How Long Can It Take?

Before I got married, I'd fix myself a wrap for lunch and dinner. (Tortilla, lunch meat, cheese, and any fruit or vegetable I had in my fridge.) From meal prep to clean up, it took about 10 minutes from beginning to end. Then I got married and meals started taking a bit longer, but I became pretty proficient at whipping up something in less than 10 minutes when we were in the middle of farm work. Now that I have a child, mealtime takes F O R E V E R ! As I type this, Hudson has been sitting in his seat playing and eating with his food for over 50 minutes now and insists that he is not quite finished. I finally convinced him that he was finished by telling him he could feed the rest to Makita.

I swear. I do not know how we'll ever manage to get this kid to school on time. He'll have to start eating breakfast the night before.

Summer Fun

Warren Tribute

In honor of Father's Day I decided to give a little shout out to my Dad.

*He's a hard worker who taught me how to work. He also taught me how to make work fun. He can boogie to KBAR or make a game out of any chore.

*His top priority has always been his family. I can't remember a ball game or activity I was involved in where he wasn't there.

*Everyone in Burley knows him. Afterall, he's a legend.

*Whatever he is, he is the best. Whether it's scoutmaster, nursery leader, home teacher, welder, grandpa, dad, blogger, neighbor, or boat driver.

You're awesome Dad. In fact, all of your son-in-laws try to be like you. Can anyone pick out the real Warren? **Hint: The man in the white shoes is not him, even if the white shoes are his.

From all of us here at the Hillman household,
Happy Fathers Day! We love you.

Domestic Bliss

Whew! What a week. It's taken awhile to post, so I've got a lot to cover. In reaction to Nik's post "What does she do all day?" I've decided to recap my leisurely week as a housewife.
Monday- pack for Brent's high adventures, mow lawn, weed the garden, pick strawberries, Relief Society Meeting
Tuesday- baby Dr. appointment, make jam, have Mitch over to play with Hudson, conversation with neighbor about our unruly puppy- requests a new bike seat for his son since Makita chewed the other one, pack and entertain Hudson on our trip to SLC with Mom, Nik, and Bentley
Wednesday- waddle around shopping, try to keep up with Mom and Nik, (Does shopping wear anyone else out?) endure the 3+ hour car ride home, start watering lawn and garden, fix dinner for our unexpected visitors
Thursday - recover. laundry, unpack Brent's things from high adventure
Friday - clean house, spray weeds, pick strawberries, entertain Mitch, get new tires for the hay rake, get new bike seat and deliver it to neighbor, visit NiCole and see their new baby
Saturday - make cookies for ward Father's Day gift, make meal for VT sister that just had a baby, deliver meal and visit, find a babysitter for that night, call sisters in the ward to remind them about bringing cookies, go boating, attend friend's reception in St. Anthony, take Brent out for dinner
** and of course, the usuals like fixing meals, doing dishes, caring for Hudson, etc.
I'm sure many of you had a similar week. Hope you're ready for another Monday.

Things You Might Not Know About Me

I was tagged by Tammy to post some things you might not know about me. Since most of you are pretty familiar with me, these might not come as much of a surprise.

1. I got chicken pox the day before my 3rd grade track meet. It was a huge disappointment since my class had been running a mile everyday and I was pshyched for the "marathon." (Rumor had it I was the fastest girl in the school. Too funny considering my current pregnant state. I don't think I'd make it too far.)

2. I was I was selected to represent our school and community in an exchange program to Germany (known as the Daimler-Benz Award of Excellence.) I received an all expense paid trip to Germany for 2 1/2 weeks. It was luxurious since Daimler-Benz was picking up the tab.

3. My first kiss was after my freshman year of college. Hussy, I know.

4. I played rugby at USU until I suffered head trauma and got some sense knocked into me.

5. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket since high school (knock on wood.)

6. I really want a laminating machine.

7. I can drive an 18 wheeler (forward and backward), weld, grind, run a cutting torch, vaccinate and castrate calves. Why?!? Because my dad always said "It's better to make a tom-boy out of a girl than a sissy out of a boy."

Now that you all know me inside and out, I challenge you to come up with your own interesting list about yourself.

Gardening Adventures

I remember those quiet mornings out hoeing my garden, listening to the birds sing before there was Hudson. Now that I'm a mom, my garden weeding sounds more like this, "Hudson! Quit stepping on the peas!" "Hudson, don't hoe the carrots!" "Be careful when you swing your hoe." Today was no different. I had to tell him to not hoe my zinnias or marigolds. It will be a miracle if we are able to harvest anything from our garden.
For now, the safest place for him in the garden is in the corn. Brent has gone to great lengths to teach him about corn and it has paid off, since he can tell the difference between weeds and corn. He managed to hoe meticulously around the corn plants without causing any damage. I was quite impressed and almost forgot that he was only two. But then, he finished his weeding and proceeded to trample the corn on the way out of the patch. "Hudson! You're walking on the corn!" To which he turned around, walked back to the corn, laid down on his tummy, and kissed the corn he had stepped on.
So when the freezing temperatures come this fall and put and end to our garden, I suppose I won't remember all of the stepped on plants or how many bushels my garden yields, but I will remember Hudson's desire to help and the time we spent working together.
The addition of our puppy, Makita, has added another dimension to gardening. She runs over more plants than Hudson and me put together, often rolling on top of them. Some people have to worry about birds getting their strawberries, not me. Makita sniffs them out and eats them out of the patch.

Fancy Wheels

Our trip to Burley for Grandpa's funeral was good. It was fun to see family again, but I must say- all the Parish aunts are crazy. Never before have I had anyone touch my pregnant belly, until the viewing and I think they all had to get their hand on it. The funeral service was nice and appropriate. It was a beautiful day.

When we got home, I was looking through my pictures and found a few from when Grandpa snuck out in his Caddy to visit. He wasn't supposed to be driving, but who could resist with wheels like these?

Where's Hudson?

That's not much of a question anymore because I always find him in the same place- OUTSIDE. As soon as he's eaten enough breakfast, he has to take the rest out to Makita. Once he's dressed, he brings me his boots so I can help him put them on and then it's "bye." He likes his sandbox, playing with Makita, or digging in the dirt pile with his shovel and neighbor friends. All of his sock are now brown from spending a lot of time in his sweaty boots, in the company of all the dirt and sand he manages to get in them. I am having the go out and physically drag him inside for meals and bedtime. It's going to be a long summer.

Fun Site

Here's a fun site for all sorts of gospel related things. http://sugardoodle.net/ I've been working on some FHE lessons, but there's help for all sorts of things. Go check it out.

Grandpa Ole'

Saturday night Mom called to tell us that Grandpa wasn't doing well. On Sunday we got the news that he had passed away. Upon hearing the news I just sat there for awhile. Death has a way of evoking all sorts of emotions and memories. When Hudson and I were home last (for Tameka's graduation) we went in and visited him. It was 10:30 in the morning and he was still in bed. We talked, all the while he stayed lying down. (I guess I didn't realize that his health had detiorated so much. I was actually a little bothered that he never sat up.) He said he was excited for us to get a new baby girl and that Hudson was a good looking young man. Before we left, I gave him a hug and a kiss, not knowing that it would be my last visit with him.

Looking back, I'm glad that I went in and visited him. I imagine that Grandpa will give our baby a big love before she comes to us. I hope I can teach our children about their Grandparents who have passed away and continue to make them a part of our lives since their lives have influenced who we are today.

Simple Reminder

Yesterday I was reminded of why I ever wanted to have another baby and wade through another nine months of pregnancy. It went something like this. I was lying on Hudson's floor, trying to take a rest while he played. I asked him to get me his pillow off of his bed. He quickly handed it to me. Before I knew it, he was unfolding his blanket and covering me up. He got another blanket for himself and laid down next to me. A minute later, he looked at me, wiped the hair out of my eyes, and proceeded to give me three kisses on my forehead. As soon as he had done that, he was up and playing again.

Camping Out

I found this little tent while garage selling a few weeks ago. After trying to set it up outside in gale force winds, we opted to bring it inside. It now occupies a corner in Hudson's room. He absolutely loves it. We read stories and play games in there. When it's nap time, we head for the tent. And bedtime it's back to the tent again. Every once and awhile he chooses to sleep in his bed. We might have to take the tent down so it's no longer an option as I continue to get fatter. It's not the prettiest sight to watch me wallow in and out. I'm afraid I might become stuck in it one of the days.

Memorial Day Memories

Brent didn't have to plant corn until the afternoon, so we got up and ready and headed out for breakfast. We ended up dining with the locals at North Hi-Way Cafe. It's a fun little dive. We topped breakfast off with a fresh slice of strawberry pie. Next we headed to Tautphaus Park Zoo. Hudson was so excited. He pushed his stroller around more than he rode in it. The tiger exhibit was definitely his favorite. It was fun to have Brent come with us for a change.

Hudson spotted a slide on our way out of the park, so we stopped and let him run around. He went crazy. Brent didn't realize that he enjoyed slides so much. FunLand was open, so we took Hudson for a little train ride. He was so excited that he was running/hopping the entire way to the train. Once we got his tickets purchased and put him in a seat, he quickly changed his mind. From the first lunge out of the station he was screaming. It continued around the track twice. We must have worn him out because he fell asleep on the way home.

Mom, Mom, This?!?

This phrase explains what I've been up to. Hudson and I play this game all day, everyday lately. It gets tiring at times, but I am surprised at all that he is learning. It has definitely made me more aware of the little things.
We spent the last part last week in Burley, to celebrate Tameka's graduating, and to hang out. By Friday Hudson was saying "Momma, Momma, this?!?" Mom assured me that she could handle it since she raised 4 children of her own.

Family Affair

Last night we loaded Makita up in the back of the pickup and set out to help Brent change water. Okay, well I had no intentions of setting any siphon tubes, but decided to take my camera and tag along. Hudson was looking stylish with his boots and shorts on. Makita loved the water. She swam across the ditch and ran through the water. I'm thinking she'll be quite entertaining if we should ever take her out in the boat.

Here's My Sign

I don't know what this sign does for the rest of you- but for me, it's exhilarating. It gets my blood pumping. Call me weird, I know, but there are few things in life that get me as excited as garage saling. The hunt and anticipation of finding "good stuff" makes me happy.
Garage sale season is in full swing around here. Today Hudson was my partner in crime. We set out at 7:30. Our adventures yielded a children's bike seat (the ones that attach to your own bike) by RhodeGear, jogging stroller by Schwinn, small Texaco sign, antique garden shears and clippers, and kid and baby clothes. All in all it was a fun day. Hudson also got 2 scraped up knees from running. (I guess it was pretty hard for him to keep up with me.) If anyone would like to join me, I'll probably be going again next Saturday.

Big Boy Bed

I decided to post a few pictures from Hudson's room, since he's finally sleeping there. For the past two weeks he has been sleeping in his own bed, in his own room. I don't think it was really his problem that he slept in his crib up until then. I kept putting off moving him to his own room since it's on a different floor. Yes, I'm the same mom that kept him in a bassinet in our room until he was probably 4 months old because I thought the other end of the trailer house was too far. But so far, so good. I was even able to hear him the other night when he started crying during the middle of the night.

I still have things to get hung up on the wall, but the stripes did a lot for the room. I was shooting for an old gas station feel since we're decorating it with cars.

Out Shopped

Today I was out shopped at DI by Nikkala. It came as quite a surprise considering that she's never really enjoyed going into this store, let alone browsing. I had looked at all I wanted to and she said there was still another rack that she wanted to look through. Can it be, can a person be converted and learn to enjoy DI? I think so. And it was a lot of fun to have her browsing with me.

Grandma Bennett

A dear friend of mine, Grandma Bennett, passed away on Saturday. I adopted her and her husband as "grandparents" while I was attending school at USU. Since graduating and moving from Logan, I have continued to visit the Bennetts. Visitis became a little less frequent when they moved to an assisted living home in SLC. I met Grandma after she had several medical complications, including a stroke. Despite her health conditions, she was always so sweet and optimistic. I will miss visiting with her. She was a special lady.

MH King

Growing up, we had a Kings in Burley long before WalMart. I remember getting all of our school supplies there and gifts for Secret Sisters. The small town I live in also has a Kings. Yesterday I went there to get Hudson some shoes he can get on/off himself. We found "crocs" for $5.00. They also had little ankle socks for him (I've been looking all over for them.) We also bought him some Bob pj's (they were already discounted and they took an additional 50%) making them $2.25! What a deal. I came home and am in love with Kings. It's all I could talk about when Brent got home. So if you live near a Kings, go visit it today. Oh yeah, tomorrow (Sat. May 12th) they're having a free make and take it. Your kiddies get to pick out a flower, pot it, and bring it home for their Mom in honor of Mother's Day. I think I'll have to take Hudson.