Lucky Seven

Sand Hollow Park, St. George

2012-01-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

My new favorite toy....

Blowing all the dust off...cleaning up.

Delon was having a little too much fun

All done for the day. Jake wanted to drive like the big boys.

Emilee's face was so red here...

Gracie and Sophie

Jake is thinking, "Yes I'm tired...I've been doing this for almost 9 hrs!" He actually fell asleep at the very end.

Man-made reservoir

Lunch break...

Fueling up for the rest of the day.

The dunes...these were the best hills to do jumps. All I heard was, "Again, again!"

Delon traded me razors. The 2 seaters are easier to maneuver on the dunes, and a little safer.

Writing their names on the rock.

Dinosaur tracks.

Apparently these were discovered sometime in the 80's.

Beautiful

Twins...best buddies.

The girls...we were definitely outnumbered.

Jake and his muscles.

Smile pretty

The guys...crazy!

Say no to crack...or crevice, whichever you prefer.

Our razors...I started out in the little purple one.

Spectacular views

Zion's...it was so pretty there.

On the way back from the Emerald Pools trail.

My sarcastic one...

Can you see the Emerald Pools? Yeah, me neither. It was a pretty trail though.

This part of the trail was pretty icy.

Emerald Pools trail.

One of our first stops. You can't tell in the pics, but the water was a very pretty gray-green.

My goofy bunch

How far can we go without getting wet?

Window in the wall...there is a tunnel cut through the mountain. Pretty cool.

It doesn't look like it, but I was very nervous taking this picture. There was a drop-off about 2 feet behind that wall.

Views from the scenic route. If you are afraid of heights...this is not recommended.

We decided to take off after Christmas for a short weekend instead of sitting around and eating Christmas leftovers....thank goodness!

Our first day there we met up with the Killpacks, friends of ours from Idaho, and met their parents who live a stone's throw from Sand Hollow Park and Golf Course. After discussing plans, we spent the first day on our own and went through Zion's...amazing. The kids loved seeing everything there, especially all of the rock formations. It's been a while for me. I love the outdoors and this was definitely not a disappointment. It was nice to see a little color and be a little warmer.

The following day we met our friends at a rental place, rented four Razors and took off for our 50 mile trip. It was freezing the first hour or so, but once the sun was up, it was a little more comfortable. We had so much fun. It was great to explore the park this way, it was very hands on and you could stop anywhere you'd like along the way. The views were beautiful, the weather was crispy cool, and the company was perfect.

I had to dig a little into my wild side. One, I must say, that doesn't come out much these days. Climbing rocks, hills, searching out dinosaur tracks, and kickin' up some dust...literally. We all looked like we had a bad spray- tan experience after the trip.

Even though we found red dirt in places we never knew existed, it was worth the extra long shower. This little trip will definitely be one of those experiences we will always remember and appreciate. There were some good memories made...and that's all that matters :)

Christmas 2012

2012-01-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Just getting started...

NOOK Color...for the bookworm :)

What?! Jake wanted trucks?!

Clothes...

NBA 2K12...

American Girl Doll...you can't have just one :)

Pajama Party...wow, Emilee needs to work on being photogenic.

Fuzzy PJ's

Angry birds

Temple Square Lights

2011-12-18T22:07:00.000-08:00

Ready to go home...

Tabernacle...love the color of lights here

Just arrived

So beautiful

I love it here

Grateful for the temple...

We've decided to make this one of our traditions. You know, see the lights, take in the atmosphere, feel the spirit. Well, we saw the lights, took in the atmosphere, but that of course was only because we have five children. Two of which complained about something the entire time. Of course you also have the frigid weather, the hot chocolate too hot to even drink, which if you do, you burn your tongue and can't taste anything for two days anyway. Then of course you have the cookies you get with the hot chocolate, which end up being a complete waste of money and the kids don't want to hold them. You can't forget the photo ops, which of course are few and far between, if you actually want happy kids in them. So we accomplished the first two...lights and atmosphere. The third - the spirit- well, we are working on that one. It sometimes seems to be more work than it's worth, but I know that if we continue to come and marvel at the temple and the blessings we receive from being members, one day I'll get that perfect photo with everyone smiling...because we'll know how to find true happiness through being together forever, even when it doesn't always sound like such a good idea. :)

Christmas cards...

2011-12-18T21:59:00.001-08:00

Funny faces

funny faces...

There seems to be a common theme. No wonder I can't get any good photos!

We usually use the most recent family pic for Christmas cards, but since I want pictures in Spring, we took some at home one Sunday.

Mother Daughter Day

2011-12-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

Homemade candy...

Monogram ornaments

Me and mom...don't ask me what's going on with my hair.

Brooke, Janica, Mom, me, Wendy, Diana and Natalie

She made everything

Table - eye candy

Every year it's bigger and better

Once again my mom has outdone herself. Every December we get together for lunch (on mom), a little shopping, and dinner at home (with a little help from Dad). Being with my family is always something I love, but this day seems to be pretty special with the time of year and the attention to detail.

Went to lunch...singing waiter included, got a little shopping done and went back to mom's house for dinner. Of course the spread is amazing and my mom puts so much thought into everything. She doesn't miss a thing.

I want everyone to know how much I love her and everything she does for us. Also how much I love my sisters and how I value my time with them. It's hard sometimes to be further away, but these times make up for that distance.

Thanks again Mom for everything...love you!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving morning...before everyone was up, even the sun :)

I see this every morning when I walk out of my room...my little pep talk.

A little touch of Christmas...it all comes out tomorrow.

Making plenty of room

Jarom and Jake

Bonus room...where all the "crazy" happens

Cute little Statten

Mason and Haydn playing video games, imagine that!

Jace...Justin's mini-me

Look at these cute boys, funny too...my kids love Xander.

Visiting before the meal

Visiting some more

The boys...up to no good. Xander apparently is doing his pull-ups

Time to eat + 14 kids = chaos

Sweet little Ashlyn. She seriously looks like a doll.

Dig in!

Watching some football, with their feet up , of course.

Plenty of meat...turkey, ham and prime rib.

Bryan sure knows how to keep the ladies interested :)

A little Cowboys on Thanksgiving...perfect.

Well, this year we hosted. I have to admit, it was a little stressful. I always love having family over, but with that also comes a little anxiety, only because Delon and I both have large families. I'm always worried about whether everyone is comfortable and having a good time. With Thanksgiving comes the added stress with having enough food and making sure everything turns out. But I do have to say, everything turned out pretty good.

It was a lot of fun for my kids to hang out with their cousins and it was nice to have a house full. These are the times you make good memories and I'm so grateful for mine and Delon's family and the relationships we have...but I'm always a little relieved when it's over.

Photos courtesy of Emilee...thanks Emilee!

SNOW!

2011-12-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

Rollin' around with the dogs

Bella and Jazz love to be out...it doesn't happen much once it gets cold.

13 inches the day before

Making snow angels

Our first real snowfall of the year. Our kids had just gotten new snow clothes, so they all went out to take advantage of the new powder. The dogs got in on the action too. The funny thing is, no one is ever out there for very long before they come in complaining about being cold or wet...the joys of winter. But they do love sledding and being pulled behind the 4 wheeler. Unfortunately since then, we've had plenty of cold, just not snow.

Breaking Dawn

2011-12-18T20:06:00.000-08:00

The only pic I got...me and Wendy in our "twinner" leather

Well, met up with my sisters again for the fourth installment of the Twilight movies. This one was one of the most anticipated, definitely. Did not get a whole lot of pics this time. Most were taken by Wendy, and I don't have copies :( But we had so much fun! April also came...we love April.

This year we decided to skip the midnight showing...we're getting too old and busy for that! We went to lunch Fri afternoon and caught the movie after. Had a great time hanging out with my sisters...nothing like laughing until you cry. Plus, it was good to finally see Edward and Bella get married...'til next time girls.

Hallowen

2011-12-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

My discouraged Dracula

Cheerleader and Buzz...love his little eyebrow.

Annie, Katie and Emilee...if you can't tell Emilee was an Angry Bird :)

This Halloween was very different for us, because out in Lewiston, the only option is Trunk or Treat, which I hate. My kids aren't very fond of it either. The truth is, living in Lewiston has kind of taken the fun out of Halloween. I'm pretty sure there will be lots of Halloween parties in the future. Haydn was so uninterested this year, he didn't even have a costume. Emilee went to a party with friends, and the younger three went to the Trunk or Treat...Riley, only with lots of persuasion. There were hardly any cars there and we were done in a matter of 5 minutes. So there you go...Happy Halloween!

Sunday hike up High Creek

2011-12-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

Now that's a lot of bull...spotted him on the way home.

Jake and Riley ... getting along :)

So pretty

I love the mossy rocks

Lots of gold

The boys...

Hanging out by the river...

Love the sound of a running stream or creek

For some reason, the girls chose to stay behind this time. Gracie wasn't feeling well and Emilee was busy with schoolwork. So it was just me and the boys (Delon included). We had asked a few of our neighbors where some good hiking trails were, and several people mentioned High Creek, so we decided to give it a try. We never actually got very far off the main road because the ground was very wet and muddy. But it was beautiful and the smell was amazing... The boys really enjoyed themselves and I enjoyed getting some great fall photos.

Sunrise

2011-12-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

West sky...

Mountains to the East

Looking South

We have really beautiful sunsets here in Lewiston, and I came out one evening in early Oct to find this...I love it. Color everywhere in the sky...that's why you must have clouds to get spectacular sunsets.

Gracie is 7

2011-09-26T12:54:00.001-07:00

Blowing out her candles

The whole gang

Cheerleader...but of course, what else would she be for Halloween?

Jewelry kit...she's already made a necklace and two bracelets...very fun.

Cheerleading outfits for her barbies

Barbie Princess Charm School

Gracie was very prepared this year for her birthday and planned everything out way in advance. She handed me her Birthday list of gifts sometime in June, and made revisions along the way.

It's always weird when the birthday comes around again...it just means another year has flown by and you're older and your child is older. I know this is how it works, but it all kind of sneaks up on you. Gracie is still my very girlie girl. She loves Barbie's, princesses, dressing up and American Girl dolls. She is a perfectionist, a great organizer, and loves to cuddle. You wouldn't think so at first, but she is a lover.

Gracie does a good job being surrounded by brothers...we love you Gracie. Happy Seventh Birthday!!

Sunday Hike

2011-09-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

So pretty

Thought I would get out from behind the camera for once

Emilee, Haydn and Riley hiked up to a small cave

There were at least 8 or 9 different types of wild flowers...and the smallest and ugliest of them all were the most delicious thing I've ever smelled!

My boys...they had so much fun

Gracie tries to keep up with the boys...but doesn't really like to get very dirty :)

Mortal enemies...this day they loved each other. On a normal day, I'm sure one would have pushed the other into the lake...

Doesn't this just make you happy? I love the water.

I spy...8 pairs of eyes plus one little guy.

More of the wildflowers we found on the hike

Gracie loves pictures

Look! They are actually enjoying themselves...it's a miracle.

Beautiful

Ricks Springs

Haydn explored a few of the little caves by the Spring. You can tell that there are a lot of bats that live here.

Riley loved this...until he got his right foot entirely wet.

Emilee was stuck on this rock for a while because other people kept climbing over and blocking her only way to get off. When she finally did, she scraped her leg pretty bad.

Jakey

Emilee...still on the rock

Delon was gone to Oregon the first weekend after school started, so after church we thought we'd head up the canyon and enjoy a little hike and some fresh air. I forgot all the little things I loved about being in the mountains...the quiet, the smell of damp earth and wildflowers, running streams and creeks, and the closeness I feel to my Savior. A little heaven on earth.

We went up to Tony's grove and I thought for sure the kids would get tired and cranky early on, but they LOVED it and wanted to explore everywhere. We also went to a small spring up Logan Canyon that was found by Delon's great-great grandfather, Thomas E Ricks. It's called Ricks Springs. This was one Sunday in a long time where the kids never fought...peace and quiet...ahhh. We should do this more often :)

The Big 5

2011-09-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Jake and his friends

After the party they went outside and played with balloons. That kept them entertained for awhile...

Cake and Ice cream outside

Jake loves CARS...his favorite movie ever.

Birthday Cake

Opening presents, Lego Mack from CARS

Clothes...just what a boy wants :)

One of Jake's best buddies, Easton

Funny faces

What do ya know?...CARS pajamas

I can't believe my youngest is five already. Before I know it I'll be reading everything from an arm's length and purposely forgetting my birthday. I really have been spoiled with Jake. He is so much fun to have around and I look forward to spending time with him. He is very smart and loves to be with friends...but he is happiest hanging out with Dad and working. I'm grateful for Jake and so excited for him to start experiencing things as he gets older....I just wish things would slow down a bit. We love you Jake...Happy Birthday!

Back to School...Back on Schedule

2011-09-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Jake...I love this kid

Gracie was so excited to be going to school the entire day finally

Riley...very cool

Haydn...couldn't wait to be going to school earlier so he could be home earlier

Emilee, not so sure if she was ready to go back yet

I was grateful when school started again and so were the kids. I think we were all getting sick of each other! Here they are on their first day...Jake had to wait a couple weeks longer than the others, but he was so excited to be going to Preschool and he LOVES it!

Fall Football

2011-09-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Haydn after practice

During their first game

It's that time of year again. I love the fall, sports, holidays, back to school...all of it! Haydn decided he was going to try the SkyView Youth Football. So far he has had a pretty good experience. I think some of these coaches are a bit over the top, but this has been good for him. Mortimer #28...he usually plays safety. We're proud of him...

The Time of My Life....

2011-09-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Birthday Girl....love her!

We left our heart in SF...yeah, yeah, I know, very predictable.

We had so much fun here...it's been too long.

Birthday cheesecake @ none other than Cheesecake Factory

All the girls. We were starving after walking all over SF!

Me and Nat

Oh, looky there....one of my favorite stores in the background. We were in Macy's here shopping during our wait time for the restaurant.

Just outside Ghirardelli's....makes my mouth water.

Ahh...the ocean. I miss it.

A little windy earlier in the day. They have these great "heart-art" displays all around the courtyard. Amazing...

Robin and I taking a little break.

Grandma and Grandpa Hillesheim. Two of my favorite people. And yeah, next time I will wear a tank top under this shirt.

My sisters and I decided we were going to head back to our roots, Brentwood, CA, and go celebrate our friends 40th B-day in style. Although Brooke wasn't able to go, which was a little disappointing for us, we all really had a good time. Our first two days were spent with our sweet and, might I add, hilarious grandparents in Gilroy. We had so much fun just visiting, playing Frustration, and spending some quality time. I love my grandparents so much and am really grateful for their example and the many wonderful memories we have with them. It really was a blessing for us to have that visit and spend that time.

A couple days into our trip we headed to our hometown of Brentwood and stayed with Robin Schwitters...basically like a sister to us. She was turning 40 so we wanted to come and spend a few days with her. She and her husband Mark are great hosts. Always good times and always good food. We spent one of our days in San Francisco...it was so much fun. And I've never walked that far in my life. Ok, maybe I have, but I wasn't speed walking up hills for miles and miles. At least we never made the decision to hop into "shady guy's" black car. Who knows, that may have been the last anyone saw of us....

It was such a great trip and the perfect occasion to help me remember how much I love to be with my sisters...that means you too, Robin. I must admit, I miss the ocean and I miss the mild weather CA has to offer, but there's always next year....you won't keep me away :)

Florida

2011-07-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Just arrived at the resort...the boys are chillin'

Kitchen/Living area

Our room...if you look closely you'll see Delon relaxing in the corner...already

Emilee's and Gracie's room

We went straight to eat when we got there...we were starving!

This restaurant was just downstairs

Gracie loves to sit by mom

Mr. Cool...apparently

Out on the balcony, waiting to go down to the pool

We had a great view from the balcony

At the pool

Couldn't get them out of the water!

Jakey....

Nice, Riley

Oh, the lines!

Another line...

The Hulk

Dr. Suess ride

While he was still happy...

Waiting in line, again

Emilee liked taking pictures...ALL the time

Water ride

Little did we know...

we'd get soaked...literally.

My sentiments EXACTLY :)

Jake was always happy

Harry Potter

The detail in these buildings and this attraction was incredible!

After the roller coaster ride

So cool, we saw Eddie Murphy with his daughters here too :)

Just arrived...already sweating to death.

Pirates of the Caribbean ...their favorite.

Splash Mountain line. Luckily dad got suckers for everyone.

Waiting...

Jake didn't mind anything, he was sooo happy!

You can tell how Emilee felt about standing in line. Thunder Mountain was the worst.

There were tons of tour groups there from South America this day...it was crazy!

When you wish upon a star...ah, who am I kidding?

Buzz Lightyear

Tree of Life

Animal Kingdom

Feeling a little worn out

Giraffes

One of the coolest trees I've seen. Looks like it's upside down...the tree stores extra water like a camel, that's why it's so large.

Family of elephants

Cooling off

Beauty and the Beast

The kids loved this show

Chip, the costumes were pretty amazing

The Beast and Belle...

Happily Ever After

Star Tours

Gracie

Waiting for the stunt show

This was the best show I've ever gone to

My favorite movies are the ones with great car chase scenes...

This was definitely worth sitting in the hot sun

I'm sure he was extra hot...

So cool to find out all the tricks they use to do these chase scenes, the drivers were incredible

Little Mermaid

Indiana Jones

Don't know if you can see, but while I waited with a few of the kids while Delon and Emilee did Tower of Terror, it was POURING!! Within two minutes there were miniature rivers everywhere...no one stayed dry.

Drying out after the downpour

Our last morning before we leave for the airport

This is where we stayed...Parc Soleil

We got a phone call from Hilton early this year, and they offered a 2 bedroom suite to us at their new resort in Orlando FL...3 nights for the price of less then one.We added an extra night and booked it. We stay at the hilton a lot, so we decided to go since we were planning on doing Disneyworld anyway. The resort was amazing, I almost think the kids enjoyed being there more than walking around the parks! The weather, of course, has no mercy. We looked soaked most of the time, so decided to do mostly water rides anyway. The humidity there is ridiculous this time of year. But the people were very friendly, and Orlando was beautiful.

We spent our first day at Universal, we HAD to do Harry Potter...it was awesome! It's insane the money they spend on these attractions! Gracie and Jake's favorite ride was the roller coaster at the Harry Potter attraction. They are finally tall enough to go on all the rides, so they did...every single one. Jake had no fear. The best part is watching how much fun all the kids were having.

The following two days we spent at Disneyworld. Our favorite park there was Hollywood Studios. It's probably where we spent most of our time. The second day at Disney, there were probably two or three times where it just poured rain for about 20-30 min straight. It was a great way to cool down, but it was not fun to slosh around in wet clothes all day. We of course had a few melt downs and I occasionally thought..."why did we do this again?" But after it's all said and done, these are some of those times where we make our best memories. I think the kids realize too, you don't always have to be far from home to enjoy each other's company :)

I'm very grateful we had this experience and I think the kids really enjoyed being together....who'da thought?

1st Official Dan Hillesheim Reunion

2011-07-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

All the sisters...without our make-up.

Grandkids, this was a chore and we still were missing one, my Gracie.

Playing ball. The lilacs were so pretty, smelled sooo good.

Coaches on the sidelines...

Grumpy kids...and everyone wanted to know why I wanted family pics the first day :)

Hula Hoops

This game was hilarious

Cookie time. These girls did pretty good.

On your mark...

Puzzle time...breakfast scramble game.

Jake, I love this boy

A bit Dicey

This was everyone's favorite game

Grandpa wins a medal :)

Natalie looks so focused

Lyla, my sweet niece.

Tha gang

We were out here a lot, especially some of the boys...can you say pyromaniac?

Emilee and Breanna

President and VP

Ema, Lily and Gracie

Wendy , Isabelle and Boston

Brandon, Diana, Ramsi and Raegan

Brooke, Ema and Nela

Apples to Apples...

Badminton with a view

The Ladder game - enjoyed by the kids more than the adults

Crazy people...you can pick your nose but you can't pick your family. Or in this case, you can pick your family's nose.

Want to squish him!

Silly girls...pics are for smiling. See, Daniel knows :)

Daniel, Janica, Madison, Gabe, Jesse, Sophia and Lyla

New best buds. It was the cutest thing ever to watch these two. They never left each other's side.

Ramsi, Ema, Lily and Gracie

Beautiful

There were lilacs and daisies everywhere

Front walk...great view :)

This year I was in charge of putting together our Family Reunion. We had so much fun. Of course, nothing ever goes perfect, but I think we all really enjoyed each other's company. It's easier when you're all staying in the same home, or in this case, Inn. We headed up to Lava Hot Springs and stayed at the Inn at Owl Hollow, located in Bancroft. It was beautiful! We had the entire Inn to ourselves, it was set back into the mountain and had tons of privacy. We just hung out around the fire the first night and got settled. The next day we spent at Lava. The water slides there are crazy! There are quite a few little daredevils in our family. I would never jump off those high dives! The weather was perfect. It was a little windy while a small storm passed, but we never got rained on :) Later that night we played some Minute to Win it games and did s'mores. The best part was just sitting around the fire and visiting. Times like those help me to remember how much I love my family and all of the things I have learned from each one of them. I love my nieces and nephews and can't believe how big our family is getting. I hope that they all know how much I look forward to having us all together. I don't see them as often as I'd like, but I am glad we are close and have good relationships. When it comes right down to it, family is the only thing that matters...and I love mine! Thanks Mom and Dad for everything you are and everything you've done :)

Our Biggest Celebration of the Year

2011-07-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Preparing all the fireworks...the kids were so excited.

Starting with the small stuff

Doesn't look like it, but these are the same fireworks they use in the city celebrations here and we did them in our driveway....so much fun!

Getting ready...

Jake and Gracie love having their pictures taken :)

Happy Birthday Dad

38 years old...

Words to live by....according to Delon :)

Logan fireworks

Gracie with her glow stick

Glow necklace...used for everything BUT a necklace.

We always love a good party, and on the July 4th weekend we have a lot to celebrate. Other than the patriotic holiday, it is also Delon's Birthday. This year we went BIG....with the fireworks, that is.

The weekend started off with an early morning run...I finally have Delon running with me again :) Then we went to the Lewiston 4th of July Parade. The kids got tons of candy. We know this is the only reason they go. After working a little in the yard, we gave Delon his gifts, had cake (chocolate with chocolate) and ice cream, and then we put on our own firework show. I hate to say this, but because there were almost no restrictions on fireworks this year, we went BIG...almost showed up Lewiston city in our own front yard. It's quite the experience being right under those things when they go off. It was the first time I've enjoyed watching fireworks since being at Turtle Bay in Oahu....and I was 16. So according to Delon, this is a new tradition, a bit of a costly one, but one nonetheless.

The friday before we attended the fireworks done at the Aggie Stadium, it's always fun, but there are too many people.

I'm so glad to live in a place where we can be happy, where we have the freedoms to be who we are. I'm also grateful to those who serve and protect us. God Bless America :)

Sunsets

2011-07-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Pretty amazing, huh?

These are the sunsets I see almost every evening....I LOVE it, right from my back patio :)

By the way, thanks Dad for showing me the beauty in simple things.

Kindergarten Graduation

2011-07-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

With one of her buddies, Blaykelee

After Graduation...our heads look huge with the shadow behind!

All grown up...

Part of their poem performance

Introducing and leading the crowd....

Gracie has graduated from Kindergarten! Wow, this year kind of flew by. Gracie loved school. She reminds me of how I was at her age. A perfectionist when it came to school work, and I loved being at school. Gracie had a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Andersen, and she made lots of friends. When Delon and I showed up to her graduation performance, we didn't really think much about Gracie always telling us she didn't want us to come, we just assumed she was being "Gracie". But as the program started, Gracie stood and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the Star Spangled Banner, and introducing the remainder of the program! You should have seen our faces. I'm sure our mouths were hanging open in disbelief. You have to understand, Gracie is a very friendly and social person when it's her decision to be so. But this is something she would never volunteer to do. I'm so glad her teacher gave her that responsibility. Ever since, she has had a little more confidence...and she did GREAT!

Haydn's turns 11 !!

2011-07-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Haydn

Yes, those are matches...Gracie and Jake were playing with the candles and broke half of them!

Look at the intensity in my kids' faces....it's like they haven't eaten in days. Either that or they've never seen fire before.

My reader....love it!

New shoes

More books

This year Haydn didn't really ask to do much for his birthday. But he did ask for homemade pizza and chocolate cake...so that's what he got! Haydn loves to read so I got him a few books to add to his collection. One thing that was a bit of a surprise to me though, was how big his feet were. I went to get him some new shoes and had to buy a 7 in Men's. My kids have big feet. Let's just hope that means my boys will be taller than 5'7" and my girls taller than 5'5".....I can always hope. Anyway, Haydn is probably, out of all my kids, the most difficult to "figure" out. But I can always count on Haydn and I know he wants to do well at everything. The last year or so I have noticed Haydn's love for our family in a lot of the little things he does. I'm grateful for him and hope that he can see how incredible he is. Happy Birthday Haydn...we love you!! (Haydn's Birthday is actually May 19...I'm just falling behind)

Women's Conference

2011-05-03T11:20:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again ...

Women's Conference is always a good experience for me, and each time I return I feel closer to my Savior and have a better understanding of what's important.

It'a always fun with my "Idaho" friends, and I'm grateful for their friendship. It really is wonderful to have good people to learn from. I'm very grateful for their examples.

If I could only choose one thing to share that I learned this year, it would be that as children of our Heavenly Father, we need to realize our potential for greatness. It doesn't take doing amazing things to be "amazing". It's the little things we do that make the biggest difference, whether we are improving ourselves or helping others. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass....

NCAA Anniversary

2011-05-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

Statue of Wyatt Earp

Out back of the Court House and City Hall, they had a fenced area where they did all the hangings. Creepy...

Courtroom...hardly anything has been touched. Pretty incredible.

Court House / City Hall

Gun show...I got to kill the bad guy.

View from the Hotel

Found this while at the Air Museum....thought you would appreciate this, Dad. All that's missing is the "h". Tried to get some more info on this helicopter, but couldn't find much.

Air Museum

Chopper...

Desert Museum...some of the biggest cactus I have ever seen.

The boys were so hot and tired.

If you look closely you can see a hummingbird in it's nest.

Desert Museum Entrance...we were already sweating.

Part of the Park along the route to the Desert Museum....they are literally everywhere. It's like a forest of cacti.

Big Blue doing a little break dancing.

Goofball...

No need to explain, this picture says it all...

So Delon wanted to go to Tucson for the NCAA tournament...and being as it's been 13 yrs now, I'm well aware of the fact that I will always be competing for attention on our Anniversary weekend. We took Haydn and Riley so they could enjoy a little basketball, and I tagged along because it wouldn't be right to leave me for basketball on our Anniversary ;)

We really enjoyed the trip, and the weather was WARM and very much appreciated after this incredibly cold winter and spring. The kids really liked seeing new places and being on their own with mom and dad. But I almost believe the best part of the trip for them, was driving in the rental car...seriously.

After the game and the Aggies' loss, we took a couple of days and checked a few things out. We went to the Desert Museum (which made for a very long hike in the heat, but interesting nonetheless), the air museum (3rd largest in the country) and Tombstone (the strangest, yet friendliest place I've been to).

The boys loved the museum and it was fun to get to know a little bit more about what each of

the different planes and aircraft can do. And of course there was the infamous fighter jet used in TOP GUN....brings back great memories.

Tombstone was quite an experience.....understatement. We took a little tour to learn about Tombstone and it's famous "characters" like the Earp brothers, Doc Hollywood, etc. Apparently there are quite a few buildings there that are haunted and have been featured on TLC and Discovery channels several times. Step back Sin City...as far as corruption, sex and murder, this little place had you beat a LONG time ago.

I'm always fascinated with learning about the way people lived way back when and the little things they did to cope with everything that we now take for granted, like plumbing, medicine and organized law. Most of the structures right in town are all original, and there is a theater there (the name has slipped my mind) where everyone went to have a "good time". There are over 100 bullet holes throughout the theater as a result of several shootouts that took place inside. An appropriate name would have been "Hoochie whorehouse", but we all know that wouldn't fly.

After the tour we went to watch a little wild west skit, which I quickly became a part of because Delon wanted to sit in the front row...needless to say, I ad libbed and became the main attraction...kidding. But I think they were expecting me to stand there with nothing to say, but I had a few one-liners that got a good laugh from the audience.

The flight home was horrible and I found myself caught in a bad lifetime movie scene of passengers trying to keep their cool while the plane bounced around and the pilot kept making statements to keep everyone calm....ugh. So glad when we landed.

So, the Aggies never moved on, and it wasn't much of an "Anniversary" trip, but it was definitely worth the awful plane ride. I'm always glad to go to a place I've never been and experience things I wouldn't have otherwise...but it's always good to be home.

"I Feel Really Clean!"

2011-02-15T09:54:00.001-08:00

Riley was baptized Feb. 5th. This was a special day for our family. We love Riley so much and I know he was hoping to feel a little better that day, unfortunately he woke up feeling a little exhausted from a bad night's sleep, and with a bit of a fever. But everything else turned out really good. We were very grateful for the family that was able to make it and even to those who were on their way but had to turn around and head home because of sick kids. It's always nice to spend time with family and I know the kids really enjoyed having their cousins there.

I am grateful to know of the blessings that come from being a member of the church and I can't wait for Riley to experience some of those things. We love you Riley and are proud of your decision!!

The newest member of the church...you can tell he's not feeling great :(

The 3 of us

Handsome boys

Everyone looks good in "white"...

All Grown up...

2011-02-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Blowing out the candles

Thinking about what she wants to wish for...

Really attractive Emilee...

Emilee turned 12 on Feb. 3rd. It's hard for me to believe I have a daughter going into Young Women's. What's even more surprising, is how she is completely her own person. I've noticed the last little while that she seems to be pretty confident in who she is, and she has a great sense of humor. I also know that she can be grumpy when she doesn't get what she wants, but she always does what needs to be done. She is doing well in school, has great friends, helps out around the house without being asked and is always up and at 'em without someone nudging her along. I love that Emilee is responsible and makes good decisions. We are grateful for Emilee and for her example...and from these pictures taken, you'll see what I mean about her humor.

Happy Birthday Emilee!!

Riley is 8...and obsessed with basketball !

2011-01-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

Riley with his new Scriptures...and Lakers b-ball jersey.

Being goofy

Blowing out the candles

I can't believe this kid is 8 already...

This year Delon and I took Riley "out" for his birthday. He chose to go and eat at Aggy's, browse through a few sporting goods stores, and pick up a few Basketball Jerseys. It's funny, Delon was always worried these boys would not enjoy the game of basketball like he does...now he knows that he's created a couple of monsters. We have 4 basketball hoops in the house and one outside, and I still don't think it's enough.

It was a lot of fun to spend some time with Riley one on one. We decided to do that this year with the kids and give them a night out where they get to pick what to do and where they want to eat. I hope Riley knows how much we love him, even when he gets out of control. We're really proud of him and his teachers at school can't say enough about him and how much he's improved.

Happy Birthday Riley we love you and can't wait for you to be baptized !

The Christmas That Never Was....

2011-01-29T15:31:00.001-08:00

Our Christmas Tree...

Doesn't look like it in this picture, but this tree was huge, I loved it!

This year for Christmas, these are the only photos I have :( My camera battery went dead and the battery charger went missing. On Christmas Eve, I took pictures on my phone of the kids in their new pajamas. I also got a few while they were opening gifts Christmas morning. Incidently one of my gifts was a brand new phone...after it became activated, the boys got a hold of the old phone and started messing around. Apparently, they started fighting over the phone...yes this does happen in our house lately...and they literally snapped my phone in half ! I was sooo mad. This Christmas, to be honest, was a little rough for us and I was glad when it was over. Hopefully next year things will be better, if not...I'm banning Christmas at our house.

Temple Square Lights

2011-01-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

These cool votive bags were everywhere on Temple Square...so pretty.

The kids, freezing...even with Hot Chocolate. But lots of fun with G&G Hillesheim...

Went to Temple Square with the kids and met my parents there. It's been forever since I've been during Christmas, but the kids really had a good time. It was nice to spend some time with my parents ...the kids love to have one on one time with G&G. While we were there, they had a high school choir performing in the Visitor's Center, and an AMAZING mens quartet that performed a capella up by the statue of Christ. It always takes those experiences to remind me how much I miss singing. I'm grateful to live so close to all of these beautiful temples. Thanks G&G for coming to hang out :)

Mom and Daughter Christmas Party

2011-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

Me and my mom

The "Spread"

It's been awhile. The camera battery charger went missing during the move. But...we found it. Unfortunately it was after Christmas.

On the first Fri. in December my Mom did her annual Christmas Lunch/Dinner and shopping day. As you can tell from the photo above, she always puts a lot of time and thought into it. I usually get quite a bit of my Christmas shopping done, and I get to spend some uninterrupted time with everyone. I'm just so grateful that we can ALL sit around the table and enjoy each other's company...sincerely ENJOY. There's no drama...just good conversation, LOTS of laughing and of course the occasional making fun of ourselves. I'm so glad to have the sisters I have...and mom and dad thanks for the meal, the goodies, the gifts and the example. I AM SO LUCKY!!

Family Pics....2010

2010-12-15T20:40:00.000-08:00

My plan was to wait until Spring to do new pictures, but I decided to take advantage of the winter backdrop. We've done pictures in the spring, summer and fall, but only once in the winter...and I was getting impatient for a new photo to put on the wall. I'm so glad it all went well. I've also come to enjoy the photos that show my kids' personalities best. When you see the photos, you'll know EXACTLY who I'm talking about :)

Halloween

2010-11-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Emilee, my little gangsta'...Haydn a werewolf...Riley a skeleton...Gracie the Frog Princess...and Jake my little vampire. I left Jake's eyes red, I thought it was appropriate with his costume. :)

This was Jake by the end of the night...

Riley after trunk- or- treating

Vampire and skeleton ...

The Gang

Halloween was a little different for our family this year. Out in Lewiston there is no trick-or-treating...just trunk-or-treating. Which is, ok...but I still find it a little lame. And for the last two years there has been an Aggie basketball game on Halloween. Our family loves to do the games, so of course we went, but I took the kids into town first to get their candy stash. Halloween is just not like it used to be...

UEA Break....Lagoon!

2010-11-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the day Jake was not willing to go on a lot of rides, but by the end....well, I think you get the picture.

Space shot...kiddie style

Ok, so I swore I had these stupid log rides down...how to maneuver so I don't get soaked,the best place to sit, and when to stand instead of sit. I was obviously wrong....

On the Train....shortest ride of my life.

Cowboy up...

This ride was crazy! Thought this was a sweet shot of Delon and the kids :)

Giant spider...

What?!....Delon at the 3 point challenge?...no way! He NEVER does this.

He did it every time we walked by...funny how he doesn't have a problem wasting money on stuff like this. :)

Poor Gracie thought that once we got on this little tram ride, we'd have to jump from the top...you should have seen me trying to get her on. Wow!

Emilee and Haydn, bottom left hand corner.

Delon and Riley...Delon is in the white long sleeved top, Riley is hiding next to him.

My little sailor...

Carousel....a must no matter what carnival or park we're at.

Zebra style...

Goofball...

So our kids convinced us they needed to go to Lagoon. Lagoon is obviously never a "need", but nonetheless we went. It's been a very long time since I have been there. Not much had changed really, but it's definitely a different experience going with 5 kids. I think the trip was a good break for everyone. We really had a good time and the weather was perfect!

Barbie Birthday!

2010-10-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Gracie in her Tinkerbell PJ's from Grandma

Blowing out the candles....carefully.

My pretty Gracie-girl

Build-a-Bear from Grandma

Another Barbie...you can never have too many. Her cousin Sydnee would agree. These girls are two peas in a pod!

Gracie has always been a girlie girl. Sometimes it's hard for me to swallow, but this girl is content with a Barbie in one hand and a lip gloss in another. This year she finally got her Barbie Dream House...which was a nightmare to put together! Oh, the things we do for our kids...

This year she had her cousin Sydnee come, her uncle Bryan and G&G Hillesheim. It's always a lot of fun for me to have family here. Thanks to G&G who made a special trip!

And to Gracie...thanks for the drama...without you life would be very dull!

Happy Birthday Princess:)

Jake's B-day

2010-10-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

The gang

Blowing out his matches...yes that's right, matches. That's the way we do things out here in Lewiston.

Four years old!!

One thing you will always find Jake with is a truck.

Birthday presents...

Jake turned four on Aug. 30th. It's always going to be hard for me to believe how old he is getting. It makes me a little sad that he will too being going to school soon. What will I do with all of my free time?...Just kidding, I know that comes later. Free time is far from my reach, at least for the next 10 yrs. :) Good thing I enjoy being busy. Happy Birthday Jakey!!!

We love you:)

Back to School...

2010-10-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Or as I like to call it...Back to my Sanity. I love to be with my kids, but I am always ready for them to go to school when Summer ends. Jake wishes he could go with them and ride the bus...2 more years Jake, sorry.

Gracie and a frustrated Jake.

Gracie

Riley

Haydn

Emilee, my middle-schooler! I feel old!

Family Reunion in Cali

2010-10-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

Madison, Breanna, Kennedy and Emilee....after doing their little dance number. These girls have some moves!

Picking out bracelets or "silly bands"....these are a hot item.

My handsome nephew...eww I wanna squish those cheeks!

Loungin' at the beach...this was probably our favorite day of the reunion. The weather was perfect, I couldn't have asked for more. :)

Madison...complete with sand goatee.

Gracie and Lily. These two girls have so much fun together!

Talkin' shop....

This water was pretty cold...but you know the kids can't stay out.

Men in Black...

Eating lunch on the beach...lunchables mmm.

Digging trenches

Take it all in Delon...because in a few days we'll be back home with the cows and the flies....

Paula, Me, Rachel,Diana, Mom, Brooke and Natalie

All the little girls hung out with Grandpa...

They look suspicious don't they?....those two are always causin' trouble, the kind you want to get into. :)

My little man.

Oh, to have that view from my bedroom window...

Catchin' crabs

Chilly water...crazy boys!

Grandma with Ema and Grandpa sendin' out a little peace.

The girlies

Hangin' out at a park in Gilroy (Garlic Capitol of the World). We had lunch here the first day with everyone.

The boys scheming...

Jake and Grandpa...Jake has done this ever since he was born. He used to sleep this way all the time.

Mom, Diana, Me, Robin (the perfect Host and Friend) and Natalie. It was so much fun to see Robin and her family again. We always have such a good time with them!

Robin's backyard...this pool was so nice to have in 100 degree weather. We couldn't get the kids out of it. It was a salt water pool too, even better.

Lily and Kaylee...

Gracie...not quite ready to venture off without a flotation device yet. :)

Zach, Haydn and Riley...nothin' but trouble ;)

Every other year we have the Hillesheim Family Reunion. It's been something that we look forward to because we actually travel out of state, so it's also a little vacation for us. Granted, the road trips aren't always the best, but we always end up having a good time...even if we do get stuck in traffic for 2 hrs without moving because of a big accident...no, I'm not kidding. Even so, I love my family so much and I enjoy the time I get to spend with them...even if we are a little dysfunctional. Here's to the good times we've had and to the ones still to come!

Changes

2010-08-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

I feel like we may finally be starting to feel settled. End of July we moved from Smithfield to our new home in Lewiston. Only 10 miles north, but a bit of a lifestyle change...one that I'm enjoying but still getting used to. We have great neighbors, a great ward and an amazing view of the valley. It's so beautiful here, too bad we have to spend 6-7 months in "winter" weather, but the springs make it all worth it.

We will miss our neighbors in Smithfield, but if I have anything to do with it, we will still see them every now and then. I'm so grateful for my friends.

I know some of you have asked for pics of the new house, I will get those up soon. As soon as I can find my camera...:)

Last Minute Road Trip

2010-07-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

This trip was quite an adventure. Nothing about it was planned, courtesy of Delon, but it really ended up being a good experience for our family...fighting and all. Hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed the trip!

Backing out of the driveway. You'll notice I never took any other shots in the car at the end of the trip...you would have just seen 5 kids beating the crap out of each other or hanging their heads out the window in case they threw up. :)

Stopped at Big J's in Preston for dinner before we hit the road.

Before we arrived in Mountain Home to sleep for the night.

Stopped in Ontario, OR at a Les Schwab to have new tires put on before our journey. They were pretty bald.

Waiting for new tires...

Another shot of the same area...a lot of farmland...nothing I haven't seen before. After passing through this valley, we hit the wooded area, it's amazing how different looking these areas are even being right next to each other.

In OR at a view point on our first official day of traveling. It was sooo windy and cold.

There were so many low clouds that day...it was a little eerie, reminded me a lot of what we saw in Olympic National Park.

First shot of the city as we drove in. Seattle was a very pretty city.

On our way into the city...my kids are easily excited by tall buildings. And they love the fact that iCarly is also set in Seattle.

Lots of photo ops up top...the kids thought it was pretty amazing.

I believe we were at 520 ft, but overall the Space Needle is 605 ft.

More panoramic views atop the Needle.

City shot

Pretty cool view

Up top the Needle

Cruise liner in the harbor...there are so many cruise ships that come through Seattle now.

Cool shot, got dizzy taking this picture.

Going up...

One of the many sculptures throughout the city...

Ice cream break after the Space Needle.

The twins...well, behaviorally. :)

Our tour guide, Saul T. Dog...he was hilarious! I could hang out with this guy all day...

Enjoying the Ducks tour...even after an hour they were still happy. One of the best things we did there in Seatte. Totally worth the money!

Over 60 pieces of sculpture along the pier in Seattle....this here is the metal tree. Don't want to be here in a lightening storm.

Qwest Field

If you look carefully you'll see the "skylight" in the sidewalk. It's part of the underground city. It's pretty fascinating. We didn't get to go on the underground tour, but apparently in 1889 all the buildings in Seattle were wooden. That year there was a cabinet maker that knocked over a glue pot igniting the buildings and basically destroyed 25 blocks. So to make a long story short they made sure all buildings were built from brick and stone, and they built the new city 1-2 stories higher off the ground to prevent flooding. While this new city was being built, the people had to travel up and down ladders about 12 feet below street level to cross back and forth between streets. After the fire some of the business owners still used the underground city until it was condemned for the pneumonic plague in 1907. The skylights were put in to allow the light for those who still traveled and used the side walks below.

Space Needle shot on tour.

Puget Sound

One of the many bridges we crossed throughout our trip.

A great shot of the city from the water.

The ship shown here called the Horizon has been featured on The Deadliest Catch 2 or 3 times. Our tour guide is an actual fisherman and worked on board several of these boats for years.

Gasworks Park is a 20 acre area that features the old plant ,built in 1906,where coal was turned into gas. In 1962 the city bought the land from the government and turned it into a park where they now have several concerts and celebration every year. Apparently it's the best fireworks show in WA.

Gasworks park...preparing for the fireworks.

Seattle skyline...

This is what we took our tour in...they called them Ducks. It basically looked like an old clunky boat with wheels. The boats were apparently built by women...because they know how to follow directions. :)

Here is the actual "houseboat" they used as Tom Hanks home in Sleepless in Seattle. ( Green with red trim on the left).

In the Duck at the end of the tour.

Shot of the city on our "Ducks" tour.

Waiting for the car after the trip up to the Space Needle.

For those of you Grey's Anatomy fans....here is Seattle Grace Hospital...of course it's not really a hospital, but they use it for the outside shots.

A really orange and interesting sculpture in the park, right at the bottom of the Space Needle. The boys were off climbing through it. It kept them occupied for a while.

On the pier at the end of our last day in Seattle. We really enjoyed this day.

Another bridge....loved all the bridges.

There were some amazing homes along these harbors. If it wasn't so wooded, I could have gotten some better pics.

This bridge was pretty cool...and at every point along the way we were somehow always following a Volvo. Maybe it's a prerequisite for living in these areas...:)

This is what most of the trip driving looked like....trees everywhere....by the end the kids were chanting "no more trees!" I loved it though.

We stopped off near an Indian Res in a city called Sequim. It's so pretty there. There were a few lavender farms scattered throughout this area also.

Totem poles with my five little monkeys at the bottom. This place sat right on the water in Sequim Bay.

Sequim Bay.

A pretty cool spot behind all the Reservation's natural resource buildings.

Photo op...

The fam...

Port Angeles was a very welcoming city, especially to Twilight fans.

There is not much to see of Port Angeles in these photos because we literally drove through, but it's a very charming city. Hard to believe there are over 18, 000 people that live here.

Port Angeles was an interesting place and for being so small, it's pretty important. It's the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula...it's also the birthplace of Football Hall of Famer, John Elway. They only get about 4 inches of snow a year, but according to residents, it doesn't stick around very long.

This huge ship was called the Polar Endeavor. It transports Alaskan oil and was built with a double-hull. They were hoping to avoid other oil spills with ships like these.

Gotta love the mossy green trees! Unfortunately, these pictures do them NO justice!

We stopped off the side of the road just after passing through Port Angeles, and I spotted a trail through the trees, so Delon pulled over. This tree was amazing, I think my flash ruined some of these pictures. :(

Now I know why my favorite colors are green and blue...they both come from my favorite places to be.

Some of the things I saw were surreal, only things you usually see in pictures. To be there and to be able to "literally" smell the earth and touch the moss covered trees was really cool. I used to spend a lot of time up in the canyons hiking...this made me miss the time I should be spending in places like this. We've been so blessed to live in such a beautiful country.

The boys...there was this massive tree that had fallen across the river. In order to get this pictures I had to do a little climbing and tight-rope walking. In the process I came across ants the were easily 3/4 of an inch long. I wish this picture had turned out better, it was such a great shot.

A little moss canopy under the roots of a tree. Half of the tree roots were completely exposed. You can't really tell, but you could go back underneath 5-6 feet. This is one of my favorite pics.

These little white daisy wildflowers were EVERYWHERE throughout OR and WA. A lot of the time they were mixed with yellow and purple.

Here is where we first climbed under onto the trail. Wish we had had the time to follow the rest of it. It was beautiful! Fallen trees, ferns and moss canopies everywhere. It was absolutely amazing...

My high school was almost this big!

If you can't tell, they're trying to capitalize on the whole "Twilight" thing.

Once again....there were even people trying to sell "Twilight" firewood...no, I'm not kidding. It's a little ridiculous.

The welcome sign...almost as big as the actual city.

Honestly Forks was about three blocks wide and the length of two football fields. Not much there at all. Thanks to Stephanie Meyer, this area of the Continental US now gets about 3 x's as many tourists than they have residents!

Had to get a picture...Delon said so. Was fun to visit though, Stephanie definitely did her research. The people in these places are...well...let's just say "different".

We cross this bridge right after we leave Forks area...I believe it's the Hoh River.

This was so beautiful... one of my favorite places that we stopped. Ruby Beach, just south of La Push and the Quileute Ind. Res. I've used this picture for my wallpaper.

The water was a bluish-gray, the air was very misty and a majority of the beach was covered in twisted pieces of driftwood and smooth round stones.

There was a small hike down to the beach, Haydn spotted several LARGE slugs and I noticed there were a lot of berries that resembled raspberries, but were a bright orange. Love the foliage here...

As you can see, it's not a very "sandy" beach...but beautiful nonetheless.

Sea stacks and high cliffs are what made this beach so interesting.

Trying to skip stones...

Mmmmm....I likey.

My little cheeseball. Jake had so much fun on this trip. He did really well in the car too.

On top of the world!

You can't see them very well, but there were a ton of mussels on this rock. (and no, I'm not talking about Delon's). :)

Bridge of the Gods....the bridge Charlie and Bella traveled, on their way to Forks.

Interstate Bridge...

I don't know why, but I love bridges...it was kind of fascinating to see all the different colors and structures throughout OR and WA.

View from our room in the Marriott, downtown Portland. I really enjoyed visiting this area. A lot of history and some cool architecture. We ended up being here for the fireworks. Didn't stay to watch it all, but there were so many people there along the waterfront, pretty cool.

Another view...I swear the kids favorite part about traveling is staying in the hotel.

Rose Garden....Trail Blazers baby!

Actual Size... ;)

The boys really liked seeing where some of their favorite teams played.

I love all of the bridges in this city...

This is my idea of a Rest Area...

This is in Pacific City where we stopped after visiting some of the dairies only 8-10 miles from the beach. It's actually a part of Cape Kiwanda State Park. One of the prettier beaches I've been to also.

Gracie and Jake were actually getting along at this moment, so I had to take a picture.

Thank goodness for sand, now I know why I like having it in my backyard. The kids can play in this stuff forever!

Haydn and Riley kept themselves busy wrestling in the sand.

I love being by the water...it makes me smile.

It was a little chilly that day at the beach, but the kids loved seeing the ocean.

The View Point Inn

This place was amazing...the view alone was worth the trip.

Does this place look familiar to any of you?

This Inn was built in 1924. It has celebrated Presidents, Hollywood Stars, European Royalty and is on the National Register of Historical Places.

It is also the location of the famous Twilight Prom scene. They filmed some of the dinner scenes from the movie here also. This photo doesn't even begin to show how breathtaking the scenery is. Definitely something you need to see with your own eyes!

Multnomah Falls

This was one of the last things we saw on our way home, before we hit the uglier and browner areas of Oregon. (Multnomah Falls was the waterfall shown in Twilight during the baseball scene). It was so beautiful here next to the Columbia River. After we passed this area, it became very apparent , quickly, that the lush green areas were behind us.

Preschool Graduation

2010-05-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

Preschool Graduation

"Fruit Loop" tassel

Gracie loved preschool until the last few weeks. I think she became bored quickly, but she loved her teacher and all the friends she made. Mrs. Lamb had a lot of good things to say about Gracie, but nothing I wasn't already aware of. She is so motivated and loves to learn. She's curious about everything...she reminds me of Haydn in that way. I'm grateful for Gracie, even with all of her quirkiness. I know she'll do well in school and actually enjoy going. She's always ready for what lies ahead, but most importantly, Gracie believes she can be anything she wants....I love that. :)

Haydn's 10th Birthday

2010-05-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Blowing out the candles

Jake had to be in every picture!

I can't believe he's ten...

Clothes from Grandma

New baseball cleats

Video games...I figure if he's going to spend time doing this, he might as well increase his brain capacity (something every male could stand to do)

A couple of "hams"

Show off!

I always remember the day Haydn was born. He came out with a smug little smile on his face....he still smiles the same to this day. There are a lot of things about Haydn that I'm still trying to figure out, but I'm very proud of him and know he is probably the most sensitive of all my boys. It's fun to see how he changes and who he's becoming as he gets older. I look forward to the things he'll do.

Haydn chose to go and see a movie with the boys.

Back at home we did the "norm" and had cake and ice cream. Then the presents came...Happy Birthday Haydn , we love you!! :)

Hole in One...

2010-05-29T15:43:00.001-07:00

Had to fix a cracked pipe in the water line....Delon was the lucky one who got to dig. So I thought I would post some pictures of the whole process, because the chances of seeing him do this kind of work lately are about the same as getting a hole in one. :)

12th Anniversary

2010-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

Delon and I celebrated #12 on Sat the 20th. It seems longer to me...not that that's a bad thing...more like a comfortable thing. I am grateful for him and everything he does for our family. Most importantly, I know I'm lucky to have someone who loves me the way I am....

Home Sweet Home

2010-03-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our new home. I know I promised these awhile ago, but I've been a little busy. We are doing finish work inside and getting ready to lay the flooring. So far, everything has gone well. Not sure when we will be in, but we figure sometime early summer. This has been a fun, but stressful project. I was able to design the floor plan and exterior. It's all come together pretty good. I know Delon is more excited about the dirt we hauled in, but soon enough he will understand and appreciate the little things I thought of while planning and building. :) I really think this will be a good place for our little family and the kids are excited.

Back side of our home. Those are the kitchen windows.

Front porch....can't wait to sit out here during the summer and be eaten alive by mosquitos...

Front detail....I love this rock.

Can't wait until all of this garbage is GONE!

Front of garage.

The exterior is almost finished....then we paint!

Garage windows.

Emilee turns 11...

2010-03-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

My little joker...

Eleven candles !!

Mmmm...lots of chocolate shavings!

Emilee has always kept things light and fun in our house. I'm grateful she has a good sense of humor and a good sense of herself. I'll never have to worry about Emilee or the decisions she'll make. She will be going to Young Womens next year and it's making me feel a little "old", but I'm very proud of her. Happy Birthday Emilee, we love you!

Riley's 7th B-day

2010-03-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Blowing out the candles...

I love Riley's smile!

New shoes!

Gifts from Grandma...

Riley turned 7 on Jan 22. I honestly can't believe that Riley will be baptized next year and Emilee will go into YW. We had the privilege of sharing Riley's birthday with my sister Diana and husband Brandon. We always enjoy hanging out with them because we don't get to very often. They have a little girl Ramsi, who is the same age as Jake. They all get along really well, so it's fun to have them visit. Riley's birthday was simple but fun. He was able to take a trip out with Dad to pick out gifts, so as far as he was concerned it went perfectly!