Kid Fun!

More fun at the Hillins household.  We know you are all shocked.  ;-)  First up Miss Ashley finally discovered the iPad.  Over a year later than her brother so we consider that a win!  She is a pro at swiping to turn it on and maneuver through the apps.  Monkey Lunchbox is her favorite app but one day Mommy heard her say 'Santa butt' and start laughing.  Then she said 'no no Ho Ho Ho.  Naughty Ho Ho Ho'  ... Apparently she found an app where Santa opens presents but sometimes he moons the camera.  Oops better delete that one, although we remember Trevor laughing about it too so maybe it's just a rite of passage!

Trevor Thursday came upon us again and this time he voted for going to AZ Air Time.  He had so much fun running and jumping.  

He wore himself out!

Mommy gave him $1 for the vending machines and he chose to spend it on Star Wars Angry Bird tattoos.  A great way to combine two of his favorite things right now!

The down time also gave him a second wind and before we knew it he was racing this older kid who loved the attention!

On Friday it's Mommy and kid fun day until Daddy gets home for family night and this particular day we met a new friend for a playdate.  Not before Ashley discovered a new place to do her puzzles!

We met at this indoor playground that was a hit for the kids.  

Trevor and Ashley couldn't get enough!  We were there from 9:15-1:15!  Trevor was the leader of a lot of the kids and decided to make himself a throne higher than anyone else's.  It was kind of funny but the kids seriously all sat in their lower chairs until Trevor told them what to do next.  Scary for the future!

Ashley even got enough guts to go with brother on the big kid equipment.  They were so good together.  Can you see brother helping little sister up to the next level?

Went down slide...

...after slide!

That evening Sara organized a gathering at Buffalo Chip for 30 friends and neighbors but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate.  So instead a few of us went bowling instead.  The kids big and small (some pictured here) all had a blast!  

What a fun evening!

On Saturday Ashley woke up saying that her ear hurt here so after a frustrating hour and a half trying to get through to her pediatrician with no luck we drove to the office only to find out they were closed for a retreat that day.  So we went to Minute Clinic at the CVS by her school and discovered she did indeed have an ear infection in her left ear (also the one that her ENT stated had fluid in it from a cold).  So on amoxicillin for 7 days, done just in time to go to MN.  

Later that day Sara's cousin Katie visited us from MN and it is always wonderful to see her kind soul.  She's like a sister to Sara and it could have been very easy to lock her up and make her stay longer but luckily we'll see her again in MN very soon!  After she left we hit the hot tub for a quick soak.  Ashley insisted on wearing a new suit given to her by our neighbor.  Hilarious!  Especially because Stella outgrew it at 4 and Ashley might be able to wear it only this one time at 2 and a half!  

Trevor and Toby continue to be best buds.  On this particular it occasion it may look like Trevor is choking his pal but in reality Trevor brought down a laundry basket along with his bed and put it up for Toby to watch TV with him.  Trevor always wants his buddy to be right next to him!

Last up was dentist Monday.  Sara had her cleaning at 10:00am with Dr. Libby and then Trevor had a 2:00pm appt across the street with his wife Dr. Libby at the peds dentist place.  Like he's been doing since he was three he rocked his appointment.  Not sure he even noticed the hygienist digging around in his mouth with the tv in the ceiling LOL

Mother's Day Weekend

What a Mother's Day weekend!  We started it off Friday night....the kids went to the kids area at the gym at 5:30 and Katie and Sara got pedicures at a new awesome place nearby while Neill and Brian went to Toby Keith's and had a drink.  We all met up for dinner then Katie and Sara went back to get the kids at 8:30pm while Neill and Brian went to Dave and Busters to play shuffleboard.  

On Saturday morning we had a birthday party at the park and boy is it so fun to see all these kiddos together.  We really are spoiled to live so closely to kids the same age as ours!

Late Saturday afternoon we headed over to a new spot O.H.S.O to celebrate Neill's birthday!  It is a great place to go with kids because of all of the fun outdoor activities for big and little kids alike!

Lots of places to sit outside and hangout with your Daddy too!  The food was yummy too!  We will for sure go back!

On Sunday we all slept in then hurried to get to Grandma Pauline and Papa John's church for mass.  Made it just in time!  Then we all enjoyed a wonderful brunch buffet at a mexican restaurant.  Poor Brian woke up with a stomach bug so he didn't get to devour everything he wanted but Sara more than made up for it in guacamole alone!  Back at home Sara received a funny card (about how today is Mother's Day but tomorrow is back to usual) and much needed gift!  A new pen for her purse and a cover for her mac book she got for Christmas!  

Mommy and her babies!  So thankful God chose us to be their parents!

With Daddy not feeling well, Mommy and Trevor made Sara's Grandma's pumpkin pie (with modifications) while Ashley slept.  It was yummy.  Although Trevor declared he didn't like pumpkin. Which was okay, more for Mommy and Ashley and Daddy when he feels better! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there!  We especially want to give a shout out to our Mother's who we love with all of our hearts!  XOXO

Trevor Thursday

Trevor and Mommy are really enjoying their Trevor Thursdays.  Not too many more until school is out and the three amigos are all together every day!  This week he chose to eat at 'the place where you get your own food' (aka Sweet Tomatoes).  He loves this place.  Starts with eggs, cheese, crunches, sunflower seeds and a whole lot of bacon.  His main meal is chicken noodle soup.  

And finishes it up with a chocolate muffin and ice cream sundae loaded with oreos and sprinkles!  Yum!

This week he wanted to do another movie so we hit up AMC for Monkey Kingdom.  Super cute but Mommy still loved 'Home' better.  

After that he wanted to go over to the clubhouse early before swim team started so that he could relax.  Seriously, that is what he said.  He cracks us up!

Trevor loves swim team.  He's doing really, really well and if that continues the coach wants to move him up.  We'll see, Mommy and Daddy just want him to have fun and continue learning his strokes!

That night marks a first...Trevor came home and took his own shower.  He didn't want Mommy to get wet he said, but we secretly think he also wants to be just like his friend Jack who showers by himself.  Mommy snuck her head in to check a few times and he was doing great!  Such a big boy!  

Ear Update

We took Trevor to a new ENT to have his hearing rechecked after doing the Flonase protocol for the last 3 months.  Mommy had to wake Ashley up 40 minutes into her nap (yuck) but she didn't fall asleep in the car again.  Big brother though...he must have been tired!  He woke up after arriving in a pretty good mood so whew.  Off to a good start!

Grandma Pauline and Papa John met us at the doctor's office though since both kids were having appointments and Mommy wanted to be sure she could hear what the doctor said!  This new place was amazing though!  And as luck would have it a friend of ours was there too with her little girl Finley that Trevor knows so between that connection and the most awesome waiting room and a kids area back where the appointments are, Grandma and Papa John may not have been needed.  But definitely needed when Mommy went in for Trevor's appointment and to talk to the doctor.  Ashley doesn't like Mommy leaving in strange places.  But she calmed right down when Grandma took her outside!

So both kids had hearing checks and both were examined by Dr. Hurley (who Mommy LOVES compared to the last ENT).  What we know is that Trevor still has a slight and temporary hearing loss in his left ear.  The fluid behind his ear has lessened a little and the pressure has improved.  Still not to where it should be so again we have three options:
1) Surgery for tubes (in one or both ears - ugh decisions - along with adenoid removal)
2) Do Nothing
3) Continue Flonase once a day
Dr. Hurley said if it was his kid he would continue with the Flonase protocol because things did improve and will get him through the summer.  Having ear tubes and swimming don't mix well and Trevor is SO excited about swim team.  So we will do that and come back in August for a retest and possible surgery scheduling.  Keep the prayers coming that we can avoid that and his hearing is reinstated on its own.  His ear canal just needs to widen, which comes with age.

We learned that Ashley too has a lot of fluid in her left ear.  So much so they couldn't get a good read on the pressure machine.  Hearing though she did pretty good.  It's so hard to do that accurately with a 2 year old but she did as instructed and turned her head to the vicinity where she heard the noise.  Dr. Hurley said that her fluid is probably due to a cold (especially being a daycare kid) but that it wouldn't hurt given the amount to start Flonase with her too.  We'll retest her in August too.  So Flonase for both kids.  We can handle that.  The first night we did it Ashley was excited.  She's just like big brother now!  

A Day in the Life of Ashley

Ashley is a hoot these days.  The girls loves clothes and books.  Her way of combining the two?  Reading in the closet!

She also discovered all the fun the iPad can bring.  Trevor got his first touch at 18 months and it got handed down to Ashley at close to 2 and a half!  Surprised she didn't get into it earlier since she sees Trevor on it.  Fortunately for everyone she held out!

She found nail polish in her closet (that we used in her first birthday pictures) and came asking Mommy to put it on.  She sat very still and didn't move until it was dry.  Then she walked around, proudly showing everyone her pretty pink fingernails and toe nails!  

Ashley also is very into her princesses.  Sings along when they play music from her castle and talks to them.  She also loves her little play house.  Love our girly girl!

La Casa Olympics!

Mommy was able to volunteer for Trevor's last Olympics and boy did she have fun!  He has such a cute class.  They were all so anxious to start!  Our group had 5 kiddos - Trevor, Kenadie, Brian, Owen and Ashley (not Hillins, rather an Ashley that lives in our neighborhood).

Off they went!  Leading a group made it hard to take pics but Mommy snuck a few!  The kids loved going through the cones!

Bean bag toss...Trevor rocked that!

They LOVED the rope relays!  You could hear them laughing and cheering each other on throughout the gym!

Trevor was pretty darn fast!  

And the obstacle course!  Hurdles!

Army crawls!  He should be good at that considering he started off crawling that way!

When they had gone through all the courses they were awarded a ribbon!

Trevor's small group...can't see Brian's face though.

And then they went on a parade around the gym, waving while the crowd cheered to the music 'We are the Champions!'  So touching!  La Casa does it again!

La Casa Mother's Day Tea

We decided that there would be many more baseball games but only one last Mother's Day Tea at La Casa for Trevor so he skipped his last game and off went Mommy and Trevor to the special event.  As always they started off with a program of special songs geared towards Mommy.  Trevor knew every word and proudly sang his little heart out.  It was the most precious memories for Mommy.  Happy and sad all at the same time!  How did he get so big?

Best song?  'Oh a Mommy's work is never, ever done.'  ;-)

After that the other two classes left and our room was asked to stay.  Before we knew it the kids came out to join us and we got to watch a special video that the teacher put together to celebrate Mommies and their kids.  The video was set to 'Wind Beneath My Wings' so you can imagine their wasn't a dry eye in the building.  La Casa really knows how to do it.  Glad Ashley will go there next year!

After that we headed back to his classroom and enjoyed the tea and art show!  

We got our annual picture taken before Trevor devoured 4 cookies and two glasses of juice!

Then we walked around outside and inside checking out his art work!

The theme right now in his class is fairy tales!

Knight Trevor!

The day Mommy volunteered the kids were finishing up their mermaids.  Trevor didn't want her looking and now we know why.  He chose for her to have brown hair just like Mommy!

It was the most special hour that Mommy and Trevor got to spend together.  We are so blessed to have our son and that he gets to go to a Christian preschool experience.  Wouldn't have it any other way! XOXO