Why Hello There 27!

Yesterday was my 27th birthday and I thought I'd welcome it with a ... bang? Forgetting to renew my license was definitely a downer but having a hiccup in a plan is what makes the ride enjoyable, right?

So back on track- for my birthday I started a third blog. I KNOW, I KNOW! Another blog? Am I a narcissist or just plain crazy? Do I really have THAT much time on my hands? Well, the answer is no to ALL of those suggestions. HAHA. I just figured I already post my projects and pictures on this blog and I love reading other craft blogs, why not start something similar myself?

I won't be keeping it as regularly as my other two blogs- and it will hopefully someday lead me into a little play money for myself. For now, however; I'll just share what I do artistically there.

So come check it out and let me know what you think. If you have any suggestions on the lay out PLEASE let me know... because I am NOT a web designer and struggle in that area personally.

http://www.hangaertphotography.blogspot.com/

So 27 hopefully you will be kind to me because I have a lot of things I'd like to do and I'm thinking you are the perfect age to do them!

~Love Nichole

A Drive Thru Dinner?

On our drive home from the Tri-Cities we felt strongly that we should go the back way to avoid Manastash Pass. We tend to always come across semi-truck drivers who aren't looking out for smaller cars when they pull out to pass another truck.

So we didn't hesitate when we went down the Canyon and enjoyed the scenic view. Luckily we were doing just that when we came around a bend because before us was a herd of wild rams! And they weren't even concerned when they saw us coming towards them. They just sat there in the road munching away on what ever was scrumptious at the moment.

Finally Josh laid on the horn and decided they should scamper... but before they did I got some fun pictures of them!

I love when we act spontaineous and go out for dinner. Or rather, I love when we don't have to cook and make a mess! This was a special night though! For some reason we were feeling fuzzy and had a great time!

Guess where we went? We went to old school Micky D's! And like me as a child, my children had a blast. I love the pictures I took of them having a ball! I hope you enjoy!....

5 Crazy Years...A Story.

5 Years ago a story began...

Boy meets girl....

Boy LIKES girl... Girl isn't quite sure.

BUT 7 months later they got married!
November 12, 2005
Columbia River Temple, Kennewick Wa.



And were excited about their happy union!

Girl's family lived far away...
so boy drove her there for their first Christmas!

Their second Christmas was more exciting!

Boy and girl went Christmas tree hunting with friends and family!
They were pleased with their great find!

Then life got difficult.
Boy had 3 jobs and a lot of responsibility his senior year of CWU.
Girl became a photographer for the University's newspaper...

AND THEN....they found out they were pregnant!

They were so excited even though girl was incredibly sick.
Boy did everything in his power to make sure his family was happy.

86 hours of labor and 3 hours of intense pushing baby boy was born!
Boy became daddy and girl became mommy.
They named baby boy Aiden.

Through love and honor daddy blessed Aiden at 3 months.
Mommy cried- her heart was full.

Between work and school they both worked hard to be with Aiden at all times.
Sometimes Aunty Erica and Uncle Did had to help though.

Finally daddy graduated with 2 BA's!
What a man! He worked so hard for his little family!
Daddy was even a news reporter for awhile...

Mommy loved watching him on TV at 5 and 6 pm.

Sadly being a small town famous boy didn't pay enough so daddy gave up his dream.

He moved his family across the state near Seattle to work at Microsoft as a vendor.

Once again excited and nervous about where their lives were going...
mommy got pregnant again!

This wasn't going to stop her from getting her degree however!

Instead she worked even harder and turned her major and minor into an Independant Study.
At 9 months pregnant she graduated as one of the top non-traditional students.

She sure cried!

And then sissy was born!
A family of four they became.
They named her Shaylee.

Itty bitty with a temper that trumps all sissy was blessed at 2 months.

Mommy was incredibly sick after she had sissy.
It made life hard but daddy made sure they had everything they needed.
He even set up family pictures with a co-worker just for mommy!

Another year later mommy and daddy are as spunky as ever!
Who says adults can't have fun???


But most importantly...
mommy and daddy are super happy and in love.

A boy and a girl became a husband and a wife.
A husband and wife became a father and a mother.

And in that five years they grew from being independent and carefree...
to becoming a responsible and loving eternal family.

I love you so much Joshua.
Thank you for being that boy for me.

Thank you for being an amazing husband-
and an even better father.

Like this rose- I would have never met my full potential with out you there to take care of me.
Like this rose- I would have never blossomed into becoming the mother I am today with out your example.

You are my husband.
I look forward to spending the rest of eternity with you.

Love Girl-Wife- and Mommy.

Tired of this One Car Situation...

I am tired of owning one car. It seems as if every other day my plans get squashed because Josh has another meeting and has to work overtime. And if I sound ungrateful that we at least have one car, it's because I've lived with out for 5 years. Don't get me wrong though, I do pray every night and thank the Lord for what we do have ... including that ONE car.

There have been several emergency type situations with my children that have had to wait until my husband can zoom out of work and drive an hour to come get us. I don't find that being self-sufficient personally. I don't even find that being responsible.

My children haven't been to a library toddler story time in years. Shaylee actually has never been. I feel that not being able to socialize my children will have adverse affects on them. Am I being a little dramatic right now? Perhaps. I do have regular play dates and I do try to make it to play group when I can catch a ride, but I HATE relying on others for my children to experience more then just Wonder Pets.

Another problem that I keep running across time and time again is the amount of service I can not give people. If someone needs help with something, I literally can't help sometimes. Fullfilling my church callings is beginning to become more difficult on more people then just myself. Meetings, visiting teaching, going to the park, helping new mothers, cleaning after a move are just a few things I can't do with just a phone call. I have to schedule my calendar a week and sometimes a month in advance so that I can have the car if I take Josh to work. That's driving to Redmond and back twice. How is that cost efficient?

The worst right now though. The cherry on my ice-cream sunday. The straw that broke the camel's back? When my plans get cancelled because of something work-related. Today the children and I can't go to the park because it will be dark by the time Josh gets home because of a last minute meeting. The plans we had made on Monday to go clothes shopping (because my pants are falling off of me) will be difficult to execute with cranky tired kids. It looks like I'll be doing that by myself... again.

So maybe I am whinng right now. I'm sure there are people who would give their left hand for just one car. I'm willing to give up our entire savings for a second however.

It's a good thing my husband has self-control because I would have wiped us clean a long time ago! I just want to be able to give my kids the World. I want to give them experiences, and I want to enjoy being a mother with the rest of society. I'm tired of feeling helpless and lonely.

...We shall see how far my begging will get me in the next couple of months. I think it's time.

Welcome To My Home...

So I sliced up the inner side of my pinkie finger nail and can't type very well, but I wanted to put up some pictures of what my apartment looks like right now. The reason I'm doing this now is because next month our apartment lease is up and we can decide to renew for another year... or not to. Unfortunately our venture back to the other side of the state may take a couple of years, so it looks as if we may resign.

Help me make my apartment my home. Do you have any suggestions? Any comments? The only thing I won't do right now is paint. With the mess of having to clean everything out spic-and-span with two kids before a move out, I really don't want to have to worry about repainting. Someday- but not here.

Anyway- All idea's are welcomed! My room isn't really "done" yet so you'll all have to wait. :)

Pictures 1,2, &3:

All wall decor was handmade by me except for the hexagon wall shelves and candle holders. :)

Picture 4: Into Hallway

Can you tell I LOVE books? I yearn to have my own office library...

Picture 5: Hallway

I took every picture on this wall...

Ugly diaper boxes on the shelf are waiting to be deco-podged to be hip and chic! ;)

Picture 6: Bathroom

I really like the idea of keeping everything black, grey, & white and use towels to add a "splash" of color. ( I heart Color Splash on HGTV!)

The three pictures on the wall are of my babies in the bath.

The three on the counter top are from when I was pregnant with my son-

Nicole Jackson did an amazing job!

Picture 7: Behind Bathroom Door

The ugly hidden towels. HAHA! Oops...

I painted the three black & white canvas' to go w/our shower curtain.

I really like our shower curtain, however it's a bit heavy on the darkness...

Picture 8: Shaylee's side of the room...

Sadly she has already ripped half of the circles off the wall in nap time rages. :(

Also- anybody have any cute curtain ideas? It's starting to get cold and the nasty blanket I'm hanging up on the window is not only ghetto, but not very effective... :S

Picture 9: Aiden's side of the room

So if you're wondering if the net on the ceiling is a good idea ... the answer is it used to be. Sadly for me my son has figure out how to get the animals down. I guess he's just growing faster then I had anticipated.

At least they can't reach the net diagonal from Aidens.

I guess more specifically I would like suggestions on toy storage, and kitchen decorating. Right now I'm in the process of deco-podging the ugly diaper boxes in my hallway book shelf, and also some canisters for my kitchen. We've also been looking at new kitchen tables, however have to keep it small due to the size of our "dining"/ kitchen area.

I realize I've kept most of my children's' room vague, and my kitchen a complete mystery- but don't you worry! I'll keep you updated, even if it takes awhile. :)