Bradford Birthday Book

When Nathan was in Kindergarten 4 years ago, I gave him some money for his birthday to donate to his school library.

When he turned in his money to the library we had no idea what book he was going to get.

4 years later Kendall came home and told me he checked out a book that was written by Nathan.  I was confused and asked him what he meant.

He pulled out his library book that he checked out and showed me.  Nathan did not write the book but sure enough his name was in the front cover.

Number 1: It's funny to me that his book is a Karate book- a favorite subject of both Nathan and Kendall.

Number 2: Out of thousands of books, Kendall checked out Nathan's birthday book!

The Nut Job

For Christmas 2013 our family watched Christmas for a Dollar and it had such a big impact on us that we decided to draw names and give gifts of the "heart" or gifts of "time" just like in the movie.

I drew Kendall's name and was so excited because I knew just what I was going to do with him.  I was going to take him on a date while Nathan was in school to the dollar movies.

I asked him when he thought we should go and the next thing I knew... he was sad.  Come to find out he really wanted to invite Nathan to come with us and then he asked if Justin could come also.  Before I knew it he had begged for Mammy and Papa to come. 

Our little date turned out to be a date with the whole family!

We had to wait until Saturday when everyone had a day off but boy was it worth the wait!  Mammy made goodie bags with popcorn and sour treats and we all sat in the middle of the movie theater and watched The Nut Job- cute movie!

The Fasting Club

A certain 8 year old in our family has been struggling with Fast Sunday.  I do admit, it is hard but when you know the "whys" behind it, it is so much easier.

I searched Pintrest for some ideas to help our family out.  Pintrest never disappoints.

 For FHE  I gave everyone a little spoonful of peanut butter and we talked about how good it tasted.  Then I gave them a piece of chocolate to add to their peanut butter and it took it to the next level. Delicious!

We talked about how fasting (peanut butter) is good but when you pair it with prayer and pondering (chocolate) it becomes amazing!

I then invited everyone to join our "Fasting Club" (idea from 71 toes) and sign a contract:

Hillan Family Fasting Club

In our club every fast Sunday, we will gather together and take turns telling each other what we believe and what we are thankful for.  We will share experiences we have had over the last month and share our love for each other as well as the Savior.

When a member of our family turns 8 years old they will be able to sign this document and join our club!  A delicious dessert is to follow dinner on these special fast Sundays.

Kendall really wanted to be in the club so we talked about how he could sign the contract and participate in everything but the fasting.  When he turns 8 he will start to fast.

I am so grateful for this family of mine and hope that this will bring us closer to each other and to our Savior.

Angry Birds...

Colorful balloons transformed into into angry birds, blue and gold tablescapes,and lots of happy cub scouts welcomed us to an amazing night of awards and competition.

There was a spread of barbecue sandwiches, salad, fruit, chips, and ambrosia with marshmallows.  It was dang tasty.

Nathan got to present the baby flag ( the keys went missing to the closet of the big flag) and then received 3 belt loops and a golden arrow point.

There was a massive cake decorating contest.  We had sprinkles and M&M's to work with and went home with an award for "Best Bird Hair". Ha!  The cakes were incredible.  Some very creative mom's out there.

The boys ended the night with an angry birds competition to see who could knock down the most boxes.  There was a man made catapult that flung balls across the gym.  When a team would knock them down, the boys erupted with cheering.

So grateful for the hard work and time that goes into this program.  We love our scout leaders, Brother and Sister Freshay.  They are AMAZING and Nathan has learned so much.

Defiantly a successful Blue and Gold banquet.

Giggles

Kendall has a new little boy in his class that moved here from Germany.  He has really liked this little boy from the first day that he met him but there is just one problem... little Toby just speaks German.

I picked Kendall up from school and this was our conversation:

Kendall: Mom, I had so much fun with Toby today!
Me: Oh really? Are you starting to understand him better?
Kendall: Mom, Toby laughs in English!

The Shelf by Nathan's Bed...

(November 7, 2013)

(February 26, 2014)

My mom brought it to my attention that a little boys' shelf can really say a lot about a person.

What he's into, what he's reading, what his hobbies are, if he's clean and tidy and so on...

I started looking at all the treasures and boy does this little shelf nail Nathans personality.

Lots of fun, happy, and a bit messy!

Some of it was placed precisely while some of the trinkets were tossed here and there in a temporary holding place.

American Flag

Dinoscope

pick up sticks in a wooden collectors box

ninja sword

Rubik cube

2 chap sticks

rubber mini snakes

dollar coin

toy train

small dry erase board

compass

orange treasure chest with real teeth inside

book 1 -Curious George Goes to the Beach

book 2 - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

book 3 - It's Great to be 8 ( pictures of Nathan's baptism)

Book 4- What are the Promises I Make at Baptism?

2 pens

a light blue colored pencil

notebook

79 cents of loose change

Arise and Shine Forth rubber bracelet

Indian flute

a ripped paper maze

Santa hat

baseball mitt

light saber

paracord bracelet

map of Japan

a mini transformer

Nephi poster

flashlight

Book of Mormon checklist
green slide sunglasses

Getting to Know Your Sweetheart...

I saw this here and knew Justin would be a good sport about it.  I'm so glad he was.  It was fun to learn a few things I had never known about him.

Justin = Blue

Alisa = Pink

1. What pictures did you have up on the walls in your bedroom as a teenager?

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    Ann Geddes pictures of babies

2. What was your bedroom like as a child?

    Clean, had toys in the closet with a waterbed and a TV

    My room was actually the laundry room.  My dad built me a bed frame, a bookshelf, and shelf above my bed.  I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world.

3. What is the first thing you remember wearing?

   Onesie Jammies

   A dress my mom made for me.  It was blue with little school houses and red hearts on it. I loved it! I wore it for picture day in kindergarten.

4. If you could witness one event in history, what would it be?

   Moses parting the Red Sea or Christ's Resurrection

   Christ's Resurrection or to see what the City of Enoch was like

5. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

   a pilot

   a mom

6. What is a little thing I do for you that you appreciate?

   Clean the house and have fun things ready when I come home

   Noticing things I try to do for the family and your amazing back and foot rubs

7. What do you remember about your first impression of me?

   Pretty and laughed a lot

   Handsome, secure, and awesome smile

8. What is the most profound lessons you have learned?
   That money isn't everything. Family is and following Christ.  Also if you try and fail it is better than failing to try.
   Heavenly Father is aware of me.  He loves me and He cares about me.

9. What is something you still hope to accomplish?
    To be able to read and write Japanese
    To learn all about photography and how to edit pictures

10. What is your greatest fear?
      Losing my wife or kids and or not being able to be with them in the Celestial Kingdom
      A terrible accident involving my family

11. What about me makes you the most proud?
      How strong and amazing you are
     Seeing how much you have grown as a husband and father

12. What is one word that describes me?
       Amazing
       Awesome

13. Where is the most unexpected place you have ever been?
      India
      Nashville, TN

14. What are 3 of the most important choices you have made so far in your life?
       1. Choosing to go on my mission
       2. Marrying you
       3. Finishing school
       1. To gain a testimony of the gospel
       2. To be married in the St George temple
       3. Not to give up

15.What made you fall in love with me?
     Your snicker doodles and the motorcycle ride
     My comfort level with you and I could tell you were an awesome guy

16.What is the best advice you have been given?
     If you are failing or not doing something you should, forget about the past and start from today.
     Don't go into debt if you don't have too.
     If that doesn't work try something else.  If that doesn't work, try something else. Keep trying until something works.  Bottom line...don't give up! (advice from my Dad)

17. What is one of our traditions you especially like?
     Birthday streamers hanging down from the doorway of bedroom
     Family Fun Friday Night

18. What is something you are grateful your parents taught you?
      Hard work
      How to laugh and have fun no matter what you are hit with

19. What is the nicest thing I have ever done for you?
     Married me, the photo collage of our family for work, got me the Stargate collection
     Left me a $20 bill on the seat of my car for gas when we were dating...ALWAYS taking care of me!

20. When all is said and done, what do you want to be known or remembered for?
     Being honest, faithful, a good husband, dad, and leader.
     That I tried my very hardest to be a good person.

21. What is a quality you admire in others?
      Outgoing and able to socialize easily
      Public Speaking with ease

22. What is the best meal I have ever made for you?
      Hawaiian Haystacks
      Curry 

23. If you could be a genius in one subject- what would it be?

      Languages or Computers 
      The Gospel of Jesus Christ

24. What is something I do that always makes you laugh?
      Your random goofiness
      When ever I am mad at you, you grab me and start dancing while singing "Halloween Pumpkins"

Valentine Breakfast

 When the boys fell  asleep the on February 13th-  Justin, Mammy and I decorated the table and got it ready for a yummy breakfast the next morning.

The next morning we ate a delicious egg and potato breakfast casserole.

It was such a fun day because Justin took the day off and we went to the movie theater and saw the Lego movie.

We took naps, went for a walk to the park, played a little football, and came home and ate a heart shaped pizza for dinner.

I love these boys of mine.  All 3 of them.

Shay Todd Cardon

Todd and Martha have perfected their recipe and made me a very happy Aunt.

This sweet little guy  finally decided to grace us with his presence after making us all wait FOREVER.  He was a healthy 9 lbs and has a head of dark brown hair.

He is straight from heaven and we are in love.

And he smells so good.

Valentines

The boys were busy addressing their valentines for their classmates at school and so I decided to try and make a few too.

After browsing Pinterest, it was decided that robots would be made with our leftover candy!