Arts and Crafts

Somer received a few little containers of Play-Doh for Halloween so we've been playing with it after Hudson goes to bed. We usually just flatten it out and cut shapes with cookie cutters, but one night we got really creative and made this snowman. I helped her make the hat and nose, but she did the body and arms. I was actually very impressed.

We also made these Oreo Turkeys for Somer's preschool snacks. C&R was very limited with their candy selection. There was supposed to be a peanut butter cup for the body and a malted ball for a head, but they didn't have either of these things so we made a Hershey's Kiss work instead. I'm sure 3&4 year olds won't care and she was very excited to share them with her friends.

My First Real Buck

My first buck. I killed this small 9 pointer at 6:50am opening day. I am so excited to be done and not have to get up early any more!

We went to the pumpkin farm today with Tara, Joslynn and Jaycee. We picked out big and little pumpkins and gords to bring home and decorate our front steps. We also played in the hay tunnel and watched the deer. This was Hudson and Jaycee's first trip to the pumpkin farm.

1st Day of Preschool

Somer had her first day of preschool September 2nd. Five little girls from her daycare make up 1/4 of the class and they all love it. I have got to take them twice and it's so much fun loading all five little girls in the back seat of my van and to drive four blocks. They even all showed up with matching book bags. Princesses of course. This is a picture of Somer on her first day standing outside Lisa's house and a picture of the first paper she brought home.

New Bathroom

We started to remodel our bathroom this past weekend. We are not quite done as several problems arose throughout the course of demolition so we still have a few things to do...grout the floor tile, hang paneling and build a cabinet to enclose the back of the shower.

Michael is tearing out the old in this picture. Notice the floor where we had a water leak from the old tub.







We planned on leaving this cabinet, but didn't realize it was built around the old bathtub. We also didn't realize the old bathtub was cast iron. Mark and Michael worked very hard getting it out.







Blue paint and old wallpaper stripped


New paint and bath tub in








New shower

New toliet. Somer was the first to use it.

Tile floor

Jaycee Rae

Jaycee Rae Mefford

Saturday, July 18, 2009

9 lbs. 14 oz.

22 inches

3:49 pm

Baby and Mommy are doing great! Congrats to Matt, Tara and Joslynn.

Clarence Homecoming...Past, Presnt and Future

Clarence Homecoming is always one of my favorite times of the year. I can remember as a little girl getting so excited weeks before Homecoming. Jason and I saved up aluminum cans all year long and cashed them in to buy tickets and have spending money. I still get excited when I see the rides start coming to town. As a pre-teen, I can remember my bike riding area was shortened because we were specifically told not to be up town around the "carnies". I also remember sitting up town watching the queen contestants practice their speeches and walks dreaming of the day I got do be up there. I was in the pageant two years and those were probably two of the best Homecomings I remember. I loved walking around all weekend with those sashes I had long dreamed of. I never got the title of Clarence Homecoming Queen and every year when I see the new queen crowned, I have to admit, I still get a little jealous pang in my heart.

Now, Homecoming has brought on a whole new wave of excitement. Now, I get to take my own kids! I get so excited watching Somer ride rides and eat funnel cakes, snow cones and cotton candy. I really enjoy standing with my old Clarence friends, while we watch our kids have all the fun we used to. I look forward to many more years of Clarence Homecoming and hope my kids grow to appreciate this Clarence tradition.

Here are a few pictures from last night. If you want to see more, visit my picasa web album http://picasaweb.google.com/erinlynngill/ClarenceHomecoming2009?feat=directlink.

Joslynn won Little Miss Clarence Homecoming 2009!

Bella, Hudson, Drake and Bree were in the baby show and were very good little ones considering it was around 95 degrees and the stage is in the full sun...It was hot! Bree got second place in her class.

After the Little Mr. and Miss. Pageant, Somer rode all sorts of rides with her friends and even got to ride with Princess Joslynn.

Somer and Lancing


Remy, Somer and Lancing

Kaelyn and Somer

Somer and Joslynn

Somer riding the motorcycles. She really wanted a 4-wheeler, but they didn't have one.

Eat Cake

We celebrated Hudson's first birthday this weekend. He seemed to really enjoy his party and especially his cake. Here are a few pictures. For more pics of the whole weekend, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/erinlynngill/HudsonSBirthday?feat=directlink


Hudson starts by picking at the icing.

Jason shows him how to dig in.

Now he's getting it.

Want some cake Mommy?

All gone!

On the Farm

My relatives from Chicago are here this week so we showed them the farm last night. They were very interested in the machinery and how things work. They were very surprised by how big everything actually is.


Amber poses for a picture by the big tractor.


Hudson, Pam, and Amber



It was late when the farm tour was over so we ate at Subway for Hudson's birthday supper. He of course ate bread as it seems to be his favorite food so far.

Happy Birthday to Hudson Michael

Hudson Michael is one today! Of course he has no clue, but Somer was really excited. We gave him a wagon this morning and he really enjoyed trying to climb in and outo of it. We are having a party on Saturday and camping this weekend so I'm sure I'll have more posts this week.

Christening the New Tub

The kids broke in Papa Tom's new Jacuzi tub today...

New Baby Girl

Breanna Hope Gill

6lbs. 4 oz

19.5 inches

April 22, 2009

1:12 am

Matt, Bella, Breanna, and Jen

Somer gets to hold and kiss her!

For more pictures of this precious little gift, go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/erinlynngill/BreannaHopeGill?feat=directlink

I Can't Believe She's Three

Today is Somer's 3rd birthday. Even though I cannot remember what life was like without her and Hudson, I can hardly believe it has already been three years. Here are a few pictures from her party Saturday night. She had a really great time so thanks to all who shared it with us. Tonight, at her request, we are eating at Subway and having happy birthday cake afterwards. This time she'll get to blow the candles since we forgot them at her party.

To view more pictures of the party go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/erinlynngill/SomerS3rdBirthday?feat=directlink

We pulled up the carpet in the living room to reveal this beautiful hardwood floor. I wish we would have done this when we moved in three years ago!