Burley Workday

This spring, Brent spent a lot of time in Burley.  The girls hitched a ride with him to visit Grandma and then Hudson, Delsie, and I would join the fun after music lessons.  Things were going just as planned, we were even on schedule!  But then it was a complete dejavu of a different trip to Burley when the car gave us fits.  Same lights and warning at about the same place just outside of Pocatello.  I pulled over, added more oil and tried to limp our way to Burley but outside of Raft River the engine started knocking like a diesel.  That's when we pulled over and waited for the rescue crew.

Delsie and Hudson were both in good company for the wait.

Dad and his trusty car dolly to the rescue!  He has saved me on more than one occasion.  He delivered it to the mechanic where a new engine was recommended.   Not really something we wanted to hear, but considering crazy time of year and that Brent needed my suburban in a week or two we went ahead and had it replace.

Delsie kept Grandpa's rainbow bugs company on the floor.

And the kids and I helped with pruning and cleaning up the orchard.  Four wheelers have now replaced the riding lawn tractors as their go to work horses.

Hudson got to run the electric chain saw.  And like most jobs, he out of the starting gates with all sorts of excitement.  No one can help and then all too soon some part of his body begins to get tired and achy and he jumps ship.  But nevertheless, he helped.

It wouldn't be a spring workday without a weiner roast.  It was my first time using the new fire pit complete with tables and seating.

And since we missed several community egg hunts, Grandma hosted her own and the kids got coupon. 

Delsie cooperated and was good to let us get so much done.

Big Day

It's a big deal for any kid to turn 8 years old, but it's even better when your 8th birthday is on a Sunday.  That means you get to get baptized that very day.  And since all the family will be together, your baby sister gets to be blessed too.

Here's the invitation that Nikkala designed for me:

Hudson and I had a little preliminary photo shoot.  He ate it up.  Mom's undivided attention and he got to help think of picture spots and poses.  It was hard narrowing them down, but we picked the bottom right one to include with his invitation.

 

And since we were mailing things out, we decided to kill two birds with one stone and include Delsie's [late] birth announcement.  Nikkala also designed it.

 

One Proud Dad

I am so lucky to have such a good husband and father of my children.  I am grateful he is worthy of the priesthood he holds and able to perform blessings and ordinances for our family.  

Delsie K. Hillman:

-blessed with health and happiness as her mature spirit has entered her earthly body

-reminded to take care of her body, as it is a gift from her Heavenly Father

-blessed with a keen sense of what is right and wrong

-blessed with a desire to stay close to Heavenly Father's path as she makes decisions, that she might be aware of consequences and blessings

-blessed that she might approach her responsibilities with seriousness and fulfill them

-blessed with a desire to gain a testimony and to share it 

-blessed with the ability to be happy and cheerful during times of trouble

 I was giddy when I found this blessing dress with embroidered with shamrocks.  Afterall, she was being blessed on St. Patricks day.

It came as no surprise that she was content and happy during the blessing.  She is such a mellow baby and a true delight to have in our family.  We used the afghan that Grandma JoAnn had crocheted.

Hudson was able to help plan his entire baptism.  I took the liberty to schedule it at the Firth building since that it where we observed several baptisms while serving in the Spanish branch.  He had both Grandpa's speak  (Grandpa Hillman spoke on baptism and Grandpa Parish spoke on the Holy Ghost)  and both Grandma's offered prayers.  Cousin Kenzie played the piano, Uncle Chod lead the music, and Elder Zamora bore his testimony.  We sang, When I am Baptized and The Church of Jesus Christ.  I prepared a slide show that we played while they were getting dressed.

I knew it was going to be crazy, so I asked Lori Jolley if she would make this awesome cake.  She was such a lifesaver and actually made three cakes!  We liked that it was clean and white on the outside and rainbow colored inside to remind us of the baptism song (oh, and St. Patrick-sy to.)

 Since the majority of family was traveling home right after, we had a dinner before they hit the road. 

We had tremendous support from family and friends.  It was indeed a special day for Hudson and our entire family.

St. Patty's Celebrations

The fact that our birthday boy was turning eight meant several things, one of which was that family was in town to do some celebrating with us.  And since the Stephens crew was participating in their own Shamrock Shuffle, we decided to host our own (Hudson said, they get to do all the fun things.) 

It was a breezy day, but warm enough to enjoy some time outside.  We started off with a game of softball, kids vs adults.  Grandpa was making double plays and teaching the kids the real rules ie) no sympathy or gimmes.

Then it was time for the race and all the participants donned race numbers and all the green they could round up.

We had some very serious competitors as you can see at the starting line.

Of course, Ruby teamed up with Grandma and Grandpa.  They reported this observation from her:  "My mouth feels tired.  I think I swallowed some sunshine."

All winners got these gummy bunny teeth. They proved to be quite entertaining.

The kids sure loved doting over their little cousins. 

Ruby teased Tuff with a sucker.  Aunt Tameka finally conceded and let him have one.

Grandma and Grandpa invited us to their hotel for a swimming party.  The moms cut out, did a little shopping on their own, and delivered the pizza.

The leprechauns showed up during the night with some cereal and green milk.  Delsie had some festive jammies so she wouldn't get pinched.

The festivities continued after church with a treasure hunt that I outsourced to the Western boys.  They did a great job and everyone had smiles despite the colder weather.

The prize was a pinata that the kids got to whack around.  Hudson was insistent on one and picked out the sombrero.

He refused to blow out his candles but fanned them out with his cowboy hat. 

Our green dessert, key lime pie and mint brownies.

He got the customary scriptures, tie tacks, scripture case and marker.  We also got him a new pair of chinks he had outgrown.  But it turned into a scout themed birthday.  He got his own scout shirt and two pocketknives and is stoked about becoming a cubscout.