It's a Small World

Miles has a school performance recently where his 1st grade class sang and signed It's a Small World... try getting that song out of your head now! I had him sign and sing for me since I wasn't sure we'd get a good angle at the actual performance.


It's a small world from Shannon Hiller on Vimeo.

Kid Quotes

Betty told me that recently Penelope told her that she she loved Betty's white jacket. Penelope is very in to giving compliments lately and it's pretty fun. But then she told Betty, "I like your jacket because it matches your hair!"

We were driving around the school and Penelope said, "Why does that sign say 'no P in your name??'" I think she was getting worried since her name has a couple P's, after all... It was a no parking sign.

As part of my healthy lean and green eating goals, I was attempting to make zucchini noodles -  Zoodles. I decided to make a half batch and I said out loud that no one else besides me would probably eat them anyway. Miles pipes in with "Well, maybe you and the tortoise." 😂

Penelope goes through phases where bedtime is just a rough process... Lately she says that there are "little guys" that she is afraid of at bedtime. I ask her what they are and she just shows me her finger and thumb pinched together to show me the size of the "little guys" that appear when the lights go out. So I decided to tell her a hapy bedtime story while lying with her on the floor by Miles's bed (where she likes to sleep when the little guys come out). The story was about a girl with super powers who could blow on the little guys and POOF! They vanish into a bit of smoke. I could tell she was liking the story and smiling about her super powers... but then Miles decided to add to the story. He said, "And THEN...her powers went away!!" I said, "Miles!!!!" And gave him a look like 'thanks a lot dude.' He paused and said,  "I just made it worse, didn't I?"

Penelope to me and Matt, "Because your the bosses I'm going to make you the king and queen."  Done and done!

At Kohls the other day, Penelope and I were looking at jewelry and she kept bringing me these super loud colorful necklaces. She told me her Baby Alive doll might like them instead... but I said I wanted something more simple. Next thing I know, she has brought me earrings with the label Simply Vera Wang.  This girl can read, I'm telling you! 

Soccer Family Once Again!

 These kids are loving their soccer teams! We took a year off, which was nice, but now we are back out on the field. They both scored goals this last game too! And Miles scored three goals, even though he played goalie half the game. This is the first league where they have been older in their age division - we usually ended up playing up in our old league, and I think it's a good confidence booster to be the big kids for once. 

Miles's team is called the Growlers and Claire's team is the Thunder Bolts.






And the Fan Club! Hanging out, so far the weather has been cooler - but I know the hot temps are right around the corner!

Oogway the Desert Tortoise

We have a new pet! He lives in the backyard, eats greens, and sleeps half the year. I finally found my perfect pet! We got him from a friend whose family raises them, but technically they are endangered here in Nevada.  Once they are lets they can't return to the wild through.  We are guessing he is 4-5 years old but they can live to be 100. I hope my grandkids like tortoises!

We named him Oogway after the kung fu master on Kung Fu Panda.  He is so cool to watch- he's like a little dinosaur or something. 

Oogway! from Shannon Hiller on Vimeo.

We built him a burrow and an enclosed area in the backyard but he has proven to be an escape artist and we have had to fortify the walls already.  

Onesie Photos

I just had to finish the set of monthly onesie stickers for Henry! But he did not get the memo! It is not easy getting a one year old to sit still and take the exact same photo in the exact same spot that he did as a newborn.

But we tried our best, and man is this kid cute! Everyone always comments first on his eyes!

The Killers Concert

We went to the opening night of the new T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a birthday gift for Matt that I had bought months ago. It was a show of all-local performers- complete with magic shows, cirque acts, Blue Man Group playing drums, Wayne Newton and the main performers, The Killers.

Another concert scheduled for later in the week was supposed to be opening night, but Brandon Flowers of the Killers said that's not right- locals should open the arena! And then the best concert idea was born!

Kid-free on a Wednesday night? We were living the dream! And we were sooo tired the next day when we had to still go to work... But it was worth it! 

The lead singer of Imagine Dragons, another local band also with an LDS lead singer, even stopped by for a song too.  

We will be back to see Garth Brooks in a few short months with Erick and Megan. Woot woot! 

Henry's Bday Party

Aunt Helen was in town for the party too! 

Henry was not a fan of the cake... he barely touched it, and didn't eat much at all. Glad I didn't splurge for that cake smashing photo shoot that is so popular right now. When you have your last baby, you don't want to miss out on something cute! 

Kid Quotes

The other day, Claire said in her typical dramatic style, "I would DIE if I didn't have a sister!"

I am just so tired of the mountain of laundry always waiting for me so I'm trying to teach the kids that just because you wear something once, or even just try it on, it's NOT always dirty. I told Miles to not put a pair of shorts in the laundry since he only wore them for a few hours. He said, "No they aren't clean, I had to wipe a lot of stuff off my shorts today - dirt, food, a booger..." You win kid.

Any time Henry says anything - rather babbles - the kids interpret what he said into a real word.  Miles was playing with Henry while he chattered away and Miles shouts out, "Mom! Henry just said BONJOUR!!" We are very cosmopolitan around here - my kids speak French too.

Penelope's latest catch phrase, often said out of the blue is, "I'm not a girl - I'm a WOMAN!" Watch out world!

Henry - One Year!

Happy Birthday Henry Lee!! One quick year of having this happy boy in our lives and I can't imagine him not being part of our family.

Henry is such a good baby - I love his sweet smile! It seriously lights up a room and lifts my spirits. Sometimes I can feel grouchy at the end of the work day but when I go to pick up the kids, he is so excited to see me - it's the BEST! (now to get the other kids to react like that when they see me...).

He consistently sleeps through the nights now, but naps can be hit or miss. I think that's partially just part of being the youngest kiddo - he is always on the go and gets dragged along to all of his siblings' activities. My strict nap schedule is out the window on a lot of our days and he just goes with the flow - I can wake him up early from a nap and he is all smiles. Seriously awesome...I hope I'm not jinxing myself here...

He is very cuddly and will often sit with me and just hang out - but as he gets more mobile that will change I'm sure. He rests his head on my shoulder and will hold perfectly still while I tickle the back of his neck. My other favorite thing is how he puts his little hand on the back of your neck when you pick him up, like a little baby monkey holding on to his mama. He loves to eat real food - baby food is so 9 months old! He wants whatever we are eating - some of his favorites are chicken, quesadillas, pancakes and string cheese.

Henry isn't walking yet like I thought he might by now, but he likes walking with someone holding his fingers and he loves his walker. He is super fast in it and lifts it up when he gets to the rug or something blocking his way. He is seriously strong and I am reminded of all the huge karate kicks he gave me while in the womb - he was fighting to get out of there!

 We love you Bubba - happy birthday! As an oldest child, I am now realizing how the youngest child can get spoiled :) He is just too cute!