Slightly Obsessed

This girl's stuffed animal collection is out of control! I can hardly find her face in the morning amongst all the bears, dogs, cats, and other assorted animals. When I take her out of her crib, she insists on grabbing at least 3-4 animals to bring along to the couch, and then I can barely hold her!

Crazy Hair Day

Miles was so excited to FINALLY get to do Crazy Hair Day like Claire has had the last two years. We didn't do any trial run, so this morning was a bit hectic. Luckily it was my day to work from home because it never would have come together in time for school.

Claire chose the pumpkin patch hair, and Miles was the lizard with googly eyes. I used regular water-based paint to color his hair, and I'm happy to report that it just washed out (after three shampoos). I was a bit worried about that. Both their hair actually lasted all day, though the googly eyes did bite the dust, as predicted. Oh well, I got the cute pictures before recess.

Ward Trunk or Treat

The Hiller Pirates - third place in the family costume category! Penelope refused to wear most of her costume until it came time for the trunk or treat - either wear the hat or no candy! She obliged.

PBTK Picnic

My office hosted a family picnic at Centennial Hills Park - we had a face painter, caricature artist, two bounce houses, kickball and bean bag games and of course, amazing food catered by my friend Rachel's company. We had a great turn out and the wind didn't get too bad, luckily. For some reason, as soon as the temps drop in Vegas, the wind kicks up. It's just not fair.

I was in charge of the picnic so I think I had two bites of food in between checking on everything, but I did manage to squeeze in a caricature session with Matt before too many people showed up. We had our ward trunk or treat later that night, so I suggested the kids get pirate themed faces so they would be all set for the party. Two of the three obliged - Penelope insisted on being a kitty, which later backfired on me when she refused to get into her pirate costume because she was still in kitty mode. Two year olds!

Kid Quotes - The Baby!

About a month or more ago, Penelope and I were sitting out front with a blanket while the kids rode bikes and Penelope just bent down and talked to my stomach and said- "hello baby! Mom, there a baby in there?" What the heck!? I was only 11 weeks pregnant at the time and we hadn't told the kids anything yet, and even if we had, I didn't think Penelope would pick up on it so well. She is a bit older than Claire and Miles were when we had their next sibling, but I just thought it was the cutest thing. Or maybe she and the baby are just already connected. :)

When we did tell the kids the news that they would have another sibling, I was very nervous about Claire's reaction especially. In the past she has told me that sometimes she wishes it was just her with mom and dad. On the other hand, Miles asks me all the time for a brother. But when we showed them our ultrasound pictures and said there was a baby in my stomach, she smiled SO big and kept saying, "I just can't believe it, I can't believe it! We are having another baby! I can't believe it!" It was such a real, happy smile that she made me get a little teary eyed. Miles was cool with it - almost like it was expected news. 

In Claire's prayer this morning, she said, "Bless mom and the baby to be healthy. And bless mom that after the baby is born she won't throw up all over the place anymore."

When Claire told her cousin Genevieve that we were having another baby, I heard her say, "ANOTHER one?! How many kids is she gonna have??" Spoken like an only child, Genevieve. We are done after this one, don't worry. :) 

I unlocked the front door and opened the van and then started gathering up my things while the kids loaded up in the car. A neighbor walked by and chatted with the kids, as she usually does. I overheard Miles say, "And it's the size of an avocado!" They are just telling everyone about the baby - I had just told them the baby was the size of an avocado (I love those emails from Baby Center with a fruit or veggie comparison each week). I'm just glad they are excited enough to share. 

Hliler Baby #4 - On HIS way!

After a miscarriage earlier this year, we have been kind of quiet about announcing this pregnancy, but we are now very excited to say we are expecting our fourth child on April 3, 2015. I am just over 16 weeks now and feel like we are in the clear. 

I think Matt prayed this baby here - I was nervous to get pregnant again, but he was convinced we had one more child waiting for us, and that it would be a boy. At 36, I needed some spiritual convincing that this was the right path for us. We are already out of the diaper stage thanks to Penelope practially potty-training herself, and the thought of leaving the diaper bag and stroller behind us was appealing to me. 

After just plain refusing to pray about it for a long time (then you can't get an answer, right?), the Spirit just got tired of waiting for me and he came to me. I know there is one more spirit waiting for us. I am still nervous, still scared, and still worried about so, so many things, but this adventure is underway! 

Thanks to my AMA - Advanced Maternal Age - I am yet again seeing a specialist in addition to my regular OB. But the benefits are I get a very detailed ultrasound at every visit, so even though I am only 16 weeks they could tell if we were having a boy or girl already. Matt and I went back and forth on finding out - we have only found out for Miles so I figured it was my turn. Matt didn't want to find out, so he negotiated the right to find out for the chance to pick our next car (Suburu Forrester). I say the jokes on him because we can't get a new car until my Camry dies, and that's never going to happen. Claire is going to drive that car someday, you watch.

Anyway, we found out we are having a BOY! I am very excited about this for many reasons - we have two and two now, and Miles will have a brother which I think it so important. I can also focus on just boy names, which I think are more difficult to choose than girl names since boy names become girl names so often lately. AND, I can start giving away my girl stuff and getting organized before I am as big as a house and don't want to even think about organizing.

The "Real" Pumpkin Patch

We went to the "appear overnight on the corner" pumpkin patch down the street and Claire and Miles were little daredevils - they both tried the bungee jump ride for the first time. I was super impressed at how brave they were! Claire wouldn't stop laughing but it was definitely a nervous/scared/happy laugh.

Claire bungee jump ride from Shannon Hiller on Vimeo.

Miles bungee jump from Shannon Hiller on Vimeo.

 

LA Clippers Game

Sometimes living in Vegas has its perks -  If you live here long enough, you get some pretty cool hookups. We got free tickets from Jonelle and Ken to the Clippers vs Nuggets pre-season game at Mandalay Bay. The Clippers are looking pretty good this year - we like Blake Griffin. Mostly for his funny Kia commercials :)

Spooky Sentences

We are watching our Halloween movies and making Halloween treats - we "Boo'd" a family in our ward with treats and a doorbell ditch. It was so fun to watch Claire and Miles book it from the door and run down the street to the van while we yelled "Go! Go! Faster!"

Claire worked on these spooky sentences, "just because."

One More Time!

We had to go at least one more time this October - this time we just took the hay ride around the orchard and had pear cider and apple doughnuts. 

Giant Game Night

Matt and I recently went to a game-themed Halloween party - our assigned game was Clue. We had to come in costume and bring a food item to go with our game. We went as Professor Plum and Mrs. Peacock, and since we were playing games outside we kept it kind of casual. We were both basically in costume from the waist up. Our food item was Colonel Mustard Pretzel Bites - I found soft pretzels at Costco that were delicious!

We played giant board games at the park - our party hosts worked so hard on all the games and made everything themselves. Giant Yatzee, Scrabble, Checkers, Frisbee Tic Tac Toe, Jenga, and Kerplunk.

The kids have confiscated Matt's professor glasses and at any given time, either Claire or Miles is wearing them.

Halloween Spirit!

Discovery Museum

Our friends' graciously got Penelope and I into the children's museum for free on their pass, and we had a great time exploring the new book exhibit. I love me some Laura Numeroff. The grounds outside the museum and the Smith Center are pretty fun to explore too.