Happy NewYear!

Everyone says the same thing this time a year. This year went by so fast! Where has the time gone? I can't believe the year's gone already? So I'm not going to say any of those. I really want to though! I can almost feel my fingers moving to those exact keys, but I'm stopping myself.

I've heard so many people say that they couldn't wait for 2009 to be over. As if everything bad that has ever happened to them, happened in 2009. I have the exact opposite feeling this year. I wish I could just stop time sometimes, bottle it up and relive some days over and over again. When I stop think about time, and what real little of it that we have together with our loved one's, it panics me. I can feel my heart start to race and panic kicks in. And right away I have to change the subject in my mind, quick Nikki think of something else! I've had to do this a lot since the passing of my dad. The subject of mortality really slaps you in the face, hard. I couldn't watch any T.V. that dealt with murder or medical issues for a real long time, because my mind would start to go places I really didn't want it going to. And you know that if I don't want to watch T.V. something strange is definitely going on! I've had a true lesson in faith these last few months of 2009. I've been reminded that there are many things, sometimes the most important things, that are out of my control. I've been blessed with feelings of comfort and peace because I know that my heavenly father won't give me anything I can't handle. He has given me so many blessings this year and I am so thankful for all of them. I have a happy healthy beautiful daughter. A husband who I love with all my heart, who loves me despite all my issues. And many family and friends who love me as well. So tonight as this year comes to an end, I want to say that I am so thankful for all of you family and friends, I consider each moment we spent together in 2009 a true blessing. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Thank you for making my 2009 so special :)

A visit from Santa

We have a tradition in our neighborhood, Santa comes around every year on the back of a firetruck with his sirens blaring. It just so happened that this year it was the first weekend we got back from California, so we went from 80 degrees to this....

Izzie was so excited! She quickly learned to say the word SNOW :) It was soooo cold, the storm came from Canada, so temperatures quickly went into the negatives. Not a very nice welcome home gift.

She loved to make the snow crunch under her boots and had a great time walking with her daddy down to her friends house.

However she did NOT like how it made her hands feel. She came crying back to us when she learned that snow and bare hands do not mix. I know it's sad but I just had to take a picture.All was well when Santa finally got around to our street.

We have been busy!

I feel like I'm finally back! It always takes awhile for me to get back into a routine when I return home from California. And with this past trip being an especially long one, it seems it took me a little bit longer. But these past couple days I've been on FIRE! Let's see where to start? I finally got my cinnamon rolls to rise :) YES!! It's amazing what you can do with a good batch of yeast. So I made four batches to hand out to the neighbors, I wanted to be a little different this year. Who doesn't like a warm fresh batch of homemade cinnamon rolls? I forgot to take a picture, so you'll just have to imagine :) Go ahead I'll wait.

Last night I finally got around to making this amazing recipe for tortilla soup. You must make some for yourself you will not be disappointed. Here's a picture of mine.

Go here to make your own. YUM.

I have also always wanted to make a batch of her homemade BBQ sauce, so I did that too. I used this recipe, but I didn't have any peach preserves so I substituted with some apple jelly I had in the fridge, and oh was it good. I plan I using it on some of the chicken I got from WalMart for 99 cents while my moms here later this week.

Last week Izzie helped her daddy decorate both our Christmas trees, we have one upstairs and one downstairs. She was trying to smell the lights as Tim was putting them on the tree. It made me laugh so hard, it is so much fun having a 2 year old around...most of the time.

She was really proud of her tree, plus she just cannot pass up a photo opportunity.

I hope your holiday preparations are going well, and that this post finds you and your family happy and healthy because...... it's almost Christmas!!!!!

Izzie's Birthday October 19th 2009

These past few months have truly been the hardest and the most rewarding of my life. I have experienced so many different emotions, I'm still on the roller coaster of life but I thought I'd take a few moments to share our baby girls birthday with you all. If you can't tell we went to Disneyland, can you believe this was the cutest picture of her in her mickey ears? She's really into making funny faces right now.
We weren't sure if she was going to be one of those kids that are afraid of the characters or not. We soon found out that she LOVED them! Every time she saw one of them, didn't matter who, she would take off running to meet them. It was soooo cute. Here are a few, just a few cause there were too many to post, of her meeting some of them.


We did a little shopping, she loved to try things on and check herself out in the mirror. We had a great day, I took a million pictures but had to stop myself as far as posting them all here.
After Disneyland, we came home and had spaghetti. Izzie and Daddy's favorite. I brought a jar from home that I had made with tomatoes from our garden this year. And can I say it was the best I've ever had! It takes awhile to make but it is so worth it!
We were so lucky that great grandpa and great grandma could come celebrate with us that night. Both sets of grandparents were also there, as well as our friends Todd and Missy.
Izzie had a princess cake from Costco, and after singing to her, she proceeded to eat all the dots off her cake with a fork. Just the dots.
After a long day Izzie got in her jammies and relaxed before heading to bed. This picture cracks me up, she really brings so much joy and laughter into our lives. Tim and I feel truly blessed that God has given this special girl to us to love, enjoy and cherish. More pictures to come of our trip to California. I have to cut it short today we are off to the Heusers for breakfast. I tried making cinnamon rolls this weekend but after 2 attempts, found out that my yeast is bad! I have an on going feud with getting my breads to rise, I will prevail!!!

Wish me luck. UGGG!!