Family Reunion

Giddity up cowgirl

Cowgirl in training

Finished Product

Let the fun begin

It takes teamwork to get the job done

Landon's Baptism

Family Photo

Savannah enjoying a cold day at the park

Leah hitting the slide

Landon just hanging out

Savannah exploring playdoh with her cousins

Getting right into the action

Savannah playing the role of the baby

Savannah in the baby crib that Grandpa Nichols built

Leah taking care of her baby doll

Ten of Tuesday

1. Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Frank and I traveled down to TN for the holidays with my parents and Jenny, Barbara and Gary. We had run into real slow traffic around Indianapolis and than around 4am Frank hit a raccoon that had run out into the road.

2. When we were an hour from my parents house we got a flat tire and had a nice gentleman pull over to assist us with a flat jack. Frank was not prepared properly and needless to say this gentleman had a spare in his trunk that he just gave to us. Real nice people in VA on Thanksgiving day. We had to drive on a donut so it took us another 90 mins to arrive to our final destination.

3. We assisted with Thanksgiving dinner and had a wonderful meal together. Afterwards everyone went to see the new Harry Potter movie. Grandpa and I stayed home with the baby.

4. The next day we picked out a Christmas tree and than came home to decorate it. Grandma, Auntie Barbara and Sarah did most of the work. We also went bowling and had a great time. We took off on Sunday and forgot to bring our homemade lunches. We went to an hour of church and ended up arriving at home @ 10pm. It was a long trek home and ran into more traffic in Indianapolis.

5. We are still awaiting the bank approval for the property in Gilberts. We hope to hear back from them soon. They are in stage 4 out of 5. We are still trying to get our earnest money back on the last property. We think now we will be closing sometime in early January. The worst time to move that is for sure.

6. The weather has turned cold and we received our 1st real snowfall on 12/4. Happy Birthday to Leah! I can't believe that you turned 4 years old already.

7. We recently were told that everyone in my department at work are switching to a new supervisor and that we will be changing desks as well on Thursday. I just was moved again and am going to miss my new neighbor that I just received a month ago.

8. On Sunday I just learned that a sister at church that was around my age just past away from lung cancer. She had cancer at the same time that I did last year and unforunately didn't have as good of a prognosis as I did. She fought a good battle and is now leaving behind three beautiful children and a spouse.

9. Frank and I are getting ready to travel down to Arkansas for Christmas. Sarah chose to go to San Diego, CA with her mother this year. It will be strange not having her join us this year. I can't believe she will be turning 16 years old in January.

10. I still have not started shopping for Christmas yet.

Thanksgiving

Time to Eat

Christmas Preparations

The finished product

Grandma Nichols, Mommy and Savannah

Just picked out the Christmas Tree

Twelve for the Week

1. Frank and I placed a bid on a new house and are just waiting to hear back about a bank approval. This house I fell in love with when I saw it online and in person. It is an old farmhouse in Gilberts that has been completely remodeled and has 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms. It has a basement with a front and back porch. The backyard is all fenced in with a 2 1/2 car garage and a swimming pool. It was a short sale that had been approved already. There was a counter offer on the property quite some time ago and therefore we have to get a new approval from the bank. Rumors have it we should have a contract by Monday. Wish us Luck!!!

2. We were unable to get the last house because of an encroachment issue with the neighbors house. The previous appraisal had some red flags on it and no bank will finance this house. I wish they would of told us that from the very beginning. Apparently that wasn't where we were suppose to live. We are still trying to get our earnest money back on this property.

3. It has been a long hard process finding a home on a budget. I feel pretty good about this property and would love to move back to our old neighborhood. It is a bit out in the country in a small town. I feel pretty safe in the neighborhood and will back in our old ward. It will be close to both of our jobs. We are hoping to close on this property by 12/30.

4. My parents will come back up with us from Arkansas right after Christmas if all goes well. I can use the extra hands to help move and pack up the house. I'm not thrilled about moving in the dead of winter with all the snow but I can't really get around all that. I just hope we can keep living in our current home until than. My lease ended in September and we are living month to month at this point.

5. We are going to be purchasing the furniture that was left in the condo when we first moved in two years ago.
The owner wants to sell it and get rid of it and since it is so nice we are getting it all for a really nice price.

6. Frank and I took the family out to another ward today for a baby blessing for the Korbels. Afterwards we enjoyed a nice lunch and dessert.

7. Savannah has started nursery and absolutely loves it! She enjoys playing with all the kids and toys and doesn't even cry and is not clingy whatsoever. She practically runs in there every Sunday. What a relief! Everyone tells me that she is a well adjusted kid. I must be doing something right:)

8. This week I had my performance review at work. It went well although I have some room for improvement in some areas. I will definately have to try harder on the next review. I'm relieved that we are doing great with our collection numbers and that we haven't had to work any overtime hours at this point and we don't have to work any overtime the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

9. We are getting ready to leave after work on Wednesday for a road trip down to TN. We are joining my folks for the holidays with Barbara and Gary. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again. We are looking forward to seeing the new Harry Potter movie.

10. Frankie joined the wrestling team at school and is looking forward to competing.

11. I just learned the entire collections team will be getting new supervisors and desk assignments at work. This change will happen the 1st week of December.

12. Had a nice visit with Sarah this weekend. She continues to learn how to drive. She was a big help driving me around this weekend running errands.

My Little Italian Baby

Savannah loves eating her spaghetti

18 Months Old

Savannah turns eighteen months old finally! She is going into nursery on Sunday...Oh Yeah!!!

I can't believe how old my baby is getting. She has been such a blessing in our lives. She is so much fun to be around. She laughes whenever there are people laughing around her. She is always smiling and loves playing with her toys. She is a good eater and sleeper. She thinks it is funny to pull off her diaper and run around the house naked. She is starting to understand more words. She enjoys playing in the park and has started throwing tantrums.

Daddy and Me

Daddy and Savannah enjoying a nice lunch together

America's Sweetheart

Happy Halloween

Savannah and Sarah trying to warm up on the way to Auntie Denises house

Sarah was exhausted after a long hard day

This year we had the kids with us for Halloween which is a really rare treat. They normally spend this holiday with their mother. We took the kids trick or treating and gathered WAY too much candy between the three of them. Frankie decided to go with a few friends. We decided to get together with Frank's sister Denise and their kids for a little visit. She had made some food for dinner and they had a mini bon fire in the driveway where we roasted marshmallows for smores. Savannah had a great time playing with her cousins and getting into all their toys.

Halloween Party

We attended the annual chili cookoff at the ward Halloween Party . This year was much more memorable. She has learned at a very young age what candy looks like and wants it whenever possible. She dressed up as an angel although she refused to wear the wings that came with the piece. She was a real hit at the party and everyone kept giving her lots of candy and tons of attention. They had coloring and puzzles for the younger children and had other games for the older kids to do such as a ring toss and bozo buckets. Afterwards they had a parade with all the kids in it and than they handed out Halloween buckets for all of the kids. We finished up the night with a haunted house and trick or treating. I had to collect the candy for Savannah and she kept pulling out the candy and trying to eat the candy through the wrappers. She even tried snatching a few pieces of candy out of other kids buckets. Overall it was a good night!

Costume Time

Sarah dressed up as a NERD this year

High Heel Diva

This was Savannah first attempt walking in high heels.

Sonny Acres Farm

A day of family fun

Brotherly Love

The kids

Frankie getting in on the action

Frankie posing with the llama

Savannah feeding the sheep

Savannah amongst the pumpkins

Look mommy I'm growing