2008 Christmas Hula Show

 

 

 

 

Wow...this is just 1 year ago...

 

...wait until you see this year's pictures!

N&L

Hanging in OK

Birthday Slide Show

8th Birthday, School Started, and BRACES coming soon!

Another birthday has passed...WOW! I can't believe Leah is already eight years old.

Not only is Leah eight years and 3.9 weeks old, she is in THIRD GRADE! Leah is attending a wonderful elementary school near our home. Her teacher's name is Ms. Willis. Leah absolutely adores Ms. Willis.

Leah was picked as Kid of the Week so we are designing her poster now.

Leah is doing well in school. She is going to be starting cheerleading this week. Other than a few hiccups, this school year is off to a great start.

The Awanas program started this past Wednesday. Leah will be in T&T this year. She is excited.

Also, Leah is getting braces! She got her expansion bar on this morning and will be getting her braces on September 25th. Luckily, she is only getting braces on the front six teeth so that should make it a little bit easier that some other cases. :)

We expect her braces to come off in late May...just 10 short months. And hopefully (but not likely), she won't need round 2. :)

And last but not least, I got a new job. I will be starting September 2nd, 2008. I am so excited...and really, really, really nervous too!

And John turns 30 in less than 2 weeks...lol...old man. :)

Please keep us in your prayers with all the changes going on in our life!

Much love -

Niki & Leah

A.J. & Stuff

Quick update on A.J. -

She is home. I believe the plan is use insulin pills to help control her diabetes. She is also going to some class on diabetes education.

Other stuff...

So I have have a job interview for another job at Sandia. Which is awesome and would shake things up a bit.

However, I would REALLY REALLY REALLY love to work on the west side of town. It would be much closer to home and make things a lot easier with Leah.

We'll see what God has in mind...

Much love -

N&L

A.J. Update

A quick update on A.J. She is doing much better!! Woohoo! It looks like she will be moving out of the ICU today (hopefully).

Her blood sugar level is down to 200 (and that is high!). The plan is to try to regulate her with insulin pills.

Hopefully, she will get to come home this weekend.

Love -

N&L

A.J. Irwin

Hey everyone -

I am posting to ask for some big time prayer. My friend's, Christine & Kevin Irwin, daughter was hospitalized last night.

A.J. is a healthy, beautiful 21 year old. She has been having "weird" symptoms over the last couple months. She has been really tired and has lost over 35 pounds! And mind you, she was very slim to start off.

Long story short, she was hospitalized last night basically in a diabetic coma. Her levels were over 700! She seems to be yo-yo'ing today. Although she is awake, she is disoriented and very emotional.

Please pray for strength for A.J. and her family as well as miraculous healing!

Thank you for your continuous love and support.

Niki & Leah

Gardening

I absolutely LOVE summer time. I love to be out in the warm sun hanging out...just enjoying life!

John dedicated a good size area in his yard so I could have a garden (what a great guy!!)...hard to have a garden in an apartment complex! lol Anyhow, I am throughly enjoying it. All of the work involved is work that I find so soothing and relaxing...WEIRD!! We planted tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, spinach, artichoke, strawberries, eggplant...yummy!

This past weekend we finally go to enjoy some of the fruits of our labor. I finally went and got some spinach. We had a delicious crisp spinach salad. I can hardly wait until we get some more out of the garden.

We had our first good size strawberry that I was dying to sink my teeth into as soon as it was ripe...however, some nice bird was eyeing it too and got to it before me. :(

I was looking at the garden the other day and I love watching it grow...one day you barely have a little stubby stork and then next thing you know you have great tasting veggies. Its such a cool process and satisifying to my soul.

Much love - Niki

Arabian Nights

We went to a dinner theater...it was so much fun! It was called Arabian Nights. The horse were absolutely amazing. They are such beautiful creatures! I loved watching them. The performers were very talented - we got to see some vaulting and Roman riding! Its was great.

Afterwards, Amanda, Carrie & I went for a strolled in Downtown Disney. They have all sorts of shops and restaurants there. And really, really good lemonade!

Pool Time in Orlando!!

We had some "down" time before our evening at Arabian Nights!!

Tired

Whew, after a week of vacation (which consisted of late nights and early mornings most of the time) :) and then working a whole week, I am exhausted!!


I am hoping to get the pictures from Magic Kingdom up this weekend! We had such a blast there!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, get plenty of rest, get all your chores done, and enjoy some time outside!

N&L

Leah's Weird Auntie Carrie

Everyone who gets around Carrie is subjected to her total weirdness...

And its often infects them with it too!

Disney Hollywood Studios

Morning Family Shot of the Day

Leah, Conner, & Amanda

Nina, Poppy, & Memaw also known as

Kathy, Mike, & Pat also known as

Ms. Kat, Mr. Guns, & Patches

Family Shot in fron of the Aerosmith Roller Coaster

More SeaWorld...

Here is the entrance to SeaWorld...

Look at those BIG OL' SUNGLASSES!

Conner (one of Leah's uncles...she thinks that is funny since he is so young!) and Poppy

Niki, Memaw, and Leah at the Pearl Dive. Twenty years ago, my family went to the Pearl Dive and we had a blue pearl ring made for my mom. So this trip, Leah, Memaw, Amanda & I all got pearl necklaces. Leah was lucky enough to get twin pearls (two in one oyster), then a pink one, and one white pearl. I was really hoping for a black pearl but they say they are rare but I love the beautiful white pearl I got!

I know this in not the best picture but we goofed off at this bear statue for a while.

We finished up the day at the Mystical Show. Leah and Erin were chosen to go dance with the performers. They got so nervous up there...they were mouthing to us "I don't know how to dance" but they finally loosened up and enjoyed themselves!

Just for Caiden and Grandma Dian from Disney World

Hey Peanut!

We sure wish you were here! We are keeping our eye out for the perfect Pluto for you!

Cousin sends you big sugars and loves you to the moon and back.

MMMMMMUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

We love you Bubba! Now give Grandma a BIG HUG and KISS from us!

Love you -

Auntie Manda, Auntie Niki, & Cousin

Aquatica

It was too early.

It was too bright.

She was too excited,

too jumpy,

and too ready to get in the WATER!

This was the beginning of our day at Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park.

Amanda was bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

Although, I am not sure Carol and Erin were as alert yet.

Carrie and I were getting going...slowly. Leah was already acting goofy.

More pictures tomorrow...I am getting sleepy!

Love - Niki & Leah

SeaWorld

We went to SeaWorld yesterday. Boy, for the coolest day we are here, it sure was hot!


We saw the baby dolphins at the Dolphin Cove.

Then we headed over to the Believe show at Shamu Stadium. Its was awesome! The whales are so well trained...its amazing.

We are FINALLY HERE!!

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

We're here! We are getting settled and getting ready for BED. Its been a long day.

Westgate Villas are absolutely beautiful! Everyone arrived safely...all ten of us. I will take pictures of the grounds and stuff tomorrow.

I think we are headed to SeaWorld tomorrow morning...getting this trip kicked off right!

Much love -

Nikster & Princess Unicorn

1 day and a wake up call...

Vacation, vacation, vacation, say it with me...vacation, vacation. vacation...

I AM SO STOKED!!! I checked the weather for Orlando for the next ten days...it looks like it will be beautiful except for light storms the day before we leave. I really couldn't ask for a better forecast.

Now if I just got all packed, I'd be good to go! :)











Almost heading to the magical land of Disney -

Niki & Leah

Pictures from the Aquarium

I am so proud of myself for getting these pictures up! I hope you enjoy!

Love -

Niki & Leah

Growing Up

Photos...

I know, its a shocking experience to check our blog out, find 3 new posts, and...PICTURES!!

Sneak peek...




Leah and Amanda at the aquarium looking out at the lake.



More pictures are on their way so keep checking back with us!




~The Niki and Leah Show~

Vacation Addition

I am really, Really, REALLY excited about our upcoming vacation! I am even more excited now because my friend, Amanda, is going too! We are all going to have such a blast!!!

I think this is going to be one of the greatest vacations ever...

Much love -

N&L

No Internet = No POSTS!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!

It stinks not having the internet at home...


Oh, well, on to other things.

INSERT EXCITING PICTURE FROM AQUARIUM VISIT HERE...

Please be advised you might have to you use your imagination or some aging software, a picture of Leah at a young age and some neat background graphics.

L, Amanda, and I headed to the aquarium and biopark the other day...we had a blast other than the fact that I could hardly walk. lol Another story for another day! I got some GREAT pictures of Leah...Where are they, you ask?...On my computer, at home, with no internet connection!


One of these fine days, you will be greatly surprised with pictures of a mature teenager and she will vaguely resemble the little girl once known as Leah AKA Princess Unicorn.


Other haps -


We (Mom, L, and I) are heading to meet other components of our family from some fun in the sun...Disney World HERE WE COME!! I must admit this vacation cannot get here soon enough. I am so excited. I almost think I am more excited than Leah. In fact, all the grown ups seem really excited!


Leah and I have been enjoying our date nights by "redboxin' it" or the dollar movies...BTW, you would think the name DOLLAR movie reflects the price - it doesn't. Okay back to "redboxin' it", if you don't know what RedBox is...you have to check it out. http://www.redbox.com/ We love it! We signed up for the Free Movie Mondays so during April we got a free movie every Monday. It totally rocked. Otherwise, its a $1.07 to rent a new release for a night. Way better than Blockbuster, Hollywood, and the "Dollar" Movies. :)


Mother's Day was really exciting...we woke up, we ate, we slept all before 4 pm! Leah got me a really pretty bracelet and made me some sweet flip flops that I will be sporting in FL. I got a cool card L made to. Its featured below.

Thats the lastest happenings for us!

We love you guys and pray for you!

Much love -

Niki and Leah

Its been awhile...again

Hey everyone!

WOW! Have things been crazy here!!

Here is a quick rundown -

Leah is doing good...getting summer fever. She learned to ride her bigger bike without training wheels - WOOHOO!! She absolutely loves riding her bike. I love to see her outside playing. With the trip to Disney creeping up, she is itching for school to be over.

I'm doing okay. Things are hectic but...God has a plan even if I can't see it!

John's truck was stolen (end of March). He is still working on getting all of that worked out. Please be praying that the Lord reveals Himself to John during this trial.

I am getting REALLY excited about our Disney trip. I know its gonna be a blast. I recently took up playing tennis and LOVE IT!

Thats about it in a nutshell...

One of these days I'll get better with my postings!!

Much love -

The Niki and Leah Show

Hey, long time, no post! :(

Hey everyone...

Sorry its been so long! I want to mention that I am going to TRY (try being the keyword) to keep up the plog you see on the right side. I heard the idea on M88 (a Christian radio station here in Albuquerque). They put a plog - a prayer log - on their myspace page...anyhow, I thought WOW that is a great idea. So here are some of our prayer requests and we'd love for you to join us in prayer. If you have any requests, let me know and I'll add to our plog. I am also going to TRY (there's that word again) to update the requests with PRAISES for a week or so before I delete them.

We're praying for you and love you all very much.

Much love - N&L

2008

Time just seems to go faster and faster...

2008, Wow, I never imagined 10 years ago when I graduated from high school that I would be where I am today. Traveling the world was at the top of my list and wherever that led me I was willing to go.

All the things I have been blessed with over the years simply amazes me. Its better than I imagined even when I think of all the not-so-great times!

10 years, four years serving our country, a 7 year old beautiful, smart, fun daughter, salvation, a college degree...I find myself wondering what else I could really want that would mean more to me.

2008 looks like it will be a year of simplifying. I wonder whats truly important to me...
- stuff or people?
- another degree or time with Leah?
- a clean house or fun memories?
- striving for a title at work or striving for the Mom-of-the-Year award?
- heaven or Harvard?

The bummer is I feel like I've missed out on a lot of things that I didn't realize I was missing out on. Kinda like Tim McGraw's song...My Next 30 Years.

So here's to my next 27 years...

I wish you blessings this year along with a Christlike perspective of what is really important because this life is just a blink of an eye.

Much Love -

Niki