The Giving Tree

In our backyard we have a tree full of awe and wonder.

Her branches full of beautiful green leaves that stretch out across the sky and provides a thick canopy in the backyard.  Her roots are deep and penetrate the good ole Colorado ground.  Her trunk is thick and strong and often we contemplate if her cousins dot the grounds of Pimberly.

She is big and grand and oh so giving.

Justin hooked up his repelling gear high up onto the trunk so that he could trim out the dead branches.  After he finished up, he harnessed anybody willing and gave them the swing of their lives.

Back and froth we swung wondering if this was how a bird in flight felt.  The rush of wind on your face sucked out a deep and invigorating belly laugh.

It was contagious and freeing and mandatory that you swing over and over.  

Mammy and Papa joined in for the fun too!

Kendall is SEVEN!

This year this boy has been an absolute DREAM.

Sure he has his moments just like everyone else but boy do the good days with this child overshadow the few tricky days 100 fold.

He has brought laughter into our home everyday.

He picks up the slack and just appears like a poof of giggles out of nowhere to make a bed, clean a bathroom, or empty the dishwasher.

I admire that Kendall is close to the spirit and find myself looking forward to our conversations about special things.

I love his ability to memorize things easily.

I love that he sets goals (running and reading to name a few) and tries to break them and strives to get better and better.

I love how compassion for others oozes out his little 7 year old body.

He has many noble qualities and I feel so lucky to get to be his mom.

For his birthday this year he woke up to a room full of blue balloons that covered every inch of the carpet and the traditional Bronco colored streamers that hung from the door frame.

We celebrated with a few gifts before going to Chick-fil-a for breakfast.  Mammy and Papa met us there and after we went to their pumpkin patch.

The boys harvested the biggest orangest pumpkins from their green swirly vines.

The night before his birthday, Kendall and I made chocolate chip cookies for him to deliver to each child in his class.

We sent him off to school with his treats and a surprise lunch. Each item in his lunch box was wrapped in colorful paper.

When the boys were at school I got busy and made some puppy dog cupcakes that greeted them on the counter for their after school snack.

This year we had a family birthday party for Kendall so Grandma, Grandpa, Mammy, Papa, Aunt Lisa, Cole, Cara, Aunt Martha, Uncle Todd, Buddy, and Shea came to help us celebrate.

Grandma brought a chocolate roll and we sang to Kendall.

It was a perfect day for a special boy.

Kendall got pants, a Lego game, money, a journal, a sweatshirt, lots of books, treats, and cards for his birthday this year.

Little STAR

We had received a letter saying that Kendall had been chosen by his teacher to be recognized at an assembly for being kind and respectful and for working well with others.

It was called the "Star" award.

Justin and I waited for him in the cafeteria.  He came bouncing in with a grin spread clear across his face and jumped up onto my lap.

His principal gave him the award along with a special Stony Creek pencil and a coupon for Chick-fil-a.  He slurped down a delicious red Jello star, took a few pictures, and we walked him back to class.

Hillan Reunion

There is a first for everything and it was definitely a first time for the Hillan side of the family to get together for a "mini reunion."

We kicked it off by meeting Justin's Uncle Walter, Aunt Sally, and cousin Kimberly at Hacienda Colorado.  It had been too long since we had seen them and it was nice for everyone to catch up.

The next day we went to Bear Creek Lake and took out the Kayaks.  The kids looked like ducklings after they hooked themselves together and Justin would paddle them around.  We played in the sand and ate sub sandwiches.  A very relaxing day.

The next couple of days consisted of lots of eating; Bone Fish Grill for the adults, Breakfast at Uncle Joel and Aunt Lisa's, and smoore's at the fire pit.  

The kids put on a killer talent show and we had an awesome family home evening.  There was a tender spirit present as we watched the kids interact.   My boys truly love their cousins and I love watching their sweet relationship with one another.

We ended the weekend with a hike up to Massey Draw.  One of the prettiest hikes we have around here.  Breathtaking views and the loveliest smell of pines and crisp stream water.  I was proud of all those little legs that made it to the top.

.

Good Grades

The other day Kendall's teacher took me aside and proceeded to tell me an experience she had with Kendall the day before:

She was passing out graded papers to the class and noticed Kendall was sobbing with huge alligator tears he was quietly trying to hold back.

She asked him what was wrong and he replied, "Did I do this wrong? There is a big red X on my paper."

"Oh, Kendall!  That is a STAR!" she said.

Needless to say, she hugged him, the tears stopped immediately, and he was back to his happy little self.