Classic Hilton's

I've been doing a LOT of thinking lately about the whole "Christmas Conundrum" (see  http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/29/the-christmas-conundrum#.TuAUiasP0vB.facebook  for a fantastic article about it!) I started thinking through some of our traditions and why we do the things we do, and I think I discovered something pretty incredible. Our traditions are worshipful!  Of course there are the thing that look as worshipful as they are: Advent, church service, the early morning reading of the Christmas story, etc. But even the things that are not "religious" play a very important part of making the whole celebration special.  For example, decorations.  The whole house is transformed in preparation for Christmas.  Sort of a tangible expression of our hearts being transformed by Jesus.  Plus, they give the house, the yard, the parking lot, wherever, a true sense of magic and wonder. And isn't that a big part of Christmas? That night was so magical ...

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What a yucky way to spend the holiday!  Mom was hit first, early Thanksgiving morning, followed quickly by Brooklyn and Grayson. I fell later that evening following what should have been a delicious slice of apple pie. Ray succumbed to the illness early Saturday morning. And finally, on this gray Sunday morn, our last brave, healthy warrior...the caregiver...the fetcher of drinks...the watcher of wide awake kids...Dad...fell victim to the bug.  Thankfully by now Mom and I are feeling marginally better and we are slowly starting to put life back together. It really is wonderful that even though we all got sick, someone was always well enough to take care of the kids and the others. Small blessings.  Again, what a yucky way to spend the holiday! 

Mom and I worked hard this week putting together a meticulous plan. We planned the meal, did our shopping, and organized the day to account for all the preparations and family activities.  This morning dawned gray and chilly, and our carefully crafted plans were quickly flushed down the toilet.  Literally . First Brooklyn threw up. Then Mom came downstairs with tales of how she threw up all night and wasn't feeling good. Then Grayson thew up. And I don't mean a little spit up, I mean projectile-lost-his-whole-breakfast-throw-up! Needless to say, we changed our plans. Being extremely nauseated myself due to first trimester pregnancy, my part of the plan was supposed to be pretty minimal.  But knowing that this is Ray's only real day off for awhile, I pulled it together and started cooking! First I evaluated our menu and selected a few, simplified dishes that I knew everyone (everyone being Ray, Dad, and me) would enjoy. I got the turkey prepped and in the the oven (w...

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! We are having another baby!! Let's see... sporadic cramping and back pain...check! rampant emotions ranging from anger to joy to flat out weepiness at a moments notice...check! Fatigue...check! mild nausea lasting all day regardless of what I eat or don't eat...check! missed... ...check! plus sign on the home pregnancy test...check, check!

Aren't raspberries just the sweetest little fruits? So tiny and delicate, but the certainly come with their own brand of sassy!  But I digress... Grayson you are 8 months old! While you do not yet crawl forward, you sure know how to get around! It's so much fun watching you move. Most recently you have started getting yourself from laying down to sitting up and it's made bed time much more entertaining! I watch you on the monitor, rolling and sitting, and playing in your crib, and then before I know it you are fast asleep!  About a month ago we started struggling with breastfeeding. I worried that you were not getting enough and you were consistently waking up 2 or 3 times per night, very hungry. I gave in and started supplementing with formula. And then the day came when you rejected me completely! It's been a smooth transition to the bottle/solids full time and I am happy to report that you are sleeping much better at night!  In our eight months together I ha...

Blueberries are a delightful little fruit. So very small, but they really pack a punch of flavor! You can add a blueberry to just about anything and it makes it better.  Pancakes...muffins...ice cream...yogurt...smoothie... They are good fresh, frozen, dried, canned, and I'm sure just about any other way you can cook them! At this moment, I adore blueberries and I am thankful for the extra little sweetness they bring to my life. 

One of the more magical moments of our Halloween is the transformation of pumpkin to masterpiece. Our "artist in residence", aka Daddy, is as skilled with a knife as he is with a script!  The Master and the Apprentice Brooklyn models a potential silly face. This year our pumpkin face was inspired by the recent "tooth-capades" of our children.  For Brooklyn, two missing front teeth. For Grayson, a tiny tooth making it's first  appearance . This side is dedicated to Grayson's tooth. This side is dedicated to Brooklyn's missing teeth. Is that not the greatest representation of our family in this moment? Love it!! I look forward to seeing how this tradition will grow in our family. 

Traditions are the tent-poles of a family's identity.  One of my favorite fall traditions is our trip to Berry Patch Farm for pumpkin picking! Berry Patch Farms This was Grayson's first visit to the Patch, but Brooklyn is an old Pro! Mommy sang "Old McDonald"... ...to Grayson's delight! Enjoying some time with Farmer Nana. Sassy Lil' Miss! Hay Ride! Selecting the perfect pumpkin. Found it! Yum, pumpkin! Aw man!! Monarch, of all I survey! Pumpkins...nam nam nam nam nam!! This is more like it! And that's why we go to the pumpkin patch!   

While I wait for my pumpkin patch pictures to upload, I need to say some things about a stupid letter and policy that was recently brought to my attention.  I knew when we took a 10 day vacation in the middle of September, that there would be consequences . Ten absences without a medical note is sure to raise eyebrows. But Mrs. Pope was so great about it. She gave Brooklyn some work to do so she wouldn't fall behind and was very supportive of all the wonderful educational benefits of such an exciting experience. Anyway, parents received a policy reminder during conference week, about the same time I received a standard letter from the principal informing me that a social worker may need to get involved to help us improve Brooklyn's attendance. But what really got my goat was the page on the back of the policy with Attendance Tips for Parents, particularly this one: As a rule of thumb, children should only be absent in cases of illness or emergency. Absences due to shopping ...

It was a big night in the Hilton household. One of those delightfully ordinary days, filled with little more than chores and play.  In honor of the great book I was reading,  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet  ( See my recommendation here! ), I cooked a tasty dish of chicken stir fry and noodles, which was enjoyed by the whole family. Even Nana and Bob-Bob joined in on the fun, which was an extra special treat for me. The bath and bedtime routine was seamless, and just as we were settling down for the night, Brooklyn came running into Grayson's room with the tiniest tooth in her hand and the biggest hole in her mouth!  I cannot believe how small that tooth is! Such an itty bitty thing to symbolize the huge transition she is making from little girl to young lady.  It got me thinking... This year has been (and I'm sure will continue to be) challenging. Warning to my parent friends: It's only gettin' harder!! But it's also been awesome as Broo...

I'm so overwhelmed! Brooklyn deals with it by playing with whatever she wants and leaving it on the floor...in whatever room in the house she happens to be in. I've been stewing over this for several days now, and I think I've come up with a plan to deal. Now obviously there is nothing new in this plan. It's all about taking what others say and customizing it to work for you. Here is what I'm thinking: Brooklyn's toys can be divided into the following categories: Little people/barbie, dress up, home living "baby", home living "kitchen", puzzles/games, and art/school.  So this weekend, Brooklyn and I are going to sort her toys into those categories. We will then sort each category into "favorites" "donate" and "storage". The donated items will be donated to needy children or the trash (depending on the condition of the toy), favorites will be put away in her room and playroom (which are already semi organized ...

  October 5, 2011 Grayson James Delano is seven months old and could not be cuter if he tried! No big changes from last months report, except that everything is just a little bit better. Steadier when he sits, neater when he eats (but only a little bit!), and just a tiny bit more intention to his movement. He's starting to scoot backwards and sideways and roll with more purpose.  He loves playing the "Hilton variation" of peekaboo, which consists of us closing our eyes and saying "nightime" then opening them and saying "daytime!". He's rediscovered the pacifier and now enjoys that AND his special blue blankie at nap time.  All in all I feel like we've gotten in to a good routine. I love this stage of development and watching his personality emerge!  Wait! I've got this!

This guy again? Dear Grayson, At six (nearly 7!) months old, you are a delight! You are right in the center of the golden moments of baby hood, where you recognize people and things and you respond to us, but you can't move around too much, so destruction is still pretty minimum.  I love watching your wheels turn as you practice picking things up, holding them, and putting them down. You have figured out that moving those things attached to your body (your arms and legs) accomplishes different things and you are now in the process of putting together all those pieces. You are on the cusp of crawling and moments away from your first tooth, I'm sure of it! You've been eating solid (and I use the term "solid" loosely - pun intended!)  food for about a month and half and you are a true foodie in the making. I cannot believe how intense you are! Eating is a full on contact sport for you and I'm pretty sure your motto is "let no surface go uncovered b...

A doodle...inspired by Brooklyn My bed time routine is important each night. It can't be too dark and it can't be too light. It can't be too busy, too quiet, or loud. I can't be alone but there can't be a crowd. I need my good pillow, my blankie, and bear. My teeth must be brushed and no bows in my hair! We must sing a song and we must say a prayer.  A kiss and a hug from each parent is fair. Yes my bed time routine is important, that's right. The very best way of just saying good night. 

Bed time is not my favorite these days.  Bed time right now means tears, attitude, yelling...in general, a headache.  Last night, after an especially heaping dose of defiance from a certain little girl, I sat her down and very calmly said,  "Brooklyn, you are five years old. You do not get to decide when you are ready for bed. That is what Mommy and Daddy are for. Trust me. Life will go much smoother if you trust me." In worship today I realized that God was saying the same thing to me.  "Jaime, you are my child. You do not need to decide what you are ready for. You see this little bit of the picture, but I know the whole story. Trust me. Life will be more abundant if you learn to trust me." I spent a lot of time today thinking and talking about the anxiety in my life, but the truth is that I am in a very good place right now.  We have been taken care of. When I look back over the last few months, I can't even begin to tell you how it has all worked out. I ...

Our last night in the cabin, we gave Brooklyn the camera and set her loose. Some of them are actually good!  Gigi, are you ready for your close up? A bear lamp. I would use this to decorate my cabin. If I had a cabin. At a lake. Daddy getting some work done. The porch - a sweet haven, surrounded by beauty! Brooklyn. A self portrait. Bob Bob. 'Nuff said. Bob Bob's bad influence. Little cabin in the woods... The Grayson Dinner series...  She really captured him ;0) Brooklyn the Beauty...  I really like this one. If I had photo software, I would blur the background. Hi Nana! Okay, truth: I really like the way my legs look in this picture. and my nails. There, I said it.