More from 2012

I had to stop and save the last post - laundry time.  See, I can multitask.

After our trip in March we had our second big adventure. I did post about this before, so I won't go into detail,Greg quit his long time job with HCI and started with a new company HQC.  He's been there for 3 months and is really enjoying it.  We are all very grateful!!

So during this time - the boys finished school, went to scout camps and overnighters, had a very short summer vacation, and then started into a new school year!

Noah started 2nd grade, Nicholas started 4th grade and Nathan started 6th grade.  And as you can tell, Nathan hit a growth spurt.....or two.  The happiest day was when he was finally taller than me.  Being only 5'3- it wasn't all that hard. But he didn't stop there.  He is now 5'6!!!  He's 12!!!  We had to go buy new clothes and shoes - size 10 mens shoes!!! He loves the fast that I have to look up to him now.  But he is very gracious about it - he still hugs and kisses me every night and had let me know that now that he is taller I can ask him to do things (reach things) that I would usually have to stand on a chair to do or ask Greg to help.

Once again - lucky Nathan got to celebrate his birthday the first week of school.  This year it was the second day instead of the first day.

He wanted brownies instead of cake.....mmmmm... I KNOW where he gets that from.

 We only have "friend" birthday parties for their 8th, 12th, 16th, and 18th birthdays. Nathan decided he wanted an all out nerf war.  Greg went and set up with gym with obstacles and bases and all kinds of fun things.  Most of the boys in his class came and they have been talking about it ever since.

It was the ultimate boy birthday party.

However, my favorite part of him turning 12 was when he received the priesthood.  I love going to church on Sundays and watching him honor his priesthood and pass the sacrament and serve those around him.  He walks home from church every week with "the guys" and is loving going to Young Mens every Wednesday night.  Some times I have to really try not to freak out about him growing up.  I am all ready nervous about Jr. High....  He will do awesome!  I will stress... wondering if I have taught him well enough to survive the big bad world....

In September we had a new addition to the family!!!  Ok - technically it was to the entire Gates family......but I am a "baby hog" according to the boys- and this little guy is mine mine mine mine whenever the opportunity arises.  Zander  (Andy and Andrea's first baby) has made quite the impression on the boys.  I love watching them hold him and feed him and ask about him all the time.  Noah is a natural and can't wait to really play with him.  (If mom every gives any one else a chance....)  I forgot how much I love babies!  Especially him!

Nathan received his Tenderfoot and First Class recognition in Scouts.

Noah participated in his first Pine Wood Derby race!!  After a lot of work and research and sanding - Nicholas (Greg) did NOT come in last place this year!  Woo Whoo!




Noah turned 8 on October 22nd!!
He'd growing up too fast....
He had a friend party and we played games, decorated cookies and went and saw "Hotel Transylvania".  It was a lot of fun!

Once again- we made his birthday cake.....Behold..... the Bat Cake!

Halloween 2012

The best part of turning 8??  Getting Baptized!

November 3, 2012

My handsome men

Noah and Zander

Nicholas turned 10!!!!

 Happy Birthday!!!

I have such great kids!!

Catch up time...

Wow! What a busy, exciting, fun year we've had. Oh that's right! No one would know because I have slacked off in the blogging department. Oh the life of a mom, well, THIS mom anyway.  I take the time to read other moms blogs and they seem to be able to do it all. Home, kids, husbands, crafts, cooking, AND then take beautiful pictures and blog about it.  I've ever claimed to be wonder woman.... just a woman who makes you wonder sometimes.....  But I am a woman who loves her husband and family more than anything. I try to cook, clean,(sometimes successfully) nurture, love, and support my family. I do take time for myself and read and take the occasional nap and do the occasional craft.  I need to actually schedule blogging into the mix.  This is my "journal" so to speak, which I have never been good at keeping.  The kids love to look at pictures of themselves here and remember what we've done.  We have spent the last week or so watching our old home movies from when the kids were born, Christmases, school programs, etc.  It has been so fun to see how they have grown.  Sometimes I forget how cute and innocent they were.  They are still cute mind you, just in a more grown up way. It was so nice to be able to watch those videos and share funny stories about each of the kids (like Nathan not being able to say "Piglet" and calling him "Pliget"), that I thought I'd better update the blog with the happenings of the Sill family.
So, this will most likely be a very long post. But just for you - it will be a year of pictures!!  Yeah!
So we will start with Noah's birthday - from last year.

Noah turns 7!!!!  The Pirate Party

He decided that he wanted a pirate party - complete with a pirate cake. He helped make it like he does every year.  I think that's the best part of the birthday.  We dressed up as pirates ans played games and had a pinata.








Halloween crazies of 2011.....

Sill Family Pumpkin Carving Contest






Nicholas turning 9! Doing silly faces every time I try to take a picture.....hhhhmmmm.... wonder who he gets that from?  Every year Nicholas wants pumpkin pie instead of a cake - this year it was gone before I got a picture of it.

Nathan did a Veteran's Day program and represented the Unites States Army

 Grandpa was able to come and see it

Noah had a fun First Grade Christmas Program

What a cutie!!!

Christmas 2011

 Nathan DARE graduation

Nicholas doing his "Nikolas Tesla" impersonation...(book report) 

 Our first big adventure in 2012

We decided to take a much needed vacation in March when the boys were off track.  We wanted them to see and experience some truly beautiful and amazing things.  We first stopped in Bryce Canyon for a day. Then traveled down and saw

 the Grand Canyon, The Hoover Dam,- Gallup, New Mexico- Four Corners, Canyon Lands, Moab, and Arches National Park.  It was an amazing week with an amazing family!

First Scout Camp!

	Nathan just got back from his first scout camp....alone.... It was a very long night for me and even longer for Greg. Nathan decided to exert his independence and asked if he could go without Greg- who has gone to all of Nathans scout things since he turned 8. Everyone survived...but with very little sleep. He made it home in time to go to his lacrosse game.