new blog...

Our picture capacity reached it's limit in June.  And instead of paying $2.49 a month, I just started a new blog.  If you regularly read this one, make sure you bookmark our new one or put us in favorites, however your computer works.  Ready for the link?


www.hillfamily2.blogspot.com



Give me some time and it will get looking normal.  With lots of posts!

Thanks for being patient.

train shots...

swimathon...

If someone asked you to say how many laps you could swim in 90 minutes, would you know how to answer that?  Buddy could tell you.  He had a swim-a-thon to help raise money for his swim team (thanks to all who helped by donating, we appreciate it).  The kids were given the challenge to swim as many laps as they could within 90 minutes.  Buddy thought he would be able to swim 70 laps, which in the pool he swims in equals one mile. 

Well, Buddy blew us away with swimming not only 70 laps, but 138 laps in those 90 minutes.  That is almost two whole miles!!!  He only stopped a total of four times to take a drink and that is only because Dad stuck a water bottle in Buddy's face.  We are so impressed with his determination and stamina.

fire station...

Buddy is getting so close to finishing his Wolf badge.  A trip to the fire station to talk to the firemen about fire safety means he only has four more requirements to do by June 27th in order to become a Bear.  He can do it. 

last day of school...

It's a day that is highly anticipated by some and dreaded by others.  For me?  Both.  I made some really cute gifts for the teachers as a thank you gift and then totally forgot to make them cards.  Sometimes I am completely absent minded (my husband would agree).

Here is Sunshine with Mrs. C.  Sunshine loved school this year but is happy that it is summer so she can spend time with her family.

Here is Buddy with Ms. C.  He enjoyed learning so much this year.  He talked so much about bones and what goes on inside our bodies, that I felt I was back in biology.  That just shows how much he loves to learn. 

I decided to make the end of school fun with a special treat of books for the kids.  (Thanks Uncle Ben!)  After I took this picture, the kids opened their books and started reading immediately.  It was so cute to see them, and yes, I should have taken a picture of that too, but I didn't think about it until Turtle was up and running.

awards assembly...

You know when you just aren't feeling well, but you have a feeling you need to go to something?  I had one of those days today.  Buddy handed me a slip of paper yesterday which mentioned a 3rd grade awards assembly.  I thought about going for two seconds before I felt bad again.  I emailed his teacher and asked if it was important.  She said to stay home if I wasn't feeling well, but that he was getting a reward from both her and the principal.  When I heard he was getting a reward from the principal I immediately knew I needed to go, although I had no idea why.  So here Buddy is getting some certificates. He was given the "Certificate of Academic Achievement in Math" and the "Certificate of Academic Achievement in Reading." He also received a recognition for the "Outstanding Performance in the Accelerated Reading Program" for getting 209 points (he had a goal of 200 points, but could have easily gotten 300 or more points if he had continued to take the tests).  He got a LAPS award for running 105 laps during recesses.  He got an "Overall Academic Achievement" award in his 3rd grade class, in which he also got the "Math Man" award. Let me tell you, I've got some smart kids (kindergarten and preschool just don't give out a whole lot of rewards though).

But the biggest award for Buddy came from the principal.  I was so very pleased to find out that Buddy earned a special award for placing in the top three of his school in the state testing in Math.  How awesome is that?  With that award came a $35 check from a scholarship fund set up by a former teacher.  Let's just say that we are so impressed with Buddy.

ongoings on the outside...

Our garden is continuing to bloom and grow, although there is more greenery growing than there are blooms.  Okay, so there really aren't any bloom in the garden at the moment.  But we now have apples that are growing!

And plums!

And more and more roses!

And more rhododendrons (not so excited here)

Oh, and we are picking radishes!  Sunshine was excited to show off our first pick from the garden.

four more loops...

Buddy has been a busy little beaver, um, or should I say wolf?  He earned four more belt loops in the past couple of months and was rewarded with them during the last pack meeting.  He earned belt loops for Photography, Music, Reading and Writing, and Computers.  He is doing an awesome job and will soon be done with the requirements for his wolf badge.

creating colors...

What seems like a million years ago, but was really only a few months ago, Sunshine was given this really awesome gift.  You take broken crayon pieces (because if you are anything like me or my kids, you can't color with broken crayons) and stick them in this handy-dandy melter and in a short amount of time you get new crayons!  The kids had fun experimenting with lots of different colors.

into hiding...

I went to go check on Turtle as he was being super quiet, even though it was time to go get his big brother from the bus stop.  I went into panic mode when I couldn't find him.  Then I saw a giant pile of stuffed animals and a blanket on the floor.  I know he is obvious to be seen in this picture, but I honestly didn't see him there for about 15 seconds.  It was crazy and embarrassing.

up to beginner...

Buddy is no longer a novice at swimming.  No sir.  He is officially in the beginning class.  He is amazingly better than he was in September.  We were so proud of him during this mini meet.  The difference he has made in one month since moving up is incredible.  He can now do flip turns and is getting his left arm out of the water (he previously had issues with that).  Here are a couple of swimming pictures and one of him receiving his towel (a gift for moving up a level) and another of him modeling his towel.  He is awesome. 

just the beginning...

Here is our garden!  Some of you have been asking to see what it looks like.  Well, as you can see, it is still very small.  Or short.  A lot of the plants are just starting to sprout.  Also, some of the veggies haven't been planted as of today still.  We did make it to the Master Gardener's plant starters thingy today.  A place where you can get starts for super cheap.  We got 14 plants for $15.  That was excellent!  Do you want to know what we are growing?  Of course you do!  We are growing:

sugar snap peas
radishes
turnips
broccoli
red onions
green onions
spinach
lettuce (3 kinds)
kohlrabi
tomatoes - roma
tomatoes - cherry
cucumbers
patty pan squash
yellow summer squash
zucchini
cabbage
carrots
peppers (3 kinds)
green beans
strawberries
apples
plums
sunflowers
nasturtiums
marigolds

I think that's everything.

sugar snap peas, radishes, turnips, spinach, red onions, green onions and a pepper plant

lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, vine zucchini and a pepper plant

kohlrabi, yellow squash, cucumber, green beans and I'm not looking at the key

same as two above

red onions, turnips and tomatoes

our garden plots!

extra lettuce and spinach

same as the one that I couldn't remember all of

Oh, and I should mention we have two little snake friends in the garden area.  I hope they like snails, which we have a lot of! (the picture of the four boxes is the first four boxes I took pictures of and I'm standing next to the small square box that looks half empty as I took the picture, if that gives you any clue as to what's going on, also you can see the last picture in that grouping outside of the fence to the upper left.

last weekend...

My friend contacted us last week and asked if we wanted free tickets to the little carnival that comes through here once a year.  It's small enough to fit in a parking lot of the mall.  Who are we to say no to free?  The guy in charge of the carnival gives them free passes in exchange for hooking up to their water and electricity for the week.  It works out to be in their favor as tickets for the rides are pricey!  We went and got to enjoy the rides to ourselves (well, almost - there were about 30 or 40 other people there).  We stayed for almost two hours and the kids got to go on about 18 rides a piece and Dad and I got to ride on a few as well. 

If these pictures look different it is because they were taken on my ipod and were not really meant to be made bigger.  However, not that I've said that, how could I NOT share the world's biggest smile by my Sunshine who LOVES roller coasters.

more of our flowers...

I am so amazed by all the blooms that happen at our new place!  Every day it seems like we discover something new and beautiful.  And all this beauty I should share because it would be selfish of me if I didn't.

This one was in the middle of a bunch of white azaleas.  I love that it has two distinct halves!  The bud just behind it to the left opened up looking the same way.  Amazing.

 I have no idea what these are.  They are in my neighbors yard and I LOVE them.  Anyone know what they are?

 Tulips

 Tulips

 Apple blossoms

 These roses smell like citrus fruit.  They are heavenly!!!

 Calla lilies (one type of lily I am not allergic to, I think).

 I just spotted this in a random spot.  Any ideas?

 A type of honeysuckle.

 One of the 20+ varieties of rhododendrons.

 Another rhodie, and I love the color on this.

 Rhodie #3.

 Not a flower, but a baby plum!!!!

And a little birdie friend.  It was kind enough to pose for me while it was gathering fluff for it's nest that is somewhere near our house.