The Hill’s

My sister and her kids came last week while they were on Spring Break, which meant PAR-TAY!  There is nothing like being with a sister and cousins.  We loved every minute of it.

The first night they came was filled by going with my kids to mutual and achievement days.  We then headed out for ice cream.  Of course Chinese fire drills were involved.

I told my sister about the awesome archery course at the Air Force Academy that the boys had done a couple of weeks earlier.  We took the three boys up there one morning.

 

We played late night games which involved the animal game, do you love your neighbor, board games and a pillow jump contest.  The kids are STILL talking about the pillow jump contest.  Alesha started by everyone in a line and one pillow.  If you could flat foot jump over it you moved on to the next round with the another pillow.  Jacob and Dalton were the champions.  I’m sure one of them beat the other, but I can’t remember which one.

  

One of the scripture cards for the week was about all of the blind that Jesus healed.  We decided to let the kids pick out their own sunglasses to go along with the card for the night.  It was so fun to see the different styles.  They were so cute with each other.  

We ate MORE ice cream.

 

Hayley and Kaylee were cute with each other.  They stayed up WAYYY too late with each other EVERY night, painting nails, giggling, and doing who knows what else.  They are pretty close in age yet look funny together because Kaylee is so short for her age and Hayley is so tall for her age.

We did photo shoots…

We went to Focus on the Family’s slide with the little girls as Alesha took the big ones to do the incline, we jumped on the tramp…

 

We squeezed in an Easter breakfast at the church Saturday morning and a tour of the Olympic Training Center.

Let’s just say from Wednesday night to Saturday morning we PACKED it in.  We sure love you Hill’s!!!

Kindness

I have had a horrible week and its only Tuesday night!  I am soooo excited to have Stephen home tomorrow.  Everything that could go wrong went wrong.  BUT thanks to sweet friends I have survived.

Kim especially was kind to us.  Our well went out yesterday.  No running water with a big family after sports practices equals A LOT of body odor.  Kim let us all come over to shower and get ready for bed.  It felt so good to be clean and have all my kids clean to go to bed.

I was also grateful for a sweet treat dropped off this morning.  It’s just little things that people do without thinking much about them, but how important they are to those receiving that sweet act of kindness.  I need to be better at “doing” those little things for others.  Sometimes you get so consumed with your own life that service falls by the side.

I recently read this quote in my latest book that I’m reading.  I have decided that it’s my new motto.  Love it!

“Kindness in another’s trouble - Courage in your own”

I have tried so hard to be brave through all that has happened this week, but it is really the kindness from others that has helped me through. 

(And yes $809 later our well is up and running.  I’m just sick that it happened right before tax day when we have to PAY a huge chunk anyway!  Ughhhhh )

Easter

We had a snow day this last week, which made for a perfect afternoon of dying eggs…

These two white eggs turned into Kaylee’s favorite two eggs, using Grandma’s egg tie dye kit that she sent…

   

Ashley had me take a picture of each and every one of her eggs because they were ALL so pretty.  I smiled as I was looking at her pink egg.  It doesn’t look oval, but misshaped.  Upon zooming in, you can totally see that this egg was QUITE cracked in its dying process.

    I had to smile at Ash today.  The big girls had made deviled eggs to go with our dinner.  Ashley was abhorred that we would make something of the devil on “Jesus’ Day”.  She told Rebecca, “you could have at least waited until tomorrow”.

The boys don’t dye eggs anymore.  They just eat them.  However, I needed some chocolate bunny pictures with the kids for a little project that I’m doing next year with my Easter decorating.  It’s amazing how easy it is to get the boys to pose IF they get a chocolate bunny afterwards…

 

And to finish out Easter, is the before church picture of the kids with their new dresses, shirts and ties.  I don’t know why Jerrica kept winking in ALL of the pictures, AND Ashley wouldn’t stop posing to save her life.  I don’t know if I’m going to be able to raise these last two.  They just wear me out! 

 

Sure enjoyed our Easter week!  The Christ cards each night were a huge hit.  My sister, Alesha and her kids were here for some of last week so we did cards and treats for them as well.  It was fun to see them reading the assigned reading each night with their cousins that are close in age with each of them. 

Oh holidays are so much fun!

Random

Another random post filled with randomness…

We finished our March Madness. Nathan won the $20 in our family pool.  I had to smile when Rebecca came home from school one day and said, “Mom do other families fill out basketball brackets?  Because none of my friends know what I’m talking about when I ask them which teams they picked” :)

Kaylee worked hard on memorizing her states and capitals.  She had to label and correctly spell ALL of them.  She rocked and answered all of them correctly with just two misspelled on her school test.

I always ask Stephen when the gardener will start working on our landscape, or when the carpet cleaner is coming, or when the window washer will get here.  Well, the window washer showed up on Saturday.  It is no easy task either.  We have some huge windows and some really high windows.  So grateful for all that Stephen does for our family!

We pulled out the conference notebooks and enjoyed such an uplifting conference.  I love how it always re-energizes me.  So many stories and quotes that spoke to ME. 

Stephen took the boys to the Priesthood session on Saturday night.  Those boys sure love their dad!

This week for FHE I made little reading cards with a treat or activity that go along with each of the cards for the kids’ personal scripture study leading up to Easter.  I wanted to do this to get my kids into their New Testaments this week.  I want them to read accounts and miracles of Christ.

 

Each night we pull out the basket before the kids go up to bed so that they can get their little reading card.  I can’t believe the reaction to the cards.  The kids have LOVED them and thank me EVERY night.  I am thanking them for reading and doing the cards.  It’s just a win win!

I did the swedish fish with the accounts of feeding the multitude with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.  Another night was the story of the ten lepers and a cute thank you card that they had to write to someone that had done something for them.  I’m excited to give them tomorrow’s card!

And last but not least, I have had a few friends tell me that I need to watch Downtown Abbey from Masterpiece Theater.  I have never liked the Jane Austin movies (they seem slow to me) and so I didn’t think I would enjoy it.  However, I have LOVED Downtown Abbey.  It has been fun to escape into that time period each night and see what the characters are up to.   Check it out on Netflix!

And that is yet another VERY random post!

Nights

I am very much a night person.  I feel like I have all night and could do any project or read any book all night long.  If I were to wake up early to accomplish something, I feel rushed, and that the kids will be up at any moment ruining my “ME time”.

The other night Steve was off playing volleyball or basketball.  I had my icy drink and a good book sitting on my nightstand.  It just made me smile seeing that drink and book sitting there, that I had to take a picture.  Oh how I love curling up in my flannel sheets with an open window blowing in a fresh breeze, and a good book to read.  The night was HEAVEN!  :)

Spring Break

We enjoyed such a warm Spring Break this year.  It was filled with family and friends AND lots of memories.

The start of the break all of the kids were off with friends.  Oh how they love their friends and have so much fun with them.  So many sweet moms out there creating such fun memories for my kids.  I DO know how important friends are for my kids, but I also know how important family time is as well.  My kids NEED time with grandma and grandpa.  They don’t get to see them as often.  So I loaded all of the kids up and we headed down to my parents last weekend.

We played basketball.

Grandma Charla got the big girls all set up with a set of dishtowels to embroider on.  They have LOVED working on them during this break.  I think that embroidery teaches so many key stitches that can be used in soooo many sewing and craft projects.  Thanks again Mom!

 

We played games one night.  I think games are so fun late at night because everyone is so giddy and full of laughter.

 

Driving is BIG at Grandpa’s.  The kids drive on the back dirt roads.  As soon as we turn on to the dirt roads, the kids start begging to be the one to drive.  Jacob got to help Grandpa do a job with the loader.

My sweet parents babysat the little girls while we skied and snowboarded.  Wolf Creek still had a 100 inch base so we had to take advantage.  It was Rebecca’s first time going with us.  Thanks to a private lesson, she was skiing right along with us in the afternoon.  She did awesome.

   

Stephen is an incredible snowboarder.  I have to pinch myself that he is mine, when I’m watching him show off on his board.  He is SO fun to watch.  Nathan is getting really good too.  Stephen commented on how much he had improved since their trip in December.  Nathan replied that he has been “watching” youtube videos.  He is so determined when he wants to do something.

Grandma’s house is fun because of her books, movies, toys and treasures.  She had a wig that all the kids loved trying on.  I couldn’t believe how the wig totally changed their appearances.

 

She also has fun toys that are different and the kids LOVE.  Jerra could play with this fabric piece doll for hours.

The kids always have to ride bikes up town to get a cheeseburger from Scott’s Store.  It’s about a 3 mile ride and the dogs tag along.  This time Ashley and Jerrica decided that they were going with them.  They made it to Grandma Jackie’s lane and decided that they would rather turn around and stay with mom and I.  Anyway, I don’t know if it’s the burger or the bike ride, BUT it is always a must when we go to grandma’s.

Of course our favorite playground is another must do when we go to my parents’…

 

We arrived home in time for more sleepovers and play dates with friends.  I’m starting to see that if I don’t take my family somewhere during these breaks, they are off with their friends. 

We did take one trip to Trampoline World to end Spring Break.  The kids always beg to go there every break we have.  I get so tired just watching them. 

Now back to school!!!!

Archery

Last weekend with Hunger Games coming out, we had to do some archery to gear up for the movie.  The boys went with Stephen and the Wright’s to the Air Force Academy’s archery course.  They have a fun hike through the trees with various targets along the way.

Jacob is really good at archery.  He did it quite a bit when he went to School in the Woods.  Steve kept trying to get a lesson from Jacob, but instead spent most of his time searching for arrows.

All of the boys decided that Katniss would kill them.  They also decided that maybe she should come to Colorado and give them personal lessons.  :)

They later saw and loved the Hunger Games. 

The girls and I are quite excited for THIS little archery movie to come out.  Maybe it’s because the main character has red hair!