforehand to have a surprise party at Sean's house!  Austin went and had Sean change his tires and so he was our spy!  All 20 of us were together that night.  It's not often that all of us get together.  

When Sean got there we were all hiding in the kitchen because he usually comes in through the front door.  Dad was looking out the window and told us when he was on his way.  Well, somehow the front door got locked and so he ended up coming in the back door.  Jace didn't wait for everyone and shouted out before everyone Surprise!  Then we all yelled Surprise!!  He was very surprised.  

It was funny cause when we were almost at Sean's house, Sean called mom on her cell phone.  She didn't answer him, we came up with a plan to tell him that we were out taking Christmas gifts to neighbors or in town.  So she called him back and when he asked where she was she said, "At home" then he asked why she didn't answer the phone at home.  She said, "I couldn't find it." So she totally blew what she was going to say.  But he never caught on.  It was hilarious!

Sean we love you!  And we hope you had an awesome birthday!

Jace having fun with the balloons!!

Dad having fun boxing Ryland

Dad boxing Leauna

Jace, Lydia, TyLene, and Tayson waiting for Uncle Sean!

All the kids hiding and waiting for Uncle Sean to come!! 

He came in the wrong door, but when he walked in Jace, yelled, "Surprise!"

The Birthday Boy!

 Sean giving TyLene a bear hug!!

 So excited to see everyone!

Mom, Kali, MeLinda and JennaLee!

JennaLee and MeLinda looking cute as ever!

Reagan and I!  Fun times!

Jace not wanting his picture taken!

Leah & JennaLee!!

Dad hung streemers on the fan and turned it on.  It was cool for a minute until it started tearing down the other decorations...

Janessa and Austin being his normal self.

Mom and JennaLee!!  Looking good!

 Tayson and I.  Tayson got these slimy sticker things at the dollar store and had the brillant idea of putting them on our forheads...  We are silly!!!

Leauna singing!

Mom, Thomas and Kali!

Ryland

JennaLee

MeLinda and JennaLee!!  She looks a little frightened.

Sean opening his new shoes.

Superman Jacket!

 Ninja Turtles shirt

Sean's redvelvet birthday cake!

The Birthday Cake

Uncle Thomas and Lydia singing Happy Birthday!  They are amazing singers, you can just tell by the look on their faces!!!
 

The Nielson gang!  All 20 of us!!  Ryan, Leah, Tayson, TyLene, Ryland, RaLauna, Mom, Jace, Dad, Thomas, Kali, JennaLee, Lydia, Leauna, Janessa, Austin, Reagan, Sean, MeLinda and Scott!!! 

The Nielson Family, we had to take a picture because it's a rarity when all of us are actually together!!  Love my family to pieces!! 

La Isla Bonita DR 2010!!!

 Max pretending to be asleep!

 Alex, Marta, sus hijas, Nataly, Emil and I!!

 Oscar...  Oh man that kid makes me laugh!

David & Elizabeth!  

Elizabeth's mom, Hanniel, and I!!

Elizabeth and Hanniel!!  He's so little...

Romy Castellanos!!  Crazy as ever!

 David helping with Hanniel!

 Elizabeth and I taking Hanniel to the dr....

 Hanniel sleeping soundly in the car.

Elizabeth & Hanniel at the hospital.

Alexandra Marrero!! Waiting for Elizabeth at the hospital.

Jairo Mora with his daughter Dashelle.

Oscar & Hanniel!

 Hna. Sandoval & Oscar, we went to check out the church!

David Mercado, Javier Cortes, & I!!  We went and visited Elder Cortes and his family at his home.  I felt bad we couldn't stay longer at his house.

With the Cortes Family!

 David Mercado, Alexandra Marrero, Oscar, Elizabeth's Mom and I outside Alexandra's house!

La Vega or Las Vegas, DR style!

 Emil Navarro taking me to the bus stop!

Hna. Ventura's youngest daughter!  What a cutie!

 Ashley!

 Evelyn Ventura and I took the kids to the aquarium!  They were so excited all day to go and we had so much fun!!  Ashley kept us on our toes!

Ashley, posing for the camera!  What a little princess!  She is so much like her mother!

Evelyn Ventura with the kiddos!

 Me with the dinosaurs!!  Good thing it didn't fall on my head!

 On the ocean front!

 Me on the ocean front!

 The gorgeous water hole!

 Along the coastline!

 Duarte, Capital Monument for Santo Domingo!

 Hna Marta Landa & I on the guagua headed to Nizao to stay with Hna Elizabeth DeLaCruz!

 Hna Marta Landa & Hna Elizabeth DeLaCruz cooking espagettis (spaghetti)  for dinner!

 Familia Paulino!  Chiqutin, Marcia, Junior, & Daniel....

 Me with Chemi & his mom Hna Justa!!  Chemi is a miracle!  He lives in my last area in Nizao de Bani.  Right before I got to this area Chemi was in a horrible, horrible motorcycle accident.  The last time I saw Chemi  before leaving my mission, he was paralyzed from the waist down.  A little while after his accident his wife left him and didn't want anything to do with him.  When mom and dad came to get me from my mission Chemi was in the hospital having his 2nd operation.  He wasn't able to get baptized until after I left Nizao because he couldn't get his whole body wet.  A few months after I left he was baptized!

Well, when I went back to the DR, I went to church in Nizao.  After sacrament meeting Chemi came up to me, and said, Hna. Nielson do you recognize me?  I said, "Your face yes, but I don't remember your name."  He said it's me, Chemi.  Remember the last time you saw me I was in bed and couldn't move.  I almost started crying when I realized who Chemi was. He now has had a total of 7 operations and now only needs the assistance of a cane to help him walk!  He truly is a miracle!  He is now the 1st councilor in the Branch Presidency in Nizao and is very active in the church!  He is truly an inspiration to me and great example of not loosing faith in Jesus Christ!

Daniel and I!

Bryan (Hna. DeLaCruz's son!)

Danny and I!

Nia & Pasquel!

Yessenia & her kids!  Nia's daughter and grandkids!

 Pasquel & I!!

Las Matas de Farfan!  I went and helped my friend Anna at school, and this is a picture from her classroom.

My friend Anna teaches 2nd grade.  She was giving a test this day, so I went and helped her give the test!  

Anna's 2nd grade class!

A rooster!

 Anna, I & Mariana.  This is Cesar's grandma & aunt!  Mariana was my mom when I was in Las Matas! If we were ever hungry we would go to Mariana's house and she would feed us!  She gave me the biggest hug when I went and saw her!  She thought that I had forgotten about her.  

 Majorie & Daphanie, Pasquel's beautiful daughters!

 The girls playing on the roof!

 Marjorie having lots of fun with the foam stickers!!

 Darwin, eating like a crazy man!  Funny guy!

Hna Santa Delgado & I!

One Saturday I went with Emil Navarro's family to their Ward Christmas Party!!  The party was at a swimming pool!  It was gorgeous and we had a lot of fun!  And we ate soooo much good food!!  Max at the pool!

Emil Navarro cutting the bread for lunch!

 Nataly & her mom Josephina!!

Hna Hernandez and the Bishop with the pig head...  Gross

Emil & Bishop with the pig head.

 Nataly & Emil!! What a cute couple!

Navarro Family!

 Max found a girlfriend!!  

 Aquino Family!

 Aquino, Nielson, & Santos!!

 Aquino, Navarro, Nielson & Santos!!!

 Emil & Nataly.  This is the night before I flew home.  We went to get my last minute gifts I wanted to take to

family!

Max & I being silly!

Max with the Croc!

 Ingrid and her kids.  Ingrid is Emil's sister!

Ready to go the airport!

Dominican Republic Airport!

 Dominican Republic Airport....

In the plane getting ready to go home.  How sad, I can't believe how fast the time went by.  I saw so many good friends.  Wish I could have seen more people.  But I will see them the next time I go!!