Holland Family Happenings

2 Weeks...

2012-02-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

Sweet little Emma is suddenly 2 weeks old. The hormones hit me full force today and I have spent a good majority of the day crying. I think the Pediatrician thinks that I am crazy. Maybe. It couldn't possibly be that I cried through Emma's entire 2 week check up. Why? This morning as I bathed her I noticed that her little belly button is close to falling off and it hit me like a ton of bricks. This could quite possibly be the last time I go through the motions of having a newborn...and it is eating me alive. Five c-sections is risky business and my body has about had it. This pregnancy and delivery were tough. I am blessed with 5 healthy kids to call mine and for that I am grateful. Emma is a great baby. She nurses like a champ and today she weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces which means she has gained an entire pound in the last two weeks. She is calm and content as long as she is changed an fed. She is adored by the entire family but especially by me. I snuggle her as often as I can and kiss her sweet little lips. I am not annoyed by her cries or the lack of sleep. These are moments I took for granted with my other babies knowing that there would be another newborn to snuggle down the line. Every child is a miracle. They each come with their own little personalities and special gifts. I think Emma has made me realize how much I love being a mother.

Sisterly LOVE...

2012-02-19T20:36:00.001-08:00

Who I LOVE...

2012-02-15T01:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! My poor husband kind of got the shaft this year. No fancy dinner or sappy gift. Not even a card. Poor guy. I texted him this afternoon with a short I love you. For this year it is going to have to do. I am a pretty lucky lady. Doesn't this picture melt your heart. He is the greatest husband and dad that anyone could ask for. Today (and every day) I love him!

This sweet lady has taught me everything that I know. She rolls with the punches. She is passionate and sweet. She loves me and my kids. She is my rock. I love my mom and and grateful for her every day but especially in the last few weeks. I am pretty sure I was sent to the greatest family. Love you mom!

Yes that is me, on my Birthday. A little swollen but surrounded by the little ones that I live for. They are adjust well and little Emma and I are certainly feeling their love!

Last but not least, I love this little gal. So far she is calm and doesn't seem to mind the craziness that surrounds her. I love the smell of newborns. They are so sweet and innocent. My little Emma has made our family feel complete.

I love, love, love being a wife, a mother, and a daughter. I have been overwhelmed by each of these responsibilities this week. I am surrounded by wonderful people who make me who I am. Life is good.

Welcome to our world little Emma Renee...

2012-02-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the baby...

The first time the kids saw her little face..

Nick..."another girl!"

Waiting for mom to come....

Meeting Mom!

24 hours old!

Life As We Know It...

2012-02-05T23:45:00.000-08:00

It is after midnight now and I can't sleep. In just a few hours we will welcome another spirit into the world and into our home. The past 9 months have been a mixture of emotions. Some weeks have flown by and others have been slow. Our little family has been busy and the kids have all grown up. I worry about how Summer, my "baby" for a few more hours, will adjust to a new little one in her space. There are nights that I lay in bed and wonder if I am doing enough as a mother. Do I exercise patience? Do I set a good example? Do I enjoy the little things? Do I make them feel loved? Can I handle FIVE kids? What I do know is that tonight I am grateful to have a chance to carry another child. I am grateful for a husband who never questioned me once when I told him there was another spirit waiting to join our family. I have 4 (almost 5) healthy and happy kids, a supportive husband, fabulous family, and an army full of people in our ward and neighborhood who love us. Tonight I feel like a pretty lucky lady. Life is good. I am happy and I can't wait to have all my kids around me tomorrow as we start this adventure together.

2011 Christmas Card

2012-01-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year! We hope that thisletter finds all of our friends and family happy and healthy. 2011 has been another busy year at ourhouse…here is a brief re-cap of what has been happening in The Holland Family!

Summer (2) is ourAngelWe Have Heard On High (often)! Her high-pitched squeal and short sentences get her most everything shewants. She can often be found Rockin’Around The Christmas Tree as she rarely sits still. Summer loves the color purple and ourwalls are nicely colored with her many purple works of art. She is so much fun (no really!) butmakes us appreciate our Silent Nights.

Austin (5) reminds us daily that SantaClaus Is Coming To Town. His current Christmas requests include Batman shoes, baseball glove& bat, and a new football. Austin is all boy! He loveshanging out with Nick and the bigger boys in the neighborhood so he is usuallyfound Up On The Housetop of the neighbors play set. He loves going to basketball andfootball games with his dad and has had a chance to play on a few teams thisyear. Austin loves pre-school andis a great big brother.

Nicholas (8) is quite a character and hasbrought a lot of Joy To The World as we have been able to watch him play andimprove on a competitive baseball and basketball team this year. He loves playing ball! He is taking piano and is currentlyworking on playing The Carol Of The Bells. If you ask him he might say, “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two FrontTeeth” as he has lost quite a few this year! He loves 2^ndgrade, scouts, and was baptized in October!

Kylee (9) just finished singing songslike JingleBell Rock with the school Christmas choir. She was sad to see choir come to an end but still has plentyto keep her busy – sports, sewing, piano, friends, activity days andgymnastics. She has almost perfectedher recital piece of Let It Snow and has become a greatpianist! She has been busily DeckingThe Halls of her new room in the basement with signs like “Do NotEnter”. Kylee is a big 4^thgrader this year, is a great student, and loves to read.

Renee is currently doing her best tolook like Jolly Old St. Nicholas as her belly is expanding with a babygirl that will arrive in early February. She keeps busy with the kids, church callings, and PTA. She went Over The River And Through TheWoods with her parents and sisters to New York City for a fewdays. Everyone at home survivedbut passed around the stomach flu while she was gone! (oops!)

Tyler should adopt the motto “GodRest Ye Merry Gentlemen” as he is busy as ever coaching, selling,serving and being a dad. He islooking forward to being Home For The Holidays and we aretoo! We traveled to Boston for afew days and loved exploring historical and family history sights there. Last,we loved time spent together in Island Park, Idaho and in Bear Lake where wedid our best to leave looking like Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.

It has been a busy year but It’sBeginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas at our house. We are grateful for this Christmasseason and for the life and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, JesusChrist. We Wish You A Merry Christmas AndA Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve...

2011-12-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition at my parents with yummy roast beef dinner with the extended family, a short program, Christmas carols, opening gifts from Grandma & Grandpa and of course, Christmas Eve jammies! The kids always love to match so we try hard to find the same jammies every single year. Batman was the request of the boys this year though Nick did inform me that he is getting too old to wear Batman pajamas...sad! We had a great night and Christmas day was wonderful as well. Our ward did a great musical program and then we headed to Logan to visit with Tyler's family. I did not take one picture but it was fun to spend time playing with cousins there. We are looking forward to what this year has to bring...first on the list being a new baby!

Summer & Aunt Kelsey

Kylee Jo & Ms. Summer

Nick & Austin

The boys - Austin, Nick, Brady & Easton

The Cousins

Showing off the scooters from Grandma & Grandpa

A visit to see Santa...

2011-12-22T18:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to see Santa and this year he made a pit stop at Uncle JR's house. This special Santa is sporting a very special antique Santa suit - borrowed from Grandpa Joe! Hopefully Santa has time to return and grant their Christmas requests!

Austin - "I haven't decided yet." Awesome! I guess there won't be disappointment from this kid on Christmas morning.

Nicholas - Madden 2012 - We will see. I am not sure the workshop produces video games....

Kylee - Easy Bake Oven - This request has not been granted in years past so we will see if Santa is on the ball this year!

Summer - Just wanted the candy cane and it was a painful process she had to endure to get one!

Santa took a minute to wish Grandma Jo a Happy Birthday! 59 years young today and loved and adored by ALL of us!

Kylee plays...Let It Snow!

2011-12-17T16:40:00.001-08:00

Thankful & Thanksgiving

2011-12-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

There is nothing quite like being at my parents house on Thanksgiving. The food is always wonderful and the company chaotic but perfect. This year did not disappoint! With a crowd of 50 (many of which were kids) it was just as I always remembered. We ate and ate and then took a small break to play the traditional "Hill Family" games before returning to more eating! Everything was just right. My parents are wonderful hosts and always seem to find a way to make feeding large crowds seem easy. We started a new tradition this year - the turkey bowl football game for the kids! Nick collected all of the jersey's that we own so that every kid (and adult) could wear one in the big game. It was a lot of fun and something that I think the kids will always look forward to. I love that all these cousins are so close in age! Isn't family the best? Here are some pictures of the perfect day. Plenty of food, fun, and lots of family love!

Happy #5 Austin!

2011-11-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

Happy #5 to my sweet Austin! This happy boy brings us more joy then I ever imagined. I delivered Austin just a few days before Thanksgiving five short years ago. I remember snuggling with him in the hospital on Thanksgiving day and being grateful that he was mine. He is funny, athletic, sensitive, feisty, goofy and sweet. He loves his older brother and would play with the "older boys" every second of every day if he could. He is a great friend and is loved by so many. He could live on pancakes, Life cereal, spaghetti and IKEA meatballs if he had to! He has a sparkle in his eye that is hard to explain. We celebrated yesterday with pancakes for breakfast, McDonalds for lunch & Cafe Rio for dinner...all of his favorite things. Today we headed to the bowling alley with 11 neighbor kids to celebrate Austin's special day. The kids enjoyed bowling, pizza & cake. (and I enjoyed not having party mess at my house!) It was the perfect way to celebrate such an awesome kid.

Left to Right - Brady, Eason, Cache, Kamri, Riley, Gabe, Tyson, Nick, Austin, Spencer & Cy

First Snow...

2011-11-19T08:28:00.000-08:00

The first snow of the season hit last night! No Saturday morning chores for these kids...yet!

Happy Saturday.

Presenting...

2011-10-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight we gathered at my parent's house for our annual Sunday before Halloween dinner &pumpkin carving. Mom made a wonderful spread of food (as usual) and Kelsey brought home 9 kids from her BYU ward to join in the fun. It was pure chaos but so worth it for the end result. Awesome pumpkins and pictures of their kids in costume a day before the actual Halloween holiday. Though Halloween is one of my least favorite holiday's, soup & bread bowls while carving pumpkins is certainly one of my most favorite Hill family traditions! With that said, I present the Holland children - Halloween 2011!

Austin - the football player. He was all about the black lines under his eyes.

Kylee - the pig & Summer - the cupcake

Nick - the Zombie. Thanks to Uncle Ryan for tackling the face painting!

The pumpkin carving kids - they were supposed to be making scary faces.

Grandpa

2011-10-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure these are the cutest pictures ever. They were taken as my dad joined us at the pumpkin patch earlier this week. The boys were so excited to see Grandpa that they took of running to greet him. Priceless.

Nick's Big Day...

2011-10-12T18:11:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 8th, Nicholas was baptized! He has been counting down the days for weeks now or maybe more like months. He has been so diligent in asking questions and preparing himself. It was incredibly fun and rewarding to watch as a parent. No, he is not perfect, but he certainly has a big heart and makes great choices most of the time! We are lucky to have such supportive friends and family and many came share that special day with us. It was especially neat for me to see both Grandpa's participate. There is something special about seeing two men that I love (and Nick admires) stand as witnesses of the sacred ordinance of Baptism and then participate in the Confirmation. It always makes me extremely emotional. In just a few short years we will be helping Nick prepare to enter the temple and serve a mission. Sometimes being a parent is hard and I worry that maybe I am not doing enough. I hope that Nick feels our love for him. We came back to the house for gourmet pizza (Costco) and Rootbeer floats...Nick's request of course and I was not about ready to argue with such a simple meal! It was a cold and blustery day but warm and perfect in all the right ways! Congrats Nick!

NYC...

2011-10-03T16:02:00.001-07:00

I just spent 4 days in New York City with some of my most favorite people on the planet. I am too lazy to post my own pictures (maybe later in the week) so for now you can enjoy a re-cap through my mom's blog HERE. It was an amazing trip. We laughed, we cried, and we made wonderful memories! Thanks mom and dad for a great trip!

Happy #8 Nicholas!

2011-09-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe that this handsome boy is EIGHT years old. It seems like he was born yesterday, full head of hair and all. We love our Nick for so many reasons. He is sweet and sensitive yet stubborn and determined. He is a great athlete and a great friend. He makes me laugh and smile sometimes until my stomach hurts. He truly is wonderful kid. He is a good student and and has a big testimony for such a little body. We are so excited that he has chosen to be baptized in a few weeks. He has been working hard and preparing himself for the big day. It is crazy to think we are going through the baptism process with another child. Life really does speed along and we hope that Nick knows how much we love watching him grow. The birthday this year was a hit! It started with a friend party at the bowling alley complete with laser tag, arcades, bowling, pizza, cake and presents. He has lots of friends in the neighborhood and this was the perfect place to keep 10 rowdy boys entertained! His actual birthday was celebrated with dinner at the Pizza Pie Cafe with Grandma & Grandpa Holland. I think it was a great few days for him...until next year.... Happy #8 Nick!

What Mom's Do...

2011-09-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

I would give anything to just drive to the airport and get on a plane right now. Tyler travels for work on occasion and for him that requires him packing a suitcase, driving to the airport, and boarding the plane. For me it requires accomplishing the entire list below...

Though I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to spend time away with people I love, it requires doing a lot for the people that I love and am leaving at home. I have checked a few things off this list today and will continue to plug away at it until take off in a few days. Until then, I am sweating like crazy (no joke) as I try and leave the house in a semi organized fashion with laundry done and the pantry and fridge stocked. I guess that is what mom's do!

You Are What You Eat?

2011-09-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

I guess we are all YOGURT at our house. Didn't realize how addicted we are until I cleaned out my fridge this morning. Yogurt is kind of a staple food at our house these days. My picky eaters will eat it and I figure it is better then some other things I could feed them, right?

Austin's First Day!

2011-09-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Finally! The fact that Austin's pre-school started 2 whole weeks after the rest of the kids was torture for all of us. With Nick gone all day, Austin was completely lost which made my life very difficult. Needless to say, the first day could not come fast enough for ALL of us. He loved pre-school last year and was excited to see Mrs. Hansen on the first day with and added bonus of his best friend, Kamri, who joined in the fun with him this year! I love the schedule and the learning that school brings. He looks forward to the fun things they do each day and always comes home excited. We have been lucky to have great pre-school teacher's for all of our kids and I am quickly learning that they really do make a difference!

Date with Kylee!

2011-09-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to gain "cool mom" status I joined a number of other cool mom's in the neighborhood and purchased tickets for Kylee and I to see Salena Gomez in concert. As you can see from her birthday post, she was thrilled! The much anticipated day came and the girls met early to primp, glitter themselves, and make posters professing their love for the singer. I laughed all day as the excitement unfolded. Kylee danced her little heart out and sang the words to every song. She smiled through the whole concert which made the night 100% worth it. I love spending time with my Kylee. She is growing up so fast and is growing into such a beautiful and independent girl. The night was loud but priceless! I enjoyed it so much that I might even grant her next request for concert tickets....we will see.

Pinewood Derby...

2011-09-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

We finally had our first taste of what the pinewood derby is all about. What I concluded was making a car is stressful! Making the "perfect" car was the talk of the neighborhood for weeks. Nick was stressed, I was stressed, and Tyler was stressed. We ventured out to the local hobby shop where we had heard they sold pre-cut cars. If you know us well you know that we don't own a saw and even if we did it would likely be a disasters to use it. So, the pre-cut car was purchased and Nick was thrilled....until....dad came home. Tyler was certain that we had purchased a car that was too narrow and would surely loose so back to the hobby shop HE went with Nick to purchase a "winner". We painted it blue as a tribute to the Aggies, but to our surprise, Nick requested he paint BYU on his car given the Aggies loss the night in football the night before. Ouch. That hurt his poor dad's feelings but after all, it is supposed to be NICK's car, right? So blue and BYU it was. His car did not win but it did not loose either...he finished in the middle of the pack. Phew. I am pretty sure they should have pinewood derby for grown men. There is no way the winning cars were actually made by 8-11 year old boys but it was a fun adventure and we have learned a few tricks to make our car a winner next year!

Guess What?

2011-08-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to announce that we are...

I am still in total and complete shock. I have been 100% convinced that this baby was a boy. I think part of me was hoping because my boy babies always seem to be so chill and my current baby (Summer) is sooooo far from chill. My "official" ultrasound is in a few weeks and then I think I will be willing to accept it. I am not disappointed one bit. With two of each we really can't go wrong, but I am sincerely surprised. We have plenty of girly stuff to get started with this little one which is a blessing. Austin cried, Kylee is ecstatic, and Nick told me he can't wait to have another sister to pick on. Summer doesn't understand it and will be shocked when she is no longer the center of my world in a few months. With all of that said, we are extremely blessed. Life is good. I am finally feeling better, my weight gain seems to be slowing down (horray!) the kids are back in school, projects are beginning to get done, and I am feeling the excitement that comes each time I carry a child. Now on to discussing names, changing kids rooms around, and decorating a NEW baby girl nursery!

36 Years Young...

2011-08-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today my handsome husband turned 36 and I think I deserve to brag a bit and say that he is amazing. He celebrated the big day at Uintah golf purchasing himself a few new additions for his golf bag in preparation for a tournament he will play in tomorrow followed by lunch with me! I was a good wife and told him that I think he deserves whatever he wants so he bought what he has been wanting the most...fitting I think! I am not usually one to write sappy birthday messages but Tyler is pretty much the best and sometimes I wonder if he knows it. I think I am darn lucky to be married to such a man and my kids are proud and lucky to call him dad. I love running into people that he works with closely in Church or at the office because they all tell me how great he is. I simply smile and tell them that I know he is great because he is. So a happy happy birthday to Tyler today! I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays together.

And They're OFF!

2011-08-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

The first day of school has finally arrived! My not so little 2nd and 4th graders took off at 7:45 this morning - all smiles and so excited to get back in the swing of things. It is always a bitter sweet moment for me. I have been counting down the days myself for weeks, but now that it is here my house already feels too empty. Back to schedules, sack lunches, homework, early bedtimes, and my favorite - dinner together at the table. Happy 1st day of school!

Loving Where We Live...

2011-08-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

I know I have said it a million times, but I truly LOVE where we live. I love that our neighborhood is a great mix of people...from old to young and babies to teenagers...we have it all. Austin has become very fond of the neighborhood boys this summer. He no longer has interest in playing with 4 year olds but can often be found playing with Nick and his friends or even better - the 11 to 14 year old boys the congregate across the street almost every day. We live on a slight hill so the hit of the summer has been riding skateboards down the sidewalk in a line. As you can see from the pictures, Austin can be found running in front, along side of, or behind them and not just once or twice but literally 100 times a day. They are so great at including him, giving him high fives, asking him questions or letting him participate where he can. I captured it all on film and hope that one day my boys will do the same for the little 4 year old across the street who worships them!

The birthday girl...

2011-08-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today was Kylee's birthday.

She shared the celebration with her

Aunt Sarah who also had a birthday this week.

The best gift ever...

Salena Gomez tickets!!!!

Are you kidding me.

Best gift EVER!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Kylee!

I hope she knows how incredible she is. We could not ask for a better daughter. She is smart, funny, caring, sensitive, feisty, fun, shy, athletic, helpful, dramatic and so much more wrapped in one cute little body. I am so happy to be her mom and so happy that she loves me right back!

Bear Lake 2011

2011-08-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I was dreading last week. My kids have been so over stimulated this summer with camps, cousins, extended family vacations and oodles of neighborhood friends that I was sure they had forgotten how to get along. I was proven wrong this week as we spent 5 days together in Bear Lake. They still love each other and they were reminded that playing together really can be fun. So, I would consider it a successful week. It was even relaxing for Tyler and I to just sit by the pool, on the beach, or planted in our lawn chairs as they had fun. Highlights included: playing on the beach, swimming in the pool, eating ice cream, playing at the park, riding bikes on the endless sidewalks, swimming in the lake with dad, a 9 mile hike for the older two with their dad, throwing the football to Nick as he jumped of the diving board, eating more ice cream, tennis, an afternoon with cousins, playing catch and even a game of flag football with mom. Phew, I am tired! Back to reality and preparations for school to start but here is a glimpse of what we did last week!

Family Time...

2011-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a week in Island Park, Idaho with all of these people. I am exhausted but I must admit it was one of the best vacations ever. I love my family. I miss those who live far away and look forward to another reunion in two years. More to come when I have recovered!

#5

2011-07-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce that we are expecting baby #5 in early February! I saw the little person and his/her little heartbeat this morning and couldn't be more grateful.

LAGOON!!!

2011-06-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

What would a Holland summer be without our annual trip to Lagoon?! Thanks to Tyler's generous company we get to enjoy our day there for FREE. It can't get much better then that....though it would be worth the price of a ticket to just enter the gates and people watch! Seriously, Lagoon attracts an interesting breed of people. Lagoon has become an extended Holland family tradition so the fun is spent with cousins, aunts & uncles, and grandparents. This year we even convinced (forced!) Kelsey to join in the fun. Thank goodness for her. It meant that I enjoyed the action from the sidelines but didn't have to step foot on any ride that I didn't want to go on. I am not a huge fan of rides that spin and make me feel like I might loose my lunch and either is Tyler. Wimps? Yup. But they usually prefer aunt Kelsey anyway so we let them ride the "big rides" all they wanted and they rode everything. Kylee and Nick had no fear and Austin went on all the big rides he was tall enough to get on. I personally enjoyed the train the most with the carousel being a close second. Even Summer branched out this year and enjoyed the kiddie rides. It was a great day. The weather was just right and the lines weren't too long. I am already looking forward to next year!

Celebration...

2011-06-08T21:43:00.000-07:00

Summer walked around singing "Happy Birthday" to herself all day long with an added "cha cha cha" at the end thanks to the influence of her brother's and sister! She was scared of the candle on her cake but did blow it out on her first attempt. She was spoiled by grandparents and great grandparents and spent the evening eating watermelon & tacos and playing outside with cousins. She is now in bed with her new blanket but wouldn't give up the "blue blankie" as I hope she might. I attempted replacing her bottle with her new princess sippy cup tonight but it was too painful for us both so I gave in. It was a perfect day. I can't believe that I gave birth to my sweet Summer two years ago. It was a day much like today and she has been making me happy since she arrived. Happy Birthday Miss Summer Evelyn!

Summer is TWO!

2011-06-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today my sweet Summer is 2 years old!

She makes us smile every day.

She loves Justin Beiber and knows the chorus to most of his songs.

She loves cuddling in bed at night with Kylee.

She loves vanilla yogurt, bananas, graham crackers, cereal and string cheese.

She has an obsession with water bottles.

She likes to play with cars and balls.

She loves to go on walks.

She is stubborn but sweet.

She is my best sleeper.

She loves her "blue blankie" and finds it when she is sad.

She loves to sing patty cake and likes to be tickled at the end of the song.

She is a blessing and we love her dearly!

2 weeks old

1 year old

2 years old

Lovin' Summer

2011-06-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

I am loving these first few days of Summer.

Tonight...

Dad is at meetings.

Mom is mowing the lawn and weeding the flower beds.

Kylee is at gymnastics.

Nick is at the park playing baseball with friends.

Austin and Summer are happily playing together.

Summer means...

Bedtime is no longer 8:00 p.m.

Wake up time is no longer 7:00 a.m.

Baths are a must every night because the kids are filthy.

The mosquito repellent and sunscreen come out.

The fridge is full of popsicles.

Dinner is served when I can convince the kids to come in.

Survived the mud

2011-06-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

I joined 6 of my favorite ladies and participated in the "Dirty Dash" at Soldier Hollow today. To say that we got ourselves dirty is an understatement. We certainly made a mess of ourselves but it was oh so much fun! I promise that I was not the only one wearing a shower cap...we all had them but mine stayed on until the bitter end and actually came in handy! I also have my eye closed in the picture - that would be because I was caked in mud and could seriously not open that eye. Oh the sacrifices we make for a cute picture at the finish line! I thought all week about how I was going to accomplish this race without getting muddy. The thought of being caked in slimy, stinky, wet mud just did not sound fun. As you can see, I did not succeed. I don't think my shoes will ever come clean but it was worth every dirty step! Thanks ladies for a memorable day.

As you can see, Aunt Kelsey deserves the "Aunt of the year award". She is hands down the best Aunt in the entire world. Kylee really wanted to participate in the "Piglet Plunge" and all it took was a phone call to find her running buddy. Brooklyn also joined in the fun and these three cute girls were great sports and were all smiles at the finish line.

AFTER

BEFORE

A huge thank you to my sweet mom who spent the days as the photographer/babysitter/moral support. Maybe I can convince her to join in the fun next year? It was a beautiful day in the mountains!

School is OUT...

2011-06-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

...the children (and mom) SHOUT, hip hooray for summer!

Kylee and Mrs. Gallegos

Nick and cute Mrs. Reid (sorry it's blurry)

On to a summer of exciting plans! Basketball camps, baseball games, volleyball camps, piano, neighborhood friends, cousins, and family vacations. Both kids were sad to see the year end because their teachers are so FABULOUS but I think the sadness lasted about 5 minutes. Yeah for sleeping in, no schedule, and time spent together!

Memorial Week Happenings!

2011-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend was a busy one. It started with the celebration of my dad's 60th birthday! We went to dinner on Saturday night and then had family dinner on Sunday. My sister Abbey put together a book of letters that were collected from all the many people who love my dad. People wrote very touching things - it was a great reminder of how truly amazing my dad really is! (Not that I needed to be reminded)

Monday we had an extended family and friend gathering to celebrate again. Pictured below are a few of the Hill cousins:

Nick, Carter, Coleman, Brady, Griffin, Max, Austin and Easton.

Grandma, Aunt Sarah, Aunt Sharon, Luke, Brady and Easton joined us on Tuesday to watch Kylee and Nick in the dance festival at school. We have passed along the "Beiber Fever" to these three and they were dancing around. It was hilarious! Austin truly believes he can do the moon walk. I didn't even know he knew what it was. I love the relationship that these three have!

Miracles DO Happen!

2011-05-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's a rainy Sunday morning and this is what I woke up to:

Let's be honest, I wish moments like these happened more often but I will take whatever I can get. There is nothing like the love, example and let's not forget the PATIENCE of an older brother! Sometimes they love each other and sometimes they hate each other but that is what brotherhood is about. Moments like these make me happy as a mom.

Austin's Pre-school Program

2011-05-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

It feels like just yesterday I was dropping Austin off for his first day of school. Now here we are, 9 months later, and the school year is over. I have to admit that the next week or two will be a little bitter sweet for me. All of my kids have lucked out with teachers this year. I have not one complaint. Austin's teacher, Mrs. Hansen, is about as good as it gets. We LOVE her. This morning they had their final program and it was fun to see how much they have learned. Austin knew all the words to the poems and nursery rhymes and sang his little heart out during all of the songs. He even knew all of the sign language for the alphabet...impressive if you ask me! Austin has loved all the great kids in his class this year. I heard one kid that is a little older refer to Austin as his "buddy". It made me smile. Austin is my little buddy too. I look forward to the break pre-school gives me but he is such a sweet kid and I don't mind having him around during the day. We are lucky to have one more year with Mrs. Hansen before moving on to Kindergarten, phew! Time is flying, the kids are growing up, and though I am looking forward to a break from schedules and homework - I will be excited when August rolls around and the kids are back in school.

Austin and Mrs. Hansen

Thompson and Tavah, Grandma Jo, and Uncle Geoff came to watch!

Summer and Austin

My adorable pre-schooler!

Look at that smile. He was loving it!

Kylee's Corner!

2011-05-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

I just walked in Kylee's room to collect her laundry and this is what I found...we still have Bieber fever around here! I am trying hard to bite my tongue and give up control of "her space". A child's bedroom should reflect who they are, right? Tyler grew up with Sports Illustrated covers all over his walls and his mom left it there until after his mission. Nick and Austin are already starting their collection so I guess I should take a deep breath smile about it. Soon she will move on to something new and different so for now I am going to smile every time I walk in her room and see this...I think!

Happy 10 Years!

2011-05-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

Tyler and I travled to Boston this past week to celebrate 10 years of marital bliss. In all seriousness, the last 10 years have flown by and I am one happy lady. It was great to spend time with Tyler. We only had a few bumps in the road while traveling this week but made the most of our time without the kids and enjoyed visiting Boston. The weather was terrible but that added to the adventure. We walked and walked and walked and saw a lot of great history sights. I enjoyed almost every minute of it. Tyler's family has a lot of history in the Boston area so it was fun to see actual homes, graves, and monuments of people that we are directly related to. It was a great week, the kids survived, the grandmas survived, and we are happy to be home safe and sound.

Pictured below are a few of the highlights:

The Boston "duck tour".

Redsox vs Orioles game that was rained out but at least we got a picture!

The Plymouth Planation and visiting Plymouth rock.

Visiting the Richard Sparrow house - we are related!

John Adams birthplace and farm.

The John Adams home and farm in Peacefield.

The Boston Temple.

Jospeh Smith's birthplace in Sharon, Vermont.

The Witch Trial Museum in Salem.

Finger Paint?

2011-05-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Oh dear Summer....how I love thee....even when you spend Sunday morning fingerpainting with your yogurt instead of eating it for breakfast. P.S. I love your crazy morning hair!

A New Look

2011-05-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to paint my door and shutters black for well over a year now but never had the guts to tackle the job on my own. Thanks to my talented brother-in-law, Taylor the tool man, the project is finally complete! He worked his tail off and survived being on the roof. I am so thrilled with the results. I love the black...I think it adds to the look of the house. Now I need some mulch and a few more pots planted and the outside will be complete for a little while. Next year I think I might add a window box. What do you think?

I only have a few more months with this handy man in town before he takes my sister and moves to Iowa. I am dreaming of my next project....thanks Taylor!

Grandpa comes to school!

2011-05-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Kylee was so excited to invite Grandpa to come to school for career day this week to talk to her class about being a doctor. She was in heaven with him there. He brought the best props, told the best stories, and even let all the kids test their oxygen level. It was fun to have him there and out of 9 presenters that day Kylee said that her Grandpa was BY FAR the best! Thank you Grandpa for making me 3rd grader proud!

GOTCHA!!!!

2011-05-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to the store to buy safety locks for my door knobs. Summer learned how to open doors last week and since then has escaped a number of times. I put these fancy child proof handles on today and she has been frustrated all afternoon! She moved the stool over and stood at the front door for a good 15 minutes trying to figure out how to open the door. I even put them on my bathroom doors because she is famous for finding toys and flushing them down. I love her not so innocent face in this picture! She is by far my busiest child at this stage. My other kids learned how to open doors but never dared actually step foot outside without me. Summer is not only out the door but across the street. She can open the fridge, the oven and the dishwasher. Nothing is safe with this little on around. Every cupboard is unloaded, every toilet is repeatedly flushed, every door is slammed over and over again. I hope she grows out of her curious stage soon or I am in for a long summer!

And this is what I found in the only bathroom I didn't put a safety lock on!

Cutest Picture EVER!

2011-05-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this because I think it is the cutest picture ever! Oh how my Summer LOVES her aunt Kelsey. They were both looking darling in their orange so we had to have a picture....I am amazed at how grown up Summer looks in this picture. I love both of these girls!

Domestic?

2011-05-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time (like 1 year ago) I thought that making freezer jam was hard until I joined my sisters in my mothers kitchen and learned that it really is simple. Considering I don't sew or bake bread I thought making homemade jam might be something I could teach Kylee. So, I bought the strawberries and other necessary ingredients and after school we went to work. She did it all and was super impressed with herself. It is funny how things that seem complicated aren't when you actually take the time to learn. It was fun to chat amongst the mess in the kitchen and spend a few minutes with my little girl. Maybe someday she will do the same with her daughter and she can tell her that her mother taught her something.

That's My Boy

2011-05-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

This kid loves to play ball and has proven to be quite a player! He is on the Lehi Titan's this year and is being coached by none other than his dad. I love that it allows my boys time to be with their dad. Austin is the "bat boy" and attends every practice and game like he were on the team. The team is young and has some improving to do but they are having a blast which I have decided is what is important when you are only SEVEN. Some of the teams that they are playing are a bit to competitive if you ask me. He was excited request #32 in honor of Jimmer as well as his dad who was #32 through High School, Ricks and BYU. It has been fun to watch his confidence grow - he thinks he is awesome and we think he is too!

Out With The Old

2011-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

This little black car will no longer be ours tomorrow. I have to admit it makes me just the tiniest bit sad. Tyler bought this car while we were dating and it has been good to us. It has well over 200,000 miles on it now and has served us well. The dent you see in the front is a memory....forgetting to put on the parking break when building our house and watching it roll into a dumpster. We laugh about it now! A boy in our ward will come and drive it away tomorrow and he is so excited to have wheels of his own which makes letting it go a little bit easier. It will still be around the neighborhood but we have moved on to bigger and better things. After a year of searching, and I am not kidding when I say that, Tyler finally took the plunge and bought himself another Altima. Nicer, newer, more reliable - we all love it! So, out with the old and in with the new...it's about time!

Rain or Shine

2011-04-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

This little guy is a major one track mind. I recall a post I wrote about Nick not too long ago stating that he was a bit sports obsessed also but I am pretty sure Austin tops his older brother. He eats, sleeps, and breaths everything that involves a ball. Tonight I went to find him and realized that he was out back with no shoes on playing basketball by himself in the rain....so I let him. He plays catch with his dad every day and has a better arm then most the kids in our neighborhood. He attends EVERY baseball practice with Nick and Tyler and could shag balls in right field all day if we would let him. He is the bat boy at the games and was disappointed when we didn't order him a uniform. His nightly request is not a bedtime story but a game of football in the basement with his dad. Austin might be little but he can tackle hard. He is sweet and stubborn and sometimes his obsessiveness drives me crazy but I love him for it!

Spring Break or Christmas Vacation?

2011-04-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Brostrom/Hill Families we spent part of our Spring Break in Eden at my aunt and uncle's amazing cabin! We were a bit confused by the weather...but were grateful for snow to sled on and not just mud to play in. We ALL had a great time on our short get away. Our kids do great together which made for a pleasant few days away from home.

Cute Summer wasn't so sure about her hat!

The snow bunnies...Nick, Austin, Carter, Kylee and Griffin

The snow maker, Kyle!

Summer's idea of sledding...she preferred to be in the sled on the cement.

Austin took a few tumbles. You can tell he was happy about it!

Kylee catching some speed.

Cute Cole. If we weren't related I would say Summer was going to marry him.

The Hill....we shoveled snow onto the driveway to extend their ride.

The hot tub! These kids spend hours diving in the snow and then jumping in the hot tub. All but Austin, of course. He preferred to just stick his hands in.

Winding down in front of a movie. Perfect ending to a fun day!

Summer and Cole created their own trampoline by removing the couch cushions. They were hilarious!

So EXCITED to be going here...

2011-04-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

Aspen Grove Family Camp...I am so excited I can't hardly contain myself! You have to understand that we grew up going here. We went with half of the Westview Drive families and it was always a blast. We stayed in the cozy little cabins, ate in the cafeteria, hiked, swam, played on the big field and made great friends. I still keep in touch with a few of the people that I met on our adventures there. So, when the opportunity presented itself to have a "Westview Drive Aspen Grove Reunion" over UEA I jumped at the idea. (Thanks Whitney!) I am so excited to show my kids part of my childhood and I hope that they love it as much as I did as a kid. The Westview Drive adults might join us for a day but we will be staying in one of the giant lodges with our own children...just like our parents did all those years ago! Yeah for family vacations and for happy childhood memories!

Time Well Spent...

2011-04-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

...with my Kylee.

Thanks to my husband, we snagged a few tickets to the Sunday morning session of General Conference. We were up and out the door bright and early to make the drive (in the snow), find parking, and be in our seats by 9:00 a.m. If you know me well, you will know that I was ON TIME and actually a tad bit TOO early. We were in our seats by 8:30 which made for a long morning but it was so much fun to spend a little one on one time with my sweet Kylee. She asked lots of questions, drew lots of pictures, attempted a nap and visited the bathroom twice but it was a sweet experience to be with my daughter in the same room as our Prophet and listen to the words of our Church leaders. I loved every talk - there were too many good ones to choose from this time around. It felt like October! The blooming trees looked beautiful all covered in snow!

One of the benefits of the Sunday morning session is the chance to hear the Music and the Spoken Word by the Tabernacle Choir. AMAZING! I could listen to them all day. I think it was one of the best broadcasts ever. I was touched by a quote they used in that broadcast and it inspired me to be better.

"Think of the people you most admire. Most likely it was not their accomplishments that touched your life but their acts of of kindness, not their beauty but their big hearts, not their successes but their support. The same is true for all of us. What will be cherished is the difference we've made in others' lives. What will be valued is the love and service we've offered."

Service was touched on in a lot of talks and each inspired me to be better, try harder, and improve who I am. Thank goodness we get to be spiritually fed twice a year because I need it!

So, an inspirational few days and some time well spent with my daughter. Now if the weather would warm up this month would almost be perfect.

Today's Project

2011-03-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cleaning out my pantry took my almost the entire morning. Yes, it was that bad. It is still not up to par but it is much better then it was this morning. Here is the system I am trying to organize all of those things I hate to store in bulk in my pantry. These containers have pour spouts at the top for easy measuring. On those things I need a reminder on how to make, I simply cute the instructions off of the box and taped them to the side. As my kids would say, "easy peasy lemon squeasy" and it makes my pantry feel so much less cluttered!

So MY child

2011-03-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Kylee is SO my child. No question about it. The last sentence on this paper she brought home today explains it all. Those of you who have known me for a long time will understand why.

"Something a lot of people don't know about me is I like to talk with grownups and I like to know what's going on. " Classic!

Why on EARTH...

2011-03-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

...do I have a thing for PASTA and JELL-O in my food storge! Well, let me explain.

I bought the boxed pasta this morning at Smith's and I was so excited about it that I called like 15 (okay, maybe just 3) people to tell them about this steal! It was only 49 cents at Smith's if you bought 10...so I bought 20 and am thinking that I might just go get some more. It is a "quick cooking" pasta which makes total sense to me in case of an emergency. Think about it - you have no power and are trying to cook something for your family using your propane cook stove....boiling a pot of water would take FOREVER in itself...but once you throw this pasta in the pot it cooks up in only 3 minutes! Open up a can of Spaghetti sauce and dinner is served! I am also a pasta lover because it is filling, ALL of my children like it, and the littlest of children can eat it. So, that is why buying oodles of boxes of pasta today made sense to me. We will see if my hubby agrees! :)

JELL-O is just a love of mine so when I see them for cheap I buy lots. Funny how I come home and unload and realize that I have plenty of JELL-O. My kids love it and it is an inexpensive treat for kids. I have a great jello salad recipe that I am often asked to bring to family functions...so I figure what the heck! JELL-O it is kids. My little sister told me that I am the best at making red JELL-O. I am glad that my family thinks highly of my cooking skills!

Both of these items require water so it is just another reminder as to how important it is to have PLENTY of water stored.

That's my food storage kick for today. I promise I will quit with the food storage posts as soon as the case lot sales are over and I am done finding good deals! Until then, happy shopping!

Project Hydration

2011-03-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still on my little emergency preparedness kick. Don't judge me. I think I am doing a good job so if you feel otherwise, don't burst my bubble! :) Today's project was WATER. I was recently told that 1 gallon/person/day is needed so I am trying to plan accordingly. Maceys had their 5 gallon buckets on sale for $5.99 which I am told is a great price. So, 8 were purchased, filled, and placed in various places throughout my house. The kids came home from school and helped empty all of our plastic juice bottles that haven't been emptied in 3 years. And yes, I do purchase water bottles every now and then. I LIKE water bottles. They are easy to grab, already treated, and easy to ration in case of an emergency...again, don't judge me! It didn't take long and my kiddos (at least two of them) were thrilled to help! I will soon add another 55 gallon barrel to those already in my garage. Our conference weekend project will be to empty the nasty water currently in them and refill them with nice clean water. Sound fun!??

Next on the list...72 hour kits. We store ours in buckets though I am re-thinking how practical that really is but it will do for now. I purchased plastic containers that store all of the food. It keeps everything together and can be used to mix things in. Along with 3 days of food/snacks/water I included something different for each kid depending on their age...flashlight with extra batteries, emergency glow stick, diapers and wet wipes for the baby, hand sanitizer, plastic utensils, a treat I know they like, and sweatshirt and a pair of socks for each kid. I also included a hygiene kit that was given to us by my grandparents. In my bucket I included most of the same things with the addition of an emergency radio, a first aid kit and a little bit of cash. Again, I am sure that I am missing things but at least it is a start, right?

FYI for anyone interested, here are the food items that we included and a sample menu.

DAY ONE:
Breakfast - oatmeal (1/2 cup water), hot chocolate (1 cup water)
Lunch - beef jerky, granola bar, fruit leather
Dinner - tuna/crackers package, fruit snacks, peanut butter crackers

DAY TWO:
Breakfast - oatmeal (1/2 cup water), hot chocolate (1 cup water)
Lunch - soup (1 cup water), trail mix
Dinner - tuna/crackers package, granola bar, fruit leather

DAY THREE:
Breakfast - oatmeal (1/2 cup water) hot chocolate (1 cup water)
Lunch - beef jerky, granola bar, fruit leather
Dinner - soup (1 cup water), cheese/cracker package

I also added a few extras for certain picky children...a can of Spaghetti O's, applesauce, and more peanut butter crackers along with some gum and little candies of their liking.

Last but not least, this is the newest addition to our storage room and I am embarrassed to admit that I am giddy about having an extra freezer! I am SO excited to fill it with extra food. The electrician is coming this week to wire a plug to our storage room and then it will be in working order! Yeah!

How is your food storage coming along?

What's Cooking?

2011-03-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti is what is cooking at our house tonight! I made this crock-pot recipe for the sauce a few weeks ago and my kids and husband went crazy. I am all about the store bought stuff but there is something about sauce that has been simmering for hours that makes it taste so much better!

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef or bulk Italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Hunt’s® Original Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) Hunt’s® Tomato Sauce
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon brown sugar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 to 2 teaspoons dried basil
1 to 2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Hot cooked spaghetti

Directions

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Add the next 10 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until heated through. Discard bay leaf. Serve with spaghetti. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Work In Progress...

2011-03-12T16:53:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying that there are so many of you who are better at this than I am! Every 6 months or so I get on a food storage kick and this has been my month. I am pretty proud of my work so far...we will purchase two more shelves this week and I am excited to get them filled!

After sorting through, throwing out, and re-organizing I learned a few things:

First, I am terrible at rotating and always buy more before checking to see if I have it in the basement. The result: throwing out food that is expired because I forgot it existed.

Second, I am in need of a lot of things I thought that I had. More macaroni and cheese, catsup, propane tanks for the portable stove and heater and batteries to name a few.

Third, for some reason I am terrible at remembering to empty and refill water bottles and water barrels. Conference weekend is my goal this year...we will see if it happens.

Fourth, our 72 hour kits would be of little help in an emergency considering most of the food is 2 years old. Another goal for the first week in April. We use buckets and I just added the kids names so they know which is theirs. I know there are better ways but it will do for now.

Fifth, I HAVE NO CERAL. 3 boxes of LIFE is it right now. It feels like there has not been a good cereal sale in forever! I didn't take a picture of my one empty shelving unit because it is just that...EMPTY. I will be on the hunt for good cereal deals in the coming weeks.

Sixth, I have 4 buckets of wheat but no wheat grinder. Maybe now is the time to convince my hubby I need a Vitamix?

Anyway, this is certainly a work in progress but we are getting there. Slowly but surely I will be prepared. We do have a 3 months supply of Spaghetti-O's! Let me know what works for you...I am anxious to hear your thoughts!

Fieldtrip

2011-03-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

I joined Kylee's 3rd grade class to go bowling on Friday! 165 kids that were excited to be away from school meant major headache but oh so much fun! I love being involved in my kids classes. They are all just cute, cute, cute and I think my Kylee is among the cutest!

Playdough

2011-03-02T15:39:00.001-08:00

I am one of those mom's who hates getting the Playdough out. I hate the mess that comes with it. When it does make its way to the kitchen counter I always make sure that Summer is asleep. According to Kylee, today I am in a "nice" mood which means the Playdough is out and these 3 have been entertained for over an hour now. I thought Summer would want to eat it but instead she is content to stack the containers and knock them over. Whatever works to keep them happy on this overcast Wednesday! Maybe my "nice" mood should come out more often!

Go Lady Aggies!

2011-02-27T17:22:00.000-08:00

We have been promising Kylee all year long that we would take her to see a Utah State Aggie women's basketball game. She chose her game well in advance, knowing that it would be a good one, and yesterday was the BIG day. The girl's games are not very well attended but it was so much fun to watch! They have a great team this year and it is fun to watch Coach Reagan Scott Pebley at work...she is a MVHS alumni after all and her dad was MY coach once upon a time. Thanks to Kylee's attendance at the USU basketball camp last summer, she was able to be a "ball girl" for yesterday's game. She and her cousin Haley were responsible for keeping the players hydrated and providing them with sweat towels. It was exciting for them to be on the floor interacting with the players. I am thinking that next year we will attend more women's games - it was fun!

Jr. Jazz

2011-02-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

Oh the much anticipated basketball season has come and gone. Kylee has improved a lot since last year and the games are becoming more and more enjoyable. They are no longer painful to watch! As usual, her daddy was her coach and a good one at that. She loved being able to play with (and against) good friends. Now on to sewing class, gymnastics, and piano!

Creativity at work!

2011-02-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

I love when kids play and use their imaginations. Kylee and Krishelle always seem to find a way to keep themselves entertained for hours and it rarely involves anything electronic. This is what 3 hours in Kylee's room with stencils, crayons, pencils, scissors, glue and tape created. I love it! They taped them all to her dresser and are planning a "store" for next week to sell paper dolls and the clothes that go with them. Perfect way to spend a day if you ask me.

8 is Great!

2011-02-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

After speaking in Sacrament Meeting and speaking at 8 is GREAT last night, I am hopefully done with public speaking for awhile. In the process of preparing my own two talks I forgot that my Kylee was supposed to give a talk in Primary. I must say that I am grateful for the Friend magazine that I had in my diaper bag...certainly came in handy for my last minute preparation on the Plan of Salvation! Phew!!! I guess we can't always be on top of everything, right? Here is the cute treat I gave to all of the incoming 8 year olds. We talked about the 3 Bears of Baptism and I think it was a hit. I talked about the meaning of the word covenant and then looked up the scriptures and read them while having the kids listen for the word BEAR in these 3 scriptures:

The 3 BEARS of Baptism:

1. BEAR His name - Mosiah 26:18 - We talked about what it means to take upon us the name of Christ and how we act knowing that we are His children. He was the perfect example for us to follow. We talked about keeping commandments.
2. BEAR one another's burdens - Mosiah 18:8 - I had my Nick come up and I put a backpack on him full of water bottles. We talked about burdens and how they can make us feel heavy. We then talked about ways that we can help lift each other. As they gave suggestions I removed water bottles from the backpack. I think they enjoyed it!
3. BEAR testimony - Alma 4:19 - I talked about the importance of bearing our testimonies and shared an experience about bearing my testimony with some non-members.

Hopefully they got it! I love that kids get so excited to be baptized. My cute Kylee took that step last summer and we will do it all over again with Nick this fall. Such a fun time.

Daddy/Daughter Dance!

2011-02-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Kylee and Tyler went to the 50's sock hop at the elementary school this week. Kylee was so excited she could hardly stand it. The highlight was dancing to the final song as the balloons fell from the ceiling. The whole event was so well put together by the PTA and they had over 400 people attend. Amazing! I love that Kylee has the opportunity to make memories like this with her daddy!

1st Haircut

2011-02-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

The mullet is gone! Happy Day! I finally decided to take little Ms. Summer in for a haircut. I have been dreading this day for months. This child NEVER sits still so I was anticipating a disaster. Much to my surprise, she was perfect! Thanks to her bottle she sat on my lap and didn't dare move. She has really bad hair...it moves in all of the wrong directions but I think this will at least help give me something to work with. Yeah for haircuts!

Ewwww....

2011-02-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

Summer's latest addiction is eating lotion. I put it up on her dresser and she moves a chair to get to it. I put it in the bathroom drawer thinking that it is well hidden and it is like she has a sixth sense that guides her to the stupid bottle of lotion. She seriously eats it...like mouths full! Ewwww...that is all I have to say about that!

Valentines Day

2011-02-14T19:48:00.001-08:00

The more children we have the more Valentine's Day becomes a "family" holiday and this year was no exception! After forgetting to write Kylee a "love letter" that her teacher asked parents to send in and forgetting to pick up my kids from school until I got a phone call....I was in desperate need of showing my kids some extra love. We set the table in red and white and had our PINK dinner together. Pink pancakes, orange eggs (oops...yellow eggs + red food coloring = orange), pink lemonade, pink cake and pink milkshakes! I gave them each something special and we headed out the door for a surprise game of bowling. It was a perfect Valentines Day spent with all the people that I love! Ahhhh...and here is my Valentine! I love him more today than ever. He is funny, smart, dedicated, humble, hard working and about as good as a dad as anyone could ask for.
My sweet Kylee is growing up right before my eyes. She is everything a mom could hope for. Having a girl first has been the biggest blessing...she is the best helper! She is such a great student, friend, and sister. I can't imagine life without Miss Kylee Jo by my side!
Nicholas has really started to develop a personality in the last year. He is full of confidence but equally as full of love. He is like by everyone including our family. He is a great little athlete and has a brain full of great sports information if we ever have an questions!
Mr. Austin is my pal. He is hilarious. Austin says the funniest things. He loves to play and keeps Summer and I company while the kids are at school each day. He makes me smile all of the time just being who he is. He LOVES Nick and I love watching my two boys interact.
Summer is a handful but a darn cute one. I have enjoyed her as a baby so much more then a I remember enjoying my other kids. She is into everything but it rarely makes me upset. I think Heavenly Father sent her to me to teach me patience and I have certainly learned to enjoy the journey with this little one.

Hope you all had a great Valentines Day!

Evidence...

2011-02-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Though some of these pictures are blurry, and I could have taken 10 more that look just like them, I wanted to post them as evidence that a toddler lives in our house. Summer is not just ANY toddler. I have had 3 other toddlers in this house and none have been as busy and destructive as she has been. She colors on EVERYTHING and no cupboard, drawer, basket, room or closet has gone untouched by her sweet little destructive hands. Summer really is sweet. She has really bad hair (a total mullet that I can't part with) and a few bad habits (coloring everything and pushing any reachable button) but we LOVE her anyway! I guess I am off to buy a Magic Eraser...wish me luck on this cleaning adventure!

Bieber Fever...

2011-02-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

My cute Kylee and handsome Nick were able to hit the new Justin Bieber movie last weekend. To say they were both in heaven is an understatement. The posters are now hung in their rooms and I have caught them both singing the music a number of times this week. Too cute! The "best movie ever" inspired a Valentines box decorated in honor of Bieber...and with that I have now been named the "coolest mom ever". Her smile makes it totally worth it and I have to admit, I might secretly take Kylee and go see the movie. Shhhhhh, don't tell and if I am looking a little under the weather you will know that caught the "Bieber Fever" as well! :)

Happy Birthday to ME!

2011-02-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

I am just like my mother in a lot of ways but remembering my camera and taking pictures is something I can never remember to do. Oh well! My Birthday this year was just about as good as they get. Tyler tried extra hard this year and his efforts were appreciated! The day started at 5:00 a.m. when Kylee woke me up in search of scissors and tape. She apparently dreamed a brilliant idea (shown above - Happy Birthday Best Mom Ever) and enlisted the help of her brothers in creating a super cute sign. The house was decorated with streamers (more like ribbon because streamers were hidden) and I was served a fabulous breakfast in bed! The kids were off to school and I headed to Firehouse to get my car cleaned out...they gave me $10 OFF because it was my Birthday...SSSWWWEEETTTT! The kids were brought home and I met up with some of my family for lunch and a bit of shopping. PERFECT! The night was complete with a pre-arranged, yes you read that right, PRE-ARRANGED dinner and bowling with two of our favorite people, the Dowdle's. The kids survived the babysitter and I survived another year. Thanks for all of those who went to extra effort to make me feel special. I feel truly blessed!

Sunny St. George!

2011-02-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

We escaped the cold weather and headed South to sunny St. George for the weekend. We invited the Anderson's to come along and the kids had a ball. It was great to wear a light jacket and enjoy the outdoors for a few days. We were welcomed home by SNOW, of course, but loved the warmth for the few days we were there. The boys went golfing, the girls went shopping, we ate LOTS of yummy food and treats, and the kids swam. We rode bikes and scooters, played football on the grass, and took a few walks outside. We spent Sunday attending Church and touring the local Church history sites including the St. George Temple Visitor's Center. It was heaven in January! I took a lot of pictures but for some reason a good majority turned out blurry...sorry mom!

This little girl...

2011-01-25T07:45:00.001-08:00

...has some really bad hair! Good morning!

Seattle...

2011-01-23T19:13:00.000-08:00

On a total whim I decided to fly to Seattle with Tyler on business last week. Thank goodness for my super flexible and willing mother who didn't even hesitate when I called to ask if she would watch the kids. Love her! We stayed an a beautiful resort that sits right on the Snoqualmie waterfall. The Northwest has been pounded with rain so the river was really high. It was crazy to stand in the resort and look out the window and see all the water...made me a tiny bit nervous! We didn't make it down to the lower observation deck but did our best to take a few pictures. These are the only three pictures I took of the whole trip (and they are terrible) and look at us all cute and goofy. We have been married almost 10 years I love this funny guy more today then ever! It was a fun few days filled with lots of rest, reading, movies, and plenty of good food!

Itty Bitty Basketball...

2011-01-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love that these boys love each other so much! They are doing itty bitty basketball together at the Legacy Center and were lucky enough to be put on the same team. Itty bitty ball is ALWAYS fun but it is even more fun that they get to do it together. They are SO excited to see each other twice a week and I am equally as excited to be able to sit and chat with my sister. It's a win win situation! :) Now if I could just get Summer to sit still for that hour it would be perfect!

Christmas Card 2010

2011-01-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Holland Family ABC’s

A is for AUSTIN who just turned 4! He loves pre-school, playing with cousins & friends, and being with his dad. A could also be for the AGGIES who our boys love to support!
B is for BALL…baseball, basketball, volleyball and soccer! The kids have kept busy playing on teams and attending camps. If the kids are playing that usually means that Tyler can be found coaching. It is always fun to watch their confidence grow and skills improve!
C is for CHRISTMAS, our favorite time of the year! We are grateful for this Christmas season and for the life and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
D is for DAD – we sure do love ours! He is hard working, fun, and loves us all.
E is for EVERYTHING that our sweet Summer gets into. E could also be for ENERGY, which she has!!!!
F is for FRIENDS. We are lucky to live in such a great neighborhood! We are surrounded by wonderful people and consider this one of our greatest blessings.
G is for playing GAMES, something our kids have started to love! The game of LIFE has become the family favorite.
H is for our HOUSE. We are grateful for the roof over our heads and heat during the cold months.
I is for ICE CREAM, a family favorite especially in root beer floats!
J is for JUMPING, something Kylee does each week at gymnastics and Nick and Austin do off of any elevated surface in the house!
K is for KYLEE who just turned 8! She was baptized this year and looked beautiful all dressed in white. Kylee is a great friend and spends hours with them creating things. She just got glasses and looks darling in them!
L is for LOVE - Tyler and I will celebrate 10 whole years this May!
M is for MOM who keeps busy chasing four kids, fulfilling her Church calling, and volunteering at the school.
N is for NICHOLAS who is now 7! He loves to play with friends and can usually be found in the front yard playing football with half of the neighborhood. He is a great kid and awesome older brother!
O is for OUTSTANDING! Both kids are doing well in school and have brought home report cards filled with “O’s”. Let’s hope we can report the same once they hit Jr. High School!
P is for PARENTS. We have been blessed with great examples and our kids are lucky to have such wonderful grandparents!
Q is for QUIET, something that is rare at the Holland house!
R is for RUNNING, something Renee has started to do. She ran the Ragnar in Las Vegas with her family in October and even completed a half marathon!
S is for SUMMER who we refer to as our “monster”. She is our sweet and sassy 18 month old who keeps us all busy and entertained. Her blonde hair and blue eyes make her destructive nature bearable!
T is for THANKFUL! Our family has a lot to be thankful for…we are so blessed!
U is for UNBELIEVABLE which describes the last year according to our kids!
V is for VACATION! Tyler and I traveled to Guatemala and Belize, took the kids to Disneyland, and spent a week at Bear Lake.
W is for WEATHER (according to Kylee). We enjoyed great weather this fall and have had a mild winter so far. The four seasons in Utah are one of the many reasons we love where we live!
X is for EXHAUSTED, EXCELLENT, EXTRAORDINARY – you choose! ☺ For us it depends on the day!
Y is for YEAR and 2010 has been a great one! We hope that this letter finds your families happy and healthy too! We can’t wait to see what 2011 will bring.
Z is for ZOO, which our house can often be…come visit and we will show you!

Perfect day on the slopes!

2010-12-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the PERFECT day to hit the slopes...so we did! It snowed lightly the night before making the conditions on the mountain about is good as it gets. I buddied up with Abbey, Taylor and Kelsey and we enjoyed a day laughing and realizing how out of shape our legs really are! We stopped for lunch in the lodge which brought back many great memories of my younger days on the slopes. I always loved the lodge...the warmth, the food and the company. The lodge at Sundance has since changed but I still enjoyed looking back on those fun years. I hope that I get a chance to hit the slopes again before the season is over...I average about once every four years so maybe I will make it twice this year...we will see.

Introducing...

2010-12-21T21:18:00.000-08:00

Nicholas.
I love this kid to death. He is convinced that someday he will play in the NFL. I love that he dreams BIG and hope that he continues to do so. Our conversations over the last few weeks have been all football related, like when he asked which team in the NFL I wanted him to play with, hoping that he could maybe play in California or Arizona so we could come to more games. He has also been concerned about attending Church on Sunday and asked if the NFL might provide him with a headset that would broadcast Sacrament Meeting into his helmet while he was warming up for his Sunday night games....BUT if he had 9:00 meetings he should be able to do it all. I love the way his little brain works. He watches ESPN and re-runs of old football games on The Mountain like they are cartoons. He can tell you the stats of nearly every team and is true to HIS teams. Our DVR is full of recorded games that he watches over and over again - so many times that he can pause the game and tell me what will happen next. He plays football on the XBOX, football on the computer, and football in the front yard. We have tried to convince him that maybe baseball or basketball will be "his sport" but there is no convincing him that the NFL is not for him. Kids - I love them!

One of those days...

2010-12-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days...in a good way. The kids were fairly cooperative getting things done this morning, I had a basement full of boys all afternoon, Kylee was content playing with a friend and the baby took a good nap which makes for a good day in itself! Tonight I loaded the kids in the car and met Tyler in SLC to see the lights on Temple Square. I think it has been a few years since we attempted this but I am determined to now make it one of our traditions (per Kylee's request). The snow was lightly falling but it was warm so seeing the lights was enjoyable, not miserable as I remember it in years past. We toured the Conference Center and visited both of the Visitor Center's on Temple Square. We watched the Luke 2 video and saw a presentation on eternal families. It was a perfect night and put me in the mood for Christmas. It is nights like these that I am grateful to be a mom and a wife. I love my kids and my husband. I am grateful for friends and neighbors who are examples of goodness. I have been blessed with a wonderful extended family who love and support us. Tonight I concluded that life is good. We are blessed. So rather then getting upset that the request at 10:15 was for root beer floats, I sat at the table with my kids and loved the moment. I need to do it more often.

The Count Down

2010-12-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

This little Santa sits on our kitchen counter starting the first of December. The kids often fight over who gets to change the numbers each day and it seems to be a race each morning to see who wins the honor. This morning Austin was up bright and early and this is what I found...
Part of me wishes that there really were 81 days until Christmas. For some reason I am feeling really unmotivated and unprepared this year! Christmas is just around the corner...18 days according to my kids and I want this year to be special. I want them to understand and feel the true meaning of this time of year. The Santa countdown is one of my favorite traditions, especially when I wake up to cute little hands trying to get the numbers right. Happy shopping everyone and if you have any great ideas on how help kids stay focused on Christ this time of year I am open to suggestions!

Happy Birthday Austy!

2010-11-21T14:07:00.000-08:00

Our little Austin turns 4 today...wow, time really does fly! I love this little blue eyed boy more than I can even express. He is my little buddy. With the older two gone all day Austin and I spend a lot of time together. He makes me laugh with his funny sayings. He is all boy...loves football, fighting, wrestling, basketball, baseball and reading. He lives on peanut butter sandwiches but likes Ikea meatballs, pizza, corn dogs, peas, hamburgers, candy, rootbeer floats, apples & peanut butter and toast with honey (all things healthy as you can see). I can't believe that 4 years ago today this little guy joined our family. Happy Birthday Austin!

Someone got glasses...

2010-11-20T13:17:00.001-08:00

...and she loves them! She could not wait to show them to her friends and refuses to take them off. I never thought I would have to set ground rules when it came to glasses...she only needs them at school or when she needs to see things that are far away - to her this means all of the time! Picking out the "right" glasses was quite the process. After a lot of deliberating she decided on these...and I love them (and her)!

Activity Days

2010-11-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

One thing I have learned from being in the Primary Presidency is that GOOD LEADERS ROCK! It is amazing to see the difference between those who come to church and other activities totally prepared and those who plan last minute. We have great people in our ward and all of my kids have been lucky to have great leaders and Kylee's Activity Day leaders are no exception. They are fantastic. They are organized, loving, and always have the greatest activities planned. Kylee loves attending every other week and always comes home with a smile on her face and new information to share! So, a big thank you to her leaders and all those who teach our kids...your service does not go unnoticed! (Thanks Sister Erickson for the picture!)

Lovely Ladies at SYTYCD!

2010-11-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

I love these girls. I love hanging out with them, talking with them, and laughing with them. I don't always like getting my picture taken with them. I am so much taller than all three of my sisters...guess the height stopped after me! Anyway, we had a fabulous night celebrating Kelsey's 20th birthday at the So You Think You Can Dance concert at the E Center last weekend. We had floor seats and the dancers were AMAZING! The talent those people have is unbelievable. I bet they would be jealous of my dance moves though....or not. My parents joined in the fun and though my dad was very outnumbered it was a great night to be together. We laughed...a lot. I wore skinny jeans, boots, and animal prints for the first time which was huge for me. My sisters made fun of me, we made fun of each other, all of our kids survived while we were gone, and Abbey spent the night at my house which was super fun. All in all I am pretty sure it was a the perfect way to celebrate the little sister that we all love! Happy Birthday Kelsey and thanks to all of you for a great night.

Fall Break...

2010-11-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

I love Fall in Utah, especially when the cold weather stays away and the leaves start to change colors! My friend Darci and I took advantage of the nice weather and took our kids up Provo Canyon for an afternoon. We packed our picnics and walked the Provo trail stopping along the way to eat, play at the parks and throw rocks in the river. It was a perfect day. Great company and beautiful weather...just one more reason I love where we live!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T20:49:00.001-07:00

Halloween this year did not disappoint! The weather in Utah was beautiful last week and of course it rained on Halloween...at least it wasn't snow, right? Despite the not so great weather conditions the kids had a great time going door-to-door in our neighborhood. There were so many generous candy givers...full size candy bars, popcorn, and soda pop! Maybe next year I won't buy the cheap stuff! The kids were all thrilled with their costumes and I think they all look pretty cute if I might say so myself.
Cute Austin as Superman...he has had his costume for weeks and has been so excited to wear it!
Summer...the busiest but cutest money on the block!
Kylee as Carrie Underwood or a country singer...she thought she was pretty hot stuff and I would have to agree!
Check out handsome Nick as an indian. He loved this borrowed costume. He spent the week speaking his own indian language...he is such a crack up!

Pumpkins!

2010-10-27T20:28:00.001-07:00

You know it is pumpkin carving time when you wake up to snow on the ground!

Ragnar Recap

2010-10-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Running Ragnar was a great experience for me. I accomplished something that I never thought I could!

Highlights for me include:

1) Finishing my 8.8 mile leg and running the entire thing. It was full of hills and there were plenty of moments I felt like quitting but I kept on running.
2) Receiving the bracelet from one sister and passing it off to another on every leg...just another reminder of how much I love my sisters (Michelle and Aleena included). I actually got a little emotional as I passed the bracelet every time...love my family!
3) Chatting with people as I ran. (Yes, I am one of those who starts talking to random people on planes) I loved hearing what made people run this race. On my first leg I talked to a girl who was running with a van of 12 friends. One of them had lost her husband suddenly and was suffering from extreme depression. They banded together as friends and started running, stating that it was cheaper then therapy...that ended in running a Ragnar together.
4) Being able to rely on Geoff to run with almost all of us at some point as motivation and security. My brother rocks! He was hilarious and an absolute life saver. He ran as many miles as most runners did and I am not sure we could have done it without him. He created a family chant that had us on laughing...I would expect nothing less from him!
5) Seeing my mom and dad on the side of the road on my first run and watching my dad come to my rescue with water when he felt my support van had gone too far ahead! He apparently went forward, found my support van, and chewed them out for going so far ahead! It made me laugh! My parents are the greatest. I hope we made them proud!
6) Seeing those in the other van even if just for a minute! So proud of cousin Brit and Uncle Steve for being first timers with us!
7) Watching Chad run like a complete rock star on an injured knee. There were times that I thought he might collapse but he kept on running. We were all a little concerned and even tried to shove him in the van once...but he kept on running. What a trooper! Not sure he loved the over protective sisters always asking if he was okay, but I am pretty sure he expected nothing less.
8) Seeing Dan at the finish line. It is always awesome to tell people that we are related to Ragnar Dan. What a great event. It brings out the best in so many people and so much can be learned about yourself as you run. My conclusion...I can do hard things!
9) Watching Kelsey conquer her fear of the dark and finish her final leg like a champ. As she ran toward me in the final exchange I got emotional. She didn't think she could do it and she did. I love her!
10) Finishing! I didn't get to cross the finish line with the team because I had to catch a plane but it was different to be at a Ragnar finish line as a finisher and not just a spectator or volunteer. I am currently sporting my Ragnar shirt and the window sticker will go in my car tomorrow! :) I actually can say I did it and not just own the gear. That feels good!

Running for me has been therapy. How great to be outside and be able to take in all the beautiful things that God has created. My runs over the last few months have been a time for me to reflect, pray, and relax. I have enjoyed it and hope to continue running at least a little bit! Thanks to my supportive husband who has given up many mornings of his own workout time to allow me to run. I think it has made me a better person. I feel good, I am happier, I sleep better and I feel less stressed then I ever have. Life is good. I completed a Ragnar and we are making plans for the next one!

We did it!

2010-10-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

I just spent the last 2 days surrounded by the people I love and together we accomplished something I never thought I could... Ragnar Las Vegas. It was a blast. My muscles are sore & I need to catch up on some sleep but I would not have traded the last two days for anything. More pictures to come later...way to go team "Run Like HILL"!!!

Someone enjoyed dinner!

2010-10-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti and an independent 1 year old...not the best combination! But boy was she happy!

While the men were away...

2010-10-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

We are loving having our "Pass of All Passes", especially since Liberty Land (aka Trafalga Lehi) is just down the road. While Tyler was off at priesthood I took the kids out for a few hours of fun. The kids weren't daring enough to try the bumper boats on our previous visits but with the 85 degree weather that night we figured it was worth a try. Nick was soaked from head to toe - a BYU fan saw that he was wearing a Utah State Aggie jersey and was relentless! Austin and Summer stayed warm and enjoyed watching the action from the sideline.

What would a trip to Liberty Land be without miniature golf? Austin favorite pastime now days...and of course, a ride on the airplanes. It was a great night. The kids were happy which meant mom was happy too.

The Egg Drop...

2010-10-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

As part of the self esteem unit at school the 3rd graders learn about self confidence - this somehow relates to them being like the egg and doing what you can to protect yourself...like surrounding yourself with good friends, etc. The assignment was to take a regular egg and protect it so that when it was dropped of the top of the school it wouldn't break. Kylee has been waiting for this since 1st grade...after throwing up all Thursday night I wasn't sure I would make it there to watch her egg fall and see the results. I am happy to report that at little bit of batting, foam, duck tape and a shoe box did the trick! Her egg didn't break and I witnessed the drop. She is happy in these pictures - partly because her egg didn't break but also because she got to sit by Gabe! Isn't he cute?

Soccer Season!

2010-09-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Another soccer season has come to an end and I am actually kind of sad to have my Thursday nights back. Nick has improved a lot this year and has enjoyed playing with his buddy Ty. It is pure entertainment to watch Nick on the field. He is super aggressive and super dramatic...you can tell he has learned from watching sports on TV because every fall is dramatic and every celebration is loud! He is HILARIOUS! Tyler helped coach again this year and I have loved seeing both of these boys out on the field. I am amazed that with as busy as Tyler is with work and church he still finds time to make it to most games and is willing to coach. He is amazing in my eyes...reminds me a lot of my dad. Basketball season is right around the corner and I am hoping Nick plays with as much energy and enthusiasm on the court as he does on the field!

Desensitized...

2010-09-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how things that bother you with child #1 don't bother you with child #4.

EXAMPLE #1
When Kylee was 1 I would have freaked to find her playing in the hose water. A) because she escaped without me knowing it and this is how I found her. B) because hose water is nasty and who wants to drink it. C) because she was wearing a new dress and heaven forbid it get dirty!

All of the above were true yesterday when I found little Ms. Summer happily playing in the hose. I didn't freak out at all. In fact, I pulled a chair out from the garage, grabbed my camera, and laughed as I watched her have the time of her life for a solid hour.

Poor Kylee...lucky Summer. I guess having more kids has desensitized me.

EXAMPLE #2

Summer has a favorite drawer in our kitchen. She unloads it multiple times a day. Again, with Kylee I would have found some fancy lock and worried that she might find some dangerous utensil to use as a weapon. Not now. Again, #4 has made me realize that spatulas and measuring cups are a lot cheaper then toys. So, if you come to my house at just about any time of the day (or night) this is what my kitchen floor looks like and it doesn't bug me one bit.

EXAMPLE #3
There are oh so many things wrong with the pictures posted below...or at least I would have thought so 8 years ago. A) Really, what kind of mother lets their 3 year old dry the car in his pajamas at 3 in the afternoon with a "good" towel? ME. B) Check out that hair!!! What kind of a mother lets her child play in the water (again) without any pants on and hair that isn't combed? ME. C) Let's wash the car!!! With water bottles? Whatever, they were filling them up with hose water and were having the time of their lives. Yup, that was super mom ME again!

Amazing what 8 years and 4 kids can do to put life into perspective!

The celebration continues...

2010-09-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Birthday celebration has been going on all day long...pancakes and presents before school, treats in class at school, lunch with mom, austin & summer, being checked out to go golfing with dad, soccer & finally cake and ice cream and the revealing of the much wanted present....Madden 2011! I am thinking Nick will go to bed a happy kid tonight and quite frankly...I am exhausted!

Happy #7 Nicholas!

2010-09-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Today my buddy Nick turned 7 - crazy to think that I have another child that old! He is pretty much the coolest 7 year old on the planet. He has so much energy and enthusiasm for life. I love watching him play sports...if they charged for little league it would be well worth the price of the ticket to watch him pump his fists and chest bump girls after he scores a goal. He will tell you that he is the best player on the team (we are working on being humble) but I love that he has confidence and thinks he is awesome....cause he is! He is a great brother, awesome student, good friend and just an all around great kid. Happy Birthday Nick!

Enjoying the final days of warmth...

2010-09-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

The last few days of been beautiful. The kids have spent hours outside with friends and Summer has enjoyed wandering barefoot with all the kids. I am grateful for a little bit cooler weather but must admit I am not looking forward to cold temperatures that force my kids inside. The house stays clean and the kids stay happy - hopefully it won't be too long of a winter!

2010-09-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Cute Austin started pre-school today! He has been waiting for this day for quite sometime. He was surprisingly nervous, upset stomach and all, but relaxed once we got there and saw that one of his fellow Sunbeams is in his class. I love, love, love....LOVE his teacher. It is the same school that Nick attended for 2 years and I was so impressed that we are back again. I love having Austin around but after years of watching the others go to school he (and I) decided it was time! Wow, my kids are really growing up FAST!!!!

The Big B-Day....Baptism!

2010-09-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

I don't feel old enough to have an 8 year old. I remember when sweet Kylee was born. My labor and delivery were not so sweet. She entered the world by emergency c-section weighing 8 pounds 10 ounces and has been full of life ever since. She has always been my pal and it was an amazing feeling to watch her be baptized and confirmed on Saturday. Tyler gave her a great blessing and I am confident that she will continue to make great choices. Baptism was a big deal for Kylee. She prepared herself well and worried about her interview with the Bishop. She wanted to understand the promises she was making. She has asked a lot of questions in the last couple of weeks and was extremely nervous but so ready for her special day. Kylee tries so hard to do what is right. She is a great big sister and I consider her one of my best friends. She is sweet and sassy in one adorable package and I love her dearly. She We were lucky to surrounded by so much family on her special day. Another reminder of how lucky we are to have the gospel and the knowledge of eternal families...because my family rocks!!! Kylee, we love you more than you know and are so proud of you! Sorry about the picture overload but I just couldn't pick a few!