christmas countdown

Here is the latest fun thing we are doing at our house. I made a countdown chain and on each day there is a little Christmas-related activity to do together. I strategically hung them so that we would tear off certain links on certain days. Yesterday I knew the youth in our neighborhood were doing a food drive so I purposely made that one land on that day. So after school the kids and I went to the store and selected some canned goods and set them out for the youth to pick up. It was easy and the kids thought it was fun. 

Here is one of the pages of strips I made. There are lots of fun little activities like *Drink hot chocolate *Do a Secret Santa drop *Dip pretzels *Have a Family Christmas movie night Etc, Etc....

Here is the chain hanging in all its glory! It's a fun activity...let me know if you want the PDF and I will e-mail it to you!

Adam's baptism

Saturday was Adam's baptism. It was a really really nice day. I was so proud of Adam; he was reverent and respectful (I have feared for a long time that he would be a total goofball at his baptism). He is such a good boy and we are so grateful to be his parents. 

Here are some photos (I didn't take much...I forget things like that when I'm busy. I feel kind of bad)

So Adam wasn't a goofball, but Lily sure was....

Two of my handsome nephews; Andrew and Jack

My sister Jennifer holding one of my sister Renee's twins, Henry. Isn't he soooooo cute!

The other twin, Millie. Oh man, I love those babies!

It was a great day for Adam. We loved seeing everyone that came and it was fun to be together!

dreams really do come true!

Oh he was such a CUTE baby!!!!

A blessed thing has happened in the Hill House....Davie is potty trained! Do you know what means? It means that after almost a decade of always having at least one child (and sometimes two) in diapers I am FREE! I have been looking forward to this for a LONG time. And the cherry on top....he was so easy to potty train. If my other children would have been this easy I would maybe actually consider having a couple more kids, but alas one easy one out of four are not good odds and I DESPISE potty training. I always say that if they truly wanted to punish a criminal then they would put them in a room full of toddlers with the assignment to potty train them. I am pretty sure no one would ever commit a crime again! Nonetheless Davie just got it and it has been great...if all kids are like this then I can see why parents don't stress about this as much as I have in the past.

HOORAY DAVIE!!!!!!!

guess what!

Gracie was so excited tonight to tell us something. Here's what she said (a detail pertaining to the story is that her teacher's name is Mrs. Guest)...

"Guess what?! Guess what?! There is another Mrs. Guest and his name is Mr. Guest!"

We just laughed and laughed. She is delightful and she LOVES school. I couldn't be more grateful.

P.S. This is a picture from April....I have nothing recent. Well that's not true, I have a bunch on my phone that I just need to transfer.

conference is coming

With General Conference coming soon I decided I needed to do more to help my kids enjoy it. So I have been searching the internet for great ideas. Many people have already made these information cards about the prophets and apostles, but the perfectionist in me just wasn't happy with what I was finding. So I decided to make my own. It was a fun a project and I really enjoyed learning a little more about our church leaders. You are welcome to copy these or if you want me to e-mail you the file then leave a comment. 

As a sidenote, I made them to that I can put the information side on the back of the picture side and then laminate them. Nothing is really complete until its laminated....

oldies but oh so goodies

I am working on a project for Adam's 8th birthday coming up (yep, he'll be 8...I can't believe it) and so I have been going through a bunch of old pictures. It has been so fun. I miss my little kids. I probably didn't enjoy them as much as I should. Then again, maybe I did. I don't really remember...

Lily off to play soccer...she was in kindergarten

At the water park...Gracie is only 1.

Adam with Mr. Peeps (RIP). Both were so little. 

A sight we won't be seeing again in our home...it makes me sad. I miss having a little baby around.

Kindergarten Lily at Gardner Village

OREOS!!!!!! Mmmmmmm

kindergarten field trip with Grandma

Adam's fourth birthday...I was pregnant with Davie and soooooo sick.

Oh crazy Gracie....we would always find her in the most entertaining positions sleeping.

first day of school...

We had our first day of school this week. I was sooooooo nervous sending Gracie. I have never really unleashed her to the world without me being close by. She did great and is LOVING school and her teacher. Plus she makes the cutest kindergartner ever!

waiting for the bus

some of the neighborhood kindergartners waiting for the bus with her

Adam started 2nd grade. He loves his new teacher and is making new friends.

Lily started 4th grade. He ADORES her teacher (who is the perfect fit for her). Everyday she comes home beaming and happy. It is wonderful.

july

July was such a fun and BUSY month for us!

I toured the Utah Parade of Homes (Davis County) with Michelle and her friend Claire. It was so fun and I don't think I will ever miss it again. 

Then we went to Lagoon on Davie's birthday (July 5th). It rained, which was actually kind of nice because it was cool and no one was there. 

Then I went to St. George for a sister's trip - every couple years my sisters and I go on a little vacation together. St. George was a really great destination.

Then I hitched a ride to California with my sister Lisa and met up with Scott and the kids at his parents' house. Scott is amazing and drove out to California with the kids all by himself. They had a great trip. 

From his parents' house we went to the Northern California coast (specifically Mendocino) for his family's reunion. It was a BLAST. While we were there my Grandma Dearie passed away. I didn't find out until a day later because we had no cell reception and so no one get in touch with me. I got on Facebook and noticed my cousin had posted about her death. It was a sad way to receive the news about a woman who meant so much to me. I wasn't upset with anyone, just sad that she went at the worst timing for me...Needless to say I missed the funeral. Grandma Dearie was amazing I dearly dearly loved her. Maybe someday I will dedicate a whole post to her...she would deserve it!

Anyway, it was a whirlwind month full of good memories! Here are some pictures to highlight it all...

Ready for church on the 1st...I thought they looked so patriotic in Red, White, and Blue

I know this is blurry...but look at how handsome Scott looks (and Davie too)

4th of July Parade.....oh man, it was HOT!!!

Once in a while I do actually appear in a picture or two...here is the proof. This family does actually have a mom.

Davie's third birthday!!!! 

I just absolutely adore this boy. I cannot imagine being happy without him.  It kind of breaks my heart that someday he will get big and leave.

Hiking in Snow Canyon with my mom, Jennifer, and Lisa...it was really neat.

The St. George Temple is really beautiful. 

Glass Beach in Mendocino. Super Cool.

Definitely the highlight of the trip for Adam (and the other kids) were the tide pools. 

We LOVE Grandpa Hill....like seriously, my girls just adore him (and Grandma)

Sand Angels....

This pelican came and sat next to me for like 10 minutes. It was weird.

We went to these awesome sand dunes one day and Davie loved rolling down the big dune. Here is what he looked like when he came back up!