Hill Family Christmas Shin-Dig!

Great Grandma with her new ride!

Isaac with a "fake" santa...in his words

Is this a naughty face????

Showing Great Grandma Santa!

What a good girl!

Oh Santa, I don't believe it!

Look who Abby found!

Loves, loves, loves her Papa!

Family Nativity

Cheesballs!

Abby with her handsome daddy!

Joseph and a seemingly displeased shepherd

Christmas Party Marathon....

.....Three parties in 48 hours! That's what this weekend was for sure! We had several occasions to get all dressed up this weekend and go to some fun Christmas Parties with friends!

Christmas Tag

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure, I love to have a different ribbon on each and every package (crazy, I know...but I love the way they look under the tree).
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial-we put up 6-7 trees per year!
3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving day...ALWAYS!
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day
5. Do you like eggnog? No way....my kids think that's crazy talk!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Pink Huffy Bike with tassels on the handles
7. Hardest person to buy for? My boss and BFF
8. Easiest person to buy for? My husband...anything electronic or to do with movies
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a cute one the Cleggs gave us last year while doing the 12 days of Christmas for us
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?MAIL...I was late this year but always get them out, it is my once yearly connection with some of my childhood friends
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of any...seriously
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In the fall
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Oh for sure....I work in an assisted living for peat's sake
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sugar Cookies with LOTS of icing!
16. Lights on the tree? LOTS of Lights...only white
17. Favorite Christmas song? All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home for sure, I think it's important for our kids to have memories of Christmas morning at home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Ribbon Bow
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Kids get to open a bath set and pjs from mom and dad on Xmas Eve...this year a few things got discovered so they will get to open those oopses too!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Stress....
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have had lime green and purple on our tree for the last 10 years..weird, I know but people really love it when they see it.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Prime Rib (Jus hates it though)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Modbe Jeans (got those)...Stainless Steel Trash Can (got that)
26. Who do you tag? Anyone who wants to play

Christmas Cookies

Rolling out the dough with daddy by her side

Even little pirates like to make cookies

He's on a roll!

Making the Gingerbread

The kids had a lot of fun making Christmas cookies with us this year. My mom got a little baking set for Abby and she has been carrying it around for days begging to make something. I even made homemade gingerbread for Mr. Hill (I don't care for it). Most of the cookies went into the frezzer and will re-appear when family gets here this week.

Let it Snow, FINALLY!

Nativity

Isaac was getting ready for school the other morning and stressing about what to take for Christmas show and tell. He was particularly grumpy because the thing he wanted to take the most had been left by Ethan at preschool the day before. He encourage him to take this cute little nativity that his friend Jace got him last year. He said to me, "mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings but I am not sure if that is very Christmasy." I responded by saying, "well, I think you should just take it and then daddy and I will have a talk with you when we all get home tonight about the true meaning of Christmas." I am grateful to our son for the teaching opportunity to remember the birth of our Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a nice, yet quiet Thanksgiving at home this year. I made everything from scratch except for the bread. I realized that baking bread stresses me out! My friend Becky is going to show me a new way so it's not so much work!

Bon Voyage!

I recently said goodbye to two of the special missionaries who have taught me. I felt very sad, really saying goodbye to them. I am sure that is a normal feeling. We will miss their visits to our house and all the fun we have had together. I'm sure the new missionaries will be great, but they'll never be quite as special as these guys.

Happy 6th Birthday Isaac!

Isaac's Birthday Morning

I like to decorate the kid's rooms on their birthday, go get doughnuts and then wake them up. I love that little twinkle in their eyes when they wake up and realize it is their very own special day!

Grandma's Funeral

Maybe some will find it odd that I am posting these. The truth is, Grandma's funeral, I really feel was a joyous occasion. It was a time of rejoicing and celebrating the eternal family that she has created. Justin was a pallbearer. During a special moment of the service, Issac turned to Justin and said, "dad, that is a very special body in there." At 6 years old, who would think that thought would cross his mind. I was a little nervous about including the children in this experience because it was the first funeral they had ever attended. Ethan dealt with it in his own way saying mostly that everything was "stupid" which appalled Isaac who was very emotional and thoughtful during the entire process. It was great to see most of my sister in laws and spend time with them after.

Grandma Beecher

We recently recieved the sad news that Justin's sweet grandmother was hit last Friday morning by another driver running a red light and killed. I have to say how incredibly grateful I am that Heavenly Father chose to "transplant" me into such a wonderful family by marrying my sweetheart. One of the largest blessings I have recieved is through knowing Grandma and seeing her graceful example. I would have much difficulty thinking of a more Christ-Like example in my life. Justin and I have had the opportunity over the last year to have her in our home for many holidays and most recently sharing my baptism day with her. What a wonderful way to end! Then I remembered that just a few short weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet up with Grandma and my in-laws at the last session of General Confrence. It was such a great session, and as a grandaughter in law, I will be eternally grateful for sharing this special time with her. I know that Justin, the kids and I will miss her famous chip mix (with peanut m & m's) that she would bring for the grandchildren at every family function. Most of all, we will miss her sweet smile and amazing spirit!

I'm In Love....

......with these two handsome & amazing young men in my life. I love that they check with one another each day to make sure they are still "best friends". When I discoved I was pregnant with Ethan only a few short months after Isaac's birth, I was sure it would be a death sentence to have two boys so close together. The truth be know, it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. These two are complete opposites and together are whole.