Cute Jill Video from Alabama!

So, due to the snowfall, this video never made it on the blog.  But I wanted to go ahead and put it up because it is so adorable. 

It makes me think she really is a princess because she looks like she is waving to her people while she rides on her horse.  And she doesn't do the typical wave up and down, but turns her wrist so it looks even cuter!

Snow in Houston?!?

I know, you must be thinking this is a joke, but no jokes here!  It really did snow.  A lot! 

Okay, so not a lot, a lot, but enough to make snowballs, a small fort and make it really feel like winter!  It even stuck around for the whole day.  Then the sun came out and it started melting, but refroze overnight into ice as the temps dipped to the mid to low 20's. 

As usual, the city was paralyzed and schools got out early, Justin's office closed down for the day.  You know, the general, "We have never seen this before what do we do?????" panic.  We can handle hurricanes and torrential rainstorms, but not *SNOW*!  Okay, enough mocking... for now.

Here is our winter wonderland as the snow really starts coming down.

More shots.

Jill and I went to see what it was all about.  Apparently her.  (see shirt)

The boys with the neighborhood fort.  Yes, there was only enough for one group effort.  This was the day after when everything had slightly melted and it was really crunchy!

THANKSGIVING IN ALABAMA! Part 3

Here are Thanksgiving meal pics.  The family sat in the garage and feasted together. 

Also included are pics of the kids shooting BBs.  We saved all our cans and bottles and set them up for a shooting good time!  Later we brought out some pieces of cardboard for bigger targets.

And then, for the kids at least, the best part of the trip, the campfires.  We played games, sang songs, roasted marshmallows and told "ghost" stories.  What a fun time!

The Family Thanksgiving

Cousins Betty and Jimmy Blankenship, Chuck and Joann Reynolds, Harriet Harmon and Bill and Richey Queen.  Bill, Joann, Harriet and Jimmy are the last 4 remaining cousins in the Radford family line.  It was great for them to be able to get together again.

The big group picture.  The only ones missing are Julie and her family.

Uncle Aaron helps Josh line up a shot.  Josh actually eventually learned how to sight himself.  He is getting good.

Aaron helps Owen line up a shot.

Jake the marksman.  He is pretty darn good.

Me, Jill, Courtney and GranDeb at the fire.  Jill has learned how to smile at the camera!  How cute and cheesy!

The group getting ready for s'mores.

Kiki, the s'mores lady.

Scott Parten and Mary Carlton at the campfire.  MANY thanks to Scott who loaned us all his fishing gear, his 4 wheeler and his time the whole trip.  It wouldn't have been nearly as fun without him!

Michelle and Scott at the campfire.

Courtney and Anthony at the campfire.

Justin and Jill

Jake and Michelle

Josh and GranDeb

PawPaw and Owen

Tomorrow I am going to put some more random pics up.  Just cute ones for fun!

THANKSGIVING IN ALABAMA! Part 2

As promised, more pics from our trip to Alabama.  These include fishing and horseback riding.  We fished just about every day and I think every person who fished caught at least 1 of their own.  That was exciting, usually we catch none between all of us!  Yay for stocked ponds!

Jake the fisherman.  He was out as often as he could be there.  He caught the most of all of us on the trip!

Team Hyland, as they dubbed themselves.  Jake would catch and Josh would throw back (since Jake didn't want to touch the fish and Josh didn't like the boring part of waiting for a bite).

Here Valley takes Jake's first fish off the hook.  Many thanks to Valley who really got Jake going that first day.

Jake agreed to hold it for the picture, but I think this was the only one he touched.

Tony helps Josh show off Josh's first fish of the trip.

This pic was so cute I just had to include it! (thanks Courtney!)

The less enthusiastic fishermen entertain themselves by playing pirate. Actually Justin enjoyed fishing and removed my fish from the hook for me (I didn't like that either).  Here he was on dad duty so mom and the boys could fish.

Jill tries it but doesn't like it!  Don't worry, Aunt Judy, we used hand sanitizer afterwards.  And after the cows, too.

Not to brag or anything, but look who caught the big catch of the trip!!!!  Yay for my 5-ish pound bass!!!  We put him back.  On our next trip he will have made more for us to catch!

Auntie Kiki took Josh for a ride on John Wayne.  Sadly, I think this was my boys first time up on a real horse. 

Then she took Jake.

Then I took Jill.  She enjoyed every animal we saw in Alabama.  Minus the fish above.

Owen didn't quite enjoy it as much as the other kids.

The family on the 4 wheeler. 

Tomorrow, look for shooting,campfires, and other exciting updates!

THANKSGIVING IN ALABAMA!

Oh this was a great Thanksgiving this year!  The whole Moriarty Family traveled to Alabama to see my mom's side of the family and to spend 6 days basking in all that a small, quiet piece of the heart of the deep south has to offer.   There was shooting, fishing, 4-wheeling, tractor driving, horse riding, cow feeding and campfires with s'mores!  The boys didn't stop the whole time we were there!
Tim, Debbie, Courtney, Anthony, Meemaw and my whole family flew from Houston to Jackson, Mississippi.  We then rented cars and drove about 2 1/2 hours east to Demopolis, Alabama.  Kiki, Aaron and Owen drove from Austin because they are insane.Well, it technically was because they wanted to camp, but I still say they are insane.  Michelle and Scott flew down from NYC, via, Philly and LA to join us there (long story involving Scott helping out with Cole Hamels' pitching camp).

It was so great to see Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Betty and their daughters, Julie and Stephanie.  Jimmy is Meemaw's little brother, but his kids are my age, so we grew up together.

Jimmy loves his ranch and tending it and Betty is the best cook I have ever known!  I never leave there without bringing home at least 5 recipes.  This time I bought her church cookbook to bring home and still added some more in the margins!

Julie and her husband Valley Harrison have 2 daughters Molly Katherine (6) and Hillary (4).  Stephanie and her husband Scott Parten have 1 daughter, Mary Carlton (2).  It was so much fun to see them all (some for the first time) and others again!

So needless to say, many pictures were taken and they are all on several different cameras.  Reconciling all of them is going to be a major undertaking so, bear with me as I post stuff over the next several days.  I will try to go roughly in order.


DAY 1

We didn't waste any time the first day.  We wanted to play right away.  The gang goes out to feed the cows.

Jake helps Uncle Jimmy take some hay to the pasture for the cows.

Josh feeds a cow by hand.  Uncle Jimmy lamented that the cows will be spoiled when we leave since we did this every day for 5 days.

Jill wants in on the cow feeding action.  This was her favorite thing to do while we were there.  She LOVED the cows!

Then all the cousins came over for a visit and that was fun.  The little ones are Hillary and Molly Katherine, Julie's daughters. 

This is Jill greeting Mary Carlton, Stephanie's daughter (next to Mary C).  Mary Carlton just turned 2 so she and Jill were buds.

Julie with her daughter Hillary and Mary Carlton.

Josh's Thanksgiving Performance

Josh's Kindergarten Class had their Thanksgiving performance today.  This is my favorite part!  It is just a short clip of a much longer song, but it tells the story well.

I totally cried listening to those sweet little voices singing America The Beautiful.  For a moment all seemed right with the world...

A Day with Michelle

So don't tell, but the boys played hooky one day this week and we spent the day with Michelle!  I don't feel bad since she lives in California and we rarely see her.  And it was well worth it.  The boys had a great time and were so happy to hang out with her.

First we hung around the house waiting for Jill to wake up.  So the boys entertained Michelle with a rousing game of Ring Around the Rosy.  But c'mon, these are boys, we don't just play Ring Around the Rosy, there is a rough and tumble twist.  The boys won't "all fall down" and Michelle has to make them. 

Then when her royal highness awoke, we headed downtown for the Aquarium.  We loved seeing all the fish, but our favorites were the sharks, the rays and the eels.  Then we got to the Tiger Exhibit in time to see the tiger switch.  It was good because the tigers know something is happening so they are up and moving.

Group Pic.

Jake's favorite part, the touch tanks.  He dives right in.  Josh isn't so sure.

Jill wants in on the fun.

Josh finally gets brave.

Mom and Jill check out the fish view.

You have to take a pic with the tiger statue.

The tiger "fishing" in his pond.

Jill's First Birthday Party

Jill had a rockin' first birthday party this past weekend.  We had a few kids, lots of adults and too much fun!

The kids get ready to break open the pinata.  I was lame and made them do the pull-string kind.  I learned my lesson when after pulling all strings it didn't open!  So the kids beat it with their hands until the lid broke off and it fell to the floor!

What I like to affectionately call the "Candy Scramble."  It reminds me of the Calf Scramble at the Rodeo, only with no calves, or dirt, or ropes, or announcer.  So, it doesn't really remind me of it at all.  I just like the name!

Even Jill tries to corral her some grub!

Just too cute!

Jake's turn to help Jill open presents.  They are reading the card.

Next, Josh's turn to help.

Now, Owen's turn to help.

Jill doesn't want to push the stroller, she wants a ride!

Jill pushing Uncle Jim's gift, her own pink popper!

The Princess Cake

Jill, for the millisecond she wasn't trying to rip off her crown.

Jake blows out the candle while Jill eats a princess.

Cake Face!

Jill and Dad

Jill and Uncle Jim

Jill and Auntie Michelle.

Cute Video

I couldn't resist posting this cute video. 

Jill just started playing peek-a-boo by herself and it is SO cute.

Book Character Parade

At Rummel Creek this morning, the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes had a Book Character Parade.  Each kid chose his favorite book character and dressed up for a parade around the school.  It was super fun for the kids as all the other grades lined the parade route to watch and cheer.

Josh went as Scaredy Squirrel (if you have never heard of the books or read them, my family highly recommends them!!!).  The main problem was that, despite the fortunate timing, there were no squirrel costumes to be had this Halloween.  So, we made our own. 

The name tag and "air freshener" are part of the book, so read it!

Josh and the other "animals" in his class.

The whole class.  There were some Darth Vaders, a Batman, a Harry Potter, a Merlin (Josh's best bud and right next to him), a Wolf (from Peter and the Wolf - my fave- thanks Grammy!), and a few Fancy Nancys.  Very cute!

Happy Birthday Jill!

All I can say is, "Happy Birthday, My Little Princess!"

Jill is 1 Year Old today!

I could never have imagined the craziness of having 3 kids.  But I have also witnessed the wonderful and tender side of my 2 boys who love and adore their sister.  The sheer joy that Jill experiences when her brothers get home from school every day is a sight to behold.  And she is Daddy's little princess for sure!

Jill has simply been a marvelous addition to our home.  What a wonderful, blessed year we have had with her!

Halloween

It is that time again! 

The boys love Halloween and lots of thought goes into our costumes each year.  They have to be our most favorite thing in the whole world.  Plus, the candy!!!!  I mean, who doesn't love candy?!?

But like most other years, the boys have a blast running around the playground at the neighborhood party and then only want to trick or treat for about 1/2 an hour or so.  Then we come home and they delight in handing out candy to the kids that come to our door.  Not so many since the first half of the street keeps its lights out (I don't think old people like Halloween, I'm just sayin....).  But mommy likes it quiet!

Here are some pics of the fun...

The house is ready for action...

Mom and the kids carve the pumpkins.

Jills wants to see what all the fuss is about.

My favorite, the puking pumpkin!  Hey, you have to liven it up somehow!

Our normal pumpkins.  Jake carved the small ones with his Cub Scout pocket knife.

The whole gang is ready to go to the neighborhood party.  Jake is Master Chief from Halo, Josh is Toad from Mario Brothers, and Jill is Cinderella.  Minus the crown.

Jake looks darn good!

And now, as before, a visit to Halloweens gone by....

Josh as Boba Fett and Jake as a Clone Trooper, 2008.

Josh as a race car driver (Kyle Busch, shocker) and Jake as a Fire Ninja, 2007.

Jake as the Red Power Ranger, Josh as a garbage man.  Yes, you read that right.  Sigh...., 2006

Josh as Woody, Jake as Buzz Lightyear, 2005.

Jake as The Flash and Josh as Captain America, 2004. 

Obligatory Pumpkin Patch Pictures

So, I get it, good Moms take their kids to the pumpkin patch and take their pictures.  I really wanted to be a good mom this year but I ran out of time.

So, with 2 days until Halloween and virtually no pumpkins left at the patch, we ended up going on the rainiest, wettest day of the month.  After trying to pick through the mostly rotten pumpkins, I forced the kids into a picture.  I want to be able to tell Jill we did it for her, just like we did with big brothers.

Jill is more interested in climbing on the pumpkins.  And yes, she did fall on her butt and roll onto her back all right in that beautiful soaking wet grass.

Cooperation!

Closer...

Almost....

Success!!!!

I believe Josh has had enough!

And now for your viewing enjoyment, my cuties over the past years!  (I have no digital pics before 2005)

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Trunk or Treat

So, in case your don't think your kids are going to get enough candy on Halloween, there is always the pre-Halloween party, Trunk or Treat. 

In theory this is a great way to safely get candy.  Plus there is the added bonus of playing games to win said candy.  The idea is that your park the cars in a circle with all the trunks facing inward.  Each car opens it trunk and has a game (in or out of the trunk - ours was out) for the kids to play.  Each play, whether successful or not, earns candy!

Our only problem is we now have so much candy, I might just tell the kids no trick-or-treating!  Not really, but ugh....

Josh, as usual, not wanting to pose for a pic.  He is Toad from Mario Brothers.

Jill's friend Jack (yes, for real) comes to give her the scoop on where to find the best candy.

They check to make sure the coast is clear...

Jack tells Jill again, this time with more enthusiasm, she just isn't getting it!

So here is our game.  Oreo stacking.  So much fun even the adults couldn't stay away!

One Year Approaches... Or should I say, Looms...

In honor of Jill turning 1 year old in 12 days (!) I am posting a montage of all her ages and stages. It makes me both happy and sad.  Happy because she is a beautiful, wonderful baby who has been a bigger blessing than I ever could have imagined and sad because she will never be this small again.

  

 

Newborn (4 days old)

1 month old

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old, Go Rodeo!

5 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

9 months old

10 months old

11 months old

More Jill Cuteness!

So here is cutie Jill in the bubble bath.  I let her get in with her big brother Josh a few weeks ago and now she is obsessed!  She loves bubble baths!

And here is a video of Jill "calling" the kitty.  It is the cutest thing ever!  She thinks she is saying, "kitty, kitty, kitty."  She does this every time she sees a cat anywhere!

Jill Walks!!!

So Jill has been taking a few steps here and there, but not without major enticement.  Today she finally decided to take a walk for real.  Here is a video of some of the fun!

Creative Breaking with The Hylands

So, I don't know if any of you out there have ever seen the creative breaking competitions on TV, but this past weekend Jake and Josh decided to have their own version.  Here for your enjoyment...

Fall Festival!

Last Friday was the annual Rummel Creek Fall Festival.  Basically, the school carnival.  The whole school looks forward to this fun, fun day!  Think confetti eggs, silly string, inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses and carnival games. 

Here are some pics from that fun day.  PawPaw even drove Owen in from Austin so he could join in the fun.  Apparently most of the 2 1/2 hour trip consisted of PawPaw trying to explain what a carnival was!  I think Owen found out it was all that and more!

Josh running the obstacle course.

Owen in the bouncy house.

Jake carrying his booty.

Jill and PawPaw enjoy some of the yummy food.

Owen tosses at the dunk tank.  He hit the target but not hard enough.

Josh goes for it at the dunk tank.  He didn't get it this time,

but later in the day he tried again and dunked a 5th grader!

Josh shows off his winnings from the cake walk!  His personal fave!

Josh goes crazy with silly string.  I think this poor kid gave up trying to run.

Jake floats in the hot air balloon ride.  It was really cool and new this year.

(I know you can't see him but he is in the top window in a yellow shirt.)

And poor Jill just got worn out!

Jake and friends show off their invisible ink squirt guns and silly string.

Josh with silly string and a confetti egg.  I think he was trying to combine them.

Way to go, Jake!

Since Jake wasn't playing a sport this fall, we decided we would try Tae Kwon Do and see how he liked it. 

Well, it only took 1 time for him to LOVE it!  He is so excited to go everyday and he works so hard in class and has gotten so good.  Here is a pic of him with his 3 stripes on his white belt.  They are for blocking, kicking and form ( a long 20 step deal that he had to memorize and execute).  Huge accomplishments!

At the end of October they test the kids to move to the next level, so maybe in a month you will see a pic of him with a yellow belt on!