Informal Tradition

We have an awesome fake tree. We bought it many (?) years ago. I love the way it looks full and beautiful. The drawback is that each bough is separate from the trunk meaning that it is a pain to put up and take apart. After you figure out where each bough goes, you then have to "fluff" it and it scratches your arms to do it. Are you getting a mental picture yet? It is a pain. Well, I've always wanted the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving and Rick never wants to help. He used to be a big of a humbug, but he's much better now though he still hates putting up our tree.

So here's our tradition. It takes us at least 3 days to set up our Christmas tree. The 1st day we put it together and fluff as much as we can stand. The 2nd day we finish fluffing and put the lights on. Unfortunately, putting the lights on almost always causes a fight in itself. What a royal pain! Even though I checked all 4 strands we were using (really needed 5) the last one only half works this year so the bottom isn't lit. The 3rd day we put the ornaments up. While I have gotten used to this tradition and don't mind it so much as long as Rick is helping, the kids are getting older and aren't so patient for it taking 3 days to finish. We tried to put our ornaments on tonight, but Annie and Darren are still sick. Annie didn't even want to help. Darren just wanted me to hold him unless he saw a breakable ornament, which he would try to get and then throw a fit because I wouldn't let him have it :) Carlyn was having a great time and the ornaments that made it on (just a portion) are all in one small section of the tree. I think we may just leave it. I don't care too much this year. I'll have to take a picture, but with me and the little ones being sickies, I'm not exactly energetic.

I Am Glad For Many Things...

Many things, many things. I am glad for many things that are mine today. :)

I'm happy to be at my parent's house today for Thanksgiving. I like to cook and don't mind doing the turkey, except when I'm pregnant. I'm obviously, totally, obsessively thankful for my little family and my sweet husband. I'm thankful for so many things that I'm frankly too tired to list :) Here's a small list: the gospel, good friends, my mom & sisters (& sister-in-law), my van. I hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am.

This Weekend

I should have put all my posts in one, but I didn't realize I was going to do them all. Don't miss the others I did today. That said, I didn't really take pictures either.

Friday night we went to good old North Sanpete High School to see their annual musical, which was Suessical this year. My mom has helped for years but this year my older sister, Carisa, is the choir teacher, so she took over. She did the voice coaching and directed the orchestra. She was awesome. Her 4 girls were also in it and were so cute. The night we saw it Sharice was in the bird chorus, Jaycie was the little kangaroo (she's was Sharice's understudy and that cast was doing it that night), Aili & Evynn were Who's and were the Mayor's daughters and Evynn was the Elephant Bird at the end, if you've ever seen it before. It was very fun and even though it was a short trip we had fun.

Today in church Anneliese didn't want to be reverent during the Sacrament and I was telling her to think about Jesus then handed her a ABC reverent book and pointed to Jesus. She then said (none too quietly), "That's Jesus. I love Jesus," then she kissed the picture. "Jesus loves me." Then she kissed every picture of Jesus in the book and proceeded to the other pictures. Even though she wasn't very reverent, it was so cute and I couldn't really be mad. I love Jesus too and I would love to kiss him and tell him that. :)

A neighbor family does a Music Night occasionally and we went tonight. They invite you to join in, and for the most part it is children, but a few adults. The kids do as simple as sing "Yankee Doodle" or "ABC's" but it gives them experience in front of people. Last time we went Carlyn looked upset and when asked what was wrong she said, "I wanted to do something." She didn't know what she wanted to do though. So we went home and I pulled out my small selection of music and gave her some choices. She chose to learn "Reflections" from Mulan. I can't play it very well when I'm nervous, but it was really cute. She sang quietly and I know she knew it better than she let on, but for a 5 year old, I think she did really great. She didn't even seem nervous. I was shaking. I'm really proud of her.

So Cool!

This is my brother's film. Not the one talking, but the director, Barrett Hilton. Check out this link: http://www.bakersfield.com/1439/story/616122.html

He's going to be famous someday, I'm sure, so make a note of his name :)

2 Awesome Giveaways

Please go to these sites for awesome giveaways. This is my friends site: http://www.babyblvd.blogspot.com/

and this is a site with baby products http://www.mytinysweetcheeks.blogspot.com/

Go check it out!

The Things Kids Say

Annie to Darren: Darren no swiping. Darren no swiping. Darren NO Swiping!

Carlyn to Mommy: Mommy, I love you past death. :)

Annie to Daddy playing World of Warcraft: Look, dat's your fire horse. Oh, you dead. You dead!

Carlyn to Annie: If you keep doing that, I'm going to take it away and you will have a time-out.

Carlyn to Mommy: Mommy, you are my favorite Mommy. Today I love you the most.

Annie to Mommy: No, I want Daddy. I want Daddy! (Usually the biggest Mommy's girl until bedtime!)

Darren to Mommy: Mama, wan Mama. (After being told grandma or mama was coming to visit today. It was so cute!)

Carlyn to Darren: Darren, you are giving me a headache. (In her defense, the boy is noisy and could give anyone a headache!)

Carlyn to Mommy: I wish we had enough money to go to Disneyland everyday.

I know Annie says funny things all the time, but I can't remember them. Oh well.

Carlyn Birthday Party Pics

Okay, so I'm a slacker, due to morning sickness, because Carlyn's party was 2 weeks ago. I'm doing the best I can. I was a bad mom though and didn't take any pictures during the party, which I normally do, until the present opening. For her party, Carlyn wanted some friends to come for a Princess Tea Party. It was so fun. Thanks to my friend Alicia who helped me because I was really not feeling well that day and had already cleaned my messy house for the party. Anyway, we played Duck, Duck, Goose, Pin the Crown on the Princess, Musical Chairs, and had a little Dance Party (per Carlyn's request.) Then we had a fun little tea party (it kills me that I didn't take a picture) with a doily, plate, napkin and tea cup for everyone (the doilies were Carlyn's idea.) We had little cookies, pb&j sandwiches cut up into strips, tiny cupcakes and don't forget the pink lemonade. It was so cute and so fun! When we started to have the tea party some of the kids looked around nervously and said, "I don't drink tea." What cute kids! I said that was okay because it was lemonade and they felt much better. After the tea party we read a princess story and opened presents. We finished with a Disney Princess Sing Along movie.

Here is Princess Cinderella Carlyn ready for presents.

Here are the Princess sisters.

Carlyn's cousin gave her these vampire teeth. I just thought it looked funny.

Anneliese & her cousin Evynn were both Snow White.

After the friends party we had a family party. We had some pizza and cupcakes then opened presents. The only bummer about the day was that Rick was absent because he was working in our yard with a tractor to clear out the back yard (jungle) all day. I really missed him there, but he worked really hard and now we are ready for sprinklers and sod when we can afford them. We had a good turnout though. Grandma Hilton, Grandpa Hilton, Great Grandma Hilton, Parker, Maren, Mathew, Lindsay, Carisa, Sharice, Jaycie, Aili, Evynn, Grandma Linda, Maureen, Delenn, Belinda, & Josh. We missed everyone who couldn't be there but we had fun. The girls were really loving everyone, I thought, and Darren was a hoot.

The girls with Grandma Linda.

Carlyn and her birthday cupcake being held by Parker.

Sorry, baby D. This is what comes of having older sisters, but in my defense you put these on yourself but got frustrated trying to take the necklace off.

Rick does such a good job of decorating their room. It stayed up for a week and a half. She was asleep in her bed while he did this too :)

They make a big deal out of birthdays at preschool. This is from her computer class in the morning. Notice her new outfit. So cute, thanks grandma.

This is from her afternoon preschool. She was so excited to have Miss Jani give her her own cake. It was so cute. She got to take cupcakes to preschool for all her friends and she loved it.

Her birthday fell on a Wednesday, our busiest day of the week. So after her dance class we had lasagna, her favorite dish. We had some cake and gave her our present. She had requested a jewelry box and "real jewleries."

I had a hard time finding "real" jewelry that I thought appropriate for a 5 year old, but found these at wal-mart. In case you can't tell, they say "Angel" "Cutie" and "Princess" which suited her just perfectly. She's worn them almost everyday since.

This last picture I had to add because it is from Carlyn's favorite friend right now, Amy R., whom she sits with in Sacrament meeting and Carlyn just loves her. Thanks Amy for remembering Carlyn. It made her night.

Quick Question

I don't know if it will happen or not, but we may be going to Disneyland soon. I'm wondering if anyone has tips on taking little kids there or if they have ideas for the kids on the road trip. They hate the car for a little while and I'm nervous about a long haul. At least gas is cheaper!

Surprise!

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? A few people already know, because when you continue being sick for weeks on end, its kind of obvious to people you see everyday.

***I am about 11 weeks. Due June 1st, assuming the dr agrees. I'm trying to get in soon. Thanks everyone.

My Little Linney

My little Linney isn't so little anymore. She's turning 5 tomorrow, November 5th. This is more for me, than anyone else, so skip this long part if you want to :)

5 years ago I was in labor, already for about 7 hours after being induced due to a major fluid drop overnight. I really wanted a natural birth but I didn't start out in the best conditions. I hadn't slept well the night before and I hadn't eaten anything since then either. I got up to have a non stress test, as I was a week overdue, and they told me not to eat. Then I told them I thought my water broke, so the checked the fluid. They said it didn't "break" but there was a definite loss of fluid. I waited an hour for the doctor to come talk to me and tell me she thought I needed to be started. They still didn't let me eat even though I waited another hour or two for Rick to finish the project he was on and come to the hospital. I was starving by this time and very anxious for a baby. To make it shorter, I was induced and didn't do anything much for hours and hours, so the Doc told me she wanted to "crank my pitocin". This was sometime toward the next morning and while I was doing my hypnobirthing pretty well, I was exhausted already. She said she would recommend having an epidural then because I wouldn't be able to handle the pitocin and I didn't want to put the baby at risk in case I had to have a c-section. I bawled and bawled, but finally got an epidural and was able to rest. After being on strong pitocin for hours and I was still only dilated to an 8 and the baby didn't drop, her heart rate did drop and the doc informed me that we were doing a c-section. NOW. I was scared to death and scared for my baby. Rick gave me a blessing and the surgery went well, but it was rough on both of us and they whisked Carlyn away to help her breath better. She was born about 4 pm and I didn't see her until about 9, I think. Anyway, I finally got to hold my baby girl and she was beautiful. She had the hardest time during birth and had to have an IV to hopefully prevent any infections from the long labor. She also had jaundice and I only got to hold her to feed her in the hospital.

Look at my angel! She worked the IV in her hand out and had to have it in her head later. It made me cry, but she smiled at me and it was okay.

This was a few days later. What a sweet thing, huh?

This began our journey as parents. Sweet Carlyn. We love you so much. We have enjoyed being your parents and continue to love you so much!

Trunk or Treat, Halloween, & a Little Extra

Okay, I think I'll do this in chronological order. We dressed up the kids on the 25th and took them downtown to the Gallivan Plaza Block Party. Look at these cute kiddies. I loved how they looked. They were roasting in their long sleeved shirts, poor kids. It was a very warm day and Halloween was pretty warm too.

Carlyn choosing her pumpkin from the Block Party. They were out of decorations though, which worked out fine and we took the pumpkins home to decorate, which never happened. Oh well.All the kids at the Trunk or Treat. Darren really had a good time. He loves candy and his favorite in the world are suckers. Belinda was going around with him and had to keep him away from me or he cried for a sucker. So funny.

The next day was our Anniversary, as mentioned earlier. Carlyn took this picture of us that night. We sure look different than we did 8 years ago. (Look how long my hair has gotten.)

I took a picture of this one because I thought it was funny and creative of Carlyn and Annie to stick these tub toys to the tub wall, 1 in each square. There's D's head in the picture. He walked straight up, bent over and did a flip in the tub. After making sure he was fine, I took a picture while he was crying. Am I mean or what? I thought it was hilarious.

One morning I wasn't feeling well and I slept in because Darren did and I woke up to find this. They had made a bed for themselves, put in a movie, and got snacks. I LOVE it when they can take care of themselves like that. What cute & good girls!

We had FHE at a friend's house on Monday night and Rick put Annie in the car while he came to get Carlyn & Darren. She was complaining of being tired, so he just put her in and shut the door. I was talking in the kitchen for at least 15 minutes before I freaked out asking where Annie was. Then Rick said he put her in the van so we ran out and she was asleep, sweet little thing. She's good that way and will tell me when she's tired.

Here's my silly little Tinkerbell. Her hair was cute at the trunk or treat, but it was hard to do her hair in a ponytail, so I decided to do pigtails for Halloween. It was adorable and stayed much better. This picture makes me understand why my parents used to call me a little imp!

Here is D with cute whiskers on Halloween. He was such a doll that day and enjoyed very much being mobile and collecting was more candy than I'll let him eat. We noticed that our friends, whose kids are similar to ours in ages (theirs are spaced further apart and are also girl, girl, boy) had dressed their kids in similar costumes to our kids. So we had to get pictures. Here is Darren & Jake as a lion and tiger on Joel's lap. I love that grin.

Here is Joclyn and Anneliese as Tinkerbells. They wouldn't look at the camera at the same time and I couldn't get Annie to sit better. Here is Jensyn and Carlyn as Snow White and Cinderella. Two of the most beautiful princesses ever, I'd say. They've been friends since they were born. So cute!

We made to rounds to client's offices, grandma's houses, & friend's houses and had a great time including the kids playing in the leaves for a half hour at one house. Then we came back to our neighborhood where we enjoyed hotdogs & a little extra at a friend's house and then went trick-or-treating. Darren was done by the time we left our friend's house and Rick took him home to bed. I walked around the neighborhood with the girls for a long time and they would have kept going but Grandma Linda came over and went to a few final houses with them and brought them home. I was exhausted, but the kids didn't seem to be. Carlyn was a die hard trick-or-treater and I'm sure she would have kept going forever. Annie was awesome and only complained once when it was lightly raining on us, but she kept up with her big sister like a trooper. I don't have a picture of Carlyn on Halloween by herself, but it was the same costume as before.

Election

I'm not trying to offend anyone, but this is my blog and my opinion. Don't read it if you don't want to. :)

First I want to say that I voted, so I feel totally justified in voicing my opinion. What is the saying about not having a voice if you don't vote? I'm so very upset tonight about the way this election has ended up. I can't believe that our country voted for a person who doesn't believe in the constitution. I know that many people, good people, voted for him, but all I think of when I see him is a man who doesn't understand what it means to be an American and the ideals of our founding fathers. I see a man who thinks that everyone should agree with him or be squashed. Maybe I'm naive, but I can't see why so many people believe in him. I know so many people are anti-Bush, and they see McCain as too similar. I know that many people are anti-war. I just think too many people thought it was the cool thing to do and did it. I'm not talking about the people that studied and voted because they agreed with him, I'm talking about the people who didn't know what they voted for and I'm afraid we're going to see some scary things come to pass because of the results of this election. America is the greatest nation, but I'm sad it ended up like this. McCain was quoted as saying, "Let there be no reason for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.” I still value my citizenship, but I worry what that will mean.