Merry Christmas!!

Big 4-0!

Yes, I hit the big 40 a couple days ago. It's very strange to be that old. I still feel like I'm 25, but I'm sure I am definitely as mature as a 40 year old :)

For my birthday, we went to dinner with my sisters and mom and their husbands. It was a lot of fun. Scott made a cake. He insisted on making it...he did work at a bakery when he was a teenage, so I was expecting his usual perfection in everything he does...

Perfection? Not quite. I guess it's been a tad bit too many years since those bakery days...

I love BYU...

We met Scott's parents at the BYU bookstore a couple days ago so the kids could pick out some BYU sweatshirts for Christmas. I was shocked how much the Wilkinson Center and the bookstore have changed. I love BYU and want my kids to love it to...and go there someday. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories to be on the campus. I admit I got a little teary eyed. Scott just rolled his eyes at me. He likes to tease me about how much I love hiking the Y, going to the Creamery, eating at Brick Oven, and how I always point out to the kids my college days jogging route and the apartments I lived in. My family moved to Europe when I was a sophomore at BYU, so BYU became home to me. It was a great time of life...and a hard one too, but mostly great. It was the place I went from teenage to adult and figured out what I wanted out of life. One day I hope to go back and get my PhD and then teach there. Maybe we'll even move to Provo and I can make Scott hike the Y and run my old jogging route regularly :)

Halloween!!!

Ireland was a witch/wizard, Ethan a BYU fan, Ryan..Ironman, and Caleb was Batman and Ironman (depending on his mood :) )




We went to the Halloween parade at the school last Friday. We had to walk down a long hallway to get to the gym (where the parade was). The school kids were all sitting in chairs along both sides of the hall. When they saw the boys they all cheered, "Ironman! Ironman! Ironman!" I turned to look behind me at Ry and Caleb and Caleb was strutting down the middle of the hallway with a big smile on his face and Ryan was giving high 5's to the kids on either side of the hallway all the way down to the gym. It was so funny! They thought they were pretty awesome!

Work it baby!

Scott was lifting weights one night and Caleb had to join in, shirt off and all. (Yes that is muscle man Scott in the background)

Ethan's Baptism

Ethan was baptized a couple days ago on Oct 9th. We are excited that he is officially a member of the church and proud of him for his decision. We love you Eth!

Mom, Ethan and Dad

Granny and Ethan

Grandma Hacking, Ethan, and Grandpa Hacking

Ethan!

Ethan won the "Outstanding Academic Award" in his class. His friend Luke Romney(the blond) also won for his class. I was one proud mama! Scott was equally impressed. Way to go Ethan!

Ethan's Birthday!

Ethan turned 8 last week! We celebrated at "Incredible Pizza". The pizza was anything but incredible. Luckily the boys had fun!

Ethan and his cheesy smile. Bowman next to him, Ry Ry, two hot girls (Ireland and Savannah), Ty (red shirt), Cy (cousin), Luke, and Taylor

Ry on the bumper cars

Luke, Bowman, Colter, Cy and Ethan (Handsome group of boys!!)

Hero

Ireland wrote a paper for her class at school. This is what she wrote...

My Hero is... My Dad. My Dad is a heart doctor. He saves lives everyday. One night my Dad, me, my mom and 3 younger brothers were in the car. All of the cars behind us were honking at a car on the side of the road. Dad rolled down the window and asked her what was wrong. She said, "My car broke down." My dad looked at my mom and got out of the car. My mom took the wheel and pulled into the gas station. I looked at my Dad and he was pushing the car down the road to the gas station. Everyone was cheering. We took their kids home. My dad called a tow truck for the car. My Dad sets a good example for me and my family.

True story. It was the middle of the winter in New York, freezing cold outside, no one would help this lady with 3 teenage girls in her car. Scott single handedly pushed the car down the shoulder of a busy road a few blocks to a gas station. The kids were cheering to see their dad look like superman pushing a car down the road.

Sliding Rock

We went on a hike up to "Sliding Rock" Saturday with my sisters and their families and my mom. It was a blast! The last time I was here I was in college with a group of friends. Here's what it looks like (above).
Here's Ethan going down the natural waterslide. He told me he absolutely was not going to do it. I said that was fine, he didn't have to, and then he went down about 5 times. He doesn't even look phased by the freezing water and drop off down the rocks.
Ireland and Savannah decided not to plunge into the freezing water. Ireland is a little dare devil so I was surprised, but I think it was because she didn't want to get her outfit wet and mess up her hair--such a girl! (I didn't go down it either for the same reasons :)
My sister Lorenne took Ryan down it. Look at his face!!
Scott took both the boys down at the same time in true Scott fashion. Caleb was a little shocked by the cold water!

Handsome little Ryan! He's a dare devil too, and was the first to say he wanted to go down the slide.
Savannah, Scott, Ryan and Ireland.

Ryan's first day of Kindergarten

Ry Ry went to Kindergarten for the first time today! I will miss him!! We were talking last night about how he is growing up and is a big kid now. He said, "Yeah, when I get really big I want to be a fire hydrant." I said, "you mean a fireman?". "No, a fire hydrant, you know those things that shoot water?" Nice.

Caleb's first day of Preschool...

Caleb went to Preschool today for his first time. His teacher admitted that he cried for a while. I hate to see him grow up and I'm secretly happy that he cried for me (or maybe he cried because I left him with strangers? ). I'm not ready to have my baby go to school!! I think it's time for another one (just kidding Scott!).

The Hackings...

Lance and Chad came in town for Grandma Mae's funeral. It was great to see them and we all wished they lived here!! Scott's parents and two of his sister's Sara and Tiffany (and Timo, Sara's hubby) came over too.

Scott, Doug, Lance (no, we aren't impressed with your butt muscles), and Chad (love his expression here!)

Doug, Timo, Sara, Scott, Chad, Janet, Lance, and Tiff

There's my hunky hubs!

If you're going to pull a face, it will be posted on the blog :) (Lance and Tiff)