Winter wear?

Summer is fun... even if it's cold and you have to dress like it's not summer.

It was cold at the ward camp out. Thankfully, we were prepared and the kids had a great time. And Alice slept longer than anyone at camp. Two reasons we'll be trying this one again. Or, maybe we should quit while we're ahead?

Jack took this one himself. Can you tell?

He also took this one of Jane eating a once horrifying burnt marshmallow. Honestly, she acted like it was a banana or something, or for most kids, how they act when presented with a spoonful of whatever makes your kid whimper in fear. Someday this girl will eat fruit, and the whole world will hear about it. At least she got over her fear of roasted marshmallows, right? One battle at a time.

Anyone else taken advantage of $2 Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point? (It goes through the entire month of August!) We planned for the Dinosaur museum, but it was incredibly overcrowded, so we retreated to Farm Country. We enjoyed the open space, cows, pigs, feeding the horses, and even the wagon ride where the most exciting thing we saw were corn stalks. It was $2... I'm not complaining.

I loved how Jane wrapped her arms around Jack for this photo. It almost made me forget that I had horse slobber all over my hand from feeding them corn!

Alice has turned into quite the smiler. She is so enjoyable, and if you can't tell, her Daddy can't get enough of her.

Our weekly cousin camps are unfortunately coming to an end. We've so enjoyed the extra gatherings of sisters and cousins! This one was just at Mimi and Papa's house with a picnic and games in the backyard. I made the kids all line up for a game, but decided I needed a picture before it started. These kids are so comfortable with each other and honestly, there's no one else they'd rather be with. We were missing Mia and the babes in this one, but the "triplets" on the end sure look cute.

Speaking of cousins... we added one more this week. Joanna had her fifth on Sunday and she is absolutely beautiful. I'll let her share the details. We're just glad she's here and Joanna can start feeling like herself again! Whew! You made it, Jo!

That smile...

We had some fun Hillman family time this week, starting at Pineview reservoir.

Water, sand, and family, what could the kids possibly love more?

How about a boat ride? Jack remembered three years ago at Bear Lake when he got to ride in the neighbor's boat and was ecstatic to go for another ride. This is Ellie, Jack, Jane, and Megan (a friend).

The reason Jack never forgot the boat ride with "Brother Kitchen" is because he let him DRIVE! Jack couldn't wait to get behind the wheel again and took it quite seriously.

I was a little surprised when Jane jumped up when asked who else wanted to drive. She was excited to do it, but took it a little less seriously. She actually wasn't watching where she was going at all and was pretty content to drive us in circles for several minutes at a time (probably the reason behind Megan's mom getting sick near the end! Oops!).

I LOVE Jane's smile. Have you ever seen such beautiful teeth?

If you can't tell, Brother Kitchen was the HIT of the day! If they didn't love him for the boat ride, they sure did after they built TWO big sand castles. He's just a little baby hungry to have his own grandkids (which are still a few years off), but my kids are sure enjoying being stand-ins for the time being! What a great guy!

Meanwhile, Alice was a complete angel all day. She slept, ate, and hung out in this camp chair looking cute as ever. My, I love this girl.

After geocaching with Dad Hillman, Jack, and Jason, Jeff enjoyed a little time with Alice. He was getting her laughing a bit, which is our newest favorite thing with her. I loved this picture because you can see little Ethan in the background enjoying the show as well!

We spent Saturday with some of the women in my mother-in-law's side of the family. The kids sure enjoyed being together, even when they don't get to see each other very often. (left to right: Jordan, Landon, Joey, Jack (holding Ethan), Jesse, Savannah, Jane, Lilly, and Emma.)

The last couple of times we've been together, Jane and Emma have really gotten along well. Jane hasn't really found a "best" friend since we've been back, so it's fun to see her really take to someone her own age (instead of older guys, who she's always drawn to!).

By the time we slowed down to eat, Alice was tuckered out!

Speaking of tuckered out... it's been a busy week. Jane thinks she's not tired until she just passes out.

The highlight of our week was Alice's blessing today. Our family joined us at church and at our home afterward for a simple lunch. It was a nice day and Alice was amazingly calm during church. Whew! What a blessing it is to have Alice be a part of our family. It's been a good day.

Dear Grandma,

I went to your funeral today. It was a lovely meeting that you would have enjoyed. As my dad said, you would have been embarrassed by all the nice things that were said about you. I was so happy to be able to participate by playing with my sisters. Many of your 72 great-grandchildren sang about families being together forever. Dad and Uncle Gordon sang, just as you had requested. As they sang, I remembered Grandpa’s beautiful tenor voice. I have few memories of him, but his voice is something I’ll never forget (along with his alarmingly loud sneezes).

Jack and Jane were happy to “celebrate” you. We particularly liked the slideshow of you they had going as we walked in. I thought of you as a young mother and all the fun visits we had when I was just starting out as a mother. I loved that you got to see Jack grow from week to week, and how you loved watching each new step. I’ll always remind Jack of how much fun he had rooting through your toy drawer, or how whenever you would get him a cracker, you always gave him “one for each hand”. When he was older, you were such a great audience when he’d play his violin for you.

When we came by to see you recently, I loved how Jane ran into your arms. We worried she was being too rough with you, but you smiled and welcomed her onto your lap with a kiss. She may not remember, but I’ll never forget when we visited you for the last time, to say our final goodbye. How she climbed right up on your bed to be close to you. I’ll remind her how happy you were to have her there and how she didn’t want to say goodbye.

For years you’ve wondered why you were still here. I’ve always known it was for us, not you. I’ve felt spoiled that you were here long enough to meet our little Alice. She won’t remember, but I will. I’ll tell her about your eyes lighting up when I asked if you wanted to hold her, and how she smiled the whole time. I’ll tell her about when I offered to take her back, and you wouldn’t let me. Seeing you with my baby reminded me of the first moment I connected with you as a mother, and how my love for you really blossomed. You weren’t only “Grandma” anymore. You’d become even more.

As a kid, I remember the fun New Year’s Eve “parties” we had with lots of treats and board games while we watched the ball drop on the television. I remember hours of playing air hockey in the basement, jumping rope with one end tied to the doorknob, bottles (bottles!) of soda, jumping on that indestructible orange couch, eating individually wrapped cheese slices, and the Almond Rocas you always had in your freezer. I very clearly remember that Grandpa loving to eat peanut butter on his toast for breakfast, yet it was only a few years ago that you told me it was only he who liked it, and you hadn’t bought peanut butter in the 22 years that he’s been gone. How did you not like peanut butter? As a teenager, I remember not remembering to spit out my gum before visiting your house. You have never liked gum, and finally, I get it.

I’ll remember a lot about you, but most of all, I’ll remember the years we had together relating as mothers. Thank you for sharing that time with me. Thank you for being excited for me as I started my family. And thank you for doing such a great job raising yours. Your influence as a loving mother has rippled through five generations already, and many more to come.

I love you,

Mindy

P.S. Give Grandpa a hug for me.