Pay It Forward

Since I was the winner of Nikkala's Pay It Forward I decided I'd better educate myself and find out just what all this PIF giveaway was all about.

If you need a little enlightening yourself, check this description out.

So against my better judgement, I'm going to combine my Making Me Happy giveaway and have a double duty giveaway. You can comment here or there to be entered to win.

I don't want this to be all about winning because quite frankly- you might not find the prize to be nearly as "happy" as I do.

I've been inspired by this quote "Some pursue happiness, others create it." So go out there (or in so many cases stay home) and create some happiness today! In that way we can all be involved in Paying It Forward.

Making Me Happy Give Away

Since I still haven't gotten a new memory stick for my camera, I am without pictures to inspire a post so here goes a happy list.
1. Our public library - Maybe I don't get out much, but I love the great resource it's been for me as a mom. They have all sorts of themed boxes for kids (complete with games and puppets,) movies/dvds galore, stamp sets, and church help books (like every single Finch Family book ever published.) I just checked out one full of FHE games. . . now for that laminator that I've always wanted.

2. Which brings me to #2. Our ward library because they have a laminator. It is available for personal use as long as you pay for the laminating film. Hooray. They're open on Tuesdays, so next time Brent has mutual- I might load up the car with all my projects that are still in need of lamination and get busy.3. Seeing all the pink and red valentines paraphernalia in the stores. It causes me dream of sugar cookies, cupcakes, and dipping anything in chocolate.

4. The aerobics class I have been going to since it quickly puts and end to all of my "sweet dreams" and reminds me of the importance to eat better and take care of myself. I especially enjoy the times that we do interval workouts. Its rigorous and cruel, but it's great having and entire gym full of women sweating with you.

5. Visiting teaching. I just got new assignments and am looking forward to making new and improving on existing friendships.6. Oriental Trading. If you think they're only good at school carnival prizes, think again. They have some cool craft and hobby supplies. More specifically their buttons. I seriously can't keep my hands off them. Their bright colors and funky shapes are sure to make anyone happy.

7. People that will stand up to Mr. Hudson and not let him bully them around. And Miss Dalanie has got this ticket. Ever since I have bathed them together, I've had to police the water to make sure Hudson wasn't giving sissy the ancient water torture. As of late it's been a different story. Dalanie has become a crazy splasher (like leave-no-water-in-the-tub kind of splasher) and quite frankly, Hudson can't stand that Dalanie doesn't pay any attention to his commanding "STOP!!" Bath time has now been put to an abrupt halt by him crying and begging to get out. You go girl!

8. Blog give aways. And since I've actually never hosted such an event before (drum roll) I have decided to end my boring blogging streak. It's easy to enter, just leave a comment about what makes you happy. You've got a week so get busy.

Winter Fun

The sky has been gray for so long I can 't remember what it looks like blue. The moisture is always welcome, but I'm getting ready for the sun to come out and play. During our random trip to Logan, Uncle Chris went out and played in the snow with Hudson. He loved it and is still talking about his "Frosty." There's something about rosy cheeks and cold fingers that make me want to sit down to a bowl of Campbells soup for dinner.

Road Closed

Yesterday Brent and I loaded the kids up intended on going up to Bone and snowmobiling into his dad's cabin. We followed his brother and dad up. Tracy called us and said, "There's a road closed sign, but we just went around it." Well a few miles further on and we realized that they were for real. The blowing snow made the road impassable.The funny thing is, we saw a lot of other people beyond the road closed sign.

Next time I see one of the barricades, I'm going to believe it.

New Year, New Look

She's all smiles. A Mom with scissors doesn't scare her.

I've been threatening for a few days now that I was going to give Lanie a haircut. I decided to put my words into action and pull out the scissors. For some reason her girl hair scared me quite a bit more than Hudson's. I didn't want her to end up with a butch job (which has become my specialty.) Her hair was freakishly long and needed to be pulled up in piggies or it would swallow her eyes. Well . . . without further adieu:

No Fear

I grew up in the era of No Fear t-shirts. You'd think I wouldn't have a fear in the world and this list wouldn't exist. But following Mom's lead --If you had no fear of anything what 20 things would you do?

1. Learn to play the guitar
2. Open my own business (Some kind of catering/event planning or 2nd hand chic)
3. Go downhill skiing
4. Go back to school to be a nurse
5. Go back to Russia
6. Learn Spanish and speak it
7. Be more bold in my missionary efforts
8. Not worry when Brent goes snowmobiling
9. Instruct aerobics
10.Move to Chile
11. Finally jump off the high dive at Lava
12.Complete the LotaJa
13.Take a dance class
14.Join the ward choir
15.Get a manicure
16.Become more computer saavy
17.Home school my children
18.Live like a pioneer for a year
19.Stomp on a mouse
20.Globe Trekking

After completing this list, I realize that fear isn't the only limiting factor. Too many times I am the greatest limiting factor.

No Good at Good-Byes

My first grade class put on a program at the end of the school year. Some parent recorded it and distributed copies to the class members. Throughout the summer I would watch it and end up outside, under one of the pine trees in our yard, crying. Every time. You'd think I'd catch on to the ending. That was a difficult summer for me. Graduating 1st grade and enjoying summer vacation can be such a hard transition.
The other day I experienced another difficult good bye. Once we had Nikkala, Chod, and Bentley packed up and ready to move to Logan I awkwardly stood in their carport waiting to say farewell. Nik gave me a hug and suddenly my throat got hard and tense as I tried fighting back the tears. Just a few, inconsequential words squeaked out before a few little saline drops had escaped. I was trying so hard not to cry but those tears can escape the tightest clenched eyes. I hurried to our pickup, like my pine tree of long ago and had a little cry.
I think I'll hang on to my Christmas tree as long as possible. I might be needing it.

Christmas 2007

The blizzard like conditions on the 24th made for a beautiful, white Christmas. Snow and kids make Christmas as far as I'm concerned. Since we had both, it was a wonderful day.

I think Santa's bag had a hole in it because he seemed to leave more than deserved at our house.

Hudson got a little toy camera in his stocking. Through out the morning, whenever he would see me taking a picture, he would run and get his. It was very cute. He's a gracious little kid. He loved to tell Santa, Mom and Dad or Sissy thank you.

Christmas Sunday

As a girl, I remember getting new dresses for some of the special holidays. Now that we have a girl, I decided a new dress was appropriate. And since Hudson doesn't wear dresses, he got a new suit.

Gingerbread Knock-Offs

You can search our home, but you won't find any gingerbread houses. Instead, we used the ever-faithful, never crumbling graham cracker to construct our holiday abodes. It was a bunch of family fun. After constructing a house for Hudson, he took control placing candy at his discretion and helping me squeeze frosting all over for snow. I'm pretty sure that he ate more than he put on his house.

Here they are- in no particular order:

Hillman Forage Work Party

We survived hosting an appreciation/ Christmas party for our employees. It was at our home and I (okay, so really Nik saved the day by helping me) cooked a prime rib dinner. We hadn't ever attempted prime rib, but it turned out pretty well. We served it up with twice baked potatoes, steamed veggies, a spinach/cashew/bleu cheese salad, and Sherelle's eggnog cheesecake.
We debuted the 2007 Harvest Video- which Brent spent so much time on creating. Like ridicuously long hours, late into several nights kind of time. We sent everyone home with their own copy.
It's nice to have it over with. I kind of stressed. Today we're justing kicking back and enjoying the remainder of the holiday season.

"I Won't Go Until I Get Some!"

If Dalanie could sing, she'd be demanding "Now bring me that rice-y pudding! Now bring me that rice-y pudding and bring it right here! I won't go until I get some. . ." After a few days of her needing to eat ever hour and a half, I decided it was time to introduce her to some cereal. She loves this stuff. She will grab my hand and pull the into her mouth. Look at those cheeks, doesn't she look like she's starving?

Best Friend

I've never had to go far to find my best friend. She's been around for as long as I can remember. There have been times that I didn't realize the blessing of having a best friend in the same house as me. But now that I've grown up, I treasure all the time we've spent together.

Nikkala makes a great friend because:
She is always so willing to help- whether it's church, friends, or family.
We have the same shopping sense- clearance racks.
She could pick out my meal at a restaurant.
She is always learning and keeping me up-to-date on the latest.
She was a 2nd mom to Hudson when I drove truck in corn harvest and is a great aunt.
She puts a lot of effort into all of her relationships.
She is the most thoughtful gift giver I know.

Nik is an awesome sister and friend. Happy Birthday!

Unimog

Uni what? Unimog. The ultimate in off road, suspension, and versatility. My husband has had an obsession with these crazy looking vehicles for several years now. Recently his obsession turned possession. This is now OUR unimog.

Go ahead, start looking around online to find more about them. Chances are, you'll be intrigued as well.

All Aboard

Ever since I read Hudson the Polar Express at the beginning of this month, he has wanted to go on a train ride. And because Brent and I celebrated our 5th anniversary last week, we decided a little getaway was in order. Nothing fancy since a nursing mother can't get far from her sucking child. We loaded up the kids and left town. Our getaway revolved around this train ride. We left Thursday and headed for Midway, Ut. It was a beautiful drive into an enchanting winter wonderland. We stayed at Zermatt.

Since all of the Polar Express rides were sold out, we went on a ride during the day. Hudson wasn't the only one who enjoyed the ride. Sissy had a good nap as we swayed back and forth to the clickety clack of the passing rail. Santa even joined us for part of the ride.After the train ride, we went and browsed Robert Duncan's studio.

We wrapped our trip up by getting together with my family for a little Christmas party and sleepover at Town Suites in Layton. Saturday brought some shopping and deal discovering.

By the end of the trip, Dalanie didn't want anything to do with her carseat. Which meant I spent most of the ride home facing backward, trying to console her to no avail.

Can you say frazzled?

It was a relief to get home. Traveling with kids can sure be a lot of work.

My Own Pioneer Woman Post

For all of you p-dub blog readers out there, I decided to let you in on the cattle working we did today.

We had to sort all of the cows and heifers out from the herd. Then it was time to run them through the chute for their yearly exam -- preg-testing. (Let me just tell you how glad I am that my OBGYN doesn't have that long of a glove.) Next we gave them a few vaccines and treated them for parasites. I was primarily responsible for keeping the cows lined up and moving through the chute.
All in all, the snow added to the romance of the wild west.

Long may she live.

Handy Hudson for Hire

As Hudson's playground has been moved inside for the winter, he's started tinkering. I love everything about tinkering and can't wait to grow old and buy myself a cement mixer to do a little tinkering of my own- but that's a post all in itself. His tool box has become permanently fixed to his arm. He carries it around until he sees something he thinks needs a little work. Christmas trees, sissy's exersaucer, chairs, and toys to name a few. It's comical to watch him pull out a crescent wrench or hammer for the appropriate task. Either he has learned some of this by watching people or he has a natural gift for it.

He's gotten to be quite confident with his "fixing"/problem solving skills. So much that when Dalanie cries he tries offering her a treat or tractor- because that seems to always make him happy. When that doesn't work he yells "Feed Her!"

Dishwasher Dilemma

I've never been a big fan of cleaning out the dishwasher, but a few months ago- I absolutely dreaded it. Slowly, our dishwasher began losing it's cleaning ability. All of the glasses were cloudy and streaked and many items came out dirtier than when I put them in. I began cussing the stupid appliance swearing up and down I'd just have to start washing dishes by hand again. After a series of repairmen (2) coming and telling me to use less detergent, pouring vegetable oil into it, and other nonsense they asked if we had a water softener. We sure did. But I ran into some problems with it, so I just unplugged it until Brent could take a look.
Finally. . . . Brent got it hooked back up and oh my! Clean dishes again! Now every time I open the door and see sparkling dishes, I beam. It brings smiles to my face. Who knew cleaning out a dishwasher could be so much fun?

Baby Blue, Lanie Lou

Our Little Lanie turned 4 months last week. She shared the "birthday" with her Grandma Hillman. Since I'm already lacking in the baby book department, I opted to record a few milestones here.
She still has all of her hair, albeit lighter.
She loves to suck and chew on her fingers, no particular ones.
She's getting good at blowing spit bubbles.
She full out laughs when she's getting tickled.
She still scares quite easy and is tenderhearted.
She refuses to take a bottle. In fact, they usually make her quite mad. No freedom for me. We don't ever get too far apart.
She prefers to be bundled tight to sleep. Quite appropriate for the season's talk of swaddling clothes.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

With the holidays in full swing, Christmas music streaming from our speakers, the scent of cinnamon pinecones wafting through the air, I had several potential titles for this post running through my head. If I were more techy, I'd compile segments from all the songs and let you listen, rather than read a blog. That being said, I'll proceed to type another boring post.

A week ago, we started to decorate the Christmas tree for FHE. It's been a work in progress, but it is finally complete. It's our first live tree. We got a WEPCO special tree stand and have been watering it regularly. We're hoping we can get it to sprout out like Dad always does. We have also hung our stockings over the chimney with care.

I hope you are all getting ready for the holidays and enjoying the process.