Santa's List

I thought this was too cute...I will be showing it to Allegiance in the morning. Bet she will work extra hard to be on the "nice" list!!!

http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/73078-michelleystone/

The Christmas Season (in pictures)

KidStand and Hannah

Hannah got to do something very special this Halloween. She joined up with a dance group for a Christian organization called KidStand. They did performances at our church for a Trunk or Treat event we held. So, she missed out on trick-or-treating, but she had a blast! And she is quite the dancer!!! Unfortunately, she is difficult to see because of the light behind her...

Happy Halloween

Allegiance was Spaghetti and Meatballs for Halloween this year. She was a little nervous about the costume, but she felt much better after everyone made over her! I, personally, think she was adorable!

In this video, she is saying "You're making me hungry..."

Family

This past weekend, my Uncle Bill, Aunt Cheryl, and cousins came for a visit. Okay, they were really here to visit the huge indoor waterpark, but they made some time to come by and have dinner with us. It was great to see them again. Mom and Dustin came down too, which made it even better. Mom did all the cooking and we did all the eating!!!

The "Boys"

Uncle Bill and my cousin Brian

Jenni and Aunt Cheryl

No Hillman family get-together is complete without backrubs!

Allegiance with her cousins, Doran and Thalen

I remember before Grandma passing away talking about how we would still all try to get together. But now that we are here, it does get harder and harder to keep that a reality. Life really gets in the way sometimes. I look forward to being in Heaven when I will have all eternity to spend rekindling old relationships and building them up again...

Until then, I guess I will take what I can get. :-)

The Wii was a real hit with the kiddos! Even Allegiance and Thalen played. And I use the term "played" loosely! Actually, they were pretty good for little four year olds!!!

This was also Hannah's weekend to have the "health baby." She named him Alex for the weekend. If she looks a little tired in the pics or a little absent from them, that's because she spent most of the weekend tending to a hungry, crying little one. Sounds just like real motherhood, right??? She did great though and got a little extra credit in health, but she did definitely decided that it will be a LONG while before she wants kids of her own!!!

Blessed

Do you ever sit back and realize just how lucky you really are?

I don't very often...but I should. I have a great life, really.

I have a wonderful husband who takes me out to eat whenever I don't feel like cooking, who encourages me daily, and who keeps me up to date on all the political stuff that I never would keep up with myself. I have a beautiful thirteen year old who still tells me about her day, kisses me goodnight before she goes to bed, and listens to me when I talk to her. Not to mention the little three year old cutie that brightens my day with her sweet sayings, snuggles with me for bedtime stories, and begs to spend time with me. Seriously, could I be more blessed???

My Hero

Today is my Grandma Hillman's birthday. She is celebrating it in Heaven as she has for the past few years. But as her birthday neared this year, I found myself thinking more and more about her.

In my second grade classroom, we have a star student each week and one of the items on a poster that the students share with the class is their "hero." Well, I made a sample poster to start the school year off. When I got to the part about my hero, it didn't take me long to know who to put...Grandma was so patient. She never complained. She was forgiving. She was giving. She was loving. She had a gentle spirit that never made you feel wrong. She was everything I wish I could be. She was exactly what Jesus wanted her to be. I know for a lot of people "hero" would mean someone who risks their life or someone well-known or famous, but for me it means the person who didn't do things for selfish reasons. It means the grandma who made time for me very summer. It means having a refrigerator and freezer filled with every kind of special treat in a town that didn't even have a grocery store. It means asking blessings before every meal and never letting anyone leave the table hungry. For me a hero is the person that modeled Christ to me. It's the person who was so strong after losing her husband and after moving into a retirement home.
I know any one in our family reading this has a list of their own about the love that Grandma showed to them. She made everyone feel so very special.

Grandma, I love you!!! I can't wait for our reunion in Heaven!

Rockstar Soccer Girl

So, soccer may not exactly be Legi's thing!!! But she does enjoy getting out there. I say anything that promotes team spirit is a good thing, so what if her favorite part about the game is the snack time after? :-)

Now this is more up Allegiance's alley...dancing around in her "twirly" skirt. She is definitely ALL girl!