the waiting game...

We officially hit the 38 week mark tomorrow! It is so hard to believe this adventure is almost over... So many people have asked how I am feeling, so I thought I would leave a quick update on life at the Denlingers.

The doctors say that I am right on track to deliver around my due date, November 8th. Just a little fun fact... did you know that only 30% of women deliver on their due date? I am progressing well and all of the uncomfortable feelings that you are supposed to have at the end of your pregnancy, I am experiencing... so I guess that is a good sign.

This week I realized that I am not the only one getting anxious for this baby to come. I think Tucker is over it too!

In other news...

Andy's dad was appointed as the new President of World Venture. This is the mission organization that Andy's family served with in Venezuela and his dad has been working with the past ten years at the head office. We are so proud of him and know that he will continue to be a wonderful leader for the organization! Congrats Dad!

mid-September Picture Update

Now that August is over, I have a minute to catch my breath... I wanted to send out an update on what we have been up to the last few weeks. Here are a few pictures to tell the story a bit better. enjoy.

At the end of August we were honored when our friends from college asked all three of us to be in their wedding. The venue was gorgeous and our trip to Grand Junction gave us one last getaway before baby comes!

Date night at the new Yardhouse in Park Meadows... it was fun to have a night out even if it meant a quick dinner at 9:30pm!

It's that time of year again for elk hunting... because baby is due only a few weeks after when he was supposed to go to the mountains to hunt, Andy willingly obliged to stay home this year and hunt on my parents property instead. What an amazing hubby I have!

Look what he came across when he was sitting... a big black BEAR!

speaking of the property... here is a picture that one of my friends took, what a great shot of God's creation. How blessed are we to live with this in our backyard?

Andy and my Dad had the opportunity to go to the Sunday night home opener to watch Peyton and the Broncos! Thought these shots were pretty cool and had to share...

Tucker loves that I am working from home full time now... although he still doesn't quite seem to understand why i can't play with him anytime he wants. He brought me this toy this morning while I was trying to make calls.

Denlinger.Christmas.2010

We hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We were so blessed to be surrounded by family and able to spend time with the ones we love as we remember the real reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Christmas Eve after church, we headed to Andy's parents for a traditional Venezuelan meal. We spent Christmas morning here at home, it was so nice to be able to spend the morning together. I am so blessed to have the most wonderful best friend and husband in the world. After our morning at home, we headed over to my parents house and spent some time with my grandparents. I brought over my violin and Jess and I played a few Christmas songs. My Grandpa also picked up the violin and played a few tunes. It was great to have everyone together!

We have been so blessed. God is so good!

Here are some pictures of our Christmas. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=2226468&id=42113320&fbid=661907175972

St. Nicks - December.6.2010

It is that time of the year again when we set out our wooden shoes and wait for St. Nick to bring cookies. This has been a tradition that my family has taken part in long before I was born. Since we have been married I have shared this tradition for the past few years with Andy and his family. The cookie recipe is a family secret so only a few of us have it in our possession. No worries, we still share the cookies we make... and in our house, you better make sure you know which cookie is yours otherwise it may be gone... never to be recovered!

Here is the story of St. Nick or Sinterklaas and the tradition that we have come to love!

Sinterklaas is a traditional Winter holiday figure in the Netherlands, he is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas' eve (5 December Originally, the feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of Amsterdam, children and sailors. the Dutch celebrate at the 5th of December the birth day of Sinterklaas. He is the basis of the mythical holiday figure of Santa Claus in the United States. Sinterklaas is his usual name. The more formal name is Sint Nicolaas or Sint Nikolaas. The Dutch write Sinterklaas.

In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' Eve (5 December) is the chief occasion for gift-giving during the Christmas season. In the Netherlands, most children receive their presents on this evening. For Dutch children it is customary to put their shoe in front of the fireplace on the evening of 5 December, then go to bed. In modern times, they may put them next to the central heating unit. They leave the shoe with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water nearby "for Sinterklaas' horse", and the children sing a Sinterklaas song. The children then wake up and find the presents around the shoes on the morning of the 6th.

Typical Sinterklaas treats traditionally include: hot chocolate, mandarin oranges, pepernoten, letter-shaped pastry filled with almond paste or chocolate letter (the first letter of the child's name made out of chocolate), speculaas (sometimes filled with almond paste), chocolate coins and marzipan figures. Newer treats include kruidnoten (a type of shortcrust biscuit or gingerbread biscuits) and a figurine of Sinterklaas.

Instead of presents we bake traditional St. Nick cookies or gingerbread like cookies.

Here are some pictures of our St. Nick's Day. What are your family Christmas traditions? What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

Our shoes ready for St. Nick!

Tucker ever got his own gingerbread treat! Wow, that St. Nick is the best!

Cookies! YUM.

late summer adventure

Before the weather got cold we wanted to take advantage of one of the last weekends we were free. Andy and I went up to Eleven Mile State Park and Spiney Lake to take in some outdoor fun before summer is gone for good. Andy was able to do some fly fishing, which was much needed relaxation after our crazy summer of running here and there, trying to get settled in our new life. My parents went with us to celebrate my Dad's 50th birthday. We took a great hike on Saturday and much to my surprise, Tucker found a snake to play with... definitely NOT the highlight of the day!

Here is the link to some pictures of our late summer adventure! Enjoy.

http://www.facebook.com/hannahdenlinger#!/album.php?aid=2201776&id=42113320&ref=mf

Our new addition, Tucker

Here is the newest part of our family. His name is Tucker, he is a Snoodle, a Schnauzer and Poodle mix. He is such a good boy and love having him as a part of our family!