Hilton Happenings

Adam at Church

2010-08-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

Adam was awesome today. During the sacrament I've been reminding him why we eat the bread & water. Today I asked him

M-who do we think about during the sacrament?
A- Jesus
M- what do we remember when we eat the bread?
A- ?
M- Jesus body
A- He got hurt
M- Yes and then he died
A- (inhales sharply in surprise)
M- Then after 3 days, Jesus was alive again. He was resurrected
A( inhales sharply in happy surprise) Awive?
A to Josh happily- Jesus Awive!

Later Dan was distracting Adam, trying to get him to be more still. He flipped through a "Friend" magazine. Adam saw a little picture of President Ukdorf and said "I know Him. Prophet! I wike Prophet!"

He also called President Packard prophet too.

Mine

2009-10-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

Adam is at the age where he "posses" everything. You know the "mine" faze. Though we continue to give him opportunities to share and take turns the phrase "NO! MINE" is often uttered. It had become so much of his daily life that I thought implementing some help from above might be good. So during one of his evening prayers (the kind where he tries to repeat what I say) we said something like this:

mom- "Dear Heavenly Father..."

Adam- "fa"

mom- Thank thee for Dad

Adam- tank, Dad

mom - Thank thee for mom

Adam- mum

mom- Thank thee for Josh

Adam - dosh

mom - Thank thee for sissy

Adam- sissy (at that point he couldn't say her name yet)

mom- Thank thee for cars (he spotted one during the prayer and wouldn't move past it until we mentioned it in the prayer. I suppose since they are one of his favorite toys, he probably is grateful for it.)

Adam- cah

mom- Please help me to share

Adam - NO. MINE!

Ah, yes, even here he understood the concept of sharing, but was unwilling to do it. I wonder how often Heavenly Father gives me instruction and I say, "No! my way."

Canning Security

2009-10-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

The last couple days I've canned pears & pear sauce. I mostly do this for my own knowledge & experience and know that it is part of our emergency food supply. Today as Josh was lapping up some pear sauce (just like applesauce) he said this: "Mom, I sure am glad you can do these things. If the store ever closed I wouldn't worry 'cause you know how to do this stuff." I was touched at how profound that little statement was. I'm not sure where the comment came from, but was surprised at how much security it gave my son to know that we could be self reliant.

A Beautiful Thing

2009-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

During Sacrament Services it is a family rule to always sing. Everyone has an open hymn book & participates. So far for Emily, her participation has depended on me. I tell Em a line of song just before we sing it and then she repeats it in time with the music. Though she follows the words with her finger, the music is usually moving much too fast for her to read the words. Well not this last Sunday! I glanced over and noticed that she was following the song with her finger AND her mouth. Yes, she was reading the hymn and singing too, all on her own! It was Beautiful. Thankfully the song was a little slower and the words not especially complex. She beamed with such pride. We totally hugged at the end.

Love

2009-05-19T09:06:00.002-07:00

Emily is such a lover. She is always the best at giving a lot of hugs & kisses. This love does extend beyond family affection I am afraid. She has always crushed on boys, even from an early age. Sitters, family friends, even a new uncle-in-law for a while there. I am amazed at the confidence she has around them.

Last week at Josh's ball game, Emily was chasing around 2 babies, trying to keeping them out of trouble. Most of the older kids at the game happened to be boys. A group of them ranging in ages from 8-10, palled around trying to entertain them selves. Once when the group was close enough to our chairs, Em, who I remind you is six, hoisted a baby on her hip and walked right over to them to chat. She did it in such a way that it seemed she'd know the boys forever & was comfortable & belonged there. I'm not sure how they felt, but I was impressed with her confidence and bravery and yet horrified. What will I do with a girl who loves boys so much?! And we haven't even thrown hormones into the mix yet.

If you choose to continue reading- Please know that you are now sworn to secrecy & not allowed to tease Emily about the following. I am hoping that by not making a deal of her crush, that it will be that- not a big deal. Her latest & greatest crush now is Bob. Okay, his name is not Bob, but for to protect the innocent it's Bob. He is a young man we see often. Maybe it was his talents that inspired her, maybe his bow tie. I'm not sure, but she is smitten. She smiles a certain "new" smile when she leaves her lessons. Her latest crush episode was Sunday. When she saw Bob passing the sacrament I heard her whisper to me "I hope my Bobb- y comes to our row." MY Bobb-y?!!!! Yikes, I wanted to laugh and hurl all at the same time. And indeed, he did come to our row, followed by Emily's not so reverent hellos and attempts at conversation. We then had a nice discussion on reverence & how we can help the boys using their priesthood stay reverent too. Needless to say, her sweet feelings are so cute now, but I sincerely dread those upcoming teenage years.

Derby, Dirt & Deoderant

2009-05-19T09:06:00.001-07:00

Josh has been a busy boy. He had a ton of fun at Pinewood Derby last week. Dan & Josh learned a lot & Josh did a fabulous job on his car. He made it every step of the way too. He sanded it, painted, & he even detailed the car! It was dubbed "The Wedge II" after Dan's derby winner in his scouting days with the original "The Wedge." Josh's car did really well in the beginning before all the graphite wore off. He placed about 4th in the Wolf pack & won an award for good Sportsman ship. On one of his races his car did a wheely and consequently came in dead last. Looking at his face you'd never know. He was laughing and was so impressed that his car did the coolest wheely ever. What a kid!

Dirt, well, that's how we all felt after sweating out every Saturday on the baseball fields with Josh. He had a great season with an amazing team. Below is a picture of Josh getting the game ball a couple weeks ago. He got his first hit and score that game. Kid-pitch sure makes for a much different game that Coach-pitch. Josh learned this year, that he makes a pretty great catcher too. Go #30!

And the deoderant. It was kind of in consequence of playing ball. All that heat and sweat made me realize that his time was due. So Dad gave him a quick lesson on how to slather the smelly stuff on. I loved these pictures. He thought it was weird he had to wear it occasionally now, but had fun in the moment.

I couldn't come up with another "D" word, but here is Josh at his school program. It was all very patriotic & Josh was great. He is quite the singer, though he might not admit that. This is Grandma Hilton, Josh & Emily afterward.

Six Eyes

2009-04-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hers are "eagle eyes" and practically perfect.

Mine are nearly the same as ever.

And Josh, well, he's not too exciting, just a little change.

Thanks to Uncle Matt,our peepers are all checked up!

He's On it!

2009-04-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

So, I'm running around this morning, I'm trying to do all the mom stuff that needs to get done on a school morning when I hear this whirring & thumping sound. These sounds are typical around our house, but NOT usually unless I'm involved. The cause. . .Josh was doing his own vest! Usually Josh is good about doing his routine breathing treatments, but I usually call him over & get him all hooked up. Today, was a nice treat. Josh took the initiative to get all strapped in and started without a word from Mom. For those of you that may not know, Josh has Cystic Fibrosis. He wears his vest, which inflates & then shakes the daylights out of him in an effort to clear his air ways. Josh's last cold hit him pretty hard and left him with lots of extra goo! (nice, I know) So Josh and his vest have become closer friends lately. Yesterday's check up at PCH left us less than satisfied. Still too much goo in the lungs, so more treatments & meds and we'll see how we do in a few weeks. Not that any of this slows Josh down. He has been as active & energetic as ever! See, he can do his vest, nebulizer AND the Wii at the same time.

All this while we've been. . .

2009-04-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

All this while we've been. . .

. . . Learning to shoot a rifle. Josh went with his Dad, Grandpa Palmer & uncles. He learned gun safety and went target shooting. He even got a bulls eye! Josh loved finishing out his basketball season & is on to baseball. He is an amazing catcher and loves the game. It is especially fun since we know almost everyone on the team.

. . . Starting piano lessons. Emily has been wanting forever to learn how & I'm astonished at how naturally her fingers flow and cross on the keys already. She also starred as Little Miss Muffet in her Kindergarten Nursery Rhyme Program.

. . . Learning to talk. Adam's first sentences. "Bye Da!" & "Tank (thanks) Da!" Everyday now he is learning new words and sounds. He loves singing and dancing to all kinds of music. Oh yes, & he's mastered the word "no."

. . .Welcoming Uncle Karl who came home after serving 2yrs on his mission. Meeting him at the airport was such a fun adventure. It is so nice to have all the family together again.

Having a sewing mania- Alterations seem to be MY lot lately. I've fixed 2 bridesmaid dresses and 2 flower girl dresses for 3 different weddings in just the last few weeks! Cutting into that first $200.00, irreplaceable dress was a little nerve racking. I started to wonder what I was thinking, but in the end, it turned out better than I planned. Below is one example of some sleeves I added to a little strappy dress. I should have taken pictures of the formals I hemmed, oh well.

Dan has taken over new responsibilities at work and though the season is over, he is busier than ever. At home he's constantly doing projects like building our hamster a shelf & helping Josh with Pinewood Derby.

Conference Madness. This is a bucket of treats & goodies for the kids to much on during General Conference. Every time and Apostle spoke, they got to eat that treat. It was a bit more of a distraction than I thought, so we'll have to tweak this for next year.

Easter

Sunday Superbowl Dinner

2009-02-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

Usually on Sunday evening we are at Grandma's house. Usually the food resembles roast & potatoes. And usually we don't eat until 5:30pm or so. But this was an Unusual family dinner.

And this is only part of the food, not to mention the dessert on the other table. Can you believe there were about 20 of us there?

Yes, those are a homemade Dan specialty. BBQ Wings! A specific request from Uncle Matt.

It was really fun getting the 3-D glasses for everyone including the kids. What a hoot watching the 3-D commercials. My favorite is the picture of grandpa. I'm not quite sure why wouldn't put them all the way on.

Disneyland (better late.....)

2009-02-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Disneyland almost didn't happen! With all the wild fires in CA we were worried with reports of intense smoke and ash in the area. With much thought we headed out anyway, hoping that all the reports about the smoke blowing over were going to be accurate. Thankfully they were. The skies were clear as could be and the fires were much more controlled by the time we arrived. You'll notice a certain someone missing from all the photos. Yes, Adam stayed home with G&G Palmer since the other 2 kids were big enough to ride all the rides.

The Hotel room was amazing. It had a bed room & a sitting room with fridge, stove, freezer, dishwasher, & foldout bed. The bedroom had 2 beds & 2 closets. Every night we had hot chocolate and popcorn. With Target across the street, we stocked up on goodies to leave in the room and bring to Disneyland. One of our favorite parts was that our hotel provided Breakfast AND Dinner. Breakfast was real elaborate, while dinner was pretty simple but always tasty. With most of our meals already taken care of, we were able to eat lunch in the park each day.

This is us waiting for the shuttle at our Hotel. It was a nice ride just down the street. We even shared the same shuttle with Jim, Candace & Hilton boys once. It was so fun to see them every so often.
Dan trying not to toss his cookies into the tea cup. What a good sport.

Kids enjoying the Tea Cups while mom laughed hysterically

Hat Day

Emily's hat was cute and sassy, just like her. Josh, well, everywhere we went people kept saying, "That sure is a Goofy hat."

Josh & Em were so glad to both have been picked for the Star Wars training show. They had such a good time learning how to be Jedi Knights. They got a certificate at the end too that was proof of their training. Josh really had the moves down as he battled Darth Vader(?)

The first couple of days had no lines at all. We took our time and meandered where ever we pleased.
Small World opened our last day at Disneyland. It was really wonderful going before Thanksgiving because it was all decorated for Christmas, Even in Small World
Chicken salad Duo
Corn Dogs as big as your head.
The river rafting was definitely a fun ride. Josh always got the wettest. We went at least 10 times, many of them right in a row because there was no one even waiting to get on.
Day 2, California Adventures. Family Favorites included Flying over California & River Rafting and Tower of Terror. Dan's favorite was the giant roller coaster in California Adventures. Josh got lucky enough to go with Dad while Mom was so grateful Em was a little too short.
3-D movies. Emily jumped at every move & special effect. I still don't think she realizes the idea behind 3-D glasses. She thought she was being touched every time.

Characters

Sorry about Jasmin, I was really glad that Josh was actually uncomfortable standing next to her. Sheesh, put some cloths on!

All in all our 4 day adventure was a dream. With so much time to enjoy it all we really were able to ride everything as much as we wanted without rushing about. Well Disney, see you in about another 5 years!

Adam's First Birthday

2009-02-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

Adam could possibly be our most expressive kid yet! Here is his reaction his birthday presents:

It's MY Birthday?!

What is in here?

I love bouncy balls.

Wait. . . . there's more.

Nice, but what does it do?

Uh-huh. . . . .

Ohhhhhhhh!

Yea, that is a great trick!

CAKE TIME

Whoa. . . . Elmo! And cake?!

I know just what to do with you. . .

Mmmmmm. Chomp, Chomp, slurp.

Wow, that made my nose itchy! // What. . . do I have something on my face?

It's gone?????

Wait. . . found some!

I LOVE CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oops!

2009-02-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

As much as this makes me sooooo sad, I laughed so much more. Above the washer I have some shelving I use as an extended pantry. While getting something off these high shelves I knocked off a Costco sized box of sandwich baggies. The box fell directly into the washer. Of course at the time, I was rushing off to something very important, so I decided to retrieve the box later. Somehow between that day and wash day, one of the kids had thrown in a pile of towels, which completely covered the box of baggies thus.....this is what I found after my first load of laundry on wash day.

It was so disheartening thinking of all those baggies wasted and all that card board shredded into a million tiny bits. However, I was so surprised to find a washer full of plastic bags & knowing full well it was my own doing, I just had to laugh! Ah well & ha ha. Note to self, always check the washer before you start it.

Monsters of Love

2009-02-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

The kindness level in our house has not been at it’s best lately. Thus the much inspired idea of declaring February as “Love Your Family Month” w/ a family home evening to start it off. Rules are simple. Each day pick a name out of the jar, do a kindness or service for that person, even if it is yourself. Leave a paper heart behind. Today, without picking names yet, Josh & Em rushed around doing chores and kind things for each other. Back and forth they went. It got a little out of control. Hearts were everywhere and they became so busy helping each other that they were not doing their morning responsibilities. Can I be mad though? No way. “I’ve created monsters” but I couldn’t be happier.

Picture Princess

2009-01-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

Shabby Apple wants to know why Emily makes a perfect Picture Princess:

Emily is what all six year old princesses should be. She is a sweetheart to the core with confidence that can not be shaken. She loves and cares for her brothers dearly and is always asking her mother "Is there anything I can do to help?". Emi is always making new friends. She loves dancing, singing, and the glitter and glam of dressing up. Like all great princesses, Emily is not afraid to get dirty. She is as good at art and math as she is at climbing trees and finding bugs. She does it all!

Here is one of our favorite Shabby Apple dresses:

http://www.shabbyapple.com/p-185-canary.aspx
"the little girls and girls dresses from Shabby Apple"

Just put One Foot in Front of the Other

2008-12-31T09:34:00.001-08:00

We are almost there! A few weeks ago Dan had some minor surgery to clean up his "interesting" foot. Doesn't he look great in a cap and gown? Anyway, the procedure went really well. My favorite part was waiting in pre-op with Dan. Some older lady on the other side of the curtain was being prepped as well. We heard the usual nurse to patient dialoge: "Do you have any diabetes problems....Yes. Do you have any side effects from Morphine...yes. Do have any liver problems.....not yet." NOT YET?! Are you kidding me? That's a lot of optomism for you. We tried so hard to snicker as quietly as possible.

Next week is Dan's final appointment and we are hoping for the OKAY to ditch the crutches so he can finally start walking. I hope that is what the doctor has in mind because Dan might just do it anyway. He's been such a great patient. Never complaining, always trying to do things for himself. What a guy!

Silent Night?

2008-12-30T18:41:00.001-08:00

LeBaron Nativity

Everyone gets the gist of acting out The Nativity. You read from Luke, sing Christmas Hymns, kids are dressed up... But I think there is just something special added when The Nativity is done with 4 generations of family. Sure its is crazy. There are only, what, 60 or 70 people in one room! Quiet and reverence are purely relative. And really it is okay if the sheep rip off their ears and eat them. I'm sure no one minded when Mary tried to leave a little early and there might have been 4 wisemen. No biggy! We did it together.

By the way, never tell Grandma you are not going to participate. You might get a look like this:

Poor Grandma. Dan likes to tease her so, but it is all out of love! Please know that this is not Grandma's usual happy face which is always accompanied with a hug and kiss. We are so glad to have her reminding us to bundle up and always stick together.

Christmas Cookies

2008-12-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

We planned to invite a few friends to come help us, but due to sniffles we didn't get around to making them until just before Christmas. LeBaron family tradition dictates mandatory sugar cookie making at all major holidays, especially Christmas! I remember when I was a kid at Christmas time, we would each get our own ball of dough to eat raw or make into as many cookies as we wanted. The tradition continues! Adam participated mostly by gnawing on his rolling pin and eating a cookie.

Santa Clause

2008-12-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Santa Clause with the Palmer Family

Every year since I was a year old we got together with the Melvin and Wanda West Palmer family to meet Santa. Every year our same Santa comes with a treat and a few tricks and a good message. Here is "our" Santa with the next generation of kids. Emily whispered a question to Santa about how he gets into houses that don't have chimneys. She now knows he has a Master Key!

Of course there was dinner and treats too. It looks like Emily and Lilly had an extra yummy dessert.

Christmas!

2008-12-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2008
Better late than never right?

Christmas Eve & New Jammies

Christmas morning the kids woke up at 5:30am, a bit before the scheduled time. So they closed their door and played quietly while Dan & I got ready. As you can see we always start with stockings. Adam didn't really get the concept of them, but seemed less confused when he found a new car inside. Josh really enjoyed getting his camera & soccer ball. Emi can't decide witch is her favorite gift was her guitar or the play hair set. Adam, well, Adam was just thrilled every time he opened another gift. He giggled his low fake giggle every time he opened something. I can't tell if he actually liked the gifts inside or the permission rip paper to shreds.

More Firsts

2008-12-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

First cup of Moo-Juice.

First try at eggs. Adam loved the scrambled eggs! I think he couldn't believe we would keep such a tasty treat from him.

First steps. Adam has been toying with walking for about a month now. Here is Adam and his cousin Ryan taking turns giving each other rides. He is now walking 70% of the time and is pretty darn good.

At 11 months Adam can say "tane" (thanks) when you give him something. He has learned the concept of In and Out. The word "no" sounds more like nun nun nun. Adam has learned to follow simple orders though often smiles and takes off in the opposite direction. He loves open doors and has an especially keen eye for an open bathroom. He loves sitting with the kids and "playing" video games. Adam can also nod "Yes." Notice his eyebrows follow the direction of his head in the video below.

This Christmas Adam had his:

First Candy Cane. At first he made a sour face. Perhaps that was because the candy cane was probably a year old. Once he got sucking on it he just couldn't get enough

First ornament. It was a little snowman bell. He loved to jingle it.

First Christmas Tree. He left it pretty much alone! He has also inspired the 2/3 decorating style where we only decorate the top 2/3 of the tree in hopes he wouldn't rip any off.

Emily's Sixth Birthday

2008-12-29T09:24:00.001-08:00

The Party

Emi trying out a new present/decorating cupcakes

The party goers/learning to use fairy wands and pirate daggers

The theme of the party was Tinkerbell & Neverland. It was simple, but fun. They played pixie tag, "tinkered" around and made their own wands, decorated cupcakes, and played games. Josh his friend Chase & our cousin Blake decorated pirate daggers for the boy version of the party. Over all it was a big success and all done just before Christmas! Whew

Catching Up

2008-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Josh- "Mom, look at how big the Tropical Guide is in my scriptures!"

I love this kid. He is so amazing. He really has felt more grown up these last few months. He even asked if he was old enough to drink from a Glass cup at dinner time and not the plastic clear cups we usually have. He also wanted so much to have scripture marking pencils. So just before he turned eight we had him choose one colored pencil and gave him the topic of Baptism. Just before and a little after he was baptized he read every scripture in the Topical Guide about baptism and then marked it. He's now on to a new topic. I love that he loves this.

Sick but Gorgeous

2008-11-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

Em has been home sick the past couple of days so she's been catching up on some movie time and sporting PJs all day. Today she was sporting a look I wish I had captured on film. Picture Emi in an over-sized T-shirt, morning messy hair and..... a sparkling pink diamond necklace and diamond clip-on earings. She looked gorgeous too! She loved it and wore it all day even during quiet time. What a crazy girl. This isn't a picture of her unique look, but I bet you can imagine.

Christmas Dresses

2008-11-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

I have a dozen of my Christmas dresses and skirts in several styles still available. To see what items & sizes I still have in stock go to emidresses.com .

Missed Me?

2008-11-22T18:26:00.001-08:00

Have you missed me? Just know, I've missed all of you and reading the latest that is going on in your families. Tons has happened. The Primary Program is done, whew. Disneyland!!!! And I was in my first boutique and actually turned a profit. Whoopy! Needless to say. I have some dresses/skirts left, but am pleased to have had the experience. Many blogs soon to follow.

More Dresses

2008-11-14T21:47:00.000-08:00

My sewing has finally come to an end, at least for the boutique. Thanks to my reliable side-kicks "super serger" & "dependable Kenmore" I've completed all that I could. I've labeled and tagged all my cloths. I organized a portfolio so customers could see samples of my work. I have business cards & even put together an entire cloths rack to display everything on. I think I'm ready even though the boutique is not for another week still. I'm ready. (I think) There are not as many items as I'd like to have had, but 25 items was all I could manage. Whew! Have I said that I am excited and terrified all at the same time? Either way, I still love sewing which is a big relief to me. I worried that the "job" of it might take away the fun, but it didn't! I learned that I had to keep it much more simple when sewing in "bulk". Simplicity also taught me how to be truer to the beauty of the fabric & emphasize it's best qualities. I've learned how the littlest accent, where appropriate, can really change the an entire look. I also learned how to make my own customized tags! That was so fun especially since I had to use a new computer program on my own and didn't ask Dan do figure it out for me.

For more information on my boutique visit http://www.shopchicboutiqueaz.blogspot.com/ or visit my blog at http://www.emidresses.com/

The Art of Anticipation

2008-11-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

Instant gratification is such common place in today's life. I have to admit I am a bit guilty myself. The internet & cable allow me access to information and entertainment almost instantly. I can reach anyone no matter their location via cell phone. With all of these conveniences, I do worry about the world my children grow up in. Do my kids get everything and instantly?
So without being too depriving, we as a family, have tried to practice the art of anticipation. The kids have been dying to go to Disneyland for just forever. We could have gone a year and a half ago, but for various reasons decided to wait. We shared with the kids our goal of when we did want to go and let them know we would save our money all year for our planned trip.

Publish Post

Somehow all the waiting and saving makes the trip more exciting, more valued, more anticipated. And now that we've waited and saved we can afford to do so many more fun things and have more perks now than if we would have gone initially.

Simple Life

2008-11-14T21:00:00.001-08:00

The few years ago we began to simplify things in our family. One of the things we decided to make simple was Christmas. It is so easy for us to want to buy our kids a bunch of cool things. Naturally. However, with so much family near us & the realization that "really how much stuff do we really need?!"....we decided to keep Christmas presents pretty simple. Please note that our unwrapping time is not understated. We wrap everything. Even the fun little trinkets and treats in the stocking. Then we open one gift at a time so everyone can share in each others excitement. Granted our kids are not teenagers with super expensive expectations, but it is a tradition I am glad we have had.

This week on the news various news anchors and child psychology experts were discussing how parents could explain to children that Christmas & gift giving would be less extravagant . "Santa" simply could not afford the the usual expectations. I smiled and giggled to myself, knowing that our gift lists would not change a bit with the changes in the economy. Our Christmas would be the same as ever. Simple and Sweet!

Teenage Years

2008-11-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Are we there yet? Sometimes it feels like we are nearer to those teenage years with Emily than I would like. Tuesday night Emily got her first phone call from a boy in her school class. (Reality check, she is in kindergarten!) They giggled and laughed. She even tried to leave with the phone and go down to her room to have her "conversation." (Big No-No) The call only lasted a few minutes since most of it was giggles and confusion. Though the situation was kind of funny, I found out that our Emily had given her phone number to a boy, so of course he wanted to call her. I laughed with the mom at the humor of the moment, but let her kindly know that Emily's phone privileges were very limited. (ie, no phone calls from boys).

Our dearest Em already loves primping, jewelry, make-up & accessories far more than an almost 6 year old should. We've tried to curb this desire that a little with out crushing her independence and creativity. If it feels like this now, I can't imagine what it will be like in another few years! Take good notes all you friends with older kids. I'll be needing you, but hopefully not too soon.

A Performer in the Making

2008-11-10T18:56:00.000-08:00

Today Emily sang with all the kindergartners at the Veteran's Day Assembly. She has been practicing her words and sign language for weeks. They all did really well. I loved their enthusiasm and patriotism as they sang about this wonderful country we live in. I was especially impressed by one little girl's smile. That's my Girl!

After the program I told Emily how much I loved her smile. She said she was so happy to have me there and explained how proud and excited she was to sing in front of the whole school. We've known for a few years now that Emily is not afraid to be in front of a crowd, but today I think she felt the thrill of performing! I guess she is her mother's daughter more than ever. Can you believe Emily's first 3 years of life, she was incredibly shy?

Boutique Preview

2008-11-09T10:37:00.001-08:00

Shop Chic Boutique AZ
November 22, 2008
9am-4pm

All Skirts are $12.00-$15.00!

Previews other items and location can be found at:
http://www.shopchicboutiqueaz.blogspot.com/

Pretty Things

2008-11-04T20:08:00.001-08:00

Here is a dress I just finished for my niece. Erin & I fell in love with this rustic, peach embroidered fabric. It is accented with forest green trim and sash and peak-a-boo tool at the hem.

A Miracle

2008-11-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

Today I witnessed a miracle. I took a picture so I could always remember it:

Josh is amazing at doing his chores around the house. He is very accountable. He always finishes his job completely and quickly and many times even does a little extra work! Josh always has tons of extra time in the mornings to play and is the first to earn his privileges. There has been one job that he always does, but has been really....lacking and that is making his bed. All and all I really can't complain, but today the stars must have aligned, because this is what I found. A beautifully made bed! The blankets were flat and smooth. The pillows in the right spot. And, just like the cherry on a sunday, the stuffed animals in the corner. What a great kid!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

This year was fun. My parents and brother, Derek, spent Halloween at our house. We started, as we always do, with an enormous pot of chili. Then the kids got their costumes on. Emily was a mermaid and Josh was a Leopard Lizard (just like his Webkinz you can see strapped to Josh's hat). Adam was Winnie the Poo. Total cost to make the costumes $12! Emily's was the most fun to make with the curvy tail that attached to her wrist. Josh's costume was great because we can take the spots and tail off and he has 2 new items of cloths. Thank you Walmart clearance!

Adam & I stayed behind to pass out candy. Adam loved sitting in a pile of his own candy, chewing on wrappers and crawling after trick-or-treators. I hope you appreciate how good and dirty that kids got! I don't think he has ever been that gross.

Candy Count:
6pm Candy to hand out= 6 lbs + 2 empty buckets

8pm Candy remaining= 1.5 lbs
+Candy Josh collected= 4.0 lbs
+Candy Emi collected= 3.5 lbs

Total Candy at the end of Halloween= 9 POUNDS!!!!!!!
What do you do with that much candy?

Boutique!

2008-10-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

It is almost here. The Shop Chic Boutique. Catch a glimpse of what is to come including my affordable Christmas dresses and skirts:

http://www.shopchicboutiqueaz.blogspot.com/

Field Trip

2008-10-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Grace, Emily & Jessie/ Cute "sheep" Emily

Today was Emily's first field trip in Kindergarten. They visited Mother Nature's farm and had such a good time. She road a hay ride, picked a pumpkin, fed piggies, played a ton and got good and dirty.

Decorating Pumpkins

We all got dirty! Adam helped me chaperon the event as he was strapped to my chest. He loved watching all the craziness that comes with a million 5 year olds let loose. They certainly had fun.

After the first 5 minutes Adam finally resolved himself to wearing a hat.

Sunday night at Home

2008-10-29T20:46:00.001-07:00

Usually Sunday nights are filled with cousins and grandparents, but we had a rare Sunday at home. We cooked Dan's favorite, pot roast with roasted potatoes and carrots. Then Dan lit some charcoal and we all enjoyed Smores. Even Adam enjoyed his chocolate & marshmallow free version in between the occasional rock. Good thinking Dad. That was yummy!

I'm Old?

2008-10-29T18:02:00.001-07:00

I didn't realize I was old! I never thought of my self that way. I know I'm not as young as the college kids. I feel a little more wise now, like I've got more under my belt, but I'm definitely not old. After a long day doing Jury Duty, a security guard called me "young lady." At first I thought I heard him wrong, but as dismissed me called me "young lady" again. It was then that I realized just how long it had been since someone had called me that. It made me feel old and yet with all my years, I still looked like a young lady. I'll take that! Good looks and a little wiser. Yep. What a great way to end a long day.

Kids and Politics

2008-10-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have to confess that there are a lot of. . . more serious and political topics that have not entered our home as yet. This is due partially to the young ages of our kids now 8yrs, almost 6 and 9 months. Recent political events have really opened the doors to a lot of questions. They've heard a lot of unfamiliar things on TV and a LOAD of stuff at school. This week I've heard questions like, "Why does a coyote kidnap people?", "How many times did Obama vote in the government?", "Why do we have a sign that says Vote Yes on 201?". Words like "spread the wealth around" and others have poured out of my kids mouths while mine hung open knowing they heard all these things from other people. I had no idea kids talked so much about political things at school! So we delved in head first. Though their naivety is sweet they take to heart anything that adults, teachers or people of importance say.

So we had a huge talk or rather a bunch of little ones. First we talked about same sex marriage. Josh had never heard of any one being attracted to the same gender. Emily on the other hand, who I might remind you is in KINDERGARTEN, had heard of it. We talked about what it meant to "spread the wealth around." We even talked about socialized health care. This one really effects us. We have always paid oodles in health care. As nice as government provided insurance sounds for the average person, it actually makes it very difficult for people with extra medical needs to get the care they need. Specialized and extensive health care for kids like Josh, who requires a whole team of Cystic Fibrosis specialist, becomes not just more expensive, but extremely difficult to attain.

All in all it was a really wonderful experience. We taught them that they should always look at both sides of an issue. The next step is comparing the issues with what the Lord has said and then make their own decision. We also reminded them that not everyone is going to feel the same way about issues, but we should love everyone. Even people we love, teachers & adults may not feel the same, but we can always know for ourselves what is right through our Heavenly Father. He will help us to know truth.

In the end, Josh was really motivated to have his voice heard and vote online. I love to see his own motivation and patriotism!

Pet deprived

2008-10-23T22:09:00.001-07:00

Our kids are apparently pet deprived. I know it's sad. We've had a few fish, a bunny on loan (another story completely), and lately a kitty. One morning a couple of months ago, a little cat stumbled into our yard. He seemed very tame, but lost. We gave it some water and some tuna. The kids were so hopeful to keep this cat for their own. I was even beginning to soften up, despite my allergy to felines. That cat was pretty darn cute! The deal was, if the cat was still in the yard when the children returned from school, we'd consider keeping it. To their utter disappointment, he was gone. Our "Kitty" does return often to visit though. They love to play with it and hold it. Here is Emily, trying to put a leash on the cat. The leash belongs to her toy dog and apparently no one ever told her cats don't do leashes. She was pretty persistent and patient though. You can see the gleam of success on her face when her goal was finally accomplished.

Baby Brawl

2008-10-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

At the pack meeting I noticed that we were sitting right next to the Jensen and Wood families. Both have baby boys that were born just before Adam. After the first half of the scout meeting the babies were antsy and wanted down to explore a little on the ground. Adam immediately loved finding these new friends. Kids this age aren't exactly gentle with others and they are still a little awkward (sorry again to the Horne's baby who had his hair pulled and head slammed into the church pew by Adam. Really it was all done in great love!) Anyway. We always wondered what Adam and the other boys would do if left to themselves. My money was definitely on our big guy Adam!

The greet / The tackle

The Bonk / The Recovery

I guess we learned that Adam is more a lover than a fighter. Kneeling on his knees didn't help Ad's balance much when he was "attacked" by Caleb. Though Caleb had all the moves, Adam did perfect the art of retreat and sped away with a super crawl. Yep, he left that kid in the dust! Little Aiden Wood (in the brown) played the role of innocent bystander. I supposed we should have been more on top of the issue, but we were too busy hysterically laughing. Please note, no babies were actually hurt in the recording of this incident.

Cub Scouts

2008-10-22T20:08:00.001-07:00

Yep, we areThere. Josh is a cub scout. He went to one scout meeting a couple of weeks ago only to completely fall in love with scouting. He has since worked really hard so he could receive his Bobcat award at his first Pack Meeting last Tuesday.

Here are pictures of the ceremony. I got to paint his face to symbolize cub scouting and the Wolf program. He wanted so desperately to keep his face painted for school the next day, but I nixed that one.

Momma!

2008-10-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am finally Momma! (Don't get any weird ideas now) Adam has said sounds like mum and momma a few random times, but never in reference to me. One afternoon, I was apparently not paying sufficient attention to Adam's gurgles and squeals, because he looked straight at me and yelled "Momma!" He actually meant Me too. He proceeded to spit and mumble something very important to me and then was content to continue and play.

Slow-Mo

2008-10-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

I now know my kids have been far too influenced by digital cable. You know, where you can rewind, pause and place in slow motion any live TV action.

On our long drive to Tucson last Saturday, the kids were so good keeping themselves busy and had progressed to the Rock-Paper-Scissors game. I guess something "so cool" happened. Some really crazy move, but instead of describing the moment, Josh told Em "Let's do a slow-mo so mom can see how cool that move was!" Then they proceeded to show me, in slow motion, how their funny move. I barely saw "the move" because I was laughing so hard.

I must confess that I find my self wishing that digital cable abilities applied in other parts of my life too, like the radio. I can't count how many times I've only half-heard something and reached up to rewind the program only to be disappointed at such a primitive feature as a car radio.

109

2008-10-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

"Mom, do you want to know how I finally fell asleep in the car? I counted 109 sheep!" said Emily.

I guess our trip home from Tucson was a little long. I've tried counting sheep before. I don't think it has ever really worked. And I never really thought I'd ever remember what number I ended on before drifting off to sleep. I guess I was never patient enough to get to 109

New Talents

2008-10-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

Adam can wave hello and goodbye. He also says a sweet Haaaaaaay for "Hi" which is most often accompanied by a wave. He has said the word mum, but has yet to refer it to me though he often has entire conversations with his pal Da, da, da, da daD! If he is hungry and you ask him if he wants a Ba ba (bottle) he gives a little giggle and a smile. He can drink from a straw. Best of all, Adam loves the telephone. Anytime anyone is on it, he is completely enthralled. He giggles and paws at who ever has the phone dying to have his turn. And when he gets his turn to listen to grandma or daddy, he gives a breathy giggle all the while. He still is confused why he can't turn and see the face of whom ever is on the phone, but this does not discourage him. Here are a few more of his latest tricks

I can . . .

. . . Blink!

I can . . .

. . . Slurp!

Josh's Baptism

2008-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day. The weather was wonderful, the day was peaceful, family everywhere...I could go on forever. There was so much anticipation in the air. Dad and Josh started the day by practicing again the correct stance for getting baptized. Josh was so cute in his little suit with his new scriptures in hand. We were so grateful to the family and dear friends who attended this special occasion we shared with the Herron family.

The program was beautiful with such a sweet spirit. Josh said the water was nice and warm, but was instantly freezing when he was done. Josh and Emily sang "I am a Child of God" with Alexis Herron and her sisters. Dan did such a great job with the baptism and confirmation. I felt so blessed to have a sweet husband who Dan holds and honors his priesthood. What a perfect picture to see Josh surrounded with dad, grandpas and uncles all there to assist in this special ordinance.

G & G Palmer / Grandpa Hilton & Uncle Mike
When the baptism was complete we gathered in the lobby to give hugs and offer congratulations to Josh. He received a few kind gifts which, for Josh, was icing on the cake. I wondered if all these fun gifts would distract Josh from remembering the specialness of the ordinances he just made with the Lord. Later that day, as Josh was surrounded with his new discovered treasures, he proclaimed, "Mom this is the best day ever!" I was sure he was going to follow with- 'Look at all these cool things', but no, he simply said, "I am so glad I am baptized mom." All I could do was hug him. He did understand. He was genuinely happy and knew he had made a good decision in being baptized.

Great G & G LeBaron/ Great G & G Palmer

Josh with his maternal Grandpas

That night we went to one of Josh's favorite restaurants, where he ordered his favorite dish, pizza and corn on the cob. As if his day couldn't get any better, the corn on the cob loosened his wiggly tooth just enough so that when we got home, it came right out at the first little tug. For an eight year old it was Cherry on Top!

Super Spy Party

2008-10-13T10:15:00.001-07:00

I just can't bring myself to spend a load on parties. I admit it. So for $20 and a good amount of my time we planned Josh's Super Spy Party. It really was fun. The boys each got their own Secret Agent name, ID card and disguise. They went through Spy Training camp where they learned how to defuse a bomb, reveal secret messages, decode words, avoid laser surveillance, and defend themselves from enemy spies all while wearing black fedoras and sunglasses. Here are a few moments:

Beginning their mission

Laser Avoidance Training

Team Work

Retrieving Top Secret Information

Decoding messages

Flying to a "foreign" country to rendezvous with Agent Kaylani Power

I missed pictures of them using water guns to disarm the Enemy Spy (me) after which they promptly disarmed the bomb. At the end of "Week-O-Josh" he was pretty caked-out so we opted for making Monster cookies instead of the traditional cake for the party. The cookies were hidden inside the Top Secret Safe. Luckily the boys defused the bomb next to the safe and thus rescued their dessert. Missionaccomplished!

Addicted to hair

2008-10-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

It is all Heather's fault! She found all those blogs and sent them my way. Now I'm totally addicted to hair blogs. Thankfully Emily is patient and willing to help choose a fun new do. Above is Saturday's effort.

Josh is Eight!

2008-10-12T20:24:00.001-07:00

It has been a whirl wind Week-O-Josh! It all started with his actual birthday on Conference Sunday. He was so thrilled that he woke up at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep. Luckily he was sweet enough to let us all sleep until 6:30. (What a kid!) The video below is of Josh visiting Grandma & Grandpa Hilton's home that afternoon. Their family tradition includes singing the birthday song as horribly as possible and therefore making it better. Inevitably there is always some baby that ends up crying at the end. This year, my niece Montana, won the award.

I wish so badly that I had a video of later that day when we visited my parents house. What I wouldn't give for a video of them singing the birthday song with harmonies and everything. It is quite the hilarious contrast in families, but we couldn't live without either.

We are so blessed to have such a super kid. Josh is very athletic, is an amazing reader, incredibly loving and thoughtful. Need I say more? He has endured so many crazy things and all without complaint. Josh makes everything fun and exciting. It is wonderful to plan anything for him, even a meal, because he is always so thrilled with even the little things. Eight years ago he came into our lives and made us parents. For that we will be forever grateful. We love you Josh. You are the best.

Be my Eyes

2008-10-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay friends, I need your help. I desperately want to buy a dress form woman's small, child or youth size. I'd love to display my dresses on them. I'm hoping to spend less than $50. Hopefully a lot less, but I'm desperate. If any one finds one, please give me a Jingle!

Conference moments

2008-10-05T20:36:00.001-07:00

Some of our favorite Conference Moments:

Emily: Sunday Afternoon, Elder Oswald? "The Jump rope talk" & Elder Keith McMullin's talk. (maybe this is my favorite, but she took lots of notes and in her notes she wrote "Crij" or her version of courage.

Josh: Sunday morning, Elder Hales "I like how he whistles when he talks mom." (plus today was my best BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!)

Adam: Stealing crayons from the big kids & eating them. Tearing papers and waving my hands around like a crazy every time the choir sang."

Dan: Priesthood Session, President Uchtdorf

Jen: Saturday Afternoon, Primary Choir & Elder Wirthlin's "Come what may and love it!"
Saturday AM, Elder Oaks' "How to have the Spirit"
Loving that my kids watched 90% of conference Saturday & Sunday because they wanted to

Overall, there were so many talks about triumphing in challenges and letting faith overcome fear. I think the bottom line is: Stuff happens, but lets Be Happier!

My Favorite Book

2008-10-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

As a child, one of my favorite books was "Little Black Sambo." I know. It is completely shrouded in controversy I will never understand. To me it was a story about courage, jealousy, triumph and Tiger Pancakes! Does it really get better than that? I loved the exotic colors and styles. I just had to find a copy of my own, but it couldn't be any old copy. I needed a book exaclty like the one I grew up reading. After years of searching for apparently the most rare edition of this story with illustrations by Bonnie & Bill Rutherford, I finally bought my own copy! It doesn't have a cover (sad, I know), but at least it didn't cost $50+ dollars. This afternoon I read it to my kids, who loved all the same things I loved. Tigers melting into butter, bold colors, exotic places, & tiger pancakes

Career Day

2008-10-02T17:12:00.001-07:00

Just as a disclaimer- I was really stinky at spirit days last year even though my kids live for them, so I'm really trying this year. Dollars spent= none, just broken toys and a printer. Em is a Vetranarian or a Doctor, depending on the moment. Josh, a Lego Inventor/Creator of course!

Interview

2008-10-02T14:05:00.001-07:00

I know, I should have gotten a picture, but I didn't. Last night Josh got all dressed up in his little suit with his scriptures and baptism book in hand. Dan took him to the church so Josh could meet with the bishop for his baptismal interview. I just about cried he looked so sweet. I can't believe he is this big and so excited to be baptized. This is such a great time for him and the family. I can't wait until next week!
(October 11th at 12pm if you're curious)

Engrained

2008-09-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I went the Women's Broadcast with my mom and sisters. It was so nice to get away from all the crazies of life, feel the spirit, and listen to so many inspirational talks. I felt so inspired and will share more on that later. In between my note taking I heard the noises of all the babies in that chapel. The first sound was a giggle just like Adam's. Funny it sounded just like his laugh. Another baby gurgled, I could have sworn it was my spitty man! Others fussed and coo-ed randomly. Each one reminded me of him. I guess that boy has made his mark on me. He is definitley engrained in my heart.

Music to my Ears?

2008-09-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Primary Program is just around the corner so primary songs are spilling out of our house lately. I'm singing them, the kids sing them, day and night. It's even inspired me to practice a little piano. Now don't get any crazy ideas, my skills are so basic that I'm thrilled when I master a song from the simplified Hymn book. Anyway, as I reached the song "Called to Serve" I reminded Emi that she knew this song from primary. She mumbled over the first verse (nice), but really chimed in on the chorus. It took me only a moment to realize how NOT good of a job I've been doing as music teacher. This is Emi's version of the chorus:

"Awkward, ever Awkward, as we glory in His name..."

Ugh, I need more Sundays to practice.

Pet Peeves

2008-09-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I know that having kids equates lots of crazy weird stuff. Messes, spills, boo-boos, quarrels...you get the picture. There is one thing I can not stand. That is when people use one hundred million cups all in ONE DAY. I only have 2 kids that can drink from a cup. Granted there are a couple of jars in that dishwasher, but seriously!

I Confess

2008-09-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

Mrs. H's blog made me think about the "good old days." There is one thing I've taken from these June Cleaver days, that is wearing an apron! I confess it. When I know I am having an entire day of cooking or cleaning, I wear an apron. Don't worry, I have 2 aprons. One for cooking, one for cleaning. I know it's weird. Maybe I'm just messy or maybe I'm reliving a little of the good old days.

Amazing Josh

2008-09-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

As long as Josh has been Josh, he has been Amazing. Amazingly cute, amazingly smart, amazingly hungry, amazingly energetic. Amazing! A boy definitely made like his Father. He counts anything, notices everything and loves to understand each little thing.

He knows every book in the Magic Treehouse collection. Not an easy feat considering there are almost 40 books and he has read at least half of them. He knows each title and it's number in the series. Here are some Josh moments:

"Mom did you know that there is 12 seconds between each drum beat on this song?"

"Mom, did you know that (insert any one of a hundred specific Pokemon characters) has this amazing power that can defeat (another character), but not before......." How can he retain this info?

"Mom did you know that all the hymns at church today had 4 verses and the number 2 in their page numbers?"

"Mom, I love you."

"Mom, I don't like this dinner, I love it!"

He's become so much more aware of his surroundings. He's the first one to apologize when he realizes he has done something wrong. He always knows how to cheer up his sister and is so thoughtful of others. Prime example: A few weeks ago a little girl in his class stole his morning snack. Luckily he had packed a spare snack. After school he told me of his mishap which concerned me greatly. We wondered if this girl did not have snacks of her own or if she had not had a good breakfast. The next day we packed snacks again. When snack time came around, Josh did not wait to see if the little girl had a snack or not, he just offered her one of his, and then went off to the nurse's station to take his meds so he could eat his snack. What a kid. I love you Josh!

Favorite Words, Part 2

2008-09-18T22:00:00.003-07:00

These are two of my favorite words. I am so grateful that our family uses these words so quickly and so often. The first is obvious, but the second, I am especially grateful for.

I love you & I'm sorry

Favorite words

2008-09-18T22:00:00.002-07:00

Most of the time I think of Josh & Em as such big kids. I love that they still say these words:

fravrite (favorite)
N 'n' M's (M&M's)

Future Day

2008-09-17T22:32:00.002-07:00

Last Friday was Future Day at school. What in the world do you do for future day?

Break out the tin foil and pipe cleaners!
Emily decided, that in the future, we would all have antenna. So we put on a head band with fake hair attached and wove it into her braids.
Josh decided that in the future, there would be less gravity and you'd have to wear metal to hold you down. The curly cues off his glasses helped him hear messages, like a phone.
It's all rather corny, I know, but they had a blast.

First Oreo

2008-09-17T22:32:00.001-07:00

Hmmmm, Oreo from Head to toe!

Finished!

2008-09-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

After an entire day of steaming pots, mason jars and 50 lbs of fruit this is what I have to show for it:

40 jars of Peaches and Tomatoes! I think I'm getting the hang of this. I've got my system down now that I don't even destroy the kitchen in the process.

Help!

2008-09-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

Has anyone canned tomatoes before? I'm delving into it tomorrow. If anyone has had experience, I'd love to pick your brain. I've canned peaches, but I hear tomatoes are different.

Happy Birthday, Jen!

2008-09-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

It's Dan and I approve this message (I also wrote it)...

Today, September 15, is a great day. It's the day Jennifer was born. 12 years ago I wouldn't have been able to tell you what a great day in the world's history this was. But since then I've learned. Presidents, writers, baseball players, musicians, and actors all share the same birthday but none of them made today as special as when Jen came into the world 32 years ago.

If Jen wouldn't have been born, this world would be a much sadder place. I know I would have been a lot less happy! Without trying to be too sappy, Jennifer is the sunshine in my life. I wake up every day and am excited to get out of bed because I know that she is there with me and I get to see her beautiful face. Even on days I am not at home or she is visiting family and we aren't together, I still wake up knowing that she is somewhere in the world. I've stolen enough secret glances to know her beauty just by closing my eyes. And that makes my day.

If Jennifer weren't here, the world would have been graced with three less beautiful children. For the most part, Joshua, Emily and Adam are really good kids. And that is because of Jennifer. If they ever do anything wrong, you can blame me for that.

Jennifer has a lot of talents. Some that are very noticeable. Some that maybe aren't so much.

Most people know she is an expert dress maker and loves to sew. If someone needs a little fix on an outfit, Jen is the one they come to if they can't do it themselves. She can fix just about anything with a few stitches and a little time. She has a beautiful voice. Before we got married, I promised her brother Derek that I would continue to encourage Jen to sing after we got married. I probably need to do a better job of that (sorry, Derek). But if you've ever heard her, you know she sings beautifully. I love when she sings around the house. She is a great chef. She is always figuring out new ways to make old foods so they are both more interesting and healthier. She can slip vegetables into foods so the kids (and I) don't even know they're there. Now that takes talent!

But the less-noticeable talents are the ones I love the most about Jen. She cares about everyone. If she notices that someone needs help, she is the first to be there. If someone isn't feeling well, she'll make them some food (see above for why this is such a good thing) and bring it over. She's also really "in tune" with people around her. She just knows when someone feeling well or needs a loving hug or just someone to talk to. If I notice someone may need something, I'll throw out the usual "Let me know what I can do." Jen doesn't wait for someone to let her know. She just does it.

I don't think I am overstating anything when I say that Jen is probably the best person I know. I am lucky to have found her and to have somehow convinced her to marry me. She is my entire life and without her, I would be lost. And for selfish reasons, that's why I celebrate this day. Because without Jen, what kind of world would this be?

Old Memories

2008-09-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

Last week Emily got a fun package from Utah. It contained keep sakes from Great Grandma Hilton who died recently. I know I meant to write about this forever ago, but oh well. With Great Grandpa having worked in the jewelry business for years, grandma had collected quite a lot of jewelry. So much so, that after dividing it out between all the generations of girls in the family, there was enough for the great granddaughters too. This is what Emily received: A pretty, little handkerchief, a pearl necklace, diamond clip-on earrings and a pink gem necklace. The first two were put away for keep sakes, but the sparkly stuff is all for play. Those accessories have been off and on a million times ever since.

Though we were sad to lose our Grandma, the funeral and trip were so nice. Grandma was so vivacious and strong. She told you things like it was and was so generous to everyone. She loved to hold all the new babies and gave the best advice. She remembered every birthday and no one will ever forget her formal Thanksgiving dinners to feed even the largest group. Grandma was the biggest UT Jazz fan too. In fact, she and Dan had a rather intense rivalry between the two of them. When ever we visited their home, grandma pulled out extra Jazz paraphernalia to display and Dan wore SUNS shirts everyday we were there. After a SUNS vs Jazz game, it was a rule of thumb that who ever won, would call the other and gloat. She and grandpa were such big Jazz fans that the table at her viewing displayed Jazz items because it just wouldn't be a table about grandma without it.

All and all the weather was beautiful. The kids were angels even with days of drive without a single electronic device. It was nice to see all the cousins and family. I especially loved the experience my children had of life coming full circle. It was a wonderful teaching experience for them to see just how different our bodies look with out our spirits. To remind them that we will see our Grandma again. That families ARE forever.

First Sandwich

2008-09-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

It wasn't too fancy, just butter and stawberry jelly, but it was Adam's first sandwich. He only gave it a quick look and proceeded to gum it to death. He loved it and didn't make too big of a mess. After a lot of lip smacking, finger squishing and tongue clicking all "visible" pieces were consumed. Hmmm....anyone else hungry?

Palmer Family Reunion

2008-09-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick look at our Palmer Family Reunion:

Though we only spent the day at the Christopher Creek Cabin, we had a ton of fun. It was just like when I was little. The kids played in the creek, caught crawdads and built forts while the grown-ups chatted. Then all 4 generations played games and did relay races.

Here are the Dennis Palmer family kids set and rarin' to win the race.

The kids could also earn "Love bucks" by helping to clean up the cabin, giving hugs, & participating in games. Then they turned in their "bucks" for super fun prizes and treats. Here is Emily, Brooklyn and Lily sporting their great buys.

Grandma Palmer was really reminiscing about the old days when my generation was little. Here is a picture just for her! It is of the three oldest girls. Nikki, Jeanna & Me. Every year (way back when) we would practice a song and dance routine to perform at the reunion's family talent show. We called ourselves "The Electrons." (I know, sounds impressive!) We wore our leotards and leg warmers with glittery shirts on top that sported a lightning bolt on the front. Our Aunt LaDawn would do our hair and makeup and make sure to include our signature lighting bolts on our cheeks. Grandma was definitely right. Those were the days! So we indulged grandma with an updated, far less glamorous, version.

She also was thought it was sweet that we all had babies this last year and wanted a picture to remember that as well.

Whew, what a whirlwind. Until next year!

Playing Dentist

2008-09-03T19:06:00.001-07:00

Today, both Em & Josh came home with teeth practically dangling from their mouths. After dinner we got out the string and got to work.

Before
Josh's Top Left Tooth/ Emliy's Bottom Left Tooth

After

Josh's tooth practically jumped out of his mouth. One unsuccessful tug by me and Em proclaimed she would pull out yet another of her own teeth. This is what happened:

After a few tears, I gave the tooth one more good tug and it too was out. I hope the tooth fairy can keep up with all this business, especially since amid all the action we realized they each had another wobbly chopper. I need more quarters!

Voting

2008-09-02T20:35:00.001-07:00

Growing up I learned to be very patriotic. To love my country and be proud of it. I have voted in nearly every election of any kind since I was 18 years old. Today was no different. It took me literally 10 minutes to leave my house, vote, and get back home again. When I voted at 1:30pm I was only the 14th person to vote that entire day. When Dan voted at nearly closing time, he was voter number 25. Only twenty-five people in our entire area voted?! Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe that so few people cared. How are we supposed to make any difference or retain any integrity in a society that is already lacking so much? To say the least, I'm a little peeved.

First Tooth

2008-08-31T19:21:00.001-07:00

Saturday, Adam broke his first tooth. Though it is difficult to see between his plush bottom lip and tongue he is sporting a little sliver of his bottom, front right tooth.

Baby Powder

2008-08-31T16:14:00.001-07:00

This morning Emily and I were in the Master Bathroom primping for church when Dan walked through the room. He had just put on his Sunday shoes and walked a few steps only to notice his shoes were squeaky. He reached for the baby powder on the counter to sprinkle a little in his shoes and said, "Boy I sure need to use some baby powder." Emily ran out of the room laughing and went to tell Josh "Dad is using Baby powder." (giggle, giggle) We were so perplexed at why using baby powder was so funny until I remembered that the only thing they've seen baby powder being used for is little baby bums! I wish I knew what kind of picture Em was visualizing of Dan and baby powder.

PS

2008-08-28T21:40:00.001-07:00

Rain, Rain, Rain, & Yes! More Rain.

New Me

2008-08-28T13:09:00.001-07:00

No new hair style or outfit that looks amazing, but I feel like a million bucks! Why? I feel like me. My best me. Life gets so busy. So many responsibilities. It is easy to get lost-to feel like you are coasting. Doing fine, but not great. But today, today is great! My eyes feel a little brighter, my steps a little firmer, & my heart a little softer.

My greatest struggle in life is being consistent. I'm great in spurts, but long term consistency can often evade me. Recognizing this weakness, I've really tried to set some goals. Little ones, short term. Goals I can accomplish. Goals like: Study my scriptures today! When there is only one thing on a list to check off, it makes it easy to achieve. Then I set weekly and monthly goals.....It really has helped. The biggest difference I've made is to really study the scriptures, mark them up like I used to, take notes, reference other verses. The whole kit and caboodle.

Slowly but surely things are changing. A little more patience; more motivation to get things done. Even thoughts and desires of my heart seem to be answered. Thoughts so fleeting that I didn't even think to pray about them and yet they came to pass. Really?! Perhaps things like this have been happening all along, I just am more able to recognize them. Looking back on these last, few, crazy weeks of kids being sick & a teething baby, I've realized a load of blessings and changes. Some of them might seem insignificant, but all together they made me so happy. Blessing/Changes:

Felt more happy & peaceful
Did the Ironing! (you have no idea what kind of miracle this is)
Organized my time and self to make yummy, nutritious meals for the week
Time to think of someone besides myself and family (I've been pretty selfish lately)
Wonderful visiting teaching moments
Greater patience
Mopped the floor right when it needed it
Was able to get out of bed early AND went to bed early
Smiled lots more
Felt an increase of the spirit
Had time write
Emailed my missionary brother
Felt Heavenly Father's love more often

I know some things of these blessing are random and may seem silly, but all together I know they are a result of striving. Striving to live right, striving to know God more, striving in scripture study, striving to be consistent. And for all my work, that really is pretty insignificant, the Lord has blessed me so greatly. I've felt His love, especially today.

Rain!!!!

2008-08-25T15:47:00.001-07:00

I love it, I love it, I love it!

Daddy's Kitchen

2008-08-25T10:24:00.001-07:00

I love it when Daddy's in the kitchen. Sunday he conjured up fried chicken and 3 cheese risotto. Mmmm, I love risotto.

Expanding Diet

2008-08-23T14:08:00.001-07:00

Adam loves to eat. He loves all food. He has now mastered a little pasta, bread and softened veggies, but he thinks he can eat everything. In his eyes, all food is his and must be shared. If he had teeth, I'm sure he'd eat a steak. Today he expanded his diet to bugs! Yep, bugs. I've been so careful to keep the floors vacuumed and swept since he puts everything in his mouth. Some where Adam found a big bug and ate it, at least until we caught him and pulled all the pieces out. Beep, beep, beep, beep, "Hello bug guy?.......

I HATE POKEMON!

2008-08-22T18:10:00.001-07:00

Enough said.

Salve and a Bandaid

2008-08-22T16:51:00.001-07:00

Waiting area/Snuggle time

Well, our little "procedure" is done. This morning Adam had a minor readjustment to his. . . um . . . tender bits. Everything went really well.

Heart rate/Gown & Ankle band

The staff was so sweet and little Adam tolerated it like no kid could. No wailing, no major complaints. What a kid! All the nurses wanted to keep him after only a couple of hours. He was even crawling around before long. Here are a few pictures of our out-patient experience. I think it was more traumatic for me! Thank goodness my Mom and Dan were there.

Playtime

Post Op and still sleepy

Project Takeover

2008-08-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

You know your projects have taken over the kitchen table long enough when:

*Your husband is out of town.
*You sequester half of the kitchen table to accommodate your projects
*You finally overtake the entire table and make your kids eat their meals at the counter
*Your son asks if we could "please eat dinner all together at the table"

Ooops! Okay, Dan did finally got home, so packed up all the sewing projects and took a short break...until Monday.

Yellow Thursday

2008-08-16T10:11:00.001-07:00

A very Yellow day. Thursday Emily was yellow. Once she found her yellow skirt, she picked a yellow skirt, and wore yellow in her hair. She drank from a yellow cup and craved bananas and lemonade all day. Such a silly!

Blue Friday. Nope she wasn't sad, just into blue. She wore a blue shirt and light blue shorts and yes, drank from a blue cup. She wore blue bobbles in her hair and even ate a cupcake with blue frosting. (Her fingers are still tinged with blue) I wonder how long this will last?

Kid's Meal Toys

2008-08-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

I hate them! They are cheap, lame, break-in-2 seconds toys and are somehow completely invaluable to the kids who acquire them. Yep I'm talking about Kid's Meal toys. These are the toys we find in every nook and cranny of our home. Despite all the puppy dog eyes, we rarely get Kid's Meals, but with Dan being out of town, I caved and got dinner from Wendy's. Kid's Meals and all. This was a specific and special request from Josh because the "toy" had something to do with "Magic Treehouse" books. Josh has loved this series of books for years and is always in search for the next book in the series he hasn't read. (I can't imagine there are many left.)

So after dinner we pop the CD in and what do we find, but a book on CD, read by the actual author and much to Josh's excitement, a story he has yet to read! For 45 minutes they were silent disrupted by only an occasional giggle. They loved it. I loved it. Now I am by no means dissing books. Books always trump the "stuff on tape". But for a toy from a fast food chain, this beats them all. It may just be the first toy of it's kind to remain in our home longer than 3 months.

The Funeral, Part One

2008-08-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

Jen will probably post more about our trip to Utah in the next few days but I posted something on the Suns Blog about the funeral that I wanted to post here as well. It's a bit long but I'm a wordy person, I guess. I figured I may as well link to the Suns blog instead of copying it here...sorry for the extra clicks.

You can read the post here.

.

The Best & Sweetest

2008-08-13T07:41:00.001-07:00

After 5 days of traveling to and from Utah for a funeral (another blog) we finally get home to find that Dan has some urgent work to get done immediately. Luckily he does not have to go to the office. As soon as the car is unpacked, he's on the computer while I finish unpacking the cool chest and bags. Now here is the sweet part- once his office work is done & with a quick run to Costco, he shew's me out of the kitchen & tells me to relax while he makes dinner. He really is the best!

School Days

2008-08-06T08:44:00.001-07:00

The first day of school. Everyone woke up super excited-almost like Christmas. New cloths on, yummy breakfast eaten, hair just right, pictures snapped. Then we wait (not so exciting). Yep, we were ready and rarin' to go at least 30 minutes early. For Josh this is no surprise, but for Emily, well she is a dawdler through and through. For her to be dressed, fed and done with her jobs with 30 minutes to spare, well, that is about a miracle. It shows how excited she was. The feeling was pretty contagious. They even talked me into leaving for the bus stop extra early because they just couldn't wait any longer!

Everything was great. They lined up for the bus, still excited. They posed for a "getting on the bus" picture, still excited. Then Em took that gigantic first step onto the bus and practically fell over. That is when the tears welled up. Not from Emi, no, she made a quick recovery and bounded up the enormous steps. Nope, it was me! Em has always been mature, so fearless, so grown up, even a little tall for her age. But just then all I could see was my little 5yr old leaving on a huge bus, wearing a backpack as big as her, sitting in chairs she couldn't even see over. My baby!

Needless to say it is far too quiet at home. I miss them more than ever. Adam keeps looking around wondering when they will pop up to say "Peek-a-Boo." But we'll stick together, the two of us and wait anxiously until they are home again.

Wind's a Changing

2008-08-05T17:34:00.001-07:00

It's any day now. I can feel it. The wind is changing and the storms are coming. I can't wait. I love the wind, the rain, the smell. Ahhhhhh........round the house things have been changing really fast too, but I'm not sure I'm ready for these. It is tropical storm Adam!

He just started crawling a couple of weeks ago. He isn't even that fast yet. None the less he's developed a new talent. He can pull himself up to furniture and stand! This kid only six months old. I am not sure this is a very good idea. All I can picture is this little face climbing walls, on top of dressers and who know what else. We've never had a real monkey, dare devil baby. Maybe our luck has run out. I don't know, but I'm really nervous.

The Feast Continues

2008-08-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

A while after eating Dan's magnificent meal he realized his itch for cooking wasn't fulfilled. He found a new recipe for homemade french fries w/ a yummy dipping sauce. Of all the french fry recipes he has tried, and he has tried them all, this is the best. Yes, it is a Bon Appetit recipe and the homemade sauce called an "aioli" was scrumptious. It reminds me of that Utah fry sauce with a new and spicy kick. Aioli may sound fancy, but this sauce was simply dijon mustard, oil, minced garlic, & 2 egg yolks whipped together. I guess there is a little technique to it, but Mmmm, mmmmm, yummy.

Daddy is in the Kitchen!

2008-08-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome back Dad! With his job at the SUNS, Dan has not had as much time to tinker in the kitchen. He loves finding new recipes and trying them, no matter how outlandish. On the menu tonight- Roasted Cod on a Garlic Crouton. Look how yummy.....

I'd never had Cod before, but this quick recipe found in Bon Appetit magazine really inspired us. We just started getting Bon Appetit. Inside are some pretty fancy recipes that are a bit too much to bite off for a week night, but it is definitely inspiring and educational. This recipe seemed very attainable. We had all the ingredients except for fresh basil and anchovies which were pretty cheap. The recipe began with a garlic toast base, topped with a simple tomato saute with red onions, garlic and anchovies. I've never had anchovies either, but the saute was really fresh and yummy. Not your typical maranara. A few pieces of basil topped the saute, then the cod and a little more tomato. I conjured up a quick side dish with white beans that was pretty good, but it kind of looked like "Paint by number" next to Picaso. Oh well, at least it was an original! Josh really loved it all and ate it up! Em thumbed her nose to it and really lost out. Best of all, it was super satisfying and healthy. Thanks Dan for helping us step out of our food comfort zones and taste something outstanding!

Poopy Day

2008-07-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

That is what it was. A poopy day. I went visiting teaching yesterday and of course this is what happens. Poor Dan. I guess Adam won't be having "Diaper only" naps any more!

Dan said there was poop in his hands, his hair and in between his toes. I don't even want to know what else may have happened in that crib or for how long. Daddy got to work and bathed Mr. Poops and fixed him up like new. Then of course just before I get home, Adam pooped again, in his diaper this time. Emily graciously changed it, but somehow managed to drop a few chunks on the family room rug. This rug is such great shades of brown, green and burnt red that it blended in completely until Mom came home and found it. Needless to say, we are now completely poop free, at least from the areas that should be!

Scientists

2008-07-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have some evil scientists at my house. Josh was inspired by a book he read about a kid who figured out mysteries by using the scientific method. Near the end the book there was a list of the entire method and supplies needed to become your own scientist.

So with a few empty water bottles and old baby food containers "Professor" Josh & Em were open for business (or so the signs say) creating any concoction they could imaging. With a little flour, veggie oil, dish soap, baking soda, vinegar and cranberry juice their work began. Thank goodness for the outside play house/science lab where we can fix every mess with a hose!

Mobile

2008-07-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

ADAM

It ain't pretty, but he's mobile! Time to vacuum 5 times a day.

Memory Bandwagon

2008-07-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

(Tricia, Hannah, & my pregnant-self at singing tryouts for the National Anthem)

Memory bandwagon

I love this because you only participate if you want to. This is how it works:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.EVERYBODY PLAY! I want to see what memories are out there!!

Drip & a Fix

2008-07-19T22:19:00.001-07:00

Drip...drip...drip. A slow drip started Thursday night from the hall closet doors signifying AC problems. Luckily the AC was only backed up and needed to be cleaned out. However the drips created a little water damage inside the closet area. So, what did Dan do? No he did not let a contractor handle such a "simple" job.

He took off the closet doors, tore out the drywall and set up the fan. I could not believe it. This from the same husband who, from the beginning, confessed himself a complete geek and inevitably UNhandy. Boy he sure has come a long way in our married years. It sure is nice to have a geek and a handy man. Cheaper too!

Dan's Eleven Year Memories

2008-07-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

Jen is the one who posts most of the time on the blog. I just read. But I thought others may get a kick out of this video I created for her for our 11th anniversary:

There is no better person in the world who I could have married and who could be a mother to my beautiful children. Thanks, Jen, for lifting me up and for being an example to me. I look up to you more than you can ever imagine.

Happy 11th anniversary.

Eleven

2008-07-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Happy 11th Anniversary!

Eleven Years ago today, Dan and I were married in the Mesa, AZ Temple. In eleven years we have had 3 beautiful children, 3 homes, 4 job changes, 5 different wards, a handful of trips and an amazingly happy life! To celebrate this occasion the kids and I made lists of our Top11 Moments with Dan, so here it goes...

Josh's Top 11 Moments w/ Dad:

*When he is silly *playing games *alone time with Dad *working together in the yard *going to ball games *when he fixes my toys *getting money for solving riddles/tests *watching sports together *when the family is all together *playing legos *Dad always makes the family more loving.

Em's Top 11 Moments w/ Dad:

*When he plays with us *when he is silly *when he wrestles the kids *teaching piano *picks fun music for car *knows my fav song *brushes my hair after my bath *makes my favorite lunch each Sunday *plays games with the kids *watch sports *plants pretty trees and garden *snuggle time

Adam's Top 11 Moments w/ Dad:

*Whenever he is in the room *when he shares food *when he tucks me in *chucking me in the air *snuggles *laying on Dad's tummy *kisses *bonks *alone time *sharing smiles *sharing eye color

Mom's Top 11 Moments w/ Dan:

*Seeing him in his Temple whites *San Fransisco, running in the rain *Every time he kisses me *Best Western's I-Hop *Any morning we can snuggle before we get up *Our wedding day *Talking at night before bed *Gazing into those brown eyes *Anytime I beat him at anything, for once *Cooking with him *Our children's births *Talking to each other every single day for over 11 years w/o fail

I love you sweetheart! Happy Eleventh.

Turkey Donuts

2008-07-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

Do not ask me why. It is a Hilton thing. I still don't understand and yet after being immersed in "their" ways for 11 years, I too have picked it up. You know those small, white, powdery donuts...the Hilton's call them Turkey Donuts. The reason for the name will be forever shrouded in mystery. However, these donuts are a regular at all family events and trips. Now the Hilton's like to indoctrinate them young, so on Adam's 6 month mark he experienced his first Turkey Donut. And boy did he like it. He smiled and eyed Grandpa, questioning whether he was actually going to get another morsel of powdery goodness. And indeed, Grandpa did not let him down. Congratulations pumpkin! You're a Hilton now.

LeBaron Family Reunion

2008-07-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

What a Reunion! People everywhere, food, games, crafts. Not a clean kid in sight. Every July 4th weekend we have a giant LeBaron Reunion. It is a 4 generation reunion. My Grandpa, Milo LeBaron, and his 4 siblings (together called The Big 5) have cabins in Strawberry, AZ where the "organized" chaos takes place. Since there are over 75 members of the Milo LeBaron's and each of his siblings have equally large families you can see how the numbers multiply.

The festivities always begin Saturday morning. Everyone wears their family T-shirts and heads down to make our traditional breakfast. It is a version of Toad-in-a-Hole, but cooked on #10 cans heated by Bunsen burners. It seriously takes 30 minutes (no kidding) to make one serving, but it gets the family in the mood for the rest of the festivities.

family kickball / marshmallow shooters

Then Sunday morning we all, and I mean all of us, get dooded up and drive into Pine to go to church. What a blessing to have a chapel so close. Since our hundreds overwhelm the masses a bit, we leave after the Sacrament Meeting hour and return to Strawberry to hold a family meeting. Outside in our camping chairs and Sunday cloths we discuss a little family business and then we have testimony time. This is my favorite part of the reunion. Testimonies from the Big 5 and down through all 4 generations. Anyone who wishes, may bare their testimony. I wish everyone I know could have been there. Grandpa shares his wise witness, second and third cousins getting ready to leave on missions testify of the gospel they will soon be teaching. Aunts, great-uncles, parents, nephews & great-grandchildren- All bound together by the love and truth found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even our Emily, who will take a microphone any day, was a little hesitant to share her feelings of the gospel to the masses. In the end, Em's sweet heart won out and she added her testament to the rest. In an atmosphere like this, it was so easy for me to understand the Lord's plan for us to be organized in families. It was so clear, so obvious that it would be a family that would help us return to God. Family...ALL this family. Together witnessing, supporting, & loving. My words don't do it justice. As a child I never knew how rare it all was nor how fortunate I was to have so much support and so many examples of righteous living. In all my 30+ years there are few things I know with certainty, but these I do know:
God lives. He loves all His children. Families are central to His eternal plan. He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for the world and if I but repent and live His commandments I can return to Him again. I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I know He hears and answers my prayers. Living His plan, striving to choose His way brings peace and happiness into my life. I love my family. I love the Lord's words and His gospel which are found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.