it's only a little bit of pink.

Michelle's baby shower was a huge success! Everything was beautiful, the food was yummy and the company was great! So many people came to show their love for Michelle. She got the cutest presents - so many adorable baby girl clothes! Every few minutes the din of female voices was punctuated by a loud group "Awwwww!" whenever Michelle opened another cute item.

Thank you so much to everyone who came and everyone who helped us pull off this celebration for Michelle (you know who you are!). We couldn't have done it without lots of helping hands. Thanks to all who came to support Michelle. And thanks Michelle for having a baby! We are sooo excited! Especially after our pink overdose and cuteness overload. We can't wait to welcome this little girl into the world.

Our Rockin' New Year's Eve

Klane and I grew up about a mile away from each other. We were just far apart enough in age to never have met in high school, but our families have always known each other. (I've known Klane's brother Michael since second or third grade, Klane has known my brother Kyle just as long.) And so we are lucky enough to enjoy the best of both worlds: sometimes we don't have to choose which family we're going to spend time with, because our families are friends, and like to get together in one big group! I love it.

For New Year's Eve, my parents had the Harding family up to the cabin for a big huge rockin' party. We had food, fondue, sledding, and the Great Equalizer: MarioKart Wii. ;) Most people slept over (although "slept" is a term used loosely in this instance), and in the morning there were homemade waffles and more sledding. Everyone had a great time. Especially me, I think. I love Klane's family like my own. They are my own. I also love my family (obviously). It's always hard trying to split time equally, so I am in heaven whenever we get to have both at the same time. All my very favorite people in one place. What could be better than that?

Here are the photos from New Year's Eve. The New Year's Day photos get their own post. I love these people and can't choose and so I have a million pictures.

(the photos with more than one image enlarge when clicked. thank you.)

Tessa didn't make it till midnight


neither did Luke and Ethan


but Ryan did!


I LOVE MY LITTLE BROTHER!
Seriously. How cute is this kid? It's killin me.




My dad is all over that MarioKart.


Annie, Ryan, and Ryan's Xbox controller which he thought was controlling one of the players on screen. Genius.


Favorite thing about Klane #4632: He is SO cute with the kids. (click to enlarge! cuteness awaits!)




Dave and Kaylene in on the action


sis-in-laws Lyns and Annie (oh and Klane too)


brother Kyle and sis-in-law Michelle

Thanksgiving at Grandma's

We've had a whirlwind week and I'm finally taking a second to blog it. Our trip to Utah was so wonderfully perfect and filled to the brim with fun activities and people we love dearly. I only wish it could've lasted longer. I can't fully express how great it was to be home and see all our family who we've missed so much! I loved seeing all of you! We're really looking forward to Christmas.

We were so happy we got to share Thanksgiving dinner with my mom's side of the family, and had almost everyone there! I loved being at grandma and grandpa's house in Cedar, the house I grew up visiting them in. I'm so happy we were able to fit everyone in and celebrate Thanksgiving there. So many memories have been shared there with so many of the people sitting at the table with us. We feel so thankful for our wonderful family.

And of course, with the Heap family's culinary powers combined, we had one big, amazing, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone pitched in and it came together perfectly! I've got a lot of great cooks in my family. Enjoy some photos of the day.

Kyle and Michelle provided a beautiful turkey.

Helping hands.

My beautiful Gram.

Michelle and her amazing creamy delicious mashed potatoes.


Cute place cards and favors by aunt SheraLyn and cousin Sheralee.

My Grandpa, counting his blessings before dinner :)

I love my grandparents. They gave a little speech at dinner.

birthday celebrations, continued...

Abbie and I are both November babies. So we've started a tradition of celebrating our birthdays together (this being the first year). :) Our celebration involved many of our favorite things; shopping, dessert, more shopping, good wholesome entertainment, twinkle lights, Shake Shack, candles, singing... and more dessert.

I love Abbie. Our birthday month is just one of the many things we have in common. She made our celebration so much fun! I would've never sang Happy Birthday so many times in so many public places if it hadn't been for Abbie... and I loved it!!

After shopping at H&M, we stopped at the MAC store.
I was feeling wild and bought red lipstick.


We went to a musical fireside at the Lincoln Square building
about the women in Jesus Christ's life, put on by the stake.

Afterward we found a table outside between Broadway and Columbus, where we broke out cookies from Levain, lit candles, and sang Happy Birthday to each other. It was great fun.




Shake Shack was our dinner spot of choice.
Of course the candles came out again, and another birthday song was sung.



Our last stop was Magnolia Bakery for more icebox cake and banana pudding.
Since it's our birthday we're allowed two desserts in one night.
And more candles and singing, of course.




It was so fun running around the West Side with Abbie all evening,
chatting and being crazy and celebrating.

Thanks again, Abbie, for such a fun night and a great birthday!