I really need a new background! (Erin where are you when I need you?!)

Let's play some ROOK!

I finally made up my mind to update my blog today. And hopefully I have a few interesting things to write about since it has been a month or so. Our Christmas was pretty good; the kids had fun and I did too... but i'm regretting not asking for a camera. Ours has finally quit for good but luckily my birthday is only three months away. We got to talk to Austin and that was fun; he will be home in February so that is exciting. After Christmas, we headed to Emmett and stayed with Joel's grandparents, Emily and Duane Vickery. I always enjoy our visits down there. We also visit Grandma and Grandpa Haws, which is always a party. And as always, there were some pretty intense rook games going on. I actually got scolded for one poor move I made and I could tell Joel was worried I was going to cry or something, but I was cool as a cucumber,(for once.) So after having some homemade grape juice and killer nachos,(grma's secret recipe), we headed back to the Vickery's. The roads were terrible, and we realized we were not going to make it back for our Sunday meetings. This stressed me out a little because I did not bring any church clothes and neither did Joel. So we borrowed clothes and I was pretty uncomfortable with the idea, even though Joel's sweet cousin, Jenny was more than happy to lend me some. I think I snapped at my dear husband in front of Grnpa Vickery(due to some late nights and lack of sunday clothes), because I was running around getting ready, and noticed that grnpa was doing Bodelle's hair for me. Probably one of the sweetest things I have every seen. Picture a John Wayne type with a comb and Bodelle facing him, standing perfectly still as he pulls her hair back in a pony. It makes me teary thinking about it, and I wish Erin would've been there to "capture" the moment for me. Anyway, we made it to church okay and headed home that night, late. We made it safely which is always a huge blessing. We've been home a few days, and tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I'm excited to make some new goals and work towards them the rest of the year. Maybe one of them will be to blog more often...:)

Me helping Bodelle do a somersault...

I am happy to report she can now do a somersault all by herself. I really want Bodelle to be a gymnast (if she wants to) like I attempted to be so we'll keep practising.

My parents decided to take a quick trip to Canada. For those of you who don't know we have Aspen, Ian and two exchange students Louise and Kadda. Louise took this picture and I like it so she posted it for me and she is typing for me right know and she is very cute and nice and soo FUNNY! I have enjoyed staying out here and will miss the craziness but Joel is leaving for the weekend, to San Diego without me :(, so I want to see him before he goes. Anyway I am sure I will be back again soon but for now I need to get some sleep because Aspen and Louise make me stay up all night long.

oh, and I forgot to mention the power was out for like six hours. So that made things even more interesting. I kept thinking I wish my sisters were here ( Ash, Erin and Kristi) to help me. I missed them all week actually because I wanted them to come play with me and the girls. But all and all I had a fun time. Thank you to Louise (so nice) Aspen(so mean) Kadda( so responsible) Ian ( so smelly) and my wonderful babies. ( Louise is still typing by the way. I owe you alot of Pixie Sticks).

Eli Manning

Sometimes to me it seems like everyone that plays in the NFl or NBA are spoiled athletes with no morals.( not to mention overpayed...) But I was so impressed with Eli Manning last night; they won the superbowl this last year so obviously all eyes are on him and some have even said that he has now proven himself to be better then his brother, Peyton. Well they played they Browns last night, and Eli threw more interceptions combined than he has in the last 11 games, which they have all won. Anyway, because I was forced to listen to the after game analysis(thankyou, Joel), I heard Steve Young say that the last interception thrown was obviously not his fault, because his team mate had run the wrong route. But Eli, being the good guy that he is, when asked by the media what happened on that last play, he immediately said, I just threw a bad pass...and in defense of Eli, I said, Joel, I thought they said that it wasn't his fault? And Joel replied, well that's what a good team leader does, sometimes he takes the fall for his teammates. So obviously I will never be a team leader because I wanted to call ESPN and say IT WASN'T HIS FAULT!!!! Needless to say, I have a newfound respect for the Manning family for teaching good morals and leadership skills; and for all the funny commercials they do together. My fav. is the one where it shows Eli and Peyton at home still sleeping in bunkbeds together...too funny!!!!!!

My sister Erin put some pictures on my blog of Joel. (to the right;she also wrote the caption underneath which made me laugh!) I haven't written anything on here about him because he get's so embarressed. But he seems to be doing well in his new job; he was hired as the Compliance Director in the ISU athletic department. This has been such a nice change because he no longer has to work nights and weekends and he really loves college athletics. He has started school again and seems to enjoy it. Anway, there are a lot of things I love about Joel and I'm grateful he picked me to be his wifey!

Elmo and MMC

I have a sec. to write something because Bo is watching her fav. cartoon, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Cam is watching Elmo downstairs, which is his very favorite. His first distinct word was actually Elmo, not mom or dad. Pretty funny. Bodelle has been learning all sorts of words; it is amazing to see her remember words in books I read her; lately, she has been saying "honey pot-ez" and "yellow daffodil".(she loves her winnie the pooh books.) They have sort of switched places as far as where they sleep; Bo wants to sleep in Cam's crib, and Cam wants to sleep in her little bed. I think because she had to grow up so fast, she enjoys being baby-d once in awhile. Cam stays in the bed pretty well, but every night around 3 am, I hear little footsteps as he comes running in my room and jumps on the bed and gives me a concussion when he lays back with full force not quite clearing my poor head. ( why does this ring my bell, but not even seem to hurt him in the slightest bit?) Anyway, they are so beautiful to me and I feel so very grateful to have them. Sometimes I complain about the busy-ness, but what a beautiful gift from a loving Heavenly Father it is to be able to have a family!!!!!

As I was trying to think of six things I would like to accomplish, I thought of a conversation I had a few years ago with my mission president. He said John Stockton was once asked, after having a record breaking year in assists, etc., what he was going to work on the next year coming. He replied, " I am going to work on perfecting my left hand bouce pass..." I've thought about this often and tried to apply it to my life. Often the little thinks we accomplish will affect our whole "game", so to speak. Anyway, here are a few things I would like to work on perfecting for myself.

6) I would love to be able to sing the alto line to all the hymns in the hymnbook. I do not have a very wide range, so I think I would be a better alto then soprano. And it is so very cool to hear the low notes in harmony with the high ones. I've already started and hope to know them all one day. I'd also love to be able to accompany people without having to picka part the music first. I feel bad I gave my Mom so much grief and if I would've practiced more, I would be a whole lot better now!

5) I would love to be more domestic; I do love to cook, clean, etc.; but I'd like to take some sewing classes, learn to can, plant a garden, and just do other fun things like that.

4) This probably sounds wierd, but I want to become more of the strong independent type. I just want my kids to think of me as someone that could handle the hard things in life; like if we ever had to cross the plains, or if Bo needs me to kill a snake for her(which i've already had to do-yikes!), they would have confidence in me to be able to do it. Does that make sense?

3)I really want to go to Disney World someday. It seems like such a happy, fun place. I remember when Derek and Kristi took their lil' family, we watched their home videos when they got back and I was singing the disney parade "family" song for weeks!

2)I want to go to Houston! I have not seen my Mom's family since I was in grade 7. I think it would be fun to plan a trip with all of us girls in 5 or so years. Wouldn't that be hilarious?!

1) I don't know if this is my number one thing, but I'd really like to finish a degree. Joel works for the University, so I can go for very cheap. Maybe next semester I will try to take a few night classes, but we'll have to see.

So that is it for now!

Six things you would like to accomplish in the next ten years...

My good friend Trina encouraged me to do this, and I thought it would be a fun and uplifting thing to do. I tag Mom, Asha, Erin,Kristi, Andrea, Michelle and Aunt Vicki. Trina, I know you have already done it, but it would be fun to see some of the things that you wrote down! Good luck; can't wait to read them!

Real quick, my poor son Cambell has been so sick, but I love when he's sick and he'll let me hug him and cuddle him because for people who know my son, he never ever stops so i really treasure those rare calm moments with my Cam. I was thinking as I was holding him that my house is messy and I am behind, but I thought of a poem my Mom use to quote, something to the effect, to heck with the laundry and dishes in heaps, I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keeps! Okay, so those aren't exactly the words, but I cherish the time I have with both my children and am so thankful to have them. (p.s.- Mom, my house really is a mess. When can you come over??!;)

Pick some paper, ANY PAPER!

As some of you may have noticed, my blog page was missing for a few months, but I'm excited to be back and have a cute new page, much thanks to my patient sister, Erin. I kept telling her, I don't care what paper you pick, but then i'd say how about one with peaches and title it "peachy keen", or something with cherries so I could say "life is like a bowl of cherries" (or cher of bowlies??!) And then I'd say, but do whatever you want! Anyway, it was a good thing Erin was the one doing it because Ashley probably would've killed me!;) So I must say I love the end product and I'm excited to be in touch with my family and friends again.

There you go Emmy, hope you like it, call me first if you have the urge to erase it, wink! love you let me know if there are any changes you would like made! Love You, Erin Elise