SHOCKING NEWS!!

Okay, so if you are eating something right now while you are looking at blogs then I would suggest swallowing before you read any further! I don't want to be the cause of you choking and possibly needing the heimlich...especially if no one is around to administer to you! If you are not eating then you are welcome to proceed.

Right before Easter we received some news that still has us in shock, but yesterday the shock became a reality!
I am pregnant!!!
Yes, you read that right and yes, I just had a baby 4 and a half months ago! Was this planned you ask? NO! Are we excited? YES of course, it is a baby! Are we still in shock? YES, more Mark than me at this point...I think I have passed that stage and am on the "overwhelmed" stage! How far along are you? about 10 weeks (2 1/2 months)! When is this baby due? the beginning of December! Yes Hunter was born December 20th so that puts them less than 12 months apart!!
I went to my first appointment yesterday and we got to see the baby...that was the reality that we needed! They asked if we even wanted to see it or be in denial a little longer, ha ha, but NO I wanted to see that everything is okay and that the baby is for real, I guess. Some people that we have told don't know how to respond with this news because usually I am holding Hunter when I tell them. They aren't sure what we want to hear! Congrats? or Sorry? But just so we get this straight, I am really excited! I didn't think I would be able to have any more kids and oddly enough I am already attached to the baby...even though I still hold one! :) Yes it is going to be hard and Yes I am going through a lot of emotions that I can't begin to describe but that the Lord has faith in me as a wife and mother to take on this challenge is truly a compliment! I know that this baby is coming into our home for a reason...for what? I don't know...but I am grateful!


So there you have it! Our shocking news!! We will keep you posted...of course!

the rest of April...

WOW! how time flies...so i am going to catch you up on what happened the rest of April in our lives! first...
Mark and I went to "WICKED"
at dinner before...

we were lucky and got to go with some people from our ward!! THANKS RIVER'S FAM!!

next my sister Erika and her husband Cody came to Salt Lake and spent Saturday with us just hanging out. It was a blast!! Mark and Cody went and looked at guns together and Erika and I went shopping at the Gateway!...

Mark

Cody

headed home from an AWESOME weekend!!

Hunter turns 4 months!!
At his appointment he weighed 14 lbs and 9.5 oz! and is 23 inches long! He is growing great and doing awesome with everything!

trying cereal for the first time...:)


he is the happiest baby!!

Tanner and I started soccer!! I am his coach and there are 6 kids on the team including Tanner. What and adventure! ha ha

he wanted to be #5 because that is how old he is! ha ha


and ending on a sad note...we got rid of Wes! :( Believe it or not I was sad to see him go..he was having a hard time with not getting enough attention and was making messes ALL over the house! So we decided to send him to a home that could love and pay attention to him more than I could. We miss him and will always remember him!!

him and Tanner were best buds!! They loved chasing each other around! Tanner misses him!


There you go!!...that was the rest of April for us and sadly we are getting closer to the middle of May and I don't have many pics! So I will get going and let you catch up before I post again :)

Easter Sunday...

This year for easter we went up to the Nichols. We had lunch and then the easter bunny came and left some eggs! The kids were so excited!!
Tanner going in search...

Ashlee and Tanner almost done...

They found all the goodies!! Painter, Ashlee, and Tanner


Grandma and Grandpa Nichols with Ashlee, Emma, Painter, Hunter, and Tanner. We love getting together as a family!

conference weekend...

The Sunday of General Conference my grandma has a get together of all her kids and their kids at her house. We go there after the first session and have lunch and then watch the second session together. I LOVE this tradition because since we don't live in Utah this is sometimes the only time I get to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins!
me and Erika (my sister)

me and my Grandma Hubbard

me and my uncle Bart...aka "my big brother"

cute sister Sid...I caught her at a most important moment!...filling that tummy of hers ha ha

and my adorable husband that just LOVES taking pictures!

p.s. i know that i am a weekend behind...sorry I am trying to catch up from being a slacker! :)

my 5 year old boy!!

Our little boy is not so little anymore! He turned 5 on the 5th of April, kind of weird huh? ha He is such a joy to have in our home! A challenge but a joy! He is just too smart sometimes...he likes to spell out words and he loves numbers! He is such a huge help at home with Hunter and just loves to sit and talk to him. We love him very much and are grateful to have him in our home!

he is kinda spoiled...hee hee

he wanted a soccer ball of his cake this year...so this is my attempt! :)

Grandpa and Grandma Nichols and Amber with my two boys!

We went down to my parents for Conference weekend and Mark's parents stopped by to have some cake and ice-cream on their way home from visiting Mark's brother. It was fun to have our families together for his birthday!

turned 27 on the 27th of March

Well, I am now 27 years old! I got sick the night before my birthday so I spent it in bed :( So when Mark got home from work he took care of me and the boys and did a pretty good job!
this is what I had for my "birthday cake" cream of wheat! They put the candle in it and actually sang to me ha ha and Tanner was mad because he wanted to make me a cake but they did that on Sunday.

flowers Mark sent me

my sick self and my family...



Since I was sick I was able to stretch my birthday celebrations thru the weekend! And I loved it...Mark's parents took me shopping on Saturday for new clothes and then out to dinner and Sunday Mark made me a cake. It was a great weekend!

3 months old...

our little guy is now 3 months old!! and finally fitting into 0 to 3 months cloths!wow it has gone fast...i keep telling Hunter to quit growing! I want him to stay this size for a long time. ha he probably weighs about 11 lbs :) yeah for him

he started smiling at us not long ago and now is more steady with his hands. he has been sleeping thru the nights for a little over a month now and i am not complaining!

he always looks a little nervous...especially when tanner is close hee hee

thanks for the cute outfit mom! now he can finally wear it!

Hunter's Blessing...

March 1st our little Hunter Ray Nichols was given a name and a blessing. We are so excited to have him in our home and we love the spirit he brings!
this is his outfit...but he didn't wear the hat ha ha

our family

all of my family was able to come up! thanks

p.s. sorry it has taken me so long to post these pics...more to come :)

Mark's new job!!

One week ago today Mark was offered a job and we graciously accepted! He has been invited into the manager in training program and is really looking forward to it! He will work normal business hours 8 to 5 and off on the weekends!!!! It has been a very long time since he hasn't had to work saturdays. He enjoyed working at Teton Toyota especially because of the people but was only on commission and now he has moved to salary. He started interviewing with them 9 months ago and the phone call kind of came as a shock...but we aren't complaining. :) We are so grateful to Melaleuca for giving mark this opportunity! We have had many trials the last couple of years but wouldn't change them because they have made us stronger as a couple, a family, and especially in the gospel. YEAH for Mark!! good job honey! we love you!

take a look...

I got tagged by Sarah and I checked it out and loved the results so I did it. hee hee
The rules are:
1. Go to your documents/picture.
2. Go to your 6th file.
3. Go to your 6th photo.
4. Post and blog about it.
5. Tag 6 people to do the same.

This is Painter (Sarah's boy) and Tanner. It was one of the times I babysat...and I think it was Nov of 2007! We love it when he comes to play!
Tag...Erika, Becky, Marlo, Hannah, Stacy, Ashlee