Happy 10th Anniversary

Last Friday Ryan and I celebrated another milestone in our marriage by celebrating our 10th anniversary!! Knowing that Kate was due around this time we decided to celebrate early so back in March we took a trip up to Victoria, Canada. We spent an extended weekend there visiting places that we visited while on our honeymoon there 10 years earlier and discovering new places on the island.

View from our hotel room looking out at the beautiful Victoria Harbor

A cool castle that we discovered while sight seeing!

On our actual anniversary Ryan took the day off and we decided to do something as a family so we went to the Woodland Park Zoo. We had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather. 

Us on our actual anniversary, June 5, 2009. At the zoo with the kids!

These past 10 years have been amazing!! Ryan is such a great husband and father. I couldn't ask for more, I feel so incredibly blessed! 

I love you Ryan!!

Some old pictures

The other day I went thru some old pictures that my mom found while cleaning out my Grandma's house. I thought they were really cute, the Niccum girls as babies!

Me - 1 year old

This picture actually looks like my boys at this age!!

My Mom - 1 year old

My sister Holly - 3 months

Do you recognize these people?

We would of made a cute couple back then, don't ya think?

1960

1956

If you need a good laugh, try it out for yourself go to http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

Enjoy! It's hilarious!!

Sisters

My sister Holly and her three cute girls were just in town from Dallas, TX for 3 weeks. It was so fun to have her here and to be able to see her everyday. Her girls and my boys have so much fun together. I miss her and wish she didn't live so far away. She is such a great friend and listener and such a great example of a loving mom. Thanks for the fun visit Holly, I miss you already. Love you!

Happy Anniversary

Today nine years ago Ryan and I were married in the Seattle Temple! I can't believe how fast time goes by, it's been the most wonderful nine years though! I am married to the most wonderful, caring, sensitive, handsome, intelligent, funny, loving man I have ever met. He is such a perfect match for me, I can't imagine my life without him! Together we have four beautiful boys and he is such a great dad to each of them. You develop a new love for your spouse when you see them as a parent, it's a deeper more profound love. He is perfect for me in every way!!

I love you Ryan!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Monday was my 32nd birthday and four young women in my ward decided to surprise me for the big day! They tp'ed my house, chalked my driveway and patio, saran wrapped my car, forked my lawn, wrote messages on my windows and decorated my family room with cards, hearts and streamers all overnight while me and my family quietly slept!!! It was really cute and a real surprise for me and the boys! Ryan was in on the whole gig but had no idea how ambitious their plans would be. Ryan left the back door open for them, they came around 1 am along with another YW leader and her son. They said they were at my house until about 3 am. Ryan allowed them to use our TP stash in the garage, about 20 rolls. They exhausted the entire stash! They put paper hearts all over my family room and had made cards that they took to church and had many people sign them from the ward. It was really fun to read all the cute messages. It was a fun surprise and one that I won't ever forget!

Thanks Sarah, Sarah, Tiffany, Mariele, Sis. Lewis and Robert.

What a memorable 32nd!

The backyard

Mariele, Tiffany, Sarah T. and Sarah Jane
My family room

My van got saran wrapped

Super cute chalk messages on my driveway

Chalk message wriiten by one of the YW leaders who came along with the girls - to funny!

I've been tagged.....

Tagged

1. Post the rules
2. Answer all the questions about yourself
3. After you are done posting, tag 5 other people.


1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was serving a mission for my church in the Cochabamba, Bolivia. I was serving in Santa Cruz.

2. Five things on your to-do list today?

1-Laundry, laundry, laundry!!!
2-Attempt to clean the house after our crazy weekend!
3-Plan a lesson for FHE tonight.
4-Go to Calvin's first t-ball game tonight.
5-Go to my friend Shyanne's house tonight to watch The Bachelor with the other girls!!

3. Snacks that I enjoy?

Anything sweet!! I'm a total sweet tooth. I also like popcorn from the movie theaters with butter of course!!

4. What would I do if I suddenly became a billionarie?

Wow! Pay tithing first!
-Pay off student loans
-Put money away for missions and college for the boys
-Take a long relaxing vacation with my hubby!
-Give portion to family(siblings, parents, ect.)
-Go back to school and finish up my degree.
-Serve, serve, serve. I couldn't think of anything better to do than to serve. I would love to serve and share my new found wealth with those less fortunate.

5.Three bad habits?

-I procrastinate
-I'm usuallly late
-I'm hard on myself

6.Five places I've lived? (or more than five if you wish!!)

1-Minnesota (Apple Valley, Lakeville)
2- Washington (Woodinville and Everett)
3-Rexburg, Idaho
4-Provo, Utah
5-Cochabamba, Bolivia
6-Salem, Oregon
7-Las Vegas, NV

7.Five jobs that I've had?

1-Volunteer at Evergreen Hospital - front desk clerk
2-Drug Emporium - cashier
3-Madison House Retirement Home - nursing assistant
4-Mesa Vista Home for the Disabled - resident assistant
5-Salem Clinic - Medical assistant

8. Five things that people don't know about me?

1-I'm deathly afraid of deep water, especially the ocean. I have a huge fear of sharks, thanks to watching Jaws as a child. The only place I feel safe swimming is in a pool that isn't super deep.

2-I had open heart surgery when I was 23 months old. I had a hole in my heart about the size of a half dollar and my heart was enlarged about 4 times. I had my surgery on a Wednesday and I was checked out of the hospital and in church on Sunday!! Amazing the ablilty of a child to heal quickly and the power of the priesthood!

3-I am OCD about folding my laundry! I have to have it folded a certain way or I will refold it to my specifications. I not quite sure why I'm like this but I know it drives people in my family crazy. Sorry!

4-I was athletic at one time in my life! Back in high school I was a ski instructor for 5-7 year olds. I use to love to ski but unfortunately I haven't been since I've been home from my mission. I hope to teach my boys and my hubby someday.

5- I am a closet people.com fan!! I check the website about 3 times a day!! I know it's pathetic but it's my secret addiction. I love to be up to date on all the Hollywood gossip.


Ok, so now I tag........Holly, BBJ, Nichole, Alli and Sarah Jane and whoever else would wants to open up!!! Have fun!! I would love to hear from any and all of you!

General Conference

I just loved the conference talks given this past weekend! I felt so uplifted and strengthened by the words of our prophet, President Monson, his counselors and the apostles. They are all men called of God. There was on talk in particular that touched me more than any other. It was the talk given by, M. Russell Ballard. WOW!! It really spoke to me and answered alot of questions that I have had and have been struggling with the past few weeks. I was so excited when he spoke and the compassion that he expressed for the women and mothers of the church. His talk also gave me some great direction on how to better my relationship with my spouse and my children. It was so wonderful, I can't wait to read it and really break it down.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true! The feeling of the spirit have testified of it's truthfulness. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today who communes with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on a regular basis to receive revelation to guide us in these latter days. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and it's truthfulness and of the Bible. These are books provided for us in our day to give us guidance and direction. I'm grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvation and that I can be together with my family eternally. Oh how I love my husband and my sweet boys. They are my rock. I am grateful for all of my many blessing and I love life and all the opportunities that I have have been given and the experiences and trails that I have had thus far in my life. I love my Heavenly Father and his son, my Savior Jesus Christ. How grateful I am for his atoning sacrifice, his life and his example. I know these things to be true and say them in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Yes!

So, yesterday I accomplished something major, at least for me. I made it to church with all 4 boys and I was seated before sacrament meeting started!!!! I even had time to visit for a few minutes before the meeting started :) That hasn't happened since Ryan was called into the bishopric! Last week I got home from church and decided that I was sick of always being late to church. So I decided to make a goal for myself that I would be on time to church from now on. I told a couple of my friends that this was my goal and them knowing how prompt I usually am (ha ha) they just laughed at me. I have to say though, crazy as it may see, making it to church on time really made my day better. I felt better about myself and I felt as though I was more in tune during church. Aw, happiness!!