White Elephant

I seriously love this boys sense of humor.  He got ready for his basketball white elephant gift exchange and took "Fish & Chips!"  Don't worry, he included and fishbowl and some food for the lucky winner.

Halloween 2016

The lizard football player, the skeleton, and the baby cow for trunk or treat.  Two football players and a baby cow for the night of actual Halloween and school parties.

Another amazing Halloween down in the books.

Trunk or treat was amazing as always.  The kids had a blast and we took the dead grandparents in the back of the car again.  It ended with doughnuts and hot chocolate at the pavilion and visiting with our favorites from the ward.

I took Cardon to Kendall's Halloween party at school and he quickly became the classroom novelty.  He loved sitting on Kendall's lap and playing with his pumpkin.

The actuall night of Halloween could not have gone better.  We went to Mike and Debs neighborhood and the kids split up into age groups and out they went.  It wasn't too cold and Cardon's cow costume kept him nice and cozy.  

The neighbors go all out and it feels like the area is transformed into a big magical Halloween alley.  Strobe lights, talking pumpkins, scary spiders with gigantic webs to name a few line the streets.

When the kids start to get tired we head back to Debs house and the fun begins.  All the kids sort and trade their candy while the adults visit.

Secret Doors

I had been searching for something for the boys to keep in their pocket at school.  I wanted something that would ease their anxieties and bring them a bit of comfort whenever they needed it.  Something that just the would know about.

After searching at several stores, I could not find what I was looking for.  Everything I found wasn't quite right.

I said a prayer as I entered the last store.  It was late Saturday night and school was starting Monday.

 I had several things in my hand that might have worked but none of them felt quite right.  Martha had just happened to spot these castle doors that opened and I knew that was it!

I could leave a little note in the door and the boys could have it with them at all times.

Several days after school started the boys told me that every day they would reach into their pocket and feel their little castle door.  Kendall said that sometimes he would ask to go to the bathroom just to read his little note.

Bubblegum

I have learned 2 things... It's really hard to blow a bubble when you are laughing and Kendall can't blow a bubble under pressure.

#nathanwon

Summer

This past week we have sucked the marrow out of summer.  Paddleboarding, picnics, races at the pool, sunsets, and late nights.  One of the biggest highlights was the gathering of friends and family celebrating Gabbie and her farewell to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland!

Go USA!

We LOVE the Olympics! 

 We had to kick it off with an American Olympics party and serve Brazillian food!

The Brazillian limeades were everybody's favorite!

We will all be in the living room huddled around the TV these next few weeks.  It's gonna be awesome!!

Good Babysitter?

This is what I get when I let Nathan Babysit.

Weaver Hollow Pool

One of life's greatest pleasures.

The pool.

The smell of suntan lotion greets you at the entrance and you find your perfect spot under the shade tree.  You set your chairs up and line up all the beach towels. Sunscreen is applied, goggles in place, and pool toys in hand.

There are sounds of screaming, splashing kids, and your heart beats a little faster because you notice this pool has a inter tube side.

You think that it could not possibly get any more fun and then your mom hands you a funnel cake topped with powered sugar.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing better than a big, juicy, gummy smile!  

Uh - Oh

Were in trouble now!  Someone went and grew up on me and now is climbing the stairs.

Maleficent Under the Moon

Dad brought home his projector from work and I gathered up a basket of movie treats, popcorn, and drinks.  The boys collected all their blankets and pillows and brought them outside to create a comfy pallet for us all.

We waited until dark and then watched Maleficent in the backyard.  Dad and I created a human sandwich and it was so fun to snuggle deep into the blankets between the boys during the scary parts. 

I loved breathing in the cool air and looking up into the dark sky.  We are going to suck every summer moment we can from this month.

The Starting of Football...

 Nathan officially started tackle football and has loved every drippy wet sweaty second of it.  He is really pushing himself and is eating up everything he is learning. I love that his coach will not tolerate swearing and now that they are a football team they are a "band of brothers."

Dad has spent lots of time with Nathan up at the Stoney Creek fields helping him get conditioned. It's been fun to watch him learn something new.

Time Lapse at the Pool

Exactly one year ago I was sitting in this very chair with a little secret.  I was growing a baby.  I remember watching Nathan and Kendall play in the pool and wondering what it was going to be like with a baby in the mix.

 I remember feeling so happy and excited and thinking I would love to sit here in the shade watching Nathan and Kendall happily play in the pool while a little baby slept on my chest.

I had  Deja Vu.

 Here I am almost to the day a year later living out that little dream.  I had a pretty rough start after Cardon was born and it made that moment that much sweeter.  I appreciated it deeper and that little dream had somehow increased and enhanced more than I ever thought it could.

The Magic of Ordinary Days...

We have been trying to make the most out of summer over here but I gotta say.... lazy pajama days sprinkled with stories and card cames are winning right now.  

Built in Best Friend

One of my favorite things about our "baby gap" has been to watch these two older brothers interact with Cardon.  These boys are as wimpy as I am and can't handle if he is crying for a second. 

Cardon is almost always in someone's arms and I love it when Nathan sings and rocks the baby to sleep.

Big Brothers are the best.

Big Daddy

He is our constant, our calm, and our rock.  He is a gentle giant with a heart of gold.  He is an amazing dad to our three miracle babies and has exceeded my expectations in every way as a husband. 

He is the glue that keeps our little Hillan family going and he brings more joy than words can describe.  Happy Birthday, Dad!

Squishy and His Big Brother

"I can't believe I have a baby brother that I'm 11 years older than.  He makes me so happy.  Really there are no words to describe it."  - Nathan

SIX Months... Already

As I was bouncing you to sleep on the giant gray yoga ball, I couldn't help but feel an ache in my heart that tomorrow you will already be six months.  I love that we have a routine.  Rhythmic bounces interrupted with kisses on your forehead and primary songs that I try to sing to you even though I'm breathless and off key.  Still, you don't seem to mind and you look up at me with hazy eyes and "long" blink with your lips parted in a smile.  You wiggle your body and turn into my arm with a nuzzle and after about 5 more bounces, you are fast asleep.

I stare down at you and admire your long lashes and squish the chub on your baby soft arms. I whisper all kinds of secrets in your ear and think about what kind of person you will become one day. One more kiss and I breathe in your smell.  I'm still not ready to put you down so I repeat this again.

When I lay you down, you roll over to your left side and curl your toes around the bar of the crib.  The noise machine is playing a cricket serenade and the fan is lightly blowing.  It is your favorite recipe for a summer nap.

More than likely, you wake up in the middle of it and I scoop you up and with a few more bounces you are back to sleep.

Oh how I love this time with you. And I'm not the only one.  When you wake up we all run to see who can pick you up first. We all try to make you laugh and Kendall and Dad usually win with that one.  You are so happy and end up making us laugh with your full body smiles. Then everyone wants to be the one to feed you your bottle.  I try to share and it's really hard because it's my favorite thing to do with you.  You get so snugly and serious when you eat.  I play a little game with you and try to make you smile.  You drip milk all over me but it's so worth it.  I wrap you up in a blanket and listen to you drink as I play with your hand.

You love to go on walks and watch your brothers ride their bikes up ahead.  You love your back tickled and you love to be held.  You get so excited when you get a taste of a Popsicle and your legs go crazy when you take a bath.

I love that in 182 days- you have all four of us completely wrapped around your tiny finger.

Silverthorne

I spent many days in the winter months dreaming of our first family of five road trip.  I knew it would be when the grass turned green and wild flowers danced in the meadows off the road.  I also knew that when we went it would mean that I was feeling good enough to make a drive and have energy to have a little fun at whatever destination we picked.

I was in pinch-me mode as we drove though the beautiful purple mountains of Colorado.  I kept looking back at the seats filled with boys.  Our boys.  I snapped pictures and had a permanent grin on my face as Nathan and Kendall hung out the window though Eisenhower tunnel.

It was a magical, glowy, bottle me up feeling the whole day. My appreciation of this day burst through the exhaustion from the months prior.

We arrived a short 1 1/2 hours in the sweet little town of Silverthorne with one thing on our minds.

 Ice cream.

The Higgins ice cream stand beckoned us to pull over and lured us in with mother nature in full swing all around.  The river calmly flowed behind it and walking paths lined with huge pine trees invited us to take a stroll.

Our delicious cone of exotic flavors was definitely worth the $4.00 price tag.

We ended up at the outlets wandering in and out of shops.  Justin found some new tennis shoes and we sat in wooden chairs under an onning while we waited for a afternoon storm to pass.

It was perfect day.  Exactly how I dreamed it would be... only better.

 

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was welcomed with outstretched arms.  Another few days to stay in our jammies just a few hours longer with no schedules telling us where we need to be.  A weekend to breathe in family and relax.

Friday night we all went to watch Nathan's game in Arvada.  Excitement buzzed all around us as we watched him and his whole Scorpion team under the lights get creamed.  It was very humbling.  Nathan got two penalties and lets just say he was humbled and we all learned a lot that night.  I have a great love for one of his coaches I barely know as he took him on the sidelines and gave him a "pump up speech".  The night ended with tears and of course we managed to pull out some laughs eventually in the car.

Saturday the boys went with Justin and cleaned the church.  I stayed home with Cardon and we both took a much-needed nap.  That night we ended up at one of our favorite places in Colorado.  A little park that has become sacred to our family.  It is nestled at the bottom of the mountains in Golden and has been named "Golden Park." for good reason.  A pebbled path circles several acres of green fields and pine trees.  The boys love the playground and the smell of the horses grazing next to the property.

Mammy and Papa drove up with us and we meet Bill, JoAnn, Jackson, Todd, Martha, and the boys and had a picnic.  We said goodbye to JoAnn and Bill as they are moving to Kansas City and will start their new adventures.

Sunday we had our primary program practice at the church.  Nathan, Kendall, and Justin are going to sing the 3rd verse of Praise to the Man.  It sounds so beautiful.

We got home and Mammy and Papa came over.  We gobbled up some lemon tortellini chicken pasta and hurried up over to the park to fly kites.  The wind was just breezy enough to get the kites going.  Todd and his family met us there and Luke joined in on the fun.  We laid on a blanket and listened to the kites flapping and watched the boys run with massive amounts of unwound string trailing behind
them.

Monday we kidnapped Mammy and took her to an appointment with Lynn.  She did her miracles and worked on the whole family.  We drove to Castle Rock after and did some shopping.  We ended up going to lunch at Cafe Rio and ate it in the car so that we could get to Colorado Springs in time to make it to the Zoo.  It was a beautiful day to make the drive.....

The highlight was feeding the giraffes.  Their long purple tounges would curl around the lettuce and into their mouth it would go.  The boys loved it!  We went on to see a beautiful set of lions, elephants, a bear, and lots of other animals.  Cardon did really good and I think lots of zoo trips will be in his future.

We ended our adventure with a quick trip to Dairy Queen for the drive home.

It was perfect.

.

Last Day of School!

 Three boys with the same haircut!  

This little guy is pretty excited to have his buddies home!

On the last day of school the boys came home to a treasure hunt! We celebrated the beginning of summer with a basket full of fun things for our three month break.  

We ate delicious blueberry scones that Sister Willardson brought over while going over our summertime rules and had to break out the Bunchems!

It's SUMMER!

Us Hillan's have big plans this summer! Keeping it simple and fun.  I can't wait for days in the sunshine sprinkled with pajama days with these three little boys!