Silliness

This little stinker gave his first talk in Primary today.  It was about the Holy Ghost.  I tried to prepare him as well as I could.  We went over it and he repeated everything after me, and I had really high hopes.  But I knew he was going to be shy.  I didn't know his shyness was going to turn into acting completely ridiculous by doing silly faces and laughing because he was so nervous.  He didn't say one word.  I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  I guess I just had high hopes for him to actually repeat after me or just act shy...really shy.  But then Doug reminded me that his first primary talk all he did was lick the microphone and that explained everything.  Like Father like son....he just wanted a laugh.  

While we were eating dinner I asked Jake why he acted so crazy.  All he said was,

"Mom...I just wanted to show them my silliness!" 

Of course:)!

Seven Years...

 Seven years ago I married the man of my dreams!  I couldn't have found a more perfect match for me!  He has ALWAYS amazed me with his positive and happy personality.  

With the loss of Luke we have grown closer and stronger than we ever have been in our marriage.  He has been such a support and comfort and without him right by my side ALL the time, there is no way I could have survived this trial. 

He is my ROCK.

I love him more today than I could have thought was possible and I am so grateful that seven years ago we chose each other to spend eternity with because I can't imagine it with anyone else!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!  
More to come on that!

Doug's 31st!!

 Happy 31st Birthday to my main man!  Doug woke up to a breakfast fit for a king....then we opened up presents....and after that we headed to Krispy Kreme to get our free dozen donuts!  Of course all of this was done by oh...9am, but thats okay because that afternoon we headed to the Nygrens for swimming and lunch!  They were cutting a cake to find out if she was having a boy or a girl and surprise surprise...It's a GIRL!  We hung out there for most of the afternoon and then we headed home to get ready for Luke Buchanon's baptism!  After the baptism we headed to the Buchanons for dinner and by the time we got home that night I realized we didn't even have a cake for Doug!  We sang Happy Birthday as he woke up in the morning but he never blew out any candles!  I am pretty sure he was fine with that though.  We had a very relaxing day full of family and close friends and that is just how he likes it!  

 (Doug and Mikey telling birthday secrets)

Introducing..

Colby Spencer Hill

6/1/11

Kelsey finally went into labor while we were in Denver the last week of May.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this new little guy.  We got home late Saturday night of that week and right after church Sunday afternoon Doug kept the boys home and I headed out to Peoria.  He was so tiny and I just love him so much already!  Later on the following week I took the boys out to meet him and boy were they excited!  They couldn't get enough...and all kept taking turns holding him.  Mikey was starting to get possessive which is exactly how he was with Luke.  It is pretty cute...just got to keep a good watch on that one!:)

Denver

The day after preschool was out Doug had to be in Denver and I immediately jumped on board that trip! We left late Wednesday night and our flight was delayed due to all the tornados in the midwest....so we didn't even get to Denver until around 1am.  The boys did great on the flight seeing that I completely spaced bringing ANYTHING!  That's right....me...the known flier with multiple children by myself and I didn't bring a thing for them to do. I didn't even have water or one snack. Very out of character...but whatever....it happens.  For my sake, I had had a long day.  So when we got on the plane and Tanner said "Mom, what do you have for us to do?", I responded with..."Sorry bud, I didn't bring anything so you may want to just go to sleep!".  I know, lame.  Tanner and Jake actually did just that and went to sleep, but Mikey on the other hand did not.  I think our phones kept him entertained for the most part because I don't remember him causing a major scene...which is rare in his case. But I couldn't believe he wasn't going to crash.  And he never did until he was strapped in his carseat in the rental car for the hour long drive to Mammy and Papas! We were so excited to get there!  Mammy called the week before and asked me to ask the boys what is one thing that you want to eat at Mammys.  Here were there responses:

Tanner:  Popsicles-the star ones that she always has(ummm-okay-don't know what those are)

Jake:  Breadsticks with red sauce(thought this was completely random and funny)

Mikey:  Wucky Charms(because he can eat every marshmallow out of the box)

  Doug worked at the Denver office until Saturday and then Sunday night he flew out to Atlanta and Virginia Beach and I stayed in Denver for another week!  We had great weather and we did tons of fun things with the boys and relaxed.  It was great!  Doug came back the following Saturday morning and we flew out that same night to make it back for our 8:30 church on Sunday.  

We always love the chance to head to Littleton!

Every time we walked out the front door towards the car you could always find Tanner climbing in Mammy and Papa's tree!   And Jake just waiting to load up!

 We played at our favorite parks with all the cousins(well, not all, but a lot of them)....

We had mini fireworks shows thanks to Papa...or to the boys for finding the fireworks in the shed:)... 

Played outside for endless summer hours... 

Went to Red Rocks and had a picnic in the bleachers where we were lucky enough to hear the Disco Biscuits warm up!:)...

And we laughed.... A LOT!  

The perfect start to our summer!

Wouldn't this make your day if you found this on your driveway?  It made mine!:)
*drawing by Jake*

Last Day of School!

Tanner and Jake have had an AMAZING year of preschool.  Ms. Leslie was a great teacher and the boys were pumped EVERY Tuesday and Thursday morning!  They came home with ABC binders that they put together as they worked on their alphabet during the year...a photo album....a bucket and shovel that said "It's been buckets of fun having you in my class this year!"....and a certificate that was awarded to each of them.

Jake got the "100 grand" award for his "100 grand" smile!  And Tanner got the "Lifesaver" award for always being willing to lend a hand and help out!  Way to go boys!  

Now it is time to relax a bit and then soon enough school will be back in session!  And don't you worry...Tanner is already asking me constantly what he needs to do to get ready for school.  Today he came up to me and said "Mom...these are the ten things I need to practice to be ready for Kindergarten" (in no particular order)

1.  Practice my writing

2.  Practice riding my bike just in case I have new friends come over and I need to show them how good I am.

3.  Practice putting my things in my backpack.

4.  Practice my math problems.

5.  Practice running so that if I am late for the bus I can run really fast to catch it! (ha! he isn't even riding the bus to and from school so I thought that this was extra funny and cute)

6.  Stretch...because it is really good for your body. (no...he wasn't kidding...he is just his Dad's son)

7.  Practice packing my lunch box

8.  Exercise....like ride my bike or jump on the tramp because that is a good work out too.

9.  Learn to tie my shoes.

10.  ??

And I don't even remember what #10 was but writing that list down was overwhelming for me!  We are going to have a busy summer of practicing stuff...thats for sure!

We ALL have our quirks!!

 "Don't worry Mom....Just found your phone on the piano at Mammy and Papa's and thought I would play it!" (he didn't say that...but I know that is what he was thinking when I found him and he didn't even act like how he was sitting was even slightly odd:))

 Speaks for itself! 

 Mikey likes to walk around with my oven mitts just for kicks!  They go missing all the time....kind of odd unless he knows something I don't about them having some hidden super powers or something like that!

 Band-aids for ALL ouchies....just because he likes them!

 And no....we are NOT ready to go down that road yet!  

Who wouldn't want a bagel with green cream cheese, pickle and mustard sandwich with their smoothie for lunch!?  I only made it by request I will have you know and he did eat every last bite of it and loved it for that matter!  

 Don't know if we could roll our swim shorts up ANY more!  This has been driving me nuts because the boy is soooo skinny and he HATES if his pants are even slightly falling off.  Since this picture we have found a swimming suit with an adjustable waist!  Awesome!

Black church socks and skater shoes....you may not think this is quirky....it's just Jakey trying to dress like his Uncle Kyle!:) So you be the judge:).

Is it just me or does one of my children seem to be in more pictures than all the others?  

After the tallies.....

Mikey definitely takes first place!:)

Jake and Tanner tie for a very very close second!

Lucky Me

Mother's Day was great this year....but also very very bittersweet.  I know I sound like a broken record when I say that, but it's the truth.  I just can't help but think that Luke should have been there too, which is a thought I have constantly.  I know a lot will be be bittersweet this year....holidays, birthdays, vacations...I know he will always be with us, but it's just not the same.

Doug and the boys spoiled me beyond belief.  Saturday I was able to go down to Peoria and spend most the day with Kelsey at a baby shower her friends threw her down there.  So Doug kept all the boys and they went shopping.  I heard from Tanner that they had ventured to the mall...and I thought to myself "Holy Cow...Father of the year award!"  Even I don't take them all to the mall anymore...that just screams nightmare.  But they did it!  And I am sure they had fun too!  They really went above and beyond and I am so lucky to have these boys that make me the mother that I am. One of the sweetest gifts I received was a nice fold out chair that I could take to the cemetery every time I go visit Luke.  It was the perfect gift.  And it is a gift that I never thought would mean so much....so when Doug brought it in and said Luke wanted me to have this(the chair) so that I wasn't always sitting on the ground, the tears fell.

Tanner and Jake both made me a beautiful picture that their teacher shrunk down and put in a charm so that I can wear it on a necklace.  Such a sweet gift and they were so excited to give it to me that they couldn't wait until Mother's Day....they actually both opened them up for me on our way home from preschool Thursday.  So the celebrating started a tad bit early. :)

I love being a Mom.  I was raised by the most AMAZING mother!  She exemplifies everything that I hope to become. And maybe that is why I grew up always knowing and always wanting to be a mom.  That's it.  I never had a strong desire to venture much into the business world or go any other direction than a mother.  Doug knew I was ready to start a family when we got married but would tell me that he wanted to be selfish with me for a little bit and that there is no rush.  But after being married only six months I can still remember the day he said to me "I don't know why I wanted to wait....why would we wait? ".  I remember just crying because I was sooooo excited and anxious to start our family!  

I am so blessed to be the mother of my four precious boys.  There is a special bond between boys and their mother.  They are so sweet and loving and soooo protective....like when their Daddy tries to wrestle their mommy and they get scared or attack him because they don't want anything to happen to me.:)  I love them for that.(mostly because I hate being pinned down and tickled)

 Thank goodness they are so forgiving and understanding because I know that I have not been able to be the mother that I want to be the last 4 months since losing Luke.  I wouldn't trade it for the world though.  It's not always easy, but it is definitely always worth it.  

Doug gave all three of these rascals a buzz in honor of Mother's Day...ha!  or maybe just in honor of summer coming up!  I knew he was going to do it because I could tell he was more anxious than usual to give them their haircuts and he always tells me he is going to but I never let him:)!  I walked in after talking to Mom on the phone and he was on the last one....I should have known not to leave him alone with the clippers!:)  Actually though, they all LOVE them because that means they don't have to do their hair and it is one less thing to worry about when trying to get these boys out the door!  

Father & Sons Campout

A couple of weekends ago Doug was able to make it home early from being out of town all week to take the boys on their first official Father & Sons campout!  Oh boy were they excited!  They talked about it constantly all week long while Doug was out of town and when the day finally came they were so hyper and anxious that we(mostly meaning I) were all ready for them to get on their way!  

These boys love their Dad to pieces and will drop anything they are doing to be right by his side!  Of course I have no proof that Doug was actually on this campout because he is not in any of the pictures, but he did get some good video footage of the boys and a couple cute shots.  So I am happy with that.  

They had the time of their lives!  Sleeping in a tent, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, going on a hike, and just being outside and dirty!  They were in hog heaven!:)  Me on the other hand headed out to spend the night with Kelsey....and Spencer:)....in Peoria.  We ran some errands, had a BBQ with some friends of theirs that were leaving for the summer, made Pioneer Womans "Knock you Naked Brownies", and most importantly organized soon to be Baby Colby's new room!  Saturday morning we headed out early to hit up multiple garage sales and that we did!  Now I just can't wait to meet that baby when he finally decides he wants to come out!