My Favorite

I have a new favorite picture of me and the silly little moose baby and have to share it because he's so stinkin adorable putting his paw on momma's arm to pose and everything....


we took him to the dog park today to run out all his puppy energy since he'll be stuck in a car for over 40 hours to go get Dixie tomorrow. We found a new one much closer than the one we had been taking him to, it's not as nice just an open area with other dogs but he loves it the same and I love how close it is! It will be fun to take our matching pair when she's old enough!

I got them both the cutest stockings ever the other day and found a lil hoodie for dixie which turns out to be the same one moose had but pink instead! it's the cutest and I can't wait to put her in it! Moose was so adorable in his! This is him in his...this is one of our favs of him as a baby, he has the string in his mouth and that just makes the picture because he was so cute hiking around with it in his mouth the whole time...


We went to pick out her collar today and I got a pink one with heart shaped diamonds! :) Oh having a girl is gonna be so fun! Andy just rolls his eyes and is convinced that 2 will be the worst thing ever but we'll see! I think it will be good for Moo to have somebody to play with and not be so sad when we leave for work because he won't be alone... When we come back I'll have plenty of pics to share of Dix and christmas! Hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!

xoxo
<3, Nicole

Happy birthday to Andy! ...and some pics of Dixie...

Today was Andy's birthday! but the poor guy is in Texas working and has came down with the same thing i've had for the last 2 weeks so he's sick and on a tough job this week :( sounds a lil like the birthday I had this year too! I so hate that he's not here on his birthday and I don't even get to see him. We had a lil dinner for him on Sumday with our new friends down the street. We made some tacos and enchiladas and got this cute cupcake that I put all 24 candles on of course but then made brownie sundaes for desert because Andy looooooves his brownies! Evan, Dan & Kristin's handsome lil guy had to sit on andy's lap to help him! He's one and so so cute!! He loves moose but can't really talk that much besides the momma and dada's but he tries to say moose and it comes out "mmmmmmmmm" hehe so flippin adorable! here's Andy bowin out the 24 candles on his birthday (cup)cake!
andy makin a silly face...like always!



Oh and on to our sweet Dixie! The sweet people we are getting her from sent me lotsa pics tonight and I have to share!! I would die to be in the middle of all those sweet lil black & tan coon babies!! so gushy and sweet! goodness I can't wait to hold her! I was lookin through some pics of Moosey last night and it made me sad to see how much he's grown so fast! worse than kids, it sucks! but i also remember how exciting it was when he learned how to do new things! it was so not exciting when he learned how to open doors and jump over doggy gates though let me tell you!! that was more like a horrible dream!!!! So here's the pics of our sweet Dixie and some of her "birth" family (haha)



her birth family with all her siblings


and I had to make this to see the 2 side by side at the same age to see the differences...these are the pics that both the different breeders sent us before we got them..how strange that they are exactly 365 days apart?! love them!!

oh but I messed up this is them at 5 weeks but I'm too tired to change it right now...


okay and just so moo knows I love him and he's still my baby here's some good night kisses! xoxo


xoxo
<3, Nicole

recent photo shoots

So I thought I would share some of the pictures I've been doing since I've been building my portfolio so I can get a web site and all that fun stuff going....











that's enough for now... let me know what you think!!

it's OFFICIAL!!!!

meet our newest addition....

DIXIE



we pick her up in Oregon a few days before Christmas (she's mine and moosey's christmas present!) she even has the same exact birthday as Moose!! they were born 365 days apart! It was all so meant to be!!! you can expect all kinds of new pictures of her once we get her!!!! gosh i'm so excited me and moo did a lil dance and everything!! oooooo I can't wait!!!

another quick Cali trip!

This thanksgiving was so so different then I'm used to! It was the first Thanksgiving that I did not see a single member of my family (besides my 2 boys of course!) but no mom, no mickle, no grandma, nobody! Ooooh Arizona! I did however make my first turkey and I'm super sad because it got cut before I could even take a picture of it! but it was yummy! No thanks to Andy who didn't help me pull all the yucky stuff out of the poor guy! stinker!!! so I used salad tongs instead ;) Andy was home all week which was nice for him but i still had to work but it sure was nice to feel his toes under the covers for a whole week!! Saturday after I got off work we went up to Big Bear (yes all the way back to cali) because Sunday Andy's mom was doing dinner up there. And of course while we were there I made the boys do some pics hoping to get at least 1 good one for a christmas card. I don't know what I would do without tripods and self timers!! hehe I'll share a few... Andy took some of me and my moosey baby too!




And I'm really excited because next week I have 4 photo sessions and 2 of them are newborns!!! I can't wait...one of them is only 1 week old! I have other pics I've done recently to share too but maybe later....

oh and one more thing... as I said before Angel is home but is not done with his recovery, please pray for him still as his health is not so good right now and for the family for some other burdens that have been placed on them recently...Thank you! xoxo

LUCKY

I just found the most amazing song ever! I could listen to it over and over... it is so me & andy it's crazy!! here's the lyrics...


LUCKY by jason mraz & colbie caillat

(Jason)
Do you hear me,
I’m talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I’m trying

(Colbie)
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

(Both)
I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh, ooooh, oooh, oooh,
Oooh ooh ooh ooh

(Both)
They don’t know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I’ll wait for you I promise you, I will

(Both)
I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we’re in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

(Jason)
And so I’m sailing through the sea
To an island where we’ll meet
You’ll hear the music fill the air
I’ll put a flower in your hair

(Colbie)
Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you’re all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

(Both)
I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I’m lucky we’re in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Ooohh, ooooh, oooh, oooh,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooooh, ooooh, oooh, oooh,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

I don't think this is the real music video just one somebody made but you can hear their amazing voices singing it! (and I love the disney clips) ;)



and just for fun some pics of my handsome guy and me!





I am so so LUCKY to have this man! He is so amazing and is more than I could have ever dreamed for and I hate that he is away so much for work!! It is so not fun only seeing him 48 hours a week (if we're lucky!) So since he's home now I'm gonna go snuggle with my boys (because moose of course won't let Andy have all the snuggles and kisses to himself!) silly dog!

Welcoming home Angel and the most amazing family ever!!!

Angel's home!!!!!!!!!!! So so so amazing! 119 days... so much has happened for them in 119 days... angel's transplant, moving to another city(to be close to the hospital), a new sweet baby girl joined the family, Nick (the dad & my cousin) had a big birthday... amazing, I can't think of any other family who could go through so much and come out still so strong and loving. Let me clarify though that Angel is not out of the woods yet so don't stop praying! He still has a long road ahead but at least for now the new family of 5 is all together in their "home" just in time for Thanksgiving, and wow do they have so much to be thankfull for! Sunday some family and friends were waiting for them in their front yard to welcome them all home and we sang Angel's favorite worship songs and he got to see his "make a wish" which was them turning the playroom into a lil movie place with a flat screen, new game system and games, along with recliners with cup holders and even a popcorn machine and candy! The day was so emotional and I am so thrilled we got to be there to celebrate with them! I took so so many pictures hoping that some would be in focus because I couldn't tell from all the tears in my eyes. ok enough of that here's some pictures of the special day...

The family pulling into the driveway of their gorgeous house for the first time as a family of 5


Angel and his Aunt Chrissy (side note...this gorgeous cousin of mine is the one that introduced me and Andy, they're really good friends!)


sarah might kill me for this one but this picture is full of emotion and love and support so I just couldn't help it... Nick is such a rock for her and this family and I just love how this picture captures that and the overwhelming emotions of the day. This man spent EVERY night sleeping in a chair in the hospital at Angel's side for over 100 days! Best Daddy (& husband) in the world hands down!!!!


Sarah's amazing parents leading everyone in worship


Sweet baby Haven smilin at momma...she finaly got to see her room!


Sweet moment between momma & Angel... this picture also has small reminders that Angel still has mountains to climb (you can see his mask in sarah's hand and one of his tubes at the bottom of his shirt)


Sweet Hudsy giving Chrissy kisses


the family of 5









Angel feeding his horse which is what he told his parents was the first thing he wanted to do when he got home! sweet funny boy! :)


I actually got to hold Haven!! So glad to finaly meet the sweet addition to the big bunch of cousins



Thank you for everyones prayers for the family! They are paying off in a big way!! Please keep them coming!

Cassidy & Cody's party

I'm going to post angel's homecoming in a different post just because both these days were huge and I took over 200 pictures on each day.... so oh my gosh I can't even tell you how amazing it was to see those kids!! Cody has just gotten so huge and more grown up :( he talks like a big boy and all! They had some guy called "the lizard man" there that had all kinds of frogs, turtles, and nasty stuff like snakes and spiders! Here's the birthday kids....




Cassidy was too cute when she was opening the presents we got her! I have always called her my "gorgeous" so that's what I put on her card so when she was opening her present she put the bow on her head and started singing "I'm sister's gorgeous, I'm sister's gorgeous"... made me smile so big! so anyways we got her some stuff for her easy bake oven because that's what she asked me for and was so excited when she opened it along with a horse and pony book that she stopped to look through after opening it (this girl loves her horses!) and when her friend said "cass don't you wanna open all your other presents?" she said "no! my sister got me this book and I wanna look at it!" hehe then we also got her this hannah montanna thing with all kinds of lip gloss and nail polish and fake nails (all stuff she goes crazy for) so when she opened that she said "this is exactly what i asked for sister!" oh that girl! I just love her to pieces and so happy I got her stuff she really loved! Then cody was pretty cute too! he wanted me to tell him what we got him befre it was time to open presents and even asked if he could make a lil hole in one so he could peek! haha instead I gave him a hint and said it was like what brother Derek does... and he yelled "army man! you got me army man sister niki?!" smart kid because yes we did get him army men stuff because cass told me that's what he really wanted and after he opened his presents he just wanted Andy to open and take out every lil piece so he could play with it all right away. Another success!

And one more funny Cody bear story.... we were standing there playing with him when he stops comes over to me has me pick him up and then says "sister niki, I have a secret to tell you" so he starts to whisper in my ear then says "wait I have to take you inside there's too many people here.." so he takes me inside all the way to the corner of his room and shuts the door and says... (moving his hands real funny) "ok (big breath) Sister Niki Jenna (a cute lil girl at the party) is my gewlfwend. she's likes me. she's in Cassidy's class and Cass said she likes me so that makes her my gewlfwend!" hahahahaha I was trying so hard not to laugh because he was being so so serious and adorable so I said ok well let's go find her and I'll take a picture of you guys together so we cleaned his face so he'd be all handsome and he runs outside to the jumper yelling "jennnnaaa, jennnnaaa" then he comes out of the bouncy and she was standing there with cass and jenna looks at cody all cute and shy and says "hi cody" in this sweet tiny voice and I asked her if cody could take a picture with her and this is the cute shot I got...

They put there arms around each other and everything.... so cute!

okay I'll stop because I could go on forever about those 2 so here's some more pics...there's way more but only I care that much to look at them all :)


the lil Bear peeking..


cass opening one of her presents we got her..

those are real frogs..

cass in the jumpy...

4 outa 5 of my dad's kids... (we miss our soldier brother)




the kids makin an Andy sandwich..


And of course when we first got there and Cody gave me a hug the first thing he said was "where's andy sister niki?" and when I pointed to him he went running and gave him a big squishy hug that he always gives Andy where he squishes his cheek on Andy's cheek! I love it! ok I'm done for reals now!

life in Arizona...

So it's been a loooong time since I've done anything with this for lotsa reasons but the main reason is because moving sucks! It's so much work so stressfull. But we have survived and things have calmed down and are starting to FINALY fall into place! Andy has been gone for 2 very long weeks for work in florida and comes home in the morning! Seriously can't wait to see him again!! We are headed back home to Cali this weekend for my lil brother and sisters birthday party--- so can't wait to see the 2 munchkins!! And some more exciting news...after over 100 days since Angel's transplant and being in the hospital 99% of those days the family is finaly coming home to their real home on Sunday!!!!!! Amazing! So excited it's happening this weekend because they want to suprise Angel and have people in the front yard to welcome him home from this incredible journey this family has been through and we will be in town to take part in the celebration of this amazing kiddo!! So to recap all that has happened since the move.... we ran into a crazy monsoon the night we moved here with all our stuff in an open trailor, went to the river one last time for the summer, found the best dog park ever(it's like the 5th best one in the country), I had to have a tooth pulled right after we got here(not fun), Andy got a raise at work, Moose turned into his momma's protector when dad's gone he even started growling at every noise and then comes to see if I'm ok before he lays back down to sleep (soooo cute and funny but so annoying at 3am!), we met some new neighbor friends (super cool people!), I got a new job (nothing exciting at all-trust me-but it's right around the corner), Ive been taking more pictures to beef up the portfolio, oh and Moose turned 1 last week!! We went shopping together and picked out some new toys for his birthday then i wrapped them(yes i really did cause he loves to shred paper) and he opened them on his birthday! He was such a happy boy!ok now for some pictures....



the dog park...we took uncle tucker(the lab) and there was a bloodhound there named ginger! so moose wasn't the only big eared baby!





Moose's 1st birthday...



we took a trip up to Sedona to go hiking but sadly 2 mins after these pics it started pouring. oh and moose had to snuggle on Andy's lap! poor thing misses him so much when he's gone.


Moose and tucker napping on my lap on the way to the river....aren't they adorable?!!



ok I know it's more Moose but I couldn't resist his funny sweet face! he was using his baby bowl from his toy basket as a pillow! love him!!



That's all for now! Have to pack for Cali and I'll try to be better at this and I'm sure I'll have tons of new pics from this weekend! Oh and I'll try to post my latest from the photo shoots i've been doin!
wait I forgot here's one of me and Andy i got using the tripod...