Spring Break

Over spring break we drove up and spent a couple nights in Bellingham, WA. The kids loved the hotel pool and I loved the gym next door. Each morning I woke up early to have my "quiet time" before the busy days. Marshall didn't come with us so it was all me. I did go with a couple other moms and their kids which made it very fun. The purpose of the trip was to visit the Vancouver, Canada temple open house.

I have taken them to one other temple open house and they loved going again. What a sweet experience for them to be in the House of the Lord. Each of them told me how much they loved it. After the open house we toured Vancouver and Stanley Park.


All the crazy kids we took on the trip. This is just four families worth of kids!

Leaving Canada, what a beautiful sign.

On the drive home from Bellingham we stopped at the tulip festival. There was a ton of traffic, but worth the trip. I told my kids to enjoy it because we wouldn't be making the trek ever again. Yes, the traffic was that bad! The city is tiny with a ton of tourists.

Flying kites at the tulip fields-it was a perfectly windy day.

Sequim, WA

Last weekend our family took a trip to Sequim, WA with Marshall's classmates. We rented a huge house that was built like a castle. There were several master bedrooms, each with royal dress-ups. My girls were in heaven, my boys not so much.

Marshall and Samantha relaxing and eating fruit snacks.

Marshall and Emily dancing/swinging

My beautiful Hannah, who almost looks older than me now. She is getting tall!

Emily is living in her own world, and we love it. It is a happy place!

My wonderful girls. We are happy to out number the boys.

Sweet Sara in pure bliss.

Thanks to a great resident, Ellie for taking the great pictures!

Days at the Park

Today it is stormy out and although I do like to snuggle with my kids...
One of my favorite things to do is take the kids to the park with a soccer ball or baseball gear. Here are some pictures of our latest trip to the park for a picnic. Hannah was our photographer for the day. Tyler wasn't with us...he was just getting back from a camping trip. He loves scouts and I love that he loves scouts!

Alderbrook Inn

Sometimes it seems like Marshall is working constantly. He just finished a rotation of night float where we rarely caught a glimps of him. One of the only perks of having a husband in residency is the fun family vacation they send us on each year. This year we went with his co-workers to the Alderbrook Inn, in Union, WA. It was beautiful and only about an hour away.
Tyler and Samantha jumped in the pool holding hands about 100 times. The pool was 8 ft deep at that end. Samantha started swim lessons a couple months ago and loves to swim!

We checked out last Sunday and were heading to church.
Sweet Sara.

Tyler, Sara, Emily, Samantha and Hannah

December Activities

U.P. Wildcats undefeated team! This is our end of the season party. What a great team we had! (Hannah is second from the right if you couldn't tell)

Coach Tyler always instructing the kids.

Okay, you might think this is lame, but this is actually pretty good for me. We made a mini gingerbread village for family night this week. The kids had a blast and we had a good time together so that is really all that matters, right? I really love this time of year. Tomorrow is the last day of school!

Tyler's Big Day

I got a new camera while out shopping last Friday. That early morning shopping trip was an adventure for sure. I am not sure if I will do it again next year, but I did get some great deals. I was getting sick and tired of only having cell phone pics.

Tyler turned 12 this Sunday and recieved the Aaronic Priesthood. He did a fabulous job reciting the 13th article of faith (same one I did so many years ago). I am thrilled that Tyler has advanced through primary and moved onto young mens. He is beyond happy about this change. The ordination took place in the Bishop's office after church. I was happy that the girls were able to be there to witness their big brother taking this great step in the right direction.
My daughters waiting for the ordination.

Marshall and Tyler...father and son. I love these two.

Our Bishop with the Nickel men.

I am so bossy.


Happy day in the Marshall Nickel house!

Nickel Grandparents-they are so supportive of Tyler. They ended up changing their flight home from AZ so they could make it home in time. Smith grandparents are serving a mission and couldn't make it, but we could feel them cheering him on. :)

The best of times.

Marshall took off this weekend to spend time with some of his family in UT. His grandpa will be 90 this year. I am sure they had some great talks. This is a picture of Marshall with his baby brother in build-a-bear. Walt has a son that is a week older than our Samantha. I am assuming they were in there for Eli.

Marshall sent a few pictures of the men taking afternoon naps on the sofa with foxnews on, I am sure. Here is grandpa, dad, and little bro.

Okay, now onto the real reason for the post. Samantha is 3 today! Aunt Juli gave her this t-shirt. It fits Samantha perfectly! She is always begging Juli to sneak her some candy when I am not looking. Of course Juli can't resist this face, could you?

Here we are headed to Tyler's soccer game today. Hannah carried the hot chocolate and Samantha brought along her new stroller (with Diego in it). I talked her out of the "Whoopsie" baby. It goes to the bathroom in its pants, why would anyone in their right mind by that?? This stroller was a perfect distraction. It only took Tyler about 30 minutes to put it together. What a good brother. He was so frustrated by the end, but it was all worth it. She was so happy. One of my favorite things (if you didn't know already) is going to watch my kids play sports. Tyler had one of his best defensive games today. They ended up winning 3-1.

Samantha didn't want to blow her candles out and asked Hannah to do it for her. They ended up all helping out.

Happy birthday to my baby...the finale! We have reached perfection with this one.

Birthdays Everywhere!

We have a busy birthday month. Hannah's birthday is today, Samantha will be 3 on Saturday and then Tyler will be 12 at the end of the month. Today was all about Hannah. I made her waffles this morning, brought Lakewood donuts to her class, took her to buy a fish tank and fish this afternoon (no beta fish until Wednesday though), dinner, then a soccer game! So far her team is 4-0! Being her coach has been one of the best things we have done together. I am loving it!

This is the cobb salad she wanted for her birthday. It was so good and they loved all the meat in it.

Coldstone cupcakes. They were delicious!

We love our special little girl. For now she is still little...

California

I got back a week or so ago from a wonderfully relaxing weekend with my sisters. We met up in Newport Beach for 4 days. We played at the beach, ate yummy food, worked out, laughed hysterically, read...basically anything we felt like doing. It would have been more fun with our husbands, but they were all home taking care of the kids. So many of you know that my two sisters have been models. So, when you look at these pictures it is pretty obvious. I don't know how to act serious while taking a picture.
Kirsten and Heather cleaning the sand off their feet at Newport Beach.

Kirsten looks perfect in every picture. I just tried to have fun.
This was taken at the second hotel we stayed at.

Heather was totally obsessed with gathering shampoos/conditioners and lotions from the hotel. If one of the cleaning ladies turned their backs she filled her pockets. Heather thought her daughters would love them for "prizes".

I love my sisters. We are a a bit different, and a lot alike. It is so easy to be with the 2 of them. It was too funny to hear Kirsten call her GPS "a liar" as she is swerving thru traffic with the music blasting. I was happy to have my seat belt on and just had to laugh.

When Marshall picked me up at the airport with 3 of my girls I couldn't stop laughing as I told them the hilarious things that happend while we were in Newport Beach. I couldn't catch my breath and my tears were streaming down my face. I think having my girls see that sisters are friends that you will keep forever and I hope cultivate that relationship through the years.

Where I have been.

Well, I have had requests to update my blog...okay, just one (Juli), but it is about time.

I have been busy running...I just ran my first half marathon last weekend in Richland, WA along the Columbia River and it was beautiful. During the 10th mile it got tough, but I got through it just fine. The training was fun, but now I am ready to hit the gym again. Running has gotten a little boring and some other muscles need attention again. This is Keirra and I finishing up. I look like I am about die...not the most attractive picture.

While in the tri-cities area we were able to visit the LDS temple on this windy day. I am so thankful for the blessings of the temple. To know that my family can be together forever is a gift.

My other running buddy, Tiffany. Tiff's family came and played around with us for two days. Nothing like taking 9 kids to the mall while the men were at Priesthood session...we survived. That might have been more difficult than the run!

Mine and most of Tiffany's kids in front of the temple.

This next picture might look abusive, but it is Emily's invention as we were driving 4 hours home on Sunday afternoon. This was a "head rest".

I have also been busy getting the Primary Program organized to be performed later this month. It is one of my favorite Sundays of the year to hear the kids (ages 3-11) do the songs and all the talks for our Sunday meeting.
I also started coaching my daughter, Hannah's, indoor soccer team. We decided on "Wildcats". Games start in a week or so, but for now we are having a great time practicing. They love to scrimage, but I had to get them out of the habbit of asking to play a "fake game". It is called a scrimage!
Hannah took this picture outside when she was playing in the yard with her sisters who are also on a team. This is an exciting year for me...4 out of the 5 kids on a soccer team...and they love it!