Nat'l Air & Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington DC

Since Curtis has been working as a Copper Engineer Consultant for the past year, he has not been home very often. So we decided to take two weeks and go to Washington DC and Viriginia.  Our first stop was the National Air & Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (part of the Smithsonian Museum near Dulles Airport) - that was a mouthful!  Anyway...it was great. There were planes from day one! Clear back to before the Wright Brothers, plus their stuff. I have posted just a few highlights below.  Notice I am wearing pants and a jacket! So great since it wasn't 117 degree weather we left in Arizona!

Sandi in front of the Air & Space Center. The pieces to each side of me are airplane wings. On them are engraved flying squadrons and their crews over a huge period of time (can't remember).

Here is the Enterprise (great name!!!) Space Shuttle. This never went into space. It was used to practice being carried on a 747, and landing after re-entry from space so they knew if it would work or not.

The yellow plane was the first commercial plane built for carrying passengers by Boeing.

The white plane is an original France Concord plane.

This silver plane is the actual Enola Gay that dropped the atomic bomb in Japan.

Every plane during war time is usually given a name by their crew. What I didn't know

is that the pilot of the Enola Gay named this plane after his mother.

This is a mustang fighter plane. Just like the one the crashed into the crowd in Reno NV while we were gone. Curtis loves this plane. Great art work!

75th Birthday Party - for my Mom

Saturday, May 21, 2011 we (my brother and sisters) gave my mom, Betty Gibb, a 75th Birthday Party. We had 80 people in attendance, of that 80, 17 were under the age of 8 years old!  We had a grand time. We served lasagna, salad, rolls and lemonade for a late lunch.  Then we had a program.

Sandi Nielson, Larry (Bud) Gibb, Betty & Larry Gibb, Connie George, Patti Prodromides
This is the initial Gibb Family

This is the fiew of half the room from the podium where Curtis and I were Hosting the program.

Carrie Nielson (Jason's wife) sang one of mom's favorite female country music artist - Patsy Cline's  "I Fall to Pieces"
Carrie has an amazing voice and did this song justice!

Jason & Carrie took some main year dates from Betty's life and then told what was happening in the world that year. Such things as Gas prices, housing industry, stock markets, types of cars popular, top song, etc... Some of those facts were absolutely amazing to look back on!

Michelle Prodromides (Patti's daughter) performed a melody of three songs on the piano to start the program off. Michelle represented the grandchildren group. 

Haley Larkin (Heidi's daughter, and the first great grandchild for Betty) played "Happy Birthday" on the piano at the very end. The second time through - everyone sang along to Betty.

At the very end of the program, us four children presented our mom with the original Mother's Day ring we had given her back in 1968! Mom had all her jewlery stolen a few years ago, except this piece. We took it and had new stones put in and polished up. It looked fabulous and sparkled.

The event was wonderful and all had a great time. 



Mother's Day Luncheon

While in Utah, after my niece's wedding, my mother-in-law, Gloria took all her daughters and in-laws out to lunch to celebrate Mother's Day at the Maddux Steakhouse near Brigham City, Utah.  I have missed this luncheon for the past 35 years! But this year - I was in town!!! They visit at lunch and then exchange small Mother's Day gifts with each other. It was fabulous. We had so much fun! Some of the gifts exchanged were: Seagull Book store gift cards, Chick-fil-a gift cards, gilded mirror for homes, chocolate covered strawberries, key chains, bud vases, large spoon rests, and body lotion from the Dead Sea in Israel.

L-R: Julie Nielson Jenkins, me (Sandi), Claudia Jensen (Gloria's sister), Tracy Nielson Syme



L-R: Renee Petersen Nielson, Gloria Nielson, MaryAnn Barber Nielson, Kimberly Nielson Nielson



We all gave Gloria the gift of Spring Cleaning. All the families including children descended on her home Saturday morning (before we went to lunch) and each family was assigned a room. We washed every wall, dusted, cleaned blinds, curtains, vaccuumed ... you name it.  It happened.  That way she didn't have to worry about it! Then - we went to lunch with her in the afternoon!

A Temple Wedding

I went to Utah for my niece, Christy Nielson's, wedding to James Techmeyer.  It was held in the Bountiful, Utah  LDS Temple. The tulips and flowers, trees were all in bloom. So beautiful.

James & Christy as they came out of the temple
 to greet friends and family.



Scott & MaryAnn (bride's parents), James & Christy Techmeyer, Melvin & Gloria Nielson (bride's grandparents)
on the steps at the Temple.



Sandi & Heidi at Christy's luncheon after the wedding.
 Heidi flew up for a couple of days.





Road Trip to Utah

When I heard that my niece was going to be married in Utah - I wanted to attend. Since Curtis was going to be in California working - I called my sister, Patti, to see if she would like to go see her daughter, Lisa. YES!!!  So road trip we did!  We had a terrific ride up and back.  We went through Jacob's Lake both directions. They have the best sandwiches and homemade cookies!!!  We chatted and chatted. So fun!



Patti & Sandi in front of Jacob's Lake Inn.



Getting gas in Panguitch, Utah.  NO - I didn't hit any deers on this Trip! But missed one in Kaysville (barely)!!!



On the drive home (May 9th) we had snow from Beaver to south of Cedar City, then at Jacob's Lake and again in Flagstaff!

Prom Night 2011

          Ever wished you could be young again and experience going out on the town with your perfect date to a Prom? I was able to do just that! Our area (5 Stakes) puts on an LDS Prom for all the youth so they don't have to attend school ones that are out of control.  This takes months of planning, decorating, etc! and then in a couple of saturdays - it is all pulled together.  Several years ago some brilliant thinker thought "Why don't we have an adult prom the night before and give these decorations a trial run!"  What a fabulous idea!  Over the past couple of years we have attended "Phantom of the Opera", last year was "Arbian Nights". This year the theme was "Streets of New York".

         As you entered the building, they had the hallway set up like a slum alley of New York. notice the black garbage bags. But if you look closely they took a train track and mounted a little stuffed "rat" to a car and it circled the trash all night. I died laughing!

         Steppiing into the cultural hall (or gym) the walls were lined with murals of skyline and store fronts. This photo (see below) is Macy's. Had three windows. The center window was 'the 3 white dresses'. Clever!

Up along and around the stage walls were Broadway Shows advertised. They had redrawn all these just like the originals! Most of the shows currently on Broadway were displayed.

Photo below shows the skyline and all the incredible art work!

Here is us sitting on a bench in Central Park! The little photo shows the New York skyline behind us.

Healing Eye

Curtis is back flying the skies again! Yes, that means the gas bubble in his eye has disappeared! So he is now flying to Dublin, California every monday morning (extremely early!!!) and back at the end of the work week.  The gas bubble, which was orange in color, has left his lens a little discolored. So he is seeing out of the right eye a shade of yellow. He said when he was watching General Conference and listening to the Tabernacle Choir sing, he covered his right eye and the ladies were wearing Blue, but when he covered his left eye they were wearing GREEN.  I died laughing.  He is seeing and the detail is starting to return. His pupil  seems to work properly when his eye rests over night. But during the day with extreme use it stays open in the shape of  the continent "Africa".  We hope in time this will correct itself.  All in all, he was blessed with a very gifted surgeon and through prayers of many he is healing well. Thank you all for the love, concern, and especially prayers in his behalf.

Letters from First Graders

As a member of the school board in which I currently serve, I have the opportunity of going into nearly every classroom of the six schools we have twice a year to read to students.  Recently I received a pile of "Thank You" letters from some first graders. They were so cute. They are learning to write and sound out their words.  I just had to post a couple of them.



Successful Retna Surgery

Took Curtis to the eye doctor on Friday.  The surgeon was extremely pleased how perfectly the retna has healed in three weeks! The gas bubble is gone too. That means he can now start flying back and forth with work.  The only thing left is for his pupil to return to normal. The iris is keeping the pupil open in an oblong shape.  Hopefully in a few months and more prayers, that will remedy itself.

Macula Hole Surgery

March has been a very interesting month for us. Curtis had trouble with his right eye. Come to find out he needed surgery for a hole in his retna. The macula is the small part of the retina responsible for central vision. A tear or hole in the macula impairs a person's ability to see. Many activities, including reading and writing, may become nearly impossible. Curtis had this happen while sitting in Church on Feb. 6th. The hymn numbers on the wall disappeared!

This condition, most prevalent among the elderly, (This must mean he is becoming elderly??) arises when the vitreous (the jelly-like substance which fills the inner eye) becomes condensed and fibrous. The fibers often bond to the macula, and when they shrink, they exert a pulling force. A hole is opened and the surrounding tissue peels away from the eye, causing a loss of central vision. 

To repair the macular hole, the surgeon (A terrific Dr. Adelberg in Mesa) removes the vitreous and replaces it with a gas bubble.  The bubble rises and applies pressure to the area in need of healing. Since the macula is at the back of the eye, the gas bubble will only work if the patient's head is positioned facedown.

Pressure against the hole flattens the macula against the wall of the eye, (See Figure 3), and the impaired visual area is minimized. During the ensuing weeks, the afflicted eye will begin to heal, the macula will re-bond to the eye wall, and a new vitreous replaces the gas bubble.

Macular hole surgery is an easy, painless procedure with a successful track record of improving or virtually restoring vision. The real challenge for the patient is dealing with the monotony, stress and discomfort of a 22-24 hour-a-day facedown postoperative position until the gas bubble is absorbed--usually over a 2 to 6 week period.

Fortunately we found a massage table for him to lay face down for two full weeks (all that the doctor required) and part of a third week. If he was up during the day, he had to keep his head horizontal to the floor.  He is doing well, following doctors orders. He can now tell between light and dark and see shadows in his right eye.  He will have his vision back about the end of April - according to his doctor.  So I will post more about this then.

So many friends have offered up prayers and support for us during this time.

Special Temple Day

There is a really great family in our ward who has been growing in the gospel.  They are Phillip and Michelle Powell and their children. Six kids live at home and three out on their own.  Anyway, they went to the Mesa Arizona Temple for their endowments Tuesday morning, March 15th. Curtis and I were able to be their escorts.  They had 5 of their children sealed to them.

L-R: Back Row - Nell & Lauren Powell (Phillip's parents), Phillip & Michelle Powell, Sandi & Curtis
Front Row: Brandi, Tara, Symphony, Kaden and Michel (the children)



In the afternoon another family, Devin & Crystal Chavez went to the temple and then had their little daughter sealed to them. It was a great day for these families and all the friends who were able to be with them.

No More Early Hour Bird Chirping!!!

         This may sound crazy but I dispise PIGEONS who constantly chirp 15 min before dawn and then continue all morning! My neighbor who owned the house where these pigeons have roosted in the eaves would shoot them and remedy the problem. They have moved last summer. So since then if my neighbors ever looked out of their 2 story windows into my back yard would see a lady in her nightgown running out to shoo away the birds! Sometimes my good hubby would take the broom and shoo them so I didn't have to wake at 5am!

      Good news! After returning from Dale's swearing in yesterday, my wonderful 78 year old father helped me extend my 23' ladder up the side of the 2 story house and place chicken wire into the eaves to prevent the birds from roosting in any shape or form!  (Husband was out of state!)

       It was interesting watching the birds the rest of the day....they would peak over the eave wondering what happened to their home.  YEAH! I was able to sleep and not be awakened by birds this morning!

The Newest Arizona Attorney

Yesterday was a wonderful day for our family. My nephew-in-law, Dale Berg, was one of 12 who were read in and approved by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court as Arizona's newest attorney.  Both parents of Dale and Vanessa were there as well as my parents and myself.  The picture below shows the little family with his Supreme Court approval certificate! That is my arm holding the certificate. Hence - you know I was there! ha ha.  This couple fly back to Washington DC where Dale is specializing in Tax Law. He finishes that program in May and then will move back to Arizona (we hope).

The picture below is all of us on the steps of the Arizona Supreme

getting photos of the family. Connie (Vanessa's mom, my sister) is in the red jacket.



L-R: Sandi, Dale's sister, the Family on steps, Connie George, Stacey Berg (Dale's mom)

We are proud of Dale! Congrats for years of hard work!!

Another Term of Office

I have served for 5 years as a board member to the Littleton Elementary School District #65 here in Avondale, AZ.  I was re-elected in November for an additional 4 years! Tonight after our board member, Mike Armstrong and I were both sworn into office by the Board Vice-President, Jeannie Myrick.  All three of us live in the same subdivision!

L-R  Jeannie Myrick, Mike Armstrong, Sandi Nielson

Afterwards we took a group photo.  Two of the ladies on the board retired tonight after serving 5 years each.

L-R  Mike Armstrong, Sandi Nielson, Kelli Watson & Sally Maddux (retiring),
 Kathy Reyes, Jeannie Myrick

Thanksgiving Family Photos

Our family is certainly growing every year. I feel leaps and bounds says it all! I think we have the cutest family every! (Yes! I am a Grandma and have that right!)  We took the photos at the Mesa Arizona Temple Grounds.  The lighting is a bit light, but I think you can see how cute every one is! There are 11 little ones, and #12 will be in June (that would be Heidi having #5.)

Front Row L-R: Noelle, Christian holding Hunter, Carter, Tytan, Haven, Jaren, Ridge
Back Row L-R: Haley, Sandi holding Jaycie, Curtis holding Paisley

Here are the parental units!

Curtis & I on chair

L-R back row:  Serina & Nick, Meggan & Peter, Heidi & Jace, Carrie & Jason

A very BUSY November 7th

This past Sunday, Nov 7th, 2010 was extremely busy! Here in Avondale, AZ after six years and two months of service as Bishop of the Cold Water Ward, my husband  was released as the Bishop.  A new Bishop was called and sustained.  It was a bitter sweet day for us.  We have been used to serving 450 members in a variety of ways and it will be a bit sad to not be in that position; but on the other hand, Curtis is doing consulting work for Fluor Daniel out of Dublin, CA (near Oakland). He is only home on the weekends until Christmas.  So he was wondering how he was going to manage tithing settlement, Christmas programs, etc... while being gone so much.  I guess it is a good thing he had the entire last year off so he could be Bishop fulltime. He did so much during that time with so many single sisters needing help in our ward. He was a fix-it man, etc...  Now I get to have him on Sunday mornings at home, sit with me at church - which I think has only happend a few times in our 35 1/2 years of marriage! At least...until his next call.

This was taken Sunday morning before Sacrament began with the changing of the Bishop.

Also, in Sparks, NV at the same time, our little Hunter was blessed.  Oh we wanted to be there, but it is hard to be in more than one place at a time.  Here is a photo of Serina and Nick holding him.  What a cutie.  Can't wait to see him at Thanksgiving.  They are coming for a few days.  YEA!!!

Then - you think! What else could be happening at the same time that we couldn't participate in.  Our dear friend Tony Bach was sustained as Bishop of his ward in Tucson.  Curtis and I have been involved in the Bach's entrance into church, their sealing, and now he is a Bishop!  Those of you in Tucson who were able to be there and witness it - what a great day!  One Bishop being released, another called at the same time!  We wish the Bach a lot of joy as they serve in their ward.

Dublin, California

I never knew there was a Dublin, California...I knew about Dublin, Ireland.  The Lord has provided a great opportunity to know about this new place. Dublin, CA has become a new home for Curtis during the week. He is on a consulting job with Fluor Daniel Company during the week. He flies over on Monday and home by Friday night.  It is actually interesting that the man who called him up from the company actually worked with him during the Magma Copper era of San Manuel - Irshad Rana! The team is working on an expansion project for the Cananea Copper Mine in Mexico (just south of Agua Prieta, AZ).  The engineer for the Mine is a guy who worked with Curtis in Tucson for Bateman Engineering - Ramon. I can't remember his last name.  So most of the players are all old friends!  Hopefully one of these trips I will get a chance to see Dublin in person.

Fun in Dayton NV

Today Curtis and I went to Dayton, NV to see my old friend, Julie Sutich, from San Manuel days.  She grew up in Dayton and is now back in Dayton.  Dayton is 50 minutes south of Reno, NV.  She lives in Old Downtown Dayton and works as a volunteer with the historical society of maintaining Dayton.  So she gave us a complete tour. We saw old buildings, the old schools, fire station, etc... I even got to ring the fire bell.  So fun.

Sandi, Curtis, Julie, her daughter Rebecca
we are at lunch

This was an out house.  Look at the toddler seat!

One of the old buildings in town.

We are in the old jail! 

We had a great time. Afterwards, we drove out to her family ranch.  Reminded me of my summer days spent with my grandparents in Washington on their ranch! 

Activities in Nevada

Since arriving at Serina's, Curtis has been working in the front yard. Last year was interior home makeover. This year outside. He pulled out the bricks that trim the yard and replaced them more evenly, pulled weeds, and as you can see mowed the yard with an old fashion lawn mower - PUSH kind!

Front yard.

On Wed, we were able to zip over to the Reno Temple and do sealings and a session.  The people there are so kind and glad to see you.  We had a wonderful day!

Seeing new Grand Baby!

Little Hunter Curtis Haines was born on August 20th. On Thurs, Aug 26 Curtis and I drove up to Sparks, NV to meet this little guy. Ohhhh, he is so cute! He is our number 11 grandbaby. 

Here is Grandma holding Hunter!

Bright eyes and awake!

Hunter sleeping with his favorite blanket!