Thanksgiving in the Desert

The CLAN!

Ethan loves Radley but has never been interested in holding him. Can you imagine my relief when he finally wanted to hold him. He is going to be my right hand when the baby comes! Doesn't he know this, he better get used to holding babies!!

Hayden and Grandma cuddling in bed for a few extra minutes!!

Aunt Amberly brought some fun board games to play! Thanks Aunt Amb!

Me and my sisters.

Hayden had a blast riding the quad, not so much on his own bike. But whatever, at least he was out there riding! It was funny all the younger kids (Xander, and Ethan Thomas) wanted to ride the quad so they took turns riding, and even giving each other rides when they couldn't wait their turn. It was silly because there was two perfectly good bikes just sitting there that they wouldn't ride. Are these kids lazy, or what?

Thanks you Becca for riding Hayden's bike... someone needed to!

Uncle Jim was on turkey duty! MMMmm! Look at that gorgeous turkey. Nice work!

Hayden's Thanksgiving Program

Hayden was the cutest little Indian! I had a great time helping the kids finish their program costumes, it has been so fun to actually be able to work in the kids class rooms this year. He had fun with his class singing all the songs. He loves kindergarten.
Shawn and I went to the special thanksgiving lunch they had for the parents. It was fun to see both Ethan and Hayden with their friends. We found out that the little girl, Isabelle, that Hayden is quite fond of is the principles daughter! Am I the only one that thinks that is hilarious?

Tinsel Town

i know its a little early to be getting ready for christmas. i am sure that by the time it actually rolls around i will be so ready for it to just be over. kinda like how i feel about all the holidays. its just so fun to decorate though, i cant help myself. this year i am hosting a progressive dinner for a bunch of women in early december and since we will be gone the two weekends before, i feel totally justified to start setting up the tree even before thanksgiving.

i've always wanted to make a little christmas village like this one. i just made it out of milk cartons that i have been saving for the past several months. and then put twinkle lights inside. super easy. it was fun to be a little creative, its my stress outlet.

i am making advent calendars this year for family gifts, for my family. i want to put in all the holiday traditions, like looking at lights, reading polar express and drinking hot cocoa, and building a gingerbread house. on some days i think i will just put in chocolates, i am sure some days will be to busy for an extra thing to do. but i need a few more ideas. whats your favorite holiday tradition?

Hot dogs & smores: yes please!

Last Friday we went up to Table Mesa for a bon fire to experience the best parts of camping with out the back aches that come in the morning. The boys found an old door and decided it would make a great sled down the hillside (that was covered in glass). Why cant they be satisfied with an open fire, roasting dogs and smores. Maybe a few stories could be shared around the crackling fire. You know just sit back and hang? Oh no, not my fam, they like to live life on the edge. But no one was hurt, and the boys all had a good time! Its just another Hancock adventure! Whats next??

Hair cuts

You know how you feel like a whole new woman after you get a hair cut? Well I kinda feel that way after my kids get their hair cut too! Their hair was so long it was ridiculous. They always shower at night so they always wake up with bed head and they hate hate hate it when I put gel, or jelly as Hayden calls it, in their hair. I usually leave their bangs a little longer so I can style it on Sunday, its the only day I make them do their hair. But please isnt that ridiculous to have crazy every day, just to have cute styled hair for three hours one day a week. So we buzzed it. And I love it. They look so much cuter now. I dont look at them and think ohmigosh what is their Mom thinking, I look at them and think how handsome they are...just like their Daddy...when he has his hair cut!

Halloween Weekend

For Halloween this year we had a huge weekend party to celebrate. Shawn's fam came, my fam came. It was awesome, probably the best Halloween ever. Dont you love how everyone dressed up? Hey we get into it, we know how to have fun- we cant let the kids have all the fun! On Halloween Day we went to the park, carved pumpkins, ate chili and hot dogs, our traditional Halloween dinner, and went trick or treating, then of course the kids went through their stash. On Sunday my Mom made yummy french toast, we went to church ate an early Thanksgiving dinner, played games. All in all it was a jam packed weekend of just being together, it was great. This is how every weekend should be!

I like to carve pumpkins just for the seeds, yummy!, and we had a ton of seeds between the 9 kids and their pumpkins. Did I mention we had a house full? I was impressed with what everyone came up with. We have a very talented bunch of pumpkin carvers!!

On Saturday, just to make things a little more hectic, and exciting, Ethan and hayden both had sports games. At least they were back to back. It was fun hanging out at the park on our little blanket while all the kids ran around.

Costume Party

After my marathon post I will just let these pictures talk for themselves!

Life in the fast lane

Camping in Flagstaff

Keepsakes I never thought I'd use

the boys enjoying Daddy being home on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday etc.

Hayden playing soccer

The boys taking turns helping Daddy move some dirt around. And Shawn having way to much fun with this new "toy"

So its been awhile. Between not feeling great and just being busy some things have to be put on the back burner, and blogging has been one of those things. I thought that when Shawn finished working out of town that life would be less crazy, but of course it has been the opposite. After him being out of town for almost a year we both kind of got used to doing our own thing and dealing with our own hectic schedule. I was really looking forward to him being home and actually just having him around. But I guess I forgot that he is never really around even when he is home. Something about Shawn is that he is a work workaholic. He cant stand not having something to do. He truly is amazing, the amount of things he gets done in one day, it would blow your mind. Its exhausting just watching him. So I tell you all this because my little day dreams of having him finally be home and us eating dinner together as a family, and actually just sitting on the couch together was so such a joke. Don't get me wrong we do do these things but it always has a time frame, squeezed into the hectic day, you know rushed- not exactly what I had in mind. But what can I say I love the man, and I will take whatever I can get.

Soon after Shawn being home he took on this huge project in our backyard. And I mean huge, the man thinks big. He thought it would take one month to finish, but you know how these projects go, they always take longer, and they always cost more. But I know it will be beautiful when its done. And you will just have to wait and see for yourself!

So some other things that we have been up to is taking a quick trip up to flagstaff with some of our favorite neighbors. The boys had a blast. We hadn't been camping as a family in forever. It was so gorgeous, and everything was so green. The boys had fun hiking, throwing rocks into a lake, shooting a gun (yikes!) and having ice cream at Mormon Lake.

I took the kids for a three day weekend in Cali to visit my fam. I couldnt wait another day to see my family, I was missing them so much. We stayed with my sister Amberly, and I got to hold and play with Radley till my hearts content. He is so sweet, and he is getting so big way to fast. I thought seriously about stashing him in my luggage on the way home. It was a great weekend, I got to see everyone, not for very long, but it was a good solid visit! I am so anxious to have everyone come out next weekend, to see everyone again. Its always a lot less crazy when they come out here, because we get to just hang out instead of me driving all over the place to see everyone. So it will be fun.

Hayden started soccer, and loves it. He just gets in there, and doesn't think twice about throwing elbows to get the ball, I wonder where he gets that from? HMMmm. He gets so excited about it he will get ready an hour before practice. He is definitely the athlete of the family. Ethan started baseball, and was so excited that his best friend just happened to be on his team. At his last practice, the two of them wouldn't stop laughing and playing around. I think the coach might have been a little frustrated, but I was so glad to see him having so much fun. His bff goes to a different school so they don't get to play as much. They have their first game this week. Ethan also has joined an art club after school. Its only for a few months. Ethan loves drawing, he spends hours drawing characters and writing the stories to go with them. Ethan is also still enjoying Bear scouts. So between the three activites he (and I mean me!) is a pretty busy boy.

Something funny that happened was Ethan had spent some time hanging out at the park with some neighbors. Soon after he got home I hear this blood curdling scream, and I see Ethan dancing around... with his pants around his ankles. I am think what is wrong with this boy. He is crying that there's something on his bottom that is biting him. But I can't look because he's dancing around the living room holding his bottom. After a little coaxing I get him to relax and bend over so I can take a look. And let me tell you, I haven't taken a look at his cute little hinney in long time, it was a little weird. Anyway, sure enough there was something biting him. It was a giant black ant, and it wasn't on his rump, it was somewhere a little more sensitive, and that's all I am going to say about that. Except for the expression "ants in your pants" has taken on a whole new meaning in our home.

Sorry is this the longest post ever? Well I just have one more thing.

My Mom is the most organized woman I know. She is truly amazing. This is just one of the many qualities that I love best about my Mom. She saved some of my beautiful baby dresses. They have each been placed in zip lock baggies to protect them. She gave me this keepsake box after I got married. I didn't think I would ever be able to use them, because I am a boys Mom. But after a recent ultra sound we found out that we just might be able to put the dresses to some good use! We are so thrilled. I was in total shock for a whole week, I would wake up in the middle of the night and think oh my gosh I am having a girl! Or I'd be throwing up and I'd think no wonder I am so much sicker this time around, I am having a girl! -And it made it okay.

So that's it, my life in a nut shell. Even though life is so hectic I love my life. I love my husband, I love my boys, I love my home. I love being pregnant. I wouldn't change anything. Even though life is crazy I can still find a few quiet moments in my day where I can just sit back and truly enjoy my life and just be grateful for my many, many blessings. I think if we get caught up in being to busy (because we are all busy) and we forget to just be grateful then we miss all the good stuff. So thank you, thank you for today and that I could be busy with my family.

Our weekend with Cara

Poor Jared! He is such a good sport! Thanks Jared for sharing your family!
Hayden and Ella playing games cuddled together on the couch.

Cara thanks so much for coming to visit us. I had such a good time with you! I am so relieved that no one got sick and I actually got you all to myself this time around. Remember last year I had to visit you at the hospital just to see you! But this year we got to sit on the couch and actually hang out, how refreshing! And the weather was so perfect, the kids had such a blast at the park, and on the train. Thanks for coming! I hope you had fun in Sedona! I think its my turn to visit you!! Love ya!