Blog Update

Obviously moving in April left me with no time to blog...and life has a way of getting busier all the time. No excuses though...I will be updating the events of the past year, as time allows...if only to have it for our family memories. Let me start by adding some incredible Photos from our dear friend breezy that were taken in October. She is wonderful! Thanks again Breezy!

TUTU Heaven

I have been meaning for quite some time to try a new project...as if I have time for a new project...but decided that as a Christmas gift that I would be crafty and make some tutu's. It was fairly easy and yes, time consuming...but so worth it! Tim even helped and can claim tutu maker as a new skill heehee. :) I just wanted to share the finished product, since yeah, I think they turned out super cute!

Tutu #1

Tutu #2

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING

Every year we debate about getting a real tree or breaking down and buying a fake one. Well the real tree won out again and it was time to "Haul out the Holly" so to speak and get a little festive. I think cleanup will be easier with tile floor this year so bring on the fresh tree scent...and the falling pine needles. Of course the most fun thing about Christmas time is how excited the kids get. It is so fun to see them pull out decorations they made at school and relive how special they are and proudly put it on our hodgepodge tree. (Someday maybe I will have two trees so I can decorate one fancy). We put on the Christmas music and had a blast getting our holiday started.

CRAZY CRAZY BOYS!

EVERYONE WAS HAVING SO MUCH FUN

OOOHHH, AAAHHH PRETTY!

FINDING THOSE SPECIAL ORNAMENTS :)

PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA...AND AN ORGAN

THE ORGAN RISING UP...IT REALLY IS QUITE A SHOW

While my sister and her family were here visiting we went out to a favorite "must experience" pizza place...Organ Stop Pizza. We don't go there often, but it sure is a neat place to have a loud and fun dinner! The organ sits down in the floor and rises up at intervals to play requested music. I applaud the musician, he is amazingly talented! Oh and the pizza is really good too!

EVERYONE ENJOYING THE PIZZA AND MUSIC

GINGERBREAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE

GINGERBREAD BUILDING
We are grateful that my sister and her family could visit all of us in Arizona for Thanksgiving! We decided to share our annual tradition of making gingerbread houses with them while they were here. It's one of our favorite things to do leading up to Christmas...I think the kids eat as much candy as they put on their houses...but that's part of the fun :). We went through 3 batches of frosting and several bags of candy (including leftover Halloween treats) and boxes of Graham crackers. As you can see from the photos, everyone loved it!

SO CUTE WITH A RUDOLPH NOSE...SPENCER'S FIRE POWER HOUSE

JANAE WAS SO HAPPY SHE STOLE SOME CANDY, YUM!

GARRETT WAS SO PLEASED WITH HIS HOUSE AND COLLIN...WELL HE THINKS HE IS GETTING TO OLD TO SMILE :)

AUNT AMBER IS HELPING AND COUSIN PEYTON IS MAKING HER HOUSE SO NEAT AND CUTE...SO LIKE A GIRL!

Another Soccer Season

ANOTHER FUN SEASON COMES TO AN END

Spencer and Garrett played another season of soccer this fall. Garrett absolutely loves this game and is a talented and hard working player. He finally got to move up to the older group and was really challenged by having older kids to play against. He enjoys the competition and wants to branch out and try more sports to see if he will enjoy them just as much. Spencer played another tough season and worked so hard for his team. The last couple of season's his team hasn't had a lot of success, so we will see if he decides to give it another go or move on to something else. As for me, I enjoy seeing them involved on a team and playing hard, but I am always glad when it ends and we are not so busy :).

Collin's Court of Honor

Collin Receiving his first Boy Scout Award

Collin really loves being a scout. He enjoys every aspect of scouting and worked really hard to earn his Tenderfoot badge. The court of honor was held on Janae's birthday...but she didn't mind sharing her big day since she wasn't feeling well and not up for partying :). Collin wants to earn his Eagle Scout award and is well on his way to achieving that goal. We are proud of the effort he puts into scouting and appreciate the good things the program teaches him. Good Job Collin!

JANAE MARGARET HILL

1 YEAR OLD

It has already been 1 year since you came to our family and blessed our lives with your sweet little spirit. I remember when we found out that you were a girl, and I literally could not believe it. I thought for sure we would have another boy. But when you came, your radiant spirit was so different from your brothers. We now knew how tender and sweet is a new baby girl, it was almost palpable. It has been such a joy and pleasure to watch you grow into my little toddler. You are tender and kind, and adore your brothers with intensity. You're happiest when you are with them, surrounded by whatever rambunctious mischief they are making. But what a blessing you are to them. You are teaching them to be sweet and affectionate, as well as protective and nurturing. They needed you to help them grow into good fathers. You are somewhat reserved and cautious. Careful to wait to try new things until you are sure. You absolutely refused to roll over, and never did after the first couple of tries because it scared you. That doesn't stop you from getting what you want though. You definitely have a sassy side. :) You just started walking as you turned one. You still have no hair, but if I ask you to leave a pretty bow on your head and show you how cute you look, you appease me for at least a little while. One of your favorite things to do is to touch other people's hair, you are fascinated by it. Of course we speculate that this is because yours hasn't grown in yet. You are extremely bright and I think you will be talking before too long. You are still my little shadow, wanting to be near me and by my side constantly. This can be trying at times, but I really hope you will always feel that way. I pray you will be patient with me and continue to need me always. You have finally in the last couple of months started to want to be a daddy's girl...at least sometimes. Demanding to be the first held when he comes home and letting him rock you to sleep. He loves being the center of your world when you want him. I look forward to nail polish, baking cookies, shopping for cute things, pink pink and more pink, and all things girly that I will get to experience with you. Thank you for choosing us as your family. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be your mother. I hope I will be what you need. This next year I am sure will be just as memorable as the last. But now we wish you a Happy Happy Birthday

our sweet Nae Nae!

THE NEW HOUSE

So after months of waiting, and wondering if we were going to be able to afford this gorgeous house, we close at the end of the week, YAH! We are so excited to move into a permanent residence and put down roots, so to speak. The house is on a very quiet street (at least until we arrive :)) and we have no neighbors in back of us. We love the area and the friends and family we have close by. We have certainly felt the Lord's hand in this process and are thankful for the blessings and opportunity to have this home. Come visit!!

THE HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THE HOUSE COMPLETED

THE NEIGHBORHOOD POOL...SO FUN!