Wednesday, May 18, 2016

And Last But Certainly Not Least...Ned's Birthday and Redstone


The Birthday Boy getting ready to open his present



Our Whipped Cream Tradition

Lego's something that seemed to fit his personality


Ned was smart about his Birthday cake choice (he realized through Gwen and Nyle's birthdays that he didn't really like cake and just wanted the ice cream, so I suggested Brownie Sundaes and he agreed!


Some Fun Facts about 5-Year Old Ned:

He is very neat and orderly.  He's really good about washing his hands and taking care of his stuff
He loves structure 
He's always been very serious, but is starting to develop a silly side, which is fun to see.
He loves to dress up in hero/boy costumes and pretend play
He loves riding his bike and our neighbor's kid cars
He has begun reading and can already read a number of sight words and basic CVC words, though it's not his favorite thing to do.
His favorite foods are Creamed Eggs and Ham, Hamburgers, and Hot Dogs
His friends are any neighbor kids, but especially Waylon, Leon, Desmond, and Marshall







We have this wonderful tradition of going to Redstone right around Ned's birthday.   Actually we try to always go on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and for the last few years, the weather has always been perfect!  We invite anyone and everyone who want to go and have a picnic, then do some hiking and of course, rock climbing!

This kid LOVES Redstone and turns into a gecko when we get there--climbing all over the place!

Me and my little buddy

West wasn't too fond of this carrier

The Big 5 year old

Somehow this feels like it'll be a classic picture

My Cute Parents

Olivia trying to teach West how to walk



Thursday, May 12, 2016

Second Up: Nyle Turns 3!



We started Nyle's birthday off with the traditional Whipped Cream in the Mouth.  Then his breakfast of choice, waffles, strawberries, and whipped cream. Our activity for the day was his own idea- I don't even know where he got the idea from, but he adamantly wanted to go bowling.  




We went Bowling at Sunset Station Casino and he was also adamant that he was going to bowl all by himself.  He loved it!  





He wanted a strawberry donut cake and scored a new nerf gun.  


Later in the evening, Zach took him on a special Father/Son outing to see the Rebels play.  He fell asleep on the way and was thus raring to go at the game.  

Some fun facts about 3 year old Nyle:

He's still my little sunshine with all sorts of smiles and bouncing joy coursing through him regularly.  
He loves superheroes and capes.  For a few weeks, everywhere we went, he had to wear a cape.  I got all sorts of knowing looks and smiles from people who had clearly had a little boy once.  
He also loves Team Umizoomi.
He is really fast on his Strider Bike
He's a bit of a risk-taker and I've recently begun reminding him to take care of his body by being careful since he is constantly covered with bruises.  
He thinks he's just as big as all the other kids and often will jump right into to whatever Lincoln and his friends are playing.  
He likes to sing, "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" and will often tell me: "Someday I will be a missionary!"  
He still gives the best squeezes!

We love our precious 3-year old Nyle!

Birthday Season Begins...First up: Gwen turns 7!

We always have an activity that is the birthday child's choice that we do together as a family.  Gwen selected going to McDonald's (one with a  big play place), and watching a movie of her choice.  So that is exactly what we did, she even got a Happy Meal (something we NEVER do--we're a big family!)    

I put a lot of thought into her gift this year and decided she would probably be happiest with  a bunch of art supplies of her own.  


Some Great Facts about 7 year old Gwen: 

She still LOVES to read.  
She does exceptionally well in school-  straight A's 
She wants to be a teacher when she grows up.
She's starting to want to do her own hair.
She's very into fashion and has her own ideas of it. She loves tights, dress shoes, boots, and skirts or dresses.  
She loves Baby West and he ADORES her.  
She still has her quietly stubborn, and independent personality, but for the most part it serves her very well.  
She's as beautiful and sweet as ever, always leaving me and others sweet notes and cards.  
Her best friend in her class is Natalie (Natalia) and she loves playing with Emma Tolman and Bella Jerez here in the neighborhood.  

Breaking in the Shopsmith

There are just so many home improvement projects we've been wanting to do to make this home ours.  The first one of the new year was our Entertainment nook/center.  Zach did some research and decided he wanted to make the desktop out of a wood slab so he could try his Shopsmith out.  He found some pecan slabs and set to work cutting and joining them to fit.  


We hired a cabinet maker to make the doors and frame

Zach painted and put it all together, then topped with with some of our leftover backsplash.  Now we can hide our unsightly food storage buckets.  

What'd I miss?

Erin and Joe got married February 14, 2015.  I'm always amazed with how quickly the Hills' ladies can pull together an event and that's just what they did for Erin and Joe's reception.  

Gwen lost her first tooth!

Some good friends, Byron and Kim Williams invited us to the Smith Center to watch this production.  I was super big and pregnant and when we walked in, the usher looked at our tickets, the stairs we would need to climb to get to our seats, and told me there was no way I was going to climb those stairs and that he would find another seat for me.  We ended up sitting much closer.  I loved all the Gershwin music in this production!

Lincoln performed at his first Junior Festival and walked away with a Superior Rating.  Way to go Lincoln!

Zach and a few of his boys with the best helmets he could find out at Moapa's Redrock.  They went the weekend before West was born.  They all love  the four-wheeler!

Hills Family Christmas Party


We got together for the traditional mexican feast for Christmas.  We had a talent show, of course, and our kids sang a primary song, something we didn't have to practice, since we sing one every night before family prayer and scriptures.  At this stage of life, I'm all about what's quick and easy to throw together.  

Grandpa hills showed off the work he's been doing on his home- a definite talent

Brandon and Camrin showed their impressive gun collection

Winter Break







Since the leaves always fall later here, leaf fights and jumping happen around Christmas.  This year, because of the park and trees close by, we got in on some pretty good leaf fights.   

Zach was gifted this Shopsmith by a friendly neighbor who was moving across the country and didn't want to take it with him.  He has used this thing quite a bit.  

Waylon, Leon and Jace Franks, who live down the street,  have been so kind to share their Christmas toys with our kids.  

Christmas



Christmas Eve was again out in Boulder at Mom and Dad Shamo's.  All the cousins were there, even Darrin and Tiff who had flown in from S. Korea and Rick and Janae from Wyoming.  There's always so much joy when we all get together.  Someone, I think it was Aunt Tammi, had even prepared a fun game for the kids with candy wrapped up in tape.  



Zach stops for a moment Christmas morning to teach about what really happened on Christmas morning 






The annual Shamo family white elephant gift exchange, always brings some good laughs!



This may have been the best gift, won by Darrin.  I believe he had to steal them to win them.  We had to show our two superhero-loving boys these awesome pajamas.  


Christmas breakfast casserole 



Power Rangers!  


I've joined the ranks of so many parents who hear all about Minecraft and still don't get it.  


Shopkins!






Since I sleep so much in that chair, nursing West throughout the night, Zach bought this thoughtful gift.  An electric blanket.  It was given with the caveat that I wouldn't sleep exclusively in that chair.  




The first try of his new bike.  Unfortunately, it proved faulty and we had to return it and order a new one.  But that just made the Christmas anticipation last a little longer.  






West's gift probably wasn't a favorite.  But I was sure grateful for it, especially because he had just recently started doing his own version of crawling (scooting on one leg while semi-walking on the other).  Since he was mobile now, we had to block of those steep, wooden stairs.  

A gift for the house- bar stools!

I don't have any pics of later that evening because I spent the rest of the Christmas day in bed sick with the flu.  It came on fast and kicked me hard in the gut.  Zach took the kids to my parents for Christmas dinner and I stayed home with West to try to get some rest.