NYE 2015

I spent most of the day sleeping away my achy body.  Delsie was good to keep me company.

As evening rolled around, I sucked it up, pulled up my bootstraps and put together a little party.  We had balloons, music, dancing, and sparkling cider so the kids deemed it a success.

We talked about our accomplishments of the past year and what we were going to work on during the upcoming year.
Ruby learned how to ride and bike and of course, she was going to work on being nicer.
Delsie started going to nursery and she was going to turn two.
Brent was going to work on his tan...

 This was the best I could do for a group shot.  Brent thought it would be so funny to pop a balloon when I said '3.'  It turned out being a very dumb decision.  He happened to pop Ruby's family masterpiece balloon that she had spent all evening creating.  Oh the weeping and wailing that ensued.

Braving the Cold With Cousins

While we were in Burley for Christmas, we took our oldest and Chod took their two boys up to Pomerelle to ski.  After lunch and lessons, Stephens left for home, but we made several more runs.

 It was Ruby's first time and she was all smiles, even though the magic carpet ate her mitten.

 Only a time or two down the bunny hill and her teacher took her up the lift for the real mountain.

 The snow was great.  There was new powder and the trees were gorgeous.

 Warming up by the fire.  It was all the kids could talk about.  We bought the EZ ski package, so we need to go two more times this season.

 We had the other Hillman's over to play in the snow.

 I pulled them around behind the 4-wheeler.

 They thought I was kidding when I told them they'd want their entire face covered, but they soon believed me.  Trigger loved chasing them around and even rode the tube a few times.  The funniest was looking back to see him barrel rolling off the tube.

They wouldn't let the tube riding suffice, so I took them to Pullin' Hill.  Brent is never much of a proponent, but we had a great time and didn't suffer and injuries.  There were lots of other people there that day.

It was nice to have some snow to play in.  December had been pretty mild, but it ended up snowing just in time.  A storm rolled through Christmas Eve/Christmas day.

A Reason

During Christmas time there seems to be more reasons to do things and more meaning behind the things we do.  Reason:  This year we worked on earning straw for Jesus by doing kind deeds for others.  It helped some of us think of others more and some of us were able to count and visually see all that we do for others.  

Reason: I love connecting with old friends through Christmas cards.  Even if it's no more than thinking about them as I address the envelope.  So naturally, if I want to get them I have learned that I have to send them.

 The kids helped me stick on the stamps and put them in the mail.

There's a bit more excitement in the mailbox during December.

And before long, our once bare paper chain is weighed down with all of the Christmas card goodness.

Reason: Dalanie decided that she wanted to be part of the youth choir at the Community Christmas Concert.
We were preg-checking cows the morning of the practice, so I brought her different shoes and a hat.

I thought she was the most adorable girl there.  Something about tousled hair and manure on your pants.

We managed to convince Hudson to sing the night of the concert.  You can see by the look on Dalanie's face that they enjoyed singing.  It was the best part of the evening.  After nearly an hour and a half of kids climbing all over me, complaining about the heat, needing to go to the bathroom, and the closing prayer being sung- I WAS READY TO GO!

 We went up to Idaho Falls (I'm sure we had to go to either Best Buy or Home Depot, so why not drag the family along.)  We had dinner and were buying time until Elsa would arrive at the light show, so we killed time at Orange Leaf.  Delsie does not share well and hi-jacked my ice-cream.  She threatened to do the same thing to my second one.

 We waded through the mud to get see Elsa and get a picture.

Reason:  Amy Jolley (my cross fit coach) chose an insane WOD with nearly 150 pull-ups one day.  We both had blisters before the workout was over.  At first I just thought it was pretty stupid and it hurt like the dickens.  But then I let it be my "Christmas hand."  A reminder of not only the babe in Bethlehem, but of my Savior and Redeemer.  I don't think it was coincidence of the placement of my blister.  It took on greater significance since I was memorizing The Living Christ during the weeks leading up to (and even on) Christmas.

 Ruby and Delsie came down to school to help with Hudson's class party.  They played BINGO.

 And then I did a game where they had to draw on a plate on the top of their head.  They got points for correct placement and connecting lines.  I think it was more fun to watch than to draw.

The kids finally got a chance to meet up with Santa at our ward party a week before Christmas.  He never did ask what they wanted, so Dalanie was a bit worried about Christmas.

After all the festivities, shopping, preparing, and anticipating, Christmas Eve finally rolled around.  Reason:  We had the Jensen's and Grandma and Grandpa Hillman over for dinner and some games.  We had a nice dinner of twice baked potatoes (a tradition from my family dinner on Christmas Eve) and ribs.

We had so much to eat, we forgot to get out Grandma's layered jello.

We played BINGO until every child won something.  Fits on Christmas Eve sure put a damper on the mood.

And then we passed a present game sort of like musical chairs.

Grandma had already done her famous gift exchange during Thanksgiving, so she gave each of the kids a matchbox car and they pushed those all over the dirty floor.

Handmade for the Holidays

My parents were the epitome of hand crafted gifts.  To this day, my most favorite gifts are the ones that they create.  There's just a richness and beauty to handmade that you can't get from a store.  

I dipped spoons in the most lovely mint green for the neighbors gifts.  They turned out better than I expected, which made me absolutely giddy.  After sharing my excitement with Brent for the 100th time of the day, he just laughed and said something to the affect that" simply dipping a spoon handle in the paint makes you feel so accomplished and I just think you're capable of so much more."

I recreated some snowmen bowls I saw with some wooden bowls that the girls and I thrifted.  Besides the fact that I couldn't find any food safe sealer, they were fun to make.  Ruby wanted to help but only ended up smearing some of the still-wet eyes.

I was catching up on office work one day, so Ruby got her craft on.  She created such

adorable things that she shared with some of the elderly when we made our visits.

I finally participated in a cookie exchange.  We had one with Power of Moms and I made these thumbprint cookies.  

One of my many batches of peanut brittle.

Some friends and family got these growth chart rulers.  Mom made me one and it has been so fun to watch the kids grow.  I like that they're cute enough to make part of your decor.

Ruby was bit by the wrapping bug.  She didn't have many gifts to wrap, so she just started wrapping wrapping paper to give to everyone. 

Here's one of her famous 'april fools' gifts.  They were much more fun for her to wrap than they are to open.

Dalanie and I decided to make t-shirt scarves for her friends.  They were pretty simple: cutting, braiding, and tying.  No sewing at all!  It was really hard for her to settle on a giving list.  I made her whittle it down to seven but in the end it grew to over twelve.  

We ended up making them for Ruby's friends to.  It's fun to see the little girls wearing them.

Marsha taught Dalanie and me how to hand crochet scarves.  They whip up really fast.  In fact, Dalanie made three Christmas Eve morning.  Overall, I think she made five to give away.

I can't take any credit for this last one (besides coming up with the idea and printing off the pattern.)  Brent and Hudson were busy little elves Christmas Eve day working on this labor of love for Dalanie.  It is a bunk bed for her dolls.  The construction impressed my parents with all of the pocket hole joints.  Hudson made several trips back and forth to the shop getting it made and painted.  It made my heart swell up seeing him trudging through the snow on Christmas day, carrying his project that he made to give to his sister.  So selfless and so genuine.  I hope he'll always remember the Spirit of Giving.