We had a great day at the zoo!

Need I say more?

Goodbye bed!

So, this was my bed growing up...since I was like five! Hailey inherited it when she was a mere 18 months old and she loved it! Whenever we are out of town she cries for her bed. Well, with a new baby needing our crib we have been trying to come up with a solution to Isabella not having a bed. We finally decided that Hailey and Izzie could not sleep in this bed together...Hailey is so much bigger than her and they would play too much! We sold her bed, well, my bed! Hailey made this decision on her own and was so excited about getting bunk beds. She did chase the truck down the street as the new owner drove away with it, but handled it better than I thought she would. We are now trying to be patient so that we can find a good deal on the right bunk beds. Wish us luck!

Family Night

Last week for Family Night we went bowling with some of our new and old friends. Two new families have moved to Virginia from Utah to go to Regent Law School. They both live in our apartment complex which Abbi and I have really enjoyed. Our dear friend Chablis (whose hubby just graduated from Regent Law School) packed up and left for Utah a few weeks ago. We miss her and her cute family immensely. We wish that she were here still bowling right beside us and the new Regent crew.

This is Hailey and her new friend Brielle. I'm not quite sure how we didn't get any pictures of Natalie and Josh, but they are great! They also have another little girl named Hope.

This is the Buttars, Angie and Nate! What a sweet family. They have two beautiful daughters Scarlet and Sahara.

I have to say, the bowling was definitely for the children, and they really enjoyed it....especially Richard. We put the bumpers up on two lanes and let the kids go to town. Poor Abbi and I were bowling too, 9 months pregnant and all! My body is still recovering!

Our sweet little bystanders. They were so patient for their turns.

Check out that stomach! Phew...almost done! I have an appointment on Thursday and I'll update with more information on my delivery of this little guy then. Last week I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. My docs are doing an ultrasound on Thursday to try and guess his size and then they will determine whether or not I need to be induced! On September 8th I'll be 39 weeks along and that is the date that I am aiming to be induced. When I was having Isabella, I had decided that I did not want to be induced. I tried to do all that I could to have her own her time, until her time started to mess with me! After I was one week overdue, I had had enough. I couldn't even walk anymore...really! My back hurt so bad that every step produced a few tears. I do not want to have that happen again so I am crossing my fingers that an induction is the right plan for me.

My little German girls!

Both of these dresses were mine when I was little. It is so fun to see my girls wearing them!!

This picture is of Hailey when she was a little younger than Isabella is now.

Hecker Family Reunion 2008

Johns family takes turns planning the yearly family reunions. Last year was actually supposed to be our year but we deferred a year due to schooling for John! We decided to bring all of his family out here to Virginia this year for a different scenery then the usual reunions. Most of the Hecker's live in Utah...so that has been a pretty standard spot for meeting. One of the greatest surprises that I have ever had was from my sweet sister and brother in law, James and Jen. They informed me weeks ago that they would not be able to make it to the reunion this year (they are in the middle of selling and buying a home). I was crushed of course because anyone missing makes a huge difference. Two of Johns other sisters couldn't make it either so I was pretty sad! On Monday afternoon I received a call from Jen and she asked me what I was doing...the dishes of course! Not even 10 seconds later, I glance out my window and I see this adorable family walking by...and they are checking out my porch! About another 2-3 seconds go by and it clicks...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I couldn't believe my eyes, but they were here...in Virginia. It was so great. I am still shocked about the entire thing. What a could surprise and what a good fibber Jen is! What a great start to our reunion!

Jen and her sweet little boy Noah! She also has a 2 year old named Levi and a 1 year old named Sophie!

This is in Jamestown on one of the ships!

Lovin' Aunt Emily!

What a sour face!

John and I decided not to stay in the hotel with the rest of the family because our kids get more sleep in their own beds. John was sweet enough to put the kids to bed one night so that I could hang out at the hotel and swim and play games.

Getting a family picture wasn't so simple. Can you find the grumpies in this shot? I wish that we had taken more...how often do we get together...not often enough.


We enjoyed a morning on the USS Wisconsin Battleship. It was fun to see just how big these ships are!



Thanks to all of you Hecker's out there for the fabulous trip! We know it was a huge sacrifice to get all of you out here but we sure did appreciate it! We love and miss you already! Not pictured are are trip to the beach and Mt. Trashmore. I forgot my camera the first day...don't you just hate it when that happens.

Love this women!

We have had a very busy few weeks and had so much fun in the process! The week after we came home from New Mexico, my mom flew here to Virginia so that she could throw a reception here for Corey and Megan! We had a week of running errands and partying! I was so sad to say goodbye but I am looking forward to her coming here again for the babies birth! She is so helpful and easy to have around, we couldn't have asked for a better guest!