Queen of the Hill

I couldn't resist positing this picture

2012-01-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

Isn't she beautiful?

Three more months and she's going to be baptized.

(sigh) Where did the time go?

Future Chef?

2012-01-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

IF I can get him off of my hip,

Mr C is often found playing with the kitchen,

probably more than any of my other kids.

Maybe it's all that time spent on my hip.

Winter?

2012-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

Since we have had a major lack of winter this winter,

we decided to make our own snowflakes

and tape them up in our preschool.

While we were taping them up, Sys said,
"There's a creature in our window!!"Sure enough, we had two "creatures" in our window.

I can handle the beetle, but I'm not so sure about the spiders! :)

Trucks

2011-12-30T16:13:00.000-08:00

I love that they have started doing this together:

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

The Reason For The Season

2011-12-24T20:58:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Stocking Races

2011-12-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

I didn't get enough pictures of our

preschool Christmas Party,

but I thought I would at least

post these.

We had a great time having a "snowball fight",

unwrapping a chocoate bar with gloves on,

decorating an ornament,

keeping our balloons up in the air,

coloring a snowman,

playing "Don't eat Santa",

Freeze Dance,

and of course our stocking races.

Football

2011-12-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

Mr T came out of his room like this today:

His construction hat on backwards

(you know, like a helmet),

holding a football.

I think I know what he needs for Christmas!Mr C needed in on the action too.

Magnets

2011-12-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today in preschool we talked about magnets.

It was really fun!

We did and experiment to see what things are attracted to magnets.

Even some of mom's predictions were wrong.We talked about north poles and south poles.

The kids had fun trying to push the north and south poles together.

We also talked about magnetic fields

and we tried to see how far away we could

keep our magnet before a

paper clip was attracted to it.

We finished by making magnetic creatures.

This is one I will definatedly store in

my favorite preschool memories!

Mr T at 5 yrs

2011-12-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

Just so you know, I hate the age 5. 5 rounds up to 10 and 10 is too old. Mr T is 5 now and it's so sad for me to look at my little boy who isn't SO little any more.

Mr T is also all boy.
He loves football, especially BYU football.
He loves the color blue (go figure).
He is an AWESOME soccer player, but football really is his true love.
He got a set of golf clubs for his birthday and has really enjoyed hitting the ball around the yard.
He has started reading and is doing a great job at that.
He is so smart. If you teach him a new concept, he picks it right up. He's like his dad that way. He'll be that type of person who doesn't have to study for a test, and will still end up with an A. I hate those kinds of people ;).

He LOVES to pester his siblings, especially Mr C.
He loves to ride his bike.
He loves to be outside, no matter what the weather.

Don't tell his sister I said this, but he's really good at learning primary songs, even better than her. He picks them up and remembers all the words.

He is a perfectionist just like his dad.
He loves fruit. Any kind.
He's really into super heros right now, especially batman.

He's quick. Seriously, I have to full on sprint to beat him in a foot race.
He loves to be helpful and gets a lot of satisfaction in doing so.

He loves to play PIG in basketball.
He loves motorcycles and trucks.
He loves to ride in the truck with his dad.

He loves to go with his dad most Saturdays and get a root beer.
He says some AMAZING prayers.

Mr T really has a good heart. I feel like I'm constantly getting on his case for badgering his brother and sisters, but he really is a good boy. I love it when he snuggles with me and lets me know that even though he's quite independent and is really more of a daddy's boy, he still needs his mama. My kids are what makes life worth living and that little boy sure takes a huge part of my heart.

Mr C at 1 yr

2011-12-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

My, oh my, what a sweet baby boy I have. I really thought by this point he would be a daddy's boy because Mr T was by this age and still is. But not Mr C. He is a mamma's boy through and through. Don't get me wrong, he sure likes his dad. He gives him a great big smile when he sees him at the end of the day, but when it comes right down to it, he likes to stick with mom. He's on my hip a large majority of the day. It's no wonder it took him 14 months to walk!

Mr C loves all things boy.

He loves to chase a ball around the room.
He loves to bang things together to hear the different sounds they make, the louder, the better.

He loves to push any kind of vehicle around the room and he even makes a vroom sound!

He loves to be naked.
He loves stuffed animals, especially his new friend puppy (Thanks Jen!).
He loves to look through books and point to things.

He loves to "talk" on the phone and/or put the phone to my ear and say, "hello".
He loves to brush my hair (ouch :)).
He loves to go to story time at the library and feel like he's a big boy.

He loves the bath, especially putting his hand under the running water.
He loves to make people laugh.
He loves to be pushed in the stroller, or the wagon, or whatever has wheels (except the car).

So far Mr C has followed Hill family tradition and is a horrible eater. I really had high hopes for him in the beginning. He would eat just about anything, even spicy food. I think we fed him too many sweets and now all I can get him to eat is dairy products. You can live on that, right? Just throw some Carnation Instant Breakfast in his milk and it counts, right?

Mr C really is a good baby. He does a lot better when the other kids aren't around pestering him, but he is pretty mild mannered. I sure do love this boy and I am so grateful for the 15 months I have had him.

Peek-a-boo!

2011-12-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

"They Look the Same"

2011-11-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today I got to help in the Princess' new class at school. When her teacher introduced me I heard one of the boys say, "They look exactly the same, except they have different color hair." Either way, I take it as a compliment to look like my beautiful daughter.

A lot to be Thankful For

2011-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

For preschool we made a thankful tree.

Here are a few of the things my kids are thankful for. :)

We also watched "A Charlie Brown Thankgiving".

Reflecting on the holiday,

Charlie Brown's sister Sally asks,

"What do I have to be thankful for?"

Mr T turned to me and said,

"Mom, we have a lot to be thankful for.

They're all on our tree."

Wow, I didn't realize litterally counting our blessings

would make such an immediate impact.

We truly do have a lot to be thankful for. This year especially, my heart is full of gratitude for my family, my health, and the fact that I am a mother and a wife. My brother in-law just lost his sister this week. She was 38 and leaves behind 5 children ranging from the awkward age of 14 to the extremely needy age of 1. It has really taken me back. I squeeze my kids tighter and makes me so grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation, and especially for my savior and his atoning sacrifice.

Almost There

2011-11-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

Our house is almost complete. It's right at the tip of our fingertips,but we just can't quite grab it. It has taken a lot of blood sweat and tears. Handy Man has taken care of most of the blood and sweat and I have taken care of most of the tears. We're so excited to move in, we can't even stand it. We've gone to our new ward for three weeks now, and we've all made good friends in the neighborhood. The kids tell me everyday which toys they especially miss and every night we go to bed, Handy Man and I are dreaming of our long (feels like) lost, but not forgotten bed.

We have been living with my parents for over eight months now and they have been so wonderful to us. But we're ready. We had anticipated moving in the end of September, now we just hope to be in before Thanksgiving. We're crossing our fingers we can get our driveway in this week and we'll hopefully pass inspection the end of the week. Please cross your fingers with us!

Run, Run, as Fast as You Can...

2011-11-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

When I was in kindergarten, we read the story

of the Gingerbread Boy and our teacher

told us she had made a gingerbread man,

but he had escaped and we went on a treasure

hunt all around the school trying to find him.

It is such a fond memory of mine,

I wanted to share it with my kids.

Our gingerbread man ended up at our good

friends, the Clarks. We had a great

time sharing him with them.

We have done a few other fun things in preschool this

month as well.

We talked about patterns.

I wasn't sure in the beginning how well

they were going to catch on, but they did.

I was so proud of them!

We also had a super fun Halloween Party!

I know, I'm a pretty awesome mom :)

I think Mr T would rather have the

normal preschool experience,

but Sys doesn't know any different

and she's having a great time.

It's a lot of work but I'm have a great time, too.

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Cake

2011-10-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

I love watching Cake Boss. He makes these amazing cakes and I am bound and determined to make an amazing cake someday. I really don't know much at all about making cakes, but my mom does. So she gave me some tips and I had a great time making cakes for my boys this year.

Mr C's cookie monster cake

Mr T's Star Wars cake

I still need to do their birthday posts. Maybe now that I've admitted that they've had a birthday, I'll get it done and not wait as long as I did for the Princess.

Fall Soccer 2011

2011-10-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

When the Princess started this season we were slightly worried. Last season she was an awesome defender. There were some girls on her team who were REALLY good on offense and the Princess was great at backing them up on defense. She wasn't particularly fast, but she always knew where the ball was and always got there to help.

When we started this season, we realized the Princess was one of the best players on the team and we weren't quite sure what that would mean. Honestly, though, It was so good for her. She rose to the occasion and really improved on her offensive skills. She changed the way she runs and was a HUGE help to her team. They lost most of their games, but the Princess finally scored a goal her second to last game and they even won the game! I was as proud as a mama could be. She was bound and determined to get a goal and her hard work finally paid off. We were so proud of her.

Mr T has some serious soccer skills. This kid, wow. He's that kid who the other team can't wait until he has to sit out. He scored at least one goal every game, his high score being five. He is quick (he gets that from his dad, not his mom). As soon as the ball was in play he was off running. Most kids take a minute to react, but not Mr T. If he fell down, he jumped back up and didn't even flinch. Last season his defensive skills needed a little bit of improvement, but not this season. He always knew where the ball was and he was awesome about kicking the ball away from the other team. His team did loose a couple of games, but it was good for him. We don't want him to get too confident, too quick. :)

Sys had a good time doing Start Smart soccer with her dad. She didn't complain as much as we thought she would and she really tried to do her best. They had goals set up to practice shooting and scoring goals. She often got the ball in the goal around eight times each session. Mr T was so jealous and I could tell he was trying to figure out how she did it. I don't think he realized it wasn't a game, it was just practice and there was no one trying to take the ball away from her. I think Handyman and I both thought she would be more of the dancer type, but after this, I'm not sure we can count her out yet. It will be fun to see how she does as she gets older.

Mr C was just happy to be out an about. He LOVES balls. He gets a huge smile on his face playing with any type of ball. My guess is he'll take after his brother. :)

The Princess at 7

2011-09-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

I should have done this post MONTHS ago. Seriously, Her birthday was several months ago so I figured I better hurry and do it before she turns 8!

The Princess is such a blessing in my life. Honestly, four kids has been so much harder for me than three. She is so reliable and helpful. She watches Mr C for me while I take a shower, or make dinner, or help someone on the potty, or sweep the floor, or... the list goes on and on.

She is so sweet to her siblings. She is a peacemaker and often gives up something she has to make someone else happy.

The Princess is crafty. This quality comes from my mom, but for some reason it skipped a generation. She loves to be creative and put things together. She is very artistic, too. She stares at pictures in a picture book longer than most kids. She would much rather have a plain piece of paper than a coloring book to color. She is very creative in her art work. I really need to find a way for her to explore this more.

She is very smart. She usually gets 100% on her spelling tests, her math worksheets and her reading assignments. Her teachers have always told me what a wonderful student she is. Her first grade teacher talked about her with a bit of reverence and said she's not like the other kids. She is so gentle and sweet and kind.

The princess is an awesome soccer player! She is determined and passionate about doing her best every game. I'll post next week about the exciting things the kids have been working on and achieving in soccer this season.

She is beautiful. Inside and out. She has a little mole above her upper lip. She used to hate it, but I think I've finally convinced her that her beauty mark is beautiful and people pay lots of money to have them. Now she thinks it's her beauty mark that makes her beautiful. Hopefully in time she'll realize that it's not the beauty mark, it's just her.

I honestly think Heavenly Father picks certain people to be the oldest child in the family. He knows they're going to have to be responsible, helpful, and patient with their parents who are tackling parenthood for the first time. I definitely have regrets as a mother, but my kids are always so quick to forgive me. They make me want to be a better mother and a better person.

I love this girl and I am more than lucky to have her!

Parmesan Cheese

2011-09-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do

to get dinner made.

First Day of School 2011

2011-09-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Summer is over

and we are well into another school year.

I'm happy to report the Princess had a much

better reaction to second grade

than she did to first.

She said it was, "The best day ever!"

We love her teacher and we

REALLY hope we like her teacher at her

new school just as much.

We are doing home school preschool this year.

It's hard to tell how they liked

the first day of school, but

I think they're really enjoying it.

I occasionally hear them playing

school and singing our songs.

I for one am really glad I decided to do it.

It's a lot of work, but it has been

so good for me to set aside two days

each week to spend with my kids.

I hope we're creating lasting memories.

He Started Saying "Mama" This Week

2011-09-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

I think I'm excited.

The Princess Got her Ears Pierced!

2011-09-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

I was going to make her wait until she was 8,

but her cousin came into town and

she was getting hers done.

7 is close enough to 8, right?

This picture really doesn't capture

the shear look of terror she had on her face.

All in all it wasn't so bad.

She didn't even cry.

My Birthday

2011-09-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

When I was little my brother Chris helped me figure out how many days after his birthday, my birthday was. And every year after that I was sure to tell him it was 13 more days til my birthday on his birthday. He always seemed genuinely happy for me and my excitement and to this day I always think of him with fondness on my birthday. It was such a treat this year to get to see him.

So a few years ago he gave me this sweater vest he got for free from a company he did some work for. I saved it and gave it back to him a few years later. We have since given it back and forth a few times. The problem is that he lives in Texas and I don't have many opportunities to "re-gift" it. He came into town last night and I knew this was my chance. I waited until he was ready to leave for the airport and I slipped it into his bag. I haven't heard from him yet, but it seriously made my whole day! I don't usually get away with these sort of things, especially with him. Ha! Ha! Seriously, my WHOLE day!

Just so my boys know, I love that their birthdays are right close to mine. I don't necessarily look forward to my birthday, but I know they do (or will). And I feel that same excitement for them that I felt as a child. This time of year makes me happy for that reason. We can count the days between our birthdays and there's so much excitement in the air.

On another note, I never really understood what the big deal was about 30. I guess I had kids so young and I apparently look so young, I have always been glad to be one year older. But now that I'm 29 I get it. Next year is 30 and I'm not looking forward to it. (Sigh) Here's to one more year in my 20's.

Crazy Summer

2011-09-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

My life has been crazy this summer

and I have been meaning to post several things,

but I just haven't gotten around to it.

So here's a funny from Sys until

I find the time for more...

We were eating dinner and Sys was

really struggling to choke it down.

I was helping her and she was pretty close to done.

I said, "Eat one more good bite

and you can be done."

Her reply: "It's not a good bite. It's a bad bite."

Different Types of Bowlers

2011-07-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

This little girl has a luckiness about her

and I have a sneeking suspision it's going

to follower her through life.

This girl is just like her mom.

She's competitive and when she doesn't

do as well as she would like, she takes it hard.

If I could pick just one of my kids to go bowling with,

it would be him.

He was excited to knock down any pin.

It didn't matter the number,

or if he won or lost.

He just wanted to have sucess.

Pickin' Berries

2011-07-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Nine Years

2011-07-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is what we have to show for

nine years worth of marriage

I'd say we've done pretty well.

We Have a Foundation and Slab

2011-06-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

We're ready to frame!

Alvin and the Chipmunks?

2011-06-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

We were driving in the car this afternoon

and "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus came on.

Sys got really excited and asked,

"Is that Alvin and the Chipmunks?"

Made my day :)

Sys at 3

2011-06-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Sys had her birthday several months ago,

so I figured I better do this post now,

because once I blink she'll be 4.

If I could freeze Sys at this age I would. She is so fun to watch.

I love to sit and listen to her play make-believe.

She is funny and is very creative. Have you ever

seen Kid History Episode 1? She totally reminds

me of the little girl in it.

She loves to help me in the kitchen,

whether it's pouring in ingredients, stirring,

or just watching. She loves to be my side-kick.

Sys can most often be found in either pjs or dress-ups.

In her eyes, princess dress-up shoes work just as well

as any other shoe for any given occasion.

Sys does not believe in socks. She would much rather

be banned from wearing her new princess tennis shoes

than put on a pair of socks.

She loves to watch movies. If she pees her pants she's not

allowed to watch a movie the next day. We don't deal with

this issue much anymore.

Sys is just plain sweet. She makes you happy to be around her.

She is constantly smiling and brightening everything around her.

She often says to me, "Mom, let's go sit on the front porch

and talk (usually about Jesus)". I hope this never changes.

I hope we always have a really close relationship where

she can come to me for anything.

She is shy with people she doesn't know, but she is very confident

around those she does. She can hold her own with her siblings

and puts up a good fight if she needs to.

As sweet as she is she also has a sassiness to her.

She puts her hands on her hips and lets

you know what she thinks.

We absolutely love this little girl and can't imagine

a life without her.

We Finally Have A Hole!!!

2011-06-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

I Try to Take It as a Compliment

2011-06-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

So people think I'm A LOT younger than I really am.

For example, when I was in the hospital having Mr C a lady came in to clean my room and asked if this was my first baby. When I told her it was my fourth her face went into complete shock and she asked me how old I was. She said I looked like I was about 17.

Over Thanksgiving we went down to Arizona to visit my brother. We watched my 15 year old niece play in a basketball game and one of her teammates, totally horrified asked her how old her cousin was with the baby.

Then we went to Charlotte Russe and I thought I would splurge and buy myself a pair of jeans. I had Mr C in my Moby Wrap. A girl offered to help me find the right size and said, "You know, these are Misses sizes (not junior)". Awesome. That's where I generally shop.

I am not a teen mother. I am a responible adult and yes, I am old enough to have four children, I think. I try to take people's mistake for my age as a compliment. Like yesterday.

We were at Costco and an older lady behind me said to me, referring to Mr T, "You brother is fast." Yes, my brother is fast. But I'm not sure we were thinking of the same people. With a smile and a nod I continued on my way.

Something About These Two

2011-05-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Usually Mr C is clawing at me to get away from Sys,

but sometimes she can make him giggle

in a way no one else can.

Like yesterday.

She would push him back and

stand right in front of him so he would crash into her.

They both just laughed and laughed.

When his brother did it, it just wasn't the same.

There's just something about her.

Preschool Graduation

2011-05-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Mr T had preschool graduation today.

He's not going to Kindergarten, though he technically could.

Mom is going to be the teacher next year for Mr T and Sys.

We sure will miss Teacher Tracey!

We are so proud of Mr T

and all the things he accomplished this year!

I Spy

2011-05-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, first I have to point out Sys's outfit.

She's wearing mismatching pajamas, Mr C's coat,

a boot, and Grandma's sandal.

Sys's version of "I Spy":

I spy, wonder my eye

it's...pink!

First Testimony

2011-05-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I couldn't get it turned. I tried!

I know the church is true and that Heavenly Father sent us here. Jesus also blesses us when we need help and the Holy Ghost helps us also. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

-The Princess April 2011

Miracles

2011-04-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

You know those times when something happens in your life and you can't stop thanking the Lord for the outcome? That happened to me today.

It's my week to drive carpool for preschool. We were running a little bit late because we walked the Princess to school today. We had just picked up our little friend and I was ready to drive away, but our friend needed some help with her seatbelt. Normally I just have Mr T help her, but I decided I would just quickly get out and do it. When I came around the side of the car I noticed her 19 month old brother checking out my car. My heart stopped. I probably would have backed over him if I hadn't got out to help his sister.

It's experiences like that that make it impossible for me to deny the presence of our Lord and so grateful for his intervention in my life today.

Simple Fix

2011-04-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk with my kids today

and we passed a house where they were

tearing out some juniper bushes.

Mr T was concerned, but he had a solution.

"I don't know how they're going to put those trees back.

Maybe they can use some tape or some glue."

Photo Shoot 4.15

2011-04-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

All pictures courtesy PhotoWorks Portrait Studio

Is it Just Me?

2011-04-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, is it just me, or does this happen to other people? Blogger seems to put spaces when I don't want spaces and it doesn't put spaces when I do want them!!! Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

At the Cabin

2011-04-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

We spent Conference Weekend up at my parents cabin

with our good friends the Laings.

I didn't take nearly enough pictures. I hope Megan doesn't mind me posting this picture,

but I couldn't resist.

This little guy spent a large part of the weekend

in his chair eating.

I guess he was content to sleep there too :)

We thouroughly enjoyed the company

and the wonderful words that were spoken.

I didn't get a picture,

but the kids spent Saturday listening

to Conference in a tent.

You know, like the people in Mosiah

when they listened to King Benjamin.

It was so fun,

we just might have to make that a tradition.

Time Out

2011-03-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

I found Mr T and Sys doing this

to pass the time in time out. I also caught the Princess cleaning out

Mr T's ears the other day.

Apparently I'm raising a bunch of monkeys!

Science Palooza

2011-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Provo City recently had a Science Palooza.

It was free and it sounded fun

so we decided to check it out.

We had a great time watching the

many different science experiments they had

and we came home with some great ideas.

My personal favorite was the bubble room.

How many kids can say they have been

inside a bubble?

No More Training Wheels

2011-03-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

Mr T loved the cougar bike he got for

his birthday a year and a half ago,

but the poor thing would get high centered

from the training wheels

and he quickly wore out the tread.

So he spent all of last summer bikeless.

He has been bugging me since the snow melted

to take his training wheels off

and we finally did it.

I think it took him all of 20 minutes

to get the hang of it

and I haven't been able to get him off it since.

When my dad saw him he commented that

the day he learned to ride a bike was

the best day of his life up until that point.

I think Mr T could probably say the same.

And of course he is already doing tricks that

make his mom's heart skip a couple of beats.

Basketball

2011-03-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Mr T did smart start basketball this year.

The first day he walked into the gym and told his dad,

"I think I'm going to be pretty good at this."

And he was.

Missing My Sister

2011-03-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

My sister was here for three weeks

while her husband was away.

I missed the first two weeks

while I was busily packing up my house,

but the last week we got to be roommates again.

I didn't realize how much I missed her.

She is such a cute mommy

and really inspires me to

want to be a better mom myself.

We took this picture right before

she took this cute little boy away from me.

I have hopes that these two boys

will be best friends just like their moms.

I think she should move closer

so that can be a better reality.

Wrong Season

2011-03-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

The last couple of weeks have been really nice.

My kids have played outside every day

and it has been AWESOME!

I took this picture about a month ago

Mr T and Sys spent the last couple of months playing "swimming"

just missing the warm weather.

I'm so glad it's finally around the corner!

Moving

2011-03-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

We sold our house! and the last couple of weeks

we have been packing up all of our belonings,

one by one, to get moved out of our house.

Thus my absence.

It has come with a range of emotions.

Excitement at starting a new adventure in a new home.

Nervousness about getting everything done.

Guilt about leaving the first home my kids have ever known,

the place where we started our family.

I wish I would have taken a picture in the summer,

when all my flowers were out.

But here it is. The first home we ever owned.

The kids room is the first room we ever did.

I think it was the hardest room to leave, I'm not quite sure why.

I guess because this is the room that kept my babies safe at night.

I'm really sad to leave these, too.

I don't have many hobbies anymore,

but my mom must have passed on her green thumb,

because I really enjoy being out in the garden.

I guess I'll just have to look forward to next year.

But we did it. We successfully sold our first house and we're ready for a new adventure (some of us more than others). It's sad to leave our house behind, but we have each other and that's the best part.

I Miss You

2011-02-14T22:30:00.000-08:00

Just so I remember...

Sys uses "I miss you" as a term of endearment.

She often uses it in place of "I love you".

The Princess did the same thing

when she was her age.

And on the theme of love (just so I remember)

Mr T calls it Valen-day-times.

The Best Kind of Laughter

2011-02-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

These two were having the best time together.

They were being silly and just laughing.

Suddenly Sys got really serious and said,

"I don't want to laugh anymore. It makes me pee."

Happy Baby

2011-02-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

Rosecrest Firestation

2011-01-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

The last time we went to the grand opening

of a fire station Handyman built,

the Princess didn't get to come.

So this time we took her out of school.

She was so brave and went down the fire pole!

And Sys let me take a few pictures of her.

He Came Back!

2011-01-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

Handyman went on a "business trip"

(if you can call it that) last week.

Two days of golf and all amenities paid for

sans wife and kids.

Sys was so upset that he was leaving us!

On the morning of his return

I was helping Sys say our morning prayers

and this is how it went:

Please bless Daddy...

Please bless Daddy to come home

Please bless Daddy to come home safe

No, please bless Daddy to come home

And he did.

Too Cheap

2011-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

Notice the Princesses snow suit.

Yeah, it's not tucked into her boots.

Maybe next year!

Toe Dust

2011-01-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

Whatcha doin' Sys?

I'm getting my toe dust.

Back to School

2011-01-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

The Princess was sitting at breakfast this morning

and this was our conversation:

Mom, do I have to go to school today?

Yes, you do.

My side is really itchy.

Do I still have to go to school?

Yes, put some lotion on it.

I was really itchy all night.

I'm sorry.

What if my teacher calls you because I'm so itchy?

Will you come and get me?

No, I won't come get you,

so don't tell your teacher you're itchy.

But if I have the chicken pox

I don't have to go to school, right?

Right. But you don't have the chicken pox.

This is first grade.

What is junior high going to bring?

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Love, the Hills

First Snowman

2010-12-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Princess and Mr T made this snowman

all by themselves.

Pretty awesome if you ask me.

The Naughty List

2010-12-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Santa came to Mr T's preschool class.

Before he got started he wanted to know

who was on the extra naughty list.

Mr T hesitated only a moment

before his hand shot up in air.

(I did inform him earlier in the week

he had been put on the naughty list)

I guess it's a good thing he's still got time

to work his way back onto the nice list.

Future Missionary

2010-12-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

I was at the store the other day

when the guy behind me asked

if Mr T was my son.

He said that he and his friend

were just discussing how

Mr T has that future missionary

look about him.

I told him that was the plan.

3 Pregnant Sisters = 3 Baby Boys

2010-11-27T21:07:00.000-08:00

I was elated back in September

when my mom called me to tell me

both my sisters had baby boys.

We were finally all able to get together over

Thanksgiving down in Arizona.

Here are our results:

Sure to be the best of friends.

I don't think I'm old enough...

2010-11-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

to have three kids who do this:

Seriously, when did this happen?

Blessing Day

2010-11-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Handy Man gave Mr C a beautiful blessing.

Thank you to everyone who came

and shared with us on this special day.

October Fun 2010

2010-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you Grandma Hill for the cute shirts!

The Pumkin Patch

(too many choices. it's hard to pick the right one)

Carving our pumpkins

Ward Halloween Party

and proof that mom and dad always
dress up as mom and dad

Waiting for the rain to stop for

Trick or Treating

We topped it all off by celebrating one of our
favorite cousins birthday on Halloween
with a fun party at Grandma's house.

Grandpa to the Rescue Again

2010-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

We are so lucky to have a professional

teeth extractor in the family!

(note: His expertise is from years of practice, not profession)

Left Overs

2010-11-01T14:41:00.001-07:00

For some reason my kids think

if you want to save something for later

it belongs in the fridge.

Just So He Knows

2010-10-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

I debated blogging this because it's personal and as fair warning it's quite lengthy. But I wanted to be able to revise it so I could get it just right. And who knows, maybe someone out there needs it as much as I do.

Before Mr C was even born I worried about him, especially about the possible side effects from his umbilical cord. I was sitting on the bathroom floor cleaning the tile when I had a strong impression that this wouldn't be the only time in his life I would worry about him. While this gave me comfort that he wouldn't be still born it was still a little disconcerting.

I tried to play it off as "Well, moms always worry about their kids." You know, I hope they don't forget how to spell the words on their spelling test, or I hope they don't kick the ball the wrong way in their soccer game. And who knows what the teenage years will bring (by the way, my kids aren't going to be teenagers. I haven't quite figured out how we're going to skip it yet, but I'll let you know when I do). But deep down I knew it was something more.

When Mr C was born the nurse wanted to know whose stubby little toes he got. We were confused. Our kids aren't known to have stubby little toes. In fact, they are quite the opposite. Upon examination we discovered that the three middle toes on his right foot were significantly smaller that the other ones, with the very middle one being the smallest. His left foot was perfectly normal. I was so sad. I don't want him to get teased about it and more importantly I want him to be able to do all the things he wants to in life with out his toes slowing him down.

Our doctor recommended a specialist to see and I eventually made an appointment. I think those toes are a blessing in disguise. Because I have examined his foot more closely I noticed a white spot on his big toe. As the weeks have gone on we have discovered more white spots and his toe has become more red and swollen with a glossy tone to the skin.

I was afraid that maybe there was an infection so I made an appointment with my pediatrician since my other appointment was still another week out. He poked at his toe, but no puss came out. Just regular, bright red blood. So we had his blood drawn and were able to rule out infection for sure.

On Monday we went to see the specialist. They took an x-ray of his toe and discovered there were calcium deposits in it. The doctor initially said they don't like to sedate children under three months, but she was concerned enough that she wanted us to have an MRI done as soon as possible. So we made an appointment for the next day.

We left the doctors appointment feeling extremely sad and very scared. We had initially made an appointment for his middle toes, and left more worried about his big toe. As far as his middle toes go she really wasn't concerned. She said it looked like something called amniotic bands. While they are in the womb these bands can constrict the extremities and prevent them from growing. They usually see it in both feet and the fingers as well. Some kids have it restrict just below the knee and are born with out a leg. So I'm grateful all it is is three little toes. The balance is in the big toe, so there shouldn't be an issue with walking.

Tuesday morning was really hard. It was all I could do to hold myself together. I couldn't nurse him after 9:30 and he couldn't have any more clear liquids after 11:30. By the time we got to his appointment he was starving. But he did pretty good chomping away on his binki when his daddy held him, while I tried to stay out of his line of sight.

The procedure went well and though he didn't want to wake up, he was perfectly fine and it wasn't too long before we were able to take him home. However, it was an agonizing 24 hours waiting for the test results.

There is clearly a growth in his toe, but it doesn't appear to be malignant. It also doesn't appear to be coming from the bone, meaning the bone is not causing the problem, so that's good. It lays under neath the bone and it will need to be removed. We will probably do it with in the next couple of months, but we should be able to wait until he is at least 3 months.

As scary as this has all been, I had the impression on Monday night that Heavenly Father has a plan for him and that there is work that he needs to do. I don't know what this life had in store for him. But I have a feeling he will do great things. But someday when he's older I want him to know that I knew at such a young age that his Heavenly Father knows him, He loves him, and He has sent him hear at this time for a great purpose.

I also want to thank all my family members for their many prayers. In those times when I could barely hold myself together and the times when I couldn't it was a comfort to know you were praying for me and my family.

My dad gave us all blessings on Monday night before the MRI. In those blessings we were told that the time would come when we would look back on this trial and see the hand of the Lord through all this and that we would recognize the faith that was built through it all. I think I can already see that and I am extremely grateful for the blessing it is to be a daughter of God.

He Loves me Most

2010-10-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Occationally when the Princess takes Mr C

she is able to calm him down.

When this happens she tells me,

"Mom, I think he loves me the most today."

Maybe so. Either way I'll take it.

Chilean Mine Rescue

2010-10-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but watch this ALL DAY.

Even my kids got excited everytime they

pulled another person out.

Mr T walked around the house the whole time

saying, "Chi Chi Chi".

Not that I would want something like this

to happen again,

but I loved the feeling not of

"I'm an American and you're a (insert country)"

but that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father.

The Picture Doesn't do it Justice

2010-10-05T21:39:00.001-07:00

SIGH

The Princess: "What were you thinking?"

Mr T: "We were trying to look like tigers."

The Princess: "Well you don't look like tigers."

He's Bald!

2010-10-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Before I had children I prefered bald babies.

But then I had the Princess

and my preference changed.

I can't imagine having

a baby who didn't have hair.

I love that soft feathery duckling fuzz.

But with every child it's inevitable.

They awkwardly loose their hair and it gets to the point

when it needs to be removed.

So I did it, a little sooner than normal this time.

The kid's reactions:

Sys: " Mom, he needs his hair back on"

Mr T: "You forgot to do mine."

The Princess: "Why would you do that?"

I think It makes him look even more like his daddy.

Which isn't so bad because

I quite like his daddy.

Yep, it's a lot

2010-09-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

One of the many projects Handy Man

has been working on at work included

building this fire station.

This week we got to go to the grand opening.

Mr T was in heaven.

We took a tour of the station.

Mr T got to sit in the fire truck,

wash it,

and push it into the station.

Do you remember this post?
I'd say if he loves me like a fire truck
it's more than a lot.

Gluten Free Birthday Cake

2010-09-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Usually my Celiac Disease isn't too big of a deal.

It's a pain, but not too big of a deal.

I find that the hardest times for me

are when my kids have birthdays

and they get their fun birthday cakes.

I know I'm wierd, but I enjoy the frosting on a cake.

Most adults scrape it off, I lick it off my plate.

So this year for my birthday Handy Man found a

gluten free bakery and ordered me the

YUMMIEST cake.

I can now look forward every year to my birthday

and especially the frosting on my cake!

Four Year Older

2010-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

This guy recently had a birthday

and boy oh boy is he getting bigger.

I realized this the other day when I just about

knocked him out cold with my elbow.

Mr T is just like his dad.

He wants to be his dad when he grows up.

For Halloween he wants to be an excavator.

He's a perfectionist.

He pays such close attention to detail,

he rarely leaves anything out.

He LOVES to be helpful.

He works hard until he gets the job done

and not just done, but done exactly right.

His latest thing is to tell me how beautiful I am.

He's a keeper this one.

I just can't figure out what I did right to get SO lucky.

Passing on our Political Views

2010-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest. Handyman and I don't care too much for President Obama. We're very frustrated with the direction he has taken our country and in our house those frustrations have often been discussed.

There was a note sent home yesterday informing parents of President Obama's address to school children today. I do respect the office he holds, so I didn't have an issue with the Princess participating in this event and I really didn't think much more about it.

While getting ready for bed tonight the Princess told me she stayed in her class room during President Obama's address. She said,

"I knew you WOULD NOT want me to listen to President Obama."

What? "Oh, how many other kids were in the class room with you?"

"I was the only one."

Awesome. So now her teacher probably thinks I'm this extreme right wing, government hating lunatic. I did explain to her that though I don't agree with some of the things he does, we can still listen to him and respect his office. While I don't take ALL the blame for this (She does have an extremely opinionated father :) I think I'll try to keep my opinions about character to myself for now on.

How was your first day of School?

2010-09-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

First Grade:

"I hate school. All you do is work.

You can't just sit and color."

Pre-school:

"Mom, I had a GREAT DAY!!!"

Mr C

2010-08-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

7 lb 9 oz

21 in

Words can't describe our love

The Princess is Dating

2010-08-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

Her dad that is.

She wanted to look so pretty

and she's been telling everyone for a week

that she's "dating her dad".

They had a great time at Cafe Rio

and I think she looked beautiful.

Salem Days

2010-08-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the Salem Days firework show?

If not, you should.

Seriously, forget Stadium of Fire.

This firework show is way better.

Of course the company does always help.

Thanks Lewis Family for such a fun time!

I love this temple

2010-08-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

My parents live in Oregon for

several years before I was born.

My mom's sisters still live in the North West,

so as a little girl

I was introduced to this temple

and it was then that I fell in love.

It's set back in the woods

and you can barely see the spires

from the freeway it sits right next to.

Standing next to it feels like being in

a secluded forest, next to an enchanted castle.

As a child I loved this reflecting pond

and thought it was

one of the neatest things I had ever seen.

I dreamed of being married here,

never thinking it was actually a possibility.

But when the time came the logistics

just didn't make sense

and we were happily married in the

Timpanogos Temple.

I'm so glad I still get to visit.

And even more grateful I can now enjoy

the beauties both with-in and with-out.

Oregon

2010-07-29T07:31:00.001-07:00

We Went to Oregon and had so much fun,

it was hard to come home.

Here's a peek at what we did.

Multnomah Falls

OMSI

Night on the Town

The Beach

We watched this guy litterally die before our eyes.

It was so sad, but a good reminder for the Princess

and some seeds planted for Mr T

on what happens to us when we die.

Toy Story 3

The Aquarium

Down Town Portland

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for such a fun, relaxing time!

Feeling Better

2010-07-10T07:28:00.001-07:00

I went to my doctors appointment and I am finally feeling much better about this whole baby situation. I really wasn't completely understanding what I was worrying about.

So here's the deal. Sometimes when the chord is dilated like my little man's it can actually be a growth that puts pressure on the veins and arteries which restricts blood flow and causes the baby to be small and can present other problems. It doesn't appear that he has that problem since everything measures right on and he's getting fat.

My doctor also said that when Sys measured in at 8 lb 10 oz at birth, she would have been around the 70%. If he had to guess, he would guess this little guy will be around the same if not smaller. He also said that there would be no need for a C-section. If I can birth an 8 lb 10 oz baby, I can birth a 12 lb baby.

I did have another ultrasound yesterday and things still look great. He's 4 lb 10 oz which puts him in the 57%. I am now on to weekly non-stress tests until he is born.

I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers on my behalf. Now I just need to get through 8 more weeks of hot summer.

Lunch in a Box

2010-07-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Lazy

2010-07-02T17:47:00.001-07:00

We are coming up on six years of home ownership.

Up until two weeks ago we have lived on one level

of our two level house.

We put all the toys downstairs

and I even have an exercise room,

which I have tried to be diligent in using.

I finally got a good nights rest last night

and decided to give myself a break

from the treadmill today.

But when the princess woke up this morning

the first thing she said to me was,

"Shouldn't you be on the treadmill right now?"

Talk about guilt trip.

Luckily Mr T said to me yesterday,

"Mom, I love you like a firetruck."

That's got to be a lot, right?

I'll use that for my self esteem.

Baby x 3

2010-06-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry Sistas, it had to be posted. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, you know.

My sisters and I are all pregnant and due

within a week of each other.

I am due Sept 3 or Aug 28 or

who knows when this kid is coming,

but three ultrasounds have all confirmed

I'm having a boy.

My sisters are both due Sept 11

and have no idea what they are having.

Needless to say we're excited.

Let Summer Begin

2010-06-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

I think summer can finally begin for me.

The Princess had her dance recital

The kids finshed swim lessons last week

And we're finally done with baseball

We have no more schedules to live by!

The only problem now is that I was

planning on spending a lot of time

at the pool, but

I heard that cryptosporidium is back.

Maybe we'll just run through the spinklers.

Either way, we'll have fun.

Heaven on Earth

2010-06-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

Up Date

2010-06-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal with this so far nameless baby boy of mine. Where the umbilical coard enters his body is larger than normal. This doesn't happen very often, so they really don't know much about it or why it happens. From what I understand it basically means he's being force fed because he has more blood going through his body, so the biggest thing they worry about is problems with growth. It has been linked to still birth, but the doctor said you can link anything back to still birth. So I don't let myself focus on that.

Other than this little glitch, everything is perfectly normal. His heart and all his organs look great. At this point he does weigh more than average. He's 2 lb 15 oz which puts him in the 71%. They don't worry until they are in the 90%. They really can't say what he'll weigh at birth yet.

I have another apointment in four weeks and then I'll do non-stress tests until he's born. My biggest fear is that I'll have this huge baby and I'll have to have a C-section. I don't want a C-section. But I'll do what it takes. It's amazing how much you can love a baby you haven't met.

So that's where we stand. I really appreciate the thoughts and prayers I know I have recieved. It helps on those days when I'm discouraged. I have faith that things will be okay, but it's going to be a long 12 weeks. Now we just need to find a name :)

No Gestational Diabetes!

2010-06-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yay! I'm so happy. I was sure I would have gestational diabetes this time around. With the princess I had no problems. With Mr T I had to do the second test. With Sys I had to do the second test and was borderline. You have to have two points and I had one. So I was sure this time would do me in. But it didn't. I didn't even have to do the second test. I have happy tears!

This pregnancy has definitely been my hardest. From being sick when I very first found out, until 19 weeks (and loosing six pounds) to round ligament pain and plantar fasciitis. More aches and pains, more concern about the babies health. I'm having my third ultrasound this week to make sure he's still growing properly. Where his umbilical cord goes into his body is larger than normal. But I don't have gestational diabetes. Today is a day of thanks.

Old Boy Friend Embarassment

2010-06-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

So I wouldn't exactly call this guy an old boy friend. We went out several times and yes, we even kissed. However, things ended kind of awkwardly.

We were at The Princesses T-Ball game when I noticed this old friend of mine. I really didn't feel inclined to talk to him so I made sure to avoid eye contact.

Being the good mom that I am I brought my camera so I could take some pictures. Mr T wanted to come with me, so we headed over to where we could get a better picture. Mr T saw some rocks that caught his eye, so he stopped to investigate.

I took my pictures and as I was heading back to my seat I looked over at Mr T just in time to see him take a handful of gravel and chuck it at this guy's truck. Are you kidding me? It's not like he's allowed to do that at home. In fact, there would be major punishment for that kind of behavior.

I'm not the kind of mom who will just let my kids get away with things. So I ran over and scolded him and told him he needed to apologize. Of course he burst into tears and could not for the life of him work up the courage to say sorry. So we sat on the grass right where we were with my old friend and his family and waited. It took a good ten minutes, just sitting there in that awkward situation, but he finally did it. Mind you, I still avoided eye contact, not really wanting to strike up a conversation.

The guy was nice and we went on our way. What Mr T doesn't know is that it was more painful for me to sit there than for him. I just hope my persistence pays off in the end.

Sleeping Beauty

2010-06-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have started making the Princesses bed upside down

because that's how she typically sleeps.

I'm not sure what to do about this, though.

It Had To Be Done

2010-05-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to do it, but it became necessary.

I didn't want to cut hers.

I loved her beautiful long hair.

We did lots of cute things with it,

but the screaming that took place

EVERY day when we brushed it

wasn't worth it.

I didn't want to cut hers either.

She had the same beautiful,

natural curls her sister had.

But there were so many different layers

and we needed a fresh start.

I didn't even want to cut his.

I loved his "missionary" hair cut.

He is just a cute boy through and through.

But it's summer.

And what little boy doesn't

want to look like his dad?

Legos

2010-05-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many hours I spend

"helping" my kids build things with their legos.

So this time I wanted proof of what an

AWESOME mom I am.

Because it only takes about 60 seconds

for the evidence to be destroyed.

(at least she put them back in the bucket)

For Women

2010-05-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

My mom sent me this quote a couple of months ago.

I'm not sure who it's by,

but I thought it was appropriate for mother's day.

"Women are angels

and when someone breaks our wings

we simply continue to fly.......

on a broomstick.......

"We're flexible like that."

First Race

2010-05-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Princess ran her first race on Saturday.

We ran the 1 mile and she did awesome.

She's not so sure about next year,

but with a maternal background like hers

she may be doing more races than she realizes.

Spreading Their Love

2010-05-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

My kids are so sweet.

They decided to make a Mother's Day card

for every mom on our street.

I am one lucky mom!

Where do Babies Come From? Part 2

2010-04-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

A few months ago when I told Mr T we were going

to have a new baby I posed the question,

"How did the baby get in my belly?"

"It went in through your belly button."

"Well, how is the baby going to get out when it's time?"

He thought this through very carefuly and replied,

"Well, I have my tools, and dad has his tools downstairs.

We'll get our tools and we'll help the baby out."

I could tell by the look on his face

he wasn't exactly sure how this was all going to work,

but between him and his dad, they would figure it out.

"Will it hurt?"

That was an absolute, "NO."

"Maybe the doctor can help the baby out."

"No, me and dad will do it with our tools."

I can handle this. No innocence lost there.

Where do Babies Come From? Part 1

2010-04-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago our neighbors inherited a chicken.

While driving in the car the Princess said,

"I'm so excited for our neighbors to have baby chicks!"

My reply: "Well, there won't be babies, there isn't a rooster"

"Why does there have to be a rooster?"

Crap. "Just like there has to be a mom and a dad to have a baby,

there has to be a hen and a rooster to have a chick."

"I know, but what does the rooster do?"

Are you kidding me?

"They just hurry and kiss and then there's a chick."

Yeah, I'm going to regret this conversation some day.