Let it Snow!

We are expected to receive up to 20 inches of snow today. Already there are about 10 inches on the ground. Carter has already been out to play and soon Tay and Drew will head out as well to join him. Sledding, shoveling the drive way, throwing snowballs, and drinking hot chocolate are on today's agenda. Carter is so excited...he has been up since 3 a.m. We tried several times to get him to stay in his bed...after a while we gave up. Magic is falling from the sky and he doesn't want to miss any of it. This is suppose to be the biggest storm of the decade. It is beautiful outside and I am crossing my fingers that we have our first white Christmas since living in Virginia.

My Taylor

I was in an other world reading a few moments ago....Tay needed to tell me something and I wasn't paying attention....I could hear her but I wasn't listening. I was trying to finish the last paragraph of an article and I was slightly distracted by the sound of a certain 10 month old through the baby monitor...he is playing instead of sleeping again. Tay got right up to my ear and started talking quietly, almost whispering to tell me what she had to say. Then she kissed my cheek with a big smack of her lips after wards.....she had my attention.

I should try that technique on Carter.

Taylor finally came to me last night and asked me some thing I have waiting forever to hear...

T: Mom, will you put piggy tales in?
M: Sure Tay. Do you really want them in?
T: Yes. All three piggy tales.

She is again sporting her three piggy tales again this morning. I couldn't be more proud.

Family Pow Wow

Carter, Tay, and I were talking the other day about family meetings. I was trying to explain that a family council is the same as a family meeting and since Carter learned about Native Americans at school last month, I tried to use an Indian chief circle as an example of a council of people who make decisions together....

M: Carter, remember Indians?
C: Yes
M: You know how you had a pow wow at school and everyone sat in a circle and talked about really important stuff?
C: Yes
M: So, that is an Indian circle right? You had a meeting...
C: (very impatient and frustrated....like he's told me this a hundred times) Mom. I don't know anything about Indians! You have to talk to Smera about that.

Smera lives down the street from us. She's in Carter's kindergartner class...she is Indian....as in...her family is from India.

I couldn't help but giggle at Carter. Then I re explained everything using the words Native American and had we had a lovely pow wow. In our little family meeting we discussed having a media free week before Christmas. I then had to explain that in some family meetings there are no votes....the Chief decides.

Then Carter proceeded to karate chop me with his lightning fast 6 year old arm blades.

And then I had to explain to him that Indians...I mean Native Americans didn't karate chop their enemies.

My kids are going to grow up to be very culturally diverse.

I Never Thought

Six years ago when I was busy snuggling my newborn... it never crossed my mind that I would eventually be saying things like...

"If you shoot the Christmas tree one more time...." or

"If you shoot your sister one more time..." or

"If you make that noise one more time..." or

"STOP BURPING!"

In other news...Ashton is pulling up on furniture and crawling up the stairs. And Tay is starting to wear clothes again.

Ashton BaDashton

Ashton's first experience with laughing gas....

just kidding...it was actually a breathing treatment. This virus has really kicked our Hilton bums.

Carter's Birthday Interview

What is your name? Carter Hilton

How old are you today? 6

What do you want for your birthday? A ds and a long dart gun that shoots really far.

What kind of cake did we make for your special night? An orange candy cake.

What is your favorite food? Spinach raviolis, corn on the cob, and watermelon…..

What is your favorite treat? Ice cream

What is your favorite color? Orange

What do you like to do? Play outside

What is something you are good at? Riding my bike and doing wheelies

What is something you would like to learn how to do? Shoot a tall basketball hoop (I think he means shoot a basket in a tall hoop)

What is your favorite movie? Ice Age

What is your favorite Primary song? Popcorn Popping

What do you want to be when you grow up? An army person

What is your favorite family activity? Movie night

What do you like most about Church? The sacrament (mom’s interpretation…eating the bread and water)

Where do you want to serve your mission? Where my cousins live.

What do you love most about Taylor? She’s really silly.

What do you love most about Ashton: That he can crawl.

What do you love most about Mommy? That she let’s me play out side.

What do you love most about Daddy? He takes me to the bus stop or school.

Carter, what makes you happy? When I get to go to Grandma Heidi’s house.

Happy Birthday Carter

Carter Andrew is 6 years old today!

Today Carter's kindergarten teacher asked
him what he is grateful for....he said "my dad".

Ashton is 9 months

Ashton is growing and growing. I wish I had a magic potion that would make him stay a baby forever. This past month has been full of changes....he got his second bottom tooth, he learned to sit and crawl, and he got his first hair cut. Ashton has a very sweet temperament and always has a smile to share.

Carter and Ashton before the cut...

and after wards....he looks just like Carter's baby pictures!!

He can be such a ham!

A long day

At this moment, six years ago today, I found my self in the shower on my hands and knees working through contractions that would bring my first baby into my arms. Boy that was a long day.....and it didn't end until tomorrow, six years ago.

We've had a lot of long days in the past week. We were all pretty sick but are mostly better now...except for our little Taylor. Just when we think she is improving, she spikes a temp of 104 F. You know your 3 year old is miserable when she asks for a nap.

My Craftiness

Ok, so as I have mentioned before I AM NOT CRAFTY. You will likely not find any tutorials on apron making or cake decorating on our family blog.... I think my kiddos are my greatest (and only) contribution to craftiness that I can offer the world. My friend Kelly V has this button over on her fabulous blog....I wanted to share the button and her blog with you all. Good times.

Isn't it awesome? That is SO me!

Self Imposed Quarantine

I am not quite positive, but I think we have some of these running around our home.

Tay's Not So Deep Question

Tay: "Why do piggies have flues in kinda-god-en?" (some times Tay sound like she is a New York mobster)

Mom: "Hm. Piggies?"

Tay: "Yah- piggy germs"

Mom: "They just do." (don't you love the motherly wisdom pouring out of my mouth)

Tay: "Wees live like piggies, Mommy." (has she heard that one from me?)

Tay: "I need to find my piggy costume."

Mom: "Tay- you've been up for 3 hours and you're already on your 5th change of clothes!"

Not a word from Tay...she is on her way upstairs to find something to turn into a piggy costume.

Carter's Deep Question

Ashton is babbling a ton right now. He is a TALKER. When we are in the car and he is jibber jabbering away, I tell Carter and Tay what he is talking about. Every day I make up something new that Ashton is trying to explain or teach us....like how to fix things, what good manners are, how to carve a pumpkin, etc. Well yesterday I told them that Ashton was trying to tell us about heaven, after all his spirit was most recently there compared to ours...and of course, Tay and Carter laughed and giggled about it as much as the time when Ashton shared his top secret chocolate chip cookie recipe...but later Carter was far away in thought...

Carter: "Mom, how old will Ashton be when he is alive after he is dead?"

Me: "Good question, Carter. I am not sure."

This is my answer for most of his tough nearly 6 year old questions...but seriously, what a great question about the resurrection! I am glad the gospel plan is simple. It makes parenting a lot easier even when I don't know all of the answers.

Good Reads

In the quiet of the night or nap time I like to read. Some times I read a book for fun. Some times I do research on health related topics, a couple of which I am struggling with. Some times I read the news, but not very often because it usually makes me grumpy. Some times I make my self a treat or pour a large glass of cold delicious water and snuggle in with my laptop. I pull up my favorite blogs and enjoy being a part of the lives of others. It is so much better than tv I might add. There are several that I enjoy but I thought I would share just a few....

1. Nei Nei Dialogues. This blog is about strength of character, faith, and true love. Take an hour and read through the archives- you'll be inspired! My favorite is when Stephanie writes about her husband Mr. Nielson. True love does exist people!

2. C Jane Enjoy It. This blog is written by Nei's older sister. It is funny and thoughtful.

3. SouleMama. This mama knits. I don't knit and probably never will. But Soula Mama shares funny stories about her family and beautiful pictures as well. She is a crafty one, that Soula Mama. And by that I mean, she makes crafts. I was never blessed with craftiness but sometimes I like to pretend I was. Maybe one of these days I'll take a picture of what I mean -that will give you a good chuckle!

My Lovies

I just realized I never posted more pictures that the amazing Heather H. took of the kids this summer! Ashton was 4 months at the time and Tay had just turned 3 years old. It is amazing how they have all grown since then....aren't my kids adorable?!