4th of July!!

We went to the Middleton parade this year which was really fun! It was packed but we found good seats & patiently waited for it to start. We thought we were at the beginning but later found out we were close to the end. It was hot but the people in the last half of the parade spray you with water- that helped! God Bless America! I'm so grateful to live in our free country! Thank you to all the military men & women who preserve our freedoms! That's you Mike!

Our little sweetheart Elena- unless you get in her way!

Z didn't really care about the big parade- just the parade of water & trash that came floating by!

Finally the parade started & the kids were ready to collect their candy- Elena got the most. She wasn't afraid to run & take it from the big kids nearby! :)

Later after naps we had Kade & Riley over for a very yummy dinner! Dutch oven chicken & potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, strawberries & of course cherry pie for dessert!

Zander loved the FIREWORKS!

Z & Elena loved hanging out with Kade!

The favorite firework? STROBE LIGHT!! Get up & dance- Groovy Riley!

Getting a little crazy there Gabe!

There faces show it all- the fireworks around us, in the air, & our own were amazing! Thanks again Brian for the great entertainment!

HAPPY 36TH BIRTHDAY BRIAN!

On the 6th was Brian's birthday! He & I went to dinner & a movie while Grandma & Grandpa Evans watched the kids. Then after our date we went back to their house & had cake & icecream. We're still eating cherries so for his cake I made a devils food cake with cherries & cream in the middle covered in chocolate frosting! Yummmmmy! If I don't say so myself!

Zander's 1st Haircut!

It was time to finally trim up Z's hair! It was a little sad but he's so cute we don't want him looking like a girl!

Brian had deep concentration!

Z actually didn't mind the haircut- A little wiggly but for the most part he just sat there. He thought it was fun sitting on the counter & staring into the mirror!

The finished product! He looks more like a little boy rather than a baby now! :(

You did a good job Brian!

Tis the Season of Canning!!

It's that time of year again! Actually canning came a little early this year- My friend Vicki has a cherry tree that went crazy this year so she let us come pick. After 2-1/2 hours of picking endless cherries we got app. 7 gallons worth. It didn't look like alot but after cleaning, pitting, canning, drying, freezing, pureeing (sp?) it was plenty! I ended up getting 28 qts of whole cherries- 2 broke :( 7 pts pie filling- 1 broke :( :( 3 things of fruit leather, 4 trays dried cherries, 1 gallon bag frozen, & app 1/2 gallon still to eat fresh! ! Whew! Aundrea helped alot cause she's working on one of her Personal Progress projects. After dinner we had cherry smoothies!

Thanks Vicki for the cherries & thanks to Lil O for helping me & Aundrea pick them! all!!

Camping For Fathers Day!!

It's true...I willingly went camping! Brian has wanted to go for awhile so since it was Fathers Day Weekend & he had been away from us for a week in Seattle opening a new Home Show Daily, I put on my happy face & off we went. We decided to go to Silver Creek Plunge where they have a big hot springs pool. I was expecting to sleep in a tent, share port-o-potties with strangers or find a bush, use hand sanitizer instead of running water but much to my surprise Brian had rented a cabin for us! I was so giddy I didn't even care that the toilet was a little smelly! At least I didn't have to go outside to use the toilet! We had soft beds, running hot water, kitchen, heater, table, chairs, & the toilet was like you find in an rv. The only thing it didn't have was a shower but that's what the swimming was for. Zander could walk around & nobody was filthy or miserable. We swam all day Friday, taking a break only for dinner then made smores & popcorn around the fire. It rained most of Friday so after the pool was closed we played ladderball in the cabin. Again I was so grateful we weren't in tents! Except for Z the kids slept great! He had a rough night but it could've been worse! I was just so glad we had warm shelter! Brian is a great husband & father- always thinking about our comfort! Course I know he didn't mind the nice warm bed either! :)

Brian put a middle seat in the truck so all of us can now fit & have a seatbelt. We had a ton of stuff! I wish I would've gotten a picture cause it was a pretty funny site with a big 4 wheeler, a little 4 wheeler hanging half-way off the truck with a BSU flad hanging onto it for safety reasons, & bins & coolers strapped to the 4 wheeler. We looked like the Beverly Hill Billies! If you look closely you can see the cooler hanging over the edge behind Gabe! We hadn't been on the road too long & the boys were asleep! Elena was so excited she could barely stand it! She loves going out of town- though I don't know if she really understands. I realize I take alot of pics of Z sleeping in the car on our trips...he has the chubbiest lips & cheeks, it just makes me smile! You can't see it but he had drool running down too!

Thank goodness we had Ladderball & a cabin with all that rain!

Because of all the rain it took 3-4 cups of gasoline & at least an hour to get the fire going! Even then it didn't last until another camper took pity on us & brought us some white pine which gave us a great campfire! He probably got wheezy from all the fumes...I know I did!

Saturday was drier so after our morning swim, Brian, Aundrea, & Gabe went 4 wheeling! Zander didn't get to go on the ride!

Elena thinks she's so big & cool riding!

Aundrea was showing off the comfortable bunks Gabe & Zander got to sleep in. The couch turned into a bed where she & Elena slept. There was another hide-a-bed across from that one then a bedroom where a double/queen bed was for me & Brian. It wasn't fancy but again- better than a tent!

It was a fun trip & maybe we'll do it again in another 2 years! :)

Happy Fathers Day Brian!

We'll Miss You!

Megan & Harold moved from Boise to Alaska this weekend so we took the kids to Madagasgar 2 for our last hurrah! Jenica & Daniel were in town too! We've had a fun time with the Whettens in town the last few months & we will miss having you so close! Good luck in Alaska Meg & Harold!

Remembering Hawaii...

As I look out my window at the pouring rain for the millioneth day in a row- I can't help but dream of being back in Hawaii again. One year ago I was sitting on the beach drinking a pineapple lava drink in Hawaii with my family- Dad, Mom, Heather, Heidi, Holly, Maureen, Mike, Megan, Marcie their wonderful families & of course Brian, Aundrea, Gabe, Elena & Zander! What an amazing experience to be with the greatest family, in paradise! Dad & mom treated us all to a vacation that we will never forget. It gave us an eternal perspective of what it can be like in the eternities! Last year I didn't really get to post our pics from Hawaii so I thought I'd reminicse...

What a legacy!

8 Children->35 Grandchildren (one more has been added since)

2 grandson-in-laws

What fun & crazy family! I love my brother & sisters! They're my best friends!

We spent the majority of our time on the beach of course- The kids loved being buried in the sand! You had to watch out for the waves though- Gabe just got a mouthful of salt water!

Maui Ocean Center- touching the starfish

Heather & I went parasailing over the beautiful island! A little scary but very fun!!

Aundrea lived in the ocean!

We loved the snorkeling, the cool fish, & the big waves!

Aundrea, Gabe, Zander, & Elena with cousin Brad who is now on his mission in Tijuana Mexico

Z was only 10 weeks old & did alot of sleeping- which was nice!

On the road to Haleakala with Megan & Harold's family! The view was amazing & we were only halfway there!

Our family on the top of Haleakala- big volcano in Maui!

Geckos were everywhere- the kids loved them, some more than others!

We went to a big Luau with all you can eat food & drink! The entertainment was incredible!

True Happiness!

Elena loved the music & did her own hula!

On our way to the airport we walked around Lahina

Our trip to Maui was unforgettable! We loved our resort & spending time with everyone!

The Hill's Are Alive!!

Thanks again Mom & Dad for that once in a lifetime experience!

We Love You!!!

Weekend Trip!

This past weekend we went down to Weston ID for our nephew Bridger Evans baptism. It was a wonderful & fun trip! We loved spending time with Todd, Sis & their family- thank you for your hospitality! We got there about 12:30 am Saturday morning & returned home Sunday afternoon. The kids loved playing on the tramp & riding 4 wheelers with their cousins! For some weird reason though I didn't get any pics of that event but I did get some from the car ride!

Zander did really well in the car-He really is an easy baby!

He loves playing peek-a-boo!

We also gave him frosted animal cookies which he enjoyed squishing in his fingers- thank goodness for baby wipes!

Saturday afternoon I ran down to Logan to see Megan, Bart, & my new Great Nephew Brexton! What a sweet baby!

Elena was in heaven & felt so grown up feeding Brexton. Zander was very curious & just wanted to touch the baby! I couldn't believe how relaxed Megan & Brexton were with the curious & touchy toddlers!

Megan & Bart are natural parents! Brexton is a very lucky boy!

Elena couldn't give him enough love & kisses!

I've always been a GREAT AUNT- but now it's official! I can't wait to see Nicole's, my other niece,baby girl Annie!

Zander is only a year older- I can't believe he was that small last year!

He seems so big to me now!

Megan & Bart don't have too many toys yet for toddlers but Z found a fun toy to play with on the patio- it was clean Bart assurred me!

This sums up how we all felt after this fun-filled, fast trip! We truely enjoyed visiting with family & are so grateful we have such wonderful relationships with you!

4 Wheeler Fever & Silver City

We've had a lot of fun lately since Brian picked up a 4 wheeler! He first went to Moab Utah with his brother Todd for a few days & since then he was hooked! I'll have to download those pics- beautiful area! Next, Brian & Aundrea took a day trip to Silver City, ID. They parked the truck & took the 4 wheeler up the curvy, dirt road to the old ghost town. Some people still live up there maintaining the buildings. There are camp spots & a very old hotel, so people camp & basically 4 wheel all over the mountain. The next weekend Brian & I went with Dustin & Rachel Aldrich on a double 4 wheeling date. We had so much fun! We brought up hotdogs etc & roasted them over a fire up on a peak. The weather was great & the scenery was beautiful! We had a blast hanging out & riding! Brian & Gabe went a couple of weeks later! Aundrea giggled all the way up, I shrieked & held on most of the time, & Gabe well he was in heaven! That was the coolest thing ever for him!

This church overlooks alot of the city- I couldn't believe how difficult it must have been to build!

Brian overlooking the city at the church

They have a few cemetaries up in Silver City for all the miners & their families that lived there. I can't imagine how hard it must have been living there! The saddest were the graves of all the babies- there were so many & they died so young.

Going up to Silver City we ran into a little bit of snow- this is where they actually plowed the road. Talk about a lot of snow remember this is the end of May!

The snow got too deep to go through but we found a great spot to hang out & eat our campfire dinner overlooking the valley! Dustin & Brian of course had to climb the highest rock for the best view!

Me, Dustin, & Rachel on the safer part of the peak! I can't remember what we were laughing about but we sure did alot of it!

Brian & Aundrea the week before hit alot of snow!

I think Aundrea was telling Brian she was hungry! I just thought it was a funny picture!

Summer's Here!

Brian brought home a fun blow-up pool with a slide. Memorial Day it was sunny & hot so we got the summer started with a fun day of swimming! They played all day in it! Even Zander loved the cold water & never wanted to get out!

Aundrea, Zander, Elena, & Gabe- a little cold but happy!

The sad thing is the next day Gabe & Elena started playing in the pool & the slide popped! Come to find out the pool had pretty bad reviews already.

A couple of days later I went to drain it so we could take it back to the store. When I lifted it up Elena found a mouse! It was dazed so we hurried & put a bucket over it, Gabe handed me the baseball bat & I bopped it on the head! It only took one hit then we threw it over into the field to warn his friends that were thinking about coming into our yard! I thought Gabe & Elena would be traumatized but it didn't even phase them. Elena did keep saying she wanted it as pet though- maybe another time & species! This is coming from a girl who at the age of 3 already understands where her food comes from... "Grandpa Hill bought more cows then he'll kill them so we can eat them!"

That's my girl!