Gardening at Grandpa and Grandma Hill's

Our family has had a chance to help Grandma and Grandpa Hill plant care for and harvest a garden this spring and summer. Jason and Grandpa did most of the work in early spring but we all have been able to weed plant and harvest some. Jason rigged the best watering system I have ever seen for a veggie garden. Grandpa is taking care of it primarily of course. It has been good for the kids to see the cause and affect and more importantly spend quality time with the grandparents. Relationships are built on shared experiences so they say. In the garden is corn, cucumbers, carrots, peas (300 plants), potatoes, zucchini, watermelon, and tomatoes. After we were done with the garden Grandma fed us brownies and fruit and Grandpa told us a story of when he was a boy and his pet bird Charlie. Good Times!

Lindsay and Christian BFF!

My Lindsay and my Christian are the best of friends. They are always laughing and playing with each other. My hope for them is that the friendship lives on forever! The boy (as we call him) is more than willing to help Lindsay practice her new dances!!

Ward Campout At the Willows!

OK, Aug 8Th and 9Th was the ward camp out at the Willows. I wish I could say that we "camped out". Gabby got to stay there in the preteen girl tent and Christian stayed with our friends June Bob and their son AJ but our teens WOULD NOT stay to save their lives. They did not want outdoor toilets nor did they want to be away from their own beds so we drove up Friday night and stayed the evening and then we returned Saturday morning for breakfast and to get CJ and Gabby home. Luckily it was close enough to us that this was an option. We still had a great time with everyone and the breakfast was good so all in all they didn't hurt anyone and they both said that they would like to stay next year so maybe it was a fear of the unknown. I try to pick my battles and as passionate as they were to not spend the night this wasn't worth fighting about. I still love my girls!! I am sure next year will be super fun also...

Christian Is 11! Yes he actually made it to his next birthday!

blowing out the candles...Click to see a larger image.

Sarah you are so Funny!



Rice Crispy Cake and Opening Presents next to Grandpa!

Alexis and Lindsay Aunt Marnee and cousin Brookelyn

Aug 7 was Christian's Birthday! In our family we let each member choose where we will go to dinner and what we will be having for dessert for their birthday and He picked Famous Dave's for dinner and a rice crispy cake. We had a great time! We also do a need, want, surprise, and bonus presents from mom and dad and he received....

Need-Shoes

Want-a Co2 air soft gun

Surprise-A wave board

Bonus-Co2 Cartridges

Aunt Marnee gave him an outfit and speakers for his Mp3 player and Grandma and Grandpa Hill gave him camping stuff and his $11. (1 dollar per year of course) Thanks Guys! We are so blessed to have CJ in our family. He is a sweetheart and seems to be really loved by his friends here in the ward and at school. Christian loves the church and has a testimony already. He is way into his air soft guns and his new wave board and doing anything outside! He is a great big and little brother as he has 2 older sisters and 2 younger sisters. Smack dab in the middle. He will be the best husband someday because he knows how to handle women!! We love Christian!

The Women's Retreat....

Friday evening Aug 1 through Saturday morning Aug 2 was our women's retreat. All I can say is what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin!! We had a BLAST!! Thanks so much Kristy!!!

Photo Shoot?

Well, We attempted to get some great photo's to put here on the blog for all ya all but this is what came of it. We did the best we could with a nearly 14m old (although as you can see she isn't the only trouble maker in the bunch) and had fun in the process so that is all that really counts...Right?!?

The Music Man Quartet lives On!!

This week on Tuesday the 29th Jason and his quartet (Jason, Kelly, Mike and Dan) were asked to sing for the Legacy branch family home evening (an assisted living community) in our Stake for their family home evening. They took about 20 min and did a great job! Thanks so much to Nan for playing the piano for them and Mike for filling in for Brad. They followed Sis Clark (our bishops wife) playing the accordion and a sing along lead by Sis Cook and she did great too. What talent!! Also, thanks Ed for coming and supporting Jason and for dinner following too! :-)