President Hinckley

I was sad to hear the news of President Hinckley passing away last night. As I read through the news stories (NY Times and Fox News did pretty decent ones) highlighting his time as President of the Church, I felt like I was walking down memory lane. Here are some highlights for me that I will be able to tell my grandchildren, "I remember when President Hinckley..."
*announced "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"
*announced the building of smaller temples
*announced plans for Conference Center
*announced the Perpetual Education Fund
*interviewed with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes and Larry King
*announced Nauvoo Temple would be rebuilt
*announced Ricks College would now be BYU-Idaho
*announced church had 100 operating temples
*published his book Standing for Something
*talked about the passing of his wife--I remember how sad he sounded and looked
*announced one-millionth missionary for Church
Each year in his life held major milestones. And he did so much at an age when most people feel like getting out of bed is an accomplishment. I think of how many temples he dedicated! When he was called as prophet there were 47--now there are 124 with 12 more to come soon. Because of his extensive traveling 60 countries had the opportunity to see a living prophet--many for the first time.
But more than all of his accomplishments that would put any resumé to shame, I looked forward to each General Conference when I could hear his voice share his testimony.
"Let us all try to stand a little taller, rise a little higher, be a little better. Make the extra effort. You will be happier."
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

Hannah's on a Roll

This morning (after a sleepless night due to a sinus infection and Lizzie wanting to say "hi" 5 times) I woke up to hearing Hannah's little voice say, "Mommy, Lizzie's naked!" As I got out of bed (too quickly) I heard "Did you go poo poos? Did you go pee pees?" I tried to prepare myself for what was waiting for me.
Hannah had crawled into Lizzie's crib to say good morning and change her diaper. I'm pretty sure Lizzie had been sleeping, but she seemed very happy about having a visitor in her crib because she was all smiles when I got to the girls' room. Thankfully, no big messes to clean up.
As I'm dressing Lizzie, Hannah said, "My tummy is so hungry!" When we went downstairs I saw that Hannah had already had breakfast--5 half-eaten muffins. HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN AWAKE?
Where were Jon and the other girls, you ask? They had already left for the day. Jon must have been very quiet this morning. I was completely out because Hannah was the first noise I remember hearing after a visit with Lizzie at 4 am.
Moral of the story? I NEED MORE SLEEP!

Happiness

For our Enrichment meeting on Tuesday we're doing 2 classes--positive thinking and a brief overview of scrapbooking projects. Two weeks ago I was struggling to come up with a way to tie the two classes together, until I remembered a skit done by Divine Comedy (the comedy troupe Jon was in at BYU 13 years ago). In this skit the Young Women's president's theme for Youth Conference was "Crafting Your Way through Puberty". So, thinking of that title, I called the two classes "Positive Thinking" and "Scrapbooking Your Way to Happiness." I thought it was funny--and so did Jon! I made the handouts and a couple of posters and off to church I went. I forget how hectic it can get at church and I didn't have time to explain to the Enrichment Leader (and scrapbooking teacher) that I was trying to be funny with the scrapbooking title. She got up in Relief Society and very dryly read the class titles for Enrichment. I was laughing, but nobody else was. A good joke wasted I'm thinking.
Then the lesson starts. It was a fantastic lesson that focused on how we can only find true happiness through Heavenly Father. And right next to the teacher was my poster screaming "Scrapbooking Your Way to Happiness"!!!! Again, I'm laughing, but nobody else was.
Friday night we had a couple from church over for pizza. The wife (American) asked me what my calling was. Enrichment Leader. Then her husband (British) asks, "Was that you who did the handout for Enrichment? We've been laughing about that all week and say it all the time now whenever something goes bad--just scrapbook your way to happiness!" Yea! Others to laugh with me!

A Day Off

Jon was in Venice last week. I miss him when he's not home. The day after he came home he took a day off from work. How fun! What did Jon and I do on his day off? We spent the day in London...at the American Embassy. We made the appointment in October! We needed to report Lizzie's birth, get her passport (we ended up getting an emergency passport because of our Paris trip next month) and apply for her social security number. (Each year there are over 3600 children born in the UK to Americans.) Here's what the day looked like in numbers: (I converted the costs to dollars)
$88--cost of train/Tube tickets (thank goodness Lizzie and Hannah were free!)
$82--cost of fee for passport
$65--cost of fee to report birth
1 year--how long emergency passport is good for
10:30--time of our appointment
$2--cost of Hannah's lunch--a bag of pretzels from the vending machine
5--number of trips to the bathroom with Hannah 2 floors down
0--the number of times Hannah actually went
13:00--time the American Citizen Services office closes for lunch
13:01--time Jon knocked on the window to remind them we were still waiting for our passport (they had forgotten about us)

Jokes

I usually put little love notes in the girls' lunches, but my creative juices were running low (there are only so many different ways can I say "I love you" and "You're great!"), so in looking for little lunch notes (and another) I could print out I saw a website that suggested putting in jokes. I had to get some help from some joke websites because the only joke I can remember laughing at as a girl is:
Q. What was the last thing that went through the bug's mind as he hit the car windshield?
A. His butt!
You'll be happy to know that one didn't make it to the lunch boxes. But, most of the jokes I read on websites weren't all that funny.
Q. Why do fish swim in salt water?
A. Because pepper makes them sneeze!
Do you have any better ones for me?

Ouch!

Every few months someone comes by to check out the house we're renting and asks if anything needs to be fixed. I hand off a list, people call, people come by, things get fixed! It's wonderful!
Today, it was our hot water that got fixed. Ever since we moved into the house we have all complained about how HOT the water is. We have all been burned by the HOT water also. I mentioned it last time someone came by to check the house. She told me to do a couple of things. They didn't work. I think hot water is a British thing because everywhere we go the water is HOT. On Saturday at the movie theater there were warning signs in the bathroom because the water had only one temperature--HOT. We're good at adapting, though--the girls have learned to only use cold water at home and wash quickly with hot water in public. In a way the hot water is convenient--it doesn't take long to boil water and I can sterilize anything with our HOT tap water.
Long story continues...
The heater man found a switch that had been turned on (because we were told to switch it on) that continually heats the water. He checked the temperature of our water--176°!!!! The switch is turned off and our water should be back to a normal 120° by tomorrow.

Looking Forward to 2008!

2007 was a great year! A year ago at this time I had just found out I was pregnant and a week later I was asked if I would like to live in England! We smashed a lot in one year and though we aren't looking to top it, 2008 is looking promising as well.
Here are some things I am looking forward to this year:
1. The rest of our time in the UK
2. Trip to Paris, Versailles, Dover and Canterbury in February
3. Trip to Scotland in March
4. Deciding where to move to next
5. Finding out where the Hollingers are moving to
6. Showing off Britain to my Mom and sister
7. Emily's baptism
8. Brother Nate getting married in August!
9. Meeting Justin and Teresa's new baby
10. Going on a trip with just Jon (and probably Lizzie, too)

Turning Books into Movies

I just finished reading PS I Love You. As I read the book I could see why this was turned into a movie--it reads well and the characters are likable and it's a good chic lit. But then I watched a trailer for the movie and I'm wondering if I'm going to see the movie. It looks like the movie used ideas from the book but didn't follow the book. I know that happens with turning a book into a movie. It's hard to take a 500 page book and condense it into a 2 hour movie. But I usually end up disappointed when I watch movies after having read the book.

Today, the girls and I saw Enchanted (cute, funny movie with songs you want to sing along with) and a preview was shown for Water Horse, which I'm reading to the girls. Again, the movie used ideas from the book but didn't follow the book. It's a small book, so the story had to be stretched out, but in the book it's the sister who's the main character and in the movie it's the boy. Why did that have to change? The movie opens here next month--it'll be interesting to compare the book and movie with the girls.

I read Kite Runner (skipping some parts) but will not be watching the movie.

Jon saw I Am Legend--it doesn't interest me enough to read the book or watch the movie.

I'll probably read Golden Compass--the reviews on the book are so mixed! Not sure if I'll see the movie.

I find overall, that books play out much better in my mind than they do on screen.

Consequence of Sleeping In

This is a confessional as well as a funny story about Hannah.
(Confession part) Jon and I stayed up very, very late last night and slept in this morning til 9:30. The oldest three girls got up at 7. When we came downstairs we saw what happens when a 2-year old is hungry and left unsupervised.
(Funny part) Hannah got into the snack drawer (that has since been relocated) and had 8 bags of cookies for breakfast. We're not sure how the next step came about, but she stuffed the wrappers into the water jug. If she was trying to hide the evidence then maybe her older sisters can give her a few tips! Not hiding our smiles very well, we asked her what happened. She said, "Rachie did it." When we kept looking at her she changed her story to, "Izzy did it."
Lizzie had nothing to say in her defense.

If I Would Have Done a Christmas Letter it Would Look Like This...

Hi! After several months of me being pretty quiet I thought it was my turn to say a few words. I'm Lizzie—the youngest of the Hamilton girls. I also go by "Elizabeth" and "Izzy" (said lovingly by Hannah). I know I'm really special because my family spends a lot of time with me. My family used to travel a lot before I came along (Rome, Paris, Bath, Brighton). I think they were just lonely and bored before I got here. Mom and Dad must have felt bad that I didn't get to go to Paris, though, because we're all going there next month. Emily and Rachel say they're excited to see princesses and some mouse named 'Mickey'. My Grandma Hamilton gets to come with us, too! This will be her second trip to see me. I've had lots of visitors. First Grandma and Grandpa came, and I let them hold me a lot. Then Uncle Justin and Aunt Carrie and their girls came and I let them tell me how cute I am. Then Uncle Justin and Aunt Teresa and their kids came and I let them play with my parents and sisters. I am really loved!
My family makes me happy. Emily sings me nice songs and loves to hold me, so I smile at her. I like to see Emily's smile because it looks kind of like mine—no teeth! Rachel's fun to watch—either she's making lots of noise and jumping on her trampoline or she's very quiet reading lots of books. She reads more than my Mom! I smile at Rachel because she likes to get really close to my face. Hannah and I used to be a diaper duo but now she's like our older sisters and wears panties. I love smiling at Hannah when she calls me her "geek heart", but I think she means sweet heart. I know my parents think I'm very special because at night Mom puts my sisters to bed so that when Dad comes home I get him all to myself. When Dad comes home Mom tells him it's his turn--I think she means it's his turn to see all my beautiful smiles. I put on a pretty good show for Dad! I smile at my Mom the most, though, because she gives me the best food—milkshakes! And lots of different flavors, but chocolate is my favorite! I like to remind my Mom of how much I love her—like when she is on the computer or making dinner for my sisters or trying to do something she calls "cleaning the house". I know she appreciates my reminders because she picks me up and holds me. Sometimes I get lonely at night and call for my Mom. When she comes to get me from my crib I give her really big smiles and that makes her happy so she lets me sleep with her and she even gives me more milkshakes! Isn't she great?
Yep, I love my family and they love me. If any of you want to come and visit me I bet I'll smile at you too!

Christmas with the Texas Cooks

We are so glad you came Justin, Teresa, Alexis, Ethan and Isaac. Our house was very empty after you left!

We had a great time showing you around a small part of England. Some of the highlights:

1. Justin and Teresa sharing their great news with us! Congratulations!

2. Charlie the Unicorn--thank you Ethan for introducing us to Charlie (see sidebar under YouTube videos)

3. Swinging on the rope swing discovered hidden in a forest

4. Playing games (Settlers, Killer Bunnies, The Bean Game)

5. Going to The Royal Standard (oldest pub in England) and opening up a tab at the bar and eating a

"Spotted Dick"

6. Getting a private tour at a bird conservation center and holding an owl (they were closed but opened just for us)

7. Ice skating in front of Henry VIII's castle

8. Jon and Emily seeing 'Wicked' and watching the kids reenact their favorite parts

9. Discovering English Christmas traditions (crackers, foods, ice skating)--skipped most of the traditional foods (think fruit cake) and enjoyed non-English foods at Wagamama

10. Spending time with an awesome family!

The annual lining up on the stairs before attacking the presents

Our warm-blooded Texas family endured a cold Christmas here in England. Not a lot of rain, but the wind made up for that. Nonetheless, we braved days out and enjoyed just being with each other. The girls absolutely loved being with their cousins and even went on another "boring" trip to Oxford (viewing Harry Potter sites) just to be with them.

We are lucky to have a very capable and kind babysitter across the street from us who was willing to watch all 7 of our kids while the adults went to the temple. I truly feel that one of the blessings of attending the temple is that our kids are watched over. We came back to happy children and a very tired babysitter. It must have been all right because she came back!

The girls got to go to work with Dad one day to see where he spends so many hours.

Justin and Teresa spent a few days in Paris while the kids got to hang out together having parties, dancing, going on a treasure hunt, playing games, watching movies, playing outside and pretending, pretending, pretending! What a great time. What great memories!