Benjamin - What's new with You?

I have post three new ones at once so keep scrolling down!

Looking at Benji's picture to the right? What is on his forhead? Well, he enjoyed his breakfast of syrup and blueberry waffles!

What happened to Benji's Hair? The curls gone and my 'baby' gone --sorta! He looks so much older doesn't he? I kept just looking at him after he got his head buzzed by 'daddy' because he looked so different! First 'real' haircut at 18 months. We get a lot of one on one time and he's has been so fun to be with! He is such a happy little guy and loves, I mean loves, CaRs! Anything that has a wheel on it, he thinks is cAr and says 'cAr' all the time! He is learning to play more on his own when his brother and sister at school. He loves nursery and to be outside! He just went to the docter and is tall for his age, average for weight --so perfect--well in my eyes, but I am aloud to think that because I am his mom!

J

Camp Out

Ben took the kids on the ward campout. I had worked a lot that past week and my back was out. So, Benji and I stayed home. They went to a site right above Globe in the pines. Ben said the kids had a great time playing with their friends in the ward. They had smores, ribs for dinner(that's Ben for ya) and a nice campfire. In the morning, one of the families cooked breakfast for everyone. Ben made hot chocolate for the kids. When they were packed up, Ben took Tyler and Abby to a lake and by the Salt River Canyon. They slept all the way home, but had a great time! A friend came up to me on Sunday and said that they would love to go camping with our family anytime!

Hence the ribs, cookies, hot chocolate, ect... ;)Ben

always comes prepared and then some!!

Aren't these kids getting so big? I keep reminding them that they need to stay how they are, but it isn't working! No, I do enjoy them now and look forward to their growth, but it goes by too fast!

J

4Wheeling

My parents and brother have 4wheelers and recently we were able to go out on them. The kids have gone before but were not too sure, but this time they liked riding them. Their cousins Jaxon and Talen came too! I putted around on the smaller one with Benji and he loved it. (I think even more than the others). The kids loved being outside and being with their Nana and Papa. Tyler, Abby and Jaxon
Papa Hill, Tyler, Jaxon and Talen

Papa Hill and Abby. The first ride Abby was a little scared, but once they started she was fine!


Papa Hill and Tyler.




Mom(me) with Benji!

Shower Tug-a-war!

So-- I've lived in our house for over six years now! The master shower/tub been a struggle to keep clean the way I like it to be! So, I've used every kind of cleaner you can think of and some worked a little better than others, but never to my satisfaction.

Well, at some points over the years I felt like giving up and not even cleaning it. Imagine that, yeah I can't-- yucky!

Fast forward to the here and now---I found it! No, it is not something you can only buy online or through a magazine or an informerical on television, it is ready (drum rolls please);0-- 'Lysol 4in1'--You have to soak it with the cleaner and then scrub pretty good, but I was able to get my shower clean from soap scum and dirt!!! Now my feet can stand on a clean surface while showering.

Labor Day Weekend

Drive only just over two hours and you get bliss! We were able to spend time in the mountains part of the time. Then one day we rode the light rail to downtown tempe while it was lightly raining. The kids got to spend time with their grandparents for lunch and play at a splash park while it was sprinkling. They loved it. Their favorite part of the light rail was riding backwards! Then on Monday we went to the lake on my parents ski boat! We had a good time. The kids became fishes literally and I wake boarded (even crossed the wake a few times without biffing it)! I grew up skiing but not wake boarding.

All in all it was so nice to have such a great fun filled weekend!

J

Ensign--The Prophets

Hard times lately, but a lot to be grateful for! I was reading the Ensign this afternoon and felt impressed to share with you some scripture from the article on 'Liberty Jail' by Elder Holland. If you haven't read it yet, please do! Very inspiring, it opens your eyes and fills your heart.

Earlier today I was feeling really alone (I know I am not, but...I was feeling it) so these scriptures and what I was reading about the Prophet Joseph Smith filled my cup and gave me so much peace.

"My son(daughter), peace be unto thy soul; tin adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." (D&C 121:7-8)

The Lord was talking to Joseph Smith and knew we all would need these words to keep us going. The Prophet Joseph experienced such hardships and especially in Liberty Jail, it gave me strength today. He suffered and so do we all in our trials, but the Lord is with us always, if we will let him be.

Another comforting scripture, "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on
your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up" (D&C 84:88) Elder Holland says, "That is an everlasting declaration of God's love and care for us, including-and perhaps especially- in times of trouble."

Remembering!

I remember exactly where I was when the plane crashed into the towers, pentagon and so forth! I remember the sick feeling in my stomach of what had just happened.

Our country was forever changed. It is nice to reflect and give respect to those that have sacrificed willingly and those that didn't know they were going to lose their lives that day!

Today, I've been thinking about freedom and how much we take it for granted. I would like to express my gratitude for all those in the past, present and future who work and fight for even our simple daily freedoms.

I was teaching sixth graders and we had a discussion about this day and what happened eight years ago. They were 2 to 4 years old so they don't remember themselves. I was very impressed with their listening ear as I talked and they brought up good questions about our freedoms and why people would do that. I really wanted them to know what those people did was wrong and also for them to remember that american lives were lost that day. We also talked about our freedoms. I wanted them to be thankful for them and be aware that others in the world do not have a lot of freedoms we enjoy. I was proud of their candor and respect they brought to the discussion today! Eleven year olds can surprise ya!

I know so many don't have these freedoms we enjoy everyday throughout the world. I am proud to be a citizen of this country and hope to always be able to live freely!

-J

Posting Mania

I've been posting a lot lately! I don't know what has gotten in to me, but more to remember later on and enjoy! I guess.. At least most posts!


I got called into sub for the half day of school today and boy do these little kids love to hug! Even the third graders from earlier this week. Today was kindergarten. It is a little out of my comfort zone because I am not a touchy feely person, but how can you say no to these kids. They are all well almost all so cute! Except when some throw sand or constantly get up out of there seat!;)(



Hugging is good for the soul! I like things that are uplifting and good! Maybe some of these kids just don't get enough of it at home. It makes me want to hug my own kids all the time so they feel loved!



Another random happening today. I had to deposit some 'mula' in the bank and we went through the teller so I didn't have to go in with the kids. So, the teller and I are exchanging money, slips ect. to get the transaction done and I am off. Well, little did I know that Tyler was watching intently what was going on! As we were pulling out of the parking lot, he asks me why the lady was mad? I had know idea what he was talking about. So, I probed more.... Finally, I understood he was talking about the teller. I couldn't think why he thought she was mad! Then, Abby piped in and said she LOOKED MAD! I started laughing.


These kids are so happy go lucky and don't understand that adults have these 'normal mad' looks from time to time because maybe she was tired, or stressed or whatever, but honestly she was nice, normal and didn't seem mad to me! That is why he made me laugh because we as adults sometimes carry things that drag us down and we might not think it is apparent on the outside but it can be especially through a six year old's eyes. So, it got me thinking about what they see from Ben or I in the home. They are so observant and internalize everything! We need to keep this mind!





Another random happening. We are in a turning lane all of sudden ---"Mommy there goes Bumblee Bee!" -- I looked and there it was a 'nice looking mustang'-- it wasn't yellow, though but it was the same model as Bumblee! Tyler wanted to race, I just told him he is too fast and I couldn't catch up--Next time, though! Tyler then said, "Yeah, you can't even come close to driving like he does-- he has special powers and has moves that you don't!!! I just laughed and said that was totally true! How fun to witness such great imaginations!
J

Girls Night Out!

Had to post the girls night out 14 of us--dinner and a movie! I've really grown close to a lot of the women throughout the years! I hope we do more!

J

Loopy Tired!

So tired! Last night I almost fell asleep driving home from a meeting. The night before I only slept 4 hours and worked all day. I was yawning by 1pm, heavy/droopy eyes by 4pm and loopy by 7pm.

So, today was a better day, but I have a 'tired headache' from not getting the proper sleep two nights ago! My poor kids have felt the affect of 'mommy' being tired the past few days! Love you guys for being such good kids!

Good to work the last three days, but important to get good sleep!!! :)

J