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!!

Sea World - Part Two

Last time we were in California, I think it was June, we went to Sea World. I found out that our tickets were good for two days, so we decided to take advantage of that, and go again in October. It was so nice the second time, we didn't feel rushed. The first time we found ourselves running around trying to fit all the shows in. I think it's next to impossible to fit it all in, in one trip!!!!

The dolphins were awesome this time, they were really friendly, it was our favorite attraction. Izzie stayed with this dolphin for a good five minutes. I think he was just as interested in her, as she was in him, it was a very cute moment. Tim was a good Daddy and went on the rides with Izzie, we made a quick stop at the Budweiser Horses - they are so BIG!

Izzie thought she would be cute and grab the camera while we were waiting for the Shamu show to start. She's so darn CUTE!

Here she is trying to put Tim's hat back on for him, I could not stop laughing!

Last shot of the day, hey look it's another picture of me, on my blog, imagine that :)

More pictures to come - Disneyland, camping and much much more!

Halloween 2009 - California Style :)

I know I'm her mom, but I think this is the cutest Cat in the Hat I've ever seen! I whipped up a black tutu the night before Halloween, and you can't see them but we bought her the ruby slipper shoes from Target and some black tights and she was ready to GO!


She was so excited, that she was going to trick-or-treat with her cousins Sean and Brandon until we got there and they were dressed in scary costumes, she warmed up to them as the night went on, but that's why she has a terrified look on her face in all the pictures :)

We had a lot of fun sharing the night with them Sean and Brandon were so sweet with her even when she was slowing them down! Izzie thought knocking on doors and getting candy was just the greatest thing ever!!!

Hope you Halloween was just as fun as ours was.

Izzie's 2nd Birthday Party

First I would like to start this post by saying, I'm so sorry that the pictures are out of order. I'm posting on Tim's new laptop and I'm still trying to master it. I miss my Mac. :(

Izzie opening her gifts with Daddy.

Here are some of Izzie's cousins decorating pumpkins.

Gift bags and shoes, and Halloween rubber duckies for the babies. A special thank you to Uncle Brian for her awesome personal cake!

We had Costco hot dogs with Tommy's Chili and super nachos for lunch. YUM!

Here is the pumpkin carving station before the storm of kids hit. A special thanks to Uncle Rick for letting us borrow his Halloween blow-ups!

We also had a cookie decorating station as well, it was a big hit.

Here's Izzie with her cousins Colt and Brianna at the caramel apple decorating station. I think those were the best thing at the party, besides Iz or course :)

The kids had fun dancing inside too, it was hard to get a good picture of Izzie. She was to busy making the rounds.

Here's a close-up of the girl's goodie shoes. They took forever to make, but I think they turned out great!

Close-up of the centerpieces and chandeliers.

It was such a great party! Thank you so much James and Brian for letting us have the party at your house, and for all your help throughout the day. And to the grandma's I couldn't have done it without you guys.

We have decided to move back to California.

As most of you know, I am still out here in California, our two week vacation quickly turned into an extented stay when my Dad passed away the day before we were supposed to go home. I am dealing pretty well I think. As best I can I guess. My Dad and I haven't always had the best relationship, but it had slowly been getting better ever since I got married in 2000. And when I had Izzie in 2007, I think the relationship was totally healed , I was really at peace with where we were as father and daughter. It is so true what they say, you never really know what it's like or what it takes to be a parent until you become one yourself. For the first time in my life I started appreciating what my Dad could give me, and stopped being upset with what he couldn't give me. He was truly a great grandpa, and seeing him in grandpa mode helped me remember the good times we had growing up, back before things got really complicated. I am so grateful, although it was very hard to watch, that I was able to be with him until the very end. As difficult as it has been, I feel truly blessed that we were still here in California.
Tim, Izzie and I are trying to make the best of our extended stay here and enjoy the California sun while we can. Tim will continue to work from his parents house and go into his office in Anaheim Hills when he can. My dad made us promise months before he died (not that he needed to ask), that we would help my mom with the finances and anything else that my mom might need when he passed away. There is a much bigger mess there than we ever thought there would be, so I think our stay here will be long. We are quickly finding out that you need a death certificate to do anything, and I mean anything, and that can take a minimum of 15 days to get one! I am so grateful that Tim is willing and able to take care of my mom and my family, he is truly the best husband ever! I will keep you all posted on how we are doing, thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes. We miss you Utah :(
And Tiff, I was just kidding about the moving back bit, hee hee.

I am a bad BAD blogger. No blogger of the year award for me, I have been M.I.A for way to long. I was told by my friend Tiffany that I should be ashamed of myself, and I am :(. I have a really good excuse though! I have been getting things ready for our trip to California, and this is going to be a big one!! We will be celebrating Izzie's 2nd birthday, and this means a PARTY! I have been buying and collecting party "stuff" for about 6 months now, and believe me I have been given lots of funny looks and a few rolls of the eyes, for buying things way to soon, but that's what I do I'm always thinking months in advance. I have been making invites, party favors, centerpieces, searching the internet for recipes, and much much more, thus the reason my blog has not been updated for soooo long. Am I forgiven yet? I would post pictures of all the stuff I've been doing, but I don't want to ruin the party, so you'll just have to wait, I will post all the pictures from the party, I promise!

This trip we will be taking the Shasta trailer. It's our maiden voyage, wish us luck :) Tim has been sanding and refinishing all the wood inside, hopefully he will finish before it's time to go. While Susie and Kevin were here, oh yeah that's another reason I haven't blogged in along time too, they came and visited us for a week, Susie helped me recover the dinette seats (thank you Susie) they came out so good, saved myself about 600 dollars! I'm putting that new sewing machine to work! And on another note, Fall is here! I spent the first cold day of the season, making homemade marinara sauce and zucchini bread, using tomatoes and zucchini from the garden, which is doing great!!! We even have corn, we didn't think they would produce anything but they did :) I'm hoping our trees in front will hold onto their color until we get home, I'm really going to be disappointed if I miss it :( I wish people would come visit in the fall, it is truly my favorite time of year here.

I hope this has brought everyone up to date on what has been going on out here in Utah, and we can't wait to come see you all!!!

First trip to the dentist!

She was all smiles as we are leaving for the dentist. I was soooo nervous, I was just praying that all her teeth were in good shape. Tim asked why I was so nervous, and I told him it's cause I'm the Mom! If something is wrong and she has a cavity it's my fault!

She was a BIG girl and went in all on her own, I don't think she will next time though!

She wanted nothing to do with "that" chair after the Dr. was poking at her teeth, but she was all over that toy drawer!! :)

She kept calling Tim, Mom it was so funny, she just wanted someone to get her out of that chair. She got an A+, her teeth are perfect, now we just need to keep them that way!

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. We just finished a week long visit with Kevin and Susie (Tim's parents) they came to see us this past week. We have been working on the trailer this past weekend, thanks to Bill Dean the woodwork is almost done, and we just finished recovering the dinette benches, thanks for the help Susie! We are very excited about our first camping trip this October I can't wait!!