Ryan's 31st Birthday

Ryan's birthday was back on the 17th. Ryan's sister Whitnie also has a birthday just a few days prior so they had a joint family Sunday birthday dinner to celebrate. This is the delicious, moist, homemade pumpkin with cream cheese frosting birthday cake I made for them. Whitnie actually got to pick the flavor since Ryan was unreachable down in southern Utah on a boys dirt bike trip.

The two birthday kids

Whitnie & Ryan




"Happy Birthday!!"

The next morning, on Ryan's actual birthday, when the kids got up nice and early we headed off to Magleby's Fresh for a birthday breakfast with Dad.

All the kids loved the french toast.

Our beautiful fresh morning faces!

That night we left the kids and went out to dinner at Tucano's, and since Ryan is such a big 007 fan it was perfect to top off the night with the new James Bond movie.

Happy Birthday Babe! I hope you had a great birthday. You really deserve it.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. The kids would ask me everyday leading up to Halloween how many days left. On Halloween morning they both got up and cheered " 0 days 'til Halloween". They were excited to say the least.
Ellie had been planning on wearing this dress to be a princess for awhile but McKay changed his mind day of and went with Jack Sparrow over Spiderman. We already had both costumes, so it didn't matter to me.

He even got the pirate pose down.

Jack Sparrow heading to the bus stop.

Before Halloween night we stopped by both Grandparents homes to show off the little ones.

My niece Hailey as a hippy.

Clara in her cute witch costume. This was Ellie's costume from when she was the same age. It was fun to compare pictures.

Opening up her goody bag Grandma & Grandpa Hill.

Ellie & McKay with their loot.

After stopping by to see the Grandparents we headed over to Bracken and Talia's for dinner and trick-or-treating. All the kiddos ready to go.

Skylar, Clara, McKay, & Ellie

Clara figured out the whole trick-or-treating thing real quick.

We went trick-or-treating in Ryan's old neighborhood in Orem. It was amazing! There are so many kids running around that the majority of the houses didn't even close their front door and just sat out on the porch with the candy. A handful of houses even gave out full size candy.

McKay will ALL his candy!

The three hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion.

Talia, Bracken, & Skylar

McKay with the "real" Jack Sparrow.

We had a great time! The big kids loved it and the babies were really good sports. Even the kids at heart got plenty of candy. Thanks to the Hudsons for having us over.

Happy Halloween!

All I want for Christmas

IS MY ONE FRONT TOOTH!

McKay's top front tooth has been wiggly for awhile. I felt it earlier today and it was getting really loose. I told McKay that he should wiggle it a lot to help it get even looser so we could pull it out. So, tonight I'm up in the kitchen while he and Ellie are down watching 'Home Alone'. All of the sudden McKay cries out " It came out!" I run downstairs to find him with a big smile on his face and a tooth in his hand. He was so proud of himself. We even had to call Dad and tell him the news.

In the picture above he is holding his tooth, even though you can't see it. You can however see the big hole in his smile, and the nice band-aid on his forehead. That is what happened when my fingernail meet his forehead.

This is the tooth! I hope we remember to give this one to the tooth fairy. The last one got lost.

Pumpkin Carving

To get in the spirit of Halloween, for family night last week we invited over my family for pumpkin carving and pizza. Wyatt, Courtney, Lindsay, Kim, and Colton all came over for a good time.

Wyatt and Courtney showing off their original design, Alpine Event Rentals. It's my brothers event rental company and any advertising is good advertising right?

Ellie showing off her pumpkin. She drew the face and Ryan cut it out.


Ryan having a little too much fun working on McKay's pumpkin.

Kim and her boyfriend Colton, and yes he is that much taller than her. It's not that hard though when she is only 5 foot, on a good day.




Lindsay, Ellie, and Courtney scooping out the innards of their pumpkins.


The finished products.

Mine and McKay's (thanks to dad)

Ellie's

Lindsay's, and Wyatt & Courtney's

Kim & Colton's

All in a row.

We had a great time. Thanks to everyone that came over and helped us celebrate.

Fall Break

For Fall Break this year we had the opportunity to go to California, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Hill. It was a quick trip down but plenty of fun.

The ride down was a little bright for Ellie so Mandy lent her her sunglasses.

In front of California Adventure with most of the crew.

Nick (Whit's fiancee), Whitnie, McKensie, Mandy, Ellie, Ryan, McKay, and Jackson.



Our little family ready to have a fun day. The kids were so excited to go. The whole shuttle ride over they kept chanting "Disneyland, Disneyland!"

The kids couldn't wait. They had to have a bite of the candy.

The traditional picture with everyone, including Grandma Sherrie and Grandpa Jeff.

McKay's was so excited that this time he was tall enough for Indiana Jones. Mandy and I thought that it would be a little to scary for him, but Mandy was good at explaining how everything was going look and go on the ride. After going on the ride, he said "That was FANTASTIC!!" He wanted to go on the ride again. Since I'm such a big fan of Indiana Jones as well, McKay and I had to get a picture inside the ride. Like father like son. I love you bud, and way to go.

Since it was Halloween we had to go in the Haunted Mansion. It was decorated to the theme of the "Nightmare before Christmas" the kids were a little scared, but good sports.

The kids and Mandy love the tea cups. I can't stand them. I get dizzy sick really fast, so Nick and I watched Whit and my family go on the crazy ride.

On the way to California Adventure, we took an old car to the front entrance of Disneyland. The top speed was about 5 miles an hour but better than walking.

Lunch break. Grandpa Jeff and McKay chilling in the shade drinking some water. We waited in line for about an hour to go on Soar'n over California. The ride lifts you up in the air and you are looking at a huge screen that displays areas all around California. As you are flying through the air you can smell the area your in, and it feels like your really there. At the end of the ride, you are flying above Disneyland and fireworks are going off. The kids loved it!

Ellie seemed to be on my shoulders a lot. It was OK. We did a lot in a couple of days. The kids were great and we all had a fun.

Snow White's wicked queen. Ellie wouldn't go by herself, so dad had to jump in and get in the picture.

Taking another break waiting for the Disney Pixar's parade.

McKensie, Ellie, Nick, McKay Whitnie and Jackson enjoying the Pixar Parade. Ellie didn't like it much because some of the people where squirting water at everyone. She would bury herself into Kenz arms and hide. It was a really neat parade, and a nice break from standing in line.

We spent our second day at Knott's Berry Farm. The last time we came as a family was one year ago. The kids remembered the mail ride, and wanted to go on that first thing. McKay and Ellie love it. I love Ellie and McKay's expressions.

McKay and Ellie had a great time on the race cars. It would wipe them around each corner. Poor Ellie was on the outside and getting smooshed by McKay, but it didn't seem to bother her. They where just trying to hold on for dear life.

The Hill family tradition that started with my Grandma and Grandpa Hill was to go to Knott's Berry kitchen and have a meal. They have the best home made roles and their famous Knott's Berry jam. I look forward to this place every time we come.

McKay and Ellie enjoying coloring and eating there jello. Speaking of Jello, Grandpa Jeff and Jackson were sitting across from McKay and Ellie and they were playing a magic trick on McKay and Ellie. Jackson would eat his Jello and my dad would catch the Jello in the back of Jackson's head, McKay and Ellie thought that Jackson had a hole in the back of his head. The kids loved it and told Jackson that he needs to go to a doctor when he gets home. Thanks for entertaining the kids Grandpa Jeff and Jackson.

We all love ice cream. Smile!

McKay loved to go on this airplane ride. You could control whether you go up and down, and he thought that was the coolest thing ever.




This is another fun ride for the kids. They only problem was that it had the longest line in the park. Mandy was a good sport and waited in line with them. It amazing that a ride that last for maybe thirty seconds and tips back and forth like a tee-ter-totter, would be so exciting for kids. I'm glad that they had a great time.

Nothing like a long day a Knott's Berry Farm. McKensie, Whitnie and Nick were so tired.

That night Grandma Sherrie stayed at the hotel with McKay and Ellie and the rest of us came back for the Haunt. All of Knott's Berry Farm turns into a haunted house with low lights, fog, and people jumping out at you. Mandy didn't especially want to go but she was a good sport and waited for us outside of each haunted house. I think the highlight of the night was watching McKensie get scared.

It was a fun, quick trip and we are so glad we were able to go. Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa.