The Garden

We started our tomatoes and peppers from seed-- something I have never done before.

As I kid, I remember saying that I hated the garden and I would never have one . . . but when you are raised on garden produce . . . it is a taste that you cannot forget. So I was super excited when we moved here and there was a place in our yard that had once been used as a garden--it was very grown over with weeds, and the earth seemed so solid and I was sure nothing of value would grow . . . but everyday I go out and pull a few weeds (need to pull more than a few) and water my garden and witness a miracle. More plants pushing through the hard earth, new leaves, bigger plants . . . I can't tell you how happy it makes me to watch my garden grow :)

This is a pretty good picture of the grapevine. Also the raspberry & strawberry plants (and more than a few weeds!)

Quite possibly the cutest gardener in the world! Every morning this little boy asks me if I am ready to go and work in the garden. So cute!

I couldn't fit the whole thing in one picture and I completely missed the other side! Oops! Here is a view of the corn, tomatoes, peppers, beans, carrots, lettuce, spinach, onions, parsley, and basil. Not pictured are the "big" plants-- zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon, and cantaloupe.

Preston's only competition for cutest gardener in the world. She sat on a poor tomato plant no less than three times the other day though so I think that is points against her.

So Mom there you go-- don't be mad at me for not having all of the weeds pulled at once-- one row a day just isn't really getting me very far! But you had nine kids to help weed that humongous garden. I just have me and two crazy little helpers (not so much "help" if you know what I mean!)

Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses . . .

I have been thinking a lot lately about why I do what I do, and what motivates me to do it. So often I find myself trying to control things that are either beyond my control, or just really don't matter. Today I found my patience thin and my children particularly whiny. My Mom and Dad called me this afternoon to chat with me and see how I was doing. Preston was being mean to Rebekah and earned a "time out" while we were on the phone. At the end of our conversation, Mom requested I post a few pictures of my garden. I realized as I got off the phone and let Preston out of his room that we all just needed to get out and start over. So we went out into the backyard. Oh the magic of the backyard! I pulled out my camera and for once tried to shut my mouth and let my beautiful children be children. As I watched them explore and learn and enjoy the world I realized how much I need to just stop and enjoy the roses too. I know these precious days of little children under my feet asking for my undivided attention at every moment will be gone before I know it. When that happens, I hope my heart only aches a little--just that they are gone and not that I didn't take the time to enjoy their innocence and wonder. Seeing the world through the eyes of my children somehow softens me and motivates me. How I pray that I will be the Mother I promised to be. The Mother I want to be. The Mother they believe that I am.

Happy Birthday Burke!!

So my camera is MIA-- I keep blaming a kid, but I am pretty sure it will turn up in a place that I could have put it, --so I have no pictures of Burke's birthday (He will be heart broken I am sure!) He played a trick on me for his birthday this year-- our ward's Father/Son outing was scheduled for Fri/Sat and so because he was planning to go and take Preston, I decided we would celebrate his birthday on Thursday. In the end he decided NOT to go on the campout so we had TWO days of birthday fun! I am pretty sure he planned it that way . . . We really did have a fun celebration and enjoyed slowing down a little. I am so lucky to be married to such an awesome guy :) He really is one of my greatest blessings :)

All Girl

Rebekah has a new love affair: shoes, hairclips, and bags! It all started when she got a whole box full of "new" shoes from cousin Belen. She carried them around for a few days, but they were all just enough too big that I put them up in a box thinking we would need them in a month or two. As if she heard me think it, within 2 weeks she had grown into the new shoes. She was so delighted with these little black dress shoes. She has never been one to leave shoes on for too long, but loves to play "shoe store" and is constantly taking them off and trying to put them back on (which usually sounds like yelling and whimpering until Burke or I help her put them on). She is getting pretty good at putting them on finally. Anyway, these little black beauties have been a clear favorite--even before she is out of her pajamas in the mornings, she has been bringing them to me to have them put on. She loves the way they sound on the tile, (or any hard surface) and literally is tap dancing around my house all day. I have drawn the line by not letting her wear them into the garden :) (Preston thinks this is wildly unfair, because I will not let him wear his "Sunday" shoes except when we are going to church--but I can't help it, it is just SO cute that she LOVES these shoes!!) When she is finished wearing them, this is how I find them :)

Crying because her hairbow came out!

Any bag with a handle is now a "purse"-- this one stuffed full of dominos . . .

I love the way she marches all over the house letting this thing swing from her elbow.

Who knew Little Girls just come that way?!?

New 'do

A few of you have been asking to see my new haircut-- it is not that new anymore-- it has been almost a month-- but here it is :) It took some getting used to, but I really have been happy with the change.

Those of you who have had short hair know that "bed head" is pretty scary-- shortly after I got the cut I woke up one morning with crazy hair (as usual) and Preston said, "Whoa Mom-- you're gonna need a lot of hair spray to fix that!!"

Hey at least he is looking out for me right?

I'm gonna get there . . . someday!

Have you ever seen a puppy chasing his tail? That is what this reminds me of! Burke and I could not stop laughing--my kids crack me up!

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!