Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sleepy Swing
Talia was so cute in the swing! It is hard to tell but she was just lounging and with each push slowly falling asleep. (you can hear my mother-in-law and Preston in the background)
Smith Family Reunion - Milford
We went to church in Milford which is were my mother-in-law grew up and then we had a picnic at the park. Here is the Hickman clan almost complete.
While Talia and I were napping Preston went with his mom to look at his grandparents grave.
A shot of the Milford landscape.
While Talia and I were napping Preston went with his mom to look at his grandparents grave.
A shot of the Milford landscape.
On the way to the Renuion
We went to a family reunion in Ceder City over labor day weekend. The kids did really well for our 14 hour day! We had to stop for about an hour for lunch to let Talia roll around on a blanket at the park and to let Preston take a nap (he had only gotten an HOUR of sleep the night before!!!). I think Gavin enjoyed the one on one time he got with us playing games with him in the car. Gavin had a disposable camera and he felt pretty special! He also wanted to share his kid music with Talia. She was very curious where the music was coming from.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Long Lost Friends
In August Preston, Talia and I were thrilled to be visited by the Jackson family. Neera has known me since I was a very little girl and she still likes me. ;) Just kidding! Neera has been a friend of my whole family for years. I think we figured that I was around 3 when she first met the family because she was in the orchestra pit for a musical Serena and Kerali were in. Correct me if I got any of the details wrong because for crying out loud I was only 3. Well Neera has taught me a lot over the years. For example...how to wash paper plates, the importance of elevating ones pinkie when drinking, and lots of silly songs. Come to think of it I can't remember those songs any more...something about a tree falling "where you chop down the old oak tree, TIMBER and you something something" OK Neera your going to have to help me out on that one. Any way my point is that I have always cherished the friendship that I have had with Neera even though I was just a rag-a-muffin kid. Thanks Neera! It was so much fun to see you and Steve and your kids! Come again any time!!!
Funny how Neera managed to get a picture of us but we totally forgot to get a picture of them. Maybe I will venture into my scrapbook and scan an old picture of us playing. I really thought that Neera came over to play with me even though she was Serena's age! Ahh memories!
Funny how Neera managed to get a picture of us but we totally forgot to get a picture of them. Maybe I will venture into my scrapbook and scan an old picture of us playing. I really thought that Neera came over to play with me even though she was Serena's age! Ahh memories!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The Little Mermaid!!!
For my birthday Preston gave me tickets to the Pre-Broadway tour of "The Little Mermaid" I was quite surprised and pleased at his choice in a gift! I had to wait till August 11th but it was all worth it. I had the movie memorized when I was a kid so it was so fun to see how they made it into a musical. I have to say I was not disappointed at all. The actors were amazing and the costume and set design was incredible! I just sat there wishing that Talia was older so that she could watch the show too! 
Carpet Direct Banquet
Carpet Direct is the company that Preston works for and they have a really nice banquet every year. It is held at the Broadmoor Resort and they also give out cash prizes to some of the top agents. I was really proud of my husband when he was awarded a runner up cash prize. I also left my sweet baby for 5 hours! She was really good for her aunts, thank goodness.
Sleepy Sunday
Brooklyn and Talia are getting some much needed rest after Brooklyn's blessing. (Aug 5)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
I've been Tagged!
I was tagged and challenged to answer these questions so here I go...
Rules: 1.You have to post these rules before you give the facts. 2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. 3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts. 4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Middle Name: Lier
L - Loving
I - Individual
E - Encouraging
R - Religious
1. Do you like cheese? Yes which could be why I LOVE a good bleu cheese dressing.
2. Have you ever been arrested? No never even had a ticket.
3. Have you ever shot a gun?Yes.
4. Your favorite song? First ones that come to mind are the ones that I have been singing to Talia..."A bushel and a Peck" and "You are my Sunshine" I also LOVE "Be Still My Soul" So many good songs!
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? I have a hard time with Doctors I don't really trust them and so I don't really go. That is probably why I had my baby at home. :)
6. What do you think of when you eat hot dogs? I am always concerned with the condiments...if I have the right ratio of Katsup to Mustard and enough or too much relish. I like the Kosher Beef hot dogs, they aren't quite as scary as the others.
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? So many to choose from!!! As a kid I loved to sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" or "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" and I loved "Silent Night" and "Silver and Gold" and the list goes on and on!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water but when I splurge on a cold morning a little Hot Chocolate is scrumptious!
9. Can you do push ups? Yes.
10. Is your bathroom clean? I did scrub the tub yesterday but the floor needs to be swept and the stuff on the counter needs to be put away. So I would say it could be guest worthy in about 2 min.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I really only wear my wedding set. It is so beautiful and Preston picked it out all by himself. I don't just love it because he picked it but I would have picked this out myself. That is what makes it so great that he knew my taste that well so he could pick it out all by himself!
12. Favorite Hobby? Well at this time in my life I love decorating my house. Not that I have the money to do all the decorating but I will store away ideas until I do.
13. What are you listening to right now? I am not listening to anything but I can hear my neighbors music in the background, the traffic as it goes by, the hum of the computer and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, but I hope most of all that I don't hear my baby cry until she is good and rested!
14. What is the last thing you ate? I had some ham and summer squash for dinner.
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself? First of all I don't hate anything about myself but I know that I have many weaknesses. I think I have a few...Procrastination, I am a really bad corresponder, I have a fear of conflict so usually avoid it(I am getting better at this one), I get really uptight about logistics like going through airport security, While I was pregnant I had an irrational fear of driving in the snow or with a lot of traffic...I would envision rolling back into other cars on hills or envision another car side swiping me. The crazy thing is that I have never been in an accident. A constant one I work to improve on is consistency in cleaning and maintaining my home. Few that was a lot more than one. ;)
16. Middle Name? OK so here is the story...I don't have a middle name but when people didn't believe me I decided to give them what they wanted so I created a middle name. I told people my middle name was Lier like the guy who created the Lier Jets. Then they would say my name with the middle after it...Shanda Lier (Chandelier). I couldn't usually keep a straight face but it was fun anyway. I later heard a story from a girl I met with my same name. She told me that she got her name from the Lier family because the guy that created the Lier jet named his two daughters Crystal and Shanda. But the truth is my middle name is really my maiden name - Hansen and I like that one the best!
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? "I think that question should be at the beginning of the survey because now I am thinking about the last question" "wait now I am thinking about this question and why being asked my three thoughts at this moment seems quite absurd because what else would I be thinking about" "am I almost done?"
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought. Well I just went grocery shopping but besides the regular grocery items I did stop by Target and I bought a new outfit for Talia that I found on clearance, and a "The Office" post-it note pad for my friends Birthday
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. water.
20. Current worry right now? I live a pretty worry free life.
21. Current hate? None
22. Favorite place to be? Well I love where I am now but I also loved visiting Jamaica! The people were so friendly and it was such an awesome babymoon. I know I won't get to go back very often but it was a beautiful place to be.
23. How did you bring in the New Year? I was in Utah but my husband had to go back to Colorado so we were apart. :(
24. What is your quirkiest habit? I don't know...I reorganize Talia's clothes all the time. I like to touch all her adorable outfits.
25. Name three people who will complete this and return?
26. How many siblings do you have? 2 Brothers and 5 Sisters
27. Do you own slippers? I used to have blue furry ones and then Preston started wearing them last winter and stretched them out so he gave me new ones for Christmas. I love having slippers to wear in the winter here in Colorado especially because we only have carpet in the basement. BURRR!
28. What shirt are you wearing? Dark pink old navy tee that I got on sale for $3.00
29. What shampoo do you use? What ever strikes my fancy or is the cheapest.
30. Favorite colors? Green (Especially sage and apple green)
31. Would you like to be a pirate? No thank you!
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I love to sing but I am usually all business in the shower.
33. Favorite female name? I am pretty fond of Talia and Maren - my daughters first and middle name.
34. Favorite male name? I love this name but Preston isn't all that fond so it is a good thing we had a girl because I would have been heart broken not to name a boy Harvey Hansen Hickman. ;)
35. What's in your pockets right now? I don't have pockets.
36. Last thing that made you laugh? I was just watching "3rd Rock from the Sun" That is a very funny show!
37. Best bed sheets as a child? I think we had some multi-colored polka dot sheets that I liked.
38. Worst injury you've ever had? I fractured (it was a hairline fracture) my foot once doing a cartwheel.
39. When's your birthday? July 8th
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? One lonely TV.
41. Who is your loudest friend? UM...Amanda Rock has the loudest laugh and most contagious ever!
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Silly...I'm married!
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yes
45.What is your favorite book? Right now I am reading the 7th Harry Potter. But I also really like "Why Does He Do That? Inside the minds of abusive and controlling men" by Lundy Bancroft. It is not fun like Harry Potter but I think it is such a valuable book because it is so educational and really explains all the myths of abuse. I have recommended it to many many people to read weather they were experiencing abuse or knew someone who was.
46.What is your favorite age? I loved being 8.
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? I don't remember. We were outside and I don't think I had music playing.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Be still my soul.
49. What were you doing at 12 am this morning? Reading Harry Potter (I finally went to bed at 1:22am.)
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I only have 2 1/2 hours to make a birthday cake from scratch and decorate it!!!
I think I am going to tag Michelle!
Rules: 1.You have to post these rules before you give the facts. 2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. 3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts. 4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. 5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Middle Name: Lier
L - Loving
I - Individual
E - Encouraging
R - Religious
1. Do you like cheese? Yes which could be why I LOVE a good bleu cheese dressing.
2. Have you ever been arrested? No never even had a ticket.
3. Have you ever shot a gun?Yes.
4. Your favorite song? First ones that come to mind are the ones that I have been singing to Talia..."A bushel and a Peck" and "You are my Sunshine" I also LOVE "Be Still My Soul" So many good songs!
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? I have a hard time with Doctors I don't really trust them and so I don't really go. That is probably why I had my baby at home. :)
6. What do you think of when you eat hot dogs? I am always concerned with the condiments...if I have the right ratio of Katsup to Mustard and enough or too much relish. I like the Kosher Beef hot dogs, they aren't quite as scary as the others.
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? So many to choose from!!! As a kid I loved to sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" or "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" and I loved "Silent Night" and "Silver and Gold" and the list goes on and on!
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water but when I splurge on a cold morning a little Hot Chocolate is scrumptious!
9. Can you do push ups? Yes.
10. Is your bathroom clean? I did scrub the tub yesterday but the floor needs to be swept and the stuff on the counter needs to be put away. So I would say it could be guest worthy in about 2 min.
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I really only wear my wedding set. It is so beautiful and Preston picked it out all by himself. I don't just love it because he picked it but I would have picked this out myself. That is what makes it so great that he knew my taste that well so he could pick it out all by himself!
12. Favorite Hobby? Well at this time in my life I love decorating my house. Not that I have the money to do all the decorating but I will store away ideas until I do.
13. What are you listening to right now? I am not listening to anything but I can hear my neighbors music in the background, the traffic as it goes by, the hum of the computer and the wind rustling the leaves in the trees, but I hope most of all that I don't hear my baby cry until she is good and rested!
14. What is the last thing you ate? I had some ham and summer squash for dinner.
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself? First of all I don't hate anything about myself but I know that I have many weaknesses. I think I have a few...Procrastination, I am a really bad corresponder, I have a fear of conflict so usually avoid it(I am getting better at this one), I get really uptight about logistics like going through airport security, While I was pregnant I had an irrational fear of driving in the snow or with a lot of traffic...I would envision rolling back into other cars on hills or envision another car side swiping me. The crazy thing is that I have never been in an accident. A constant one I work to improve on is consistency in cleaning and maintaining my home. Few that was a lot more than one. ;)
16. Middle Name? OK so here is the story...I don't have a middle name but when people didn't believe me I decided to give them what they wanted so I created a middle name. I told people my middle name was Lier like the guy who created the Lier Jets. Then they would say my name with the middle after it...Shanda Lier (Chandelier). I couldn't usually keep a straight face but it was fun anyway. I later heard a story from a girl I met with my same name. She told me that she got her name from the Lier family because the guy that created the Lier jet named his two daughters Crystal and Shanda. But the truth is my middle name is really my maiden name - Hansen and I like that one the best!
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? "I think that question should be at the beginning of the survey because now I am thinking about the last question" "wait now I am thinking about this question and why being asked my three thoughts at this moment seems quite absurd because what else would I be thinking about" "am I almost done?"
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought. Well I just went grocery shopping but besides the regular grocery items I did stop by Target and I bought a new outfit for Talia that I found on clearance, and a "The Office" post-it note pad for my friends Birthday
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. water.
20. Current worry right now? I live a pretty worry free life.
21. Current hate? None
22. Favorite place to be? Well I love where I am now but I also loved visiting Jamaica! The people were so friendly and it was such an awesome babymoon. I know I won't get to go back very often but it was a beautiful place to be.
23. How did you bring in the New Year? I was in Utah but my husband had to go back to Colorado so we were apart. :(
24. What is your quirkiest habit? I don't know...I reorganize Talia's clothes all the time. I like to touch all her adorable outfits.
25. Name three people who will complete this and return?
26. How many siblings do you have? 2 Brothers and 5 Sisters
27. Do you own slippers? I used to have blue furry ones and then Preston started wearing them last winter and stretched them out so he gave me new ones for Christmas. I love having slippers to wear in the winter here in Colorado especially because we only have carpet in the basement. BURRR!
28. What shirt are you wearing? Dark pink old navy tee that I got on sale for $3.00
29. What shampoo do you use? What ever strikes my fancy or is the cheapest.
30. Favorite colors? Green (Especially sage and apple green)
31. Would you like to be a pirate? No thank you!
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I love to sing but I am usually all business in the shower.
33. Favorite female name? I am pretty fond of Talia and Maren - my daughters first and middle name.
34. Favorite male name? I love this name but Preston isn't all that fond so it is a good thing we had a girl because I would have been heart broken not to name a boy Harvey Hansen Hickman. ;)
35. What's in your pockets right now? I don't have pockets.
36. Last thing that made you laugh? I was just watching "3rd Rock from the Sun" That is a very funny show!
37. Best bed sheets as a child? I think we had some multi-colored polka dot sheets that I liked.
38. Worst injury you've ever had? I fractured (it was a hairline fracture) my foot once doing a cartwheel.
39. When's your birthday? July 8th
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? One lonely TV.
41. Who is your loudest friend? UM...Amanda Rock has the loudest laugh and most contagious ever!
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Silly...I'm married!
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yes
45.What is your favorite book? Right now I am reading the 7th Harry Potter. But I also really like "Why Does He Do That? Inside the minds of abusive and controlling men" by Lundy Bancroft. It is not fun like Harry Potter but I think it is such a valuable book because it is so educational and really explains all the myths of abuse. I have recommended it to many many people to read weather they were experiencing abuse or knew someone who was.
46.What is your favorite age? I loved being 8.
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? I don't remember. We were outside and I don't think I had music playing.
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Be still my soul.
49. What were you doing at 12 am this morning? Reading Harry Potter (I finally went to bed at 1:22am.)
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I only have 2 1/2 hours to make a birthday cake from scratch and decorate it!!!
I think I am going to tag Michelle!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Bollywood Dance stylings of the nephews...Staring OWEN!!!
Everyone had a blast dancing to the Bollywood music but Owen was so hilarious! I guess he had watched "Dhoom 2" and picked up some of the dance moves. Of course some of them are Owen origonals. This kids got moves!!!
Bollywood - "Dhoom 2"
I thought this movie was one you couldn't appreciate unless you got a glimpse of it yourself. This is the trailer. We just laughed and laughed when we watched the movie.
Bollywood Party
Kerali and her family have been living in Inda for the last year and have one more year to go. During thier visit this summer they threw a "Bollywood Party!" This consisted of Indian food, decor, dress and a taste of some bollywood music and a movie titled "Dhoom 2". It was so much fun!!!
Trystens Birthday was comming up so we celebrated her birthday as well. As a joke Trysten was given a Husband for her 16th birthday. It was so funny!
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Trystens Birthday was comming up so we celebrated her birthday as well. As a joke Trysten was given a Husband for her 16th birthday. It was so funny!
Hansen Baby BOOM!!!
Being the youngest of 8 it was inevitable that I would share pregnancies with a couple of my 5 sisters (Kendra's new addition will be on the scene in October) but I never expected this. I naively thought that I would be unique, that having my first baby would somehow elevate me from my slot as the 8th child. Well was I ever wrong!!! Actually it was a lot of fun to be pregnant with my sisters (and two of my sisters-in-law on the Hickman side). Talia will never be short on cousins her age! Marenda is holding Kasen who was born in July, Me with Talia who was born in March, Kerali holding Taren who was born in November 06, and Trina holding Mitchell who was born in October 06.
Here are our attempts a photographing the little ones. Poor Talia had just been woken from a short nap but the other babies didn't seem to mind.
The Hansen Grandkids
We had to document this monumental event where ALMOST all of the grandkids were together. Unfortunately Kendra had to go home before Thayne's family came for a visit. So we are missing Kira and Trenton but that is it. Back row: Dana, Shelby holding Talia, Kalen holding Taren, Alden. Middle and front: Trysten holding Addie who is holding Kasen, Paxton, Caleb, Owen, Drake, Marcus, Tamlen and Sheridan holding Mitchell.
Happy Talia
I was loading up the car and looked over and Talia was as happy as a lark! I have no idea why but she does love being out side. I just love this girl to pieces!
Talia has fat in a few select places...her chins and her cheeks!
I love how her toes are scrunched with excitement!
Talia has fat in a few select places...her chins and her cheeks!
I love how her toes are scrunched with excitement!
So many pictures so little time
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Here are a few more random pictures from my trip to Utah. I hope I didn't duplicate any that I have already posted.
Posts still to come...Bollywood, Little Mermaid and much much more. :)
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Addie and Talia
I stayed with my sister Marenda after she had her baby boy, Kasen, for a week so Addie and Talia spent lots of time together. Talia liked Addie and thought she was pretty fun but I think Addie was more excited about Talia. Addie wanted to make sure Talia had her pacifier at ALL times and that she was playing with something fun. 
Addie's cheesy face.
Addie loves all the princesses so I had to buy her this night gown. She wouldn't let me take a picture so I had to chase her down and this was the best I got. What a cute girl!!!
Addie's cheesy face.
Addie loves all the princesses so I had to buy her this night gown. She wouldn't let me take a picture so I had to chase her down and this was the best I got. What a cute girl!!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
24th of July
Sparklers
Family
Fun and...
CHEESE???
Addie decided to forgo the Popsicles and go straight to the block of cheese. What a nut!
Family
Fun and...
CHEESE???
Addie decided to forgo the Popsicles and go straight to the block of cheese. What a nut!Monday, August 20, 2007
Someone to look up to...
While we were in Utah the family celebrated my niece Kalen's 18th birthday. She is the oldest grandchild and has turned into a gorgeous young woman. Anyway...after the party I noticed that Talia was looking at Kalen's pictures. Well it was more than just looking, Talia studied each one very carefully and I think I caught her smiling at them. She was pretty enamored with all of Kalen's pictures. Someday Talia will be big just like Kalen. It is great to have good examples like cousin Kalen to look up to. Thanks Kalen and have a blast at college!!!
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