Liahonas

Finally Monday rolled around and the kids were delighted it was finally FHE night.

After Hudson's prompting, Brent called the family together and welcomed us all. He called roll and turned the time over to the kids to accompany the opening song with their ukuleles. (It's really quite spectacular seeing how neither one of them have received formal training and none of us could tune them if we tried.)

We had a quick discussion about the Liahonas in our life and then we set out to create our own with styrofoam balls adorned with feathers, buttons, and rhinestones. It was an absolute hit!

Sugar Cookies

Nothing says Valentines Day like a sugar cookie. Since I'm not much into the rolling out and cutting of shapes I found the perfect recipe that you scoop out and flatten. We make them festive by using appropriate colors and sprinkles for occasion.

Cream together:
2 cubes butter/margarine
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Next add:
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar [I substitute 3 tsp baking powder and an additional 1/4 t. soda when I'm out of cream of tartar]

Combine and mix well. Roll/scoop into balls and flatten.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

There's never a shortage of beater-lickers of frosters around here. And since both kids can't keep from licking there knives, I guess the entire batch stays at our house. . . Come to think of it, they must have had it planned.

Two Months

Tu-Tu Cute

The other day Hudson questioned if there was another baby in my tummy. He was a little disappointed when I told him no. He has loved every new baby that has come into our family and is a great big brother. I explained how Ruby isn't very old.
"But Mom, we have to fill up our suburban!" he replied.

Although she's not very old, she's growing and developing in leaps and bounds. Here are a few notables:
-she consistently wakes up at 3:00 and 6:00 to be fed
-she is filling out and getting all sorts of squeeze ems--double chins and thigh rolls are so cute on babies
-she will now smile and coo-- I love when they start interacting
-about every nap is interrupted by loves from her brother and sister (which are getting progressively rougher)
-her crazy hair continues to be the object of conversation (and just yesterday I had several people touch it. MEOW)
- she has more nicknames than my other two combined. [Roo, Ruby Doo, Rube-Up, Rubes] The other day I called her Sis and Dalanie corrected me. Apparently there is only one Sis in the family.

What's For Dinner?

It doesn't matter if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner I always get the same response from Dalanie.

"EGGS!"

Scrambled with cheese is her favorite, but the kids and I also have egg sandwiches.

Little Town, Big Deal

A few weeks ago, the ladies at exercise were all abuzz with the news that Elder Oaks would be visiting our stake for a special stake conference. The stake was busy spreading the word and preparations were made for a youth choir, nearly 150 strong. We held a FHE focusing on Elder Oaks and the significance of apostles.

We attended the special conference and the Spirit bore witness to me that Elder Clark and Elder Oaks have been called of God. How comforting it is to know that amidst the scandals and corruption of national governments, we have a living prophet, President Monson.

Elder Oaks guaranteed no 401K's or real estate values and certainly no easy future but he did urge us to trust the church leaders. Once again, the Spirit confirmed that these men are called and directed by God and that I can trust them.

Strengths

I'm constantly after the kids to get dressed, pick up their toys, set the table, and eat their food. So it catches them off guard when I tell them something good they've done or what I like about them. Kids are no different that grown ups -- we all like to hear good things about us.

Hudson is master of compliments, and very sincere ones. Not a day goes by without him telling his sisters that they look cute or that my hair is beautiful or that dinner is good. Dalanie loves it so much that now when she gets ready she anticipates what Brother will say.



He has also become quite a little crafter/environmentalist. He's constantly on the lookout for things he can repurpose. So much in fact, I've started to throw things away when he's not looking, otherwise he finds a use for just about any container or box.

Hudson also enjoys using new vocabulary. It's surprising the words he picks up from PBS and can use in context. A lot of times he'll ask me what words mean.

-He likes making up his own songs for FHE and calling on people to say prayers when Brent isn't home.
-He loves primary and takes his teachers words as gold. If they make any announcements, he makes sure to remind me.
-He adores his sisters and loves to express his affection.
-He enjoys visiting and is good with names.

And Dalanie, oh my Dalanie. I once heard that things we view as our children's faults are actually their best strengths. This couldn't be more true with this girl. Her independence and determination have found plenty of trouble along the way, but what great characteristics she possesses.

She loves to help--whether she's fetching Ruby's diaper, feeding the chickens, or helping Dad. The other day Brent was assembling some chairs and she wanted to help. He gave her the assignment of putting the lock washers and washers onto the bolts. He showed her the order they needed to be in and she never missed one. She's always been good with communication even if she didn't say a word. Her speech has improved quite a bit over the past few months. I love listening to her put words together. "Mom, do?" "Me help Dad." And the notorious "What!?!" that is part pterodactyl screech.

As independent as she thinks she is, she still is very much in need of her mom. Especially at bedtime or when the babysitter gets here. I still rock her to sleep for her nap. Deep down I've decided it's okay for her to need me (guilty pleasure) because all too soon she won't.

One of my favorite things about Dalanie is that she is great about anticipating others' needs. One day she was into Brother's drawers and I asked her to get out. She replied with an irritated "Mom" and showed me an armful of clothes- shirt, pants, socks, and undies for Hudson who just happened to be in the bath.

-She loves to tease and can get into a giggling fit that is contagious.
-She loves to get in on the wrestling matches although she usually comes away squished.
-And of course she's pretty darn cute. I keep trying to remind her that it's more important to be pretty on the inside though.

Denver

We loaded the kids up and drove the 9 hours to the National Western Stock Show in Denver. While there we enjoyed the more mild weather and took in some of the local sights.

eating alfresco at Chipotle- they gave us a free meal since it was our first timeswimming at the hotel, always a favorite
Denver Temple and visitor annexDinosaur Ridge where Hudson could show off some of his knowledge he's been accumulating from Dinosaur Train- therapods and carnivores.
Sissy was delighted with the pink stegosaurus
Free day at the zoo on MLK day, really a zoo!
Tour of Hammonds Candies and candy shop
Denver Mint- where the government makes cents!
Hudson proudly displaying his new pair of spurs he got at the stock show.
If you ask him, it was the best day ever and his favorite part of the trip.
Glo-sticks, a must have for the end of a long road trip.
Entertaining and educational- guess the letter or number.

Old School Radio

The kids and I were looking for a cassette player to listen to some Scripture Scouts tapes and found my old radio. The cassette player was jammed, but Hudson kept fiddling around with it. He moved it to the tuner function and waded through the fuzz until he picked up some music. You should have seen his smile as he got up and started dancing. I remember similar feelings of accomplishment and feeling so grown up, all from capturing those radio waves.

I went to finish dinner, but as I walked down the hall, the music got louder until the point of being unbearable. I had to request a decrease in volume several times.

I expressed concern to Brent about how this might really become a problem when Brother's a teenager. His reply, "that's why he'll have and ipod an earbuds."

Daddy Let Me Drive

It was just an old hand-me-down Ford
With a three-speed on the column and a dent in the door
A young boy two hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it mode me feel
And I would press that clutch
And I would keep it right
And he'd say, "a little slower son you're doing just fine"
Just a dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti
When daddy let me drive

I'm grown up now three [children] of my own
I let them drive my old Jeep across the pasture at our home
Maybe one day they'll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory

I still remember driving a blue Chevy to feed Dr. Mellings cows when I was little. I'd put it in low and bounce across the pasture while dad pushed off hay. So now when our family loads up into the old flatbed Chevy, it does my heart good. . . the nostalgia, the memories.

Brother is becoming quite the little driver at 4 1/2 years of age. He has a tendency to let his eyes wander and chat too much, but he's getting better. Since he can't reach the pedals, I do the manipulating there. We make sure to slow down around the corners so he has time to get the steering wheel turned. If objects start approaching too fast, we crawl past so he can avoid them. His only complaint, "Too fast, Mom." His other job for chores is cutting the strings on the bales of hay. It's really cool for a little boy to be able to use Dad's knife.

Sister is responsible for feeding our heifer a can of grain to help fatten her up. For some reason she's really not understood the pecking order and intricacies of the food chain. At first she thought the cows were going to eat her. "Cow, me, eat." But now that Brent has explained that we're butchering the cow to eat she says, "Me, cow, eat."

And Ruby bounces happily along in her carrier, enjoying her life without responsibility.

As a side note, this was the pickup Brent's parents bought a few weeks he was born. It's been in the family ever since.

Sabbath Day Observance

"Grandpa's feeding the cows, come watch out the window."

"He's not supposed to work on Sunday."

{Insert short sermon on how certain things have to be done on Sunday. (But bowling is not one of them, Hudson.) The kids definitely didn't like the idea of not eating so I didn't have to cook.}

As we drove past our corn field on the way home from church I saw Pratt's horse trailer and inquired what they might be doing. "Do you see their horse?" Brent questioned.

And then from the back seat I hear "Uh-oh for them!"

Mutiny

Brother immediately protested when I declared it was oatmeal for breakfast. What had happened to him? He used to be oatmeal's number one fan and then one morning, he drops it just like that. "Oh well," I thought as I headed down to retrieve more oatmeal, "I'm the Mom and kids have to eat what I fix."

So boy howdy was I surprised when I came back upstairs to find Brother scooping out Krusteaz into the mixing bowl next to the waffle iron. Besides a little help in getting the right amount of water, telling him the numbers to push on the microwave to warm up the syrup, and taking the waffles out of the hot iron, Brother sat down to his waffle breakfast with the biggest look of satisfaction.
Maybe it's the start of breakfast in bed for me.

Rock On

This week has been an extension of the holiday lounging since we've all been battling the flu. I appreciate Santa's wisdom in getting me this rocker/recliner for Christmas.

And so for these days when we never leave the house and are lucky if we get out of our pj's by dinner: Rock On!

Blessing Day

We had all of our families here for Ruby's blessing. As usual, Brent did a beautiful job of giving
our baby a name and a blessing.

For the record:
{Ruby Ann Hillman was blessed with a body that would be whole and healthy according to her obedience to the guidelines set forth. She was counseled to keep her body healthy by being physically fit and that it would be strong. She was blessed to stand up for her beliefs and promised that a testimony would develop as she searched and pondered. Her Heavenly Father will be there for her for guidance. She will have an understanding of where she came from and that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father. She has been blessed with a keen mind and an ability to feel the spirit in order to discern between good and evil that Satan's desire won't over come her. She will develop bonds with her family that she will desire to have for eternity. As she lives a righteous life, she will attract a worthy mate to be married to. Ruby was blessed with a life of happiness and peace.}It's funny how such little spirits can make you feel so inadequate as a mother. Ruby has brought so much love into our home. I think Satan has tried to mask it with all of the chaos, trying to get me to forget the look of heaven I see in my newborn's eyes. But when I'm still, I feel His great love for me and all His children.

Woodpecker Ugly

I have a little girl that hates tags. Clothing tags, price tags, tags on anything. So a week ago when rest of the family was snuggled up on the living room floor for a nap, Sister once again decided to take matters into her own hands and remove the tag on her pillow. My pony tail was spared, but her pillow case didn't fare so well.

In trying to decide how to discipline her, Brent heard the pesky woodpecker rooting for bugs on our roof. He asked Sis if she liked them ruining our house and destroying it? Somehow he compared it to her ruining things and now she starts crying whenever she hears the woodpeckers.

Being the independent little girl she is, Sister came upstairs the other day while I was feeding Ruby. She was so proud of her latest accomplishment. While I was occupied, she managed to find my nail polish and paint her entire fingers hot pink. She was so cute in her cowboy boots and little stocking cap holding out her hands saying "Look! Mom!. She was just beaming at her masterpiece, feeling oh so pretty. My mind and body immediately raced downstairs to see the damage.

Lucky for us, there were only a few drop on the hardwood floor. Easy enough fix. But in order to detour her from setting up beauty shop again, I asked her to show her dad. He immediately said, "Oh Dalanie, that is so woodpecker ugly. Next time you need to ask for help." To which she started crying and hiding her hands. She kicked off her boots only to reveal equally beautiful toes. (I had to sneak a picture when she was asleep because she wouldn't show anyone.)She's already asked me for help on several things. Who knew woodpeckers could be such valuable and effective teaching tools?

Newborn Love

So my brand new baby is now four weeks old. It's hard to believe, but time goes so quickly once I'm not pregnant. Ruby is such a sweetheart. For reference down the road (after she's colored on my new couch like Dalanie did today) here are some of the things I love most about this stage:
-how they keep there legs pulled in
-their adorable, tiny feet,
-hair on their shoulders and wrinkly skin on their legs
-smothering them in baby lotion and drinking in the smell while rocking them
-how they come out from under the table cloth with milk running out their mouth and a smushed little red nose
-the little smiles when they're sleeping (you know it's from their recent memory of the pre-existence)
-their fresh, little cry
-how they wrap their little fingers around yours
-when they stretch and grunt
-stealing kisses from them when they're hungry and looking for food

Kiss Him Good Bye

My little Dalanie loves to kiss her daddy good bye in the mornings, or anytime he has to go. She doesn't say "kiss." Instead the smacks her lips together, making a kissing sound for the sign. Just the other day, she scolded me. I was busy cleaning up breakfast when Brent slipped out. Oh, was she mad at me. "Mom, Dad [insert kissing sound] no!" This was repeated over and over.
I guess she's taken it upon herself to enforce kiss distribution.

And then today, Brent and Hudson went outside and she was so upset she didn't get her brother kissed before he left.

Anticipation

sprinkling reindeer food on the front lawn

Somewhere Hudson heard the word "anticipate." He skipped around all of Christmas Eve saying "anticipate." I asked him what it meant and he didn't know. When I explained that it was to look forward with excitement, he continued to bounce around saying "anticipate, anticipate." For the two littlest kids, nothing could have described our day before the big event better.

We spent the day delivering the last of our gifts and making a few visits. The excitement in the air was so thick. As the evening approached, we sat down to a nice dinner. Brent and I were drilled with questions about the Big Guy. We decided to track Santa's progress on the internet. Hudson checked it about every minute. He'd run out of the office shouting "He's in Idaho." When I'd look, Santa was somewhere in South America, Bolivia, Argentina, or Uruguay.

The kids acted out the Christmas story as we read from Luke 2. Many times Hudson would tell us how the story went, making sure not to leave out any of the characters. He pulled Dalanie across the rug on the rocking horse and when it was time, we laid Ruby in the manger. Dalanie pulled a baby gift out from under the tree and placed it next to the manger. I was moved to tears and amazed at the kids' knowledge of this most wonderful event, our Savior's birth.

A note was left for Santa, along with cookies and hot chocolate. Reindeer food was sprinkled on the front lawn and a flashlight was tucked into bed along with Hudson. Dalanie was too afraid of "HoHo's" visit, so she slept with us. What a wonderful night of anticipation.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Wishes

May you remember the Babe born so long ago in Bethlehem. He was born into the world in the most of humblest of circumstances, to become our Savior and Redeemer. For this the angels and I sing Joy To The World.

Voice Mail

I'm not very responsible when it comes to my cell phone. I've lost one, ran over another, and bought a lemon. Needless to say, my turnover rate is quite high. My husband has threatened to take it away from me (until I happily agreed during harvest.) I rarely have mine "on" me. At home it spends it's time in my closet and when I remember to take it to town, I usually forget it in the car.

The other day I checked my voice mail. Surprise! I had three new messages.

First one: Mom, what number do you have to have to play a DVD? Thanks, bye.
Second one: Mom, I couldn't find Dad. But then I did. Thanks, bye.
Third one: Why are you always leaving me messages Mom? Bye.

Brent and I have never gotten so many phone calls. Hudson has figured out the speed dial on our home phone.

Cozy

There is generally a lack of sleep with a newborn in the house. I expected and anticipated these sleepless nights. What I didn't count on was that both of my older childrens' sleeping habits suffering as well.
For some reason we've been getting nightly visitors. By morning time there is always another body in bed with us. There have been 5 us in the bed on a few occasions. And the little one said "Roll over."
A king sized bed really should be called "family sized."

Christmas Cards

Finally, for the first time in a long time there was more good mail than bills. Thanks for all of the Christmas cards. We're running a little behind at our house and hope to have some in the mail by Christmas.

Miss Merry Christmas

Sending you some Holiday love.

Good Sport

Dalanie disappeared upstairs. Twenty minutes later, she was hollering down to Brother. "Eat! Brother! Eat!" He complied and even offered the blessing on their water soup. With another sister now, I'm sure this is only the beginning of Brother's tea party career.

Cold Cheek Cure

Things here at our house have been all bundled-up, cozy, and somewhat confined with the newborn. Although I've been doing some Christmas activities with the kids, they've still been a bit out of sorts. (Like major fit throwing, disobedient, and grouchy.) When I ran out to get the mail in the frigid weather, they begged to come out. Fine then. No time to argue with how miserable and cold they'd be.

Brother headed out way under dressed and I bundled Sissy a little better. When we got outside Brother had already found the snow shovel and employed himself in the snow removal business. He said, "It feels good, like service!" Despite the cold air and relatively short stay outside, their cheeks were nice and rosy.The cold, crisp air did something for them and for me. We climbed back inside and ordered up a nice batch of hot chocolate in the CocoaMotion. Mmmmm Good.

One Week's Time

It's amazing how fast things can change. Last week Ruby was still a compact little package, stuffed inside my about-to-explode tummy. She was still referred to as "It" and still making me nauseous.

Now her newborn spots have disappeared and she's a beautiful baby girl. She's a content baby and so sweet. We're all madly in love with her.