Long Time, No Posting

Ok, so I haven't posted anything since last Christmas. Our 2008 has been, as usual, very busy, and I don't get much done besides business stuff. In fact, I actually feel a bit guilty for doing things (like blogging or facebooking) that don't have to do with the business or running the household. Which I hate. I should be able to read, surf, blog, or write for fun without feeling the need to make up for the time I lost when I should have been doing books or creating ads or working or cleaning. But such is life, and I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling this way. I'll stop my complaining.

We are hanging in there and keeping high hopes for future, with a bit of anxiety for what this new economy and new president holds for us. "When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us and threaten our peace to destroy, there is hope smiling brightly before us and we know that deliverance is nigh!" "Come, come ye saints, no toil nor labor fear--but with joy, wend your way!" Just some key hymn lines I'm trying to hang on to for now.

Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008!
The holidays are over and we're just trying to get back on schedule with normal routines. We did not get a Christmas letter out this year, which I regret, but I'll hopefully get one out next year. We hope all of you had a wonderful season. We miss you!



The kids all said this was their "best Christmas ever!" We visited Santa at the beginning of December when he stopped by American Fork during his busy season (unfortunately, it was on Jerry's Guard weekend, so he's not in the picture.)





Thomas asked Santa for a "Guard" Uniform like his dad's (except he wanted the new digital camo instead the old). Doesn't he look sharp, toothless smile and all?!


Bella's favorite gift was her baby doll from Grandma Hancock, that has her same haircut and fairy princess dress. She named her "Ginger" and loves swaddling her up and taking good care of her.

(Ignore Thomas dressing in the bottom of the shot there. Oops!)

And William was just excited to get into the banana he got in his stocking! (He couldn't wait for us to open it for him that day--I guess Mom was too busy with other things at the time!) Incidentally, that's the best unwrapping job he did all day; the one he was most interested in for sure!


The kids have learned how to take video on our camera, and they LOVE it! Here Thomas filmed Bella telling about what we do Christmas day. Embarassingly, you can see my very cluttered and dirty house in the background, so please try and ignore that. When I was scanning through pictures and found this, I thought it would be fun to share.
(You'll have to get past Jerry's ranting on the phone in the background. You know him, getting all hot under the collar about liberals and what not. It's certainly not the best video and conditions, but it's still a cute snapshot of Bella's memories.)

Hooray, Dad's Home from Guam!!

Jerry served a two week stint in Guam with the National Guard in September. Though he was only gone for two weeks, it was a long two weeks for us here at home and we were pretty excited to have him back. That night, we got to dress up in the fun pajamas he brought back for souvenirs, and pull out the fans as well. Jerry took plenty of pictures of Guam while there, and some are posted on another blog site, if you want to view it. http://www.506ears.blogspot.com/

Halloween Activities 2007

The Monday before, we carved pumpkins (I love the picture with both Jerry and Thomas concentrating and carving with their tongues out :)). Bella had more fun gathering leaves in a bouquet and playing with William.

For Halloween, William was a Tigger, Bella was Fairy, and Thomas a Ninja. By the end of the day, however, I guess Bella was so tired of correcting people that she was a fairy and not a butterfly, that she started telling people that she was a butterfly. I guess a butterfly is just as wonderful as a fairy! Great memories!

Just Some Fun Pictures

Thomas and Bella being a little crazy--these are both pictures they took of each other, amongst a bunch of others. That's the nice thing about digital cameras--no waste of film, and somewhere in all their crazy mix of shots, you get some great keepers!


We went to the Hogle Zoo this Summer. Kids had a great time. Of all the exotic and fun animals there, the beasts to see and things to learn, their favorite things were the train and the playground. Go figure.

Hancock Cousin's Hike: Tibble Fork, American Fork, UT

When Chad and Juli came out this August, they had a hike in mind for the whole family. Unfortunately, the hike we set out on wasn't exactly the right length or trail for everybody. So while half stayed down to enjoy the day at the lake, Tyson, Courtney, Robbyn, Thomas, Bella, William, Jerry and Naomi followed the trail up and around until we circled back to the reservoir. The kids were GREAT hikers--not a complainer in the bunch (not even Bella, who has been known to complain when long hiking is involved!). We felt bad that the family split up, but we really enjoyed spending the time with the cousins who came along.

We saw the log where Jerry broke his neck 8 years ago while moutain biking. I wish I'd have gotten a picture, but Jerry wasn't with me at the time so I didn't realize I was actually looking at it. We forded a few streams, soaking our socks and shoes with refreshing ice cold water --sometimes on accident when the log or stones weren't stable, sometimes on purpose when we were already wet and didn't care. It was a fun time, and we were happy to make it back around and rejoin the family who had wondered where we'd gone and when we'd be back!

William at 2 months

Looks just like his dad--spitting image--they even have the same hairline!

William is getting so big! 13 lbs. at two months--Thomas wasn't that big until he was four months old! I guess those chunky thighs and chubby cheeks are signs of a healthy baby--but for me, it just means he's already growing up too fast!

Thomas & Bella love him--sometimes too much. I have to remind them sometimes that he's a real baby, not a doll, and sometimes gets tired when smothered too much! Maybe it's a good thing he's such a bear--for protection from his two too lovey siblings!