best christmas present!

"zo-ings"

These are my sewings, or "zo-ings" as Ellie calls them, from this summer. The humid heat kept us inside lots of afternoons waiting for the building to cast a shadow over the pool so we could bear to go swimming. So...some crafting kept us busy.


1-This dress was a sundress I got for me at Target for like $5 I think. It was a little small and I never wore it so I took some fabric out of the middle and added runching to the bodice so it would be tight enough for Ellie's little body. She LOVES this dress and still wears it all the time. 2-I want to make a ton of these little jumpsuits in different stripes. I think they are so cute. The picture cuts off the bottom a little but they are just shorts, and please notice the little purple silk tag at the side! I added some ties to the top later as it was slipping down all the time - ooopsy!


1-A little elephant that matched their room perfectly! And "Our family" by Ellie. 2-The kids drew all kinds of things on muslin and then cut around them and I sewed them into little pillows. We had an entire fleet of dragons, too.


Rachel figured out how to make these necklaces, well that and just about everything else I made. You basically make a long tube of fabric and fill them with marbles, tying a knot between each one. We had Jared's kids over one night and they all made some.


My favorite, and most difficult project was making a backpack for Ellie. Ellie picked out the fabric and it was love at first sight. She wanted the hearts so that "I will remember you love me when I am at school". I will die if she ever looses it.


I made Cody a backpack too before Ellie's as a practice backpack. Haha. He loves it too. I've since added two yellow race car patches to it. And the shirt I made a long time ago but thought I'd throw in a picture.

fall 2010 banner

lake powell take 2

I believe it was sometime around the second week in October we ventured down to Lake Powell again, this time with our kids, a tent, sleeping bags, and a camp stove. The Wards came with us and they invited their friends the Russells - who we loved. Mostly I loved sneaking little bites of their baby's cheeks when the parents weren't looking. Between us there were six kids and a baby and they all played in the sand from dawn to dusk. The weather was perfect and the food even better. I was surprised at how relaxing a camping trip could be. I guess it helped that Justin agreed to pack everything, plan our share of food, and clean up afterwards all by himself. I just didn't have it in me what with school and a little nugget growing in my tummy!

summer 2010 banner

ryan hill

One of Justin's best friends passed away last Friday in a motorcycle accident. Tonight was the viewing and my heart just aches for his sweet wife and four young children. Ryan didn't have an enemy in the world and he and his family had been like a second family for Justin as a teenager. Justin was able to hang out with Ry a lot in the last couple months and he is really grateful for those memories.


Jeffrey Ryan Hill
"Ryan"
1977 ~ 2010
Our beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandson, and friend, Ryan Hill, passed away on November 5, 2010, doing what he loved - riding his dirt bike in the desert west of Nephi. His death was the result of a tragic accident on a beautiful autumn day.
Ryan, age 32, was born in Provo, Utah, on November 17, 1977, the oldest child of Jeffrey William and Sherrie Lynn Chynoweth Hill. Growing up in Orem, he graduated from Mountain View High School in 1996. He faithfully served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New York, New York, North Mission. (1997-1999) Shortly after his mission, Ryan met the love of his life, Mandalie Anne Grow. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 29, 2000. Together they created their masterpieces - McKay Ryan (8), Ellie Mandalie (6) Clara Anne (3), and Hazel Jane (4 months).
Ryan attended Utah Valley University, where he was very involved with student leadership in the Student Alumni Association and UV Leader Program. He graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.
Upon graduation, Ryan was recruited by Toll Brothers Construction a national home building company, which given his background was a natural fit. With Toll Brothers, Ryan and Mandy worked and lived in Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, and finally Reno, Nevada. Reno felt very much like home where they made wonderful friends and expanded their family. While in Reno, Ryan's adventurous spirit propelled them into the restaurant business as they opened a new Bajios restaurant. Ryan worked tenaciously to make the restaurant a success. After two years, the restaurant was sold and Ryan and Mandy decided to bring their beautiful family back to Utah. Once back home, the opportunity came for Ryan to work again with his father, which he did until the time of his death.
Ryan's proudest accomplishment was marrying his eternal companion, Mandy, and having the opportunity of being "Dad" to his four amazing children. He was an extraordinary husband and father who loved spending time with family and helping them experience the joys of life.
Besides loving, caring, and playing with family, Ryan's passion was the great outdoors. He loved dirt biking, skiing, wake boarding, cycling and anything that made his heart pound and his adrenaline rush. His dare-devil antics typically scared the life out of those who were trying to keep up with him. Ryan was always first to try everything.
Ryan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He willingly accepted any call he was given. He had a wonderful way of relating to young people that made him a loved leader in the Young Men and Scouting Programs. His ability to share his unwavering testimony of the Gospel blessed the hearts of all who heard it.
Ryan lived life to the fullest, packing more into his few years than most people experience in a lifetime. We're already missing his infectious laugh and contagious, beaming smile.
Ryan is survived by his beautiful wife, Mandy, his four children, his parents, and his siblings, Trevor (Holly) Hill, McKensie (Aaron) Bingham, Whitnie (Nick) Alexander, and Jackson Hill all of Utah Valley. He is also survived by his grandparents, Dick and Donna Hill and Reuben and Rose Chynoweth. All of his Grow relatives felt it such a privilege to be part of his family.

october

Fall is my favorite season. I actually rode my bike more this fall than in the past few years which surprised me as I thought I might be too pregnant-sick. Turns out that the only time I felt normal was when I was riding, and as soon as I got back home the nauseousness came back. I also got a new SL Specialized Enduro...which I was a little nervous about at first because it's a lot heavier than what I'm used to but I learned to love it, especially on technical stuff.


Riding in Midway with Emily.


Most of my rides were up around the "alter" in Provo Canyon. I'm not sure of the name of the trail.












Kara and I on the Zen Trail in St. George.

jaime's wedding

I've been waiting to post this until I could get my hands on the cd of photos but I think I better just get it done (and show the pics from the photographers blog). Justin's sister Jaime got married August 21. The day before was the backyard reception which was just beautiful. It wasn't over done, and every detail was well thought out and beautiful. Good job Jann! Jaime's dress and necklace were so neat and fit her style perfectly. Plus she (along with all my sister in laws) is so so pretty. She has an effortless and natural beauty. Oh, and I was also able to design the invites which were letter-pressed. So fun. Her hubby Scott is an awesome skateboarder and is such a good guy - we are excited to have him in the family.

lp and dd

September is filled with Justin trying to get his fill of fun for the year. It actually drives me nuts. He spent the first half of Sep. in Lake Powell on three different trips back to back. I came down for a few days for the family trip but mostly only managed to make myself sick for a week afterwards because of all the sugar I ate. Justin took the kids down early though and they had a blast without mom. And lets face it, I had a blast without them!

The next week I went up to check out the Dirty Dash in Midway. Our friends put it on and I planned on just letting Ellie and Cody run the kids race, which they did. But then my friend Angie texted me and asked if I'd be on her team. It was 6 miles of muddy fun, obstacles, swampland, and a huge slip and slide. Other friends were up there and watched the kids while I ran (Justin still in LP, mind you). This will for sure turn into a yearly tradition.

red rock relay

A couple weeks ago Justin and I ran the Red Rock Relay, a team race that lasts about 24 hours and covers 186 miles through Southern Utah. Our van consisted of us, Justin's friend Ryan, Justin's dad, my friend Alissa and her friend Angie. We started the race at Brianhead where the first runner rides the lift to the top and then starts.


Once everyone in our van finished running we would pass the baton to the next van. We would then have a 4-5 hour break. The other van had two of Justin's cousins, Jeff and Jess, and Brenen and Lindsey - and some of Jess' family. Our entire van was feeling very underprepared but I think everyone surprised themselves and did really well. We each ran three legs, one Friday morning, one in the middle of the night and one Saturday morning.


The race ended in Springdale, just outside of Zions. What a finish line eh? We hung out for a while waiting for the other van to finish the race and ate some grub from the Whiptail restaurant. Pictured is a spaghetti squash enchilada with goat cheese. I have craved this literally everyday since. I've got to figure out how to make it.

Our group minus Alissa who couldn't be found, and Lew, who we dropped off earlier in St. George so he could watch Calley play tennis. Can't wait til next year!

don't forget cody!

Cody started preschool three times a week (though he usually only makes it twice due to our poor commitment skills). I love to walk with him there and back so I can listen to him talk talk talk about the funniest things. He usually brings the dolly stroller on our walks and pushes it to school which is pretty funny. He also insists on taking the stroller to take Ellie to the bus stop and walk the neighbor girl home. So far I'm not sure he's learned a thing! But he seems to be having fun and it's been a good time to do homework while the kids are gone. In the first picture he's showing me the 3 on his shirt that means he is 3.