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.)