A fun surprise!

We had a lot of fun giving Kami and Lindsey an early Christmas surprise, we bought their sister Ashley and her little family down from Oregon!
We have a tradition of going to the "Forgotten Carols" every year and this year would have been a first without Ashley & Johnny and the two most adorable grandchildren ever-JJ and Jack, so... we of course found a way to get them all down to Salt Lake in time to make our picture complete.



It was so very hard to keep such a fun and exciting secret from the twins for so long (we are talking two and a half months long!) but we did it and they both cried... (It was so cute.)

Going Private....

I guess I need to go private for the safety of our home. My daughter Ashley has informed me this would be best. and since I want to keep up with everyone and as long as your someone I know and not creepy you are welcome to visit with the Hickens. I will leave this for a couple of weeks so that I may get all the addresses needed. If you don't come find me I will try to come find you. We invite all friends and family. Thanks everyone!!

Home again

I had a good yet busy time up at Ashley's helping her take care of my two true loves , Jack and JJ, they are such the light of my life! I did come home tired though-there is a reason I didn't have kids in my forties-I do have to give it to my sister Penny though cause taking care of little babies in your forties is not quit like having and taking care of them in your twenties. All went well though and I so enjoy every little bit of time I get with my sweet little boys!

I would like to tell my Daughter Ashley how proud I am of her, she has been a real trooper. I know that moving up to Oregon as a young Mom with all that has been piled on-a new born, a busy two year old and not much luck with her health-has been hard and she just shines through it all. Hang in there baby I know things will get better. You and Johnny are exceptional people and I have no doubts you guy will make it though these tough times only stronger. You guys are great little parents, I love you!

Going to visit my little Lion JJ and my sweet baby Jack

I'm heading up to Oregon once again to see my sweet little loves JJ and Jack and more importanatly to help my wonderful daughter Ashley.
Ashley has the very unfortunate opportunity of having her sick gall bladder taken out. Believe it or not I just got done helping my daughter Lindsey with her surgery to get her gall bladder taken out only one month ago. ??? "Whats with my children and having sick gall bladders!"

This is a video from Jacks baby blessing/party. Jack and JJ are with thier Geepa and Great Grandpa Hicken. JJ didn't want his picture taken so he started to roar at us-to show he is angry- and when he found that we all thought it was so funny, he just kept going. "Pretty cute!"

Happy Birthday JJ

Meema and Geepa love you soooo very very much!!!

Here is the video of JJ singing for is Great Aunt Kimmy, I couldn't get it to download before.

JJ's visit pictures

We started our time with JJ on a Sunday, which was just after the 4th of July, we made our way up to Great Grandma & Grandpa's house for a wonderful but quick visit, we had made plans to check in on great Grandma Hicken , she had just had surgery on her wrists earlier that week, and we took a little dinner up to share. We also took a little time out to take a picture infront of the barn and let JJ check out the cows, he loved that. We then made our way down to Papa Mikes & Grandma Kitty's house for a short visit.

Monday was a quit day, I had to catch up on a lot a house work having been gone for a week and a half. JJ had a good time though, he played with Bo and Onyx, whom he had been missing desperatly and fortunatly JJ and I did make it to the park for some much needed playtime. That evening we took in a movie for JJ, he so loves Kung Fu Panda and although we had seen the movie, we knew it would be a hit with our little buddy.

Geepa and JJ made it a nightly ritual of playing in the hottub and we all know how much JJ loves the water or as he calls it now, the "O'nin"(JJneese for Ocean).

Grandma Kitty got to take JJ home on Tuesday and he stayed till Thursday, we missed JJ terribly but I am sure he had a wonderful time with everyone at the Niedert Home especially with "May-may"(JJneese for Mitchell).

Thursday after picking up JJ we went to the Living Aquarium and had a blast. I did get a picture of JJ petting the Stingrays but it's on Lindseys cell phone, sooo darn I can't post it, needless to say we had an awesome time with Aunt Kimmy, Sam, Morganne, Aunt Lindsey and Great Grandma Pack.

Friday was fun playing with Cousins at Great Grandma Packs house and we all got big laughs listening to JJ sing. I will post that footage below, it's pretty cute.

Saturday was Geepa-day and JJ hung out with him, they are truly best of buddies. I know Barrett wishes he had more opportunities to just hang with his little grandson, he misses not being able to just give Ashley a quik call to see if he can come by for a "JJ fix".
That evening Barrett and I took JJ to our friends Doug and Julie's and thier son Tyson was a big hit, JJ sooo loved Tyson and they enjoyed playing games on the nintendo together.

Sunday was quiet, we went to church and all took a very long and much needed nap. JJ then spent some time with his Aunt Kami for a few hours and later that evening we went to visit Papa Mikes & Grandma Kitty.

Fortunately we were also able to get in a quick visit in with some of JJ's favorite cousins Nelly, TJ and Collin late that night. I know JJ wishes he had had more time with Nelly he so loves her.

The picture below is at Grandma Kitty's house, JJ really enjoys climbing through the doggy door, what a character.

Monday was our last day and we spent the afternoon it playing with Cousins Sam and Morganne and that evening going out to dinner with Papa Mike and Grandma Kitty as well as Aunt Lindsey and her friend Lance.

It was hard to have to take him back home, We all so enjoyed having JJ around, he has the cutest little personality and has no problem, what so ever, at making us all laugh hysterically on a regular basis. I have to say that that little boy brightens my day immensely and I will have a very hard time not having him around.
We love his Mommy and Daddy for letting us enjoy him for so long and we know it was hard for them to have him gone for such a long time. Thank you Ashley and Johnny! We love you!

Our sweet baby Jack

I just have to post this picture cuz I so love it! I will update later when I get my pictures and film done of JJ, from his visit here in Salt Lake.

Later....

Forth of July! and more...

I once again I had a great time in Oregon. My little buddy JJ was so cute with his new little brother Jack and I can't get over just how perfect little Jack is.

Our fun began on Sunday the 29June when Kami and I we flew into Oregon, we simply took the day easy and just got acquainted with the new little addition to the family.

On Monday I helped Ashley clean house so that she could just enjoy some well earned time with her beautiful little boys and Kami had a blast keeping JJ well entertained.

Tuesday we took Jack in for his first checkup and all was good, he was right on target, of course, he has such a good mommy, who takes such wonderful care of him! I'd have to say she would make a wonderful cow. (just kidding Ash)

Jack had a little bit of a tied tongue which actually made me kind of chuckle a little, I was born tongue tied also as a baby. (WOW we have something in common little Jack.)

On Wednesday we took JJ to the library and he was so very cute, he just soaked it all in and you can just tell he so enjoys singing, books and making crafts with friends.

Thursday we sent Kami off to California and Barrett and Lindsey came in from Salt Lake. We spent this day taking it easy and let Geepa rest a bit as well as become acquainted with his new friend baby Jack. We did get some awesome sushi that evening and got a total kick out of JJ blowing the waitress kisses.

Friday we let Ashley rest up, seeing as she has been up and running instead of recuperating and our very tiered and overworked Geepa caught up on some much needed sleep... on JJ’s bedroom floor! We didn’t really know what there was to do for the Forth of July in Oregon so we just had a very nice dinner at a local Red Lobster and did our own delightful firework show in the apartment parking lot.

Saturday was a little more eventful we took JJ and Jack to the Zoo and that was a blast, they had a dinosaur exhibit and JJ was too funny to watch, I believe he was quit nervous and frightened yet you could tell he still was very interested, and he of course loved all the animals. Barrett and Johnny got a game of golf in and we met for a Mongolian BBQ dinner, it made for a wonderful day.

Sunday we left early and I got to bring my little joy JJ home with me for a week, he is such a good boy and I so love all the kisses and hugs I've been getting, I will be sad when it’s time to take him home.
Once again Ashley and Johnny thank you so very much for allowing us in your home you both are so first-rate at making us feel so welcome and we so love you both!!!

Well soon to be on my way to see this gorgeous little boy, my newest little love. I am so very excited to meet baby Jack!

I have been going crazy the past few days just wanting to hold and cuddle this tiny new little friend and of course I'm dying to play with my little JJ, the best little BIG BROTHER ever!

HE IS HERE!!

This is my new Grandbaby and sweet bundle of joy!!! He is only about 15 or 20 minutes old here but as beautiful as ever and I can't wait to hold him.