The Adventures of the Hicklin Family

I started this blog on Dec 30---I couldn't find some pictures, but I finally found them...so here goes..only a month and a half later!

Well, the new year is almost upon us!!! Looking back on this year, we have LOTS to talk about! We visited MANY places, wonderful events, time with family, etc. There were a few setback/scares, but we've made it through 2010 and are looking forward to whatever may come in 2011.
I'll start with a post that was actually part of 2009---but I just HAVE to include it! Our Hawaiian Honeymoon! We had the TIME OF OUR LIFE! Nothing like being in paradise with the love of your life. Here are a few peeks:

Helicopter Tour on Kauai

On the Beach in Kauai.
January continued with the usual: Elizabeth traveling for work, and Lance working hard on his business. In February, Elizabeth's job changed slightly and she started working from home and only traveling "once a month" (or so!). Wow! What a change...going from living on our own, owning our own homes, Elizabeth always traveling, to Elizabeth working FROM HOME, being married and living together. =)
March threw us a curveball when we found out Lance had melanoma on his back. Thanks to the wonderful Dr. Lara who found it!!! Lance had surgery and was back to himself and cancer free in just a few weeks. We Thank God that it hadn't spread and nothing else had to be done. On with our fun life!
We didn't waste time and the next week we took a trip to the Bahamas. Elizabeth's work took us there and it was well worth it! We spent the weekend in Abaco. Thanks to the wonderful pharmacist and his wife who made us feel like we were at home and helped us navigate the area. It was like a second honeymoon!

On the Water ferry.

Relaxing after a fun bike ride around one of the Islands.

The beautiful beach, we took a walk: it was deserted and beautiful!

A few months later we headed up north to Cousin Stacy's wedding in Milwaukee! We had so much fun and it was great spending time with family.

Lance walking Aunt Stephanie down the aisle at the rehearsal.

Lance and Cousin Stacy.

Elizabeth and Cousin Stacy

Lance and Elizabeth

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bauman!!!

On July 4th, we changed a long time tradition of Elizabeth's. For years (at my old house), I had a Fourth of July party. This year, we decided to change things up and flew up to Louisville for the fourth. We spent the day and weekend with family...renting an awesome Pontoon boat!

A few weeks later, we had a HUGE milestone in our family. Our Grandaddy turned 100!!!! We had a big family celebration! I like to note that Grandaddy played 9 holes of golf on his 100th birthday!

That same weekend, we headed to Longboat Key with family and friends for a few days. Michael and Renee brought Mia and James down...and Jodi and Allen also came with Timmy for a few days. We had a blast!

Big Al, Mike and Lance

James riding the waves. Mia looking cute!

Mia and Timmy...true love???
Or just too cute??

Mia loses her FIRST TOOTH in Longboat Key!!!! (Pay no attention to the messy face from dessert!)

Mia after she caught a fish---wanted NOTHING to do with it! "I'm not touching that!"
Oh and favorite Mia quote: (Speaking to Lance regarding the rocks under the bridge that had coral growing on them) "Hey Uncle Wance, Wook at the Coworful wocks!"

James fishing off the same pier that Daddy and Aunt Cissy used to fish off with Grandaddy!

My redneck twin brother. He lives in Kentucky, can't you tell????

Next, we took a quick trip up to Iowa for the Knoxville Nationals...sprint car races. We had a blast spending time with Lance's side of the family! We stayed at his Uncle Donnie and Aunt Kay's house. Aunt Kay kept our stomachs FULL with her wonderful cooking! The first night the weather was too nasty to go to the races, but on the second night we all went! (Ladies too!) I'm very glad that I brought ear plugs and promptly took a shower as soon as I got home. Enough said. =) The last day we were there, Uncle Donnie and Aunt Kay took us to the Iowa State Fair. We had a great day.

Which one of the three is the "Big Boar"????

Sky ride, wind mills and the American Flag. A great American scene!

A few months later we had very exciting news---our family of two was to become a family of three! We were so excited, but God had other plans and decided it wasn't quite our time yet (10 weeks along). So, we have a little Angel in heaven and will be planting a tree in the backyard for our little one.

Only a few weeks later, Elizabeth's work took her to Fresno, California the week after Thanksgiving. So, we decided to take a quick trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley to celebrate our first anniversary (wow, that went by fast!). We had an incredible day in San Fran and also got to see cousins Stacy and Justin! The next day, we drove out to Napa Valley and had a wonderful time! And since Elizabeth was no longer pregnant---we were both able to taste wines! (bitter sweet)

On our way to Alactraz

Lance in jail at Alcatraz...this how the inmates had visitation.

We were in town for the tree lighting!!! Unfortunately, we didn't see it lit at night.

Crooked street! Pretty hydrandeas were everywhere!!! (They were also in our wedding!)

At the Chappellet winery.

Bouchon Bakery----YUMMMMMM.

Traveling Teddy in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Some of the vines---the vines were just changing colors....beautiful!

Someone missed a few----I guess these could be used for the "late harvest" wine! hehehe.

Lance, Elizabeth, Stacy and Justin with Flat Jaylie!

A wonderful trip!

Looking forward to another fun year!!! Stay tuned for more!
Hoping the next 50 years together are as good as the first year!

As most of you know, when Lance and I were married, we had three houses between us. Two are now rentals and we live in Lance's second house. It was hard for me to really feel at "home" right away, since I had been living in my home for 6 years. But, in the past year, Lance has worked SO HARD making "his house" "our home". And now, it is definitely OUR HOME!
The one area I'm really proud of is our yard. I'm going to try to show off the transition in the next set of pictures (I wish I had taken a few more...this is our backyard, which only a year ago was a MESS! The lawn was torn apart due to drain field issues). But, as I've learned quickly, Lance always has a plan.

Bringing in the Bird of Paradise.

Brant came over and helped Lance out a bit! What fun for a 4 year old boy!

Successfully installed in the yard, now to prune it up.

Lance hard at work.

A view of the other half of our yard: Reclinata/Robellini Palm, a Canary Island Date Palm in the back corner, a few Ligustrum trees, fish tail palms.

View of the Bird of Paradise and the Bismarckia Palm, before grass.

Grass arrives.

Our wonderful neighbor, Alberto, joined in to help. Lucia and Albertico helped as well! You'd be surprised how heavy those little squares of grass are!