Dear Friends and Family,
I decided to save a tree this year. So this is my method of informing you on the events of 2010 in the Hancock home. I hope you are all well and we would love to hear from you soon.
Warning: Because I was so conscientious of the environment I felt it my right to take privilege and write on forever..so you may have to just choose your favorite person in the Hancock crew and read about them, otherwise you might not have enough time in the day.
I was toying with the idea of not doing a letter, I often feel like the year has to have been a success in order to publish it, and this year was not exactly what I would define as success. Don't get me wrong, we still have many blessings to count, it was just um...character building! Yeah that's what I will call it!
So we will go oldest to youngest!
Hancock Christmas
Rick-Written by Rick too!
I made it to 40 this year! I sure feel older now...great!
Work has not been the easiest, but at least I'm still employed. I completed 10 years with the City of Fairfield in May. Layoffs will be announced soon, so maybe my next job is coming sooner than I would like. We pray that my job is safe, but truly no one knows. Furloughs were put into effect January 1st; taking 10% of my pay. At least I no longer work on Friday now. The extra Friday time does let me help out in Todd's kindergarten class. I'm also working on home improvement and other chores around the house.
I completed a full year in the Bishopric in our ward at church. Hopefully this hasn't impacted the family too much, I do get to spend more time with the older children at church (attending youth classes on an intermittent basis, going to youth activities during the week, going to Scout Camp for a week and Girls' camp for three days, etc). Sundays are longer though.
All-in-all, it's been a very good year. After-all, as Andrea has pointed out to me, technically the glass is always full—even if most of it is filled with air and not water!
Work has not been the easiest, but at least I'm still employed. I completed 10 years with the City of Fairfield in May. Layoffs will be announced soon, so maybe my next job is coming sooner than I would like. We pray that my job is safe, but truly no one knows. Furloughs were put into effect January 1st; taking 10% of my pay. At least I no longer work on Friday now. The extra Friday time does let me help out in Todd's kindergarten class. I'm also working on home improvement and other chores around the house.
I completed a full year in the Bishopric in our ward at church. Hopefully this hasn't impacted the family too much, I do get to spend more time with the older children at church (attending youth classes on an intermittent basis, going to youth activities during the week, going to Scout Camp for a week and Girls' camp for three days, etc). Sundays are longer though.
All-in-all, it's been a very good year. After-all, as Andrea has pointed out to me, technically the glass is always full—even if most of it is filled with air and not water!
Andrea
Well, what is there to say about yourself when you are writing these darn things? I'm not 40! There's a start. I've had a rough year health wise. My back is garbage and I need a new one. I had issues in April that kept me down for a week and then on August 3rd I herniated a disk in my back. I am not even sure what I did wrong. We had spent the day at the beach on Lake Tahoe and then that night I awoke with major pain in my leg. The herniated part had landed on the nerve that works my leg and ankle; a month later I was walking again. It is miserable even typing this now. I hate remembering the issues that accompany a Mom in bed for a month. The hardest was missing Todd's first day of kindergarten and later trying to get off the pain meds. I do however feel that I have learned a lot about myself, and the love that others and my Savior, Jesus Christ, have for me. You will have to read about that at www.reflectionsofmylife-andrea.blogspot.com.
I am still in the Stake Young Women's presidency at church. I work with the girls age 12-18 in the Vacaville area. I also work with boys the same age quite often. In our church, meetings seem to be the past time, so I have been to many a meeting this year. I most enjoy the time I get with the youth, They change and grow so much over 6 years. This is my 6th year so I am watching the young ones go off to college soon, and I do get sad that they are leaving me. I'll have to work on not taking it personal. With my calling I was able to go to girls camp. At camp I spent some time in feathers, a great and spacious building, and rapping to the crowds. These are all too hard to explain, but loads of fun.
I just got done with the Festival of Trees tree that I do each year, and I am releaved. This is my last year for at least a few years and I am excited.
Before you wonder what would I ever do with all my spare time, never fear, I have filled it already. I spend night and day on Facebook. Kidding. I have started a business with my Sister in Law, Amber Fawson. This is the great reveal...sign up at www.ticketchocolates.com. The final website is still in the works, so you may think we are crazy and foolish. And although we are both of those things, I get to buy 500 lbs of chocolate and lug it to San Francisco to have our chocolatier make our award winning (yes, I gave myself the award, but who checks on those claims anyway)HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK. So even if we crash and burn, I am still surrounded with high quality, great tasting chocolate. It could be worse.
But of course we will be billionaires by next year, so consider yourself privileged that you "knew me when....".
I am still in the Stake Young Women's presidency at church. I work with the girls age 12-18 in the Vacaville area. I also work with boys the same age quite often. In our church, meetings seem to be the past time, so I have been to many a meeting this year. I most enjoy the time I get with the youth, They change and grow so much over 6 years. This is my 6th year so I am watching the young ones go off to college soon, and I do get sad that they are leaving me. I'll have to work on not taking it personal. With my calling I was able to go to girls camp. At camp I spent some time in feathers, a great and spacious building, and rapping to the crowds. These are all too hard to explain, but loads of fun.
I just got done with the Festival of Trees tree that I do each year, and I am releaved. This is my last year for at least a few years and I am excited.
Before you wonder what would I ever do with all my spare time, never fear, I have filled it already. I spend night and day on Facebook. Kidding. I have started a business with my Sister in Law, Amber Fawson. This is the great reveal...sign up at www.ticketchocolates.com. The final website is still in the works, so you may think we are crazy and foolish. And although we are both of those things, I get to buy 500 lbs of chocolate and lug it to San Francisco to have our chocolatier make our award winning (yes, I gave myself the award, but who checks on those claims anyway)HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK. So even if we crash and burn, I am still surrounded with high quality, great tasting chocolate. It could be worse.
But of course we will be billionaires by next year, so consider yourself privileged that you "knew me when....".
Samantha
Samantha is 15, and a Sophomore in High School. She has a great fear that she is average. I, however, do not think she has anything to worry about. She is a great girl who really knows what she believes in and stands for. She attends Church at 6am each morning and still has amazing grades. College seems so far away, yet so close. It is hard to balance texting, facebook, picnik, football games, church dances, stake youth committee, spirit days, itunes, chores, sleeping, clothes, and more clothes, along with homework and thinking about college. I keep trying to encourage her, but I am afraid I am a nag at heart.
Outwardly I want her to go off to college and be wildly successful, but in secret I want her to fail for the next 10 years so my baby will not leave the nest. First of all I cannot believe that I am this old. But most of all, Samantha is a great help at home. I know I can trust her with anything.
A drivers licence is around the corner, I'm not sure I can cope with this fact. I gave her, her first driving lesson the other day. She preferred NOT putting on the gas pedal. She liked the speed that you get when you just coast with the emergency brake off. Ha, I only wish this were going to be the case for years to come!
Samantha had a very busy summer. She enjoyed Youth Conference and Church Girls Camp. Once again...I was there, I so very much cramp her style. I'm not so sure what we are going to do about this, but I really try to keep my distance. She is fun and has plenty of friends, so I hardly even see her the entire time we are there together. This year at Girls Camp she did a four day backpacking hike. I worried like only I have been able to master. I figured after I didn't hear any helicopters the first day (I was at base camp) so she had probably made it past the worst part. I was right, she is a trooper, and even came marching in on the fourth day with a super huge smile and a smell like no other!
At Youth Conference she showed off her super powers by performing in the talent show. Although she can play the piano very well, clap very loud, and play the trumpet, she chose a more elusive talent of hers. Pi. You know 3.14159265358979323846264338327950 etc....... Samantha can recite this for about 135 places. She wow'd the crowd with, what must be, a Hancock trait. I do know that it is certainly not average. The entire family was able to go to a Hancock family reunion in North Carolina this year. It was so much fun for all of us, but I think Samantha had the most fun seeing her cousins again. She is fortunate to have so many close to her age, they all had a lot of catching up to do. After a week in NC we visited our nation's capital, and we were there in eye shot of the Washington Monument's fireworks on the 4th of July. Amazing—that's the word for it—it being the traffic. Oops, I mean it was amazing feeling so patriotic with all the other citizens of the great USA. If only it hadn't been 100 degrees at 10pm. But being with Rick's sister and brother along with their families made it cool!! We tested our powers to think cool thoughts, but we were able to visit the Capitol, Library of Congress, Holocaust Museum, Declaration of Independence, all the Smithsonians, and the place they make your money. I say your..cause I'm all out. It was a great trip and I am so glad we got to do it while all four kids are young, they were troopers.
So an average girl would've sat around watching Glee and pined over some stupid boy. Not my Samantha, she is a super great girl, who I want to keep around for as long as possible.
Oh-I almost forgot, she went with some friends to Disneyland this year too!
Outwardly I want her to go off to college and be wildly successful, but in secret I want her to fail for the next 10 years so my baby will not leave the nest. First of all I cannot believe that I am this old. But most of all, Samantha is a great help at home. I know I can trust her with anything.
A drivers licence is around the corner, I'm not sure I can cope with this fact. I gave her, her first driving lesson the other day. She preferred NOT putting on the gas pedal. She liked the speed that you get when you just coast with the emergency brake off. Ha, I only wish this were going to be the case for years to come!
Samantha had a very busy summer. She enjoyed Youth Conference and Church Girls Camp. Once again...I was there, I so very much cramp her style. I'm not so sure what we are going to do about this, but I really try to keep my distance. She is fun and has plenty of friends, so I hardly even see her the entire time we are there together. This year at Girls Camp she did a four day backpacking hike. I worried like only I have been able to master. I figured after I didn't hear any helicopters the first day (I was at base camp) so she had probably made it past the worst part. I was right, she is a trooper, and even came marching in on the fourth day with a super huge smile and a smell like no other!
At Youth Conference she showed off her super powers by performing in the talent show. Although she can play the piano very well, clap very loud, and play the trumpet, she chose a more elusive talent of hers. Pi. You know 3.14159265358979323846264338327950 etc....... Samantha can recite this for about 135 places. She wow'd the crowd with, what must be, a Hancock trait. I do know that it is certainly not average. The entire family was able to go to a Hancock family reunion in North Carolina this year. It was so much fun for all of us, but I think Samantha had the most fun seeing her cousins again. She is fortunate to have so many close to her age, they all had a lot of catching up to do. After a week in NC we visited our nation's capital, and we were there in eye shot of the Washington Monument's fireworks on the 4th of July. Amazing—that's the word for it—it being the traffic. Oops, I mean it was amazing feeling so patriotic with all the other citizens of the great USA. If only it hadn't been 100 degrees at 10pm. But being with Rick's sister and brother along with their families made it cool!! We tested our powers to think cool thoughts, but we were able to visit the Capitol, Library of Congress, Holocaust Museum, Declaration of Independence, all the Smithsonians, and the place they make your money. I say your..cause I'm all out. It was a great trip and I am so glad we got to do it while all four kids are young, they were troopers.
So an average girl would've sat around watching Glee and pined over some stupid boy. Not my Samantha, she is a super great girl, who I want to keep around for as long as possible.
Oh-I almost forgot, she went with some friends to Disneyland this year too!
Zachary
Zachary is 13 now....so I have two teenagers in the house now. Yes, it has its moments. But really they are super kids. Zachary is in the 8th grade at the Middle School here in town. He is doing a fabulous job in school with a 4.0. He likes to play basketball at lunch with friends, and all 86.7 lbs of him likes to wrestle with the school wrestling team. I am not a huge fan of this activity. I just have visions of my frail baby boy being broken in half. And don't even get me started on the sanitary conditions of this sport....but alas, all my reasoning points back to the therapy costs later in life. I just couldn't picture his long drawn out story about how he could of been a champion wrestler if it weren't for his mother being a germ-a-phobe. So, he is still on the team. He has gone to two meets and scored a silver medal at each.
We began 2010 with Zachary playing baseball, and "he feels it was one of his best seasons", said just like the budding play by play baseball commentator he aspires to become. Need I mention that the Giants winning the World Series was a major event in this home? The other sport that Zachary is fond of is Cross Country. His best was 4th place this year at a meet where it was 107 degrees outside. I felt like dying as a spectator, so we know he doesn't get any of his super human strength from me. Zachary is active at church as the Deacon's Quorum President and patrol leader in Boy Scouts. He is a Star Scout and inching in on Life. I am lucky to serve as Committee Chair for our troop. This has really helped me get involved with his activities; I love watching him encourage the other boys. I'm pretty sure he also plays the saxophone in the school band, however I rarely see evidence of this. Zachary is a really great kid and all who know him agree.
Okay, so bragging aside...he loves to keep his socks that have holes in them, he eats more food than a family of 4 at one sitting, and he gave me febreeze for my birthday, because the smell that comes from his room is so putrid. (but you could say that for just about every teenage boy...I hope)
We began 2010 with Zachary playing baseball, and "he feels it was one of his best seasons", said just like the budding play by play baseball commentator he aspires to become. Need I mention that the Giants winning the World Series was a major event in this home? The other sport that Zachary is fond of is Cross Country. His best was 4th place this year at a meet where it was 107 degrees outside. I felt like dying as a spectator, so we know he doesn't get any of his super human strength from me. Zachary is active at church as the Deacon's Quorum President and patrol leader in Boy Scouts. He is a Star Scout and inching in on Life. I am lucky to serve as Committee Chair for our troop. This has really helped me get involved with his activities; I love watching him encourage the other boys. I'm pretty sure he also plays the saxophone in the school band, however I rarely see evidence of this. Zachary is a really great kid and all who know him agree.
Okay, so bragging aside...he loves to keep his socks that have holes in them, he eats more food than a family of 4 at one sitting, and he gave me febreeze for my birthday, because the smell that comes from his room is so putrid. (but you could say that for just about every teenage boy...I hope)
Ella
Ella, Ella, Ella. What can I say. She is one heck of a kid. Ella is 7 years old and in the second grade. She is doing great in school and her teacher only had one complaint about her. She said that Ella needs to speak up in class, she is too quiet. Rick and I paused a very long time at this news. You see, Ella is the loudest child EVER. She has this high pitched voice that permeates the house. She says she has to speak loud otherwise we do not answer her ( when she is talking over all the other people). She is partly correct. Being the third child has instilled a survival trait in her, so she is so loud. When it comes to school, well, I have no idea what to do. How do I tell her to speak up when all I do at home is tell her to speak softer? Such quandaries?
Ella has started the piano this year, and also Girl Scouts. She is making new friends and bossing the other friends around. Oh, she isn't that bad, but she does rule the roost. I find myself teaching Zachary how to stand up to her, he is too nice and she is ruthless.
Ella is all girl and loves jewelry and pretty clothes. She was a tad agitated a few months ago when she got some food caught in her long tresses, so she decided that waiting around for help was just asking too much, so she cut her own hair. Ella has a cute short bob now!
Just today Ella and I went on a Mommy and Ella date to see Tangled. It was a great movie and I love my alone time with Miss Ella. She has a ton of questions, and she has even more ideas on how to do things.
Ella is enjoying crafts more and more, which makes me happy. She likes to be creative and I look forward to helping her. At the beginning of the year Ella was huge into jump rope and now is enjoying the monkey bars at school. She loves silly bands, but I think the thrill of the trade is really what she enjoys. Ella also thought she was going to be a cheerleader when she got older. She would practice at school with the other girls, so I enrolled her in a one day clinic to get it out of her system. After the performance, I asked her if her dream was still to cheer, she said it was too much work. No tears were shed on my end.
Ella also has a great imagination, she and Todd play great together, and she has a crush on a boy in the second grade. I have my hands full...but I am the luckiest Mom ever.
Ella has started the piano this year, and also Girl Scouts. She is making new friends and bossing the other friends around. Oh, she isn't that bad, but she does rule the roost. I find myself teaching Zachary how to stand up to her, he is too nice and she is ruthless.
Ella is all girl and loves jewelry and pretty clothes. She was a tad agitated a few months ago when she got some food caught in her long tresses, so she decided that waiting around for help was just asking too much, so she cut her own hair. Ella has a cute short bob now!
Just today Ella and I went on a Mommy and Ella date to see Tangled. It was a great movie and I love my alone time with Miss Ella. She has a ton of questions, and she has even more ideas on how to do things.
Ella is enjoying crafts more and more, which makes me happy. She likes to be creative and I look forward to helping her. At the beginning of the year Ella was huge into jump rope and now is enjoying the monkey bars at school. She loves silly bands, but I think the thrill of the trade is really what she enjoys. Ella also thought she was going to be a cheerleader when she got older. She would practice at school with the other girls, so I enrolled her in a one day clinic to get it out of her system. After the performance, I asked her if her dream was still to cheer, she said it was too much work. No tears were shed on my end.
Ella also has a great imagination, she and Todd play great together, and she has a crush on a boy in the second grade. I have my hands full...but I am the luckiest Mom ever.
Todd-5
Well while all of you are anxiously awaiting your Christmas. Todd has already had his. On Dec 9th he "could not stand the excitement any longer". He opened nearly all of his Christmas gifts. My response....I didn't even bat an eye. Of course Todd would do that, these are the types of things Todd does. On the flip side he is my little snuggle bug, who tells me he will buy a house next door and live forever by me. He comes running out of Kindergarten each day with that huge Todd smile and says I love you mom at the top of his lungs accompanied by a gigantic hug. He is such a joy, with all the naughty days come so many fun moments. It could be that with four children you just forget what nice, unbroken things looked like. But really I just think it is more of a relazation that these moments will pass and in the end I still want my little boy to give me hugs and say I Love you Mom.
Todd enjoys school and playdates with friends. He loves the Magic School bus cartoon, jigsaw puzzles, and volcanoes. He can not use his bum to sit on a couch, and he is not aware that the bathroom in our house has a door on it that shuts.
If you are wondering how I have handled the situation? I spoke to Santa before Todd sat on his lap. Santa had a few words for Todd about not opening our gifts before Christmas. The look of shame on his face told me that Todd had learned his lesson. I hope that he is not rehashing this in therapy in 15 years...I really do try my best.
So would you like to hear Todd's latest? He has a Jehovah Witness best friend in his class. There has been a tad bit of controversy over "Seth" telling the other kids that Santa is fake, etc. Seth told Todd yesterday..."If you celebrate Christmas, Jesus will destroy you". Todd's response. "No, you're wrong, I celebrated it last year and I am still here!" That's my Todd....always thinkin'
Keep reading....
Todd enjoys school and playdates with friends. He loves the Magic School bus cartoon, jigsaw puzzles, and volcanoes. He can not use his bum to sit on a couch, and he is not aware that the bathroom in our house has a door on it that shuts.
If you are wondering how I have handled the situation? I spoke to Santa before Todd sat on his lap. Santa had a few words for Todd about not opening our gifts before Christmas. The look of shame on his face told me that Todd had learned his lesson. I hope that he is not rehashing this in therapy in 15 years...I really do try my best.
So would you like to hear Todd's latest? He has a Jehovah Witness best friend in his class. There has been a tad bit of controversy over "Seth" telling the other kids that Santa is fake, etc. Seth told Todd yesterday..."If you celebrate Christmas, Jesus will destroy you". Todd's response. "No, you're wrong, I celebrated it last year and I am still here!" That's my Todd....always thinkin'
Keep reading....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)