Sunday Goodness!

Our Sunday walks have become one of my most prized possessions. I love watching the boys explore, grabbing sticks while dragging them, and running off a bit ahead so that Justin and I can talk while holding hands, wink- wink:).


This is a total "Nathan face".

During his first week of school he was standing in line next to a girl in his class. I was walking away and turned around in time to see him making this face when he realized that he had the same backpack as the GIRL! "Huh, We have the same backpack?!"

He looked at me, I shrugged my shoulders and we both started laughing!

This is our go-to trail. Lots to see. Twists and turns that eventually open up to breathtaking views.

Nothin' Like A Weekend!

We love a good ole Colorado weekend when you can grab the husband, kidlets, grandparents, and head up to the mountains.

We felt full breathing in and out the fresh air and savoring every ounce of that beautiful scenery!

Higher!

The sky is the limit! Nathan was so excited when he found out that Heritage square had a "bungee trampoline" set up.

After jumping 15 feet in the air, front flips, and getting that 5 year old rush, he decided that he was hungry. Starving actually!

Still Got It!

At 91, Granny still recites us the poem we grew up on:

Halloween, Halloween,

Oh, what funny things are seen.

Witches Hats

Coal Black Cats

Broomstick Riders

Mice and Rats.

Now, time to teach it to the next generation!!!

Enjoying A Fall Tradition!

Ahhhhhh! A perfect day for raking leaves! We raked big piles. Justin blew piles off Mammy and Papa's roof. We raked tons of little piles together.... and then we jumped in em'. Oh, did we jump in those crispy little guys!

Mammy had ribs in the smoker and as we bagged up each pile- the smell swirling around our noses, we knew the reward would be so worth it!

I have LOVED wearing my flip-flops this November! Absolutely no complaints about this dream weather here! If it could be this nice in March-November, I think Justin and I would consider retiring here.

Our Halloween Surprise!

Actually, we had TWO surprises!

Nathan lost his first tooth, and Aunt Sara had baby Lukey the same day as her twin sister. (The link is below.)

After we finished trunk-or-treating, it was killing Justin that Nathan's tooth was so loose and he wanted it out worse than Nathan did.

He tied the tooth to a piece of dental floss and with every ounce of his being, he tried to convince and bribe Nathan to tie it to the bathroom door and yank it out that way. Nathan had other plans for the shinny little guy.

Nathan told Justin to tie the end of the floss to his heavy bag of candy. Giddy as a little boy, Justin did as he was told. He lifted the floss gently up a few inches from Nathan's tooth and then BAM!! Nathan dropped the bag of candy and the tooth went flying out.... plink!

Justin was getting footage all night and when the tooth flew out he realized it wasn't on video. Needless to say, the boys put the tooth back in its hole and reenacted the whole thing so that we would have some version of the flying tooth on record.

He was the first one in his class to loose a tooth so his teacher had him do an entry into the "class tooth book." The binder contained tons of stories about losing teeth that we got to read that night.
I noticed that Nathan was using TONS of toothpaste and when I told him to not use so much he said, "Sorry mom, I just want to make sure all my teeth are extra sparkly for the tooth fairy!"


Sara and Melissa made the front page of Yahoo with their amazing story! Love those babies!
http://www.kake.com/offbeatnews/headlines/Twin_Sisters_Give_Birth_On_Same_Day_106541053.html

The Hillan Spooks!

Lots of Halloween festivities this year! On Friday, Justin, Kendall, and I went to Nathan's school to help with his party and watch the costume parade! Fun spider crafts, watermelon brains, carrot eyeballs, colored masks, and soft frosted sugar cookies! His classmates were adorable- all decked out in their Halloween costumes.

Saturday, after some enjoying Mammy's vegetable stew, and getting the boys ready (all 3 of them!) we loaded the dead grandparents up in the Jimmy and had fun at the ward trunk-or-treat! Doughnuts and hot chocolate at the pavilion with lots of great costumes to gwak at.

The boys got too much candy this year! After Nathan sorted it into piles of chocolate- not chocolate, colors, favorites, big and small, they picked out 10 pieces of candy and then the Halloween Witch came and took the rest that night. Whew!

Sunday, we headed up to Stacey and Garrett's for family dinner after church. The food was delicious as always and conversation was flowing from room to room. Mummy dogs and fruit for the kidlets and after dessert we all took a room upstairs and let the kids go door to door, trick-or-treating. It was ALL smiles!

arhhhh!

Justin- A scary, bloody, dead, solider
Nathan- A pirate, he used Justin's old costume he used to wear in high school- we made it fit:)
Kendall- A sweet little spider. His nickname is Kendall Bug, so the costume really fit him!

Try, Try, and... Try Some More.

I feel like sometimes the only things that Justin and I are consistent at is: consistently trying. Here are a few more things I want to add to the list:

1. I will learn how to relax and love it. Everyday, I will stop the chaos and rest for at least 20 minutes.
2. Every single day, I will get down on the floor and play with my boys.
3. I will take care of my body.
4. I will make family dinner a priority.
5. I will do something everyday that will help strengthen my marriage.
6. I will look for the lemon drop in every hard situation.
7. I will work on my attitude.

Mr. Bug's Big Day!

Turning three doesn't happen often around our house. That's why we got started the night before!

Justin and I put the kids to bed and got to work. I wrapped Kendall's presents while Justin hung blue and green streamers in the boys doorway and from every corner in the dining room. The birthday wreath was on the door and Kendall's surprises were ready.

Every birthday we let the boys pick out whatever they want to eat for breakfast. Sometimes it's raspberry cobbler, a pancake breakfast, or a favorite cereal. This time Kendall opted for Tricks with some Hershey's kisses on the side.

The festivities started early! Kendall loved the decorations and the whole family had eaten birthday cereal, sang the birthday song 3 times, and were playing with Kendall's basketball and hoop before 7:30am!


Later that day, we had a pool party for Kendall complete with pizza and root beer!


This is how I envisioned Kendall's birthday cake turning out.

This is the after: I had tons of helpers and after seeing the sparkle in their eyes, I held my breath and the dream of the perfect birthday cake went out the window as I let them have at it poking balloons wherever their hearts desired.

I took another look at the cake just before we cut it and realized that after all my little helpers fixed it up, it became my most favorite birthday cake of all!