Made my summer plans...

I want to be on the committee

that actually goes out and finds

these places in order to post a

sign like this one....

ever wonder who that is?

(Or see the video of the person

that actually had to MAKE the

sign - laughing themselves silly)

Aw...the wonders of life....

Um.... FYI

ELDER HILLARY

HAS LESS

THAN A

YEAR TO

KICK SOME

MISSIONARY

WHATOOOSIE....

EVERYONE CHEER

(Stand back...he's coming home to break some hearts)
(or at least to get his mom back on the straight and narrow...)

I'll like to order the Combination Plate please....

You know when you go to a Chinese Restaurant and you just can't decide on what to have because all of the seriously yummy MSG items are so tempting?  That's my blog entry.  Since the arrival of the twins, we have had a whirlwind of activity around the house.  So this blog is LONG and TASTY and comes with a great FORTUNE cookie of delight, I hope.  I will try to list each item, in random order, because it was too hard to decide which one was my favorite one - and I won't even mind if you leave me a TIP on my comments! (:

THE ANDY ARRIVAL

(not that his mom and dad's visit wasn't highly anticipated

  ....but you know...)

He came in a full package deal of cuteness, his raccoon hat, an appetite for In n Out Fries, and an added bonus of an ear infection and an eye infection.  He was such a trooper though - and he didn't mind sharing a million loves with his Nanna.  Matt enjoyed teaching him so say "Go away" - then made the mistake of saying "Go Away Mommy" - of which Matt's Christmas was reduced to a full piece of coal instead of just the half size.  It was fun to hear Andy communicating more, and looking at me and actually remembering me - that was my Christmas wish - fulfilled.  He also brought with him his baby sister, due in Aprilish - she will come to earth and knock his socks off if he tells mommy to go away anymore.... I can't wait to see her - she'll be BEAUTIFUL!

No... this is not a snit fit - I think he's saying his prayers...

yep - sure of it... I love this little boy SO much!

THE KARIN N KEITH ADVENTURES

We were SO lucky to get to have Karin and Keith with us this year for Christmas - Karin is Del's FAVE sister, and Keith and I are fortunate (choke), oh so lucky (gag and cough) to be recipients of their mother as our mother in law.  Keith - I'll take the bullet for that comment ok?  They bring a great spirit of love and support to our family.  They drove (last radar check in Filmore, Utah was 95 MPH) quickly to Utah from California on Christmas Eve.  Keith having just had shoulder surgery was sitting painless in the passengers side so if they did run off the road - he wouldn't have even felt it!  Lucky for us - they arrived safe and sound and made our Christmas complete and happy.  My kids all love these two, you only have to be around them for a moment to fall in love with them -and we are blessed to have them in our lives.  Christmas Eve brought the end to a 40 hour week and the blessing of having a few days off - in retail that is unheard of - so I was thankful for those that made this possible for me to have.  Another Christmas wish fulfilled.

THE GATHERING OF THE HILLARYS

otherwise known as Christmas Day

It's a rare occasion when we can all get everyone together.  So I appreciated (and give a thank you shout out) all of the kid's In Laws allowing me to steal their children for the day.  We broke up the occasion with them visiting their other families for Christmas Eve and I was so appreciative of the sacrifices that my in law kids made for our family.

We continued our beliefs that Christmas is about family - and that we always just draw one name and enjoy receiving one gift - it keeps it simple, the cost down and the true meaning of the day being love and sharing alive and well.  It was fun to see the things that everyone came up with for the person that they shopped for - it's always 'just right'.  Andy helped everyone this year - he would not only bring the present over to you, but also open it for you - he would say "Openit?" and you couldn't say no to those eyes...

He made sure that every single visible sign of wrapping paper

was removed before you could open the box.... Thanks Andy!

BTW - Thanks Michael - I get to go to Rod Works!!! (:

Matt and Bethany are way cute parents.  Andy is a funny kid

in so many ways.  He LOVES the movie CARS so every toy he

has is Mater, Queen, or Moo - the tipped over tractor.

   Matt and Andy loved playing together

Andy would fall asleep with a car in each hand

and a moo in his snooze.

   Time for a nap (he really sleeps like this) But the party must go on...

THE NEW TRADITION OF HUMILIATION

I told the kids that this year we we going to introduce

a new challenge.  Each couple was assigned a Christmas Carol.

Then they were to act it out - only pump it up on hip hop, or

change the words or totally change the concept - of which they did

(Except for Karin, Keith, Ashley and Mike - total slackers - booooo)

Matt and Bethany did "Up on the Housetop" only it included

Santa and Pirates and stick figures behind a table.  We laughed so hard.

Yo Yo Yo -   Bethany you'll have to help me with the rest of the words!

They were brave to start it out - and really set the bar high on the competition...

Mandy and Ryan had Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

We totally lost it when they punked themselves out,

Ryan even tanked down his jeans for the ultimate punk look.

Mandy took Carrie Underwood to the limit and we hardly

knew what she was singing because we were all rolling on the floor!

We really felt bad knowing that they had all tried SO

hard - but the champions had to make their statement.

Del and I did "The 12 Days of Christmas"

but we had a twist - with a catch - and a switch.

"The 12 Days of Christmas - Will it Blend?"

(Remember those ground up Barbies?) (Oh Ya!)

We had official safety glasses and lab coats.

Del kept asking me if we had any partridges in a pear tree,

but I could only come up with....

12 gummy wreaths

11 piles of reindeer poop

10 cut in half cherry cordial reindeer

9 marshmallow snowmen

8 lumps of chocolate coal

7 high caloric snacks

6  something something - can't remember

5 very rare golden chocolate coins

4 rubber toy tools

3 marshmallow 'joys'

2 Miley Cyrus stickers

1 Very Big Santa

So I can't rotate this but this is what it looked like,

it was the performance of our lifetime, and we proclaimed

in full song:  "We are the freakin' CHAMPIONS of the world"

Wanna challenge us next year?

Dare ya...

A LAZY AFTERNOON

After we consumed a turkey and a ham... it was time to

listen to violence, gunshots and death, (the new video game)

while putting together peaceful puzzles and visiting...

(Mandy went home with the last 3 pieces of the puzzle - sure, it was just a mistake....)

We did the family picture - for the Christmas Card

that will now become the New Year's Card....

Notice the cute Missionary in the picture.

I had to remind myself that it was actually Christmas Day,

instead of the

DAY THAT MY MISSIONARY COULD CALL HOME!

We were all able to talk to him for about 2 hours.

He sounded WONDERFUL!

More stories to come later - but we shared our

stories and tears and love and laughter.

Another Christmas Wish granted...

He's been very busy fighting off the forces of evil...

ENOUGH PARTY TIME? HAH! NEVER!

The next day we all headed off to see an amazing flick...

and ate outrageous amounts of popcorn,

and pizza afterwards....

THE NEXT DAY? (ARE YOU KIDDING?) (NEVER!)

Lasagna party and more blood and torment on the XBox...

It was time to say good bye to Karin and Keith - a tough

thing to do - they both spoiled us rotton and left their

love and kindness everywhere.....

They were headed to the Rose Parade!

AW COME ONE - JUST ONE MORE PARTY?

BRING IT ON!

Partae some more.... that's what I say.

The BOWEN BUNCH - my side of the family came

for Soup and Bread night - our Bowen Tradition.

We met our newest member Tyler Bradshaw,

my niece Betsy's son....we think he's cute..

The cousin's had a moment in front of the camera,

with their cute spouses, and Ryan's picture of course....

We were all ok about this until we remembered that

Ashley was upstairs asleep because she's a preggie momma

and she was tired!  Mike was home sick also - so I'll include

their picture here....

wait - I meant to use this one...

that's more like it...

and a 3 generation....

 The Almost 2 year olds - set up their

territories quickly - right next to the train

around the tree - They kept looking for

Thomas the Train - but it was just

Grandpas Santamotion...

and then we were partied out.....

But I sure love my kids for making it such a fun season.

Over the 5 days we must have fed 12 - 15 people per meal,

laughed 'till we peed, played games until our thumbs bled,

consumed 10 12 packs of diet Pepsi, took a million pics,

and most of all created many many memories.

On New Years Eve, Ashley and Mike were in Vegas,

Mandy and Ryan were being merry and the Merrimans,

Bethany and Matt took Del and I and Bethany's parents to dinner

after Andy's first sleigh riding adventure,

Karin and Keith were entertaining 'Pre Rose Parade' Style,

and Ryan - was dedicated being Elder Hillary.

Del and I lit the candles on my 400 year old ancestors

in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (a wonderfully creepy place

in the absolute dark....but it's tradition!)

Time to call it a 'New Year!"

 

To which I say,

".... and to all a good night".

I promised you Fortune Cookies so here they are...

2 NEW BABIES IN 2010!

NEW HOUSE FOR MATT AND BETHANY!

MISSIONARY HOME FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS!

2 BYU BACHELOR GRADUATES!

LAW SCHOOL LOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT

1 UOFU MASTERS GRADUATE!

GREEN BERET?! AND SERVICE TO FOR OUR COUNTRY

(ok -so I'm not looking forward to that one because I love Mike SO much)

DAD AND I ARE SELLING ALL WE HAVE AND

MOVING TO FRANCE....

(just seeing if you were still with me)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WE HAD TWINS!

I arrived home in a major hurry last Thursday - wonding how I would ever get everything done I needed to get done.  Work is just sucking the life out of my life - but never the less - grateful to have a job.  I ran downstairs to grab something and slid across the wet floor.  Now there's something wrong with that sentence, no - it's not the running downstairs part.  I stepped into water and nearly died.  I called Del and said - "Remember those water heaters that you were going to replace?"  (Only in a shrill high angry voice) Well - he came home in a hurry with 2 new water heaters in the back of his truck - and I went to the temple because I knew that the Lord would never forgive me for killing him.  When I returned home he wanted me to see something - (I love it when he shows me stuff) - and he told me to stand in a certain spot of the basement and that he would be right back.  Right before me was a wall of gushing water - from the faucet - from out side.  A tsunami rushed across the floor and over everything in it's path.  Small whales washed past me, a cruise ship went by with a couple on the front with their arms stretched out wide as Celine Deon sang in the background.... we now have a sand bar.  Del had washed his truck previously in the week and had (as usual) left the hose undrained.  (......last count, over 26 years in Utah....) dur dur dur, needless to say it had been filling up our basement for 45 minutes while he washed, and washed and washed his truck.  I was livid, I used my angry voice out loud, very loud, I did not swear (because I had just come from the temple remember), I was pointing fingers, 2 main fingers, and I was putting on my hip boots, I was not a nice person.  Needless to say - for the next 72 hours we have moved, dried, replaced, dries, reboxed, bit our lips, and gathered all the strength we could to put our lives back into shallower waters.  Del had never put water heaters in before - I asked him how he was going to do it.  This is a guy that designs Rockets ok - but hey - water heaters might pose a challenge. Not for this guy.  He was amazing.  Interestingly enough - a month ago - I felt a strong impression to put a few important things in plastic totes because of a great sale on them at the time.  Items that would have been totally destroyed, floated happily by me dry as a bone, and asking me if I had any sunscreen.  My friend suggested that we freeze it over and have  an ice skating rink - might have to charge for that one - but I did find my ice skates!  (The box they were in is currently destroyed though).  Fun new additions to the family include 2 new water heaters - heaven only knows how long he could have milked those for!  Here are our new babies - and incidentally all of the Christmas gifts, and food, and most of our bills are now tied up in these kids sorry!  So come on over for some sandwiches on Christmas day and we'll just play in the boxes they came in! (:

and here is the decorations around the tree.... and the kitchen,

and the front room, and the washroom and the bathrooms and the garage.....

I told Del how much I appreciated his hard work.

I really did.  He knew I was ticked off.

I also said that this particular 'dur dur dur' award

should take away at least 2 of the vehicles I've wrecked.

Ok, so much for that suggestion....

I will end on a positive note:

THINGS I FOUND

The bra that my brother sewed 2 stockings on the front for my 30th birthday, I in return gave him a nail studded jock strap for his 40th birthday.  A punchbowl - complete with 6 dead bugs.  Several toxic poisonously hugeness spiders, that are now deceased (note to self:  find offspring).   A warm place for little mice to live - and die.  (again, find offspring)  Applesauce from 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1989 - all years when my children were born - scrapbook material no doubt.  Unfinished crafts dating back to caveman years from Homemaking Nights (I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this one), and my costumes from my years of dancing with Moveta Carden from Logan.  Fortunately for me - the only pictures that were destroyed were of my mother in law - (can you feel the love) Rock on - everyone should have a good flood - right Noah?

And to all a good night....you hosers

Eat your hearts out, she's ours!

In a moment of very smart choices - my son Matt married his high school sweetheart - bringing huge smiles and sighs of relief - because I have ALWAYS loved this girl.  It was wonderful watching them fall in love - and see Matt's life come together so beautifully.  She brings class and comments to our family - Ryan M is really glad for that - because I'm not sure he can follow the conversations of Mandy and Ashley.... Bethany brings to our family noteworthy items - I thought of of few of my favorites....

She married a hottie, almost as hot as her!

She gave me my first grandchild - and I loved that one so much - she's giving me another one!

She lives what she believes, and you know it's good.

She is always looking for something to do for someone else.

She is a riot in a line at Disneyland - 'I'm thinking of an object....'

She gave us another set of parents, 2 more sisters, Mory, and an awesome Grandma that we love.

She calls me mom - and it melts my heart.

She's brilliant AND cute - she beats me on both of those.

She's a great mom and wife and Speech Pathologist, yep - she would need a Masters to put up with both of those boys some days!

She's a true Blue BYU with a Masters in Communication Disorders - the latter being how our family teases her on 'name that lisp'.

She's creative - she headed up a committee to find 49 things about me last year for my birthday - on

the fridge still. We still need to come up with one more....

She has my total respect - I don't give that one easily!

She loves the Lord and she is making sure that their home is

always a place he can dwell.

She teaches Andy about Nanna, and a-one, prayers,

and sorry - important things.

She is multitalented - music, school, sewing, entertaining, singing,

amazing job, and doing it all while being a mom.

She is my friend, AND my daughter in law.

She puts up with Matt, and a motorcycle - a full time job.

She is a great example to me.

She represents the terrific threes - my 3 in a week birthday celebrations!

She's coming to town and bringing my son and grandson, and 1/2 baby to

PLAY WITH NANNA!

Happy Birthday Bethany - we are SO lucky to have you,

and I'm lucky to share "Mrs. Hillary" with you!

WE LOVE YOU!

My Natural Born Child...

Freaky but true - this is my only natural born child.  The others required many wonderful drugs.  But Mandy entered the world with an agenda.  Her birth certificate almost said - Elevator, between floors 3 and 4.  She came screaming out and has never stopped.  When God said good bye to her - he said, "My child, Heaven will be darker, quieter, and less crazy... darn we'll miss you" and then he tossed her down to me, and commented on how he didn't know if the world was ready for this kid yet....  It was fun to have Mandy because I already had a boy and girl, so I was excited to see what was in store next.  I was not then, nor ever have been disappointed- except her Senior year.... there's always one year you know... (:  In a world of overachieving siblings, she created her own nitch.  She creates music - and performs it so that every single time she plays - Heavenly Father does look down and see who is playing more beautiful than his angels can sing.  I wanted to start out with the nice stuff.  It kinda changes gears from here on out..... hold on.  Well I'm thinkin' that I'll just show you Mandy - from pictures stolen from her facebook page - just in case you think I'm making all of this up!

Just in case you might be thinking that we don't love and adore her - think again.  Mandy can walk into a room and light it up with her smile and her laugh.  She usually enters bearing gifts of an amazingly decorated cake or some piece of music you just need to hear.  She loves to bring joy into the day - even on her worst day, she makes everyone around her feel like the sun is shining on them.  When she's not doing homework (Senior at BYU), or working (at work), or Playing music (Wind Symphony), or even serving others (Primary secretary), she's still laughing, or making the world a better place - one crazy thing at a time.  You can't drive in a car with Mandy in the passengers seat without locking the windows.  She'll yell at cars, call out "Look there's Jaffar!", or hang something from the car out the window.  Sometimes she'll yell out something and then duck and you are sitting there while people look over at you like - what?  She's brutal about people walking slow in front of her - BYU girls that are tramps and dress like tramps, and people that sing off key.  She's totally in love with her hubby Ryan, and she drives him crazy every single day - the poor guy.  She's scared of spiders, thunderstorms, darkness, and testing days.  She can cook up a storm and feed an army on 72 cents, seriously folks.  She made us proud when she was the Main Soloist for The Utah Symphony, held the first chair and/or lead in the All State Jazz Band, Wind Symphony, and Super Band (Jazz).  She's an amazing performer - so why not get a Degree in Music Performance eh?  Mostly she loves her family.  She was born closest to Ryan her little brother in the calendar year - always sharing birthdays, cakes and attention.  She can call at just the right time - right when you think you can't go on another minute - and she assures you that you can.  We all love her so much - and we are amazed as we sit around and remember some of the crazy things she's pulled off and actually was not arrested.... So - Happy Birthday Beep - you make the sun in the morning look pale.  Thanks for touching all of our lives with your laughter.  22 is my favorite number - make it a great year!

Elder Hillary - Happy Birthday!

December 13

The day you were born - my world became complete.

You were the most valiant to wait the longest to come

to earth.  It must have been difficult waiting so long,

watching everyone leave one at a time.  But you came to earth

with a great purpose - and great challenges

You came well equipped  to fulfill both...

(Darn - I wanted to post the picture of him laying

on a dentist chair they found on the side of the road,

but it's no where to be found - I'll find it - it's worth posting)

So... it's time to throw those teenage years to the wind.

This will be the first birthday away from the Hillary Family.

We all miss this punker - he's the quiet member of the family,

anyone that knows our family would agree he's quiet, timid,

and thoughtful. So on his 347th day on his mission - he turns 20.

I wish I could have the pirate birthday party, or the cowboy one,

or some circus theme like years gone by - those days are

just found in the scrapbooks of time.  The party I celebrate with him

this year is that of service, and devotion, and true to the heart

testimony of Christ.  I think of the many gifts he's be given throughout

this past year - I'll share a few with you on HIS day.

Gifts of family and friends supporting him, teaching

him and encouraging him to go out into the world

and teach the gospel.

Gifts of courage, faith and endurance in the MTC.

The gift of gifted doctors that pieced him together,

and although not of our faith - gave him faith

that he was unique and special and that they felt

something amazing when they were around him.

Gifts of a Bishop and Stake President, and an

MTC Branch President that never let him give up hope.

Companions that endured the tough times with him.

The opportunity to actually serve his mission,

with part of his lung missing - the gift of being

able to become the missionary he'd dreamed of.

The gifts of new adventures, in a new mission,

with companions that stood by him.  The ability

to stand by companions when they made

life difficult... and endured with the hand of'

the Lord.  The gift of believing in those that

gave him a chance to share the message of the church.

The gifts of investigators, becoming members, becoming

lifelong memories.  The gifts of finding amazing human

beings that cared for him and took him into their

lives and loved him as their own.  (Loved you guys!)

The gift of Elizabeth, and Jessica and Lucy. and Mr. Brooks.

The gift of comfort on lonely, uncertain nights

when the dawn was very far away.

The gift of debit cards - that leave traces

of where he's been transferred for his mom.

The ability to read IM but not touch the keys... (:

The gift of knowing that he has a family here

that loves him and prays for him daily.

The gift of a future free from anyone that would

hold him back from his dreams.  What the?

The promise that comes from a new

companion, in a new place, with new challenges.

The gift of accepting the Lord's will in all things

The gift of being a Warrior - the world needs

more Warriors.  In return for all of these gifts?

He gives it all back every single day.

Happy 20th birthday son!

We all love you SO much!

Dream Big!!  Eat Cake!!

Add Ice Cream!

CELEBRATE!

Partae...

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