gardens, water, and a cute boy...

As I have mentioned before, Scott is a great gardener! I thought I would post some pictures of his lovely garden (mostly for the sake of my parents and his parents, who are all so far away). It has been really inspiring to me to watch him - he is so dedicated, and he is always trying to learn about anything that will make it better. It has been a lot of fun and we have loved the fresh produce. As a side note, we think we ought to write a cookbook on how to cook from your garden. We have made some of the best dishes with foods all or mostly from our garden - it has been really fun and really satisfying.

Since it is "brag about Scott day" I wanted to post some pictures of the drinking fountain he built in the backyard. Pretty much this was a totally genius idea and has reduced to amount of kid's cups I have had to wash. Plus, it is really nice when working in the garden to go over and get a drink of water.

Lastly, look at how so darn cute my little David is! He has learned that flirting with his mother will keep him out of bed and in my arms longer. I love all the smiles and oh, I love this boy!!!

peas

At church a couple weeks ago Adam was given a cup of dirt with a seed of some sort in it. Watching Scott care for his garden all these months has inspired Adam and he insisted we watch his seed grow.

On the side of the cup it says something to the effect of, "My faith can grow...it will start as a small seed and grow into a testimony." When Uncle Darren came yesterday Adam had to show him his new little garden. Uncle Darren read what it said and Adam immediately replied, "It isn't going to be a testimony, it is going to be a PEA!"

Heaven forbid we grow any testimonies around here!

wahooooo!

Lily started first grade today. I think it was a long day for her; she seemed a little less enthusiastic about school when I picked her up. She did tell me that her teacher is "the nicest teacher in the whole world" - she must be pretty nice...it's a big world with lots of nice people...

mr. popular

"Hello, my name is Mr. Popular"
and he is popular!

jenny

This is Flight of the Conchords - it is really funny. Or maybe you just have to be in the right, sleep-deprived mood.

hello chub; let me introduce you to david

In keeping with tradition, David has started to acquire his "Hill Baby Chub." Enjoy (and yes, it is completely okay to laugh a little)!

Just as a sidenote - he isn't always this serious. He has started smiling at me and it is so cute!

good times had by all

For Family Night we had a picnic in the park and then took the kids through the carwash (which is like a ride at Disneyland for them). There were good times had by all!

See how excited David is about being at the park!

As a sidenote, we were going to pick up litter for our activity and talk about keeping the Earth beautiful and clean. Unfortunately (and fortunately) the park was spottless! I couldn't find a single piece of trash to pick up. So we decided to just make it a fun evening at the park and next week we will find somewhere a little dirtier to pick up litter!

garage

Adam: Mom can I go ride my bike?

Mom: No Bud, it is Sunday and we don't ride bikes on Sunday, remember.

Adam: But I will stay on the sidewalk.

Mom: Sorry, but it is Sunday.

Adam: But it isn't Sunday.

Mom: Yes it is. You just got back from church.

Adam: Well, I am going to ride my bike in the garage.

Mom: Adam, that is still riding your bike and it is still Sunday.

Adam: No Mom, it is Friday in the garage and we can ride bikes on Friday!

I think at this point I figured that was a clever enough answer and I let him ride his bike in the garage; since clearly it was Friday in there!

photography lesson, a movie night, & "the big guy"

The camera was out the other day and Lily really wanted to take some pictures. I was sitting on my chair holding David, with Grace squished next to me and Adam trying hard to fit somewhere as well (a common picture lately). I thought it would be alright for Lily to give it a try - I told her what buttons to push and I think she did a pretty good job. Here is the result (with a little cropping)...


While making a trip to Wal-Mart the other day in an attempt to get out of the house for a change in scenery I found they had "The Sandlot" for only $5. Because I consider this movie a great classic with many quotable lines I had to get it. I decided that Friday we would have a Family Movie Night/Slumber Party. The kids loved this idea. Scott and I told them that we wouldn't be participating in the slumber party portion of the evening, but that the three of them could sleep in the family room together. They thought that was pretty great. The movie was a hit (except Grace is too wiggly and doesn't care much for watching TV) and we had a good time together. David even joined us at the end when he decided it was time to eat (again).

Lastly, we had a really fun Family Home Evening on Monday that I wanted to share. It was discovered last week that my older children didn't know the story of David and Goliath. Since the newest member of our family shares a name with this great Bible hero I decided this would be a fun story to share. That day I drew a picture of a big, ugly, mean-looking head and taped it up on the wall at 9 feet. This was supposedly how tall Goliath was (I have my doubts after seeing just how tall that really is - remember we believe the Bible so far as it is translated correctly). The kids were so intrigued all day, and I wouldn't tell them what it was about. It made them pretty excited for FHE to come. That night I told them to story and at one point I asked them who they think would win the fight - both answered that they were sure "the big guy" would win. When I explained that they were wrong and that David killed Goliath by using his sling shot and a pebble which hit Goliath in between the eyes they were pretty amazed (don't worry, I did throw in the part about having faith in the Lord). For the activity we each got a package of M&M's and pretended those were the pebbles that David used. We each took turns trying to hit our Goliath in between the eyes (I got the closest). They loved this - who wouldn't love throwing M&M's at the wall (if I were to do it again, I would use Skittles - the M&M's chipped and I don't think Skittles would). Then we talked about how we will meet problems that will seem as big as Goliath (this is were Scott threw in the line about us all having El Guapos in our lives - from "Three Amigos" - thanks Scott for helping with the story in such a productive way). It was a pretty fun Family Night and I was grateful for my little David to come and inspire such a good time! (Subsequently, the kids asked what happened to David from the Bible - I told them he became KING! and we left it at that....)

David is two weeks old today!

big love

I don't care what HBO says - Big Love isn't having more than one wife; it is what I feel for my little nine-day old baby and his three older siblings.

baby talk

In keeping with tradition of posting the comical things my children say I thought I would add a few more along the lines of the baby.

Lily (to Aunt Michelle): My Mom went to the hospital to pick out a new baby.
Aunt Michelle: Oh really?

Lily: Yes....I hope she chooses a cute one!

Adam comes upstairs the other day and the first thing he says to me is: "Hey, where's the brother?" He keeps calling him the brother despite the fact that I have told him David's name.

Lily informed me this morning that I still look pregnant. Thanks Lil for the update. I informed her that I would probably look pregnant for a few more weeks, but with lots of prayers (and exercise) I hopefully won't look pregnant forever!

introducing...

David Joseph Hill.

He came five days early on July 5, 2009 (I think the fireworks started the labor). He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces. He is proving to already be the sweetest baby around...

Enjoy the pictures....

The closest thing to a nine-month picture. It was taken the day before at the Fourth of July parade.

Brand new

The big kids came to visit. They LOVED him!

The pacifier is almost as big as his head!

Going home!

the day i gave in...

Today is the day I gave in. Lily has been wanting her hair cut for almost a year now.

I gave in finally, after realizing that it really isn't such a big deal. So what if she has the most beautiful hair ever and it looks amazing when it is long because it is so thick and full of body. It is, after all, her hair. And I should probably stop living vicariously through my daughter (because my hair would never look that good long, and I love long hair).

So the "hair lady" (as Lily calls her - and she is about 20) came today and cut it all off. I was sad, Lily was thrilled. I guess maybe I should just be happy that she is so happy. Now that it is done, I have to admit that she is still the most beautiful six year old I know. And now I don't have to listen to the complaining about her hair.

Who knows, maybe someday she will grow it out again and let me brush it until my heart is content. Probably not...

Look at all that hair on the floor

big news!

No, I haven't had the baby. But I think he is coming soon.

The big news is that Adam is riding his bike without training wheels!!! He is the cutest four-year-old I know! He zooms all over the neighborhood (which, as you can imagine, doesn't help my backyward dilemma - oh well).

it just isn't that hard!

My kids are funny. They will play all day outside if they are in the front yard. They will ride bikes, color with chalk, run around the neighborhood, etc. But the minute I suggest they go play in the backyard, where it is securely fenced, all I get is moaning and a whiny "noooooooo." I don't get it. Our backyard is really nice - it has soft grass and lots of it, a big, shady tree, and a little fort/playhouse. Plus I am always willing to put the sprinkler on. When I was a kid this was all I ever needed. Between this and their imaginations, I think they should be perfectly content back there. Apparently I am wrong - freedom is much more fun. Only it is sort of cutting into my day having to sit out and watch them for fear that they will be kidnapped or hit by one of our crazy neighbors who thinks driving at the speed of sound in a neighborhood filled with children is acceptable (to my neighbors who read this - you know who I am talking about and it isn't you).

I am open for suggestions on how to get my kids to stay in the backyard - keep in mind I am not the sort of entertaining kind of mom. That is what they have siblings for. I am happy to get them started on something though. HELP!