10 Years

Bud and I celebrated our ten year anniversary on Monday. Thanks to amazing parents, sisters, and friends, we got to go up to Salt Lake City for a few days and spend some time together. It was surreal to do whatever we wanted. Surreal and wonderful! We ate great, watched movies, slept in, went skiing, just got to be selfish for awhile and it was awesome. Unfortunately, I forgot the memory card for my camera, so I didn't get any pictures, but it was a fantastic trip. Thank you again to everyone who helped with the kids and a special thanks to Bud who makes everything good in my life possible. I love you more now than I did when we got married and can't wait to see what the coming decades bring!

It's a Wonderful Life

Jake's nativity scene

Christmas was perfect. Very low-key and the kids had a great time. It was so much fun to watch them. We had the kids get gifts for eachother at the dollar store and they had so much fun giving them to eachother. It was such a nice morning and even nicer once I got a nap in. In the evening we had my sister's family and my parents over for a "roast beast" dinner. It was delicious and so nice to spend time with everyone. We miss the family that wasn't here, but love everyone so much and are so grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ and the blessings His life brings us. Merry Christmas!

If I Never See Another Cookie...

195 cookies. I am so done.

The girls were pretty cute with their beaters though.

hello?

Someone could've told me I still had an "Autumn" background on my blog. You'd think I would've noticed it after posting about our snow. Sheesh, the holidays are making me lose my mind!

Snow Day!?!

It was amazing. There was a bonafide snow storm here Monday and Wednesday. I've never seen anything like it in Las Vegas in the 18 (on and off) years I've lived here. But then they declared a "snow day" and cancelled school today. Here's what today looked like:
Yeah, I think that might have been a bad call. But, it was fun while it lasted! On Monday I took Mae and Elle to Costco and was telling Elle how you can tilt your head back and eat the falling snow. She didn't have much luck with that so when we got to the car she went right up to the side and licked it. After a quick, "Elle, no!", she looked at me and simply stated, "I'm eatin da snow."

thirty

I am thirty today. That's really all I have to say about that.

Just joking (kind of). I certainly have a lot to show for my 20's. I can think of four things in particular, plus a 10 year marriage.

It really has been an amazing birthday! Friday night, Bud took me to dinner and to see Phantom of the Opera at the Venentian. It was so good. We had great seats where the chandelier dropped right on top of us. Then Bud was amazing and took the kids Saturday and Sunday while I made a quick trip to Phoenix to see my dearest friends, Dana and Megan. We ate at my favorite sandwich shop in Gilbert, Flancer's, then did a little shopping. Dana's husband surprised us that night with a "fascinating" scavenger hunt that included a movie, dinner, and a couple other stops all around town. It was so much fun! This morning the kids woke me up with cards and a couple presents then breakfast at my favorite - The Original Pancake House. When we walked out to the car at 7am, my car was covered in 30's. Thank you to my sweet friend, Courtney who came by late last night with that surprise. She's also the one who left the crazy dolls outside my house. Apparently she likes stalking around my home late at night. : )

I'm so grateful for my life and even moreso, the people in it. If things keep going the way they are, my thirties should be fantastic!

Primary Program

Today was our ward's primary program. Being a member of the primary presidency it makes for a pretty stressful week, but all that went away today as my boys got up, said their parts and then sang the second verse of Called To Serve - at the pulpit, by themselves. I was so nervous for them, worried if they were nervous about all the people, worried they'd forget the words, but they did so good. A little territorial over the microphone, but they sang loud and clear. In fact, I heard the comment more than once today that you could hear Jacob over all the other kids during the songs (he was practically yelling). Now, I'm not saying they're Pavarotti's by any stretch of the imagination, but that they had the confidence and courage to get up there really impressed me! Since Nana and Pogger couldn't be there, I recorded our rehearsal from Friday. It was pretty much the same except Jake didn't let Jonah have the microphone quite so easily today.

Kids Pics

This post is a LONG time coming. The boys and Elle are always taking pictures with their little v-tech digital camera they got last year for Christmas. It took me months to download some of their pics and now months to put them on the blog, but I do love to see the world through their little eyes!

Veterans Day

I just want to wish all those who are defending and have defended our country a Happy Veterans Day. Growing up with my dad in the Air Force, I had a childhood unlike most - and I loved it! I have a special place in my heart for the military and am so grateful for the spirit of patriotism. I'm especially thankful that my dad remained safe during his 24 years of service, as well as my brother-in-law Mike, who served 10 years.

I found this great picture of my dad (he's on the right) while looking for one of him by his F-4 Phantom that he flew in Vietnam. It was taken in England in 1977. I love his smile and how dapper he looks in his uniform. And a big thanks to my mom who dealt with his many absences while raising three girls. Love you!

Bummer

Well, at least I voted.

Happy Belated Halloween

Little behind the 8 ball on getting these pictures up, but Halloween was a blast and by the actual end of trick or treating, can't say I was sad to see it end. But, between the Pumpkin Festival, school and church parties and the actual day itself, I feel like we got our money's worth out of the costumes along with a great haul of candy, and isn't that what it's really all about? : )

The boys were awesome as Mario and Luigi. It's a great twin costume!


Elle was a beautiful Cinderella down to the black ribbon choker which I loved. And Mae Mae was shoved into a 6-12 month bumblebee costume - she's a small 14 months, ok? Besides it was just too cute to watch her toddle along in the tutu!

Highlight of the holiday? Probably trick or treating into Mayor Oscar Goodman's house who personally passed out pins and pencils in addition to candy. The kids had no idea who he was, but were excited anyway.

New Do's

The Stoddard's and the Hilbus' are known to have some pretty thick hair and a lot of it. Well, our little Elle just doesn't (yet). About 6 months ago, I noticed she was losing a lot of hair. I took her to the doctor and the dermatologist, we had a blood test run (everything was fine), but they concluded that due to a lasting fever she had in the beginning of the year, it may have caused a mild form of alopecia (hair loss). Luckily, it did start growing back in, but she unfortunately looked like she had a mullet, with the spikey regrowth on top and her long thin hair. So we decided to cut it pretty short. It's so cute, but I am glad she's not old enough to realize how much hair we cut. She does like it, but as you can tell from the pictures, she was a little schizo about smiling for the camera that day.

Then, yesterday, we gave Mae her first official cut. She was sporting a little mullet as well, so we trimmed that up. She was not a big fan of the scissors as you can see.

I Heart October!

October is one of my favorite months in Vegas. The weather finally cools (usually). We have perfect temps almost everyday. The kids are outside nonstop, and it's the beginning of the holiday season. We had one of those great October days last Friday with the kids playing outside in the afternoon and then Bud surprising them with a backyard campout that night. The girls and I slept in the house, but the boys were troopers and stayed in the tent all night. Even when Jake got a bloody nose, he wouldn't come in the house (that was fun to clean up the next day). The next morning, all the kids loved playing in the tent, especially Mae. She quickly found the doggie door and would crawl through it over and over.

Uh, I Don't Think So...

Bud's brother Mark and his wife Jenni were in town the last few days. They are definitely the "fun" aunt and uncle who the kids get really excited to see. Unfortunately (for us), they both have iPhones. The twins got so hooked on the different games they could play. A couple days ago, we talked about how Christmas would be here soon and they asked if they could write their Christmas lists. Here's what we got from Jonah:


Mark made the point that if we got him one, we would take care of five of the items on his list. Yeah, he's 6 - he's not getting an iPhone. Oh, and apparently we can talk to Michael Phelps for the gold medal.



I do have to say though, the iPhones take great pictures. Jenni took a couple cute ones of the kids:

Sweet Peace

Just a little "shout-out" to Bud who's been kind enough to take all four kids to karate this week when the twins go on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I can't believe how nice one little hour of peace can be. Thanks so much!

Vacation!

This year we have a lot of big celebrations on my side of the family - my parents 40th wedding anniversary, my moms 60th birthday, me and Bud's 10th anniversary, me and my brother-in-laws 30th birthday, my other bro-in-laws 40th birthday, etc. So, instead of having parties every other month, this year we rented a beach house and made a week of it. It was so nice to do practically nothing. Unfortunately, Bud had to work a lot, but lucky for me my sister's kids were there who love to help out and play with my kids. We did Disneyland on Wednesday and there were hardly any lines, although Bud and I both came away thinking it would be a good few years until we went back. The rest of the week was filled with boogie boarding, sand castles, some failed attempts at meals (the stove and oven seemed to have it out for us), a visit to the Dana Point tide pools (awesome!), cards, campfires, and way too many smores. A big thank you to my folks for inviting us all to come and spend a week in the crazy pink and blue beach house. Maybe in 10 years we can celebrate like this again!

Aargh!

I really want to post pics from our beach trip last week, but I can't find our camera. Stay tuned...

Hurricane Mae

Mae has turned into quite the bundle of energy lately. She's into EVERYTHING. I've nicknamed her Hurricane Mae because she leaves a path of destruction wherever she goes. Trash cans, clothes, dishes, food, it all gets pulled out and tossed on the floor. It's driving me CRAZY! She's also started walking. Here's a little video:



In serious hurricane related issues though, I just want the Fontano's (Bud's sister and family) to know we are praying for you and hope that things return back to normal soon. They are in Houston and Ike passed right over them last week. They are still without power and it could take 2 weeks or more to get it turned back on. We love you guys!

Happy Birthday Bud!

Today is Bud's b-day. 33! Sorry for the stereotypical, "my husband's the best" post, but he's as great as he seems and I'm so grateful that this man is mine! He's a fantastic dad (evident by the homecoming he receives EVERY day after work) and takes such good care of all of us. I'm so glad I get to be with him for the next 33+ years! Happy Birthday hon!