Getting Ready for Baby...

So if you didn't know or can't tell, we are having a girl. This was the extent of my wardrobe when I took this picture in December. Can she wear dresses every day????

Pregnancy Progress - 11/23/06

Here I am again showing my belly. I am 24 weeks and one day.

Thanksgiving with Gavin

Gavin worked very hard on his "Native American" outfit in his 1st grade class. He was extremely proud of his hard work and wore it for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Decorations

I put myself in charge of Thanksgiving decorations because it is something that makes me feel like it is a special day. This was the end result. :) I was pleased and I think even the Hickman boys liked the decor. I also made apple turkeys with those who were interested. It was a good Thanksgiving.

Hickman Thanksgiving

Here are almost all of the Hickman grandkids. Gavin is in the back then Taylor and China are holding Alyson.

The Long Drive...

The Haltermans came to visit me at the beginning of October. Unfortunately I neglected to take pictures because I was so busy having so much fun!! Kendra helped me paint and plan and shop. We went to the park and Kira fed the squirrels right out of her hand, that is if Trenton wasn't chasing them for a hug. We went to the zoo and fed the Giraffes. It even snowed while they were here so my shorts wearing, Phoenix dwelling niece and nephew got a taste of the cold and had a blast building a snowman. The only catch was that in order to get them here I had to fly out and drive back with Kendra, Kira and Trenton. We did go to ikea in Arizona and that was lots of fun! The kids were great on the drive considering it took us (if I remember right) 16hrs with the stops for food and other necessities (i.e. letting Trenton run around in the Burger King play place). What a blast we had. :) Thanks for visiting me Haltermans!

Pregnancy Progress - 10/5/06

Here I am at the beginning of October. I was just heading to a concert in my concert black dress. I am 17 weeks and 1 day. Just so you know my belly isn't really lumpy like that but I was wearing nylons. Yuck! No thank you! I got some good advice from Marenda to get some knee highs. I have got to remember to do that next time I am out. :) At least no one can deny that I have a belly!

The Wall!

Gavin went with Preston to Dicks, a huge sporting goods store, and decided his little hearts desire was to climb the 5 story wall. So we went back today and he did it all right...all the way to the top. I was a little skeptical that he would be able to go as high as he wanted because as we were waiting for his turn the boy in front of him, who was a few years older, only went about 8 feet up before running into trouble. Gavin didn't let that stop him he started climbing before the guy helping him was even ready. He blew past the point the other kid stopped and kept going until he was able to hit the button at the top for the pre-recorded applause. It was pretty cute. He had a blast. Ann went with us so that she could "cheer him" and after he finished she kept saying "Gavin tough!"

Pregnancy Progress - 9/3/06

Here I am and I don't think you can deny that I am starting to show. I don't show in most of my clothes but I put this dress on last Sunday and "Ta-da!" there is my belly! I am 12 weeks and 4 days.

Aldens Rock N Roll Birthday!

As part of the birthday preparation Trysten and I made sure that everyone was equipped with Rock N Roll hair and dance moves. They took it very seriously and rocked the night away!
Here is Owen Reynolds. Caleb Harding

Aldens Rock N Roll Birthday!

Tamlen Reynolds Marcus Harding
Addie "the dancing machine" Brown
Drake Hansen
Alden Reynolds - the birthday boy!

Singing with my sisters!

I found a bunch more pictures from the family reunion this summer and thought I had better add them to my blogg! There is nothing better than singing with my sisters! Trina, Kendra and Me!

The Tenor Horn

For those of you who haven't seen one this is an Eb Tenor Horn. It is used in British style brass bands. It is voiced like the French Horn and is a lot of fun to play! I have been playing the tenor horn for almost a year! I got wrangled into playing "reveille" and a solo on the last day of the family reunion. The things I will do for family. :)

MaNah MaNah!

Here is the Hansen version of the Muppets "MaNah MaNah!" We have Marcus and Sheridan Harding on the MaNah MaNah part and Kira Halterman and me on the "do dooo do do do's." They were really good sports and it was a lot of fun.

Yummmmm! Chocolate!

Thanks Lita for the mustache!

HUGS!!!!

I love my hugs! Especially when they come from cute little boys named Trenton!

Fun with Bubbles!

I was put in charge of crafts and games for some of the kids at the family reunion and so we made bubble pipes! I just had to show off my handy work. They are a blast as you can see! Paxton has fun squashing them, Shelby makes her bubbles go as high as she can, and Caleb just hangs out while his dad does all the work! :)

Here is Super Gavin...He thinks he is pretty funny!

It is amazing what kids come up with when left to their own devices.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

It has been one year and I have never been happier! I am the luckiest girl in the world! Lets hope Preston feels the same way! :) We even had a piece of our year old chocolate cake and it tasted as good as it did on the wedding day. I think it is a sign. :) Here's to the rest of the years we face together!

SURPRISE!!!

I'm not sure if it was a late birthday surprise or an early anniversary present but either way we will take it! So here is the story...I was complaining one day about how tender my womanliness was and that I woke up in the night and had to go to the ladies room. So my sister Marenda said "your pregnant! You are taking a pregnancy test in the morning!" I said "no way I'm pregnant!" So the next morning, July 10th, I awoke to the crinkle of plastic in the bathroom and Marenda poking her head out of the bathroom telling me the test was all ready. She had laid it out very carefully on the counter for me and if we were younger she probably would have stayed in the bathroom in case I needed moral support. I just laughed and thought I had better get it done so I could dispel her belief that I was pregnant. Almost instantaneously and even before the other lines showed up the positive line showed up. After I almost passed out and took a lap around the house I went back to make sure I wasn't delusional. After all it was a dollar store test so there must be something wrong with it. Nothing had changed so I picked it up and went to the kitchen where Marenda was feeding Addie and I grunted something and held out the test to her. Marenda screamed and hugged me and by this time my mom and dad came up stairs to see what all the commotion was and I got a look of surprise and excitement from my mom followed by hugs all around. Well after breakfast Marenda showed me all of her slightly traumatic pregnancy/childbirth books, we figured out that I was due around March 10th (give or take several days) and we went off to the store for more proof that I was really pregnant. There I got test #2 (by the way, let me apologize to those of you who may be grossed out by the picture of the test, I promise it is totally sanitary!) and some surprises to take home to Preston.
I felt bad that Preston wasn't there when I found out that I was pregnant but it was also kind of fun because I was able to take some time to think of a cute way to break the news. I was flying home that night, thank goodness, because if it had been any longer I don't think I could have made it. He opened the frame first and said "oh, nice." Which translated means "I have no idea why you would buy me a frame." So I waited while he looked at each part of the frame slowly until he got to the picture of the positive test and he looked at me and said "REALLY?!?!?" to which I replied "yes!" and then he tackled me. There is probably no greater show of affection from the male world than being tackled and kissed! It was an overall awesome day!

ADDIE!!!

Addie is getting soooo big! Now she can climb in the tub all by herself!

HIPPY BARTHDAY to me!!!

Well now its official I am old. :) Just kidding! Although when I was younger and I thought about being 26 I thought for sure I would have everything figured out by now. Some things work out how we plan them and others don't. :) Even though I missed my hubby Preston because he had to go back to Colorado Springs, I was lucky enough to get the traditional treatment from my sister Marenda and my mom. They are the best. Marenda was merciful enough to only put the cute pictures up. Thanks sis! In addition I got 3 special meals, a treasure hunt (which my nephews did charades for my clues) and lots of rounds of "Happy Birthday!"
My Brother-in-law Sam decided to give me some special treatment too. I am so lucky! :)
Caleb (sitting on my lap) was so sad that he didn't get to see my blow out my candles and help sing "Happy Birthday" that we did it all over again and this time I had the best helpers (Drake, Caleb & Marcus), so I am sure I got my wish.

The Nielson Family Reunion...

The only place I get to see my mom dress up as a fairy in a skit with my aunts. You can see where I get my stage fright...JUST KIDDING!!!
Here is the NIELSON family...(L to R) Aunt Quinta, Mom (Janice), Grandma Ruth G. Nielson - 98 and still kicking, Uncle Corrin, Aunt LuDeen, and the youngest Uncle Eric.
And here is the Hansen family! Happy and tuckered out on our last morning at the reunion. Back Row: Preston, Me, Kira, Kendra, Trenton, Trina, Sheridan, Guy holding Caleb and Marcus. Front Row: Thayne, Paxton, Jenny, Dana, Shelby, Mom - Janice, and Dad - Garth. What a handsome family!!!