Omaha

Our summer travels continued with a trip to Omaha last week to visit Abby and James and Andrew and Peter. Ryan is just getting his license and so needed the driving hours. He drove about 14 hours during the trip. Amanda, Ryan, Seth, Cam and I made the trip. Tammy and Maddy had a fun (and quiet) time at home and also visited in Kaysville. This picture is of Amanda, Ryan, and I after we went with James to do baptisms in the Winter Quarters temple.

We had a real fun time ice blocking for family home evening down the hill across from Abby and James house. This is an ice train with James, Ryan, Seth, and Cam, right before it fell apart. Abby won the contest for the longest ride.

We visited the children's museum and had loads of fun. Here Cam is making up Abby with fancy costume make up. He is very creative!

Peter REALLY enjoyed being in the museum with his grandpa, ME!

Believe it or not, this is Amanda posing as Hans Solo and promoting BYU!

A highlight of the trip was visiting the Henry Dorley zoo. We got a family membership so we went three times. The zoo is fantastic and sometimes its hard to tell whether the people are observing the animals or perhaps the animals are observing the people. Here Cam, Seth, Amanda, and Ryan traverse the rope bridge teeming with monkeys and other jungle animals.

We went to an all-you-can-eat pizza place for dinner and managed to down 107 pieces of pizze among all of us. Here Andrew is proud of his contribution! Actually he only ate three pieces. James was the champion with 22 pieces and everyone else managed to eat at least 10.

Since we were only 500 miles away from them, we figured out a way to see Aaron, Jenny, Spencer and Joshua. We each drove halfway and met in Iowa City, Iowa. We met at the Olive Garden and had a delicious lunch. Then we spent the afternoon together in a beautiful park.

Joshua and his beautiful blue eyes seemed happy to see grandpa.

Spencer was excited to pilot the space shuttle to a very wet landing in the park.

Maddy didn't go to Omaha, but she had a great time at home learning to sew with grandma and going to the Wizard of Oz with Tammy and Jackie. Here she is, all made up and beautiful. Check out those eye lashes!

I couldn't resist putting in this picture of Moroni (Jordan). Tammy had sharing time about the scriptures and he was very impressive as he enlightened the primary children. He is one handsome Nephite! Live is wonderful, Jeff

Backpacking and a Birthday

Ryan celebrated the BIG birthday! He turned 16 which means that he can date and get his license. He is currently taking drivers' ed and could have his license in just a few weeks. There are MANY girls hoping that he will ask them out!

Seth, Cam, Maddy, and I backpacked to a camping spot about a mile from our house, overlooking Orem. It was beautiful! On the way up a thunderstorm was blowing in and nearly blew us off the mountain. However, it calmed down enough for Cam and Seth to track down and catch exotic insects (like grasshoppers).

Maddy set up some sticks to hold her pot over the fire. We decided, however, to use the camp stove to make our macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, and hot chocolate.

Cam brought his football on the trip and we played catch.

A highlight of the trip was being able to build a fire, which we enjoyed late into the night, before the big rains came.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset (sailor's delight) right before a torrential thunderstorm pelted us through several hours during the night.

Birthdays Galore, Scout Camp

June is the month of Birthdays in the Hill-Mulford Family! It gives us pause to be grateful for every single one. Our first birthday was Emily's on June 7. We really celebrated that she is no longer a teenager! She and Ben are very VERY happy as a married couple. She is attending summer term at BYU and he is studying for the LSAT.

Cam got his favorite breakfast in bed for his 10th birthday on June 10. He enjoyed his turnovers immensely. Cam enjoying life and has decided to take brake dancing lessons. He is amazing!

We really whooped it up at his birthday party. All of the Utah County siblings were there along with two of his best friends, Joseph and Max. We celebrated by going to UP as a first run feature. We took the whole row in the movie theater!

I am now deacons quorum advisor. As a perk I got to take Seth to Scout camp this week at Scofield Resevoir.

We loved our experience but the weater was raining and cold a lot of the time. Our tent, however, kept us dry and as long as we wore three layers of clothing it kept us warm too.

The sun finally came out on Friday and were happy about it. Seth is also smiling because he earned six merit badges and one partial. He now has 12 merit badges and doesn't turn 12 for another three months.

Here is a group shot with all the boys, excited

Our farewell dinnner was of dutch oven ribs, and Seth loved every bite.

Alaska: Some Like it Hot

Tammy and I just returned from an unforgettable cruise with the Ray family. We sailed from Seattle and spent the week in the Inside Passage exploring Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Prince Rupert CA. We appreciate Grandma Ray who provided the resources for us all to make many memories, especially with Mike and Ruth Ann Petramalo. Ruth Ann has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Our first stop was Ketchikan, Alaska. The normal weather for this time of year is about 55 degrees and raining. Our day was 75 degrees and sunshine. We met Craig and Juaneta Cannon, a friend from high school who joined the church and married Juaneta, who was a year younger than me. They were gracious and exciting hosts and took us out on their boat for fishing and crabbing.

Tammy got a goot bite but the hundred pound halibut just got away. We did have good fun setting a crab cage, catching a nice sized crab, and then cooking it on a deserted beach. Thanks again to Craig and Juaneta for their hospitality.

Tammy really enjoyed getting to know the Rays much better. Here she is visiting with Marlene Hinton as we wait for the bus to take us to Mildenhaul Glacier in Juneau in the crisp morning. The temperature was more than 80 degrees later in the afternoon. We had the best fish and chips on the planet for lunch.

Here are Mike and Ruth Ann Petramalo posing in front of the Mildenhaul Glacier. This is a river of ice that flows 12 miles from the eternal snowfields above.

The scenery in Alaska took my breath away over and over again. This is a typical scene. So much beauty! God knew what he was doing when he created Alaska!

We sailed right into a bay full of ice bergs and were able to get quite close to a large glacier. Enroute we were tickled to see one ice berg with 5-6 seals sunning themselves. There were also bald eagles galore, everywhere. Alaska is a very patriotic state.

In Skagway our excursion cancelled out and we we rented a tandem in town and rode about 20 miles along the most beautiful scenery. In truth we enjoyed being together, alone, better than any of the excursions (and it was much less expensive).

In Prince Rupert we found a nearly empty golf course and played a round. Actually Jeff played a round and Tammy played around, drive the golf cart. It was so fun!

On the last day we posed on the grand staircase on the cruise ship. What a fun group! These are all of Juanita's siblings, their spouses, Grandma Ray, and Gretchen Petramalo, Mike's Mom.

After a week in heaven (Alaska) we returned home renewed, ready to move forward. Thanks, again, to Grandma Ray for putting this together. We all bring with us many memories that we will always treasure.

The Merry Month of May

Lots of action in the Hill-Mulford connection this month. Tammy and I flew to Las Vegas for Ben and Emily's open house at the home of some of the Wright's dear friends. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit! We attended an endowment session in the Las Vegas temple and here is Tammy beaming before we entered that sacred place. This is the 21st temple in which we have performed an ordinance since we were married. We love the temple! By the way, Tammy was just called as couselor in the Primary Presidency.

Cam was a star in the Northridge Elementary art show. His teacher (pictured above) is Mrs. DeWitt and she speaks very highly of Cam's talent. Though he is only in third grade, she put his artwork in with the 4th-6th graders.

Maddy also was excited to display her rather abstract artwork as well. I believe it was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art for 4.3 milliion dollars (just kidding!)

Seth has really gotten excited about scouting, though this picture doesn't do a good job of portraying his enthusiasm. He already has eight merit badges and plans to get 10 more at Scout Camp next month, and he is not yet 12. I (Jeff) have been called to be Assistant Scoutmaster and Deacon's Quorum advisor so I will be with them! (I thought I was through with Scout Camp :)

Amanda's team wrapped up their lacrosse season by placing third in the state. As a sophomore she was named the defensive player of the year. She loves lacrosse!

Maddy's dance group performed at BYU and she was so coordinated and rhythmic. They had a fun group.

Jordan and Ryan are shown here demonstrating their talents in front of the temple. This summer Jordan is working 40 hours a week keeping up the Orem City Park on 8th West and 16th North and then in his spare time he is waiting tables at the Pizza Factory. He was also recently called to be the activities chairman for his student ward.

Ryan has been playing in lots of summer basketball leagues. He is so excited to take drivers ed, turn sixteen, get his license, and then go out on dates. He is great!

I wanted to show the rest of the Hills. Here are Jeff, Aaron, Sarah, and Abby on top of the "Y" in Provo when everyone was in town for the wedding.

Here I am smiling!

Cam participated in the Cub Scout Olympics and blew out everyone in push ups. On the average kids his age can do 14. He did 60! Watch the action!

Emily and Ben's Wedding (April 23, 2009)

We are so excited that Emily Ray Hill married Benjamin David Wright for time and all eternity in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on April 23, 2009. This picture captures the feelings of that day, which were clearly out of this world!

Their wedding day was absolutely perfect! Tammy had everything planned so we didn't have a worry in the world. The weather cooperated as well, with light clouds and temperatures in the low 70s. They are both so photogenic.

Emily and Ben held their reception in the Provo Library on the night before the wedding, Wednesday, April 22. Again, Tammy had everything organized so that the night of the reception was low stress. The Library was very beautifully decorated with bright Spring colors everywhere. The photographer captured the starry-eyed couple in this photo worthy of the cover of Brides magazine.

Here is the whole Hill-Mulford clan at the reception. Everyone was there except for Hannah, James and Joel. We numbered 25 souls in this photograph. The photographer did a great job getting us together. Amazing!

With the photographer right there, Tammy took the opportunity to get a picture with the Mulford children. They are all good looking, like their Mom!

Emily posed with all of her sisters, all of whom have different last names. Abigail Boone, Amanda Hill, Sarah Allred, Becky Wright, and Maddy Mulford!

These are all the brothers, sporting their festive ties: Cam Mulford, Seth Hill, Walker Wright, Alex Wright, Ryan Mulford, Jordan Mulford, Jeff Hill, Daniel Wright, and Aaron Hill.

I insisted on one group photo of everyone at the temple. And here we all are! We were blessed to have Dave and Kari Wright with their family, along with five of Ben and Emily's grandparents, along with Hills, Snells, Arnells, Hitchcocks, Flakes, Rays, Curtis, Boones, Allreds, Mulfords, and probably some others I don't see in the picture!

To conclude this post on a spiritual note, I wanted to share what the sealer, Brother Lloyd Packard, counselled the couple in the temple:
1. Return to the temple frequently and remember the sacred covenants made therein. These are the foundation stones of eternal joy.
2. Always look for the good in each other. Good marriages don’t just happen, they are made through conscious effort. Look for similarities not differences. If you look for the good, you will find it. “Seek and ye shall find.” If you look for the bad, you will also find that and there is a danger that you will only start seeing the bad and then your marriage may not last.
3. Treat each other as kings and queens. The temple teaches us that we will be kings and queens in the house of Israel forever. We should start treating each other that way. Even though Emily is strong enough to open her own door, she should let Ben open it for her. He told of seeing President McKay wait outside the car until his wife Emma Ray came so he could open the door for her. They should remember those little things.
4. Make a plan for your family. He asked them what they wanted for their family. Emily said a place of love. Ben said a place of peace. Brother Packard added a place of the Spirit. He challenged them to make a plan for how they would make of their home a place of love, of peace, and of the spirit.

We are blessed! These are very happy days!