Netherlands Adventure

Tammy and I just returned from Utrecht, the Netherlands, on a combination work and pleasure trip. I presented at the bi-annual Community, Work, and Family Conference which is held Internationally. Tammy got everything done for Emily's wedding next Wednesday, so she decided to come too. We had a great time! This picture is of the tower "Dom" which stands 350 feet above the city of Utrecht. It has great bells that ring every 15 minutes. Unfortunately our hotel was just 100 meters down the road and so we heard those bells day and night. Tammy and I also climbed the 458 steps to the top for a breathtaking view of Utrecht.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2009, Tammy and I rented a tandem bicycle and rode through the flower fields. Holland is very bicycle friendly and we rode for two hours (probably 20 miles) through these colorful fields. They were amazing!

Also on Wednesday we visited Koeukenhof, which consists of 750 acres of flowers and gardens. I am not particularly a flower man, but I have to admit this garden was so beautiful it took my breath away. I am so glad I have Tammy to help me appreciate the aesthetic side of life! Here we are sitting on a traditional well with some of the gardens in the background.

Flowers were in every configuration, color, and scent imagineable. Here is a "river" of flowers meandering through the gardens.

There were probably ten zillion tulips in this garden. Here I am standing amidst a few thousands of them!

Tammy and I went to the temple at the Hague on Thrusday, April 16, 2009. Tammy had brought 20 names to do baptisms for. We got to the temple at 5:20 pm and asked if we could do some work before the 7:30 baptism session. However, there was nothing to do ... no sealings, endowment session, or initiatories. So we walked the town and had a nice cozy dinner at a tastefully decorated (and quiet) restauraunt. Tammy ordered a sandwich which she was assured was like "roast beef". However, it was not. We suspect it was pickled tongue. She only ate one third of the sandwich ... I finished the rest!

Here we are standing on a bridge leading to the temple. Tammy and I love bridges (we always kiss on them) and the temple, so what could be better than this?!

Utrecht is laced with canals. Tammy and I rented a paddle boat and had the time of our lives exploring the town through the canals. We managed to avoid the bigger boats, though sometimes it was a tight squeeze. Afterwards we had pizza at a sidewalk cafe located on the canal. How romantic!

Of course, the purpose of the trip was for me to present at the International Community, Work, and Family Conference. It was held in this elegant building right next to the cathedral. This is where the University of Utrecht was founded in the 16th century.

This was one of the halls where we presented.

This was a great renewing trip for Tammy and me. We are ready to take on the wedding now!

April Joys

Amanda, Seth, the Zundels, Melody, and I had a really fun time watching Uncle Scott in the Music Man. He was so animated and fun and "distinguished." River City will never be the same after Scott's performance.

On April 10, Emily went through the temple for the first time. Tammy was her escort and they had a wonderful experience visiting with Sister Bateman (the temple matron) for 45 minutes alone. Ben and I, along with his brother and Dad, and Jordan Mulford were able to go through the session along with Tammy and Emily. What a blessing we have to make those special covenants in the temple.

On April 1 Tammy made a wonderful "backwards" breakfast for April Fools. The kids had to eat their colors (M&Ms) before they could have their pizza and Gatorade. What a breakfast! Tammy is so fun!

I celebrated my birthday on April 7. One problem, whoever made the cake can't count. She put an "80" on the top of the cake. I may be old, but I'm not that old! The truth is that I'm 56 and proud of it!

Ryan engaged in an International Project at school and presented food, data, and stories from Malaysia. Here he is in his native dress!

Ryan has been so amazing in track. He places in four events every week, usually taking first in the 4x100 relay (video above) and then placing second in the 100, 200, and long jump. He is faster than a speeding bullet and it's fun to see him run with reckless abandon! (He is in lane 2)

Bridal Shower and More (March 15, 2009)

Emily had her bridal shower on Saturday. Tammy did a great job putting it all together, and there were at least 50 in attendance. Tammy's Mom did a quilt that everyone joined in to tie during the shower. It was beautiful! Holding this prize possession are Bev Smith (Tammy's Sister), Tammy, Emily, Deb Arnell (Tammy's Sister), and Clara Snell (Tammy's Mom)

Emily was so animated, vivacious, and excited to greet all of her friends at the shower.

Cam finished his basketball season by scoring 21 points in each of his last two games. He is an amazing basketball player.

This is a typical dinnertime scene in the Hill-Mulford connection.

Jordan has been such a great brother. Here he is relaxing on Sunday afternoon with Maddy.

The Hill-Mulford connection visited the Draper Temple Open House and enjoyed the great Spirit there.

Seth did very well at the piano festival. Here is an excerpt.

Peter Jeffrey Boone (DOB 2/25/09)

Peter Jeffrey Boone was born at 6:59 a.m., on February 25, 2009, to Abby and James Boone. He is a rock and weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces, was 21 inches long, had an APGAR score of 9/9. Peter is our ninth grandchild, and their second child (both boys). Abby and James went to the hospital about 2:30 a.m., and left Andrew sleeping with Grandpa Hill.

Father James Boone telepathically communicates with his new son and asks him to open his mouth. Peter has peach fuzz brown head hair and no teeth nor chest hairs.

This is the first official family portrait of the newly expanded James Boone family. From left to right Peter, James, Abby, and Andrew.

Grandpa Hill holds Peter for the first time. He is very happy because Peter's middle name is "Jeffrey". Peter is the 27th living member of the Jeff and Tammy Hill and Mulford family.

Andrew is being instructed on how to touch the new baby VERY softly. He is exhuberant!

Abby spends some one-on-one quality time with Andrew in the hospital to ease the effects of his recent "dethronement".

This picture was taken just 12 hours before Peter was born. Abby was washing the dishes with Andrew.

Grandpa Hill took Andrew to the Henry Doorley Zoo the day that Peter was born. We had a blast. I got 22,000 steps that day.

February Joy(e)s

Madelyne Joye Mulford created a festive spirit for Valentines Day. She created more Valentines, by far, than anyone else in the family. We enjoyed a Family Home Evening where we used our artistic talents (Mulfords certainly excel in this area) to make creative valentines for all of the grandparents, married children, college kids, and in home family members.\

Tammy celebrated Valentines Day by making us a delicious heart-shaped meatloaf. Ymmmm! We enjoyed exchanging gifts on the day. She gave me wonderful sweater and shirt (red of course) and I have her the eight seasons of the Cosby show. We have been enjoying watching an episode each night before bed. And we seem to be sleeping much better!

Amanda's basketball season wound up with a thrilling Timpanogos 46-45 win over Lone Peak. It was a miracle. Amanda played sophomore, JV, and varsity this year. She is amazing ... but we are glad to get a little break in game-going until lacrosse starts.

I coached Cam's rec league team this year, in my spare time. He is definitely years ahead in his basketball skills. He has discovered a "lucky penny" that he kisses before the game. It has worked! In the last two games he has scored 42 points (21 points each game). He could score a lot more but he isn't a ball hog. He passes a lot and encourages the rest of the team enthusiastically.

Ryan's team also wrapped up their season. He improved every game, and ended up playing almost all the time. This is an action shot right before he stole the ball. The coach said that if everyone on the team hustled and had Mulford's attitude, they would have won more games.

Here is Ryan walking to the locker room for the last time this season. I think he's found his sport that he wants to focus on. He has lots of talent and determination. He'll go far!

Seth and his friend did a great science fair project this week. They got three different kinds of soda and then determined which had the greatest chemical reaction with Mentos and why. It was an exciting experiment!

Diet Coke was the winner!

Emily and Ben are still in love and still engaged. Tammy has been organizing the wedding and has most of the details already done! We are so blessed to have her in our family!

Emily and Ben are still happy!

Tammy and I had a great Valentines Day. I took her on a "get lost road" but we ended up at the Gateway where I got her a new diamond ring to replace the one that was lost 18 months ago. Then we went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef (via 3-d Imax) and had dinner at the Thaiphoon Restaurant. We are sooooo happy! The weather has warmed up and we are riding our tandem again up the canyon.

Here is Tammy's new ring! The picture doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful, especially on her finger!

Emily is Engaged ! !

It is official. Benjamin Wright proposed to Emily Ray Hill on Friday evening, January 30, 2009. Ben surprised Emily. He arranged with Tammy to get everyone out of the house at 10:00 pm so he could watch a movie with Emily. Tammy made a bowl of popcorn and hid the ring box at the bottom. And now they are engaged. They will be married on April 23, 2009 in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple at 11:00 am. The reception will be the night before, on April 22, 2009 at the Provo Library. We are all very happy. Ben is very popular with all of us.

This the VERY beautiful ring that Ben gave Emily. This photograph does not do justice to how much the ring sparkles.

The day before the engagement Ben took me out to lunch to ask for her hand. In keeping with tradition we played golf. We went to the driving range and had a contest. Ben won on the last drive, by only about ten yards.

Ben is beaming after having won the hand of Emily in marriage.

Still Winter

Emily and her "good friend" Ben are enjoying each other, and us, frequently. Ben has been teaching Math at Walden school after graduating from BYU in August. Emily is starting conditioning in Lacrosse. We love BOTH of them.

Too cold to play outside, so Cam, Seth, and Maddy have built an incredible fort!

Cam spent this morning being nice to Maddy, making her a creative wallet out of paper and tap. It contained original illustrations.

Seth has gone organic and is busily putting together Dad's weekly anti-oxidant supplements.

Amanda is playing lots of basketball. Next week I'll get a better picture of her and of Ryan.