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.

Preference Night

The real reason Daddy went to Culinary School...
Kodey and John during the photo op

Kodey and Bryce

Kodey getting her corsage from Bryce

Trying to pin on the boutinerre. It took 4 of us

numerous tries to finally get it right.

Kodey on her way to the Preference Dance

All in all a very successful night. Kodey and her group are safely off until Midnight. John and I are home with the Wii. Everything is right in the world.

Getting caught up...

We now have 5 cub scouts with Mom as one of their den leaders.
How would you like to see this at the airport? It says,"welcome home dad" We have enough kids for them to each hold a letter.

Zach turned 8 on Feb 6. Grandma sent him a coveted Iron Man costume.

Thanks Grandma

The line to talk to Dad while he was in Michigan

I just thought it was so cute.

Sisters with new barettes

Zach becoming a scout and getting his neckerchief

Jonathan doing a chore in the morning before school.

Nathan playing computer in the homework station

Katie wanting to be like Dad

Josh's first wrestling meet. He won on points. The next week he got his first pin!

IT has been crazy here over the last few weeks. First, I have been subbing all but 2 days in January. Then, we had Josh's wrestling. Following some of that, or in the midst of all of that, we got a new baby boy. He is 6mths old and his name is Taedin. Then, we have have had a nice coughing illness going around, some of us are into our 2nd week of it. John's Uncle Bob passed away this past week so John was in Michigan for three days. While he was gone I found out I am allergic to my antibiotic and it will take some time for it to get out of my system. I am experiencing dizziness and numbness in some areas. Weird, I know. It seems like we are always busy and running around. Tonight, we are hosting Kodey's group for "Preference" ,a girl's choice school formal, for dinner. John is making fettucine alfredo with sliced chicken breast, garlic bread, salad, and sparkling cider for a drink. Kodey is getting her hair done right now. Hopefully by tomorrow I will post those pictures. Anyway, Zach turned 8 on Feb 6. He will be baptized the first Saturday in March. We are celebrating on Sunday with a few family friends that he invited. I got a new calling at church on Sunday. I am now a cub scout den leader. I still have my old callings as well. Well, I gotta get things cleaned up for tonight.

Just a quick catch up...

There isn't much happening here. We are back in school. I have been subbing for 3rd grade all week and will continue with that class for the next week. Then I am gonna take some time off. John is working hard, at work and filling in for my abscenses. What a great dad and husband he is. The kids are doing great. Zach's medicine is working like a charm until about 6pm. That is so good for him and us. He had a friend ask him over to play. That is great! Josh will have a wrestling meet this Wed. we are so excited and proud of him. He has been working hard. The rest of the kids are doing their kid things. Kodey is doing well driving although, she is starting to not like it so much. The other kids are doing well in school, therapy and all the other areas. What a great family I have.