Presidente y Hermana Heyman

As of this summer, my parents will be living in Resistencia, Argentina and will be known as Presidente and Hermana Heyman for the next three years! After receiving the assignment from our church, my parents have accepted the call to be the mission president couple over the Argentina Resistencia Mission from July 2011 to July 2014. Crazy huh? I'm still trying to soak it all in...

When my parents were ready to open their call we got the whole fam together over ichat (we're currently spread out between Texas, Utah, California and Arizona). My dad let my mom read the letter since he has opened a mission call before (when he was 19 and served in yes, Argentina). Sam captured everyone's reaction the second my mom read where they will be going...

Everyone's reactions make me laugh! (Sam assures me he was really excited, but his face doesn't show it because he was focused on getting the screen shot. haha) Chris (with his hands in the air) was a little more excited than the rest because Resistencia, Argentina is where he served his mission back in 2001.

I'll admit, I have cried a lot thinking about my parents being in a foreign country for the next three years and all the changes and events that will happen within that time, but I'm also so excited for them. My parents have always been and continue to be a wonderful example of a couple that puts the Lord first and strives to do what is best. I know they are going to have an amazing time and will get to serve many who need them more than I will for those three years. I know that many blessings will come because of the time they are dedicating to serve. I will miss them a whole lot, but Sammy and I will definitely be visiting them and I'm grateful more communication will be accessible with them than when my own Samuel Brett was a missionary! :)

Congrats Madre and Padre!

loVe day

A day to celebrate my love for the husband? I'll take it. Hope you get to celebrate some love today too.

My Pretty Perfect Painting

How pretty is this painting?Well, lucky me, I now have it hanging in our living room! Sam decided he didn't want pictures, he wanted art, to go above our couch. So, months ago I started the search to find the perfect piece of "art" to join our home. One day, I found a painting online that I just loved. The colors were perfect, the size was perfect, the design was perfect. The price, not so perfect. I kept searching but just couldn't get that one painting out of my head. Finally, a little stroke of inspiration hit me and I asked my wonderfully talented sister-in-law, Jenny, if she wouldn't mind copying the painting for me. (Jenny is a super talented artist and even teaches art). She was actually thrilled when I asked and said she loves projects but was short on ideas. Glad I could help :). Next thing I know Jenny sends me pictures of a 3'x4' canvas with her gorgeous art on, and it's even better than what I had picked! It was shipped from her home in San Fran and now it's hanging above our couch.

THANK YOU JENNY!!!

One of my Christmas gifts was the fun zebra ottoman; now our living room is starting to piece together!
A few weeks ago Sam and I went to the beloved Pottery Barn and purchased a new TV stand. Thanks to it being a floor model and on sale, plus finding we had a chunk of leftover store credit from our wedding, we got a steal of a deal for it!
And that's the Nielsen living room for ya:
Next on the list, pillows!

Color Me Mine

The other night Sam and I decided to try something a little new for us, so we spent an evening at Color Me Mine (just like As You Wish for those Arizonians).

I picked a traditional piece that I'll only be able to use one month out of the year, but it was so cute I couldn't pass the little guy up.

Sammy thought long and hard before creating his masterpiece. Once he started, he was in the zone.
Annnnd (drum roll please) our finished products:

Mr. Snowman Plate

Milk + Oreo = LOVE Mug

Sam's cracked me up. The cow is my fave.

We have plans to go again. :)

Cheetalicious Delicious

Thanks to Santa (my mom) I found these sweet Cheetah cupcake liners in my stocking Christmas morning. I was so excited to use them. Well, it just so happens that Cheetah Natalie Camp's birthday is in the first week of January (if you want to know more about my rockin friend Nat, just read this post http://danideej.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-birthday-mapalie.html). Since it was a Cheetah birthday, Cheetah cupcakes were a natural fit. So I baked up these gems...
Nat's party was a candy-shop theme so I threw a few mini M&Ms on top!

In case you are wondering...yes, my friends are called "The Cheetahs". It's a name that spread and stuck. The pic below was snapped at the bday girl's party; we captured nearly all past and current tenants of the beloved Cheetah Mansion (Ash and Mel you were missed!). These girls just make me happy.
And so do Cheetah Cupcakes. Sassy and yummy.

NYE 2010

December 31st, 2010 we gathered with some dear friends to welcome in 2011. We ate yummy food, played games, laughed, ate some more, watched the ball drop, toasted with Martinelli's, then laughed so more.

It was a fabulous night.

I got a New Years kiss from this hottie two years in a row now. What a lucky girl I am...wonder if I can make it three?
The Nelson couples:
Linds and Maddie:
Pazookies in progress:

2011 will bring great things. I know it and believe it.

Christmas '10

MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. Sam and I were able to spend some time back in Arizona with our families and it was so great! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful families.

This year was my family's "on" year for Christmas which meant my 2 parents plus all 5 siblings, 4 in-laws, and 5 nieces/nephews (pictured above) were together for the holiday! Yes, we had 16 people all under one roof! It was so fun. My parents are angels to deal with all the craziness. One of the things I enjoyed the most was watching these two interact:
Kyle and Kate. Those two have quite the personalities; I can't even begin to explain!

My wonderful parents are so good to us all and spoiled us as well. Thanks for everything Mom and Dad!We also got to celebrate Chris' (my brother) birthday! *Please note little Macy trying so hard to lean in and blow out the candles :)
Both Kate and Kyle have some sweet dance moves in them so of course a dance party was necessary. Uncle Scooter provided the music on the piano.
The second half of our time spent in AZ we were able to spend at Sam's house. The Nielsens are such a wonderful family; I could never ask for better in-laws. Nearly every morning we stay at the Nielsen's home, Sam and I head over to the mountains near his house and wander the trails. I was smart and brought my camera along one day and I'm glad I did...
I love him.

Sam's sisters that are married were able to stop by often so we were able to have the whole Nielsen gang together a lot too.

I can't believe how much Hank has grown!
I also got to visit with my friend Monica and see her sweet little boy, Cole. So fun!
After every trip I wish I would've captured more pictures of everything and everyone, but Sam already complains about how many pictures I take! However, he did buy me a new camera for Christmas so I'm not too sure what's going on in his head there... Hm.

I have felt so blessed lately for my faith, family and friends. I'm sad the Christmas season is a whole 11 months away again, but I hope to do a better job at keeping the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the whole year by constantly serving others and appreciating Christ and his example.

We hope you all had a joyous Christmas too! Love, the nielsens.