Swim Lessons - A Vegas Rite of Passage

Claire and Miles started swim lessons today for the first time - and they are loving them! We are going to a really nice pool at the Silver Mesa community center and their cousin Genevieve is also in a class at the same time. Miles has ditched his noodle, aka his security blanket for swimming, and is doing so well! He just decided to try to swim without it last week and he hasn't looked back.


Miles is in the Clown Fish class and Claire is in the Sea Turtle class. I had to guess about the level they were in and I think they are in the right spot for now.

Hiller Happenings

Just a few fun things around here - I'm taking tennis lessons with my friend Janel and we are having so much fun! I have been wanting to try a new sport for a while, one that does not involve other people trying to hurt you. :) I think I had my eyes opened a bit while playing basketball for my office's corporate challenge team. I still love to play, and do play every week that we have enough girls, but the ladies in this competition were down right mean. And very physical. So far, tennis is good exercise and fun - but of course I want to be good, too. Me? Competitive??

Every time Matt wears this shirt, Penelope has to point out all the Star Wars characters that she knows. I figure it's as good a time as any to learn, especially since Star Wars is the movie that bridges the generations. And a new one coming out? I am not sure how the original cast of characters have held up...


I'm still feeling a little lost and lonely in our new ward, but I have my family and I guess I'm not there to make a new best friend... but this was my row in Relief Society (our meeting for the women) last week. I had to snap a picture. I promise, I wore deoderant that day.

I just don't have any buddies yet. And my regional media relations calling means I won't ever work with people in my ward on a regular basis. I think callings are a big way to meet people, since you are serving together and having meetings and activities all the time. Oh well... Matt will have to be my only friend there. :)

Claire saved up 15 bingo tickets for a date night - and she chose MeMa as her date. Well, she chose wisely because they got to go do a craft at Michaels, shopping at Kohls, lunch out and then swimming with strawberries and whipped cream poolside. Spoiled! She had a great time! Miles also chose to save his tickets and earned a new toy. I am proud of them for saving the tickets and not using them up as soon as they get them. Good lessons on saving and working hard. 

And suddenly this little girl is HUGE and I don't like it. She is practically begging me to be potty trained but I am resisting. Maybe it will go better with her... I just absolutely loathe this stage. Everywhere you go, before, after and during - you are thinking about taking them to the bathroom and avoiding an accident. Good thing she's cute...

Miles Quotes

"Claire, did you know I've been to heaven before... Heaven is a long drive!"

The kids were painting and I told Miles to not get the paint on his skin because it was really tough to wash out. In a panic, Miles said, "Will it come out after you die?" I said, "Yes, I guess it will." He ran his hand over his forehead and said, "Phew!"

On the Fourth of July, Miles was with MeMa for the day and they spent most of it outside. He said, "It's soaking hot out here!" It was a very sweaty 4th!

I have tried to get the kids to clean their rooms every few days and participate in chores on their Bingo cards. I was asking them to pick up their clothes and Miles said, "Mom, cleaning isn't my favorite thing." I said - well, cleaning is nobody's favorite, buddy. He said, "Well then, I wish I had a butler then! To clean everything for me!" Me too...

Mt. Charleston Picnic

We went up to Mt. Charleston - actually Kyle Canyon - for a picnic on Sunday afternoon after church. It is about 25 degrees cooler up there, but definitely still warm in the sun. Hot enough for the boys to get sweaty gathering firewood for our s'mores fire. It was a nice change of pace and the kids had a great time. Somehow, food always tastes better when you eat it outside doesn't it?

 

Photo Catch Up

Summer is flying by - the middle of July already? Unacceptable! I love having more time with the kids and less scheduling to worry about - we don't have any summer camps or sports leagues this summer so far. It's just too dang hot. I did sign up Claire and Miles for swim lessons in a few weeks - their cousin Genevieve goes also, so we are joining her for one session. Here are a few recent pictures to catch up a bit.

Sister Love - and my attempt at summer hair-dos

On the Sidelines at the Splash Park

My Witty Banter on Financial Fridays Radio Show (my job is so random...)

Piggy Back Rides From Cousin Noah  - Penelope Was in Heaven!

Summer Forts = Childhood! They Have Slept in it for Four Nights

Great Dane Parking Lot - and No Fear From This Kiddo

The OTHER Side of Town

We got to go to the "Other Side" of town this week to visit our friends the Bunkers and Andersons at a new splash park. Despite some pouring rain as we drove down south, it cleared up enough to brave the park. Vegas summer storms are so weird - it will be a downpour in one spot, and one block over completely dry.

Jami's Wedding - LA Temple

My college roommate Jami Bristow was married in the LA temple this weekend - and Ali and I were able to go with our hubbies. Hard to believe it's been almost 16 years since we were first roommates!

Matt and I felt a bit guilty leaving the kids with MeMa for the Fourth of July, but with a July 5th wedding in LA at 9 am, we had to drive down the night before. It was a nice getaway and we saw plenty of fireworks from our hotel room. But it's not the same without kids and sparklers and cheezy fireworks in the street - kids just make the holidays more fun!

Headed to the Boulder City 4th of July Parade with MeMa

Going down the day before meant Matt and I had a bit of time to explore - we drove by the ocean but the beaches were so crowded with people waiting for fireworks off of a barge in the ocean. It would have been cool but not worth staking out our spot on the beach hours before. So, we ate dinner, went to Sprinkles and stopped by the LA Temple. :)

Jami and Shayne were very happy - it was so great to hear her giggle. Her laugh is the best! We also got to see Stephanie, who drove over to meet us at the temple. I was so glad she could come see us! Steph took us to the best restaurant in Santa Monica for lunch called True Food Kitchen.  We joked with her that we were up for anything, so long as they didn't have organic quinoa burgers... and despite actually having them on the menu, we really liked the food! 

Friends for 30 Years! 

Just Missing Jamie Ortwein - Apartment 52! 

Ali and I Both in Black and White - We Didn't Want to Be Mistaken for Wannabe Bridesmaids...

Jami Looked Beautiful and So Happy! 

Cedar City Blitz Trip

We took a quick 20-hour trip up to Cedar City and back on a weekday - I had had a hard week and just needed to get away and have some sister time. This was our first time visiting Becky and Danny's new place in Cedar City and it was really nice! I like Cedar - it reminds me of Placerville a bit, but with some nice extras like the University and the Shakespeare Festival. We had a great time, even though the weather wasn't cooperating. The kids were crazy enough to go swimming in the lake with the wind blowing like crazy all around us. They would have kept playing but the adults didn't want to stay... Penelope wasn't a fan either.

 
 We also played at the park with a little river down near the canyon road, and saw the movie Rio 2 in the dollar theatre - and then ate Cafe Rio to stay with the river/rio theme. :)