"Happy Halloween 2009"
My little "Tinker Bell". Brinlee was so excited to be tinker bell for Halloween. But as i was getting her ready to go trick or treating, she decided she did not want to wear the wings, and cried all of her make up off . She decided at the last minute to wear them, and was happy once she saw the candy coming in. Riley was so excited to be "Bumble Bee" from transformers. He had a blast with the costume. He would run around the house making car noises. Such a boy.

Kyson was some Star Wars dude. Not sure on the name. He loved having his hair bright blue.

"Hill Family Halloween Traditions"

For family night we always carve pumpkins the week before Halloween. The kids love it. In the years past, the boys always made Brian clean out the insides of the pumpkins. This year, they wanted to do it all by themselves. They did pretty dang good. I am always so grateful to take pictures during this part.

There was definitely a major sugar rush, the night we decorated sugar cookies. Brian can't wait to see the lovely cookies the kids get so excited to make him. It usually consists of an awful lot of frosting, candy, and sprinkles.

Yes, there is just about a pound of frosting on Brinlee's cookie.

Kyson, well this is his normal face now. He is very creative, and took about 15 minutes on each cookie.

"Tickles the Turtle" It was a sad day the other day, when Brian and I decided we would no longer be able to keep our dog "Mickey". Mickey had decided lately, that he would rather try and eat the neighbor's, rather than play with them. We found a nice home for him, were he can be raised with another boxer. So when we talked to the boys, and told them we were not going to be able to keep Mickey, and explained why, they were sad. I told them we would get them a Turtle, and thank goodness they were fine.

Brinlee loves to get a piece of lettuce and hold it in the water, and watch the turtle come to the top, and try and pull it out of her hand. She laughs hysterically saying, "Turtle get me". It is so cute.

If you are wondering about the name. Yes, I let Riley decide what to name the turtle. Without any hesitation, he decided his name would be "tickles the turtle".

Leave it to Riley, to be the first to break the rules with" Tickles the turtle". In less then 24 hours of having the turtle, Riley was already grounded from him. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.
The rules are that no one picks the turtle up, unless mom or dad are there with them. I had showed the kids earlier in the day, that Tickles well bite if you put anything in his face. I held a piece of lettuce in front of his face, and the kids saw him chop down on it, and slice it like a razor. I said Riley did you see that, with his eyes almost bulging from his head. He told me he did, and he would not put his fingers by his mouth. Later on that night, Riley, and Brinlee told me they were going downstairs to see Tickles. I told them OK, and made sure they new not to pick him up. About 15 minutes later, Brinlee was on her way up the stairs trying to tell me what Riley had done. I could not understand her, but Riley was right behind her telling her to shh, shh, shh. I new he has done something (like pick the turtle up). After a while, he told Kyson that the turtle had bit him, and to please not tell me, he would be in big trouble. So much for Kyson keeping his word. Let's just say Kyson let me no. I told Riley to come upstairs, and show me were the turtle bit him. Right on his nose hole. I laughed pretty dang hard. I asked Riley if he was going to hold the turtle again without asking, and he shook his head no.

"The Boy's first day of school work"

Kyson was so excited when he came home from school on his first day. He learned to write his name in cursive. Looks pretty good for his first day of school.

Riley on his first day of school was so excited to show me his work from the day. When i looked at it, I asked him why there were so many "E's" in his name, because he No's how to spell his name. He told me he missed up on the first too, so he just kept writing "E's" until he got a good one.

Kyson was so excited to show me his book me made me, "The Book Of Love".

I love his flower he made, such an artist.

I just love that boy.

"Kyson and Riley's first day of school"

Riley was so excited that Brian was going to ride the bus with him to school for his first day of kindergarten. I followed in the car so that i could get some good pictures. Brian rode the bus with Kyson on his first day also. They think it is the coolest thing. Brian said when he was on the bus, a little girl turned to him and said " what are you doing on the bus". Riley thought he was the coolest kid, he was the only one that had his dad on the bus. One of the other kid's dad saw Brian get on the bus with Riley, he turned to his wife and said I am now the worst father in the world thanks to Brian. Brian said, well he could have got on the bus to. The things Brian does for his kids.

Kyson is going to third grade this year. He is so excited, he got his first boy teacher this year,

Mr. Shirley. Kyson says he is so cool.

Riley holding up a zero for kindergarten. Aren't we so clever.

I cannot believe Riley is already old enough to go to kindergarten. But he is very ready for it, and has been counting the days.

I think he looks ready, how about you.

I have a feeling Riley is going to be the class stud. Brian said when Riley got on the school bus, all of the kids were so excited to see him. He sure is a hard kid not to love. I think it is his big blue eyes that light up every time he talks, and of course his smile. I no the teachers are just going to love him.

Riley looking just a little puzzled.

I am so glad the kids have fun at school, but are excited to come home. I told Kyson when he left for school to keep an eye on Riley, since Riley rides the same bus home. Well Kyson was the first one off the bus, and took of running. I was wondering where is Riley, thank goodness Britton kept an eye on him, they came off the bus holding hands.

I made the boys there own little banana breads when they got home. Riley was so excited he said "mom you made my favorite, I love you". Such a small thing for a lot of love.

Brinlee was so cute, she thought she was going to school with Riley. She had to do everything Riley did all morning. She asked for her school close, her new school shoes, and of course she had to have her backpack. My favorite was when she kept asking me what her teacher's name was.

When we took the boys to pick out there backpacks, Brinlee had to get one to, and she loves pink so guess what one she picked out.

"Our Family's New Pet "Mickey"

Riley's dream totally came true. He asks for a dog once a week.

We Promised Kyson years ago that when he turned 8 years old we would get a dog. Well Kyson turned 8 a few weeks ago. I was feeling guilty, and new that we needed to keep our word, so we surprised the kids with a dog. We told the kids that we had a surprise for them, and Brian brought home the dog. They were totally shocked and still are. They fight every night, who gets to sleep with him.

Kyson playing tee ball. He told me the other day that tee ball was to boring for him, he wants to play the real thing.

Kyson loves snack time, can't you tell.

We have been going like crazy this summer with tee ball, soccer, swimming lessons, birthdays and everything else. It is good it keeps the kids busy. Kyson learned in swimming lessons this year to dive into the water from the side of the pool, which is a lot of improvement. Riley learned that he is actually not going to die if he puts his foot in the water, that also is major improvement for him. By the end of swimming lessons they both were going off the diving board.

Kyson diving.

Riley having a blast not having to hold onto the teacher.

For some reason i cannot find the picture of Riley sitting on a time out on the side of the pool for not listing, surprise, surprise. But his teacher absolutely loved him. She told me how much she loved Riley, he would make her laugh all the time. Riley loves everyone, and i am so happy that they love him.

This summer we had so much fun with Kim and the kids. Here is Jackson, and Brinlee. Jackson wanted Brinlee to go play in the water outside with him. I had forgot her swimsuit, so Jackson's solution was to lend her his swimsuit, what can i say it did the job.

The many faces of my not so innocent Brinlee. She makes me smile every day.

Brinlee Love's to paint her Dora book.

So, So happy to be drinking her dad's Pepsi.

Such a poser. She also learned her dad.

For some reason, the ice cream always melts faster then she can eat it. When Brinlee eats ice cream it usually ends up in her hair. When dad eats ice cream it ends up on his facial hair.