Have a FUN FUN Birthday Joylynn!

I'm starting out this birthday blog by saying you, Joylynn are a beautiful, talented, loving and loved young woman. You are a great mom to those little ones of yours.


You have been the instigator in many plots and schemes and fun activities too. You still have that fun loving side of you. I know where Wyatt and Genevieve get their creative mischief traits. I hope you learn to laugh when they are being themselves. It has helped us with being your parents lo these many years. :-O























There is a theme song from the '80's that reminds me of you:

"Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it

Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can have a town, why don't you take it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all "

You have so much ahead of you yet. Enjoy every moment.
We love you, LPSM!
Happy Birthday.

School Daze Year 3

We kicked off our 3rd year with Connections Academy last Wednesday. So today is day 4 of our 07-08 school year. Oregon Connections Academy is growing and changing as the years go by. There are things that didn't work in the past that have been revamped. There are new regulations to be aware of and adhere to. I am a little behind the curve in my learning all the new things. I have gotten more emails in the past 4 days of classes than I recieved in 4 months last year. That is because ORCA has enough teachers this year to have a multiple teacher model for all junior high and high school students. So I have at least 11 teachers to be in communication with.

Don't get me wrong. I love ORCA. I enjoy having my kids schooling at home and I want them to be successful. So if I guard the school hours a little more this year than in years past, bear with me. We are getting this train moving slowly.

It doesn't get much better than this

These pictures are pretty self explanitory but in case you didn't know I LOVE MY GRANDKIDS! Big ones, little ones, boys and girls. Each one is just amazing. Wyatt (3 1/2), Genevieve (almost 2), Simon (10 days old) and Danika (2 days old). What sweet babies.
Lyssa, I have lots of room for one more :o) Keep growing little Rowan. Gramma can't wait to meet you too.

Third time's a charm...

The third trip to the hospital was the ticket. Jess and Joylynn welcomed their 3rd child and second daughter on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 at 1:25 p.m.

Danika Jane Kelly
Weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and was 19 1/2 in long







She joins big brother, Wyatt, and big sister, Genevieve to round out the R-fam clan.

Let's hope she is well rested when she comes home from the hospital well rested. She has a couple of anxious siblings ready and willing to teach her all kinds of tricks.

Wonderful Weekend

An abbreviated version of the Hilman family was blessed to be able to attend New Song La Grande's family camp this past weekend. Our family as well as the rest of the Portland group was warmly welcomed. The people we met, services we experienced and the places we stayed will long be remembered.
We were able to take all five of our bikes with us. Cherise met us there and brought her bike from Walla Walla as well.



One of the highest highlights of our trip over there was getting to meet Kiel. He is the man Cherise is in love with. He was great with our kids and we got to meet his sister, Kathleen, and her husband, Mike, and their 3 adorable children. We look forward to more times spent together. I am especially anxious for Kiel to meet the rest of the family. Perhaps when Rylan is home in December we can get together again.
































What special time together doesn't include a trip to Starbucks? It was one place that we could sit and "interview" each other. Kiel learned a lot about us and we learned some more about him.

Thank you, Kiel, for welcoming us into your town and fellowship. La Grande is beautiful and New Song feels like home.

Some people ....

This parking area at the hospital had motor homes, other RVs, large trucks (like Jess and Joylynn's), vans with roof racks and other things attached that would prevent them from parking in the parking structure. But a Volvo wagon?

I guess it feels good to be one of the big boys.

Twenty-nine years and counting

This weekend was enjoyed up at Alyssa's up in Lacey, WA. After celebrating Hayden's birthday here in Portland with Jess and Joylynn and the kids, we headed north to join up with Courtney and Cameron at Alyssa's house. Harlan has a few home improvement projects to do up there. Hayden is keeping up on the yard work, too.

Saturday however marked 29 years from the day Harlan and I met. He bought me a huge bouquet of roses! We remember it because I met him at the Fall (church) Services in Minnesota the day after my mom had my baby sister. Happy 29th Birthday Kara! Har and I have had a lot of firsts since then. I'm glad we still commemorate some of those important things.

Hayden, you aren't a kid anymore!

It was a beautiful day in Portland. Made even more so because we were celebrating the 13th anniversary of Hayden Lamont Hilman's birth. In the Jewish faith a 13 year old boy is considered "bar mitzvah" or "son of a commandment". It is the time in their lives when they become responsible for their own relationship and growth in God.






One thing every Jewish boy knows ...always remember to "call your mother".

Happy Birthday Hayman. You are one cool dude.

Foster feline

Here is Cherise with her new kitten. The kitten's name is Peanut Butter. I just call her Peanut. She is going to be living with us for a while. I figure about 7 months. She needs to grow big enough to be an outside kitty in Walla Walla . Right now she is pretty much the runt of the litter.

We are really happy to have a new baby in the house. Even though it is a hairy four footed one.

Cherise seems to like her a lot. I think they are going to be terrific friends.

Infant-icipation

Here are a few pictures of some of the nicest young women I know. Alyssa with Genevieve and Harvey (one of the Duckworth's puppies) infanticipating her little boy, Rowan.

Joylynn the sweet mommy of Wyatt and Genevieve infanticipating her "Baby Cherise".

And last but not least Lalita and her soon to be arriving, though greatly infanticipated, Simon.

Six of my favorite people on my living room couch.

Cameron the Great 9 year old!

Happy Birthday, Cameron! It was fun spending the day with you shopping, eating sushi, shopping some more, eating spaghetti, seeing you open many cool gifts, eating pie, and now it's time to call it a day.

Nine years ago we welcomed you into our family. You are such a unique individual guy. I am amazed at your strengths in so many areas. I am also so thankful for your loving heart and sweet spirit. You are still the best cuddler in the family.

Everyone loves having you around. Young and old alike enjoy spending time with you.

Thanks for being exactly who God has designed you to be. We are proud to call you our son.
Love, Mom and Dad

Big Helpers and Our Max

Harlan took on the task of making a level place in the Duckworth's back yard for our church's pool /baptismal. He started on Wednesday night digging holes around the perimeter of the 15 1/2 ft circle that were at all the same level. Last night he cleared out the middle of the circle and made spokes out to each hole. Tonight it was time to clear the sod and extra dirt away from each "pie piece" that was left. My battery ran out on my camera so I don't have the finished site documented. I do however have some terrific pictures of all of the kids helping out. (Except Courtney, she did help though but after the camera died) Genevieve was picking up pieces of sod as big as her head. She was a little go getter.
Wyatt was a big help. He even was wielding a shovel and getting dirt into the wheel barrow with it. He didn't want to quit working when it was time to go home.
Our Max is spending a few days with us. He had a great time running with big Max but on occasion we had to tie him up to keep him from running into the pick ax or shovels. This is one of my all time favorite pictures of him.
Genevieve enjoyed her first taste of blackberries right off the vine. What a cutie Berry Baby.

Rylan's blog continued....

While looking for some black shoes that were comfy that I could wear with skirts or slacks, I happened upon this pair. I think it was a sign. Not the "here's your sign" sign. Just a nice reminder of Rylan. He likes men's shoes though :-)
Remember when Joel thought Rylan was a pirate? Well there is a new pirate on the block. Here he is on his "island". ARRRRH

Rylan is 27!?!

Hard to imagine that 27 years has gone by. Trying to keep up with his academic prowess was abandoned a long time ago. Probably around the time he was in seventh grade and could out-spell me and a lot of other people. He was beyond me in math abilities at that time too. Today is a day for me to remember all the unique things that made Rylan, ....Rylan. Hope you had a Happy Birthday.

Remember you can celebrate until it's over over here :-) We would love to celebrate with you in person some year. Perhaps your 30th? That's only 3 short years away. In any case enjoy your 27th year. We are so proud of you and all you're doing. Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom and Dad