The Hillen Family: November 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

O Christmas Card, O Christmas Card...with Shutterfly

One of my most favorite things to do at this time of year is pull out my Christmas cards and take a trip down memory lane. I love to not only look at my own Christmas cards from years past, but the many sent from my family and friends. My favorite cards are those with pictures and handwritten messages. Which is why I've chosen to make my cards on Shutterfly this year. I first used Shutterfly for Max's 3rd birthday invitations in August. I loved being able to incorporate his picture in his Buzz Lightyear costume in his invites. Their birthday invitations (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birthday-invitations )are terrific! Sorry I don't know how to just write the word so you can click on the link. I tried a couple of different things that didn't work. It seems I need another blogging lesson from my friend Heather. It's also getting late and I've spent my day teaching 6 and 7 year olds.

I'm so glad I discovered Shutterfly, my only regret is not finding them sooner. The selection is so much greater than other photo sharing sites . I am going to have such a hard time deciding on my Christmas card this year. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Like I mentioned above the selection is unbeatable. I think it may take me days to go through each card to decide on the perfect fit for my family. I will definitely be checking out this link often. http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards . (It's already on my favorites!)

I've also decided to make a few gifts on Shutterfly this year. I've never made a calendar for the grandparents before, but I know they would love a 2011 calendar with pics of their favorite kiddos and important dates. http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
I might even make one for myself! Especially this week since they are having amazing cyber week deals. I also love the photobooks. I will never have too many photos of my sweeties!

Shutterfly's Christmas promotion for bloggers:http://bit.ly/sfly2010 is a fantastic way to spread some holiday cheer.

Mommy (and Daddy) and Me Monday

It was so wonderful to have the whole week off last week.(Although I would have liked to have blogged a little more to keep a better journal--just got busier than I expected) I had such a fun time with the kids and Damian--he actually only worked half days Wed. & Fri. and was off on Thanksgiving & the weekend-this is very rare for him. It was so great to relax and spend quality time together. It was nice to get caught up on housework and laundry too. We did a little shopping, playing, visiting with family(my sweet new nephew) and friends. We saw the new movie Tangled and the kids LOVED it! Emma keeps asking if we can go again! We also traveled to Daytona Beach to visit our friends Jon and Cathy. I love Thanksgiving but sometimes get a little overwhelmed having to travel to celebrate with both families in one day. However, as the years go on it is getting easier for me and I look forward to seeing everyone and making new memories each year.
Here are some of my mommy(and daddy) and me pics that my mom took on Thanksgiving. I wanted her to take a few photos for our Christmas cards and here are a couple of my favorites:

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mommy and Me Monday

I just love this time of year! I am so excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving this week. Not to mention it's also our fall break from school. So we are off for the e-n-t-i-r-e week!! It has also been a very exciting time in our family...my sister and brother in-law welcomed their first son Noah William on November 18, just in time for turkey day. His big sister Allie is also pretty excited!! We just love babies in our family(who doesn't, right?!?) This is the 9th kiddo in nine years in just my family. I cannot wait to see him again tomorrow!
This is the time of year where I reflect on what I am truly thankful for and remember to count my blessings...which I try to do every day but especially now!
Here are a few of my favorite mommy and me moments over the last month:
Emma and Mommy at Emma's Thanksgiving feast

At the pumpkin patch with my sweeties

Emma and Mommy at Cracker Barrel for Emma's 6th birthday

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Six Year Old Saturday

Well, it's official... we have a six year old! Emma has been quite the busy little girl over the last couple of months. She's still loving kindergarten. I honestly can't believe how much she's learned over the last few weeks. I love listening to her read and watching her write her stories. She loves to come home and play school too. She has even told us that she is asking Santa for a desk this year...I love it! For her actual birthday on October 27, we celebrated with dinner at Cracker Barrel with Damian's parents and a trip to Toys 'R Us for her to spend her birthday money. She had a blast!! Today we are having a double celebration with her cousin Nathan. His 9th birthday was November 10. Emma is so excited to be sharing this party with her cousin. I know it will be so much fun for all of them! We are also planning on taking her to Bippity Boppity Boutique at Disney to celebrate in true princess fashion. There will definitely be tons of pics to share. In the meantime, here are some pictures of Emma from her first ballet and gymnastics performance for this year at downtown Zephryhills fall festival. We are also planning on her being in the Christmas show and parades in December. She has been really practicing her gymnastics and is loving it!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Way Back When-esday

I have been thinking about getting our family picture done for our Christmas cards this year. So with that in mind I am posting some way back pics of the kiddos at Christmastime.

I really want to get professional pics of our family done at an outside location. We were supposed to over a month ago but plans didn't work out. So I am going to try my best to schedule and get it done within the next couple of weeks. I can't believe I'm planning that already but it is the second week of November...I feel like I'm already behind! Plus....every time I turn around I see Christmas decorations! I personally like to celebrate Thanksgiving before I even begin to think about pulling out my decorations but I do love the holiday season!

Emma-Christmas 2006(when she was an only child!)

Max's 1st Christmas-2007---I love, love, love this pic of my boys!

Our family 2007

Emma-December 2008

Max-December 2008

December 2009

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tales of a Three Year Old

Who is this big boy?!?
Every night when I am snuggling up and reading our stories before bedtime...I realize just how quickly my sweet boy is growing. Gone are the days of bottles and diapers...Now are the days of juice boxes and big boy underwear! Although I sometimes miss those baby days...I love each new stage. Well...minus the tantrums and declarations of "No, I don't want to!" I could definitely do without those. But as a mommy you have to take the bad with the good. It's all worth it to see my children healthy and happy though!! Here are some updates: Max has been doing so well using the potty. Damian even woke up at 3:30am the other day and wondered why the bathroom light was on...apparently Max had to go in the middle of the night! He still loves to play any and all sports, ride his scooter, play with his army guys and trucks. I love watching him play-it's so fun to listen to him talk with his army guys or little people. Buzz Lightyear is still his favorite character and Toy Story his favorite movie that he likes to watch over and over again. He has recently been loving Scooby Doo and Little Einsteins...his favorite shows. He still loves to read books. His fav right now-Spiders, Bats, and Pumpkin Eaters. It's a nursery rhyme book and was one of Emma's favorites when she was 3! I love hearing Emma read it to him. :) He is a picky eater, (so was Emma when she was 3 and now she will eat many different things), so I know there is hope! Max loved Halloween this year. He was so cute in his Buzz costume and saying Trick-or-Treat. He always remembered to say thank you when he got a piece of candy. He really does have good manners. He uses please and thank you all the time and even says"Excuse me, Mommy" when he wants to tell me something and I am talking to someone else. It is something that we work on daily and will continue to work on with him. I am doing my best to raise a little gentleman. He loves to sing this song he learned at school called "God Made Me". I really need to get it on video. It is precious! He has been making the cutest crafts at school...we love this time of year. He loves to color and is really doing well with his letters and numbers! He's been learning so much over the last couple of months. His vocabulary amazes me every day. Sometimes I don't know where he comes up with some things. (probably his big sister's influence!!) He is always the first one to say "let's pray" before we eat and has been very well behaved in church even trying to sing and participate lately--especially since Mommy forgot the gummies and coloring books this past Sunday!! I love it when I am sitting down and out of the blue Max says" I love you, Mommy" and gives me kisses on my cheek and elbows. There is nothing better!

settled...

Finally...I feel like things are settling down on the homefront. After a whirlwind month of moving to a new home, celebrating Emma's 6th birthday, some adorable trick-or-treaters, time spent visiting family and friends, a nasty stomach bug, missed days at work, a baby shower for my sister,cooler weather and bonfires, and piles upon piles of laundry...I am so happy to report that we are back and better than ever. I am really not one to stress out over too many things...thank goodness I get my easy going personality from my dear old dad! Last week I was beginning to feel overwhelmed and a little stressed to say the least. This week is a whole different story. I think it was that extra hour on Sunday that has helped me...ha ha!
I have taken so many pictures over the last month, that I could probably do a post for each photo event. However, instead I am just going to do a picture overload all in one! I sure wish I could figure out how to do a photo collage! (and I just realized I deleted my signature--I do that all the time and can't figure out how to put it back on here...oops!)

Enjoy---I realized after I started loading these that they are in the wrong order...oh well! At least I finally put some on here!