Preschool

This week it was Hayden's turn to host preschool. We had letter Q. We colored pictures of a queen, and practiced writing Q. We also made queen hats, well the boys made King hats. The kids had a great time, and didn't want to go home. Hayden has a crush on Bella (she's on the left of the table), well actually he likes any girl who will say that they will marry him! What will we do on Thursday?? Q is a hard one.

Sick: Wonderful or Awful

So I know its been awhile since I've written...Sorry about that. We were all sick. First Hayden on Sunday, then I woke up sick Monday, then I picked up Ethan at school Tuesday because he had a temperature. It was awful, but kinda great at the same time. I had a legitimate excuse for lounging around all day. Except for at the time I was feeling like I'd rather die (or even pay bills) then feel so awful. But now that I am better I am grateful for all that extra sleep. It's funny how you can't (or me at least) can't be grateful for something until it's taken away. I have been feeling so rushed and busy lately, and just really wishing that for one week I could have nothing that needed to be done. You know just a week to myself. Of cousre when I got my week to myself all I wanted to do was to busy myself with my endless to do lists that have been piling up...like scrapbooking and such; But after last week I was so bored I was grateful that I have things to do. I like babysitting Payson, even though I get none of my stuff done, I like taking Ethan to Tae Kwon Do, even though it takes forever and it's far. So you know what life is good. And I am grateful for my endless to do lists. Because the latter is really boring.

I read an article called It takes a novel (By Nell Casey) last week in the Cookie magazine that I thought was dead on. It said:

"The hours pass slowly," a friend once remarked about staying home with a newborn, "but the days go quickly." This shifting quality of time persists, mainly because the sacred and the mundane are forever commingling. Over the days, your life moves dutifully from one errand to the next, and yet over the years, it takes on an epic quality. "Is life fascinating or boring?" a mother asks in Diane Johnson's woonderful and eccentric novel The Shadow Knows (Plume). Is everything clear and decided, or are there possiblities for wonder unbounded?" The answer of course is: both.

Sr. Brown Belt

Ethan did an amazing job on his Tae Kwon Do test Saturday. He studied so hard on his Poom Se, kicks, and questions. He even had to sparr and break a board, it took a couple tries but after everyone cheered him on he snapped the board in half. They will have the belt ceremony on Tuesday where they will put his new belt on him. The next belt that he is now working for is red. Ethan really enjoys his classes, and he has made some nice friends. He is making great improvements as he gets more into it. We can see the difference it has made already. It really boosts his self esteem when he feels like he does a good job, and it has taught him to work harder when it gets tough and to not give up. His questions that he had to have memorized had a lot of really hard words, but the one that I know he'll remember is ambitition, because Ethan does have ambition. He has set a goal to get his black belt and he is working so hard to get it. I am so proud of him.

60th Birthday

We celebrated Terry's 60th birthday this weekend at our house. (Our first big party in the new house, Candy said we had to break it in!) We had a full house, about 20 people came. We had a great time hanging out. Everyone had to try our latest game: guitar hero, and of course Terry was a natural. The men played fusball, while the ladies played rumikub, and the kids ran wild, everyone was happy. We also played a couple of 1948 trivia games, where they had to guess the name of the pictured famous people also born in 1948 like Samuel L Jackson, and Ozzy Osbourne, to name a few. Our 2nd trivia game was "What did it cost in 1948?" Then on Sunday we continued the festivities by celebrating Zachery's 1st birthday and mine! Thank's for all the wonderful gifts! It was the perfect weekend, except everyone was sick, and then Hayden started to feel sick around lunch time, you know he's sick when he denies chocolate cake.
Happy Birthday, Terry, we love you.

Happy Valentine's Day

I love you all. I hope you all got mad love'n today...If not I am sending it your way!! Wish I could have been at your party Amb, with cupcakes and cookies, oh my! I bet it was a hit! Next party I'll be there! (Just plan it for spring break, kay) XOXOXOXOXO

Dinner is served!!

So there's a chance that my family might actually get dinner this next week. I'm part of a dinner group. Our plan is that we each make 5 of the same dinners, becasue there is 5 of us, then we get together and trade the dinners. The idea is we each go home with 5 main courses. Pretty cool, right! Today was our first time, and I think it worked out pretty well. I am excited to try out all the meals. I made lasagna, but stupid me I didn't start until last night, at 9:30. (I had to go to a work function...Heidi had a pampered chef party...I had to go. JK) So needless to say I was up late, hence the picture of Hayden wearing his pjs at 5:30pm. He didnt want to change, and I was too tired to care. So tonight was lasagna (I had to try out my meal to make sure it was safe...it was, and very cheesy!), tomorrow marinated chicken breasts, thanks Allison, I am excited! Happy Dinners!

Ties

Taryn bought Ethan this tie awhile back. Ethan was so excited to get a tie like Daddy's. But we are always in such a rush to get to church, that he hasn't had a chance to learn to tie it. Yesterday we got an early start on getting dressed for church (for once), and Shawn seized the moment and tried to teach him how to tie it. I think it's going to take a couple more times, but he almost got it. Ethan you look so handsome...just like your Daddy!

Wisdom

I want to know who in their right mind would ever call something that can cause such excruciating pain, wise??
Yes, last Wedensday Shawn finally had his wisdom teeth pulled. He had no idea how much it would hurt. He didn't even think he needed a ride home. Which as it turned out they didnt put him under or anything, just a few shots. But 3 dentists and 2 1/2 hours later, I am sure everyone was wishing that he'd been under. When I came to pick him up, he did not look happy. I've never seen him in so much pain, and remember he just had his hand almost torn off. Compared to this, that was nothing. Poor Shawn. But he's a trooper. He went to bed early, and still went to work the next day. I am not kidding this boy is an animal. By Friday his cheeks were enormous, I couldn't take him seriously. But he was still in a lot of pain, so I had to be nice. So ummmm, I think I'll just keep my wisdom teeth.

Scrub a dub-dub

Quality Time

I had so much fun with my Maddie, Becca, and Xander. I brought them home with me after Amberly's bridal shower, since I was coming right back in 4 days. It was a blast...well at least I had a blast. I hope you guys did too. Maddie rocked out on guitar hero (and beat Shawn, don't rub it in though, he's sore about it...but sorry Maddie he has been practicing...He had to beat and surpass your scores). We ate doughnuts, which were the best I've ever had. They took turns going down our steep driveway on this plasma car (in the picture), which kinda scared me...I am not going to lie, I feared for their life. Xander and Hayden took a couple of baths, and tried filling my whole bathroom with the water, which they almost suceeded. I loved listening to the four younger ones in their bed at night, they just talked, and enjoyed each others company. They insisted on sleeping all together on the floor, so they could be right next to each other. They really do love each other. I am already looking forward to having them come out again. I love you guys, so much.

My gorgeous sis

This is my totally gorgeous sister, who just got hitched!! Her wedding was the most beautiful wedding ever! In this picture we were just getting ready for the big day. Her best friends were there helping us with our hair. (Thanks Summer!) I wish I would have taken more pictures. Doesn't Amberly look amazing. Aaron you are one lucky guy.

Toast

Great toast Trisch. Good-by burnt toast, and toast that would never toast, hello perfectly warmed and toasted on one side bagels. Thanks so much, we love the new toaster. FYI we are a toast kind of family, doesn't matter the time of day. It's always a good time for toast, or a bagel with cream cheese, or even the occasional brown sugar pop tart. Yup the toaster serves as a very prominent appliance in our kitchen. Can't live with out it. What's your favorite, can't live with out, appliance?

A Tribute to the Corbridge's

This is a picture of our good friends. They lived down the street from us...before we moved. They have been in arizona just since september. We instantly became friends...Mostly because they didn't have cable, and they wanted to watch conference. Or maybe because they share our passion for boating. Whatever the reason, we love them. We loved going to the park, and going for walks in the middle of the day when we couldn't stand being cooped up in the house...rain or shine, it didn't matter. Anyways they have already moved on...back to Sacramento to be exact, on to greener pastures (literally). I'm not sure who Shawn will miss more? Eric or Hadley (Hadley is their youngest, 1yr old), he wanted to keep Hadley, but I told him they might miss him. I don't know, is 20k still the going offer Eric? We love you guys and hope you find peace in sunny california, we will always miss you... I don't know maybe we can meet up in San Francisco one of these days. Are you up for it??

Best night sleep ever

For the longest time we've been struggling to get Hayden to stay in his bed all night. I've tried everything: a new toy, his choice for breakfast (even dessert), what ever he wants. But he did not want any of it. (What's wrong with this kid?) On Sunday he siad he was scared of his monsters (those stuft monsters that you color, and then throw in the wash). So Shawn told him to put them in our room (so he'd be scared of our room). I don't think that this was the trick, but the last couple nights he's stayed in his bed all night!! And the best part: he didn't even need his lightning McQueen (his pull up). I had the best night of sleep last night, I don't even remember Shawn leaving this morning. He said that he said by, but I was out!!! Now if I can just get Shawn to stay on his side of the bed...(Wink. Wink.) Just kidding bring on the snuggling, as long as their is no one between us, I am happy.

insignificant stuff

after being in arizona for over a year i am realizing that life goes on with out us. shocker. and i feel totally disconnected from you all. i miss hearing about the everyday stuff. especially the stupid stuff that may seem totally insignificant, but really, thats the stuff life is made of. you know. like my darling neice that received a really cool present for christmas from a very cute boy...wow! okay that is significant; but i didnt hear about it until weeks later. so i thought that maybe some of you might be missing hearing about our totally insignifacant stuff...well here you go. problem solved: here is our little blog so that you can know what is going on in the crazy hancock home. i love you all... all the way back, maddie!