Easter with the Hillen's

It was so nice to see everyone in Damian's family on Saturday. It was a beautiful day to get together to eat, talk, laugh, and just enjoy the day. It would have been even better if poor little Max hadn't been sick. He wasn't running a fever and hadn't thrown up for 24 hours so we thought he was on the mend. And everyone else that I talked to from his school only had this stomach bug for a day and a half tops. He took a nap on the way over and we thought he was feeling better. He layed down for awhile and then was very clingy and whiny...great just what we hope for when the whole family gets together, which doesn't happen very often because everyone is always so busy. I didn't get a chance to help out too much or even chat with everyone but it was good to have some laughs which are never in short supply when the Hillen's are around. I especially love the belly laughs that can be heard for miles around!
It was such a beautiful day that we enjoyed our feast outside...I even sat at the kids table this year. I was sure hoping to join the grown-ups but Max didn't want me to leave his side.
I loved watching Grandpop play "tennis" with the kids. It was priceless! The kids also looked so adorable in the bunny glasses from Uncle Matt and Aunt Holly.

We all brought some eggs filled with candy and money. They loved running around collecting eggs---although Max had a little help from his daddy. They made out like bandits. I think Max added $12 to his piggy bank and Emma had about $15 from the egg hunt, not to mention the overflowing baskets of candy. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with all this candy. I have about 5 baskets full!

Still to come Easter morning at our home and Easter with the Robbins'!!

Tales of a Three Year Old

I think that I will not soon forget this Easter. Isn't my boy just the cutest thing ever??? I loved his outfit and he kept his hat on all afternoon...he looks like such a big boy! It looks like he's grown a couple of inches in the past few weeks.
Max got a stomach "bug" and was sick from Thursday until Monday. That was a very loooong 5 days. I swear he catches all the germs from the other kids in daycare. He just had a double ear infection and strep throat last month.
On a bright note, I was reading a parenting magazine and it had recently done research studies on illnesses with kids. It stated how kids in daycare may be sick often but their immune system builds up and by the time they are ready for kindergarten they are very healthy and miss fewer days. This is good news to me....because we have had our share of sick days this year.
We are so happy to have our sweet, healthy boy back. The whining and crying can stay away forever as far as I'm concerned. Even though he wasn't feeling well, he tried his very best to join in the egg hunts and fun times with cousins over the weekend.
He was so happy the Easter bunny brought him some new Legos and a Playmobile castle play set. He likes to pretend he is a brave knight and I love watching and listening to him play. It is just the cutest thing ever. He has quite the personality and is definitely his father's son. That kid really cracks me up with his vivid imagination!
He missed his soccer game last week but he's been practicing his skills at home so he's ready for this week. When he wakes up each morning, he tells me what day it is and how many days he has left until Saturday.
He was also very glad to be back in school yesterday after being out since last Thursday afternoon. He just loves playing with all his friends and learning new things. He is mastering writing his name and I am loving it! He also loves to tell me all the things that start like his name: monkeys, Mickey Mouse, motorcycles to name a few and he can also tell me all the things that start the same as his little buddies names--I think they must sing an alphabet song and talk about this every day.
His favorite song to sing for his newest cousin Noah is "Rat tat tat and a thump thump thump...Noah built a great big ark. he called all the animals two by two. (imagine this next part with him shouting with his hands cupped over mouth) Get on the ark it's going to rain, here come the cows, moo, moo, moo, here come the ducks, quack, quack, quack" and so on through about 5 or 6 more animals. And he sings it over and over again. So many times in fact that I catch myself singing it in my head. He just loves to perform this when he has an audience. I love that he just bursts out into song at the most random times. I definitely need to get it on video. He and Emma still love to put on singing and dancing shows for us each evening. Pretty soon they will be choreographing their own moves and want to be on stage. ha!
We are very fortunate to have our parents babysit since my sick days are completely gone for the year and Damian wasn't able to take off this week at all. My mom kept him on Monday and Damian's mom kept him on Tuesday. Last night Max told me that I needed to take him to Gram and Papaw's(my parents) house to spend the night. When I asked him why I needed to do this...he said "so that my Gram can take care of me and rub my belly and my Papaw can go to Publix and buy me glazed donuts!" My mom and I had a good laugh over that one. Of course, we only let him have glazed donuts on some weekends but the kid is obsessed!

Way Back When-esday: Easter edition

So...I tried to make a little photo collage from the past 6 years. It's small and a little blurry but if you click on the pics they are bigger.
It's so neat for me to look back and see how my little family has grown and changed. Some days I can hardly remember those days and others it seems like yesterday.
I just wish I had some pics on snapfish of Emma's first Easter but those are all on a cd in some box packed away. I still remember her sweet little purple dress that I was soo excited to buy. She still has it and uses it to dress up her dolls.
I realized a few things while looking back through the years...First, I am a little bummed I didn't get a family picture last year in our Sunday best. I'll have to see if my mom or sister got one. We hosted Easter at our house so things were a little hectic. I also noticed that I wore the same outfit in 2006 &2008...oops. That just goes to show that I would much rather buy cute clothes for my kids! I loved my baby bump in 2007-I was about 5 months pregnant-really wish I would have taken more pregnant pics of myself. I also came to the conclusion that I love my hair shorter. Although this year's picture isn't my most flattering...we had just been running around for the egg hunt. I also wish I had one of us all together(I have me with the kids & D with the kids) this year before or after church but it's hard when you are trying to get the food, baskets, and million other things ready and out the door to travel to visit with the family.




I just love looking back and remembering these sweet times with my family!

Mommy and Me Monday

Despite the stomach bug that hit Max hard over the weekend...I managed to get this shot with my two sweeties where they were both smiling! We had such a memorable Easter this year!

Six Year Old Saturday

Yesterday was Good Friday. I had so many plans for a fabulous day--running errands, signing Max up for preschool, Emma's doctor appointment, taking the kids to Stations of the Cross at church. I took the day off for Emma's appointment with the orthopedic doctor and was excited about having the day off with my sweet kiddos.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a pretty traumatic day. Max came down with the stomach flu on Thursday afternoon...so I was up to my elbows in vomit...awesome! So we stayed home all morning and I thoroughly cleaned & scoured my house...hoping to keep the bug away from the rest of us! I've washed my hands hundreds of times & used almost a whole can of Lysol in just two days...just hope it works!

Then, as we were getting ready to go to the doctor, Emma started having some anxiety. I tried to assure her that everything would be fine. They had to take x-rays, remove the cast, and put a new, shorter one on...well, it all sounds good in theory. She is a very smart and reasonable child. But, she FREAKED out. She sobbed, she screamed at the top of her lungs, she yelled at me and the people working. At the moment they removed the cast, I did not know who had taken over my daughter, but it was crazy--she was acting crazy. The people (it took 3 of them because she was so hysterical) told me that this happens sometimes. She absolutely did not want to see her arm, she covered her eyes and cried like never before. All the while I was holding Max (who at this point was running a high fever, whining, & crying) and I was holding her, trying to calm her down. Did I mention, I was by myself and almost lost my mind! I could not believe this was happening to me. It was a little too much. So, I calmly told the kids that we needed a quiet ride home after our big afternoon. I think Emma realized how crazy she was acting. She apologized a couple of times and was very quiet. She does love her new, shorter cast. I was excited she chose hot pink with green stripes--it matches her Easter dress perfectly.

A few hours later, after we all calmed down, I took her to Build a Bear Workshop and out to dinner at Cracker Barrel. We ended up having a great Mommy/Daughter night out! I'll have to download the pics from Build a Bear later..they are adorable!

Way Back When-esday...totally random

This is a totally random way back picture post. I was planning on doing Easter pics from the past few years but I came across these sweet pics and so many memories came flooding back.
I am using the SD card for my new camera from a camera that my dad gave me a few months back. That camera is missing the charger for the battery, when I went to buy a new one it was tough to find the right charger. Anyway, when I put the card in I found over 300 pics my dad had taken starting in August 2007--when my sweet baby boy Max was born. It was so neat to see some pics I haven't seen before.

My parents kept Emma while we were in the hospital. This is what Gram and Emma like to do when they get together...bake some cookies! Look at my little (almost) 3 year old. I can't believe she's 6 1/2 now!

Snuggle time... Emma, and Jack the puppy(who now lives with my cousin Kate and her husband!)My sweet boy and I just moments after he joined the world... It looks like he's smiling at his big sister!

Papaw and his boy...My dad LOVES to wear his Grandpa shirt! He has several different and he wears them all the time. He is so proud of his grandchildren.

Gram and her newest grandson. My mom also loves to wear her gram shirts...She was so happy to hold Max--I love that smile!

I love this...Gram helping big sister Emma...It truly feels like yesterday!

It brings a tear to my eye to think about how quickly this time has gone. But, it also warms my heart to know that each year keeps getting better and better and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Tales of a Three Year Old--Soccer Star

Max had his very first soccer game this past Saturday.(too bad I didn't have my new camera until that afternoon) To say he was excited is an understatement. He could hardly wait to play in his game. Damian took him to Dick's Sporting Goods last week and bought him soccer cleats, shin guards, and shorts. He wants to wear his "soccer shoes" all.the.time! Here's Max ready to head to the field...love that big smile!

kicking some balls around and practicing

Max is on the green team. Unfortunately, their YMCA green shirts didn't arrive in time for this week--so his team wore these yellow mesh shirts. Which he didn't mind one bit because "lellow" is his favorite color!

It's great watching 3, 4, & 5 year olds run around and chase after a soccer ball! Taking a granola bar & water break--don't mind Emma--she was a little bored! Apparently preschool soccer is not exciting for her!

Ready to kick the ball...

And he's done...so tired after playing--he took a 3 1/2 hour nap after his busy morning!

Even though this is his first experience playing a team sport...he's doing a great job! Damian is helping out as the assistant coach. (He loves me for volunteering him for that!) Most importantly, Max is having fun. He even scored a goal--for the wrong team! He just smiled at me and kept on running. We're looking forward to our Soccer Saturdays for the next couple of months!

coloring eggs

The kids had so much fun coloring eggs yesterday. In the past, I've bought the kits for glitter eggs, camo eggs, and tie dye eggs. This year I decided to buy the original Paas set. Those others are just too much work(not to mention the glitter mess a few years ago-yikes!) and the kids had a blast. Max is convinced we have to color eggs every day before Easter--silly boy! I think we might do some more this week if we have some time!

Mommy and Me Monday

I finally got a new camera over the weekend...my hubby is the best! I guess he was sick and tired of hearing about how much we need a new one...our kids are only going to be this little for so long, and, blah, blah, blah! :) Here are the first couple of shots with the new camera.(before I changed some settings and read through the manual-ha) Here are me and the kiddos after church on Palm Sunday. I had them wear their Easter outfits from last year--I LOVE them!! I was happy they still fit! We might make this a tradition. I can't wait until Easter this weekend. I just love getting the kids dressed up and going to church--this year it's been neat to teach the kids about the real meaning of Easter...Jesus' death and resurrection-Emma really gets it and was very solemn this past Sunday thinking about the messages and songs she heard in church; I also love how she tries to explain it all to Max-so precious! Max was also singing the songs all day and was so proud to hold his palms up for the blessing--he may or may not have been waving them all around-- I also am so looking forward to celebrating with our both of our families this year! We are really beyond blessed to have such big, loving families! I know the kids are looking forward to Easter egg hunts(apparently my dad "Papaw" told the kids it's going to be the biggest one yet) and a visit from the Easter bunny too!

Beach Fun

We had such a fun and relaxing weekend. I really didn't want it to end. I am definitely counting down to summer break----only 8 1/2 weeks--less than 50 days to go-Wahoo! This weekend was just what we needed...a couple of days in the sand and sun! There's nothing better than sitting in a beach chair with my toes in the sand, listening to the ocean, watching my kids play, play, play in the sand, and soaking up the rays. We visited our friends Jon and Cathy in Daytona Beach. They live just across the street from the beach...Awesome!! Emma managed to build sand castles one armed and loved every minute of it!

They even waded and splashed in the water. It was still a bit chilly for me! You might want to put your shades on for the above left pic--Max is sooo pasty white! :)

Damian and Jon put together this "waterfall" for the kids while they were digging their pond in the sand. They giggled and splashed and had such a blast. I love how they could play in the sand for hours and have the best time and get along so well with each other! They both kept saying "This is the best day ever!"

They were pretty sad to leave! (so was I) They especially didn't want to leave Cathy, Jon, and their dog Vader! We're looking forward to many more beach-filled days!