Is it almost Christmas?

Christmas time is upon us! I love decorating the house, putting up the lights and the tree and the excitement of Christmas.

December is a full month of activities for us. The girls have a program at school and Katelyn wanted to do the Christmas program for church. There are lots of practices for the church program outside of school, and Katelyn has a speaking part in both! There are Christmas parties, a graduation party, a birthday brunch for my friends and I, etc. My calendar is full!

But what I love the most about Christmas is the music! I could listen to Christmas music all day long - and I just might. My favorite songs are those that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas - celebrating the birth of Jesus!

Happy 4th Birthday Jackson!

It is hard to believe my last baby is turning 4 years old. Jackson has gotten so big so fast. Jackson has been very entertaining and a wonderful part of our lives since arriving on Nov 12th, 2004 weighing in at a whopping 10 lbs 1 ounce! (here is a photo of Jackson as a newborn!)

It has been very interesting to have a boy after having two girls. Boys and girls are very different from each other! I really understand this now. Jackson loves all things that most little boys love - cars, trucks, dinosaurs, sports, playing in dirt, watching TV (which is NOT a good thing!), trains, bugs, etc.

Jackson really looks up to Kevin. He just follows his daddy everywhere it seems. He loves to "help" Kevin whenever he can - whether it be helping him shovel and spread out mulch, ride on the riding lawnmower and "help" Kevin mow, clean out the pool, and other tasks Jackson can find.

Jackson's personality has become more pronounced as he gets older. We are truly seeing what kind of little boy he is. He is fearless in situations where he is comfortable and more timid when he is in an unfamiliar environment. He has an amazing imagination. He truly believes he can grow up someday and be Superman or Spiderman. Just last week he ran full blast at the side of a soda machine and jumped at it, like Spiderman would leap at a wall to start climbing up the side of it and he bloodied his nose! He was disappointed he couldn't do what Spiderman could do. (Thankfully, this was not our first bloody nose with Jackson and likely won't be his last so I was quite calm.)

Jackson has Kevin's destructive streak in him. I won't even try to list the things he's broken or destroyed. It really isn't a lack of respect. He is just curious and I know there is a gene for destructiveness in him that he inherited from his father! Jackson is silly and goofy like Brittany. This is in stark constrast to Katelyn who is a very serious child. However, like Katelyn, Jackson is our deep thinker and very inquisitive.

I remind myself that Jackson is a wonderful blessing from God and that God only gives this child to us for a short time. And in that time we are privileged to raise him to become a good man, a follower of Christ. That is the ultimate goal - and I'll pray on Jackson's 4th birthday that Kevin and I never lose site of that.

Happy Halloween!

Camping Photos

The girls at our campsite.

Rudy, relaxing in the sun.

Jackson, all warm and cozy and sleeping!

Climbing around on the rocks at Robbers Cave.

After a long day, both Brittany and Katelyn are asleep around the fire. Jackson was still awake though!

Jackson helps carry firewood.

We Survived Our First Camping Trip!

We decided it was time to take the kids on their first camping trip. Although Kevin and I had camped before, we wanted to wait until the kids were older to go camping. After acquiring all the necessary equipment, choosing the site and packing up - we headed out to take the kids tent camping!

With so many state parks in the state of Oklahoma, we finally decided to head to Arrowhead State Park on Lake Eufaula. On the first day, we set up camp, let the kids run around for a while, had dinner and then sat around the campfire and roasted marshmallows. It was a fairly typical camping experience for that first day!

The hardest part about camping was sleeping in the tent. Although it was nice during the day and in the 70s, it got down into the mid 40s the first night! We dressed the kids in layers and put them in their sleeping bags with an extra blanket. Jackson slept great - but the girls were bothered more by the cold.

On our second day camping, we drove to another state park called Robbers Cave State Park for the annual fall festival there and to climb the rocks at Robbers Cave. The kids enjoyed the carnival games and the cotton candy and snow cones at the festival.

But if you were to ask them, they would all agree that visiting Robbers Cave was the most fun. My kids love to climb rocks and go hiking on trails!

For our second night at the campsite, we had some visitors! A very determined raccoon spent the evening seeing how close he could get to our campsite. In fact, he got within a few feet of the girls sitting around the campfire! Our fierce little dog Rudy let us know the raccoon was out there and kept growling at him. The raccoon finally gave up. Later, as Kevin and I were walking over to the bathrooms we saw a skunk! We quickly turned around and decided to head towards the other bathrooms. I wasn't going to chance an encounter with a skunk!

We had a good time camping. It was a fun experience for the kids. I can see us camping again next spring and summer!

Pool construction

Jackson's favorite part of the pool construction has been digging in the dirt!

After it was all dug out and before the concrete was poured.

This is the pool with the concrete poured, the coping and the tile work done.

The new concrete decking around the pool - plenty of spots for sunbathing!

A close up look at the tile and coping.

Pool construction has gone quickly here at the Hill homestead. They started digging mid September and have completed 80% of the work by mid October. All that is left now is getting the pool components hooked up to electricity, the plastering and a little more decorative tile work. We are looking at having the entire project done by Halloween! Of course, the kids might want us to kick on the heater and get it warmed up just enough so they can jump in before winter comes!

If anyone wants to know where we'll be next summer, you'll probably find us by the pool. No big vacations for us probably anytime soon! We'll be vacationing in the backyard. So of course, we welcome anyone who will want to come to Oklahoma and take a swim with us!

Kevin, with his mom - Ah, what a cute little guy!


Kevin and his mom in 2007

Connie Hill; 1936-2008

Connie and Katelyn (3 1/2) Dec. 2003

Connie, Katelyn (4) and Brittany (2) Dec 2004

Connie and Jackson (2) February 2007

Kevin's mother, Connie Hill, passed away on September 26, 2008.

Connie Hill was born Constance Laing in Fettercairn, Scotland,April 1936, to Alexander and Mary Laing. Her father, Alexander, worked at the local whiskey distillary. Connie grew up in Edzell, Scotland, where she later worked at the US Military Base there. She met Kevin's father at the base,where he was stationed, and they married in the late 1960s. They moved to the states shortly afterwards.

Connie had two children, Pamela and Kevin. (Pamela is 5 years older than Kevin). After Paul retired from the military; the family moved first to Indiana, then to Iowa and finally settled in Blue Springs, Missouri in 1987.

I first met Kevin's mother in 1994, when Kevin and I started dating. She had recently suffered from a stroke and was stil rehabilitating from it. Kevin always told me that I should have known his mother before the stroke, because of course, a stroke can change a person. The one thing Connie's stroke could not change was her love and admiration for her son. It was apparent right away that Kevin's mother thought Kevin hung the moon! She took pride in everything Kevin did, especially his success in school and his success on the baseball field.

A few years later, Kevin and I got married and Connie became my mother-in-law. After Kevin's dad (Paul) retired from his job at the Lake City Armory (located near Blue Springs), Paul and Connie moved around quite a bit. They lived near us twice, the first time when we lived in Houston and the second time here in Edmond. I know it was enjoyable for Connie to be close to Kevin and her grandchildren. By the time they moved to Edmond in November of 2004, we were aware of Connie's diagnosis with Alzheimer's.

I am thankful Connie was able to be near us, even if it was a short time. I know she loved seeing Kevin and her eyes always lit up whenever Kevin came over. In the fall of 2006, Connie had to be moved to a nursing home. She lived in the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau for about 2 years. Kevin's sister Pamela, who resides in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, visited her daily and cared for her at the nursing home those last 2 years.

Even with Connie's passing, she will always live on. Kevin looks so much like his mother. And Katelyn has Connie's eyes. We are saddened now that she is gone but also relieved that her suffering is over. As we grieve for Connie, we are reminded that she is in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that helps make this process a little easier.

Labor Day at Table Rock Lake

From left: Brittany, Taylor, Emma, Katelyn and Matthew

Katelyn and Brittany in the screened in porch at our condo

We took a Labor Day weekend trip to Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. We met Kevin's sister Pamela and her three children Taylor, Emma and Matthew. The cousins were all so excited to see each other! They hadn't seen each other since Christmas.


So, three adults and 6 children sharing a 2 bedroom condo was quite an experience. However, we spent most of our time swimming and on the lake.

Kevin's very own Mini-Me!

There really is nothing as cute and sweet as a son follow his daddy everywhere and trying to emulate his every move! Since Jackson turned 3, he has been all about his dad. From trying to dress like him to trying to act just like him - Jackson follows Kevin's every move.

This past weekend, he informed me that he was going to wear two shirts - just like dad. Kevin usually wears a white t-shirt under a dress shirt for work. So, Jackson had to put on two shirts.

Jackson says that Dad can fix anything because he has tools. If Kevin had tools out, so did Jackson.

Every step Kevin made, Jackson was right behind him. If Kevin went outside, Jackson went outside. If Kevin had to run an errand, Jackson went along.

At the end of the evening, Jackson wanted to "sneak out" to the hot tub with Kevin - no girls allowed. Kevin grabbed a Gatorade for himself and of course, Jackson had to have one too. Out at the hot tub, Kevin and Jackson had to wear their sunglasses.

When they were done in the hot tub and came in to get dressed, Kevin had slung his towel around his neck. As soon as Jackson saw that, he ran for his own towel and did the same thing!

I love watching Kevin and Jackson together. Right now Jackson really is Kevin's Mini-Me.

Jackson wants to be just like his Dad!

Jackson has been worshipping the ground his father walks on for a while now. It started with his obsession with wearing a baseball cap 24/7. He has had a baseball cap on day and night for the past few months. Of course, Kevin wears a hat all the time at home so this is how Jackson usually sees him.

Jackson has informed me that "Me and Dad are real cool dudes! We can fix anything!" and he promptly got out his pretend tools and went to work in his room.

A few weeks ago we went shopping and Jackson picked out the above shirt and tie. He told me "It's just like Dad!" - which is true. Kevin does have a shirt just like it. So last Sunday morning Jackson decided to wear his new shirt and tie. Doesn't he look handsome?

Sadly, he has told me that I can no longer call him "my little man." Because Jackson insists that he is BIG now. Goodness, he is only 3! Am I losing my baby so soon? Nah, he still loves to give me kisses. We have a little routine - he kisses me over and over again on my cheek and asks, "Is that too many?" And I always tell him "never!".

Fun in the city of Denver

Kevin's days have been filled with his conference while we are in Denver. So, that leaves the kids and I to venture out for some fun and exciting day trips.

Our first stop was the Hammond Candy Factory. They have been making candy since 1920. We were able to go on a factory tour and watch candies being made by hand and with the help of vintage machinery. Katelyn took detailed notes and found it very interesting. Brittany and Jackson were just waiting until they could go to the candy store and stock up on candy! It took a while for the kids to pick out exactly what they wanted. We left with candy canes, lollipops, ribbon candies and chocolate bunnies.

In the evening Kevin joined us for dinner at the Downtown Aquarium. The Aquarium consists of a restaurant and a museum. We sat right next to the tank and all the kids were fascinated watching the fish swim around. After dinner we went into the museum to see aquarium life from all over the world.

We had been to the Downtown Aquarium when we lived in Houston and thought this Aquarium had a better exhibit.
Jackson was excited to see "Nemo" and "Dory" in a tank. Brittany and Katelyn were intrigued by the sting rays that they could actually touch. The only Hill family member who touched them was Kevin!

The following day, the kids and I met up with Michele Woytek and we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This is one impressive museum. It is massive - with three stories of exhibits. We spent the entire day there and still did not see everything. This is one museum I would highly recommend to anyone traveling to Denver. The kids kind of ran through it and I wish we could have spent a little more time in the exhibits. Our favorite exhibits were the Gem and Mineral Exhibit and the Space Odyssey Exhibit. Of course all the kids had fun in the Discovery Zone. Katelyn spent most of her time at the dinosaur dig. We ended the day with a trip to the museum store where Katelyn left with a bracelet and quartz keychain. Jackson and Brittany wanted dinosaur masks and more rocks to add to their growing collections. I guess it should come as no surprise that our kids would love all things about rocks and minerals, as their father has a degree in geological engineering!

I think we have spent enough time in museums lately. Although, there are other museums I would like us to visit when we get to Colorado Springs on Thursday. However, tomorrow we will take a break and do some shopping. Katelyn has been really looking forward to this part of our vacation!

The beginning of our Colorado Trip

We began our Colorado trip this past weekend. After a long drive through Kansas we arrived at our first stop - Denver. Kevin had a conference there until Wed. at the Adam's Mark in downtown Denver.

The kids were completely mesmorized by the "big city". How different our lives are since we moved from Houston to the OKC area! We went from living in the 4th largest city in the US to taking the kids to the suburbs of a smaller city and then out to the country. In fact, Jackson has never really been exposed to a big city. The kids all thought that staying in the city at such a huge hotel was really exciting.

On Sunday we headed to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. It was about an hour and a half drive from downtown. We drove through Boulder and made our way to the town of Estes Park. What an adorable town. It sits in the mountains at the edge of the park. We began driving into the park and as we drove further up into the mountains it began to snow. It was a magnificant drive and the mountains were phenomenol.

We decided to be daring and try some hiking. We began a hike with the kids on a trail. It was snowing the entire time and we were hiking on a very densely snowpacked trail. The kids made it for quite a while and then began to get tired. Katelyn was our trailblazer and kept trekking along. She really loved it. We went to Bear Lake which was completely frozen over and snowpacked. Jackson was done with the hiking and he and I headed back to the car to dethaw. Kevin took the girls onto the lake and walked across it.

After our hiking adventure we went to Jeff and Michele Woytek's for dinner. Jeff and Michele recently were married last fall and we enjoyed seeing them in their new home in Denver. They even survived our kids for the evening!

Kevin will be at his conference Monday so I will get to brave the traffic of downtown Denver on my own.

News and Updates - It's been a while!

I realize I haven't blogged in quite some time. February has turned out to be a very busy month. Which means this month has really gone by fast!


Church activities kept me busy -from teaching Sunday School to Voter's Meetings to a fundraiser dinner that I helped to host. The dinner was a very unique idea. The school's parent organization cooked the dinner and asked that each table have a hostess. My friend Brigette and I hosted a table. Each hostess was responsible for decorating the table in a theme of their choice. We decided to go with a Caribbean theme, as you can see by the photo. The best part was the live beta fish in the vases that served as our centerpieces. It was the talk of the evening!

We also began new activities for the girls - ice skating lessons twice a week. I know, I'm crazy right? With dance lessons twice a week for Katelyn and once a week for Brittany why add something else? The girls really wanted to try ice skating last semester but I could not fit it into our schedule at that time. We decided to start in February. Katelyn and Brittany love it and have improved dramatically. It's so interesting to watch their different learning styles emerge on the ice. Katelyn still rushes at everything she learns. When her group practices skating across the rink, she is determined to try and finish first. Which means she falls down every now and then! Brittany is a very patient learner. She does not really seem to care that she is the last one to cross the line - just that she does it right and does not fall.

February also brought with it a decision about schooling. It was enrollment time at Holy Trinity and we sat down and decided the girls would return to school at Holy Trinity in the fall. We knew when we began homeschooling in January that it would probably only be for one semester. I still believe homeschooling is the preferred method to teaching the kids. There are so many things about homeschooling that I do like. However, our circumstances mean that I am responsible for practically al aspects of the kids' lives with no other adult help or reprieve for myself. If we lived in town with family and Kevin did not have to work so many hours I would keep homeschooling. However, that is just not our reality. I know there is a great network of homeschoolers out there to help support each other in this endeavor. However, support from friends is not the same as support at home from family. And that is what I need most. Our circumstances just don't provide for that.

I admire everyone out there that homeschools. I know what an awesome sacrifice it is and also how rewarding it can be for parents. Homeschooling is still going to be part of our lives as I will hve Jackson at home with me next year. Kevin and I decided to keep him home and not send him to preschool 2 mornings a week in the fall. I know that putting a child in preschool is the thing to do as soon as they are old enough to go. However, neither of us really believes it is that beneficial for his development at this time.

I am looking forward to returning to Holy Trinity. I have actually missed being a part of the school. I am excited for Brittany because she will have Katelyn's 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Cyr, and we absolutely loved her. She is an amazing teacher. We have also heard great things about the 3rd grade teacher. Of course, there are things about the school I may not always agree with. However, at least I know the curriculum is sound and they are in an environment that I believe is better for them than the public schools.

That being said, we are taking advantage of our homeschooling schedule and going to Colorado for a vacation. We'll be in Colorado for a conference that Kevin is attending and then heading to a rustic log cabin for a few days in the mountains. The kids are excited about seeing the mountains and the snow. It will be a nice little trip for us.

So I have lots of packing and laundry to get done before we head out. I'll try and come back with great photos of the kids mountainside!

The Hannah Montana 3D Movie!

I took Katelyn and Brittany to the Hannah Montana Concern 3D Movie this past weekend. We have been watching "Hannah Montana" on the Disney Channel since it first debuted and the girls have always been fans. I had decided that taking a 7 year old and 5 year old to her concert last December and spending a ton of money on tickets for seats that were not going to be that good was a waste of time.

When we heard that we could go and see her concert at the movies, we decided that was the best way for us to go to a Hannah Montana concert. And it was a lot of fun. Since it was 3D you really felt like you were part of the audience watching the concert from the front row by the stage. The movie also allowed us to go onstage and behind the scense of the concert. We could never have gotten such great seats at a real concert.

Since the girls are so young, they thought this was a great way to see Hannah Montana. The theater was packed with girls in Hannah Montana shirts and wigs. There was clapping and dancing in the aisles and of course, screaming! I think that the Jonas Brothers got more screams than Hannah did.

So far I have been impressed with Mylie Cyrus. Of course, she is only 15 years old and I can only wonder what all of this fame and money might do to her as she gets older. Perhaps her parents can keep her grounded.

All I know is Katelyn and Brittany are now bigger fans than they were before! That evening the girls got all dressed up and gave us a concert. They sang and danced and Brittany proclaimed she was a rock star. At the end of their show, the girls had us line up and they gave us their autographs. It was very cute.

A little Arctic blast

I didn't think we would see snow again this winter but I was mistaken. We got about 2 inches of snow Thursday. Katelyn, Brittany and Jackson were very excited and could not wait to get out in it.

I had bought some snow pants for the kids and we finally got them out and were able to use them. Katelyn enjoyed sledding down a hill near our yard. Brittany and Jackson kept trying to make snow angels. They all thought it was great running through some pretty big snow drifts. We only made it outside for an hour before they all came in complaining that they were freezing!