Rescue Me!

Phew- So many things to tell yet so little desire to not sleep... I will do my best to give you the skinny.
Time has flown by with our family this summer. So many activities yet it feels as if time has slipped through our fingers. I entertained the idea that once school started things would calm down. Perhaps I would have a few more 'breaks' (wha?). Not a chance! Life seems to be stuck on fast forward. I fancy myself as someone who can run with the big dogs - OMGoodness- I am dying here. 36 is supposed to be the new 28-
My daily schedule starts at
Hunter up at 4:45- and doesnt slow down until 10pm
I know many have even busier schedules. I am not complaining just swimming, treading water right now. I want my kids back- I want summer back.

On the happy, bright side- the kids are loving school!
Hunter started High school. She has made some great fun friends. They like fashion but aren't obsessed. They are giggly about boys but not over the top. They are athletes and scholars. They are kind girls with stellar senses of humor. Well balanced
Cole is loving 7th grade. Great friends- Nice kids- He is playing football. He made the 'A' team -wha? He is athletic yet only a slight 100 pounds! That is a feather here. He is also playing baseball. Adjectives that I would describe football with for Cole- terrifying and perhaps...theatrical. Although to most it may have seemed that he was a part of a few select plays during his first game -I am positive I saw him running to the side of his tackle briefly. Bravo for his debut performance. Unfortunately he was injured during his first game... too much to blog about- FYI it is now an ouch not an injury- he is doing better everyday.
Rachie has one of her best friends Marci in her class. She was bouncing off the walls when she found out. She is playing soccer, Doug is asst. coach for her team the 'Flash'. Rachie has 5 new hamsters babies. Thankfully we have homes for all 5 to go to!
Jordie is loving first grade. She is a reading fool. She is still getting used to the long day at school. She usually crashes before dinner. Unfortunately it is a accelerated downward spiral the second she steps off the bus. This spiral is usually accompanied by some type of meltdown/system failure matched by a demand from Mom or Dad for her to go lay down... Hopefully we will have this chaos in check sooner than later.
Doug is having as much fun as possible at work. He has been bored lately. He recently took his Texas Jurisprudence exam and received his Texas state license. He was also credentialed by a few other practices for moonlighting/ locums. He is in Indiana for 5 days right now. The man is a working machine. We are gearing up for a busy month. We get to see Dave and Robin this weekend. Bill and Coy Ann will be visiting, Doug is heading out to Indiana again- Cole is turning 13 on the 21st. Doug and I are heading to Las Vegas. Doug will be at a conference- I will be relaxing. Short and sweet vaca for the two of us- And in November we are looking forward to Ben, Greg and Megan heading out for Thanksgiving!
Hayden has taken to giggling uncontrollably. He still isn't really trying to talk. He is so much fun. We love to give him squishy hugs. He gives loves freely now, w/ little pats on your back.
As for me- Same ole same ole. I have this knack for acting with my heart and not always my head. Logic and reason don't always come first. Last week we braced ourselves for hurricane IKE. We prepared for many evacuees to head up to Georgetown. The schools were used as shelters from Austin on up. 3 Days after the hurricane hit I happened upon a couple with puppies. They had been sleeping in their car with 6 puppies and 2 dogs for 5 days! The shelters wouldn't take them with their dogs. They were skinny dirty dogs (and people). The couple needed money and shelter. They had the papers for the dogs- Boxers. I purchased one for Doug's 39th birthday... Just what he didn't want. We have settled on the name Maisy- But we aren't sold on it. Any suggestions? I also like Harley- We are having fun getting her healthy and loving her. Even if she doesn't work out with us (she is puppy rough with Hayden) we assume because she is so cute and lovable we can surely find someone willing to give her a home.

Please send any name suggestions for our newest addition-

That's life for now

Will keep you posted!

Family Friends and Fun

Break at Breck Slideshow

Break at Breck

Sorry I have not posted recently!

Fortunately for our family we were blessed with the return of Doug's Mom and Dad- Bill and Coy Ann Tilton! They have been serving a mission for the last 2 years in Uruguay. They arrived home to many smiling faces on Saturday, August 9th at 10:24 in Colorado Springs. What a great feeling to see them step around the corner of the walkway! I am not quite sure what I was expecting but two hours before they arrived it seemed like forever since we had seen them- As soon as we laid our eyes on them it seemed like yesterday. What an amazing feeling. I love the feeling of family- Of knowing you are near love. When I was able to hug Coy Ann with a 'welcome home' it felt so good knowing that they were home- that they were safe- that they made such an incredible decision to go and serve a mission and they returned with honor. I became a smidge choked up upon their arrival yet quickly got my game face back on. My thoughts turned to curiosity- Wonderment if they were sad to be back home. I have never served a mission but I know how much I love to serve others. I can only imagine how their hearts have been filled these last two years. Many people are going to miss them in Uruguay- I just hope they feel and know how much they are loved here also- Everyone that knows them knows of their good works and charity - they know of their sacrifices for others. I guess in short- cutting out my babble- I am so proud to be a part of this family. I walk among giants.

We have been anxiously anticipating their return - It was better than imagined/anticipated.

Doug(+6) has 3 brothers, David(+6), Greg(+3), Ben, and also one sister, Terri(+4). Each sibling was represented by their entire family- minus one, Alex, from Dave and Robins crew-unfortunately Alex couldn't get away from work and commitments in LA.

Our Tilton Family Reunion was in Breckenridge, Colorado at the Little Mountain Lodge. Bill and Coy Ann set the entire crew up in this amazing little mansion. The Little Mountain Lodge is a Bed and Breakfast but Bill and Coy Ann rented it out in its entirety for the week. AMAZING! 12 Bedrooms, 3 of them Suites, Doug and I were lucky enough to score a suite with a fireplace - the whole 9 yards. Sweet Suite. I don't think we could have asked for a better place for 26 family members to hang out together. My sister in law Megan coordinated food with the caterers up here and also set up all the fixins for anything and everything else you could imagine. I am sure more stress than I will even imagine. Kudos to her. Phew for me!

All the cousins were so excited to be together. It was such a blast catching up with the everyone. There was golfing, swimming, a Scavenger Hunt through Downtown Breckenridge, Horseback riding, Rock wall climbing, Jeopardy, a Birthday Party, BBQ, An Easter Egg hunt, Shopping, Photography and so many fun memories shared. Although I know we all had a ton of fun I am more excited to see how Bill and Coy Ann recoup after the reunion. I think it aged them. They left within 2 hours of landing for a week family reunion with 26 totally different personalities in one home after being away from home in a foreign country for 2 years... Hmm I think they are WAY overdue a break from Everyone and Everything. I am eager to hear how they spend their first month back to life as we know it.

I will post more ASAP. Here are some pics that I snapped while on break in Breck.

96 degrees in the shade

Another July Day in Texas- Another 107 degree day!

At 8 in the evening it was still 101! The craziest part of this is the fact that it didn't seem that hot to me. We have learned how to acclimate I guess.

Baseball and Soccer resumed this week . We have seen children have to leave the field - vomitting and heat exhaustion.

Cole and Rachel are attending a Golf and Tennis camp here at Berry Creek this week. It begins at 8:30 and ends at 2pm. They are spent by the time it is over. 7pm bedtime!
Hunter started on a new soccer team this week. Georgetown United. She went to practice tonight. Her head coach used to play keep for Mexico. He seems as if he is a great coach. The last couple of months teams have been calling, emailing, and asking for Hunter to come and check them out. We didn't know what to expect. When Hunter got to United's practice tonight she was the only player that wasn't Hispanic. The coach , in Spanish, told the team to play nice and turn it down a couple of notches so they wouldn't scare her off. It was 105 degrees when they started! Hunters ivory complexion rapidly turned beet red! Thankfully all went well. She decided to stick with G United. We think she will learn a lot from these players and coaches. She is very driven and has been looking for a team that takes soccer seriously. I guess you have to be careful what you wish for! They take it really seriously!
Cole started his Baseball last week. It is a new team with some fresh out of college coaches. There were better teams that wanted him but they were not forgiving about letting us observe the Sabbath on Sunday. They eat breathe and sleep Baseball. Cole would love to do that but He doesn't take his Priesthood responsibilities lightly. He is such a sweetie!
Rachie got new Golf Clubs tonight- So excited for camp! She is also anxious to get her tennis game shaped up so she can play with the big kids. She wants to be a pro at tennis by the end of the week so she can impress Grandma and Grandpa Tilton at our upcoming family reunion. These are her first tennis lessons ever. I guess we will cross our fingers and toes for her.
Hunter, Cole, and Rachie also started Guitar lessons last week. Because Cole plays the cello and Hunter plays the violin it has been easy for them to pick up. They purchased guitars with Grandma and Grandpa Tiltons Christmas money last year. They had their first lesson last Thursday. They each can already play every song in the book. They cannot wait for their next lesson. What can I say, My kids rock way too hard ;)
Jordie is loving swimming every day. She is deeply saddened her 'best friend Trinity' (we hear that phrase at LEAST once a day) is moving to Arizona. She is still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Arizona isn't right down the street and it won't be that easy to visit.
Hayden is walking everywhere now. The child is fearless. He reminds me of ET waddling around everywhere- those stubby, short, legs and that thick torso- Too cute. He is kissable!
My camera is charged and ready. I will get pics of camps and practices!

Loving Texas
TT

Edited Smoke and Mirrors

Last night I got to talking with a mom about blogging. This particular conversation has come up a few times before in reference to blogging. There are as many haters out there as fellow bloggers! I immediately get defensive
Their problem with blogging is they believe we have selective recollection. The lack of reality in the pictures of so many Very Brady/ Cleveresque families. Women wearing pearls while baking kids with schedules and rules that they follow without being asked... They are calling BS on all blogs I guess.
I tried to explain that I do not spew sunshine on all the world and paint a portrait of our family as to illustrate our family as untouchable or perfect. I just try to recount the week or day for friends and family.
Unfortunately, looking back I guess I have pulled the wool over all eyes peeking at our blog. I am a fraud. We are not perfect. I have yet to mention more than a handful of my misgivings. Yes, it is true we do have some.
I will now divulge a few things you probably didn't know about our workings here in the Tilton household. (only me- I wont embarrass anyone else.)
Hmm, where do I start.
-I, Tiffany Tilton, cuss at drivers when I am driving and far too often in my head. If anyone were ever a mind reader... Lets just pray they don't drive near me.
-In the summer time I occasionally wait until well after the chores and cleaning et. are done before I shower. I then shew the children away and allow them to do whatever they want while Hayden has his nap so I can indulge in a good book. I wait for Doug's call that he is on his way home before I hurry to straighten and put my make-up and pearls on.
-Smoke and mirrors baby.
-I spend too much money.
-I am rude to telemarketers.
-My closet is a holy pit of horrors.
It is the abyss of our home. Anything lost you can most likely find after a month in my closet. I don't even let the cleaning ladies go in there.
-I am a Diet Coke (silver can- yeah that's right the hard stuff) addict. Love it.
-I loathe cell phones. I really don't like hearing others peoples loud, pompous, one sided conversations in restaurants, stores et.!
-I am a hypocrite. I insist on everyone else giving me a game plan- but I actually like to fly by the seat of my pants.
-I don't exercise nearly enough- I have yet to commit to conquer the extra baby weight (he just turned 1!) packed on during and after Hayden. I guess you could say I took a year off. It has been great fun-but reality is telling me it's go time.

There you have it.
I am far from perfect and I know it. Although I do try to always do my best and am working on my many flaws- As with most bloggers I try to post as many of the fun things/happenings in our life that I can. Do we really always want to relive ick? Complaining doesn't make for fun journaling/blogging- So I guess that is why I am selective about what I blog- After writing the fore mentioned ick you probably see what I am saying to all the haters out there. Yawn! Who cares about those misgivings!

I vow to never divulge so much ick again!

Confession session over.

Back to the good stuff.

TT's Playlist