First Day of School 2011

The craziness that is getting the kids back in school has begun.  Monday was the first day of School.

First I got Emma out the door for her first day of second grade.  She was very excited.  I was glad that I was able to leave the boys at home with Scott while I took her to school.

Then when I got home I got Alan boy ready for the kindergarten open house.  

Of course the other boys had to get in on the pictures.

This year they had the kindergartners just come in for and open house on Monday.  Then they came in one day during the week for evaluations.  Alan's teacher used the words "very advanced" when she was telling me about how he did in math.

At the open house they did a really cute little scavenger hunt.  Bryce LOVED every bit of it.  I think he thought he was going to get to go to kindergarten too.

The last stop was checking out the kindergarten playground.

I spent the rest of the day watching the clock and hoping I didn't get a phone call from the school.

When we got there at the end of the day Emma was all smiles.

I can't believe the kids are getting so big.  This year Emma will be in second grade, Alan will be in kindergarten, and Logan will be in preschool 3 days a week.  Meaning I be home alone with Brycey 7 hours a week!!!!  Crazy!!!

The Most Awesome Trip We Have Taken post 1

About a week before Christmas we got a call from Scott's FAVORITE uncle :), Guy, asking if we wanted to go to Disneyland with them. We had yet to take the kids to Disneyland and were hoping to finally get to in 2011 so we were super excited to be able to go with them.

Monday January 3rd, after a very long and late night packing up the van, we got up at 4am-ish and loaded half asleep children in to the van. All except baby Brycey. Scott's parents were nice enough to have him spend the week with them. The poor baby was spoiled rotten and I missed him like crazy. That said it was SO NICE not to have him there and I think he would have been miserable having to spend long days in the stroller while everyone else had fun. Plus, he had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa.

In all, it took just over 12 hours to get from our home to the hotel in Anaheim. During that time, we stopped off at Sue and Justin's to pick up Guy, Kristin, and Adam. We experienced temperatures of -5 all the way up to over 50 degrees. We got a little In-N-Out Burger in Vegas and made several bathroom stops.

The original plan was to get to Anaheim and the go to Disneyland bright and early the next morning, BUT when we got there we realized it was the last night for all the Christmas stuff in Disneyland. SO we just bundled up the kids and went straight to Disneyland after 12 hours in the car. IT WAS AWESOME.

The kids excitedly riding the shuttle to Disneyland after a full day in the van.

I think there is something magical about Disneyland, especially the first time and lit up with Christmas.

We started out with Alice in Wonderland then the tea cups.

After a few "little kid" rides we tried out the Matterhorn. Last time I was at Disneyland (I was 17) the Matterhorn was the ride that freaked my sister Aimee (13 at the time) out so bad that she would not ride any of the big rides for the rest of the trip.

So I was a little nervous to take my 3 year old on it in the dark. The very nice Disney worker gave Logan her flashlight so he could light the way for us through the dark tunnels. Logan was freaked out a little, but we made it up to him with It's a Small World. It was really important to me that the kids at least try each ride once. I knew they would be fine and I didn't want them missing out on anything fun because they were scared.

Check out Alan's face.

Small World was the favorite for all the kids. It was still all Christmasy and it was so fun to see their little faces SO excited and happy. It was also really nice to be able to sit next to my little Logan and share that happy moment with him.

After that we made our way to Downtown Disney. The kids were so hungry and tired, but still so cute and excited. After some super yummy Cafe Rio-esque burritos and soft pretzels they were at least not hungry anymore.

And of course we had to stop off at the Lego store before heading back you our hotel.

By the time we got back it was LATE and the kids quickly PASSED OUT.

Our Other Family Get-a-way

was a little overnight trip to Wolf Creek in the Uintas for the Hilton Family Reunion.

First we went to do a little target practice/ gun safety lesson. No worries, that is just an airsoft gun the kids are practicing with. There were a couple 12 gauge shotguns that the bigger people shot clay pigeons with. Scott made me shoot one, but I only did it once because apparently I am a no fun mom now and it was loud and kinda hurt.

We spent the rest of the evening sitting around the campfire hanging out and broke into teams to play a few games. My team kicked everyone's trash. :) After games, the kids were so ready for bed, but first we had to roast some marshmallows. It got pretty cold that night (in the 40s) but I had the kids pretty well bundled, so they all slept pretty well.

That morning after a yummy breakfast.

Logan got back to playing with Tom.

Then on the way home we stopped by to see Heart Lake.

It was so pretty up there and I am sure it will be a great memory for the kids.

The Story of Bryce

Bryce Christian Hilton
December 29, 2009
8 lbs 14 oz - 21.5 inches

After what seemed like a whole year of pregnancy I was very ready to not be pregnant anymore. Other that being big, uncomfortable, nightly reflux, Bryce being on my cyatic, and the pain in my hips keeping me up at night everything with the pregnancy was great. I had hopes of Bryce joining us before Christmas, but I knew they were only hopes since none of my babies have ever come early.
Ultrasounds had Bryce measuring about two weeks big, but at least my doctor was willing induce me a week early to keep me from having a 9 pound baby. So on December 29th Scott's mom came down to be with the kids and Scott and I headed up to McKay Dee Hospital for my scheduled induction.
I was amazed at how nice and smoothly everything went. For those of you who don't know labor and delivery is my favorite part of pregnancy... really. We got to the hospital just after 10am and they got me started on the IVs and stuff like that. Once we had everything going, we put on a DVD we had rented on the way to the hospital, Up. Once the movie was over we decided to have the anesthesiologist give me the epidural. I wasn't really in any pain yet, but I was having pretty good regular contractions and if I figured that if I was going to get one I might as well get it before I was in a lot of pain. I think it was the best epidural I have ever had. It went right in and was just the right amount the whole time (I could feel everything, but it didn't hurt). Just before 2pm my Dr. Spencer came to break my water and I told him I thought I would be ready to deliver at about 3:30 or 4. At that point I was feeling a little sleepy so I made Scott go get food while I took a nap. (Is this the most boring labor and delivery story ever or it is just me) At about 3:20 Scott was back and I told him that I thought it felt like it was time, but I knew my nurse was busy helping the girl in the room next door, who based on what we had over heard was not having an easy time. So we waited a few minutes for a nurse to come check in on me. when a nurse came I told her I thought I was ready so she checked me and surprise surprise I was "complete." So they called Dr. Spencer and told me not to push.
We had to wait about 35 mins for the doc because there was a snow storm and bad traffic. By the time he got there everything was ready and waiting. It took 3 pushes and possibly 2 minutes and he was out. The official time was 3:59.
At Mckay Dee they had two options for what they do after your baby is born. The first option is the more "traditional" way where the doctor starts cleaning the baby up, Dad cuts the cord, then the take him over to the warmer to clean him up a little more and weight him and stuff before handing him off to Dad. The other option is called "skin to skin." That is where as soon as the baby is born they pull down the top of the mother's gown and lay him directly on her bare chest all fresh and slimy. I am going to let that sink in for a moment..... Now guess what I chose to do?? That's right I chose the traditional method.
So after Scott cut the cord they cleaned and measured Bryce and then wrapped him up. I don't remember why, he actually got to be passed off to me for a moment. It is always such a neat experience meeting these new little people.
A little bit later Scott went with Bryce to the nursery and they took me to my postpartum room. I was very impressed at how efficient they were even though they were busy that day.
Bryce and I spent the next 2 days there. Because Bryce was 8 lbs 14 oz a week early he was labeled LGA (Large Gestational Age) so they had to monitor his blood sugar levels and he was also most likely to be jaundice. I guess just because a baby is big that doesn't mean he is healthy. Due to the snow storms and all the rules about visitors we had very few visitors while we were in the hospital, but Bryce's Grandpa and Grandma Hilton made it up to see him. I think Grandpa was a little extra excited to see Bryce since they now share a birthday. There were no kids allowed so the kids had to wait 2 whole days to meet their new brother. It just about killed Emma to wait that long.
The day we went home Bryce's billrubin levels went into the dangerous levels, so we had to have a light blanket on him as much a possible and we have had to go back to the hospital every day to have his numbers checked. On Monday his level were low enough that we can take him off the light blanket. It is so nice to have him be a little more portable.

So far it has been SO GOOD having this new sweet little boy in our house. All the kids (and everyone else he meets) are totally in love with him. Logan has really taken to his new role of "big bro," which he says regularly while pointing to his chest. Alan caring and gentle with him and Emma just has too hold several times a day. Bryce himself fits right in, so far he has done very well sleeping through all the noise of our crazy house and is very patient and laid back with all the love and attention. We could not have asked for a sweeter baby.Already to go home

Christmas

I have been meaning to do the "Christmas Post" for a while, but we mostly took video and I haven't felt much like editing video and time is passing quickly so I thought I better do it before it is just too late.
Christmas was so nice this year, even though Bryce decided not to join us for it. Christmas eve was spent at the annual Hilton family Christmas Eve party. It is always so nice to see everyone and spend time with so much family and on the way home we drove around a little looking at Christmas lights.
We must have really worn out the kids because they all slept in until about 8am. The kids were all so cute and excited to see what Santa had brought and were so sweet and waited their turn as Daddy passed out presents. I am bummed that I forgot to make them take a picture in front of the tree before we opened presents, but oh well.
I think the biggest hit of the day was Alan's "red spike," followed closely by Scott getting Wii Punch Out. The kids had a love/terrified relationship with Spike at first but in no time they all warmed up to him.
After presents Daddy and the kids played a little Hungry Hungry Hippos while Mommy got breakfast ready. Then we played in the basement with the new bikes/scooter and Logan's base ball set. Later Mom, Dad, Eric, Jake and Kevin came over and to the kid's delight they came baring gifts.
That night we went up to Mom and Dad's for a yummy dinner. Overall it was just a very nice, easy going day filled with happy kids and family. It was a very Merry Christmas.

Logan quickly got the hang of his new baseball set. Uncle Kevin took at turn on it and hit Grandma in the leg with a ball. Uncle Kevin needs a little more practice and to take a few lessons from Logan.
Out of everything I think Emma's favorite gift was the Hello Kitty lip gloss watch in her stocking.

New Arrival: Bryce Christian Hilton

For those that haven't heard, Bryce Christian Hilton was born at 3:59 P.M. today. He was 8 lbs 14 oz and 21.5 in. Everything went incredibly smoothly and Laura and Bryce are both doing great! Here's some pictures, in chronological order, from today.

Doesn't Laura look good? You'd never know she was 9 months pregnant.

Here's Dr. Spencer with Bryce right after delivery. The nurse was kind enough to take pictures for us, so I (Scott) could help Laura. Bryce was a little messy.

Here I am cutting the cord.

Birth was a bit of a shock, apparently.

Here he is getting weighed.

Laura got to hold him once I was done.

What a cuddly little guy.

Daddy kissing Bryce. We have this pose with all 4 of our kids!

Look at those big eyes. His heartbeat was good too.

They say that babies can't really see at first, but he was looking right at me.

Cute little baby feet.

He didn't like getting cleaned up very much.

He didn't really mind the shampooing.

Drying off under the heat lamp.

That's almost a smile.

Oh, he loves me already.

Here's our new arrival, all bundled up.

I have a few videos too, I'll try to get them posted later. Thanks for all of the help and well-wishes. Also, a big thanks to Dad for sharing his birthday with Bryce! Happy Birthday Grandpa (and Bryce)!