Well!!!!!!!

Here we are on the brink of 2009.

The big knock down drag out old folks party is tonight, nooooooooo, kids. yea.

Speaking of kids, Mom and I are glad we have three of the best. You set the example for us.

We are so proud of you guys that we do cry.

Thanks so very much.



Oh, by the way Bev, I'm saving all of my ear wax.


Dad

Happy New Years Eve Everyone!

Party like a Rock Star. Party like there's no tommorrow. Party 'til the Cows come home. Party Hardy. Eat, Drink and be Merry! Love the one you're with. And, don't do anything I wouldn't do. Happy New Year!

NEW YEARS EVE-EVE.


Today is Tuesday Dec. 30 2008. In just a few hours it will be 2009. It seems the years are flying by faster and faster. Christmas memories, thats old news. I missed it so I'll try next year. I can remember going to the New Year's eve dances as a kid. The dances that were from 7 to 8:30 were the worst. Sort of hard to celebrate a new year at 8:30 when there was 3 and a half hours to go until midnight. The older dances were better with noise makers, ballons released from the ceiling and trying to be dancing with that certain someone when the count down started. 10, 9, 8, 7..... Happy New Year. I don't recall any new year kisses though until I got married. Then as I got older and married we sometimes put together parties on New Years Eve. Playing games and just having fun with a few other couples. Wishing the new year would hurry up and get there so you could just climb in bed and go to sleep. We went to a movie one year on new years eve. That was sort of blaaa. It's always nice to be with the one you Love and get a good kiss. That's the best.

Oops, I forgot this one.

Thanksgiving Pictures

Finally, here are the few pictures I took at Thanksgiving. Better late than never!

OMISSION

I FORGOT TO SAY THE COOKIE RECIPE CALLS FOR 1 CUP PECANS, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. I PROBABLY USED MORE THAN THAT.

TOASTED-PECAN BUTTER COOKIES

I TRIED A NEW RECIPE AND WE LIKED IT, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT.

THIS MAKES ABOUT 2 DOZ. COOKIES

2 STICKS BUTTER, SOFTENED
1 CUP POWDERED SUGAR
1 TBS. VANILLA EXTRACT
1/2 TSP. SALT
1 1/4 CUP FLOUR

PREHEAT OVEN TO 325. BREAK PECAN HALVES INTO 2 OR 3 PIECES. CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR WITH MIXER UNTIL PALE. ADD VANILLA AND SALT, THEN GRADUALLY ADD FLOUR, BEATING JUST UNTIL MIXED IN. STIR IN PECANS. COVER DOUGH AND REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES, UNTIL FIRM.

DROP 2 TBS. DOUGH ON COOKIE SHEET 2" APART. BAKE UNTIL EDGES OF COOKIES ARE GOLDEN, ABOUT 15 MIN. LET COOL ON COOKIE SHEETS FOR 5 MINUTES, THEN TRANSFER TO WIRE RACKS (IF YOU HAVE THEM) LET COOL, THEN DUST WITH MORE POWDERED SUGAR.

HOPE YOU LIKE THESE. WE DID. OURS ARE ALL GONE NOW.

Christmas Memories

As long as we're talking about memories of Christmas, I'll share a few. I concur with everything Becky said, I loved all those things too. I remember having to get our rooms and the whole house clean on Christmas Eve so we would have a clean place to put our new stuff on Christmas day. After opening our gifts we would put on a new outfit we got and go lay out all our gifts on our bed for any visitors that might stop by to be able to see what we got. The house seemed to stay clean that way too. (why does that seem to be an important detail I remember? maybe because my house always seems trashed and it takes me weeks to catch up?) The Von Hancocks would sometimes come over and we'd play the new games we always got --each of us three kids always opened a new game each. Darvil would be the first to read the directions for his game. By the time we played each of the three games, had the delicious Christmas dinner Mom always made (Grandma Hancock always came and ate dinner with us), and just played with our new things, the day was over. Always a little sadness at the end of the day that it was over and we'd have to wait a whole year for it to come again. Mom and Dad always made our Christmases very special. I don't remember Mom ever seeming stressed either. The abundant delicious goodies were always done early enough that we could nibble on them for a long time during the season. Gifts were wrapped early and under the tree. We always had Christmas music playing on our record player. When the record ended, we'd fight over whose turn it was to start another album. The gifts were never extravagant, but always well thought-out and just perfect. The homemade dolls were wonderful - I still have all mine! I hope my kids have special memories of traditions and good feelings about Christmas. They won't be mine, but that's ok, as long as they have some!

The Cooks Doin' the Disco

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/t7lpwnrwWRJm3pN17oGm

MY PERFECT CHRISTMAS

I have been reflecting lately about Christmas. I don't know if it's turning forty or my kid's lack of Christmas excitement ( except Isabelle). If I could relive my perfect Christmas leading up all the way until Christmas Day it would include all the parites we used to go to. There was the Fireman party at the Fire house. Mexican food and then riding on the fire trucks throughout the town caroling as we went. Then there was the Phyllis party with Von and Alice and the Lunts and the Lees and I don't remember who else. Phyllis would play and sing with such enthusiasm, I can still picture her in my mind. The ward party which sometimes I would get to participate in the program as an angel or some other part. And almost every day I would love to watch whatever Christmas show was on TV that night, my favorite being Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. And Christmas Eve always makes me think of Grandma Hancock and her Christmas Eve party. I used to love getting ready and going over early with Beverly and sometimes Cynthia to help her get ready and set up the tables. Then everyone would arrive and we would have tamales, sandwiches, chip and dip, and hot chocolate. And what could be simpler than white elephants, but how fun was that? It was so much fun! Then we would drive home and I would scan the skies for any sign of Santa on the way. And then a sleepless night waiting for Christmas morning. It was always the most magnificent thing to go out in the living room to see what Santa brought. Almost always a handmade doll and cute and interesing things in my stocking. Santa put alot of thought into what I would like. Then out to the family room for a fire, Christmas music and opening presents. Taking turns to open our presents was the only way to do it so we could see what everyone was opening. Then we had a wonderful breakfast and the whole day to play with our stuff. It's so perfect. At least in my memory it is. I miss that sometimes and wish we could go back just once to relive it. Hope you enjoyed a thread out of my memories. Merry Christmas everyone, I love you all! What is your perfect Christmas?

Utah

Here we are in Utah. It isn't cold, it's very very cold. The drive up was great. No snow on the roads. We saw snow from way below Flagstaff all the way to Salt Lake. On Sunday we went to Teresa's dad's ward for church. Sacrament meeting was last and priesthood was first. Dallin H. Oaks was in the High Priests Quorum, sitting only a few chairs away. Sort of weird. Elder Oaks and his wife spoke in sacrament meeting. Her talk was great, his a little boring. We are now in Logan or the deep freeze of Utah. It snowed all day on Monday probably about 6-8 inches. No fun driving in the stuff and our Arizona clothes aren't the best. We had snowball fights and went sledding. Having fun. More later.

Darvil

I WROTE A SONG!!! :) VOTE POR FAVOR!!!

I wrote a song called "Stand Tall" for a returned missionary fireside about a year ago, that just yesterday had additions made to the recording. (background orchestra and high-pitched tones) BECAUSE.... :
I entered it into a lds songwriting contest! If I end up as one of the top 4 for this month, I move on the semi-finals. It would be nice to win something...the winners get set up with a recording studio...which would be amazing. So to help me get my wind under these wings,

Go to: http://music.mormontimes.com/contest.php?id=1424&nocache=1
--create a username and password (top right hand corner)
--vote for my song

If EVERYONE could vote once per day, that would help so much. It's always been a dream of mine to publish a song...I'll never know if it's possible unless I try. :)

"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible." :)

Quirks de Shaleice

So I'm babysitting, the kids are in bed, and the mom said to feel free to use the computer... So I kept hearing this noise like metal being banged together. Checked on the kids...they're snoozin. It's nothin.. gulp.. ...So jus now, I'm typin when out of the corner of my eye I see something crawling toward my feet. I look down and it's a rat! Well..it looks like one--their gerbil! It scurries away behind the desk and I was going to let it roam free...poor little creatures that have to be cooped up in cages... when the thought occured: Will he (assuming it's a boy. I have no understanding on how to check and frankly no interest in attempting--sick little creature...OH my quirk is comin...just wait. ....So the thought: Will HE chew the cords?? Oh great, a $75 computer cord..and I can't even afford to go out of my budget to buy a can of ravioli for 99cents!! Anyway...we're not discussing the poor chica blanca over here... ;)... SO I figured I'd better grab the rat and put him back in his cage. Well so ....quirck numero uno: I HATE touching animals. I jus get this disgusting feeling like I need to wash my hands right afterwards. So I looked around for a blanket I could capture the critter with... a box? ...nope. Ah-hah! a lunch pail. I flop open the lid and set it on the ground...it acts as a drawbrige now...a trap jus waiting to lure him in. Plop goes the lid, "oo" goes the little pipsqueak, in he walks, and MUAHAHA, he is captured!! I let him back in his cage and all is well now...but I still have to wash my hands.

2. So I have a germ problem that extends to all things--if the toilet seat is not clean, I will squat instead of sit on it...or if not too bad, I will wipe it off. And then....of course I will wash my hands.

3. I, like Amanda, have this editing problem. Unless I made the mistake on purpose, I will go back and fix it. If I'm typing at rapid speeds and spell something a little wrong, I can't just leave it. I've had experiences arguing with myself (not outloud mind you), to just leave it alone. But alas, I cannot do it. I must be perfect! ;) (ps. I've been contacted by a company to take on an editing job. I'm looking into it, but hey, so now this little quirk will hopefully be appreciated by someone else besides me...and Bre who's papers I edit or...rewrite. ;) hehe. jk. English--It takes me hours to write a paper because I think of all the many different ways you can say something, picking out the best, and THEN finalizing on it. I don't do rough drafts. ;)

4. Idk if this is a QUIRK, but my family may think so. Bev will appreciate this. When someone says something in English, my brain goes crazy thinking how do you say that in Spanish? I used to be really bad and would actually find myself being totally oblivious to the fact that the person is talking to me, due to the fact that my brain is merely translating what they say, not to WHOM they're saying it. :P

5. When my mind is cluttered, so is my room and my daily to-do things. I have to make lists: to-do lists in order of when they need to be accomplished. When things are written down, I can then follow the list. If they aren't they rattle around in my head saying, "write me down so I don't haunt you all day." So I obey.

6. Wow dad...I think I have your sleeping....or NON-sleeping quirk. Not to THAT extreme...thank goodness. Although I'm sure it comes with age...uh...not that you're REALLY old....jus yet ;), hehe. jk. It has to be totally dark or I cannot sleep. And there HAS to be a little bit of noise, but more like a hum. Sometimes I turn on the fan, even in the middle of winter, jus so the noise will be there. haha. If it's dead silent, I hear little snaps, crackles, and pops in the house and I immediately start imagining all the possibilities of what they could be. THEN I DON'T sleep.

7. I had to get up and go turn the light out. Grandma, I'm jus like you--not in the old and crochety part ;)-- but being REALLY poor, I've discovered, can make you really irritated with ppl (roommates) who really could care less. PEOPLE PEOPLE, WE PAY FOR THIS BATHROOM LIGHT THAT NO ONE IS USING, TO BE ON ALL DAY! I sometimes find myself vigorously and forcefully flipping off lights on purpose so my roommates will "get the hint" that I have to pay for that blasted light too! oo I'm jus getting all worked up over here jus thinking about it. I wonder when I go home...how many lights will be on?? I'll forever be thankful for dad who during Family Home Evening a long long time ago, had us turn off all the lights in the house and go outside to look at the electricity box. "See how the numbers are moving really slow?" Then after running, inside and turning on EVERY light we could find, he said, "Now see how they're moving really fast? The faster these numbers move, the more money I pay. So unless YOU want to fork out money, or have your light "magically" be turned off for good, I suggest we start turning off the lights when we leave the room." I think every family should have this talk. When I went home this weekend, I found myself doing it again-- walking around the house flipping off light. ...I think the "light" talk should be heavily reinforced. ;)

MY BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO TODAY THAT I RECEIVED MY PRECIOUS GIFT, MY LITTLE BECKY. THE DR. SAID THE BABY WOULDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS, BUT I HOPED AND PRAYED IT WOULD COME BEFORE. BACK THEN WOMEN DIDN'T FIND OUT THE SEX OF THE BABY BEFORE IT WAS BORN. THE TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THERE YET. I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL AND NAME HER BECKY, ALTHO A BOY WOULD HAVE BEEN OK TOO. WE LIVED IN THE HOUSE WHERE VON & ALICE LIVE NOW, WHICH WE HAD BUILT. JERRY WAS GOING TO PATROL SCHOOL IN PHOENIX AND COMING HOME WHEN HE COULD. I SPENT NIGHTS AT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HANCOCK'S HOUSE BECAUSE I WAS A BIG COWARD IN THOSE DAYS.

I STARTED HAVING PAINS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, SO WHEN IT FINALLY GOT LIGHT OUT AND I THOUGHT JERRY WOULD BE GETTING UP TO BE GOING TO SCHOOL, I CALLED HIM AND TOLD HIM IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF HE CAME HOME, WE WERE GOING TO GET A BABY. THEN I CALLED MALENA AND ASKED IF SHE COULD DO MY HAIR FOR ME. PRETTY STUPID NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT. AFTER ALL THE CALLS, I GOT MY HAIR DONE, DARVIL WENT TO SCHOOL, GRANDMA TOOK BEVERLY TO ALICE'S HOUSE,[THEY LIVED DOWN THE ROAD FROM GRANDMA THEN] AND GRANDMA TOOK ME TO THE OLD OLD OLD HOSPITAL, WHICH WAS IN TOWN BACK THEN - SAFFORD INN- AND I GOT CHECKED IN. GRANDMA STAYED FOR AWHILE AND THEN LEFT. AFTER ALL, IT WAS JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND SHE HAD THINGS TO DO. SO THERE I WAS. NO EPIDURALS IN THOSE DAYS. NOT VERY STRONG PAIN MEDICINE EITHER. WOMEN ENDURED! BUT I MADE UP MY MIND THE MAIN THING WAS MY BABY, SO I CONCENTRATED ON THAT. AND FINALLY, THEY WHEELED ME INTO THE OPERATING ROOM. STILL NO JERRY.

WHEN MY BABY WAS DELIVERED, THE FIRST THING DR. CURTIS SAID WAS "ITS A GIRL" AND I ASKED "IS EVERYTHING OK" AND HE SAID "WELL LOOK AT THAT! WELL I'LL BE DARNED! I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE" AND THEN HE TOLD ME BECKY COULD BEND HER KNEE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I LOOKED OVER AT THE TABLE WHERE SHE WAS LAYING, AND I COULD SEE IT TOO. IT WAS AMAZING. THE DR. MADE A TINY LITTLE CAST THAT COVERED ALL OF HER LEG, BUT ONLY THE BACK PART AND HAD GAUZE BANDAGES TO WRAP UP THE FRONT. HE SAID THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL THAT, AND 4 SURGERIES LATER, IT DID.

IN THOSE DAYS WOMEN STAYED IN THE HOSPITAL FOR FOUR DAYS. I WANTED TO GO HOME SO BAD, BUT I COULDN'T TALK THE DR. INTO IT. I DON'T THINK GRANDMA THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA EITHER. SHE HAD ENOUGH TO DO ALREADY. OH, AND JERRY GOT HOME AT NIGHT AFTER BECKY WAS BORN. I THINK ONE OF HIS SUPERVISORS FINALLY TOLD HIM TO LEAVE. DARVIL AND BEVERLY COULDN'T SEE THEIR LITTLE SISTER TIL SHE CAME HOME. HOSPITAL RULES WERE DIFFERENT THEN. JERRY HAD TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT CAME BACK HOME ON CHRISTMAS EVE. WE ENJOYED THE CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY AT GRANDMA'S HOUSE, AS USUAL, AND THEN SPENT THE NIGHT IN OUR OWN LITTLE HOME, WITH OUR NEW LITTLE ADDITION. I LOVE YOU BECKY. I'M SO HAPPY YOU CAME TO ME TO BE MY CHRISTMAS ANGEL.

Where's the PAUSE button?

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY IS CHRISTMAS EVE!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to push pause and get ready and then continue on from this point. Is anyone else going crazy? Jared and parents, good job!!! Hopefully Brady will be soon to follow your good example. Amanda, I share your concern about the lack of understanding regarding white elephants. The very words "white elephant" should explain that it's something wierd, unusual, unwanted. I mean if you saw a white elephant in the jungle you would want to give it away, right? And Dad, your quirks explain a little of what happened to...........Darvil. He's about as quirky as they come. HA. My computer got infected with a strange virus and we just got it back in working order, so I've been out of the loop for a while. Thanks goes to Becky for keeping our blog so cute and festive. When do you have time to do all that? Oh yeah, you didn't inherit the procrastination gene.... It's SNOWING here right now!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Jared!!

I just saw your picture in the Courier for getting your Eagle! Good job on your hard work and achieving your goal. You're a good example to all of your younger cousins. You should be proud. (good job Darvil and Teresa too.)

white elephant.

don't you think its sad that no one understands the concept of white elephant anymore? its tragic.

OK, A PERSON CAN ONLY PUT OFF THINGS SO LONG AND THEN ITS TIME TO ACT. RELUNCTLY..

GRANDPA HAS MANY QUIRKS, I MEAN I'M REALY WEIRD. DON'T LAUGH AT THESE, UNLESS OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT TO.

1. I HAVE THIS THING ABOUT LEFTNESS. I NEVER WANTED ANY ONE TO KNOW BUT I GUESS THERE IS NO WAY OUT.
WHEN EVER I PUT ON A PAIR OF SHOES I REACH DOWN AND PICK ONE UP. IF IT IS THE RIGHT ONE I WILL PUT IT DOWN AND PICKUP THE LEFT ONE AND PUT IT ON FIRST. THIS GOES FOR SOCKS ALSO. GLOVES ARE THE SAME, LEFT ONE FIRST. HOWEVER,,,,,,, PUTTING ON PANTS IT ALWAYS THE RIGHT LEG FIRST. TALK ABOUT QUIRKEY.

2. BEVERLY,,,,,I'M SORRY BUT YOUR QUIRK ABOUT PROCRASTINATION DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE. YOU SEE, I AND I ALONE WROTE THE BOOK ON PROCRASTINATION. IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN 27 LANGUAGES IN 27 COUNTRIES. IT HAS BEEN ON THE BEST SELLER LIST MORE THAN ONCE. WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING THINGS OFF, I AM THE BEST. I KNOW I SHOULD'NT DO IT BUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

3. THIS IS A QUIRK THAT I WILL NOT SAY MUCH ABOUT.
WHEN EVER I AM EATING CHIPS I WILL ALWAYS START WITH THE LITTLE ONES FIRST AND GRADUALY EAT MYSELF TO THE LARGE ONES. SORRY...

4. I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THIS ABOUT ME BUT I AM OLD AND CROCHATY. [ did i spell that right } C ELL PHONES, I JUST ABOUT HATE THEM. I THINK IT MAKES PEOPLE BECOME RUDE. MAKING OR RECEIVING CALLS WHILE VISITING YOUR HOUSE, TALKING IN PUBLIC TO LOUD, ESPE CIALLY SOME WHERE LIKE A RESTURANT. I KNOW THEY ARE A NECESSARY EVIL, BUT I ALMOST HATE THEM.

5. AND AGAIN, BEING OLD AND CROCHATY I HAVE A HARD TIME WALKING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND FINDING LIGHTS AND FANS GOING FULL BLAST AND NO ONE IS IN SIGHT. I GUESS I AM SO TIGHT THAT I AM ONLY THINKING OF WHAT IT IS COSTING ME IN UTILITY BILLS. I THINK THAT WHEN YOU GROW UP KIND OF POOR YOU LEARN TO TURN THINGS OFF.

SORRY, OLD PEOPLE HAVE OLD WAYS. I ONLY HOPE YOU CAN PUT UP WITH ME FOR ANOTHER 33 YEARS. GOING TO MAKE A HUNDRED YOU KNOW. ISN'T THAT A SCARY THOUGHT FOR YOU.

GRANPA.

Quirky Darvil

Quirks........What is a quirk????? If it is things I do that people can't handle or things others do that drive me crazy, then the list is too long to even get started.

1...I have a problem sleeping or getting to sleep when there is noise, like someone staying up watching TV or on a campout people are talking, or the kids are are having a sleepover. I will lay there for hours until they are done THEN I can go to sleep.

2...Another one is I can't sleep very good the first night when I go somewhere away from my bed. The second night I sleep great. The problem is all of the ONLY ONE NIGHT AWAY stays.

3...I can't go to sleep if Teresa is touching me.

4... The room has to dark and I mean dark or I wake up with the sun, and that's no fun.

5...Before I climb into bed I have to and I mean HAVE TO use my hand to get all the luggies out of the bed and off the sheets. Who can sleep in a gravel pit.

6...All of these have been about bed or sleeping. Cause its my bedtime!!!!!!

7...I have to have MMYYYYY pillow. It's weird what you get used to.


MORE LATER>>>>.........>>>...

I added a post tonight that I had started and saved the other day, so it went on in the order of the date I saved it, so scroll down to find my quirks post. Aren't I so quirky???

Turn up your speakers Boren Bloggers!!

New Blog for the Cook family

I've created a blog for the Cook family: all6cooks.blogspot.com

quirks of amanda

1. hair that has become detatched from the head makes me gag. even if it's my own.

2. twinkies, caprisun, donuts, and gummy bears/worms give me a headache.

3. bad grammer makes me ill. ex: i was watching tv the other day and i seen the parade.
Exspecially instead of especially
oviously instead of obviously
acrosst instead of across.....and so on

4. when people dress in seemingly uncomfortable ways...it makes me...uncomfortable. for example: a cold winter morning. you see a girl walking to school wearing flip flops, jeans that are a bit too short and a bit too tight, an oversized stretched out sweatshirt, and wet hair. why would you do that to yourself?

5. i involuntaritly sneeze twice in a row rapid fire. a genetic disorder i'm sure.







and for everyone's information: today i dissected a fetus pig. it was a hoot.

ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

December started out for me with a nice cold, allergy or whatever - anyway, I had a runny nose, cough and general not feeling too good for about a week. It took quite a while to get the house decorated because I had to keep resting, blowing my nose, taking naps, etc. I finally have the house pretty much taken care of. On Tuesday the R.S. Progressive Dinner is having their first course here, the appetizers and chips and dips, apple cider, whatever. I guess I'm ready. I don't have any gifts for Grandpa but he doesn't want much this year, just a few clothes. No biggie. I finally felt good enough Monday to go up to Wal Mart and get my hair trimmed and do a little shopping. I was in there twice as long as I thought I would be and was really ready to go home. When I finally got in my car and was backing out, a lady from across the aisle and a few parking spaces down whipped out very fast and very wide and ran into me. So, I had to sit there while the police came and filled out a report. A person just never knows what kind of a day they will have. Our car just has a scrape on the bumper, which Grandpa says can be fixed with a can of sprap paint they make that will match our car. We don't want to involve the insurance and run the risk of raising our rates.
Yesterday, Tuesday, it was raining when we got up, so that made it seem a lot like Christmas weather. Grandpa still hasn't built a fire because we have very little wood. Grandpa has been sick too, with a bad cough. He didn't drive his truck yesterday, but went back to work today. I hope everyone is getting in the Spirit of Christmas, despite accidents, fender benders, maybe not having enough time, or maybe as much money as we would like, the inconveniences and problems called life. Families and The Birth of Our Savior are what matter. I hope we can all remember this and have love for each other.

One Day at a Time

This December is throwing me for a loop so far. Logan had knee surgery the first week. The Dog was knocking on death's door, vomitting, not eating and drinking for four days. My outside Christmas lights shorted out because I had the extension cord lying where the sprinklers come on. (Duh!) My clothes dryer starter broke so I can't use the dryer. I hope December gets better. I can't stay bummed out for long with all the Chistmas music and lights and jolliness around though. Amanda and Emily's Christmas choir concert last night put me in a better mood. It was funny to watch Amanda look at me from on stage and roll her eyes at the beginning of the song Sleigh Ride because she knows how much I love that song and she doesn't. I get to watch Isabelle run in the Jingle Jog today at school. The neighbors gifts are all handed out, I'm finally getting my Christmas shopping done(from my computer). It's going to be Okay. Merry Christmas!!

Bev's Quirkiness

Ok...I have a quirk about listing quirks... just kidding. The reality is that one of my quirks is that I'm so unorganized that I can't find the time to sit down and write my quirks. But anyway, here goes:

1. I absolutely hate seeing ear wax or ear hairs inside people's ears. I almost want to carry around some Q-tips and tweezers and break them out and use them on people. I mean, just because you can't see inside your own ears, do you think other people can't either?? Get a clue!

2. I have a lip gloss/ lipstick fetish. I can't hardly see a cute color and not buy them. I have several in my purse, my church bag, my makeup drawer, the car... you name it!! Wierd, huh?

3. I procrastinate everything. My motto is: Why do today what you can put off til tomorrow? The problem is, tomorrow already has six other things scheduled, so now I'm really overbooked, so how will I get it all done? I'll have to put some off til the next day, but that day's busy too, so now....do you see why I'm going crazy???

4. I hate returning phone calls. If you call me and leave a message, I'll eventually call you back....sometime. Refer to number 3.

5. It really bugs me when I know people see me but act like they don't see me. I'll see them from a distance in a store and can tell they've seen me, but when they're closer and I try to say hi they act like they don't see me. Maybe they're avoiding me for a reason. Maybe they have ear wax that day and they know I have Q-tips in my pocket.

Ok all you people out there.

I am getting tired of opening this blog to see what everyones quirks are, and there is nothing except Becky and Grandma. I mean, whats the deal, get with it so I can see just how weird you all are. Have you no shame, I think it is time we all came out. I need some new reading material. Even I, the great grandpa, just might have a few myself. There coming. Now get off your couches, turn the tv and cell phones off and sit down to the computer, NOW.

GRANPA

IS THERE A PRIZE?

MY QUIRKS

1. dirty floors REALLY bother me. I mean REALLY.

2. i DON'T LIKE TO WIPE OFF COUNTER TOPS. {BUT THEY BOTHER ME}
3. I like to decorate for Christmas and try new ideas with the stuff I already have-but I don't enjoy having anyone around asking questions while I'm trying to create. {crazy huh}

4. I don't like to drive with anyone in the car - which works out well since everyone says I make them nervous. I don't have that problem when I'm alone.

5. I would rather let someone else answer the phone. This has turned into a problem since a lot of the time its just me and Lulu and she doesn't seem to be catching on very fast.


I know you're all thinking I have a lot more quirks than this, but Becky only asked for 5.

WHAT ARE YOUR QUIRKS?

I'm going to copy the Hancock Women blog and challenge everyone to list five of their quirks. We all have them, some are quirkier than others. I'll start us off:
1. I HAVE to make my bed everyday. Unless I'm gravely ill, I make my bed. Even if I don't get to it until later in the day, I can't climb into a bed at night that hasn't been made. Eww.
2. Speaking of bed, much to my husband's dismay, I can't sleep if he has his arm around me or is right next to me. I lay there and listen to him sleep soundly and happily until I've had enough and get over to my own side!
3. I can't really get on with my day until the kitchen in clean and the counters are wiped down. A cluttered kitchen is a cluttered life!
4. Peas make my throat close up little and my lips itchy (Phillip doesn't believe me)
5. Emily said I need to say how much noise my stomach makes all the time even when I'm not hungry. It "rumbles and gurgles" (I'm pretty sure I got that from Grandma.)

Let's hear from you all.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD

I'm sure I never said thank you Mom and Dad for taking care of me and putting up with me through all of my many knee surgeries and injuries. Even though I didn't ask for any of it, it was a fact of my life and had to be dealt with. Thank you Dad for working so hard and making it financially possible to fix my knees. And thank you Mom for waiting on me and sitting with me and driving me around to Dr.s and therapists and hospitals. I know it wasn't easy on either of you. I now see how difficult it is as the parent of a knee surgery patient. Logan is trying my patience. I have to stop and remind myself what he's going through. And overall he's been really good about it all, but there's just those few moments when I get tired. So THANK YOU for everything you did for me, I hope I didn't try your patience too much. I probably did and now there's payback. ha, ha. Love you.

Happy December 1st

Hey Boren Families! We had a good time at Thanksgiving! I would post the few pictures I took but I left my camera at Grandma's and I didn't give her the "how to put pictures on the blog lesson" while I was there, so she can't put pictures on for me. Anyway, are we all excited it's December? There's so many cute backgrounds I'll probably be changing them alot this month. I'm off to the store to buy lights. I had to throw away all of my lights as I discovered all of them don't work anymore. I've got to get the trees up and house decorated!! It's driving me nuts that it's not done already. So get out there and decorate, people! Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat! (for all of you who made fun of me.)

Thanksgiving Skit...

So the idea is for someone to get creative...I'm thinking Amanda or Emily here most likely....to write a comical Thanksgiving skit. I'm picturing a conversation between the food items in the fridge before Thanksgiving lunch/dinner is served. So jump on it! :)

PS.

ps. Emily, how old are you? haha. And Bre, jump on this contest too! :) I'll share details later. :)

Addressed to Amanda--twilight psychiatrist, cruise director, and future news column journalist

My Dearest Amanda,
It has been brought to MY attention your recent dislike for cellphones...hmm...once an addict, now a counselor? ;) haha. I am glad the cellular devices will be banished on Thanksgiving. I mean, yes you should be thankful for cellphones and all I guess...I mean how else would Jason get home from basketball practice without calling 10 times for SOMEONE to PLEASE come pick him up!?! Or how else would Jared be able to prank call you again and again.....and again? Or Breanna's fingers might jus plum fall off from the lack of text usage! hmmm....I can see we are going to have to take some DRASTIC measures....ppl might be traumatized...we will DEFINITELY have to take dramatic action on recovery-drills for those of "us" whose side-affects may end up being severe to the extreme! ;)
However, ahum, this is not what I intended to talk about...although it was quite a fun little tangent. ;) I would like to draw your attention to this website:
http://music.mormontimes.com/index.php
Click on the "showcase" tab and read the directions....what the heck, jus give it a shot. Upload a song that I KNOW you've recorded.... You have to have recorded at least ONE song either that you've written or one of public domain. So jus do it and now that we have this blog, we can spread the word to have famikly get a username and password so they can vote for us. :) I plan to enter the song I've written, along with another song maybe that I'm currently in the process of writing so...DO IT! It can be family bonding! :) We can discuss details at the non-cellular day of giving. ;)

NEWS BULLETIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT HAS COME ACROSS MY DESK THAT ONE OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY MEMBERS HAS BEEN TAKING EXTENSIVE CLASSES IN THE CAREER OF BECOMING A CRUISE DIRECTOR: MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THIS PERSON TELLS ME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR EVERYONE TO BE "IN THE MOMENT", "BE THERE", "BE INVOLVED" etc.

TO INSURE THIS, GRANDPA AND I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ASK ALL PARTICIPANTS OF SUCH THANKSGIVING TO SURRENDER THEIR CELL PHONES UPON ENRANCE OF THE PREMISES [ie. GRANDMA & GRANDPA'S HOUSE] DURING THE COURSE OF THE IMPORTANT DAY OF GIVING THANKS TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST FOR ALL THEY HAVE GIVEN US.

SINCE GRANDPA, ESPECIALLY, FEELS VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE CELL PHONE MATTER AND ESPECIALLY TEXTING, WE ASK THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL COOPERATE IN A MANNER OF LOVING COOPERATION, AS ALL HE ASKS IS FOR ONE DAY THAT WE ARE "REALLY TOGETHER".

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS MATTER, PLESE CONTACT AMANDA, OUR CRUISE DIRECTOR, AND I AM SURE SHE WILL PUT YOUR CONCERNS TO REST.

THIS COMES FROM LOVE AND WISHES FOR A PEACEFUL AND HAPPY DAY SPENT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

GLIMPSES

My kids are all playing a game together. It was their own idea. It was actually Logan who got them all together. They are laughing together. They are having a good time with eachother. They are all in a good mood at the same time. They are having fun. Amanda and Emily have been hanging out outside the house lately. Amanda says Emily is like her pet monkey. I don't know how long it will last. How long does anything good really last? But it's nice while it does last. Life gives you glimpses once in awhile. Glimpses of why we're here and why it's so hard sometimes. Because it will all be worth it if we can all be together forever with our loved ones, laughing, in a good mood and maybe even playing parchese.

THANKSGIVING CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF I WILL BE PROVIDING THE USUAL, WONDERFUL CRAFTS AS I HAVE PROVIDED FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN FOR PAST THANKSGIVINGS. I WON'T TELL YOU WHO BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION, BUT HIS NAME STARTS WITH J AND ENDS WITH D.

SO, FOR A CHANGE OF PACE, I THOUGHT I WOULD TURN THESE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES OVER TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WOULD DO A WONDERFUL JOB. THE LIST IS AS FOLLOWS, SO SIGN UP PROMPTLY, AS I KNOW THESE WILL ALL BE EXTREMELY POPULAR AND SPACE IS LIMITED. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

1. BEGINNING CROCHET - TAUGHT BY BRADY BRING YOUR OWN HOOKS AND YARN.

2. LIVELY DISCUSSION ON THE MERITS OF THE MOVIE "TWIGHLIGHT" LEAD BY THE LOVELY AMANDA.

3. ADVANCED EMBROIDERY [PLEASE NO BEGINNERS] WITH THE EXPERT JARED. HE SAYS TO BRING YOUR OWN DISHTOWELS. FLOSS WILL BE PROVIDED.

4. INTERMEDIATE JEWELRY MAKING WITH THE WITTY LOGAN AT THE HELM. HE WILL PROVIDE ALL SUPPLIES AT NO COST TO YOU. {ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?]

5. THE BEAUTIFUL EXPERTS MIRANDA AND ISABELLE WILL LEAD US IN SCRIPTURE STUDY AND WILL LATER BE HOLDING A COLORING CONTEST. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN COLORING BOOKS FOR THIS. { THIS SOUNDS LIKE A FUN ONE}

6. APPRECIATION OF THE FINE ARTS AND MUSIC TAUGHT BY THE WISE AND WONDERFUL COLBY. HE HAS MUCH TO SHARE.

7. A SPECIAL CLASS ENTITLED "HOW I BECAME A FAMOUS COOK AND CHEF" BY JASON. { I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS]

8. TWO CLASSES ARE OFFERED BY THE BEAUTIFUL BREANNA. HOW TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL HAIR AT ALL TIMES - AND HOW TO PICK OUT THE BEST CANDY FOR EVERY OCCASION.

9. BY OUR SPECIAL BLONDE LADY SHALEICE " DO'S AND DONT'S OF DATING"

10. THE EVER LOVELY EMILY OFFERS A CLASS ON HOW SHE BECAME A SUCCESSFUL BROADWAY STAR.

11. BY KASON "CONCEPTS OF BANKING EVEN MY COUSINS CAN UNDERSTAND- OR HOW TO BE A BILLIONAIRE BY AGE TWENTY.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

BY OUR WISE LITTLE SEVEN YEAR OLD ELI - "CARE AND FEEDING OF ZOO ANIMALS"


JUST KIDDING
BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS, GAMES, OR IDEAS, BRING THEM

AMANDA

Some quotes that remind me of Amanda:

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
- Benjamin Franklin-

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
-Albert Einstein-

She has imagination worth reading!!!!!


Thanks for the weather warning Grandpa. We're excited to be cold!

the disease

i feel now it is my civic duty to educate you all about a deadly virus that is seeping its way into logically practical life.

it goes by the name:

twilight


i am reluctant but willing to admit that i once was a carrier of this infectious disease but luckily i discovered an antidote:

rational thought


i'm taking this opportunity to warn all about the dangers of involving yourself with this sickness. i've developed a few tips to aid you in your quest for health and sanity.

1. never read, watch, or think about anything that has a sparkley vampire in it.
2. if you feel the urge to purchase a mainstream propaganda t shirt that says things like "bite me" or " team jacob" please do not hesitate to call this 24 hour hot line. 1-800-ivebeenbrainwashed.
3. always wash your hands after coming in contact with someone who may even look like they could possibly even think about being infected.
4. drink plenty of water.

i am confident that if these important steps are adhered too, we will all be safe and healthy, armed with individualism, sanity, and rational thought. if at anytime you have any questions or comments, please feel free to schedule an appointment with me during our holiday exodus and i would be happy to start your recovery process.


that is all at this time.
and remember:

friends don't let friends read twilight.

Cool weather

Grandpa say's

As the world turns it is begining to get cold up here so here is the official warning.

BRING COATS. LONG PANTS. SHOES AND SOCKS. BE PREPARED TO BE COLD.

The official warning is over.

Travel at your own risk.

Grandpa.

A BLUSTERY DAY PART II

I KNOW I SAW POOH AND PIGLET TUMBLING PAST MY WINDOW WHIRLING AND SWIRLING IN THE WIND, OH MY.

IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE, AND LAST WEEK. I THOUGHT THE NICE, WARM WEATHER WOULD LAST. BUT NOW I HEAR A STORM IS COMING IN ISN'T THAT THE WAY LIFE IS. WE GET USED TO THINGS. THINK EVERYTHING IS GREAT. AND THEN BOOM! A CATASTROPHE STRIKES, THE ECONOMY GOES CRAZY, WE NEVER KNOW. BEVERLY GAVE US SOME WISE WORDS,TO BE PREPARED .

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THESE WORDS ::TO PREPARE YOURSELVES. I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED READING WHAT EVERYONE IS THANKFUL FOR. I THINK TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE HARD TIMES AHEAD, WE SHOULD KEEP A CONSTANT PRAYER IN OUR HEART. BE CONSTANTLY THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE. HOW CAN WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE MORE, IF WE AREN'T THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND SHOW THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL.

TO BE PREPARED DURING HARD TIMES, KEEP YOURSELF IN TUNE WITH HEAVENLY FATHER AND THE HOLY GHOST SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE YOUR PERSONAL PROMPTINGS. AND BE THANKFUL ALWAYS. LOVE, GRANDMA

A VERY BLUSTERY DAY

5 THINGS!?!?!??!?!

5 things i am thankful for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



FAMILY
FRIENDS
BOYS
CANDY
CLOTHES AND CLOTHES AND SHOPPING AND CLOTHES

Pics for Grandma :) y mi madre tambien por su puesto!

Well Grandma, since I now live two hours away instead of two minutes, I thought I'd add some fotos to explain all the mischief I'm gettin into. :) ....and to make Becky happy. ;)

<--Halloween weirdness of the goggles/spectacles...no se.

<--haircut that i didn't do myself this time...promise mom. It would have turned out way worse. hahaha. ;)

<--Si on 102! :) We had this hangin from our roof in front of our house. :)

<--One of the two dates I've been on down here. That's an average of one date per month....wow, at THIS rate, how is ANYONE gonna find their eternal companion!?! ...That could explain why there are over 800 singles in Mesa/Gilbert/Tempe area ! Honestly, men, get to work!

<--Oh yeah, his name is Corey. He's one of my best friends down here but...just a friend Grandma. Don't be pickin out fruit deserts and wedding platters just yet. .....You might have to wait a few YEARS actually, with how fast these Mesa boys are at dating.

Logan's List

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Girls

4. Music

5. Military

6. Sports

7. Video Games

8. Food (Pizza)

9. Money

10. Smarts

Here's my day

I'm thankful for school!!! Today is early release. My three high school kids get out at 10:20 (what is up with that?) and Isabelle gets out at 11:40. Throws a complete wrench in the day. But a good time to try and find Logan a job and open a checking account for Amanda and get the kids to clean their rooms. But I'm still thankful for all day school.

One more thing

I decided to mention one more thing that I am thankful for just because I think everyone on the face of the earth takes it for granted except me and maybe others who have experienced bladder difficulties: I am thankful to be able to go to the bathroom without a bag!!!! (oh, and Shaleice, the mission plug was a little bit for you)

Are We Prepared?

I just thought I would help us all remember to be getting our year's supply of food, toiletries, medications, clothing, etc., etc......and some water and fuel. I think we will see the day when we will need them. It's not as if we haven't been warned, so we won't be able to blame anyone but ourselves when that day comes. Or you can take Rob's advice and just get a lot of cigarettes. He thinks with cigarettes you'll be able to trade for just about anything you need. I know you all have this recipe, but it is so yummy and it allows you to use some of that wheat you might not know what else to do with, and eat healthy too!

EASY WHOLE WHEAT BLENDER PANCAKES

1 c. whole wheat grains (don't grind wheat first!)

1 c. milk

Blend on high for 3-4 minutes. Add a little more milk throughout if it seems to be getting bogged down. When blended add 2eggs, 2 tsp. brown sugar, 2tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 c. oil. Blend just until mixed in. If batter seems too thin, add 2-3 T. flour. Cook on hot griddle, enjoy!

Birthdays

This is mainly for Grandma who didn't get to see the girls' birthdays. Isabelle's b-day party turned out really cute. Nobody is posting pictures, so I guess I will.

Gratitude First: From LDS Living Magazine

Gratitude First by Joseph Walker Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I’m not exactly sure why I gave the necklace to Kayla. I had an extra necklace. Kayla was sitting in front of me at church. It just seemed like the thing to do.
Now, keep in mind that I’m talking about a candy necklace here — nothing special at all. It was just a stringy loop of elastic with multi-colored candies strung around it. I had handed some of them to the ten-year-olds to whom I had been teaching Old Testament stories for the past year (what, you don’t see the connection between candy necklaces and the Old Testament?), and I had an extra one.
Kayla is quite special indeed. She has long dark hair. Gorgeous eyes. A beautiful smile. The sweetest voice you’ve ever heard. And she’s six. In all the world there is nothing so wonderfully adorable as a six-year-old girl.
Which is probably why I gave the necklace to her. I’m a sucker for that stuff.
When I slipped the necklace into her hand she smiled that beautiful smile of hers, and I considered myself adequately thanked. Then I settled back to enjoy the church meeting. As enthralling as church was that day, I did notice a couple of things about Kayla. For one thing, although she wore the candy necklace around her neck, I didn’t see her actually eating the candy. By way of comparison, my son Jon had his necklace consumed and was asking for more before we sang the final “Alleluia” in the opening hymn. The other thing I noticed was that she seemed quite intent on something she was drawing. I couldn’t see it, but whatever it was it certainly had her attention—so much so that she paid almost no attention to the candy strung around her neck.
When the service ended I stood to leave. Then I noticed something small and cute in the aisle beside me. It was Kayla. She didn’t say a word. She just handed a piece of paper to me. It was the picture that she had been working on throughout the meeting. It showed a tall stick figure man with glasses and most of his hair, holding a candy necklace in his hand. Next to him was a shorter stick figure girl with long dark hair, gorgeous eyes, and a beautiful smile. Over her head was a cartoon balloon with these words: “Thank you.”
It was a lovely gift and a marvelous work of art—far more valuable than the candy bauble I had presented to her. As I thanked her for her gift, I noticed that she was finally starting to eat the candy that I had given to her.
“It looks like your Daddy wouldn’t let you eat your candy until after church,” I observed.
She shook her head seriously. “I could eat it,” she said, shyly. “I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ first.”
I was touched by the gesture and inspired by her message. It was so important to her to say “thank you” that she couldn’t really enjoy the treat until she had expressed her gratitude.
That’s why there’s a new piece of art in the gallery that is beginning to fill the nooks and crannies of my office. Kayla’s picture is the first to be so enshrined that wasn’t created by one of my offspring. I’m including it as a way of reminding me to be grateful.
First.

ahh.... aren't we all so greatful?

oh the feeling of being greatful... doesn't your heart just sing when you're greatful?... oh what peacful feelings when we are greatful... hugs are greatful... couldn't we all just give a little more and live a little less?... ahhh... "pass the salt", "thank you, I am............ greatful"

1. i am greatful for girls... who would clean the kitchen?!? haha jk jk jk jk

2. motorcycles

3. kenny chesney

4. girls

5. and most of all... i am greatful, to be greatful................





food for thougght : some things are more easily avoided than fixed, but does fixing then help you avoid???


thand you i love you all, brady <3

today

i touched the inside of three dead bodies.
and right when i had my hand on the liver and kidneys
the heavens opened up
and the angels started singing
and i knew.
i just knew.

i have found my calling in life.

Not the end of the grab-bag-listers...BREANNA! ;)

Well...I would like to thank er...complain...(i'm not sure which).. grandma for the 7:30am wake up call simply to tell me that our family now officially has a blog. Thanks grandma, for bein on top of things. :)
Well as for MY list of thankfullness (i'm not last apparently...Breanna :))...
1--First of all, I jus have to get this out there that wow everyone, way to be creative. DAd, way to add that whole piece of spanish in there that you know--loved that. And to Bev, I was for sure waiting for a "This is for Shaleice" at the end. :) Amanda....obama...no comment. haha. Jared, hmm..very clever. Jason, I loved how you named the temple 2nd! You should have announced 'THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT BY MY HOUSE IN CENTRAL!" :) YEAH! Emily, oh you, I knew it was you before I'd read your name at the bottom. I can totally see you being a writer. :) I love how Kason mentioned he's grateful for Eli...hmm...not Brady, or Colby or Miranda...or even mom or dad. ouch. And good job grandma and grandpa for getting this going w/your "surprises in a bag"..hmm...that sounds kind of like...disguised doggie "surprises"...uh...ok, that's it, I'm not playing if Lulu is part of this! ;) But nevertheless....it came to pass... that I writeth a list...eth. :)
1--Boys. As sad as this is the first thing on my list, my train of thought is: If you didn't have boys, girls would take over the world with cosmetic parties and daily trying to outdo each other. You couldn't get married...well, mind you that Prop 102 passed, yes, you really can't! So THEN if you can't get married, you can't make it to the celestial kingdom and hmm...isn't that what we're shooting for? So as sad as this fact sometimes is, you really can't live without em. ps. I never said it was FUN "enduring thru the never-ending-process of dating, but I guess when I find that "keeper" he can't be THAT bad if I'm expected to live with him forever. ;)
2--Cameras--and for ppl who know how to operate them. hahaha. and NO grandma, i'm not thinking ONLY of you. ;)
3--Little kids--I think I really do wanna be a teacher...It's so fun to watch them be creative and say the funniest things. :)
4--The temple, and that it's so close to me. I go down and read scriptures at the visitor's center and get to do baptisms often too. :)
5--SPANISH, even tho my family strongly dislikes my using it siempre ;) I absolutely LOVE it. I talk w/ppl all the time at Food City, the bank, the temple visitor's center, in the store...well heck, mesa pretty much is "little mexico" :) I'm taking classes when I go back to school and goal in life is to become fluent....and maybe even go on a mission :) Oo, fui a la tienda y ayude tranducir para una mujer que solo hablaba espanol. Me facino mucho. :) No se puede poner el acento en esa mesaje.
6--Family and the encouragement they give and love they show :)
7--Music and The power to create- I recently expanded my talents and taught myself how to play the organ...in 3 days...and then played in church that Sunday. :)
Well those are my "not funny or stupid" things I'M thankful for ;). Looks like Breanna is the slow one of our family...

WHY??

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!?! Why did I invite Amanda on this blog?? I'm sorry everyone for the peculiarness of my daughter and her twisted views and thoughts which I'm sure she will be sharing with all of you.

umm.......lets talk about this.

1) individuality
2) music
3) other living creatures (which includes friends...family....and such)
4) the printing press (with it came so much revolution)
5) Barack Obama.....yeah baby

Bev is thankful for the following:

1...My mission, which led me to my husband and therefore my children
2...My mission, which greatly increased my testimony of the gospel
3...My mission, which taught me to better appreciate what I have cuz lots of people don't
4...My mission, which taught me the Spanish language which I use all the time
5...My mission, which helped me meet tons of new friends which still enrich my life
6...My mission, which was dang hard and gave me more CHARACTER!?!

What Eli's thankful for:

1. My body
2. The scriptures
3. My family and my friends
4. My bike
5. My dad's job

Kason Dawg

I am thankful for:

1. Eli
2. butter
3. tv
4. family
5. chocolate milk

What Miranda's thankful for:

I am thankful for:
1) My family/friends
2) The temple and church
3) My house
4) School
5) Heavenly Father

FIVE THINGS WE ARE THANKFUL FOR

1. My family (husband and children)
2. Church
3. My Mother, Susan and Father and siblings
4. My Health
5. My job, yes and 25 school kids
---Teresa-----

Numero first. 4 kids and one wife (thats plenty, especially one wife)
2nd place. mom & dad and the two gooooommbaaa heads.
3. good health except for the gray hair and failing peepers.
quad. my truck and guns.
nickel. job, church, and the snooze button.
----Darv----

1. Parents
2. Temple and church
3. Brotherhood and Sisterhood
4. Sports
5. House
----Jason----

The 5 things thankful for thingy

I am thankful for prizes
I am thankful for grandparents who give the prizes
I am thankful for the places where the grandparents bought the prizes
I am thankful for the stores who provide these prizes for the grandparents to buy
I am thankful for the sweatshops who make the prizes and give them to the stores in order for grandparents to buy them and give them to me.

this is isabelle. i am thankful for my family, house,t.v.,friends,grandparents. i can't wait until Thanksgiving. love isabelle

Grandpa is in the building

My wonderful wife, Linda

Nuts

That I am still alive

That I live in this Country, even though it is going down hill in hurry.

Our Heavenly Father

Things I am thankful for:

1.My family(which includes ALL my relatives)
2.My puppy ZERO!!!
3.My talents
4.My home in which I currently live
5.I am thankful for the blessings I have right now. I saw in a book today how people in different countries cherish things like their cattle or their bible which are their most prized possessions. None of these people, like the ones who live in Africa or Guadamala, have t.v's or ipods. They were smiling in the pictures. They looked happy even though they don't have the things we do. Something to think about.

Thanks! Emily

More things to be thankful for!

1. Home
2. Pets
3. Hawaii
4. Laughter
5. Music
The Menu sounds yummy!!

I Love Prizes!

Looks like I get to draw first. Things I'm thankful for:
1. Family and Friends(some friends are like family)
2.Good Health
3. Jesus Christ
4. Technology so we can all communicate
5. chips and salsa

OK I CHANGED MY MIND

MY LIST OF FIVE(I HAVE MORE)

1-FAMILY
2-THE GOSPEL
3-MY HOME
4- OUR FREEDOM IN THE GOOD OLD USA
5- CHIMICHANGAS

ok SO I AM THE FIRST. I PUT A $100 BILL IN THE GRAB BAG, BUT SINCE I AM FIRST, I ALREADY TOOK IT OUT. SORRY. WAITING FOR YOUR LISTS.

THANKSGIVING AT OUR HOUSE

THANKSGIVING IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY
MENU:
TURKEY & DRESSING
MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
ROLLS
CREAMED ONIONS
YAMS
BIG, DELICIOUS, RELISH TRAY WITH ALL KINDS OF FRESH VEGETABLES & OLIVES
DANISH DESSERT {THE ONE WITH RASPBERRIES}
THE FAMOUS DRINK WITH RASPBERRIES
MANY, MANY PIES: PUMPKIN, CHERRY-O, RAZZLEBERRY, COCONUT CREAM, PECAN,
FROZEN PECAN, APPLE, AND MAYBE SOME SURPRISES.

I am thankful for many things, which I won't list right now.
But, I am going to show how thankful Iam to all of you by offering small tokens of appreciation that you can have on Thanksgiving Day. To be eligible for your token, which will be drawn from a large bag of prizes, you must log onto this blog and list at least 5 things you are thankful for.
The order of who gets to draw first will be determined by who posts their list first, or who lists the most things, tut these must be true, genuine things, not silly or stupid. I plan on having good things in my prize bag, not silly or stupid. So get on people. Lets make this a Thankful Thanksgiving.

Horray for Cool weather!!

I turned on the heater this morning! (But then got too warm and had to turn it off again) Oh well, don't you just love the smell of the heater for the first time? Winter is coming and even though it's Arizona winter we can still sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate and dress in scarves and gloves outside and occasionally for you Gila Valley people, play in the snow. Christmas is coming!! Here's a pic to get in the cool weather mood. Happy Thursday!

Happy Birthday Eli

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Eli, Happy Birthday to you. We Love you.

Phillip, Becky, Amanda, Logan, Emily and Isabelle

From Grandma & Grandpa

HI ELI!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

WE LOVE YOU

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A FUN DAY!

Where in the World Are........

Where in the World are Darvil and Teresa Boren? Has anyone seen them? They're children have been spotted on the blog, but they are still missing. If anyone has any information as to why they haven't posted yet, tell them to get in gear! We're not getting any younger!

YEA!!!

Yea Family! I'm so excited you people are posting on the blog. Bev, I don't have any idea how you found the time. You are to be commended. Remember, we want to see pictures of the finished rooms. Jared, thanks for being a follower, feel free to comment or post! Get your parents on the bandwagon. Good job everyone, isn't this fun? Happy Veteran's Day or whatever you're supposed to say.

FROM GRANDMA

I've been thinking about my grandma today, because its her birthday. My Grandma Lamoreaux, born Mabel Asay, was the mother of 12 children. She and all of her children lived to old age except a baby who died during the flu epidemic. All of her babies were born at home, which must have been a very hard thing for women to go through to bring new life into the world. My mother, Lela, was the second of her twelve children. Today, lets not only remember our veterans, but our ancestors who have gone before.

I Won't Be Last

I won't be the last one to post on this blog! Darvil and Teresa can be the last now. I may be the most disorganized, but by golly I can post on a blog! My children have been home for four days in a row now. I have been asked: "Can I have a friend over" a total of 67 times now, "What is there to do" 39 times, "What is there to eat" 43 times, and "Can you tell him to stop bugging me" 51 times. I'm desperately trying to go through closets, cupboards and drawers to get rid of some of my clutter and get cleaned up before the holidays...... brady loves you all..... Kason sends his happieness (Brady and Kason each wrote those notes). Tomorrow Eli will be 7! It's hard to believe, but my kids are actually growing up. Colby is healing well from his surgery, just has to be on crutches for several more weeks. Miranda's room is the last one to be re-done, we bought the paint this morning so it will get underway soon. Well, here's my first official post. :) bev

THOUGHT FROM GRANDMA

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHARACTER

Watch your thoughts;
they become words.

Watch your words;
they become actions.

Watch your actions;
they become habits.

Watch your habits;
they become character.

Watch your character;
it becomes your destiny.

Are we giving family gifts this year? If so, I don't remember who I have. Or do we only want to give family gifts on the years we get together for Christmas? What do you think? If the Boren family ever gets on the blog, we can talk about it. Or the Dow family for that matter! Sheesh!

Here comes the clown! She was the only non scarry clown we saw on Halloween.

I figured it out! I put a cute background page on and it's way easy. Amanda couldn't understand why I was making a blog. She said: "That's not what a blog is used for. It's for posting poetry and stories and stuff." I said, "We can put whatever we want on it to help us all be more connected." I bet before you know it she'll be writing things on the blog. I'm going to try and put a picture of Isabelle for Halloween on here. Let's see if I can do it.

Becky

OK. To The Two Boren families and the Dow family: We now have a blog!!! Isn't this exciting! I don't really know what I'm doing but I was inspired by the Hancock women's blog. Our family needs to keep in touch more than we do. I don't know what is going on in the lives of the Darvil Boren family alot of the time. That's ridiculous! What's going on Darvil Boren Family?!?!? Whenever you have news or want to give someone a message we can now just hop on our blog and let loose. I came up with the name Boren Sisters because Beverly and I are originally Boren sisters and Mom and Teresa are still Boren sisters. pretty clever, huh! And since we women will probably be doing most of the blogging.....well, there you go. Sorry Men. So I'm going to start. Emily is in the Play at High School all this week. It's called the Triangle Factory Fire Project. It's set in 1911 in New York and is about a factory fire that killed alot of people. Her part is a newsie or newspaper girl who shouts the news out on the street corner while selling newspapers. We are going tonight to see her in action. Amanda went last night and said she can tell Emily is going to be the Drama teacher's favorite.(I guess he has favorites each year). She's home sick today trying to rest up enough to perform tonight. She loves acting! Amanda is set to audition for the Phoenix Symphony competition on Saturday. She's not really nervous or excited. On the outside at least. I have a good feeling about it though. I have to wait in a green room while she auditions. If she makes it to the next round of five finalists(posted a couple of hours after she sings) then I guess she auditions again and the winner will be announced that afternoon. Wish her luck in your thoughts! Logan tried out for the Varsity Basketball team but didn't make it. He said there were 2 or 3 spots open but the coaches changed their minds and decided not to fill them. These 5A schools are tough, in more ways than one! So now we will try again to get him a job because he needs to stay busy. He's having a hard time, please keep him (and me)in your prayers. Isabelle is just isabelle. Happy most of the time. She made an invention in school with a partner. She said she got stuck with Hunter as her partner and wasn't very happy about it. But since she brought in all the supplies for their invention and the idea, Hunter is going to let her keep it and take it home. They made a robot that swings a baby to sleep. Phillip had and MRI done on his knee and is waiting for the results. The DR. said he might need surgery. What is it with the knees in these families? I'm just trying to keep it together. It would help me tremendously to know there are messages or pictures or recipes or stories from my family. So let's go. Your turn.