The Hill Happenings

Finally!!!

2012-01-23T06:17:00.001-08:00

It Snowed!!!! We've been waiting all year for this!

Flashback Friday

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

To a little sweetie that loves chocolate just about as much as I do. These days we call it our "Secret Stash" or as Abby says "Our decret dash". Sometimes after a long, hard day of work and school we'll lock ourselves in my closet and surround our woes with creamy goodness followed by lots of kisses and tickles. It's all the medicine I'll ever need.

Lucky, Lucky Me...

2012-01-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

It's Great To Be 8!

2012-01-16T17:35:00.000-08:00

And it's great to spend your weekend celebrating birthdays and baptisms.
Way to go Tori-Lou, we're all so very proud of you!

The Revenge of Kitty Boy...

2012-01-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

He's up to "no good" again...

Thanks Santa...

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

We Love our new Rollerblades!

My Favorite Gift..

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Maybe Ever.

Happy New Year 2012!!!

2012-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

20 Years...

2011-12-31T13:08:00.000-08:00

Of being friends...we met 20 years ago tonight. I love him still, now more than ever. And I'm the lucky one...because he loves right back.

Favorite Moments of 2011

2011-12-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

When I look at these, I am reminded of how blessed I am and just how much I have to be grateful for.....

This Kid Knows How To Have A Good Time

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

And as it turns out, a grandpa makes the perfect accomplice!

Happy Birthday To My Justin!

2011-12-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

For there's NO GREATER man in my eyes than him...I love him so much. He is the best husband, father and friend I could have ever hoped to marry. We spent the day with family (and all the little cousins one house can hold) watching movies, eating good food, laughing and playing video games.

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Spring Mix with Pomegranate, Pine Nuts, and Feta Cheese
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Freshly Made Frozen Cranberry Salad
Brown Sugar Baked Ham with Homemade Raisin Sauce
Roasted Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Orange Marmalade Glazed Carrots
Pecan Pie (My First Ever)
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Christmas Morning!

2011-12-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

Turns out Santa brought what everyone wanted:
Dad- PS3, some cologne, new shirts & shoes, and blu ray movies
Mom-Snow boots, TOMS, Jewelry Box, Necklace from Dad
Isaac-Skates, Halo Legos, Air Soft Gun, Art Set, Chess Set
Ethan-Skates, Hex Bugs & Habitat, Pocket Knife, Art Set
Abby-Barbie Camper, Monster High Dolls, Barbie Suitcase, Arty Supplies
We are all SPOILED for sure!!!

It's All About This Moment...

2011-12-25T19:01:00.000-08:00

When they see this...

Christmas Eve at The Hill House

2011-12-24T18:56:00.000-08:00

Is always filled with great friends, yummy food, new pajamas, and cookies for Santa! We can't wait until it's Christmas Day!!!

Oh What A Night...

2011-12-20T02:09:00.000-08:00

Late December in 2011...When our dear friend Jeremy married his sweetheart McKell (much to Abby's dismay because she was going to marry him someday)...It was a wonderful night filled with happiness, friends and lots of fun! Now those lucky kids are off to Hawaii for a Christmas Honeymoon! We love you guys!

Weekends Are Best Spent During The Holidays...

2011-12-19T01:55:00.000-08:00

Snuggling with cute babies...

Napping with this gorgeous guy I'm married to...

Getting a bit silly with those we love....

Making yummy holiday treats....

Admiring these cuties...

Laughing at the funny things he always says...

Being with grandparents who never mind having babies in their arms...

Marveling at my amazing sister, mother of 4 (soon to be 5) who has so much grace and beauty in her....

And playing dodge ball at the Hill Family Christmas Party...

AWESOME I Say!

Here's A Picture Of Someone I LOVE A LOT!

2011-12-18T02:32:00.000-08:00

She puts a TWINKLE in my eye!

Beef N' Cheese Santa

2011-12-11T06:33:00.001-08:00

The boys and I were on our way to my office yesterday morning to set up for a Christmas event when the topic of discussion in the car was the Santa that would be there. I knew they would know that he wasn't the REAL Santa, so I was explaining how Santa has many helpers. He's too busy in the North Pole getting ready for the big day to go and visit every child. That's when Isaac said to me:
"So what you are saying mom is he is a beef n cheese Santa?"
Ha, Ha...Yes, Isaac that's exactly what I am saying.
Watch this hilarious clip to see what's so funny about a beef n cheese Santa!

Candy Houses

2011-12-10T06:18:00.000-08:00

These are some creative kiddies! They had a great time making their family candy house this year. It was fun to see them work so well together (for once) and have such a wonderful time.

Happy Holidays From The Riverwoods

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Hot Momma"

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a conversation between my 5 year old daughter and I early yesterday morning as she climbed into bed at the crack of dawn to "nuggle" with Justin and I,
Me: "Abby you are so freezing cold what are you doing?"
Abby: "I'm laying next to one hot momma that's what I'm doing mom!"
There's a boy named Gabe in her kindergarten class who keeps telling her that her mom is hot, ha ha....that makes me laugh so hard. Well, apparently she agrees. Thank you very much.

Here's a Sneak Peek...

2011-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Of the fruits of my Christmas crafting. With the help of a couple of friends, we came up with some really cute gifts this year. You may even find one under your tree from me!

Of All The Things I'm Thankful For...

2011-12-03T03:07:00.001-08:00

He's at the VERY top of my list.....I know, I know Thanksgiving is over but today and always, I'm giving thanks for my best friend and husband. He does so much for me and for our family. I'm grateful that we can share our lives together in so many ways.

Breaking Dawn

2011-11-20T22:14:00.001-08:00

Oh yes we did...We got last minute premiere tickets so on a weeknight, the Mr. and I got a sitter and took off. My favorite parts of the movie were: 1. My sexy hot date who held my hand and fed me popcorn and hot tamales. 2. Another great soundtrack (listen for yourself) My least favorite parts were: 1. Everything else. Enough said.

It's Nifty To Be Nine!

2011-11-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

It seems like the older the kids get, the more simple and easy their parties become. There's no longer as much emphasis on games and activities and more on just hanging out with your friends. Isaac wanted to have his best buds over (no girls allowed) and play nerf wars and have pizza. That was after an all weekend birthday party he had with cousins sleeping over, eating out and playing laser tag! It's hard to believe that he's 9. Justin and I marvel every day at how sweet and special we know this guy is!

Class Halloween Parties

2011-11-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

The Halloween fun just never ends around here. Even Super-Dad was along for this non-stop Halloween Party ride. Thanks to my sweetheart we were able to pull off two classroom parties full of ghostly surprises! I just love his guts!

Trick or Treat!!!

2011-10-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

Field Trip To Hee Haws

2011-10-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ward Halloween Party

2011-10-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Cornbellys

2011-10-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Corn Maze Pumpkin Tower The Thing Pumpkin Chunkin Go Carts Haunted Houses Hay Rides Yummy Food

Happy Friday Boyyzzzz!

2011-10-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

2011 Stewart Falls Hike

2011-10-06T18:53:00.001-07:00

Miles Traveled: 4
Complaints: 0
Bags of Beef Jerky Consumed: 2
Caterpillars Caught: 15+
Walking Sticks Found: 3
Happy Campers: 5

Soccer Mom

2011-10-03T06:51:00.000-07:00

And soccer coach...As I taught the 4-6 year old pinks this year I was teaching myself. I learned all about dribbling, scoring goals, drills, and scrimmages. I learned that coaching the little girls is much more challenging than helping with the boys teams. I learned that you-tube can help you with many things, even if it's making you look like you're a real coach. I learned that no matter how much time you devote to volunteering, there are some parents that just aren't happy with anything you do (especially those ones that fail to step up and offer a helping hand). It was a great season and all three of our kids had a blast. The big pay off was seeing all those girls have fun and really start to work together by the end. Most of Abby's games were at the same times as Isaac's so I didn't get many photos of him, but he did awesome! Now, we're glad for life to settle down to a little more of a normal pace for a little while.

Our Team...appropriately named the "Pink Sparkles"

It Was An Epic Time!

2011-09-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me the synergy that happens when you get all the right people together, at the right time, to do something bigger than ourselves. This was such a day. I feel so grateful to my awesome team of helpers, to the donors who gave of their goods and money and time. I want to give a shout out to my friends at KINDLE CREEK who sang their hearts out for us. The grand total was just under $21,000 in donations and I'm tickled! I've already accepted the job again for next year!

Here's Proof...

2011-09-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

Of How Much FUN I had yesterday...more to come...

Today Was The Day...And I'm Blown Away....

2011-09-24T10:59:00.001-07:00

We made a start to put an end to Alzheimer's Disease.

Thank you to all of my friends, family, co-workers and professional colleagues

who took it upon themselves to engross in this cause.

It was a wonderful day! I had a great time!

It was so much more than raising money.

It was celebrating the lives of those we have lost to this disease.

Thank you , thank you, thank you!

We raised over $21,000 go HERE to see for yourself!

It's All About Family....

2011-09-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

There is no greater joy than spending the weekend with family. This is my big brother...We had such a great time at my grandparent's home in the Lake of the Ozarks catching up and having fun!

My Uncle Gary and Cousin Chris

My bro and his new love.

One of my favorite cousins and best pals growing up, Annie.

The Lake, endless summer memories growing up here.

Time for a boat ride to our favorite hang out The Red Fox.

My cousin Annie (another Annie), together we make mischief of all sorts :)

Happiness.

Gus, my buddy!

Reese and I taking a night time boat ride.

Silliness.

My grandma, my love.

And Grandpa too!

Images of KC...

2011-09-22T06:31:00.001-07:00

Oh boy, I LOVE this city! Kemper Museum Helzbergs Topsys Crown Center Gates & Sons The Plaza Nelson-Atkins Art Museum Streetcar Named Desire Milano Halls The Fountains Liberty Memorial Union Station Kauffman Stadium The American Resturaunt Westport...and that's just to name a few of my favorite places!

Dad's Girls...

2011-09-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

My "baby" sister (ha ha) and I had a great visit with our dad the first night I got into Missouri. You can see the sheer joy and happiness just written all over my face. He made dinner for us and we just sat around for hours catching up and telling stories. It was a wonderful way to start what would be one of the most amazing weekends of my life (but more about all that later):

Our dad has spent his life as a general contractor. He's a very hard worker and this shirt just fits him so well because there's nothing he loves more than "playing in the dirt" well, except his daughters of course.

The sweetest thing is this. If my dad were a dog, we laughed that he would be THIS dog. "Lightening" and dad are perfect companions for one another. I always adored that my dad had a love for animals growing up. When I told him that I was sad that dogs only live such a short time he sweetly replied, "Yeah but then we would only get to have one or tow dogs our whole life if they lived longer". He's had a lot of four-legged buddies in his lifetime. They tend to bring out something soft in him.

Heading Home...

2011-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend. Every summer as a child we would travel to The Lake of the Ozarks where my grandparents owned a summer resort. That last trip of the season was ended with roasting a pig in the ground and a big family reunion. I remember knowing that's when it was time to go back to school. I'm heading home this weekend to see so many of my family that I love, share stories, take pictures and laugh. I get to spend some time in Kansas City and remember what it was like to spend my college days there. I even get to have lunch with a life-long friend of mine who just had her first baby! I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Things I'll Miss Most About Summer...

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

The sight of three perfectly happy children playing in the sand for hours on end....

Tan babies sleeping in my bed...

And my garden, I did a pretty good job this year!
So long Summer!

It's A ZOO Out There!

2011-09-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

On The Farm With Friends

2011-09-14T02:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday.

2011-09-11T09:06:00.001-07:00

It's Two Weeks From Today...

2011-09-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

And we've nearly reached our fund-raising goal with the help of one awesome committee and a that wonderful company I work for! Thank you so much to those of you who have made the choice to involve yourselves in this cause.
We're at $13,500.00 for Utah County!
There's still time to get involved though!
We still need volunteers and participants.
We're still accepting donations and forming teams.
Go to HERE to sign up!
Join us at The Shops at Riverwoods at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 24th for what is certain to be a great time!

Funny Friday....

2011-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cascade Springs

2011-09-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

Labor Day in Park City

2011-09-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

From cars covered in yarn, cows wearing tutus and riding horses, & lots of freaky people walking down Main Street...Park City is the place to be on the last day of summer!
We headed up for the weekend and had most of our fun just sleeping over in the hotel and swimming at the pool!

Fresh Raspberry Bars

2011-09-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

1 C unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch chunks
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
1/2 t kosher salt
2 C unbleached all-purpose flour
1 C seedless raspberry jam or preserves
1 pint (2 C) fresh raspberries
1-8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
1 T flour
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 T finely peeled lemon zest
2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 t pure vanilla
Powdered sugar

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter for about 30 seconds.
*Add brown sugar and salt, beat on low speed about a minute. With mixer off, add the 2 cups of flour. Beat on low until dough forms. With fingers, spread dough onto bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes, just until dough has begun to puff.
*Let crust cool and then evenly spread jam on crust. Then spread fresh raspberries evenly over jam topped crust.
*With a lemon zester, remove peel from lemon. Sprinkle lemon zest lightly over the jam on the crust.
*In a large bowl beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute. Mix in granulated sugar and 1 T flour until well blended. With mixer running add egg, egg yolk, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
*Spread custard mixture evenly over the crust and berries, tilting pan back and forth to distribute evenly.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer foil to wire cooling rack for about 1 hour. Use foil to lift the bars from the pan. Peel the foil from the sides of the bars and cut into shape.

Sunday Evening Walk With Cousins

2011-09-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better way to spend our Sunday evening than with the Hill cousins taking a walk on the BYU campus. We climbed rocks, caught a snake, took a look at some of the experiments in the science buildings and had many adventures!

Sundance Summer

2011-09-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Because it was HER birthday & she's definitely worth celebrating!

Because we craved the cool mountain breeze...

Because we needed the fresh air...

Because the conversation is like medicine to our souls...

Because we needed to see the mountain before it's covered in snow again with the skiers rushing down her...

And just because it was FUN!!!

Cutest . Mugs. Ever. Period.

2011-09-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

Because We're Awesome MOMS...

2011-08-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

...And because we both found ourselves without our husbands this weekend, we took all the kids camping in Hobble Creek with tons of our neighbors and ward members.
We had a great time....
One of my favorite parts was on the way home when Abby declared she had something to tell me:
"Mom, I hate to tell you this but I've had the same "underwears" on all the days we be gone."
It was only one day...but I guess that is a big change from her usual 12 pairs a day.

First Day Of School 2011

2011-08-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

That's right folks, I sent my baby girl off to Kindergarten today. I think it was me who was the baby at the bus stop crying my eyes out while the other moms assured me it would be okay. Little Abby (or should I say BIG Abby) wouldn't even let me take her to school. Hmm, I wonder where that sense of independence comes from.

Just Call Him Costanza

2011-08-29T22:06:00.001-07:00

Me: "Ethan, why is your shirt inside out? You didn't wear it to school like that on the second day did you?"

Ethan: "No ma, I had to go poop."

Me: "Why do you still take off all of your clothes every time you go number two?"

Ethan: "Because ma, it feels good."

For those of you who don't know...George Costanza as in "Jerry Seinfeld" was know for this same trick. Remember that time the fire alarm went off in Jerry's building and Costanza was caught not only with his pants down, but his pants and everything else OFF!
We've been trying to explain to E-Man how unnecessary this is ever since he left for Kindergarten.

Me: "You know you CANNOT do that at school, right?"

Ethan: "Don't worry ma, I would NEVER go poo in the school bathrooms!"

LOVE HIM!!!

It's That Time Again...

2011-08-29T05:38:00.000-07:00

And man oh man...this boy is HUNGRY for it! He scored 6 goals on Saturday's game (and it wasn't an easy team either)! It seems that not playing on the same team as big brother has helped an aggressive player emerge! It's going to be a fun few weeks but with all three kids on separate soccer teams and me coaching the 4-5 year old girls, it's bound to be hectic. I see lots of fast food in our future.

So I figured...

2011-08-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

If Justin is away playing with the boys in Tulsa for a week that I would get a sitter and go with some of the coolest girls I know to FINALLY catch this. I loved this book, but I think I already told you that. I also LOVED the movie! You should experience it for yourself. And beware of the chocolate pie :)

Flashback Friday (Hard To Believe)...

2011-08-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

You start Kindergarten in one week!
I'm not sure when you went from being a baby to such an strong willed little lady.
It seems to me it happened literally overnight.
Your dad and I agree on one thing more than anything else in the world:
We are so glad you are OUR DAUGHTER!

So This Is What Happens...

2011-08-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

Boy cousins+ Idle Time+ Bugs+ Available Stock Pot+ Little Parental Supervision= ONE BIG DARE & A Stock Pot of LOTS of Bugs and Random Ingredients....This is how you eat bugs apparently....SILLY BOYS!

That Looks Like a ONE CRAZY Cook!

Ethan was a cautious spectator of the whole debacle

Oh the insanity, and to think these are my boys role models. Ha ha! I love my nephews!

The girls loved it (NOT)!!!

The DELICIOUS "End Result"

Milk just helps everything go down a little bit easier now doesn't it?

A Day On The Lake

2011-08-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

With Summer coming to an end soon, we've been trying to get out on the water as much as we can. We have the best friends and neighbors who always include us on their boating adventures....enough about that though, I need to tell you about something much more important...

This is my best friend. I think her spirit can be seen in this smile. She is the greatest friend a girl could have. I consider her my sister. We've spent the past 3 years in one another's daily lives literally living almost connected by our back doors. She's the person I look to for everything. She's smart, beautiful, righteous and strong in the gospel. She moved this past week up the canyon. We have not talked about her moving much, we've just been busy making all the preparations for the move. And, I think we are sad. So we just leave it alone. I know that 20 miles isn't that far but there's no denying it will change things for us. I love her. I'm grateful for her mighty example. I'm grateful to be a constant recipient of her love and attention.

Flashback Friday

2011-08-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

I still miss this lady so much. I think about her every day. The kids ask about her all the time. Some may read this and say to themselves that she was just a dog. But for our family she was a companion and friend. I know she is playing ball in doggie heaven where the hills roll with soft grass and there's an unlimited supply of her favorite pigs ears. We miss you Brittan. It's been 2 years since we said goodbye, we can't wait to say hello again some day.

Oh Baby, It's ON!

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

The date has been set.
The grandparents have been scheduled to tend the Hill babes.
The gear purchased.
We're going to tackle this giant in a couple of weeks.
We may be a bit older than last time.
We may be carrying a few more pounds.
BUT, I know we can do it!

Mt. Timpanogas Elevation 11, 749

And...yes, you actually really do see stuff like this.
As Abby would say, "FOR REALS".
Last time we did this, an unfriendly moose even chased us.
That was fun and terrifying all in one.
I hope Mr. Moose is sleeping this time.
I don't think I have the energy to out run him again.

And this is the view from the ghastly summit.
There's a scary little tin shed at the top where you get to sign your name that you made it.
As if it goes down in history or something.
And that white stuff? An awesome permanent glacier.
Sliding down that puppy will take about 3 or 4 hours off your descent time.
We were warned previous that it might result in broken bones.
It was the best part of the trip last time.
I can't wait!!!

I'm Reading This Book....

2011-08-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

And I Really LOVE It! But then again:
I AM A DOG LOVER. So far it's made me laugh, cry and wish at times I could see the world from a dog's perceptive. If you need a good book to entertain you the last month of summer, you should give this one a try!
I Repeat: I love dogs....and cats, bunnies, & lizards. Just stop by my house sometime and see for yourself.

I Love This Girl...

2011-08-05T20:12:00.001-07:00

Go HERE to see for yourself. We were meant for one another.
I have learned so much about myself since this happened.
What I want to be to others and how I want to live my life.
It's really true that serving others can help us to find ourselves.

Hope Your Weekend...

2011-08-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Is as good a time as this little lady had with friends and cousins last weekend!
There's nothing like falling asleep eating pretzels in the back seat of the car.

The Bees Knees

2011-08-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

This is our backyard neighbor Mr. Heaps. He is always sharing and teaching our boys new things. He can grow anything, but we especially love the giant peaches he spoils us with every fall. This past weekend he decided to teach Isaac & Ethan about raising bees. Did you know that if you "smoke" them before handling, it makes them groggy and less likely to sting? He told us all about the "Queen Bee" and how the other bees spend time fanning her to keep her the perfect temperature at all times. Sounds good to me! We love learning all the great things Mr. Heaps knows and we think
HE'S THE BEES KNEES!

Three Years...

2011-08-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today marks a special anniversary for me. It's been three years since I was baptized. I feel like I have learned so much and grown a hundred years in my understanding in these three short years. However, it was very disappointing to me to discover that I would still fall down. Sometimes even "biff it" in life so to speak. I laugh now to think that I really thought I could live the rest of my life without making mistakes. I've come to realize that it's not the falling down that matters. It's the getting back up each time, and each time working to make perfect our flaws. What matters most is the path to perfection that you are on. I'm forever thankful for the atonement. I'm thankful that through that we can be made perfect. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father's love for us is perfect whether we are or not. He always wants to give that love to us. I'm grateful for all the people in my life willing to love and support me despite my imperfections.

Just A Reminder...

2011-08-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

Put this on your list of things to do.
It's important to me. It's important to so many more than just me.
Every little bit counts.
Our donations keep growing, but we still need YOU to do something about this.
Do It Right Now...
I Dare You.
Go HERE.

Introducing....

2011-08-01T06:37:00.000-07:00

Our new kitty, SLATE....He fits in perfectly already. And it's a bonus that he doesn't seem to mind Abby's daily torture too much. I expect to come home any day now and see him dressed in baby clothes. We are sad that out cat of 12 years ran away a few weeks ago, but I'm holding out hope that she will return and have a new little playmate when she comes home.

Cooper's Run

2011-07-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

It was a great day to remember that sweet boy we all love. It was filled with fun games, live music, all of our friends, & good food. We raised some money for a wonderful cause. Read about that cause HERE. Plus, I could never complain about a run that serves cupcakes from my favorite bake shop THE SWEET TOOTH FAIRY at the finish line!

Just Another Day At The Beach

2011-07-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fishing Up A Storm...

2011-07-29T06:40:00.001-07:00

These Boys CAN'T Get Enough!!!!

Work Hard, Play HARDER

2011-07-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

That's Our Family Philosopy When Cousins Are In Town!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

This Little Mermaid

2011-07-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

TURNED 5!!!
We celebrated by throwing an EPIC Mermaid party in our backyard.
We dug for seashells in the sand, made paper dolls, ran through the sprinklers, slid down the falls and ate the MOST AWESOME Mermaid cake you ever saw!

Lucky Us...

2011-07-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

We get to be called MOM & DAD by you each day. Lucky that we get to wake up to you in our bed every day. Lucky that this smile is the first thing we see in the morning. Lucky that we get to tickle your face each night while you fall asleep. We love you so much! Happy Birthday Baby!

...And YES...she still sleeps in our bed (sometimes with no shirt)....Yes, we still tickle her to sleep...And YES, we still call her BABY!

Get Involved!

2011-07-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Come And Walk...Form A Team....Make A Donation...Volunteer...
As the 2011 Chairman for the Utah County Walk To End Alzheimer's, I want to invite all of you to get involved in our fundraiser we'll be having on September 24th at The Shops at Riverwoods.The money we earn, comes right back to families in Utah county and helps me to continue to help them by offering free counseling, support groups, education and respite services right here in our community! Thanks! Mindy
Go HERE to learn more.

2011 Car Show

2011-07-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes (my family would say ALL TIMES) I pack so much more than humanly possible into one little weekend. I'm so thankful for great kids and a wonderful husband who not only support all of my extra curricular activities, but who are the best helpers ever! This weekend was our annual Courtyard Classic Car Show. I think it was our best year ever and thanks to an awesome team that I work with, it was pretty stress free and just such a good time. We were able to raise near $1000.00 for the Alzheimer's Walk I'm in charge of in the fall. In addition to that, we just had a lot of fun!

The Summer Fun Just Never Ends

2011-07-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Shops At Riverwoods...One of our Favorite FREE Friday Night Hang Outs! There's even outdoor concerts every Fridaynight in the Summer. I suggest you check THIS PLACE out!

Flashback Friday

2011-07-15T14:08:00.001-07:00

Remember her? She's doing much better, I am happy to report. We even went out on the town with our men last night. She teased me about getting her walker in and out of the car for her. That's something I do a lot for people, so I felt right at home. WOW! I can't begin to tell you what a huge blessing these past few weeks have been for both of us. I love her so much, can't you just see? Thanks so much to everyone who has helped me support this miracle lady by offering their prayers, meals, kind deed and thoughts! She's well on the road to recovery now!

I Love This Story...

2011-07-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

...that President Mckay gave. Someone shared it in Sunday school this past week. I think there's a little bit of "Dandy" in all of us. We should all be grateful for the peace that is brought into our lives by being obedient.

"I had great pleasure in training a well-bred colt. He had a good disposition, a clean, well-rounded eye, was well proportioned, and all in all, a choice animal. Under the saddle he was as willing, responsive, and cooperative as a horse could be. He and my dog Scotty were real companions. I liked the way he would go up to something of which he was afraid. He had confidence that if he would do as I bade him, he would not be injured.

But my horse Dandy resented restraint. He was ill contented when tied and would nibble at the tie rope until he was free. He would not run away; he just wanted to be free. Thinking other horses felt the same, he would proceed to untie their ropes. He hated to be confined in the pasture, and if he could find a place in the fence where there was only smooth wire, he would paw the wire carefully with his feet until he could step over to freedom. More than once my neighbors were kind enough to put him back in the field. He learned even to push open the gate. Though he often did damage that was provoking and sometimes expensive, I admired his intelligence and ingenuity.

But his curiosity and desire to explore the neighborhood led him and me into trouble. Once on the highway he was hit by an automobile, resulting in a demolished machine, injury to the horse, and slight, though not serious, injury to the driver.

Recovering from that, and still impelled with a feeling of wanderlust, he inspected the fence throughout the entire boundary. He found even the gates wired. So for a while we thought we had Dandy secure in the pasture.

One day, however, somebody left the gate unwired. Detecting this, Dandy unlatched it, took another horse with him, and together they visited the neighbor’s field. They went to an old house used for storage. Dandy’s curiosity prompted him to push open the door. There was a sack of grain. What a find! Yes, and what a tragedy! The grain was poison bait for rodents! In a few minutes Dandy and the other horse were in spasmodic pain, and shortly both were dead.

How like Dandy are many of you young people! You are not bad; you do not even intend to do wrong; but you are impulsive, full of life, full of curiosity, and long to do something. You too are restless under restraint, but if left to wander without direction, you all too frequently find yourselves in the environment of temptation and too often are entangled in the snares of evil."

He's Learning to Take Care of Himself....

2011-07-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

We've Been Gettin' Our "BEACH" On

2011-07-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

HOW

ABOUT

YOU???

Happy Independance Day

2011-07-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

From Our House To Yours

Someone was a little sad :(
Maybe it's because the extra large running shoes she's wearing
(women's size 9 1/2 to be exact)

This is my favorite thing on July 4th. When I was a little girl, my dad would light a friendship pagoda for me every year. I would save it in my room on a special shelf until the next year would roll around.

When asked at dinner tonight what FREEDOM means to them, they thoughtfully replied:
Isaac-"It means we get to make our own choices."
Ethan-"It means I have the best life ever."
Abby-"It means no bad guys can get in."

FREEDOM means to me a thankful heart to our Father in Heaven for making all the wonders we share living in this country possible.

Stadium of Fire

2011-07-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever been to Stadium of Fire, knows that IT IS THE PLACE TO BE for the 4th of July holiday. There's nothing like celebrating our freedom with 50,000 other people. There were great performers like David Archuleta and Brad Paisley, giant beachballs, skydivers and the biggest staudim fireworks show in the country! I have to give a special thanks to my sweetie who doesn't love country music for enduring and actually enjoying the show. The winner to the talent search I worked on was even announced. It was a great night!

Not Much Better...

2011-07-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

Than spending the 4th of July weekend with cousins camping, swimming, and canoeing in the mountains!

This Is A True Story...

2011-07-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

WARNING! This post may change the way you feel about us. After reading you may feel that we are crazy an experience some anxiety. What you are about to read is a true story. Within a 24 hour period we somehow ended up with a snake, 3 lizards and a bunny. Did I forget to mention 3 HAPPY kids also? We're not these parents who don't allow critters in our house. In fact through the years we've just about done it all: frogs, fish, crabs, snakes, rabbits, dogs, cats, and too many "pet" bugs to count. I feel confident that Justin and I can set up a habitat for just about any living thing at this point. If you see us building an ark soon in the backyard, think nothing of it!

As Charles Dickens Said:

2011-06-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
That has been this week.
This is my beautiful friend Rachael.
And when I say beautiful I mean
a beautiful most people lack. She's real. She's strong. She's always there for me.
It's my turn to be there for her. She needs your prayers. She had a aneurysm and hemorrhage in her brain a few days ago. Rachael is 24. She is a wife and a mother to a darling four year old. She's fighting. She's sexy bald...not everyone can pull that off. I love her. I cherish the late nights I have been able to spend in the hospital just talking about life these past few days. I'm so grateful that we can keep helping one another on this journey.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-06-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

Someone was the cutest butterfly in the Sleeping Beauty performance at the Covey Center for the Arts last weekend. We are so proud of her hard work and great performance! We feel so lucky to have this little girl "fluttering" around in our lives.

Ethan's Birthday Recap...

2011-06-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

It was ALOT of boys, fun and work. In the end, there was one boy who felt really special and so it was all worth it!

This is one of our neighbors that serves more as a grandma to us than anything. Ethan just loves his MaryLou.

The awesome threesome...these boys are going to be friends for a very long time.

Making a wish...that look in my eye says everything about how much I adore this guy!

I'm grateful for a husband who embraces my insanity!

Too bad no one had a good time :)

What goes best after hots dog, chips, cake and ice cream you ask? Oh, more sugar and junk food for sure!

We had a few boys hanging around...

Another family favorite, Miss Aubrey even stopped in!

We enjoyed a movie outdoors in our sleeping bags

Played night games and hid in the tents...

I think a good time was had by all..even the big kids!

And then the birthday boy fell asleep during his own party. I think that means AWESOME!

We even got to wake up with cousins.
I want to make a special shout out to these boys who slept over and kept all the boys quiet (NOT)
in their tents...sorry neighbors, no one SLEPT at the SLEEPOVER!

Family

2011-06-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

It seems the stars aligned this past weekend and all of Justin's siblings were able to come together for an awesome visit at Mom and Dad Hill's in Ogden! It's been nearly three years ago since that had happened! We were missing a few spouses and cousins, but it was a great time to get together!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

You Rock, You're RAD and we're so glad we get to call you our dad!
Love you so much!

Flashback Friday

2011-06-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Summer 2005...

One of my last trips home to see my grandma before she "graduated".
This was the first time my boys had met her. Such joy filled the room that day.
You can see how happy she makes me, it's just written all over my face!
Oh, how I loved spending summer's at her house.
I remember waking up with the breeze blowing through the sheer curtains with the smell of the garden gliding though the cracked window mixed with the smell of fresh toast and bacon awaiting me at the table.
I miss summer at my grandmas.
I miss her soft skin and angelic smile.
Her memory is sweet.

Happy Birthday YOU!

2011-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

YOU....really make me think about things, challenge me and yes it's true sometimes ultra-frustrate the heck out of me almost on purpose just because you can. I want you to know you are so worth it. I'm starting to understand the wonderful complexity that makes you tick. I want you to know that because of you, I am a better me. To the best foot-rubber in the whole universe I want to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Summerfest

2011-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday's Thought.....Or Two

2011-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

It's true, I've neglected my Thursday's Thought for some time now. I came across THIS today and I was just what I needed. It's got to be the thought of a lifetime! I think it's crucial for all of us to realize at some point in our lives that if we will stop being a victim and know that the power comes from within, we can overcome any situation. It reminds me of a quote that I love, one that I have to frequently resort to when I feel I've had more than I can stand:

"No pain that we suffer is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up or character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called children of God. And it is thorough sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like God. ~Elder Orson F. Whitney

This Book Changed My Life.....

2011-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

SERIOUSLY.

End of School "Recap"

2011-06-07T08:11:00.001-07:00

It was a BUSY week full of graduations, dance festivals, water parties, field days and so much more! The kids had such a great year and love all of their friends and teachers. I'm grateful for the ability to spend most of my lunch breaks helping in their classrooms and throwing all the parties. I know we will all miss it but will enjoy the late nights of summer, camping, hiking, and swimming!