Preston...The man in my life...

After recently reconnecting with some friends from my past I was asked "who is this incredibly handsome man that you are married to?" Well it was something like that. :) So here a few things that you probably didn't know about my sweet husband Preston.Preston is in the orangy outfit sitting on his Grandmas lap

Preston was born on May 25, 1975. Is the 2nd oldest of 8 kids and the oldest boy in the family.

Preston was a thespian and as you can see by the picture played many a role including the tin man! He was also in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! I was very impressed by this tid bit of information when we were dating! Can you guess which part he played?

Among numerous other activities, Preston was a studly wrestler in high school and I am pretty sure he can still beat up his brothers. ;) He now enjoys playing soccer and loves outdoorsy activities like hunting and fishing.

Preston is also and award winning speaker. He is a member of the International Toastmasters Organization, which is an international speaking club. He participates each year in the International speech competition and has won multipul awards. I think he is amazing! He just has a way of drawing the audience in.

And he is just an all around good guy! An amazing father of 2, Bishopric counselor, always willing to do the dishes (which I tend to procrastinate) and most importantly he treats me like a queen! We will have been married 2 years on July 16th but it has been so natural that I can hardly remember my life before he was in it! I love being married to this wonderful man! He makes life such a joy!

(soon to come...a post to tell the story of our courtship!)

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

...and everyone else in the Hickman family with summer birthdays.

China, Me, Camille, Daniel

I had a great birthday but it was definitely an adult birthday. My sweet husband made me breakfast (oh and he did sing Happy Birthday at 6:18am...almost the exact time of my birth - 6:12am) before dashing off to church meetings at 7am. (For anyone who doesn't know I am a widow to the bishopric) Then I got Talia and myself ready for church while finishing my lesson for Young Womens. I usually go early so I can get a hug and a kiss from Preston before church starts. Meetings went as usual and then I went home changed clothes and gathered a few things I needed, had a chat with my parents, and of course a birthday serenade, and then headed over to my in laws house. My mother-in-law made a beautiful meal and even made a round birthday cake with frosting and homemade ice cream. The ice cream was superb! Preston made it just in time for the dishes...around 5pm, after counting tithing etc. We opened a few very thoughtful presents (Preston gave me tickets to The Little Mermaid on Broadway which has come to Denver this summer. I am very excited!) and played some games. It was a great day! At the end of the day I thought about how I felt when I was a kid after each birthday...I always felt like a princess for a day, like everything would stop if I gave the word. This birthday was wonderful but more important was that I took care of my baby and my obligations at church. It is not that I feel bad about this very ordinary day that just happened to be my birthday but I think I am finally a real honest to goodness adult.

Tantalizing Tootsies!

Yesterday Talia really found her toes. She has played with them briefly before but yesterday she was into full foot exploration! I just adore all the new things she does! This morning she tried to eat her toes! What a cute girl!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Feeling Patriotic?

This is a sample of one of the songs that my music group performed at an old folks home yesterday. I thought my Mom and Dad might appreciate hearing this. :) And I figure It can help everyone get in a patriotic mood!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

More cute clothes!

While getting ready for church Gavin asked if he could pick out Talia's dress and this was the winner. I haven't put her in it yet because it is just a little on the big side but I decided it was a great choice! I thought I had better take a picture to show Thayne and Jenny how cute Talia is in the dress they gave her! Thanks guys!

The Biggest Straw EVER!

On Saturday amid all the business, Preston and I stole a moment and had dinner at Panera Bread. I had the most amazing salad, and Preston got a strawberry smoothie with his meal. I was so fascinated by this straw! It was HUGE! I swear it was as if I was sucking on a hose. It was at least as big around as a nickel!

Talia has become increasingly interested in the food that we are eating so We let her suck on some bread. She absolutely loved it! I am not sure if I am ready to feed her food yet but I know it won't be too far off.

Taylor and the Girls

Here are the baby girls with big cousin Taylor. (I didn't have my camera when we took pictures with China but she was visiting too!) Taylor was a great cousin and played with all the girls! They loved her. Talia would just coo and coo at her! Talia, Brooklyn, Alyson and of course the big one is Taylor.

ENCORE!!!

And the Winner is...

Kendra "the song Meister" Halterman
Congrats to my big sis! It is pretty much what I am used to. Just don't ever play Boggle with Kendra because she will leave you in the dust! (By the way...she is pregnant with #3 in this picture!)

Thanks for playing everyone! It was so much fun!