"that every man may improve upon his talents, that every man may gain other talents..." *

Cash has many talents...

• He is an excellent waterskier.
• He can make people laugh.
• He will work hard for other people.
• He is an excellent teacher -- of all ages.
  
• He notices when people need help.
• He reads and remembers books.
• He plays jungle gym with the kids.
• He thinks deeply and provocatively about things.
  
• He is very loyal.
• He can drink excessive amounts of Mountain Dew.

He has many talents. However, this outfit is not necessarily one of them:
:) On Sunday mornings, I have church meetings so Cash is in charge of getting the kids ready for church. I usually lay out Audrey's clothes -- knowing that sometimes the dress, slip, tights, shoes combos can be a little confusing. However, I showed up on Sunday morning and found Emmett dressed in a very cute plaid shirt and very cute plaid pants. Very cute alone...but together? I know, I know, it's not a critical talent. But, at least his fashion sense does make for a fun picture. Frankly, I think he'd be just fine if I went ahead and set out his clothes with the kids' every night.
*D&C 82:18

As long as she never wants to go on Next Top Model...

This is Audrey Paige and her little friend across the street. My neighbor does a little photography on the side and she was asked to do a photo for a pattern cover for this adorable pattern company: Pink Fig Patterns. Anyway, the lady who designed the pattern sent up samples of her adorable clothes and Audrey and her friend got to model them! It was lots of fun and I think the clothes are just adorable. If you scroll down a little you can see the pattern, the Sophia. I only wish I could have kept the outfit!! But, I'm certainly going to get the pattern.

New Book

I'm really excited! I just got this book in the mail today:

I pre-ordered from Amazon about a month ago and forgot all about it. It was like a little surprise today in the mail! :)

I was a little wary at first; what in the world could 1) be made in under 200 calories and 2) not taste like cardboard? I've checked out a lot of the recipes and they actually look good! There's lots of good substitution tips that I'm excited to try. I'm certain I don't have the willpower to only eat one serving, so my book should actually be titled 200 recipes under 400 calories, but "tomato/tomatuh."

I'll post some of my favorites. I am a Hungry Girl.

Audrey Paige

Proud mom moment: Audrey and her friend are playing Little People; they're setting up a wedding. They decide that the girl and boy should be a mommy and a daddy. Audrey says, "no remember, babies come after [the wedding]." Good girl! :)

Audrey was playing at her friend Karlee's house and Karlee's mom, Jenny, asked her these cute questions:

1.What is something mom always says to you?
A: When you get something out, clean it up before you get something else out.

2. What Makes Mom happy?
A: When I clean up my room

3. What makes mom sad?
A: When I don’t clean up my room

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
A: When she tickles me

5. What was your mom like as a child?
A: funny

6. How old is your mom?
A: like, 15 maybe

7. How tall is your mom?
A: I don’t know

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
A: Dancing With the Stars

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
A: Go to stores and watch TV

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
A: Being on TV

11. What is your mom really good at?
A: baking food

12. What is your mom not very good at?
A: going to stores when I am not at school

13. What does your mom do for her job?
A: Going to work really good

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
A: Onions with salad and chicken mixed together

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
A: Being a good mom

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A: Jazmine, that is my favorite so I just picked that

17. What do you and your mom do together?
A: going to the stores and clean the silverware together

18. How are you and your mom the same?
A: Our hair is the same

19. How are you and your mom different?
A: Our talking

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
A; because she loves me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
A: going out to dinner

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
A: Burger Kings, no, not Burger Kings. Wings, Pizza and Things that is our favorite

Hum...perhaps I should relax about the cleaning. And, not go to so many stores...

Spring Cleaning

I love spring!!!

Between the really nice weather and "nesting," I am in full Spring Cleaning mode. Well, actually, I'm thinking a lot about my plan of attack for spring cleaning...

Most of you know that I can be a little freaky about some things: which toys go in which boxes, scheduling the days I can do laundry, alphabetizing random things, sneaking a peek at the end of the book before I start... Ok, so I like organization. It makes me happy, and peaceful, and content. And, when I'm organized I feel like I can start a project. I'm sure there's much insight I could get from Dr. Phil, but I can't seem to help it!

So, for what it's worth, I thought I'd share with you some of my organizational tips.
Here's the first one: DRAWERS!
(I can take no credit for this -- it's from my seestah, Jennifer!) I don't know if this sounds familiar: drawer full of shirts -- stuffed to the brim, but only the top five or six only get worn...the same five or six every week! Have you seen the t-shirt on the bottom of the stack since Daughtry lost American Idol? Uh-huh...See what I mean?!?! Or...have you ever gone into your 5 year old daughter's room and found every shirt in her drawer on the floor because she was looking for the "shirt with the pink flowers and the sparkly writing?" True story. I see the shirt...It's nothing fancy, as you can see from the pictures, if you fold your shirts in half lengthwise and then fold that top to bottom and then in half again you get this nice little size that fits perfectly in a child-size drawer. This way, you can look in the drawer and see exactly what you have and exactly what you need! You may remember shirts you didn't even know you had (or that you should have long ago thrown away) and you can see everything at a glance. I also do this with their pajamas and their jeans.

So there you go...organizational tip #1!

Emmett is a Big Boy!

Emmett is two! He's a great little boy and lots of fun. He makes us laugh and his favorite foods are "bips" (chips) and oranges. He's figured out that presents are always a good thing.



Looking for any excuse to avoid grading...

...I spent a few hours making this project!

Now that Emmett is two and he's going to have a little sister joining us pretty soon, we figured it was time for Emmett to sleep in a big boy bed. But, Audrey has been sleeping in the toddler bed and so when we would try to get Emmett to sleep in the toddler bed he would cry and say "YaYa bed!" I figured we needed to do something to make it "his" bed. So, I went to JoAnn's and grabbed three yards of SpongeBob fabric and found whatever extra fabric I could at home. So, rather than finish my grading, I made this:

Spongebob is not necessarily my role model of choice, but Emmett really loves him (long story) and they had no Elmo or Diego fabric! So, for having no pattern and no idea what I was doing, I'm pretty excited about it! I just can't let my mother-in-law look too closely at my "figure-it-out-as-you-go" sewing.

And, after three nights, it's working great! He's falling asleep in his own bed and staying there all night! Whoohoo! Maybe I will be able to survive four. People do it all the time, right?!?

Valentine's Day Ode

"Lucky" Official Video With Colbie Caillat


My friend Jenifer put this song on her blog a while ago. Take a listen -- it's a sweet song. When I heard it I thought it would be perfect for Valentine's Day. Well, it's also perfect for February 16th. :) Or any day for that matter because I really do feel very lucky to be married to my best friend. Truly.

When I think about who I'd like to see, it's Cash.
When I think about who would love a certain restaurant, it's Cash.
When I think about who I'd like to show something funny, it's Cash.
When I think about who I'll ask a question I've been pondering, it's Cash.
When I see something ridiculous or funny and want to tell someone, it's Cash.
When I'm frustrated or upset and think about the first person to call, it's Cash.

So, sorry dude, you're it! For the long haul. I love you.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

...that's what little girls are made of! At least I really hope so, because we are going to even up the score here: 3 boys, 3 girls! Both Spencer and Audrey were hoping for a little sister, so they are really excited. Audrey was less than impressed though, with the "pictures" we brought back for her. I admit, they don't look much like a baby, in fact, they look down right alien. Audrey wanted to come to the appointment when I told her that the Dr was going to use a special machine to see the baby inside my tummy. But, then she decided she'd actually rather show Grammy her sparkly eye shadow (priorities people!) and was pacified when I told her we'd bring back pictures. I should have realized...

Remember this Jenga post? Well, obviously I've taken a blogging sabbatical. Thanks to those of you who checked in! :) I'll fill you in on how my Jenga tower is doing... (beware, my SIL JeNeale taught me how to make collages in Picasa...you can click on them to see more detail)

Jenga Block #1: Audrey and the Sidewalk
One afternoon Spencer came running inside. I went outside to see Audrey at the door crying and blood all over her chin. She had climbed a (dead) Aspen tree by our house to watch Spencer and his friends play tetherball. Well, she fell out of the tree. This is how she described it: "Mom...head first, then arms, then legs..." It was so sad! She had seven stitches in her chin and four in her mouth!

Have you ever seen the movie Hitch where Will Smith eats the shrimp?

Jenga Block #2: Spencer turns 9!
We celebrated Spencer's birthday with family in Boise and Burley (with my sister and her girls up from California). It was a great birthday and he is really into drawing and sketching so he got some cool books and sets from Grandma and Grandpa. He also loves his airsoft gun. I loved it until I heard Emmett dump the extra plastic bb's all over the kitchen counter and tile floor. I am STILL finding orange bb's! While we were there...
My brother took the kids to tour the dairy. They had a great time...Emmett learned a new word (cow with a "t") and Spencer tried to milk a cow!!While we were there...
Audrey and her cousin Courtney decided to give themselves haircuts. Luckily, Broooke's sister cuts hair and she saved the day! Thanks Darci!
While we were there...
We celebrated Thanksgiving. And realized that we had much to be thankful for. Grandma sent these funny turkey headbands. :)

Jenga Block #3: Christmas
I love Christmas-time with the traditions, the family, the snow, the holiday treat gorge-fest, and watching the kids Christmas morning. This year was like most years, which I love...the Hill family makes Christmas Eve really special. We have a nativity, cousin present exchange, new jammies, and Christmas morning starts in the hall! Emmett pretty much stayed in his new wagon for two days.

Why don't we have a picture of Emmett with Santa? Well, Santa pretty much freaks him out. These pictures are from the Ward Christmas Party, which is another post altogether...
Jenga Block #4: Last Minute Road Trip
On Saturday before New Years my BIL Marty texted Cash to say he had tickets to the Rose Bowl and that he should bring the family down for a Pasadena New Years. We're both off for the semester and thought, why not?!? So, we packed up the van, prayed that Sweetzer pass would be open, stocked up on road-trip junk food, and drove many hours to Southern California. It was a really great trip, the kids did fantastic, and it was so nice to get away from the winter storms for a little bit. My sister and her family always have front row seats at the Rose Parade and the parade is amazing in person! Cash went to the Rose Bowl, we went shopping, and we ate some of the best food!
Jenga Block #5: Hill #4!!!
If you're still reading this too-long post, then you'll see the main reason I haven't updated my blog in a while! Yes, we're going to have baby Hill #4 this summer! We'll find out in a week if we're having a boy or a girl. Crazy...



Actually, this one should be called the Jenga Brick...it brought the tower tumbling down!! Well, it brought our house to a screeching halt for a while. I'm feeling lots better now, and Cash is happy to see that I'm now cooking meals again. Emmett still seems like a little baby, so it's hard to believe he's going to be a big brother! We're really excited for this new little one to bless our lives.

Hope you all have been healthy and happy. I can't wait to catch up on all your blogs!

Of princesses, superheroes, and cowboys...

As most of you know, Halloween is a big-hit holiday in the Hill household. We had a great time this year. We have a couple's Halloween party -- this year's theme was Superheroes and Villains. Cash and I decided to go old-school this year and go as Skeletor and She-Ra. Cash's costume and make-up turned out fantastic, if I must say so myself... :) As for me...let's just say it was my first foray into sewing with vinyl. I went through a lot of vinyl and gold spray paint! It was a fun party. We had a root-beer tasting contest. We learned a couple of things: 1) I could not identify any root beer in a blind taste test and 2) if you have to buy generic, Albertson's wins hands-down! You can see lots more pictures at our Picasa album.

I think She-Ra always wins this battle right?

Crazy!!! I also learned that I should never become a blonde.Cash's Sis and BIL -- Beetlejuice and Elphaba from Wicked.Cash's Bro and SIL as Kung Foo Panda and Tigress (a big jump from KISS and Darth Maul! :)Audrey as Belle (thanks Grandma for the beautiful dress!) Emmett as Woody the Sheriff -- complete with pull-string!
"There's a snake in my boot!"
Spencer as Ben 10

Ok, I'm better...

and completely over my pity party (see previous post). Please forgive my indulgence. :)

A while back, Cash and I watched The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman (well, actually I fell asleep...but got the gist of the movie). Cash loved it. So, I hear people talking about their "bucket lists" now (if you haven't seen the movie...it's things you want to do before you die). Well, a little while ago there was this neat article in the paper about things you should do as a couple...a Couple's Bucket List! Anyway, it's on our fridge which means that it will totally happen (it's right next to my little Noah's Ark magnet with the list of food storage items.......)

Anyhoo, here's what it says:

"10 Extreme Bonding Experiences for Couples"

1. Playing Guitar Hero (check. and, yes it was fun. thanks Jared and Maren!)
2. Paintball (and I want to add here lasertag...I've always wanted to go and it sounds so fun!)
3. Marathon Training (ok, let's be realistic...maybe triathlon training.)
4. Rock Climbing (I love it at the YMCA...it would be scary in real life)
5. Bowling (hum...I broke 100 once and it was a big deal)
6. Tandem Skydiving (one of my friends did this for her birthday. crazy...but I'm game)
7. Camping (the article says: "by 'camping' we mean the two of you alone in a tent, not 'criusing through the great outdoors in an RV bigger and nicer than your first apartment' (cough, cough...JeNeale!)...it's your chance to get away from it all and just savor nature and each other.")
8. Rafting (Ok, we live in Idaho and we've got amazing rapids just up the street!)
9. Test Driving a Sports Car (where's the marathon shoe shopping activity??)
10. Visit an Amusement Park (Cash can go on all the scary rides and I can eat all the cotton candy I want! Better not do both...)
Anyone want to join the challenge?

Ok, what's on your BUCKET LIST?

Do you ever have days that feel like this?

Yikes, right now I feel like one of those towers -- I'm ok as long as no one put another block on top!!!

Makes my heart go pitter-patter...

For some people it's chocolate and unicorns and rainbows that get their soft spot. Me? Well, it's cleaning supplies and organizational stuff. I love going into Don Aslett's Cleaning Center as much as I love going into Sephora! I know -- a little strange, but I thought I'd share with you a few of my new favorite things!

I bought these fun things from an etsy shop, the ModMobile, by Allyson Hill (no relation, unfortunately).

At first I may have balked at the price of the bag, but really, not having to fight with a Winco bag in the front seat and having my kids know where the sucker sticks and fruit snack wrappers go? Priceless!

This fantastic little beauty hangs on the back of my seat and has little bags that you stick in between the liner and the outside. They're biodegradable and I keep a stash in the glove box.







This little tissue holder attaches to your visor and no more searching for tissues in the car!








This is the fun fabric I got for our van!
Anyway, I just wanted to share some of my favorite things!






Oh, and check out our fun new fall fabrics at YaYa Baby Slings! Cozy and soft!

We love visitors!

Our good friend from Texas, Alisa (who is now at Oklahoma University), came to Idaho! She was teaching in Mountain Home at the Air Force Base, but she got to escape the "excitement" of Mountain Home to come and visit! We had a great time! Thanks for coming Alisa...come again soon!

A few pictures...

Usually she prefers if her feet are above her bum!

A dinner out -- Spencer's absolute favorite...Wingers

Heeheehee...I eem coloring on dee paper but soon I vill be coloring on your counters vith dee markers!!

Alisa, Spencer, and Audrey. Um, who's not afraid of the camera? YaYa "CheezeIt" Baby?Emmett is completely obsessed with birds; this just about put him over the edge. Literally.

I wish I were this clever...

So my blog-friend has a knack for finding amazing things on-line and posts them on her blog. I usually go there and 1) make a wish list and 2) realize that some people have been given a ridiculously large "creativity gene." Recently, she posted about this fun site: line-upon-line cards -- these are the cutest cards with a little bit of Mormon humor. Check out some of my favorites. Too clever...




So, what's your favorite "Mormon-ism?"

Lemonade stands are *so* last year...

So, the kids have been trying to help out in the garden this year and they have a lot of fun watching things grow. However, all the stuff I read about how if your kids help you cook and grow food they're more likely to eat it. Total lie. Unless you deep fat fry the zucchini and let them dip it in ketchup....

Anyhow, last Saturday the kids thought they'd like to set up a vegetable stand. Unfortunately it was 9 a.m. and there wasn't a lot of traffic. Our neighbor Roger was their only customer. They sure looked cute selling their stuff though! :)

Why I love the end of summer...

• watching college football...Whoop!
• enjoying the unbelievable weather -- evenings on the deck are my favorite time of day
  
• the kids are back in school
• wearing hoodies (which are great at hiding any muffin-top that may or may not be the result of a lazy-dazy summer and too much chips and salsa)
• planning Halloween costumes
  
• sleeping with the windows open
  
• picking perfect apples and peaches at the orchard
  
• Finally, I love the end of summer because of this:
  

This is what I picked just this afternoon! It is so fun to enjoy the fruits of all our gardening labors! It's been such a fun summer; the tomato plants were huge, the squash took over the lawn, the cucumbers outgrew their trellises! Each year I learn so much! I'm excited to try again next spring. Actually I'm going to try some swiss chard this fall.

Lame-O Mom

Ok, so I'm feeling very sheepish and lame because all of you fantastic moms put up very nice posts about the first day of school and how sad you were to see your kids growing up and going to school.

Well, do I lose my mom-of-the-year trophy if I say I was actually a bit excited? But, not in the "I'm excited you're out of my hair" excited (Ok, ok...there might have been a flicker of that somewhere) but the "I'm so excited for you to experience Kindergarten and 3rd grade" excited. Let me explain: every year I would get this nervous/excited/can't sleep tummy ache for the first day of school. It was like Christmas eve, but better since I didn't know what was in store! (As most of you know, I don't really enjoy surprises so I usually knew most of my presents.) Every school year was like a blank slate. I still get excited before every semester that I teach because I look forward to meeting new students, having brand new Expo markers, and trying new things.

So, I guess I don't really get sad about school starting; I just get that nervous excitement. I think about Audrey's excitement about riding the bus for the first time, or Spencer's excitement about the new kid at school who's in his group and I'm excited for them.

Every year Cash's mom took a picture by the mailbox, so we have started that tradition with Spencer -- and now we've added Audrey.

Audrey is 5!!!

Audrey had a birthday in July and boy howdy was she excited. It was a long time coming because she knew that her birthday was in the summer and she knew that we wear shorts in the summer. So, she was pretty sure her birthday was going to be sometime in April. That's some great deductive reasoning! :) After much persuasion, I finally convinced her she could wear shorts before her birthday.

In honor of Audrey, here's 5 things I love about my YaYa Baby...
5. She wants nothing more than to eat mashed potatoes and taco beans (refried beans) every day.
4. She can't really say her "r" or "g" or "k" so she talks about things like "Hello Titty" and "Dood One" (reserved for when Spencer does something wrong).
3. She loves to listen to my "i-pad" and to hear her sing "Hollaback Girl" is a mother's pride and joy.
2. She can play by herself for hours: lining up rocks in the driveway, singing songs on the swing set, arranging all the Little People things into a town...she's just a good girl.
1. She is sweet, funny, and has a Jedi-like power over her dad...

I can't believe she is going to kindergarten! For her birthday, she got a special ABC book. The book is adorable -- made by my ultra-talented friend Tricia! The book has a place for each letter and you can put in pictures of things they know. i.e. "B is for Brothers...O is for Ouch" (picture of Audrey with her broken arm)... you get the idea. Audrey loves it and loves looking at pictures of her and her family, but mostly of her.

"B is for Brothers" and "C is for Cousins"
Evidently you should take them out of the sleeve and turn off the flash...

"X is for x-traordinary kids" and "Y is for YaYa Baby"

Aren't those cute?!? And, for any of you ladies in Utah (or who might be going to down to Utah) --- check this out: ABC's of Me. Tricia is doing her ABC books at the Scrapbook Expo in Utah. This year Trish is making another book to go along with the ABC book: "Expressions of Me." They are mighty cute and make me feel like I'm almost creative! So, if any of you are down there make sure to sign up for the Expo!

Oh, and I've got two more trips to post about! Someday...

Top 10 reasons why Cash is a Professor...

Reason #1. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvnkeqmusk
(Cash, his brother Jared, and his brother-in-law Brent -- they look pretty awesome if I can brag a bit. And I guess since it's my blog, I can.)

Reason #2. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtFscu9OZwI (That's Spencer in the first part of the video -- his nickname is "Zeus" -- Cash was SO proud!).

Reason #3. Cash coaching Spencer's baseball team this summer.


Reason #4. Conference in Chicago every April that happens to coincide with opening weekend for the Chicago Cubs. Hum...

Reason #5. He get to read books for work.

Reason #6. See previous posts about Family Reunions. (I'm not sure that's what he really wanted to do this summer. I think it had more to do with #1 and #2, but he's a good sport).

Reason #7. Baseball starts in April and ends in October. If the Cubs make the playoffs he's really in a pickle during fall semester.

Reason #8. He thinks "running numbers" is fun.

Reason #9. "I'm a teacher. All I need are minds for molding." (movie anyone? one of Cash's all time favorites...)

Reason #10. After 12 years of school he finally decided he better get a "real job."

Viva Las Vegas!

The Rockwell Family reunion (my mom's side) was in Las Vegas over 4th of July weekend. It was a blast and great to see everyone. But, WOW -- July in Las Vegas is hot, hot, hot! We weren't certain that the read out in our van went to triple digits, but evidently it goes up to 113 degrees! But, it was certainly a fun trip.

One day we went to a huge indoor (whew!) Bounce house place with slides, webbed obstacle towers, and boxing rings. Everyone had a blast -- even the adults got in on the fun.

Audrey racing down the huge slide (Emmett even did this one with me!)

Don't be fooled -- these gloves look soft but I could barely lift them! Which means 1) they're really heavy or 2) I'm really wimpy. Please don't actually answer.

Cash and Emmett enjoying the tall slide. I think Emmett is enjoying it...

Audrey cheesing it up in the mountains
One day we went to Mount Charleston (it was about 15 degrees cooler) and had a picnic and just enjoyed the beautiful mountains. I love the mountains. At the talent show, Spencer and his cousin Tanner showed off their athletic prowess with their own spectacular version of plastic jai a'lai. We had to clap them off the stage. It was cute.

Audrey and Grandma went up to learn how to hula dance from some hula dancers that came. Not sure what's going on with my camera...

Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids. Travis is MIA because he got struck by "Typhoid Rockwell" -- some nasty little virus that spread like wildfire and had about 14 casualties by the time it was all said and done. Not the best picture of my kids: Spencer is looking at Emmett, I have no idea where Audrey is, and Emmett is screaming.

Well, it was a great reunion and although it made me miss my mom terribly, she comes from a fantastic family who really step in as our "moms" when we need them.

We're leaving tomorrow for Cash's family reunion in Cascade, ID. It should be lots of fun, lots of food, and lots of skiing.

The "Show Me" State

Two family reunions down, one to go! Actually, that makes them sound like a bad thing, but they're certainly "good things" and they have made this a summer to remember!!!

To start off with we went back to visit my dad (for the first time since we moved to Boise) and got to tag along to the Shedd Family Reunion in Branson, MO. Now, understand that Cash had been (half-jokingly) telling everyone that he was going to go see the Osmonds. Unfortunately, they have packed up and left Branson... However, we did manage to find other things to do and see. :) First, we spent a few days in Texarkana with Grandma and Grandpa and got to see my sister Kim and her husband Joey. It was great to see them.

A stop in American Fork, UT to take flowers to Grandma Carolyn's grave

We saw the Amazing Chinese Acrobats -- they were amazing!

Spencer liked the karate guys

These girls had incredible balance - and though they weigh 42 pounds they are strong!

We spent a day at Silver Dollar City -- it was a blast. Emmett rode these kiddy rides in a seat all by himself!

We went to the Titanic Museum; it was so interesting and the kids really enjoyed it. They had an iceberg to touch, a deck the temperature of that night, a barrel of water the temperature of the water that you could see how long you could leave your hand in there (some of us made it almost a minute), and you went in as a passenger from the trip that you followed through the museum and found out at the end if you survived.We finished up at my Uncle Joe's farm in Missouri. The kids ran around, they fished in the pond, jumped on hay bales, and above they're showing off Uncle Joe's quail eggs -- around the corner there are probably a hundred little baby quail. oooh, cute.

There was so much to do in Branson, and it was a really fun place to visit.

Milestones

Milestone #1: Walking!

Well, Emmett finally decided that he would like to try walking. He's very slow but oh so proud of himself. He's grown up too fast -- soon he'll be in nursery! If I knew how to make those fancy video clips -- I'd put one on.

Emmett walking at the park

But, speaking of video clips -- you should check out this youtube video of Cash and his brothers skiing (Cash's brother put it together...it's fantastic!). It's awesome and those boys couldn't be happier. Cash's mom is right -- a boat does have a way of bringing the family together. Thanks Mom Hill! We've had such a great time at the lake and our kids already look like Oreos without their bathing suits on! And speaking of skiing...

Milestone #2: Skiing
Spencer learned how to ski! He got up on two skis and really seemed to like it. He rode around for a while and then tried to do some fancy footwork like he saw in the youtube video...he promptly fell. But, he's ready to keep working on it.

I'll post a picture of him skiing soon!

Milestone #3: Baseball
Spencer has had another great baseball season. Cash was his coach again and I don't know who has more fun, Cash or Spencer. Spencer has gotten to be great at the plate, he's a fantastic 1st baseman, he likes to play catcher, and at the last game he got a double play.

Cash couldn't be more pleased that (for now) Spencer likes skiing and baseball and they have a blast spending time together doing both!

Spencer getting ready to take off from first base

Milestone #4: Strawberries
Audrey has been in charge of her strawberry plants since last summer. We planted one plant and we now have about 25 plants. After lots of watering and lots of patience, she finally got to eat her first strawberry. She has decided there are plenty to share and checks on them every day.

Happy Father's Day:

Or Charles and Cash on Fashion

Yes, a little late, but on Father's Day we were in the DFW airport. So in honor of two of the greatest fathers I know, here's a little glimpse into one of the best Father and Son-in-law relationships out there.

Setting: A minor [very minor] league baseball stadium for the Texarkana Gunslingers. My dad is noticing that some of the people don't wear very "practical" shoes to the ball park. My dad is very practical.

Charles: Cash, why in the world would someone wear high heels to a baseball game?

Cash: Well, Charles, it's because it makes your butt look hot.

Charles: [long pause]...Do you think it would work for me?

Cash: [straight-faced] I don't see why not.

Cash and Charles on Father's Day

Sugar and Spice...

Audrey is a girly-girl. She loves pink, princess stuff, and Fancy Nancy (if you haven't read this book and you have a young girl, you should so add it to your library list...along with another one of our favorites, Pinkalicious.) To be fair though, she is one tough cookie -- she runs with excitement when I find an earthworm so that she can add it to her "collection" of other poor garden critters, and she can pummel her eight year old brother with no problem.

One of my favorite things about being the mom of a little girl is fixing her hair, all fancy-nancy-like. Usually I have to fix her hair in a "princess-do" which means something like Pocahontas braids, Belle twists, Cinderella buns, or Aurora curls...hey, it works! We have a lot of fun.

Recently we have discovered this fantastic site: Hair Today on my friend Calise's blog. I had gotten in a rut with her hair (a bit like the rut I am in with my hair...my ponytail hair...but that's another post...) but now we have so much fun picking out hairstyles on the blog. (There's a link to Girly Do's by Jen which is great too).

Anyway, here's a few of our latest. This one's a variation on "Heidi of the Alps:":This one is just two little braids into a "messy bun."

Happy Birthday Captain Awesome!

The crazy events of this spring, starting with my SIL Emily's coma, ending with my BIL Brent's heart attacks, and including a million other instances in between, have reminded me of the frailty of our most important relationships.

My most important relationship is with this guy:
I could go on and on about how great he is and what a wonderful husband he is and how much fun we have -- and though he would LOVE that, I just don't think you guys want to read a bunch of sappiness.

I guess I have just really realized lately that we can't take relationships for granted. They are entities of their own -- growing, changing, and fragile.

Ok, I'm verging on sappy; so, in honor of Cash's appreciation of succinctness, I will say this: "Dude, you are awesome." :)
I love you.

Oh, and I think he would be super pleased if I posted this:

Home is where the heart is...

My friend Alisa tagged me a while ago and I've been thinking about it... She wanted to know what things you miss about where you used to live. The only rule: it can't be food. What?!?! That was so hard for me because, well, I love food. (evidence? see previous post) But, we have fond memories about places we've lived, even Pocatello. So, here goes.

THINGS I MISS...

From College Station, Texas:

• Swimming 322 days of the year
• Seeing half the town wearing maroon
• A Gold's Gym with FREE (!) babysitting
• Aggie Baseball games
• Sitting around and talking about rhetoric with great colleagues and teachers
• HEB (ok, technically "food" but it's the best grocery store! Seriously they would have "Meal Deals" where you would buy hotdogs and get buns, soda, mustard, grated cheese, and chips for free!! Plus, they had the best homemade tortillas...made right in front of you! Ok, I'm getting easily sidetracked...)
• The best thunderstorms ever...it would rain so hard you couldn't see three feet in front of you and the thunder was amazing.
• Fourth of July and Easter celebrations at the G.H.W. Bush Presidential Library
• Great friends who became our family while we were far from our own families

Cash's Answer: March and OctoberFrom Pocatello, Idaho:

• $285 rent -- for 5 years!
• The best ward Halloween parties
• Concerts in the Park at Ross Park (except for the one where we learned that baby Spencer was allergic to peanuts. That was scary.)
• The constant rumors that this big store or that nice restaurant were coming to Pocatello. Almost always false.
• A great, supportive department and advisor.
• $1.79 gas
• True friendships forged over the shared struggles of being poor and newlywed

Cash's Answer: Sunday walks through the neighborhood by ISU reading Dave Barry to each other.


So, how about you? What things do you miss about the places you've lived? If you have lived and loved somewhere else...You're tagged! You College Station and Pocatello friends...I can't wait to read yours!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Emmett is a well-traveled little boy! While I have been MIA online we have been all over and it's been crazy fun. Emmett and I started the end of April going to California to be with my amazing sister Jenn and her beautiful girls. During that time Cash took Spencer to a conference in Sun Valley and he got to play with his cousin Preston.A few days after we got back I went with Cash and Emmett deep in the heart of Texas back to Texas A&M (whoop!) for a Public Management conference. We got to see lots of great friends (I wish I had taken pictures of everyone...Alisa, Diane, the Englands, the Wrights, others) and eat lots of great food (Korean burgers, Freebirds, kolaches, Rudy's BBQ, good wings). Ahhh, I am happy just remembering... Yes, Cash did actually work on this trip -- he presented a paper at the conference, got some good feedback, and outlined a few new ideas!

Here's some of our dear friends:

Left to right: Jonny's big TV, Rhiannon, me, and Emmett (yes, Jonny, Cash came home and somehow found that our tv looked a little smaller...)

With my neighbor Heidi, who I love like a sister and who got me to step foot inside a gym for the first time! (and taught me that crew socks must be replaced with ankle socks when working out. A good life lesson.)

And, best of all, Grandma and Grandpa surprised us by driving down! Emmett was so happy. We made sure that Grandma and Grandpa would remember who to cheer for! The Hill family also came back with lots-o-Aggie gear...thanks to the College Station Wal-mart. Best Aggie selection around!Thanks to Grammy Hill and Aunt JeNeale for watching Spencer and Audrey!!!

About a week after we got back from Texas Emmett and I made another trip to California for a week! It was beautiful weather and I got to do some organizing which makes me so happy. Truly. I love organizing -- not cleaning so much, but organizing.

Anyway, we are back and are finally getting settled back in. Emmett has had to go back to "boot camp" (more on that later if you don't know what that is) and we're getting back into the swing of things.

We'll probably get things down just in time to for us to leave again...we're going to the Shedd/Schroeder (my dad's siblings) family reunion at the beginning of June. We haven't been down to my dad's since we moved up here. We can't wait and Spencer and Audrey are really excited that they actually get to go this time. Part of the trip will be to Branson, Missouri. Cash is hoping to run into Donny...or at least Wayne and Jimmy! ;)

I'm not dead.

Ok, I know that you think I'm wasting space on your bookmark menu (which presumptuously assumes I'm on your bookmark menu...) but don't give up on me!! I'll be back soon; I've got lots to post about!

I'm currently in California with my sweet, amazing sister. I miss Cash and the kids but I'm so glad to be here. The weather, by the way, is beautiful. Although the price of cheese and milk would just about force me to by my own cow if I lived here! Yikes. Too bad it's my other sibling that owns cows...

"My Favorite Pasta Recipe" Monday

Creamy Fusilli

This is my "go to" pasta when I want something quick but yummy. This isn't the fanciest pasta, or the healthiest pasta, but I love this pasta because 1) it's so easy to make, 2) it satisfies most finicky eaters, 3) I almost always have most of the ingredients on hand, and 4) you can substitute most of the ingredients for lower fat ingredients although I have to admit...the real stuff makes it taste so much creamier [my MIL and SIL JeNeale are always getting after me for not having the "real stuff."]. I don't have a picture of the dish -- but here are the fusilli noodles that I like:
I can only find these fusilli noodles in the bulk section at Winco (bonus!) but most fusilli you find looks more like rotini, which you can easily substitute.

Ingredients:
4 c. fusilli or rotini (I do quite a bit and then double the sauce...I never actually measure the pasta)
3 T. butter
2/3 c. Parmesan cheese
1/3 c. parsley (I actually prefer the dried kind so my kids don't freak out; I just use a 2-4 T of the dried parsley)
2 T. mayonnaise
1/2 c. whipping cream
2 garlic cloves, mashed (I use a mortar and pestle but you can mash garlic with the side of a large chef's knife and some salt)
8 bacon slices, crisped and crumbled

Cook and drain pasta. Melt butter, add cheese, parsley, mayo, cream, and garlic. Mix and warm (don't boil). Toss cheese mixture with hot pasta and crumbled bacon until well coated. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.

Like I said, I usually make a few more noodles than this and double the sauce. You can also add diced chicken and steamed veggies (asparagus and broccoli are yummy).

OK, what are your favorite pasta dishes? I'd love some new ideas! :)

"My Favorite Summer Dessert Recipe" Monday

It's finally starting to warm up here and I love it! I love spring in Idaho, but that's another post. When it gets warm I start putting away the soup recipes and pulling out the summer fun! In honor of the return of the sun and MLB season (love you Cash!), this is my mom's Ice Cream dessert and it's 1) super easy, 2) great to make ahead, and 3) so fun for summer evenings on the deck! Oh, and the crunchy mix is sooo good that I have to make sure I don't eat it with a spoon...it does look an awful lot like cereal... I don't make this very often because Cash's mom doesn't like coconut and his brother is allergic to pecans... Maybe I can adapt the recipe...

Mom's Ice Cream Dessert
2 c. rice krispies (hummm... maybe there's a theme...)
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. coconut
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 c. chopped pecans.
1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream (the kind in a box) -- softened a bit

Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Place 2/3 in a 9x13 dish. Take your box of ice cream and peel off the box. Slice ice cream (about 1 to 1 1/2" slices) and layer on your yummy crunchy stuff. Just use the extra ice cream to fill in the gaps. Top with the rest of your crunchy mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refreeze until ready to eat.

My mom would make a topping with Strawberry Danish Dessert (I have no idea what that is) and frozen strawberries. I just use strawberry freezer jam, or even the strawberry ice cream topping.

If you try it let me know! Do any Schroeders remember this?

Well, Audrey is home from preschool and Emmett is awake...

Flashback Friday...way back!

So I started Flashback Friday but realized that I don't have a scanner! So, for now, my pictures are limited. But, this is one of my favorite pictures ever.

This is me and my mom; I love how happy she looks. I don't know much about it except that it's taken at my Grandma and Grandpa Rockwell's house (the one my mom grew up in). I think that it's taken about the time I was sealed to my parents (in the St. George Temple). Sometimes I feel sad when I think about my parents missing the first 18 months of my life when I find so much joy in the little things that Emmett does. But I'm so grateful they chose to take the little girl with the sticky-up hair! I love you mom and dad.

"My Favorite Chocolate Recipe" Monday

So, most of you know that I love to cook. My sister Jenn gave me a subscription to Cooks Illustrated magazine and my goal is to try one new thing each time. Last month I came across a recipe for:

Foolproof One Minute Chocolate Frosting

Now, a title like that is just asking me to prove it wrong. Foolproof? I'll show you! I love buttercream frosting but I can never make it quite right and it just ends up tasting like powdered sugar with a touch of milk. I'm not a huge, huge chocolate fan, but since I'm surrounded by people who think a cake really isn't worth eating unless it's chocolate, I thought I'd give it a try. Amazing. It is so easy, very yummy, and looks almost professional.

The recipe note says this can be made with milk, semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate (I used milk). It makes enough to frost one 9" 2 layer cake (to avoid lots of crumbs, stick the cake in the freezer for a bit). And, it's more like 7 minute frosting...

Foolproof One Minute Chocolate Frosting
20 Tablespoons (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (60-65 degrees)
1 c. confectioners' sugar
2/3 c. Dutch -processed cocoa (I just used the plain old Hershey's cocoa powder)
pinch of table salt
3/4 c. light corn syrup
1 t. vanilla extract
8 ounces chocolate (melted and cooled slightly) (I just melted milk chocolate chips in the microwave, 20 seconds at a time -- don't do it too long or too fast or they will seize up and your spoon will somehow get stuck in a big lump of hard chocolate)

In food processor, process butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping side of bowl as needed. Add corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5-10 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl, then add chocolate and pulse until smooth and creamy, 10-15 seconds. Frosting can be used immediately or held in the fridge up to 3 hours.

So, if you try it out let me know how it goes!

And, now your turn! What is your favorite CHOCOLATE recipe??? Grammy? I believe you have an oft requested hot fudge recipe... :)

If you know my husband...

...you'll understand why this dish made him happy:

Apple Dumplings with Mountain Dew

Yes, there are really only two apples but TWO(!) sticks of butter. Really. This dish is evil on so many levels.

We were visiting Jared (Cash's brother) and Maren and Maren showed me this fantastic site: The Pioneer Woman Cooks and it is so much fun!! This is a great site. She shows you step by step with great pictures and witty quips how to cook! Her pictures and instructions almost make me think I could make these recipes. Mostly, I just read it because it's funny. Anyway, she had this recipe for Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings and I knew that I just had to make these for Cash. They were delectable. And fattening. And I gained 10 pounds just reading the recipe.

So, thanks Maren for the great recipe and fun site!

We had a great Spring Break -- we went to Sun Valley (to visit Jared and Maren) and then we went to see my brother and his family in Burley and had a nice visit with my sister Jenn and her family. It was great to be with so much family; we are blessed to have such great families and even more blessed that we love to hang out with them!

I've decided that since Flashback Friday (which I missed this week because I was out of town) is so fun I'm going to try "My Favorite "fill-in-the-blank" Recipe Monday" -- so get your recipe box ready to share! I can't wait to get some new recipes! :)

And I write the things of my soul... (2 Ne 4:15)

I have to say that I have loved this blogging thing. I started after we moved away from Texas and I had pangs of homesickness and wanted to keep some sort of connection. This has been such a fun way to keep in touch with loved ones as far away as New Hampshire and and as close as down the street. I am so grateful for all the amazing women (and men) that I know and who I can admire by hearing their triumphs, tragedies, and troubles. It is a window into those things worth noting -- large and small. So, thanks so much for sharing glimpses of your life and making me laugh and helping me realize the importance of friends and family.

I found these two great quotes off a link from my friend Calise's blog...
"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh you memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experience." Gordon B. Hinckley.

Whoop and...

GIG 'EM!

Flashback Friday

So, my friend Tricia (the one I steal most of my blog ideas from) has another fun blog thing...Flashback Friday. So, you know those pictures from when Flashdance was a movie and the one shoulder sweatshirt was introduced for the first time? Yes, those...pull them out, scan them in, and post those beauties!

This flashback picture may date me. My friend Tiffany posted this on her Facebook...Yikes! Remember, I grew up in Texas! (thankfully this is post big-bang days!) This is Pine Tree High School Senior Prom with the group of girls I hung out with. All I remember is that my date was a good friend, Adam Morrison.

I can play Tag without running? I'm in!

My Sister-in-law, JeNeale tagged me, so here goes...

10 Years Ago:
1998: Cash and I had been married two years and we were at Idaho State in Pocatello, ID and we were living in our funky apartment in the blue house and we loved that place. I was working as a secretary at ISU and starting the last year of my bachelors. Cash was working at an eye glass place and had a really long, nasty goatee. We played lots of pinochle until the wee hours of the morning with our friends Chad and Lataun. It was also a tumultuous year: I was called as RS President in our student ward, I had my first miscarriage while on vacation (with Chad and Lataun) and my mom went into the hospital later that year.

Things on my to-do list Today:
1. Well, it's 11:30 p.m. and so, I'm going to pretend like it's been 30 minutes and it's tomorrow...a Sunday.
2. Go to Ward Council Meeting (oh, I must remember to set out church clothes after this because that means Cash is in charge of getting the kids ready...)
3. Try to keep the kids quiet and reverent for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
4. Hand out brand new Visiting Teaching Districts...ughhh.
5. Quick after-church-lunch of spicy ramen (the boys) and black noodles (the girls) while reading the Sunday paper. :)
6. RS meeting with the new Stake RS Presidency.
7. Some sort of dinner.
8. Treats at our house with birthday cake and ice cream for Emmett Cash.
9. Bed!!!!

What would I do if I suddenly became a Billionaire:
1. Is there any way to get out of paying taxes on it????
2. Ok, it looks like we all think alike...Pay off all houses and student loans for my family and Cash's family.
3. Buy Cash a major league baseball team and name a minor league baseball stadium after him.
4. Set up an endowed chair for Cash: The Gregory Cash Hill Professor of Public Administration, at Texas A&M.
5. Build a really beautiful library with a huge, kid-friendly reading area for kids and tons of kids books and name it after my mom.
6. Go on a service mission with Cash.
7. Take my kids to Korea.
8. Build huge cabins scattered in different states so that everyone could get together and play.
9. Pay a guy to put in Mom Hill's light fixtures. ;)

3 Bad Habits:
1. Diet Coke...occasionally Diet Coke before noon
2. Being impatient with my kids
3. I don't necessarily think it's a bad habit, but Cash's number 1 pet-peeve: peeing with the door open
Lucky for you, I can only list 3...I could go on and on...

3 Places I've Lived:
1. Out of the country: South Korea and Venezuela
2. American Fork, Utah
3. Texas: Longview and College Station

5 Jobs I've Had:
1. Oriental Express (the best mall food. ever.)
2. Bodacious BBQ (my smelliest job. ever.)
3. Secretary for a property management company
4. When we were first married I sold phone cards door to door and business to business and it was awful. But, I never complained because Cash was cleaning toilets for Varsity Contractors.
5. Teacher

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I am sweaty-palms-bad-dreams scared of overpasses/underpasses and bugs.
2. In high school I was a synchronized swimmer, complete with the sequined wrist and ankle bands. Yes, it was sexy. It gets chalked up there with my other short-lived career as a clogger.
3. I competed in the Ricks College Homecoming Pageant.
4. I often read the ending of books before I start (in essence, I don't like surprises...and I can't keep a surprise very well either).
5. I love grasshopper cookies, sour cream and onion Pringles, garlic, sugar snap peas, and black beans.

OK, all you who read (yes, you!) who have not been tagged...YOU'RE IT!! Alisa, Katie, Kate, Emily, Tricia, Rhi, Lataun, Jenny, Melvin ladies...
Cash, though you resist blogging, you have to at least put your answers in a comment.

Emmett's Happy Day

Happy Birthday Little Boy...

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

I'd like a refund please.

So, this is the unfortunate side effect of spell-check...

p.s. no one tell Cash this came from Sam's Club or we'll never be able to go to Wal-Mart again (he hates going to WM anyway, and only goes if he thinks our neighbor will be working and he can hang out in the paint section with Mike while I get diapers and such.)