Lady Bug to Flu Bug...it's over !!!!

Well I tried to do a lady bug themed birthday party for Lydia. I just dragged my feet and it only happened a little.

Lydia was pretty tired for her 2nd Birtjday party....partially mommy's fault. We lounged around and had a lazy day the day of her party. So we had a lady bug stuffed animal, lady bugs on the cake, lady bugs on the invites and on the birthday girl. Thankfully the guests didn't see the 'live' impersonating Lady Bugs (those orange weird ones). ha ha ha. Lydia loves cake ALOT! She got caught tasting it before it was time. She , I think, did well for her birthday. Not too much crying or anything.

She got lots of baby doll toys, outfits for them, a crib, a walmart shopping cart, clothes, a homemade baby doll sachal w/tiny doll inside it, prince and princess mr.&mrs. potato head. She is pretty happy. WE now treat all the baby dolls like they're real. (grrr) She took her doll w/us today to an appointment, undressed and all stained. ha ha ha She'd be an unfit mother in today's real world.

So from the lady bugs.....came the flu bug!!! Saturday night Owen was sound asleep on the couch, stood straight up, screamed and projectile puked all over my living room floor, couch and pillows. AHHHHHHHH I was so mad! Not at him, just having to deal with this. So the next day I scrubbed the bedrooms and bathroom w/bleach water, washed all the bedding....only to do it again Sunday night! That's when Lydia started! Then Monday morning I woke up and started. The kids weren't down very long w/theirs....but mommy was. The kids went otthe farm, thank goodness for mother-in-law's. However, at about 2pm I ran to the bathroom after just waking up from my 1 of many naps.....then I realized on was pants down on the bathroom floor. I called Troy. He had to come 'rescue' me. I had blacked out. As of 430pm I was okay.

So this morning....daddy's was REAL late coming in from Milking.....he got sick 2x during milking in the night and has slept all day. I feel about 90% this evening. I am hoping it's all behind us. I am starving and feeling a little dehydrated. But I am alot better tonight thant I was last.

Molly sat beside me all day yesterday. What a sweetie!!

Kids dentist appointments

Owen went to the dentist for the 2nd time and Lydia, it was her first time. We did pretty well. Owen went first and didn't have to sit on daddy's lap like last time. He did very well. He has the start of a cavity between his top front teeth, but we werent able to get xrays because he had a cold and wouldn't have been ableto handle it, same with his flouride treatment. So, as long as we continue to brush well and start flossing we should be okay as long as he doesn't mention any pain.

Lydia played with a 'germ' stuffed animals and brushed his 'teeth'/dentures while she waited. She only allowed Cynda to count and brush her teeth. Which was ok. She sat on daddy's lap. She wanted to bring the germ home w/us. lol no way!!!

Owen picked out a CARS Mater tooth brush and Lydia Disney Princess's. They go back in July. Hopefully then Lydia can have a full exam and Owen flouride & xray. oOh Owen's 2 bottom teeth are loose already!!! AndLydia has 2 of her 2 yr old molars.

Here are some pics of our day. Yes, Lydia even got dressed up to go! ha ha

procrastination

So I really need to get this done!!!

It's 2010, a new year, a clean slate.....

Lydia went for her 2 yr check up a few weeks ago. She's in the 95th percentile for her height and 75th percenntile for her weight. She's 32" tall and 28 almost 29 lbs. She's thin. She wears 24mos and 2T clothes and sz.7 shoes. She is really starting to voice her own opinion (assuming stomping her foot is showing frustration, and drooping her head is pouting -laughig) She does NOT like her hair played w/ as Ive been trying and trying for weeks to style it. NOEPE she don't care at all!!!

She shows an interest when we drop Owen off at school and seems to be super excited when we pick him up. So I think her and I will start 'mommy & me' class in the fall. She doesnt seem to mind her earrings anymore and likes them changed frequently. She shows some interest in potty training, but it's not too overly interest.

Owen got invited to his first party in a few weeks to a girls house from school. He is excited about going. Mommy's so nervous because we have never experienced this before. So we will feel out her momma and see what she needs/wants,etc. He is growing up so fast. Minus the binky!! He likes his new single bed aunt Joanne got him. So does Lydia. He isses his dad during the days, but is daddy's #1 fan! He continues to tease Molly, but gets her her water. And mother his sister. His new favorite is hot chocolate. Tried to make it himself, but didn't put water in the cup and almost caught the microwaveon fire. Sure did scare him.


Molly continues to grow and fit more and more into our family!!! We love her alot. We're debating on whether we're going to breed her. We'd (the kids and i) wuld love to have a puppy of hers, preferably 1 that doesnt look just like her (dapple, black or long haired). But that's all in the air, I just can't make up my mind......even with myself I can't make up my mind. I keep thinking like 3 yrs from now I'd like another baby. I dnt know. It's hard with 2 that are just 2 yrs apart, so part of me thinks it'd be easier, but then I remember how hard it is..... its like having 2 start all over. So I dont know. I dont want to do anything permanent because I'm fearing regret. And then there's Troy....he says he's too old. He will be 33 in a few weeks. He thinks he'd old...right!!!


I am still working Per Diem at Edgewood Surgical Hospital in the Business Office. I really enjoy it and have made alot of new friends....including....Lorie. She's came over a time or two, can't remember exactly, but has gone to the barn w/us to milk. She's super nice. Has a baby boy on the way at the end of May (Colton Michael). Her and her husband, Mike, live in Fredonia in an amish built very nice house. They have 2 dogs (Diesel-doberman and Onyx - Loxer ). She is an MRI tech at the hospital.


Premier Designs also seems to be still blessing me and my family. I just returned from Premiers Regional Conference this past weekend. I traveled to Columbus with my Premier Mom/sponsor Kelly Redick and sister Nikki Byers. WE had a blast! It was not only fun, but also uplifting. I feel like my reset button was hit! I got to see Andy & Joan Horner, the founders of Premier Designs 25 years they've been doing this. I also got my picture taken with their Granddaughter, Jessica Horner, she picks out the new lines of jewelry for us to sell. I feel so blessed! I have 3 shows booked in February. Id like to try to get 4-6 a month.



The 2010 Spring Line


Andy & Joan HornerJessica Horner and me

Kelly, Nikki & Me

Tomorrow night I am having a Partylite Candle Party. Here is the link if you'd like to order. We are closing Friday 1/29 though. I LOVE thier candles.


Friday night we are celebrating Lydia's 2nd birthday and all the February Birthdays. I am so excxited to have my family over for a relaxing evening. Ive been working all day pickin up, moving things to the kids room so there is more room in the living room.

Christmas at The Hill Family

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Sorry all. I know I emailed/put in our Christmas letter about our blog. it's been so crazy around here lately, and Im afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better......

So, I'll start w/Christmas eve etc.

Christmas Eve I did work, it was okay though. We didn't have any patient's. YEA! We sure did have some laughs in the office. It was nice.

After working quite a bit throughout the last week and preparing for Christmas, I was pretty tired. So the kids and I took a nap. . . . but woke up later than I had wanted. We scrambled to get ourselves together and headed to my dad's house. He hired 'Santa and Mrs. Claus' to come. (I forgot my camera, so awaiting pics from dad). The kids were in aww and got a few gifts. They were excited.

We headed home to get ready for bed. Excitement was definately in the air.

I woke up at 8:30 a.m. Christmas morning, walked out to the living room to a bare floor under the tree and Santa ASLEEP ON THE COUCH! He had forgotten where I said the gifts were hid and didn't assemble the scooter for Owen. So we hussled upstairs w/the bag as Owen was on the potty doing his morning business. We got everything scattered under the tree and distracted Of course, Owen knew something was going on. So we told him that Santa had let his reindeer play downstairs and they pooed allover! So daddy was downstairs cleaning up. WHAT A HOOT!!!!Owen w/his stocking and waking his sister while Santa assembled the scooter downsairs. Can;t let this happen next year. We got baths, dressed and ready. Then opened our gifts. Boy was that nice!!! Santa filled their stockings with toys, for Lydia play jewelry, sock and bows, and for Owen all the boy gear you can imagine. Santa left Lydia a doll house and Owen a scooter. Mommy & Daddy got them Noah's Arc Little People SEt, movies, clothes, shoes, AND THEYRE STILL opening new toys out of their packages.

So right before we were leaving to go to Troy's sister's (Joanne's), I was downstairs checking laundry and Owen followed. I noticed the scooter box still sitting out but before I could make a mad dash to cover it "mommy, did you get my dat scooter for crismas" OH NO! Owen was told Santa's a bit lazy and left his garbage down stairs.

In the freezing rain 20 minutes behind schedule we were off to The Hill Christmas Celebration. Lydia dressed in her best and Owen. They looked darling.

Owen, Rebekah & Lydia

Joel & Matthew
The kids were very well behaved all Christmas Day! They were excited about all their gifts and play w/them all. Lydia got a tea pot set and many of other toys. Owen got a work bench with alot of tools to go along. He is such a little handman these days, or so he thinks.

They both got movies, clothes and little kids folding couches, which they use daily. I was like a kid this year, I got a Cricut Expressions and my very first Vera Bradley purse. I LOVE THEM BOTH! Now a Wii is on my birthday list! Once we were done eating, as usual by that time it's time for Troy to go home to milk cows.

The kids napped and I prepared dinner. Roastbeef, noodles, mashed potatoes, YUM. Mom brought over the kids and our gifts and we exchanged after we ate. Owen is so excited about his child size wheel burrow. Grammy got a new microwave for Christmas and other small items. Grammy always does such a great job!!! We love you GRAMMY!!!

The day after Christmas I got up early and made my way to Hermitage for a shopping adventure w/meem! We had a great time. No kids. It was great. I got alot of great deals and some gifts for teachers purchased for next year from Kraynak's. Also got a $140.00 coat for $43.00. I seem to be doing well w/bargains on coats. Because this day was also my mo's birthday and we got her a $160.00 Columbia jacket for $45.00. YEA!!! She always liked mine, and they're extra warm, so she got one. I think she's pretty happy abou tit.

After I got back home we napped, ate lunch and got ready for the Alabran Christmas at The Hunt's house. Which may be the last year that we get to gather there. They are going to build closer to Aunt Billie's work, smaller house too. I love their big house and wish we werent attached to the farm some time, because I'd like to purchase it! It's the ne place I have left of my past childhood to go where I feel so comfortable. But life goes on, and it's their house. They have done a GREAT job on the projects they've done thus far. Especially their bathroom. AMAZING!

So Lydia slept while we ate and scrumptous dinner and moved on to gifts. My mom got an extra special gag gift this year. (that's all Im saying)

The kids played and played. Lydia did her 1st somersault and ring-a-round-a rosey. We did have a really good time at The Hunt's. The kids fell asleep on the way home. What a nice thing!!! They were so tired from all the past 3 days events.

Nate, Owen, Savanna & Lydia laying on the floor (below)

Lydia & Savanna doing somersaults together.

Pictures

After her 1st haircut

Before her 1st haircut

Owen & Lydia at 'oyster stew' night.
Mikey, Jillian, Lydia & Owen - all 2nd cousins, or 3rd, can't remember. But they're cute!

Me, Lydia & Jillian. The kids wanted to bring her home. Owen cried when Troy said NO!

The Hill annual Christmas Letter

Christmas 2009 with The Hill Family

Greeting’s all. It’s the end of 2009 & I am not on cloud nine. I’ve realized Parenting doesn’t get any easier. I think I’d like mine to be babies again, not toddlers just 2 years apart. Whew….I’m struggling this year getting everything accomplished before 12/25. I sure hope it happens. J The children are as busy as ever. With lots of changes this past year, please read along for our 2009 excitement.

January is always the dull month, so we’ve spiced it up by celebrating Lydia’s birthday some days late. Which she won’t realize til she’s older. I hope she’s okay with that.

February, Troy and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. We had planned to go away for the night, but unfortunately with timing, others schedules and a budget it didn’t get to happen. Troy also turned 32, and with this he seems to think that he is too old to add anymore children to our family. I think he’s got the right idea some days. My patience is about paper thin. But there’s still that yearn in my heart that wants more. So we’re pretty sure Lydia was our caboose to the Hill Family Train.

March we have quite a few birthdays in our family and close friends that are celebrated. 1 special one this year was a western themed party. Cowboy Birthday Boy, Kyle Higbee. He turned 5 and started Kindergarten in the fall. Counting down the days till my son goes, ha ha ha. March also dropped a new job right in my lap! I am very blessed for this, because it has provided more for our family, socializing with adults for me and just overall a good experience. I am currently employed at Edgewood Surgical Hospital in Transfer, PA in the Business Office. With that we started building a new relationship with our sitter, LeeAnn. She’s a great Christian woman with a loving family. My children love to go there.

April as always brings the Iroquois Economics Seminar. I get to work with a past co-worker. We get to catch up, sip wine, and rub elbows with the elite. Always a fun day. I especially enjoy the prime rib.

This past summer our Alabran extended family found a new convenient place for family to gather in the nice weather. CP Park, It’s great! The kids love it, the adults love it, and Molly got to go once, too. Your wondering who Molly is….be “Patient” read on.

June was a short month for us, as I covered summer vacations at work. So the days flew by. Unfortunately the end of the month brought us to a big upset…. Brownie our then 5 yr old chocolate lab developed a huge mass on the side of his head. He had to be put to sleep. I held him until his final breath, it was the hardest thing I’ve yet had to do. My Brownie was my protector, my friend for life and my 1st baby. We got Brownie with my ‘last’ ‘single’ tax return, but also our first purchase as Mr. & Mrs. Troy Hill. It was bittersweet. But I knew it was for the best. Our family just didn’t feel complete, so I started on a mission to find another dog to love. I found MOLLY! I wasn’t real sure Troy was going to go for this, but he gave his usual “wellllll Okay” head nod. Molly’s a red/brown Dachshund. She’s about 14lbs now, big change from Brownie’s 115 lbs. But we love her to death and she’s decided she doesn’t like to be ‘dressed up’. I’ve gotten some super sweet deals on dog sweaters/outfits though….wonder when she’s going to realize this…..she’s a female, she’s got to understand!!!! Some day I keep telling myself. She gives me an ashamed look when she’s dressed up.

In August our house was about to change in many more ways, yet again. If Id a known Id a buckled my seat belt! Troy’s parents got rid of their Green Blazer for the Clunker program as did Troy’s sisters family.

Harold & Marlyn got a 2010 Chevy Equinox and the Leise Family got a Pontiac G6. Troy and I must have felt out of the loop, because we got my first “brand new” vehicle, 2009 Pontiac Torrent. I LOVE IT. It’s roomy, nice riding, cute looking, and functional. There are so many sensors to tell me if something’s wrong. It has a built in cell phone and OnStar, I feel VERY safe!!! And it’s my favorite color…blue! Troy’s now using the Tracker as a daily vehicle to try to give the ol’ truck a break. Which it does make sense, sort of weird seeing him drive around in it. He decided to get a garage door system for ‘his’ side of the garage, it’s in the process….like the swing set…like the old front doors in the front yard….need I say more…. I need a ‘Handy Manny’ Owen tells me he can do it!!!

Premier Designs, How many of you have heard of it? Well now’s the time. I am a Premier Designs Jeweler. I started this in August at my 1st home show/training show. I’ve had 13 great shows and would love to show you my jewelry some time. It’s fun, exciting and rewarding. Premier Designs is a religious based company out of Texas. The founder’s (Andy & Joan) I will get to meet at my first Regional Conference at the end of January. I am very excited. It’s also my first big Premier Designs event. The jewelry is multi functional, cute and classy. We get to see the new jewelry line for spring at Regional’s.

The fall just seems to creep right up on us with the Great Stoneboro Fair. It’s always a zoo around here that week. But the kids enjoyed it. Owen and Lydia rode their first fair rides. The day after the fair was over was Owen’s very 1st day of Preschool. I DID NOT CRY!!!! I looked over after dropping Owen off at another mom and she was sobbing….I was grinning…. I was happy, I was excited…. Owen was off to keep others busy instead of his mom. Ha ha ha. We’ve noticed a big difference in him since he started. He is having fun and we’re making lots of new friends. Even mommy is too. He truly keeps me busy and on my toes. I love the new things he comes up with lately. 12/21 he said to Troy….Dad we need to build a fire. Santa needs a place to come in. And we can hang our socks on it. He was thinking if you didn’t have a fireplace Santa couldn’t come and leave presents, and socks he must be thinking stockings…they’re hung in the kitchen on the knobs to the China Cupboard.

October is my favorite month. But this October I’m not real sure. The guys were super busy in the fields. That means more alone time with the kids. Some day I will get used to doing a lot on my own. I do realize that Troy is a very hard worker and if the field work doesn’t get done it does have a chain affect on the farm. And the children love the farm more than anything. Owen seems to be the ‘field work’ type and Lydia seems to be the animal lover. Owen has started getting closer to the cows, but only at fairs and shows. Lydia talks to the cows. It’s cute!

Because of working I was able to start my Christmas shopping a little early. So after many much deserved years Tara and I were able to get the chance to head to Pittsburgh for a girl’s day out. We had a blast. I experienced ‘The Cheesecake Factory’. I was in heaven! Well it seemed with all those desserts. Owen turned 4 and we had a Halloween themed birthday party. It was a blast, I was even a Queen!

In November Troy & I attended our first Parent/Teacher Conference. It was better than I thought. I was certain the facility was going to have ‘Owen Hill’s parents’ phone number on speed dial. But he’s doing well. Time sure does go so fast once Thanksgiving is over. Then it’s time for Christmas cards, letters, etc. I’ve decided that I need to start blogging, here’s our site:

http://4hillfamily.blogspot.com/

Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2010!

Sincerely,
Troy, Michelle, Owen, Lydia & Molly

Crazy Weather

MY 2 FAVORITES I MADE TODAY 12/9/09

SORRY I CANT FIGURE OUT HOW TO ROTATE, THIS IS A BDAY CARD I MADE TRYING A FEW NEW COLORS, OLD OLIVE AND ? I FORGET THE PURPLE OCOLOR NAME

MOLLY SNOOZING ON THE SIDE OF THE COUCH.

OUR STOCKING ARENT EXACTLY HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY W/CARE.

THEY'RE HUNG AT THE CHINA CUPBOARD...BUT W/CARE. DOEST HAT COUNT?

KIDS WATCHING TV TOGETHER

This weather is absolutely NUTS!

It was freezing this weekend, the Monday it was cold and snowed, Tuesday it was cold and windy, today it was so windy and rainy. So windy that we lost power from shortly after 2pm to almost 530pm. The kids weren't real sure about it. Owen kept going to turn on lights, and screaming because we had more light bulbs to fix. He's little 'fix it' these days. So they played and I worked by daylight on about 12 new Christmas cards. I have hardly been able to pick up my Stampin Up stuff and make some cards. I did do 2 birthday cards this week.

Yesterday I had my great uncle's funeral. Before that i met my best friend for lunch at my favorite restaurant. It was such a nice treat to sit and talk, uninterrupted, eating my favorite meal there. Then off to the funeral. Im going to make a dress requirement for my funeral. I just think it's so disrespectful, I know some who had jeans, sneakers and so forth on have better. ohh well. I dont think my Great Uncle cared too much.

We went as a family to deliver a load of hay, then off to this little place to get a Christmas tree.... I think it's a blue spruce, we only paid $25 for it, it's nearly 7' tall until Troy gets to hackin at it. lol. Which hopefully will be tomorrow and when I get home from work I can decorate it.

Last night Troy said to me when we got home that he'd like to take Owen with him to take cows to the sale and off to lunch at Pizza Hut for their lunch buffet. That was nice. What a shock though. Lydia wasn't impressed at all that she didn't get to go. So her and I had lunch, picked up, dragged out the Christmas decorations and so forth. I finally found my good black dress pants that had been missing since middle of Oct...they were in my summer clothes that Id packed away. Ohh well. I'll keep a closer eye on them. I got the house decorated. Need to get a day the kids and I can put together a few foam sets we bought last year to assemble. Maybe next week.

Tomorrow is school and work for Owen and I. I dread every morning, he doesn't want to get up, I want to get up, get dressed, look my best and he fights me and I then get all stressed. I set my alarm for a little earlier tomorrow. We'll see if that works. I cant' wait til he can go 3 days a week for 1/2 hr longer. Will be so nice. Then when he starts kindergarten in 2011 fall Lydia will start preschool 2 days a week. YEA!!! Its hard to believe that Lydia will be 2 at the end of the month and to think I remember so clearly being pregnant with her at Owen's 2ND birthday and I thought he was such a big boy and expected too much out of him. Funny how that happens to the oldest child. So I'm trying to slow down, enjoy it more, be more patient, some days are truly harder than others.

I'm kinda of excited, but not really about going shopping Friday all day with my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law. Don't get me wrong I have a good time usually. I just dont have a good pair of sneakers, not very much more to buy(Lydia bday, Joanne bday, Joanne cmas, tom cmas, pete and Harold cmas, AND savanna cmas and I am done) I wait until we both get paid on the 18Th to get the gift cards I need. I took stock of everything the other day.

Well Lydia's since stripped since I started typing this. Owen's sound asleep, Molly is trying to sleep but Lydia just wont leave her alone.

Until next time......