Preston's Birthday . . .

just the three of us . . . our first family photo
I have been remiss in posting this since Preston's birthday was fully two weeks ago, but I have just been so unmotivated to blog. . . the warm spring weather has me completely smitten-- I don't want to do anything in the house right now! (I know that when summer hits, I won't want to be anywhere but inside after 10:00 in the morning--so you can look forward to regular blog posts then!) Here are some photos of how we spent April 16th the last few years!!

Preston Burke Hill
4/16/2006
7 lbs 14 oz

my tiny sweet baby boy . . . I'll always remember the first time I held him--that first moment you meet your child is so difficult to capture with words -- I remember feelings of love, wonder, uncertainty, excitement, humility, amazement, shock, pure joy . . . just to name a few!

Little baby boy turning one!

Preston turning 2!

A few weeks before the big day Burke's family came into town and we had a spring birthday party of sorts (for Rebekah, Preston, and Cousin Quinn). Preston got these awesome Golf Clubs from Grandma and Grandpa--sadly they have spent more time in the top of my closet than anywhere else--when he plays nice with them he looks so stinkin cute!


(3 year old boy + golf clubs + walls + piano + little sister = TIME OUT!!)



Two of my fabulous sisters (Rachel & Becki) came to see us the actual week of Preston's Birthday-- It was SO wonderful for me to see them and Preston had a riot with cousin Belen :) They really helped us celebrate and made Preston's day extra special.

Here is Preston opening the Mega Blocks they brought for his birthday!

I did actually get input from Preston this year about what a party should look like-- "we need party hats, balloons, and dinosaur cake!" The ONLY party hats to be found at Walmart featured "Mater" from Cars--luckily Preston is a huge Cars fan, but I did think it was a little funny going along with the dino cake . . .

Good thing my sisters helped me so much-- I was pretty nervous about this endeavor, but it turned out okay and the birthday boy was thrilled with the end result:)
His favorite part of the cake: the hershey kiss balloons the dinosaur is holding :)

Burke and I debated long and hard about this gift--Mostly I just wasn't sure he was ready (or that I was for that matter!) Preston has been asking for this for a year though, he was completely speechless when he saw it! It was priceless :)

He wouldn't even dismount to blow out the candle on the cake!

We had a great day for Preston filled with phone calls, and fun! Thanks to everyone who helped to make his day special! I am so lucky to be this awesome little guy's Mom!

I love Spring!

We had an awesome visit with Burke's family about a week and a half ago. Preston has asked me nearly everyday since they left when they will be coming again! Grandma brought us this awesome sidewalk chalk and we have been having SO much fun with it. Somehow I don't have a picture of Rebekah in on the activity, but she loves it to (though she tries the chalk out as a lollipop from time to time!)

Here is a picture of Rebekah just because she is cute! She is now walking more than crawling, though she is still painfully slow and prefers something (read: Mom's hand or legs) to hold to. She surprises us with new words and signs every day or two. We are loving her funny mannerisms and big slobbery open mouth kisses!

Preston and I had a few fun projects this week while Rebekah was taking naps. Here we are getting started coloring Easter eggs!

What a fun mess!!

are we coloring eggs or hands?!

Preston loved adding stickers and "belts" to the colored eggs.

Below is a picture of another fun little activity we did a few days ago. The recipe and instructions can be found here.

Hope Everyone is Enjoying Spring!! (Even if the weather is a little fickle.)

Another Preston Interview . . .

Most of the time snapping pics of Preston is an exercise in frustration for me-- he never holds still for a moment, so I have many pictures like the above-- this wonderful boy is always on the GO!!

Here is another cute interview with Preston that I was tagged to do. thanks J--we had fun with this!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
You said, “What’s goin on in here?”

2. What makes mom happy?
When you obey (me or him? hmmm)

3. What makes mom sad?
When I make big messes that makes you sad.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
You tickle me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You were tiny like Rebekah.

6. How old is your mom?
I don’t know.

7. How tall is your mom?
You’re big and tall-- as tall as Mom!

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
Clifford (His favorite this week!)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Be quiet. (Yes I do love the quiet at the end of the day!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
She would be lost! (Maybe I should be offended! What do you think?)

11. What is your mom really good at?
You are good at Me, Mom! (Wow, I thought that was generous!)

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Sometimes you cry at me and then you have to go to bed.

13. What does your mom do for her job?
It is on the computer. (I think because I am sitting in front of it right now!)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
I don’t know—probably Salad.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When I go potty.


16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
T-Bone (Clifford’s side kick of course!)


17. What do you and your mom do together?
Go to the library.


18. How are you and your mom the same?
We are not the same!

19. How are you and your mom different?
You are Mommy and I am Preston!

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
You just love me!

Me: But how do you know?
I already told you Mom.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
He asks you questions. (Hmmm--Nope!)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
To the library!

Overheard While Watching General Conference

General conference was wonderful (as always!) and really lifted me. Burke had to work out of town at the last minute, so I had some juggling to do with the kids, but I was able to listen to most of it and even got a few notes written down. Preston enjoyed it (especially when he listened well enough to get some jelly beans!) I enjoyed his comments and thought you might get a kick out of them as well:

"Oh, I love this prophet!!"

"I'm tired of this prophet movie . . ."

"Oh these are really good singers!!" (Already a fan of MoTab!)

"There's President Uuk-dork!" (I hope that is not too disrespectful, by the end of conference he was consistently saying his name correctly!)

"Is this Elder Cooker?"

"Oh, he said, scriptures! That means I get a treat!"

"I am such a good listener!"

"The temple is not a house--it's a temple you silly goose!" (Spoken to Elder Bednar)

"He said, temples! That means I get a treat!!"

While looking at the pictures of the Prophets and Apostles "there's Elder Packer, Elder Blueberry . . . "(Perry)

It really was a joy to be able to hear our prophet and leaders give inspired counsel and speak messages of hope. I love the Spirit that is in my home at General Conference time :)

Play Dough Cookies

This is a copy-cat post from Burke's cousin Val. Her blog is private or I would just link you all over to her post about this, but the idea is too cute to not share-- It has been cold and rainy the last few days so I have been glad to have a few fun indoor activities to help break up our cabin fever!

Here is the Recipe and some instructions:

Mix the following ingredients:

3/4 c. butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Then divide the dough into fourths and color each fourth a color of your choice with food coloring - (any food coloring will work fine... we just used the cheap liquid ones and they worked fine, just add the food coloring until its the shade you desire).

Now roll each color of the dough separately into 1/2 inch balls. (MOST kids will love rolling the dough into balls, but my son got too distracted so I just ended up cutting them in 1/2 " cubes). Put the balls onto wax paper and let set in the freezer for around 10 minutes, just so they are chilled slightly. (I actually covered mine well and refrigerated the cubes overnight because Preston was bored at this point-- but I think most kids would not think this was too long of an activity!)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and take the dough out of the freezer. Combine one ball (cube) of each color and slightly roll it into a bigger ball.
Then roll that big ball into a snake - Preston LOVED this part!! Then coil the snake into a cookie --or whatever shape they end up being! and place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Smashing your dough ball into a big wad and sticking it to the side of the refridgerator is cool too
;) Put them in the oven for 8-12 minutes or until they just barely start to brown on the edges.
Take them out of the oven and put them onto a cooling rack to cool - then eat them and enjoy!

Thanks for sharing the cute idea Val (and for not hating me for pirating your tutorial!!)

*Cute Rebekah Story*

If you ask Rebekah to touch her nose she will grab her nose. If you ask Rebekah to touch her ears she will grab . . . her nose. So I have been laughing about this for a while (the last month or so), but I am not too concerned cuz she will get it eventually. But I could not stop laughing the other day when I learned that she thinks ears are called . . . "hellos". She was playing with my ear lobe and kept saying "ello" over and over again. Then she would touch my nose and say "ose" and laugh and giggle and start over again. So I tried it. I said, "Rebekah touch your nose" And she got that huge grin and grabbed her nose. Then I said, "Rebekah touch your hellos" and sure enough she immediately grabbed her ears . . . oh well . . .

Miss Mischief!!

Little Rebekah is growing! She loves the piano-- it cracks me up to see her from across the room walking back and forth hanging on the keys!

Rebekah is really starting to get into everything . . . here she found her way into my closet and got into my craft box! Yikes! At least Preston wasn't with her or I am sure all of those markers would have been open. He is cool to teach her tricks like that!

I walked into the kitchen the other day and this is what I found! What a funny baby! Guess it is time to install the cupboard latches *sigh*

The new and improved walker for tots-- I remember Preston using this high chair the same way!

It even works on the carpet!

. . .but she hasn't figured out how to get it under the table (thank goodness!)

Below are a few video clips (no sound) -- feel free to skip if you want-- I realize they are kinda boring, but you can see the "walker" in action and Rebekah sitting at the piano!