Christmas

this is where JFK was killed....luckily no cars were coming at this moment so no one else was killed

Bryce and I at the Grassy Knoll

Paul and the shoulder dwelling cat, Onyx....LOVE that cat!!

Gaelyn and her new kitchen....she was so cute....kathryn made her the cutes nightgown and made a matching one for a doll and blanket...it was adorable...she loved it. I wish i had a picture of it. I'm already looking forward for our baby to be 2 years old so Kathryn can make one for her. :) So much to look forward to. Oh and Kathryn volunteered to make the baby blessing dress for Macie...I'm so excited! She's a very talented sewer. Thanks Kathryn!

Melia and Glen....game time!

well I just wrote a huge post and somehow it deleted so....now you get the short version. :)

We went to Dallas where we met all of Bryce's immediate family. It was so much fun. We played lots of games, did puzzles, ate lots of delicious foods, opened wonderful presents and spent lots of time just chatting. It was so much fun. After 4 days in Dallas, Ron and Kathryn followed us back to college station. On the way back we stopped in Downtown dallas and visited where JFK was killed. It was neat being there. Ron and Kathryn spent a day with us in College Station and spoiled us with dinner and goodies....and an AWESOME blanket!! :) thanks guys! Now Melia and Devin and their cute little boy is here. We had chocolate covered strawberries last night and watched a movie and tonight we're going to have a firepit and cook banana boats on the fire, which I've never done. It's been so much fun spending time with family. I love this time of year and it has really been fun being prego the same time as Mary...it's helped me focus more on the Savior. We have been really blessed this year and are looking forward to this coming year, which will be very eventful. Oh and we have decided officially On Macie McKay Hannibal for the baby girl....Can't shake that name....I love it! And she feels like a Macie....if that makes any sense! :) HOpe everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

My parent's Visit

I'm sad we don't have more pictures of my parent's visit, but when my sister isn't around, pictures don't get taken. :) We had so much fun! Let's see....we ate like kings and queens...La Bodega, Red Robin, Chicken Express and good ol' Shipleys Do-nuts one early morning. Bryce took my Mom and Dad mountain biking and since we only had 2 mountain bikes, the 2 of us that weren't riding (first me and my mom and then me and my dad) walked the trails and had really nice talks. I really enjoyed the time I had with them individually. It was beautiful out that day too...still some colorful leaves on the trees, which is one of my favorite things about fall (still feels like fall here.) We took them to a bar to show them what country dancing was and to play shuffleboard. I think it's crazy that at 50 and 51 years old they had NEVER been to a bar....typical Mormons. :) It was really fun. My Mom is quite the dancer, I was impressed. Wish I had brought my video camera. We also had a white trash fire pit as I like to call it. Bryce cut off the legs of an old grill that was left here when we moved in, and dug a hole in the ground for it. then he surrounded it with landscaping bricks and WA LA!! FIREPIT!! Only in a trailer park can you get away with that. We had wonderful tinfoil dinners that night and yummy roasted starburts....if you haven't tried it, you must....it's indescribable!!

My Mom discovered Dublin Dr. Pepper for her first time and loved it. I knew she loved Dr. Pepper but didn't know to what extent. She's as bad as Bryce. :) We also had our own little early Christmas...first of 3. She filled her carry on suitcase with gifts for us from my family and for our stockings. While they were here they went shopping for us and did wonderfully as always. They got us lots of cute little baby clothes for our future little baby and a maternity giftcard, which I can't wait to go use. We got lots of goodies in our stockings and Bryce got a bash-guard for his mountain bike, which is on it's way to us.

I have really been blessed with amazing parents. I was asked to talk in Sacrament and they were both very helpful with helping me write it. My dad fixed our toilet and fixed our cable going across the entrance of our home....thanks Dad. They are always up for games and having a good time and are so helpful around the house. They both felt the baby kick and could tell a difference in my size from the day they got here to the day they left. :) They are such good examples to Bryce and I as to how we should live our lives and are so easy to talk to and spend time with. It's crazy that the next time we see them we will be parents....I'm sure it's weird to them that their little girl is going to have her own little baby. It's weird to me too. :)

I love you Mom and Dad. Thanks a million for the wonderful visit and for making the sacrifices necessary to visit us in Texas. We really appreciated it and loved making memories with you this holiday season.

It's a GIRL!!!!

So the Ultrasound was amazing....Everything is looking good. I loved seeing all the bones....the spine was amazing as you can see in the picture. And we got a clear shot of her womanhood. :) So cool. The radiologist wasn't trained to find knee caps so she didn't know whether or not she has them or not so...I guess that will be a surprise! :) We are so excited. Our favorite first names are Cadence, Brielle, McKay, Jade, Mishayla, Macy, and we're still thinking of others...we like different ones day to day. Let us know which ones you like most....not that it will make a difference. :) I've already started decorating the nursery with pink and Brown...loving it so far. I made a storage unit and bought cute little baskets for it and then I just made a cute little ribbon bulletin board that I will put black and white pictures of family on right by her crib. So exciting!! Can't wait for this little girl to come.

the storage unit with the cute little pink and brown baskets...still need to stain it but am waiting to match it to crib and other furniture! :)

her little foot...only 8 cm. long!!

Her little vagi-gi....pretty clear! There's even an arrow pointing to it...this is from under the baby

her profile and beautiful spine...isn't that amazing?

this is our nervous/excited look before going in for the ultrasound!! :) we look pretty nervous and excited huh?!

19 weeks

Tomorrow we go in for the big ultrasound. I can't wait to find out the gender of the baby but am a little nervous about the vitals...I hope all is OK. We might also get to find out in the baby will have nail patella syndrome like my Dad, Brother, and I have!! I don't care either way...having it means you'll be petite which is nice not having to worry about weight, and not having it means you'll have cute knee caps and thumb nails! :) I like to see it as a win/win situation! SO EXCITED! After we find out the gender we're going out for lunch to celebrate and then I'm off to buy either pink or green cubby baskets for the storage shelves I built....I'll post a picture after I stain it. :)

16 weeks

Depending on how much I eat determines how big my belly is...kinda funny. In the morning, I look pretty normal, just maybe a little bloated, but at night I look 6 months pregnant. CRAZY! It's kinda fun being able to feel where the baby is at. 2 more weeks until we find out the gender...I can't wait!!!

The Miracle Baby!

So for those of you who don't know....I'm 13 weeks pregnant! We were told we couldn't have kids about 2 years ago, so we totally gave up and started saving for surgery options to make it possible, but then....we got pregnant! Now looking back at life and just where Bryce and I were at, it really makes sense why things worked out how they did. Right when we both got good jobs that we love and were settled in our new home....God definitely knows what he's doing.

we have had 3 ultra sounds....first it was a blob, then it was a blob with feet, and now it looks like an actual baby (and a pretty dang a cute one if i may say so). On October 14th we had our last ultra sound. We got to hear the heart beat and see the little baby move around. It was quite a jumper. Kyra, Bryce and I were all cracking up. Every 20 seconds or so the baby would just jump! I originally thought it was a girl, but for some reason the the little ultrasound baby seemed like a boy to all of us! :) we will be so happy with whatever God give us.

As far as the pregnancy is concerned....It's pretty miserable. Morning sickness is more of an all day event for me and I usually throw up at least right after breakfast. I'm still doing hair, but mainly only when I have a request or if no one else is available. My boss is amazing and really helps me out.

The Due date is April 20th, so I'm hoping I'm a little early or a little late because I really don't have to have a baby on Hitler's birthday and Pot day! :) We're so excited about this little baby....it'as amazing how much we already love it (?)!!! I can't wait to find out the gender next month so I can start planning the nursery!

our little babies profile

sucking his(?) thumb :)

Birthday Fun!

I had the best birthday this year...right up there with the ones I had at the Fun Center as a child! My sister Kyra flew down to visit and it was so much fun having some quality time with her. I don't remember the last time we had any of that being that she has 3 amazing kids and lives, and lives in Cali!! We showed her Texas A and M campus, drug her out of bed at 7:00 a.m. (5:00 california time) to Shipleys (an amazing doughnut shop), went out to eat every day at some of our favorite places, went country dancing (more watching was done than dancing), she took some family photos for Bryce and I, and we had a Birthday party BBQ with some of our friends, where we played my favorite games....such as Dippity Dippity Dip, and MMMM Shwaw (thank you Bradshaws). We ate cheddar wursts (hot dogs with cheese inside), cheese cake, chocolate cupcakes, bean dip, pasta salad, ice cream...and I'm sure I'm forgetting something! It was a lot of fun...so fun that 5 of the guests stayed until 12:30 a.m. I laughed harder than I have laughed in months! It was a lot of fun. thank you everyone who attended and Kyra....you're the best! I couldn't have asked for a better visit. I already miss you.

me and the Callaway kitty!!

Kyra and Bryce dancing (they only danced one lap around the dance floor and I practically had to force Kyra) she did pretty good for a first timer!

more country dancing

Casa Ole

Life...

troth is out...tub is in...an 18" DEEP tub!! backer board is up

Rotten wood...that needs to be replaced

the horse troth tub....gotta go

me and my niece Gaelyn....I love this little girl!!

4th of July visit to Dallas

me and Jennifer McCoy at the baby shower I threw her

Little Ringer kitty and Bryce...just chilling

Me and my friend Terrell (the bride)

Bryce and I at Terrell and Will's reception

well as most of you have probably guessed....we're busy here in college station, tx. A lot has happened since I've written last. First...some bad news....my x boss at Hypnotik was CRAZY!! Almost fired me for not saying good bye and said i was rude for not being in her room with her clients and the other girls. She accused of me of lying and well basically, she was the worst business person I've ever met. She was totally clueless and so.....I switched salons and left her with her 3 stylist who have no clientelle! :) HA! So now the good news....I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my new job. I work at a beautiful hair and nail salon called Reatta. It's a mile from home, right by some great fast food places, my boss is awesome, my coworkers are amazing and basically it has everything I've ever wanted in a salon. I'm on commission...60% and she's not pushing me to do booth rent. Also she's letting me make my own prices for each client...not forcing me to up my prices so she makes more money. My boss (Melissa) is so sweet and not greedy at all. She isn't a stylist, she has just always wanted to own a salon. She's a wonderful business woman and totally knows what she's doing. I have only been there a week but i have absolutely no complaints! My room is 7X9 and super cute!!

Now on a different note. we found a cute little kitten who was super skinny walking around by our home so we took him in and fed him and he just kept on eating. We named him Ringer. He was kinda ugly to the point where he was cute...can't really explain it, but he was great. He'd lay on our heads and just had the cutest little personality. I got really attached to him, but now he's gone. He stuck around for about 5 days....used the kitty door, slept on our heads, all that jazz...but our cats HATED him. They wouldn't come near him. If ringer approached them they would hiss and swat at him. I think eventually he got sick of it. So he's gone...hopefully somewhere nice and our cats are back to normal! :)

Bryce has an interview about an assistantship this week which we're praying will go well. He would then quit the golf course job and work on campus...hopefully getting tuition paid for and getting a stipend, a certain amount of money each month. It would be such a blessing. As of now he's only working 3 days a week from 6 a.m. to 11:30 and for minimum wage....and that's why I have 2 jobs. But i love my two jobs. I have really enjoyed working at the copy section of office max (impress) and the people there are really great...plus my boss wants me to practice Adobe Illusrator so i can be a DTP (desktop publisher) because he's seen some of the work I've done and has been impressed. So that would be great because the DTP work is my favorite! I am learning more every day that I am becoming more and more like my dad. I love work...I find I'm happiest at work while I'm busy doing things I am good at. I mean don't get me wrong...I love spending time with Bryce...but it feels good to to do something your good at and where people appreciate you for your skills/talents. Plus I love being around people.

last weekend we went to Abilene (5 hours away) for one of my friends/clients weddings. It was beautiful and I had the opportunity to do 4 peoples hair (the bride and 2 of the bridesmaids and the maid of honor). We stayed in The Hilton for 2 nights and she paid for that, the gas for us to get there and back and for the hair. It felt good good be so wanted. It was a big job...but I loved it. Plus...I got to go to a friends wedding and be a part of her big day...and i got PAID for it!!! :) I love my job!

I'm going home in September and can't wait to spend some time with my family and friends. I get home sick quite a bit being here without many friends and so far from home. Bryce has picked up a new hobby....mountain biking. HE LOVES IT! He talks about it quite frequently and can't wait for the next time. He's always trying to figure out when he can go again. We're looking for a new bike for him but he has a lot of requirements for it, which means a lot of money...so we'll see if he still loves it in a few months and then maybe we'll have enough money to get him a bike...he deserves it.

Our bathrooms pretty much done but I'm not going to post a pic until we caulk all of the crown moulding! But i must say it looks amazing!! I'm very impressed with how well it turned out. We went a bit over budget but it's totally worth it.

Oh...rewind. We went to Dallas for the 4th of July and spent time wiht Bryce's Brothers Glen and Paul and his sister Melia...and Melia's and Glen's family. It was so much fun. I have some of the best in laws. Between Wii and just hanging out and eating...it was a blast. It's nice to have them only 3 hours away so we can get together for little holidays or just to get out.

well i think that's all...I'm sure there's plenty more but I can't think of anything right now. Sorry It's been forever....we don't have internet at home so I only do this when I go to campus with Bryce...which is rarely ever! Hope all is well for everyone!

update

Wow...it has been awhile! I'm done with my study and loving it! The product didn't work well...in fact I think it made it worse, but it was totally worth the money. We got some loans paid off and have some money in savings, which is really nice. Bryce is off for the summer but is still working on his thesis. We re-did our walkway and it looks beautiful...took forever but adds a lot to our little home. I'm still working at office max and Hypnotik salon. everyone should go to hypnotiksalon.com and leave a message in our guest book...that would be AWESOME!! :) Anyways...things are pretty good...the weather is nice and warm just how I like it but there are WAY too many bugs for my liking. I recently woke up to a cockroach on our bathroom floor....luckily he was on his back...but unfortunately was not dead. I put a bowl over him and had Bryce deal with him when he got off work! :) I was paranoid all day long...anytime something tickled my leg I freaked out. I was in roach mode alllll day. :) We are finishing our kitchen up and tackeling our bathroom this month and I'm excited and stressed about it...they're both big jobs and I hate how messy the house is in the process but it will be worth it when we're done. I can't wait to bathe in a bath instead of our dang horse troth!! It'll be fabulous! So busy busy busy....that's the way the Hannibal way! I love that I have a hard working, strong hubby and not some weak little guy. He is so good to have around and always helps me with my projects, whether he supports them or not! :)

Happy 26th birthday Bryce! Bryce and I went to motocross last Saturday. It was pretty fun. We were there allllll day and saw some pretty cool things. I hate that I like seeing people wreck, but it's only because it's different...not because I like watching people get hurt...but 2 girls did get hurt...and I'm so pathetic....I CRIED!!! Not like sobbing...but the tears were definitely there. I'm so weird. We gotta drive these huge brand new Toyota's on this track that had hills that went straight up...it was fun. The best part was it was free and they gave us FREE SOCKS! How cool is that?! And free Rockstars....which i'd never had until then....not my favorite. It was really fun.

Well...I think that's it. Nothing too exciting here. I'll update this again when anything worth writing about happens. :) until then....

update

Wow...it has been awhile! I'm done with my study and loving it! The product didn't work well...in fact I think it made it worse, but it was totally worth the money. We got some loans paid off and have some money in savings, which is really nice. Bryce is off for the summer but is still working on his thesis. We re-did our walkway and it looks beautiful...took forever but adds a lot to our little home. I'm still working at office max and Hypnotik salon. everyone should go to hypnotiksalon.com and leave a message in our guest book...that would be AWESOME!! :) Anyways...things are pretty good...the weather is nice and warm just how I like it but there are WAY too many bugs for my liking. I recently woke up to a cockroach on our bathroom floor....luckily he was on his back...but unfortunately was not dead. I put a bowl over him and had Bryce deal with him when he got off work! :) I was paranoid all day long...anytime something tickled my leg I freaked out. I was in roach mode alllll day. :) We are finishing our kitchen up and tackeling our bathroom this month and I'm excited and stressed about it...they're both big jobs and I hate how messy the house is in the process but it will be worth it when we're done. I can't wait to bathe in a bath instead of our dang horse troth!! It'll be fabulous! So busy busy busy....that's the way the Hannibal way! I love that I have a hard working, strong hubby and not some weak little guy. He is so good to have around and always helps me with my projects, whether he supports them or not! :)

Happy 26th birthday Bryce! Bryce and I went to motocross last Saturday. It was pretty fun. We were there allllll day and saw some pretty cool things. I hate that I like seeing people wreck, but it's only because it's different...not because I like watching people get hurt...but 2 girls did get hurt...and I'm so pathetic....I CRIED!!! Not like sobbing...but the tears were definitely there. I'm so weird. We gotta drive these huge brand new Toyota's on this track that had hills that went straight up...it was fun. The best part was it was free and they gave us FREE SOCKS! How cool is that?! And free Rockstars....which i'd never had until then....not my favorite. It was really fun.

Well...I think that's it. Nothing too exciting here. I'll update this again when anything worth writing about happens. :) until then....

Acne Study

So I am in this acne study right now where I have to go in every morning between 7-9:30 a.m. and every night between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. and get medication applied to my face. Oh and every morning they take a picture from every angle. (not a pretty thing when you have no make up and your hair is slicked back with a head band.) :) After it is applied you can't put makeup on for 2 hours, which totally sucks since I start work at 7:30 a.m. But I'm getting used to it. Anyways...after 6 weeks of this I get paid $2,150!!! Pretty sweet huh?

So one day Bryce was in there with me, you know...Bryce my beautiful skinned husband? Well...one of the old farts that work there was like "is your acne not bad enough to be in the next study?" He was slightly confused, but he got screened and qualified! Totally unexpected. He had 11 pimples...(only 2 of which you could see if you weren't a trained dermatologist) and you need 10 to qualify. So he's going in every morning, put the medication on and get his blood drawn for 6 days and after that he gets $500! It's totally inconvenient but will be totally worth it. we'll be able to pay off some of the school loans and put some in savings which will be fabulous! Anyways....just thought I'd spread the good news!

new hair

So...I colored my hair...again! It was too warm compared to my eyebrows so I colored them too. I can't really decide if I like it or not...good thing I'm a hairstylist so if i don't I can change it! :) what do you think?

before it was more blonde on top

I liked that when I wore it up like this it was 2 toned....

now it looks like this...still has the hi lights but they're like a strawberry blonde...i think I'll like it a lot better after like 4 weeks....so the contrast will be more noticeable.

Nursery...coming to an end

the whole group...nicholas, mia, Henry, Mikey, Sienna, sara (hiding), Justin, KC, Thomas, emma, and Sammy

My little Mia

Thomas

Emma...Bryce's Favorite

Sienna, Mia and Sarah...love my girls!

Well we have been teachers in nursery since September and really love the kids...well most of them! We were offered another calling so it looks like we only have about 3 more weeks with the little ones. I'm really going to miss them. We usually have about 10 2-3 year olds in our class and for the most part they are very well behaved. My favorite is Mia. She is tiny for her age but is so adorable. She has the cutest little voice and speaks very well, which you would never expect from such a tiny little thing. She wants me to hold her the whole time or at least be next to her. I left to go to the bathroom today and when I came back she was bawling...I picked her up and held her and she was just fine. She's my little girl. The one time we were out of town...she had a fit and wouldn't even go into nursery. I love that little girl and look forward to Sunday each week so I can see her! I love being needed and loved. I'm going to miss singing time and the snow man song. I'm really going to miss the kids prayers. Today Sienna started the prayer and I guess she paused for too long because Henry jumped in and said the fastest prayer I have ever heard a 2 year old give...good team work I guess. :) He must have really wanted to eat his snacks!! I'm not going to miss Mikey pushing everyone as hard as he can and not listening to anyone...or his constant drooling! I'm also not going to miss Sweet little kids getting smacked in the head or ran over by the mean kids. I hate seeing the sweet ones cry, but the mean ones...who cares!! :) I'm going to be a terrible mom!! :) It has been a really fun calling. It has made me want kids more but has also made me very thankful for the freedom Bryce and I have not having kids! :)

T ball game

A couple in our ward (Nick and Stacey Meldrum) have the cutest kids. Mitchell's 5 and Faye is 2...they are adorable. Faye is in our nursery group and loves Bryce. We went to Mitchell's T ball game the other night and it was a lot of fun. Can't wait to have some little kidlins of our own!! Bryce will be such a good dad!