Robbie Rodeo 2017

In August we attended our favorite rodeo!

Here's a few snapshots

(and a video at the end)

of the good times that were had by all!

 Time for the stick-horse races!

Jacob's first time entering!!

Robbie did a great job this year,

completing his heat.

Cousin Scott,

my kids' FAVORITE REAL COWBOY!

Taylor did well in her stick-horse race as well!

These two did so well

working together in the three-legged-race

Lovin' Cousin Scott

This random girl

was just SO cute

I had to snap a photo

We were spectators for the rest of the time

until it was time for the sheep riding!

Jacob had his heart set on riding a sheet this year

and he got his helmet and pads all set

But then while trying to walk around

with limited vision because of the helmet

he fell and busted his lip

which dampened his mood for riding a sheep.

He sure looks cute in his helmet though!

Taylor, on the other hand,

was determined to get a long ride this year

after last year's half a second debacle.

She got all geared up

The expert cowboys helped get her settled,

and she was off!

(She requested that I film it in slow-mo,

so here ya go!)

(This is a video you may not be able to view on a phone/ipad,

or even through the email.

Click on this hickles.blogspot.com

to go to the blog site to see it)

Thanks Cousin Scott for such a good time!

It's the highlight of my kids' year!

Christmas Joy

Something I've looked forward to
maybe since I was in mid-elementary grades,
is having my own kids in Christmas programs
so I could attend, and beam with pride,
and take lotsa pictures and video!

And this year 2 of our 3 were in programs!

On Monday we had our SAGE Home-school co-op program,
where Robbie's class sang Jingle Bells,
and Taylor's class sang a song
about a few highlights she's learned in History this year.

Then on Tuesday we had Robbie's PreK program,
where he and his classmates sang countless songs,
and he did a great job at smiling and doing his motions!

May these photos and videos
spread a lil' joy to you too!

The theme for the co-op program
was a "Southern Christmas"
so some kids came in super fancy dresses,
but our lil' girl donned two braids and a simple dress.
This is Tay with her good friend from co-op.

I, last minute, became the MC for the evening,
so we don't have other pictures,
but this video shows Taylor's History class,
singing their little hearts out
about Lewis and Clark exploring the West,
the Alamo with Davy Crockett and 'other guys',
and Washington, Adams and Jefferson!
This year in history she's learning about the 1800's,
so these were just a few highlights of what she has learned!

Remember you may need to visit our site
to view the video
hickles.blogspot.com


Now, to Robbie's PreK program!
School that morning was canceled, due to a big snow,
(the first time in 25 years for Billings to cancel school!)
but the roads were clear enough by that evening
so we got to have his program!

Handsome Jacob waiting for Robbie to make his debut

The rest of the Robbie fans!

Front and Center
and smiling almost the whole time!

Here's a little video of Robbie and his ability
to spread his enthusiasm for Christmas and singing
as he performs at his program.
(1) Twinkle Christmas Star,
(2) Antlers,
(3) We Wish You a Merry Christmas
(4) Jacob's additional song...

Remember, you may need to visit our site
to view the video
hickles.blogspot.com



Merry Christmas from the Hickles 5!

May the Force be With You

We had a blast trick-or-treating last week!

So I thought I'd share a few pictures
and at the end you can find
a fun video of our sweet Star Wars Characters!

We packed the car with the cutest Characters we could find!

 And the evening before Halloween
we went to Cousin Fred's office building
to trick-or-treat from office to office!

It only took Jacob two offices before he knew what he was doing.
Here's Darth, R2D2 and Leia with a Queen and Leonardo the Ninja Turtle.

What a great guy Cousin Fred is!
His co-workers truly seem to admire his hard work!

On Halloween morning
we got all dressed up again
and headed to Boo at the Zoo!

With our annual membership
we got to skip the hour long line to get in,
and had a enjoyed ourselves, despite the wet weather.

After some naps and downtime,
we got all dressed up again
and headed to our Cousin Marianne's church
to do some trunk-or-treating in the parking lot!

This Elsa trunk even had "snow" falling around it!

Then we headed over to Grandma's
and enjoyed some Jack-a-dilla's with homemade soup!

Needless to say,
we now have PLENTY of candy,
and were well tuckered out by all the Halloween fun!
I really enjoy these people!

 Here's some more close-ups of these characters!

Auntie Han(na) Solo!

 Watch out R2D2! Lord Vader is gonna getcha!

Here's a look at how I made Jacob's costume!

A Pillowcase and some puffpaint...
And his hat? A bike helmet and some ducktape!

Lord Vader and his trusty Storm Trooper Mommy.

Watch it- he'll choke you with the DARK FORCE!

Looks like Han(na) Solo has forgiven him for his crimes!

Princess Leia may not have front teeth,
but she's got the most contagious grin ever!

What a beauty!

Loved that Auntie Anna got to join us for the day!

May the Force be With You!

And here's a video of our shenanigans!

Remember, to view the video
you will need to go to our site!

hickles.blogspot.com

What a weekend!

Back at the Turn of the New Year

I think back to December 2014
and it feels like a lifetime ago!

My sweet husband coordinated with my folks
and got me a ticket for Christmas,
to fly to California
for a quick five day trip (with no kids!)

Hanging out with Caleb & Nancy, Mom & Dad,

and then both sides of the family!

We spent a few days with my Dad's folks,

and then we went to my Mom's folks'.

We brought in the New Year 2015
with a Hillis & Friends Family Feud Party!

Love it!

Remember, to view the video
you will need to visit our blog site
hickles.blogspot.com

We've Moved!

No worries!

We haven't DIGITALLY moved
(as in to a different blog)
but we've PHYSICALLY moved recently!

Back in January we bid farewell to an era!

We spent 2 years and 11 months living in this home

and will look back fondly on those years!

Robbie was only two months old when we got here!

Taylor was just over two years!

Jacob was just a sparkle in our eye!

 Here's a quick look at what we looked like when we arrived!

Wow! Those kiddos have sure changed a bit!!

Now here's a current picture of us

together for our last day living under one roof!

 

 To prepare for the move
we filled the downstairs main room with STUFF!

 

The kids camped in their bedroom for their last night

while Greg and I went over to the new house

and set up their bunk beds!

I wanted their bedroom to be as set up as possible
before we brought them over to the new place
late on Saturday evening.

 

This is what it looked like when they arrived!

Here's a video of their reaction when they finally got here!

SO PRECIOUS! 

 

Remember, to view the video
you will need to go to our blogsite!

hickles.blogspot.com

But let's go back to the morning of moving day...

Saturday morning friends arrived to help load the truck.

 

Tay and Robbie were stoked!

They spent a few minutes in the truck

and then went to play at a friends' house for the day

 

Here's a video of the kids getting ready

to "help" put stuff in the truck!

 

Remember, to view the video
you will need to go to our blogsite!

hickles.blogspot.com

It got colder as friends unloaded the truck at the new place,

and with a bit of furniture still left to unload...

Snow began to fall!

And fall and fall!

As we settled in,

I spent the next few days in stores,

getting more STUFF cuz

who doesn't need more, right?

This is what my cart looked like one afternoon!

We've now spent two months here,
and yet things are still slowly getting settled.

And we've got a few really great helpers!

One of the things we're greatly enjoying

about our new little neighborhood

is the sidewalks!

Family walks are so much fun!!

 

In summary, we've moved...

From one home to another

From one season to another

From one era to the next!

 

Until next time!