what rotten luck...

I promise I do really have pictures but when you find out what happened you will forgive me. Well, the rush is over and so is school! This school year has flown by for me. Well, john and I finished our HCG diet. Tomorrow is the last day! yeah we made it! we will start again on 6 weeks to lose the rest of that icky fat! Well, I was in a hurry on Wednesday to get lots of things done before the kids were out of school. You know how it is! Anyway I was walking down the basement stairs and I thought I was at the bottom but...guess what? i wasn't! I did end up getting to the bottom rather quickly. i landed on the outside of my right foot and heard a nice "pop" noise. I have never had a sprain or a break so I didn't know what to do so I said, "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!". I called John (crying loudly) and had to leave a message. I knew my friend, kenice, was helping at field day so I decided to just stand up or lay there forever. I got up and found it was sore but didn't hurt to bad. then, i continued on with what I was doing. By the time I got to the main floor again, I knew something wasn't right. I took of my sock and shoe and my ankle was huge and my foot was getting fatter. i ended up going to the doctor (thanks to my sweet daughter, Kodey, who drove me there) and I have torn a ligament or sprained it! the doctor gave me a lovely air cast and said i have to wear it for 2 weeks! Is he kidding...2 weeks?!! during summer vacation?! I have to many fun things to do with my kids! Well, the swelling is going down and I can put more and more pressure in it every day but today I did a little too much and so...it is hurting tonight. I would like to clarify that this is our first sprain in the Thill house ever! Not bad when you think about it like that! So, we had only a picnic, pool party with popsicles, pizza/movie night today! No driving anywhere for a fun mini celebration! Oh well, this to shall pass but.......TWO WEEKS!?

CRAZY MAY.......

I don't like just writing stuff and not posting pictures. I do have lots of pictures to post but am too lazy right now to download them. We have had a hard and busy May. We have had one person suspended, one playing with fire (or was that the same one?), 2 more therapy appts added, end of the year rush and a myriad of other things. I am beginning to realize how blessed I have been that we haven't had this kind of month in a long time.
I am registered to start at Western Governor's University June 1st. It is an accredited online college. Can't get much better than that! I got my hair cut in a cute "a line" style, to go with my weight loss of 22 pounds so far! I have 2 weeks to go on this cycle , then a 6 week break then on to round 2. I plan to lose 60 pounds and I am almost halfway there.
John has been wonderful in taking me to the movies lately. If any of you know John...he likes movies well enough but, can do without them. I on the other hand LOVE them and so he goes for me. We saw STAR TREK and it was great! I can't say enough about this movie and i am not even a trekkie! Today, we saw Terminator. It was a good action movie. I am excited for all of the summer movies this year!
I am still loving my cub scout calling, and all of the others as well. I am pretty excited because we are getting "new family search" soon! Can't wait! Temple work/ Genealogy is about to become easier!
Well, I have lots of things to do tonight still. Kodey is at a bonfire in the canyon and Josh is at a different party. Boy, these teens keep us hopping and up late at night. Kodey had her first interview today for Jamba Juice and was asked for a second interview. She is thrilled as this could be her first job! Remember YOUR excitement at your first job and all of the plans you made with the money BEFORE you ever got paid? Well, she's there too!
Hope you are all well. You are often in our thoughts and prayers!

Does the fun ever end?

This week, my parents came for a visit. Of course we had a myriad of things to accomplish like Teacher Appreciation week but, my parents were troopers and we had a great visit with them. Now, I only wish I could see them more often.

BYU and UNLV baseball Game. BYU won
Jacob was elected to throw out the first pitch at the game.

Our new furniture came for the downstairs.

We had a great sectional from the "Big Give"but,

I wanted something smaller so we could see the

fireplace and it made the room look alot bigger too.

We went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point

It was so beautiful but my Dad had his fill of flowers.

getting ready for the game to start.

Jonathan had his 9th birthday!

the Thill's and Grandparents having

dinner at Chuck O rama

Playing Tri-Bond

Kodey and Kevin on their way to prom

The dinosaur museum is always a big hit!

Rolling down the hill before going into the museum.

Great thinking Dad!

thanksgiving Points Farm Country

the girls pretending to be showgirls

The boys in jail!

Also during this week, our dear friend Vonna

came for a visit.

So, we survived another week. I have been playing catch-up

on lots of things. Mainly I have been trying to get enrolled at

Western Governor's University. I just have to take the "entrance exam"

tomorrow morning. YUCK! We are still doing the HCG diet and John has lost 21 pounds and I am at 17 pounds. we have about 20 more days to go.

The kids are all doing relatively well. we have some rough

patches because of Mother's Day (it reminds them that they

aren't with birth parents). we are still experiencing the after effects. We probably will

for a while. But, what can you do? well, back to work. the kids have

therapy and I need to get my act together for Scouts tomorrow.

hope you are all doing well. I can see by your blogs that you have busy lives as well. I remember my friends telling my that life would get more busy the older the kids became and I thought they were nuts. Let me assure you, they were completely accurate. Bye for now!

WOW! So busy sometimes...

Kodey trying on her prom dress
Jacob turns 10

After the easter egg hunt

Nathan auditioning for the Timpanogas Storytelling Festival

Katie Grace turns 4

getting ready to go on an easter egg hunt in the rain

Easter Saturday...what were YOU doing that day?

After the Egg Hunt, all of our beautiful children

Meadow, Utah- the hot pots camping trip

Aleceeya's room makeover

Well, I keep thinking I will have all of this time when my kids go to school. The truth is, I am busier than ever! So, here is a few weeks worth of pictures. Katie, John, Jacob and Gallie have all had their birthday's. We have had a couple of foster children here for respite over the last few weeks. John took all of the boys plus Katie (she wouldn't even think of staying for a girls night) camping to Meadow at the hot pots. They had a great time and found a better camping spot than usual. (We love that!)

John and I decided to start the HCG diet. It is very efficient and we have lost 14 and 12 pounds in one week. We feel great and have even been able to resist birthday cake (that was hard for me) and pizza (John). We have one more birthday next week and about 6 more pizza nights til our program takes a break. We can do it though!

Meanwhile, we have a lot to look forward to in the coming week. We are taking the teenagers to Midway at the Zermatt Resort for the night Tuesday to Wednesday. John and I have a training and we decided to take the teens. My dear friend Vonna is coming to Utah and I will get to see her this week. Finally, my parents are coming on Friday for a week..ending on Saturday with the prom (for Kodey). That is all that is going on next week. I am trying to be better at blogging by doing it every week, like I used to but.....

What's new for us

Okay,
I have been way behind in blogging and picture taking. So, you all get some talking. we have had a very busy March. we started with the baby, Taedin leaving our home. That was very hard and for the first two weeks he was gone he was doing horribly. It was very hard to hear the reports so we decided to start contacting people to get him back were he belongs. HERE! That didn't go over to well and we were told he is absolutely not moving again. That was sad and ahrd to deal with. I feel like I did push some buttons but it didn't change the situation any.
Then, we celebrated katie's 4th birthday. What fun that was. Especially, because she was so excited about it. We followed that up with John's birthday. The big 39! It was a wonderful Sunday birthday. He got up and made everyone omelets! Nobody makes an omelet like John, let me tell you. That was a real treat.
John and I started playing volleyball with our church ward. It has been fun but we stay out way too late playing.
I decided to become a Cluster Facilitator for the Utah Foster Care Foundation. That has been challenging trying to come up with ideas and finding and inviting everyone to the meetings. Our first one is in May (an ice cream social). I am still working hard on that and hope to be done with the hardest work by the end of the week.
we decided to do some respite care for a two month old baby for the last week. She leaves in the morning. That has been a joy to do. She has some great foster parents, it has been great getting to know that family a little.
Josh submitted his eagle Scout packet for approval. He is doing a donation (items that they need along with monetary) drive for anysoldier.com It is an organization that provides things for soldier's serving in war zones. These are all things that will remind them of home and that they don't have ready access to. these items go to soldier's that don't recieve mail either. we are looking forward to providing this service. The best part is, Josh found the project and did all the paperwork by himself. We are so excited for him and his newfound dedication. This project is dear to us as we know many people who have served and are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not the least of which is my nephew, Chance, and my nephew-in-law, Greg(who will be leaving shortly).
Meanwhile, upcoming for the Thill's is:
Jacob's birthday/Easter on the 12th, Spring Break, Josh's Eagle Scout project, Gallie's birthday, a 2 day Cluster Facilitator training, Teacher Appreciation week and my parents coming for a visit with Jonathan's birthday rounding everything out on May 7. we sure have some busy times ahead.
That's about all fo rnow. Thank you all for your love and support of our family.

We had such a great week...

Utah State Capitol Building
The beautiful Salt Lake Valley.

Ensign Peak

The waterfall shower in our hotel room

Do you love our tree house bed?

Complimentary breakfast in bed

The Swiss Family Robinson room

At the anniversary Inn

Waterfall shower

Zach getting baptized

EIGHT IS GREAT!!!

Can you believe how big he is?

Peter Brienholt

John and I speaking at the Heart2Home

Fundraiser at the Joseph Smith Memorial

Building in Salt Lake City

Nice company, wonderful food, beautiful view

A Night Out without kids

It was another whirlwind week with John and I getting the opportunity to speak at the Heart2Home Fundraiser. I always have a hard time speaking in public but I did survive it. We followed that up with Zachary's baptism. Hard to believe taht boy is 8! He is doing great the ADHD medicine is working just like it should be and he does so well.

After asll of that, John and I decided to get away for one night. We went to two different temples. Got massages and pedicures from the Brickhouse Day Spa then, it was on to the Anniversary Inn Swiss family Robinson room. We had a great time but truly missed our kids so much. We still have the baby, Taedin. We should be hearing soon about what DCFS' plans are for him. We know what our plans would be if we had the choice. He sure is a cute baby. And so happy! Well, I have committed myself to getting this blog update today so here it is. We hope you are all doing well and love keeping up on your blogs.

What a weekend looks like for the Thill's...

Zach and Nathan doing the flag ceremony at the blue and gold banquet
Happy 7th Birthday to Lydia

Thank you Grandma for the cool tinkerbell toy

Decorating Valentine's cookies

The Hill Family Makeover that we went to help on

Katie and Kodey taping off for the painters

John being interviewed for Fox 13 News

The kids covering the furniture with plastic to protect

it from the painters

Loading up boxes for Heart2Home

fpr the Hill Family Makeover

Josh and Jacob working on packing things away

on the first day of the 3 day makeover

SO, we have had a busy month. I have been really sick. We still have the baby and sadly John's uncle passed away. John and I are speaking tonight at the Heart2Home fundraiser at the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake tonight. That should be fun I just hope everyone does well tonight at home. Tomorrow is SEP's for the elementary school kids (parent teacher conferences for those that don't know what SEP's are). Taedin has a visit tomorrow and John and I are doing the teacher dinner for SEP's. This is just a couple days in the life of the Thill's. I am one of the scout den leaders now and today would be my first activity with them but I am doing the SLC thing. Crazy times sometime. Well, I gotta make dinner before we leave and get ready to go. Thank you all for the comments you make. It makes me feel good knowing that people actually read my efforts.