FUNNY FACES!!

I was going through my pics and was cracking up at all the goofy pics! I was thinking "What in the world am I going to do with all these crazy pictures of my kids?" Why, put them up on your blog for all the world to see!! I can tell right now that I am going to be one of those mom's that don't mean to emberass their kids but do just by being their mom. I hope you guys get a good laugh out of them too!

I have 3 kids under the age of 2, OK??!!

I know, I know I am a horrible blogger. Just say it. Say it will ya?!! I would love to blog more, I really would. I would like to do a lot of things. I have visions of myself waking up before all the family gets up, make fresh squeezed orange juice and have the whole house vaccumed before tiny bluebirds chirp my family awake and they all come downstairs fully dressed, with their hair done to sit down to a nice warm breakfast. I have art projects and educational activities planned for my the twins throughout the day and single handedly teach Taytum sign language at the tender age of 8 months while cleaning out my fridge and making banana bread at the same time. Kelly comes home to a big 7 course meal and afterwards we clear the dinner table as a family then sit around telling stories of our day. After that we go upstairs, give our children a bath, brush their teeth without having to tackle and pin Reese down to the ground, have scripture study and family prayer, then my children float off to sleep while visions of sugar plums dance in their heads. Not the case. Lately I have not been able to get it together!!! Taytum is sleeping better, but the twins are getting worse! Without a doubt by dawns early light I have 3 children in bed with me and no husband. He takes the easy way out and sleeps downstairs on the sofa. I am comatose and don't ever hear the girls sneak into our bed but somehow throughout the night they all migrate over to my side of the bed so there are 4 human beings sharing one pillow. I have elbows, knees and toes in my back, stomach and face. I get the covers taken off of me, and the only thing keeping me on the bed is my big toe. Thus, I don't ever get a great nights sleep!! The girls wake up before it's even light outside by getting 1/4 an inch away from my face and saying "Good morning mom! I want a pickle and cheese (they are obsessed with pickles and cheese!) Followed by " I need chocolate milk, I need cereals, I need Diego" Yeah, well I want to sleep in past 7:00 am! So I somehow drag myself out of bed, turn on a cartoon, get them some dry cereal in a bowl and a sippy cup of milk (which I usually find 5 days later 1/2 full and under my bed) and crawl back into bed only to have Taytum wake up 3 minutes later! I get NOTHING done during the day except watch as my house is literally getting trashed right before my eyes. Kell comes home from work and I ask him if he wants waffles or a grilled cheese for dinner to which he replies "Casa del Rey." We get the kids bathed with Reese screaming the entire bath, brush their teeth and get them to bed. They only come out and ask for drinks, music, crackers, licorice and marshmallows about 13 times before I erupt and start screaming for them to go to bed. I am so tired that I fall asleep mid-stride and wake up in the bathroom or hallway somewhere, so needless to say not a lot of blogging gets done!! I know that this is how it is for now, I should just enjoy them while they are young, and don't get me wrong I do, but sometimes they make it so stinking hard!!! I love nothing more than being a mom, but it is the MOST unappreciated job on the planet! So, now that I have ranted and raved about the bad things, here are 10 things that make it all worth it.

1. When the girls tell someone please or thank you without being told to.

2. When Taytum falls asleep on my chest.

3. When Kelly comes home from work and the girls react like the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade just came through the door.

4. When the girls want to hug and kiss Taytum.

5. When Taytum smiles one of her huge smiles and drool rolls down her chin.

6. When the Ellie finishes her fruit snacks first and Reese will say "Here you go sis" and share with her.

7. When we have family home evening and the girls sing I am a Child of God.

8. When Taytum reaches for me then buries her face in my shoulder like she cant get close enough.

9. When we watch a movie together as a family and Ellie says its her "Special Time" movie.

10. When they are all warm and cuddled into their beds with full tummies and their teeth brushed. We've said a family prayer, kissed and hugged them and told them we love them...is there anything better??

If anyone out there has had a day, week, month like mine (and I'm sure NO ONE else has, right?) just go read President Monsons GC talk on parenthood...someday I will miss the fingerprint smudges on every surface. I am so grateful that Kell works so hard so I can stay home. On a lighter note Ellie is obsessed with doing dishes (See pic above) so what am I complaining about?

The REAL Hillary Mondragon

1. Do you like blue cheese? Nope. Ranch only. Unless a Big Mac with Thousand Island counts, then in that case Thousand Island every chance I get. Basically I am saying I am obsessed with Big Macs OK?!!?
2. Do you own a gun? Well, Kell does. The gun is locked and in the basement, the ammo is upstairs somewhere, and I dont know the combo to unlock it, so is it useful in an emergency? Nope.
3. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I love Sonics Strawberry Limeade, but I dont know if they add the strawberry or the lime!
4. Do you get nervous before doctor Appointments? Does anyone like getting a pappy?! Of course I get nervous, but more about what I should talk to the doctor about when he is doing the procedure...weather...the latest movies...if he likes his job...you get the idea.
6. Favorite Christmas movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas
7. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Chocolate milk, but not homemade-store bought Cream of Weber. Yum!
8. Can you do push-ups? How many in a row? 2 yes, 40 no.
9. Age? 27
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring. This is a stupid question-anyone that is married and dosent say wedding ring is going to get a divorce over a questionaire.
11. Favorite hobby? Playing with the girls.
12. Favorite Actor? Probably John Krasinski from The Office-I love him.
13. Do you have A.D.D.? Addicted to Dunkin Donuts, yes.
14. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I am addicted to watching the Real Housewives on Bravo and can't stop myself!
15. Middle name? Erin
16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 1. I wonder when the girls are going to wake up. 2. I wonder if anyone is going to read this. 3. I should be cleaning and not blogging right now.
17. Name 3 things you bought yesterday/today? I went to lunch with my friends Amber and Janna today, so I bought my lunch at Casa Del Rey, scone dough for Navajo (or is it Native American) Tacos and Milk, since we go through 4 gallons a day.
18. drinks you regularly drink? Water. My new years resolution was to drink more water and stop drinking pop.
19. 3 Current worries? Money, kids and my new church calling (Laurels advisor)
20. Favorite place to be? Anywhere with my family
21. How did you bring in the New Year? At our house with Shanna and Marty and Brady and Rachel. We got sparkling cider and toasted, then went out and lit illegal fireworks (hope the Grantsville city popo dosent blog!!)
22.Where would you like to go? To sleep
23. Tag three to six people. Won't do it.
24. Do you own slippers? Yes, some that I got from the Venetian in Las Vegas. Fancy!!
25. What shirt are you wearing? Grubs, what else is new?
26. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I never have, I would assume no. Satin sheets and satin garmies dosent seem like a match made is heaven. I would probably fall out of bed.
27. Can you whistle? not well.
28. Favorite color? Pink
29. Would you be a pirate? no-I dont pillage or plunder.
30. What songs do you sing in the shower? I dont have time to sing in the shower-I am too busy yelling at the girls to close the shower curtain.
31. Favorite girl's name? Ellie Reese and Taytum. I really love the name Lila for a girl and Beck for a boy.
32. What is in your pocket? Do sweat pant have pockets?
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My girls-all the time. they are the funniest little things around!
34. Best bed sheets as a child? I was always scared to sleep by myself when I was little, so my mom bought me Mickey Mouse sheets so I would have a friend to sleep with. She is so cute!
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Mastitis. Ouchie!!
36. How many TVs do you own? 2
37. Who is your loudest friend? Heather
38. How many dogs do you have? One-he will be the last.
39. Does someone have a crush on you? If someone does I would love them to speak up-I could use a boost of confidence right about now.
40. What is your favorite book(S)? To Kill a Mockingbird.
41. Where were you born? Salt Lake City, UT
42. What is your favorite candy? This question for me is like asking an alcoholic what his favorite drink is. I guess Charlston Chews and Salted Nut Rolls (yes, I am going to go eat them at the Senior Citizen Center with the other grandmas)
43. Favorite Sports Teams? I guess the Jazz-only because of Korver-zowie!!
44. What songs do you want played at your funeral? Morbid. I guess just church hymns? I hvent ever hear Metallica at a funeral, so I don't really understand the question.
45.What are you doing at 12 A.M.? Am usually comatose or nursing Tay.
46. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Why the girls woke up so daggum early.
47. Do you live away from your home town? Nope. Lets hear it for those Grantsville Cowboys!!
48. Do you like to celebrate the holidays? What???? Who doesn't!?!? Of course I like to. It;'s funner now with the girls-I love trying to make it into a Norman Rockwell Christmas for them.
49. Do you own/use excessive equipment, if so what kind? I don't know if any of you have met my husband, but his whole life is excessive equipment. Therefore I guess the answer is yes.
50. What do you think of this long list of questions? Super fun-hope it shows up on some of my favorite blogs!

Sledding

Some of our best memories (although I can't remember it as well as the siblings) as children is having my dad drag us behind the '87 Bronco on a sled. This is before child safety laws were enforced.
During the holidays and snowfall we thought it would be fun to relive this memory through the kids eyes.
There are a few people we need to thank before we get this show started:
-Kurt for letting us use the 4-Wheeler
-Grandma for being a packrat and saving our snow bibs
-Papa for being the navigator
-Heathie for getting us ready
-Our fun cousins for playing with us

This is Heathie getting the sheepdog ready

Looking at my new glove


Traipsing around the snow...getting a feel for it before we get on the sled


Marlee, Reese, and Ellie



Marlee and Lainee getting in on the fun!

10 Funny Things My Girls Said This Week...

1. I was dancing like a goofball trying to get Ellie to not be a grump bum and she told me "No mama, don't be Foofa" (the big pink one that dances on Yo Gabba Gabba)

2. Reese handed me Mr. Potato Head and told me to "Fix Mr Heads Butt." Yes, she did get reprimanded for saying butt.

3. Ellie was running in the kitchen and slipped and fell. I asked her what happened and she said (in a very fake sad voice) "Tay Tay pushed me!" Mind you that not only is Taytum 5 months old, but was also playing in her exersaucer in the other room.

4. I was cleaning my bedroom today and had just made the bed. I left the room for a minute and when I came back in Reese said "Come find me mom!" and had crawled underneath the bedspread, sheets and matress pad. So basically my bed was made except for the big lump that was Reese right in the middle of the bed.

5. Ellie came in our room at about 7:00 in the morning, stretched, looked at daddy, then very sleepily said "Hi Kell."

6. Reese will come in whatever room you are in and say "Hi guys, what doing" about 15 times a day.

7. Reese wales up every morning and says "Hi mom, I want pickle and cheese."

8. Kell's mom came over to babysit and they very excitedly screamed "Hi Linda!!"

9. I told Ellie "I love you sooo much!" and she said to me "Mama, I love you too much"

10. Ellie was very mad at mama the other day, and in the angriest voice that a 2 year old could muster she said "Mom, GO HOME!!!"

The girls are at such a fun age-they love singing church songs andare getting better about not taking their diapers off (knock on wood) Taytum is laughing and smiling at everything she sees, and is rolling around all over the place. I have such a wonderful family!! In the words of Ellie and Reese "I love mommy, she loves me. We love Kell, yesiree. He loves us and so you see, we are a happy family! Video below:

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do?invite=kEgr2qPumhP29U9U7Qqh&shareName=MMS&messageState=RETRIEVED

Happy Halloween!!!

Yeehaw, it's Halloween!! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I always want a theme to the costumes (hey, I am a stay at home mom, this is what I live for!) so this year it was Cowboys, Cowgirls and Cowpokes!! I had fun putting the girls costumes together, and Taytum was so snuggly and warm in her cute cow costume!! We had a pretty good Halloween. It was Tay Tay's first Halloween (fun fact: last year on Halloween night Kell and I found out we were preggers with our third little "ghoul"), so that was fun. The girls are now realizing the sweet glory of candy, so the looks on their faces were pretty priceless when they realized people were giving them candy just for saying 3 magical words...Trick or Treat. The girls went to daddys work party on Thursday and got some goodies, then the next day was Halloween, so of course we went to our wards Trunk or Treat. I am going to be honest-I dont know if I love Trunk or Treat. I feel like it shouldn't be on Halloween, but maybe the weekend before. I wish they would hand out some official rules at General Conference or something. Anyways, the girls went around to about 20 cars then they were done. I on the other hand wanted them to hit the streets hard so I could feed my candy addiction (literally) but they were pretty distracted with their Tootsie Pops that they got from the first car and couldn't really keep their eyes on the prize. So it was pretty fun for them, but nothing like when I was a kid. I guess Halloween, like everything else in this world is just different than when I was younger. I felt safe eating the homemade popcorn balls that my children will never experience unless I take them to the airport where they can run it through the x-ray machine to make sure no one has hidden razor blades or drug paraphanelia in them...sigh...the good ole' days. Hope everyones Halloween was spooktacular!!

PS-You can see all of our current videos and lots more pics at mondragonspace.com

PPS-Am I the only one that is fed up with the 12 year old boys putting on a black sweat suit and white make-up on their face and going out trick or treating? I want to ask them when they come to the door that if they can explain exactly what they are, rather than a mooch, then yes, I will give you the coveted minuature Butterfinger (which, for some reaon is 3000 times more delicious than the normal sized.) So to all of you that send your kids out as "Sweat Suit Weirdos" please give them a pair of black pantyhose to put over their eyes and go as burglars, because really, isnt that what a 13 year old going trick or treating is anyways?

This is Heather (Hillary's sister) writing...(who am I kidding, everyone that knows you knows me, right?)
Because I am keeping this blog alive, I am going to attach some of my favorite pics. The one of Taytie in her Bumbo chair is SO adorable!!!









Reese (or Ellie) with her BA-BOON.

Hill, we are pleading for you to post Halloween pictures. What is cuter than nieces and nephews??? Seeing them dressed up!