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!

Twilight

Teresa gave me a great present for Christmas--a book that I could immerse myself in for a day--Twilight. It's a gift that keeps on giving because the book is a trilogy, so now I get to give myself more presents by ordering the next 2 books (from play.com--free delivery)! I knew of the author because Carole recommended her a few months ago to me. The author's website says that the movie will begin filming in the spring.

I'm looking forward to forgetting the world for a few days as soon as the next 2 books arrive! What a great present!

Why I Don't Homeschool

In my attempts to make dinner time more fun (see previous post) I've been playing games with the girls during dinner. Last night we played a Christmas trivia game. One of the questions I asked was, "Why did Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem?" I knew they would get it because all during December we read from the New Testament and Christmas books every night.
This is how the conversation went:
Rachel: Because they had to.
Me: But why did they have to?
Emily: Because Herod was going to kill Jesus.
Me: That's why they went to Egypt, but why did they go to Bethlehem?
Then Rachel's face lit up with excitement!
Rachel: Because they had to pay their taxes!
Me (beaming): That's right, Rachel! (I mentally pat myself on the back for teaching my children the story of Jesus' birth and think, 'She does pay attention during family scripture reading.')
Rachel: I knew that because Mrs. Blair (her PRESCHOOL teacher) read us the story today.
I'm going to ask Mrs. Blair if she'll continue reading the scriptures to Rachel. By the end of the year Mrs. Blair could probably have her understanding Isaiah!