Mary Christmas...and Amy Christmas Too!

Hello family! This year has flown by for me. We had so many things changing and the kids getting to an age where we are busier and busier. I've loved it and look forward to the coming years if this is any indication.

Brandon is back to installing which brings back memories - only he's not in his 20-something body so there are a few more aches and pains along with this ride. Casey moved to Seattle with Carly and that was tough for him since they had become so close. He took Kody with him this year to the annual Turkey Bowl with his buddy Kip. He had invited Matt (his brother in law) and our nephew Ray to come along. Needless to say Kody didn't find his inner Hiseman that day - he and Ray huddled close togther eating snacks the entire time! Brandon also helped coach Kody's U8 Select soccer team this summer which was so fun to see. I don't know who had more fun, Brandon or Kody!

I left the Credit Union life back in February for a new career as a bottle salesman. Yep, you heard me right. I work for Container & Packaging Supply now which has been a great move for us. I'm now working in Eagle which is super close to home and my hours are much more flexible. I enjoy what I do - my co-workers have a fantastic sense of humor! You can see me in our 2012 Calendar as "Alice in Plasticland". I dyed my hair red recently and caused quite a stir. In case you were wondering Brandon wasn't a fan, Kody thought it was fantastic (though we're all sure heas just saying nice things to earn brownie points; which I obliged) and Paige kept thinking that every morning when I woke up it would be "back the way it was." I just keep hearing "Mommy, WHY did you paint your hair!?"

I've enjoyed watching the kids grow into their personalities more and more each year. Kody is proving to be a thinker with deep conversations and tons of plans and inventions. He's also been known to turn away a friend coming to see if he can play so he can "have a stay home day in my jammies." He's in First grade this year and LOVES school. He continues to amaze us by growing and growing just as fast as always. I give him until maybe 3rd grade before he's taller than me. Kody lost three teeth in a weekend: the first was swallowed at a restaurant; the next had to be pulled by the dentist (both on a Friday) and then the last was lost that Sunday. He loves his family and tries to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable. After trying his hand at a few different team sports (soccer and tee ball) we'll be enrolling him in Karate - wish us luck!

Paige is a sassy girl with opinions on most everything from what she wants to wear to food and music. She loves to read and I can't even begin to express her love of horses. She owns 4 different stick horses along with many, MANY other horses and still they aren't enough. She is growing into that curly hair of hers and she actually likes it! Her favorite colors are purple and yellow and bed time with Mommy in bed reading books is her favorite evening routine. Paige also started her first season in soccer and it was a rollercoaster of emotions - PHEW! Now she has been taking ballet lessons and I think they are more down her alley.

I miss everyone but especially during the Holidays. I miss our busy family events with all the kids and chaos though Lacey and I are doing our best - especially with the chaos part! I think about all of you often and love you all so much!

Merry lice-mas!

We had big plans to post a Christmas music video, but I'm sitting in bed after a long night of stomach flu - so this is the best we can do today. This is just one illness in a semester FULL of
back to back blows to the immune system.

Since Mila and Cooper started daycare at the beginning of this semester we've had pink eye several times, hand-foot-mouth disease, strep throat, stomach flu, regular flu, Cooper's high temp of 105.8 for an unknown reason, and lice! I've been told this will subside as their immunity grows... that better be true!!

Anyway Jon is still working for Sigma House Recovery Center here in Springfield. He deals mainly with drug court clients. Once a week he reports to a judge on the efforts of his clients in drug treatment. I love saying "Daddy's going to court today" without worrying if he's coming home at night :) He'd love to move on to a place where the clients take treatment more seriously and aren't just trying to get out of jail time.

I'm in a Respiratory Therapy program at our local community college and I'll be done next Spring. This semester has been killer. I go to class twice a week and go to clinicals at our local hospitals three times a week. We learned how to run several new ventilators which means all of our patients were in critical care units. Next semester will be awesome - it'll be all NICU and pediatrics. I've been looking forward to seeing the little babies, but they also make me very nervous.

There's so much more to say, but I can hear Mila puking so I'll attach some pictures and call it good.

Despite a clean bill of health from the school nurse, my phobia got the best of me and I treated myself for lice with olive oil and saran wrap :)

New tire swing in the back yard!
Jon's been perfecting his smoked rib recipe - yummmm...We took a "vacation" to the KOA camp (about 10 minutes down the road) -
lots of good stories there!

For lack of other activities, we took the kids to the train track and flattened pennies.
They loved it!


We also took a weekend trip to Memphis.

Memphis zoo is awesome!

Jon finally got to try the famous Rendezvous BBQ.

Definitely worth the trip!

We love you all and especially miss all of you this time of year. Each of you mean something very special to me and I hate that I can't give you all a big hug whenever I want to. Anytime anyone wants some high humidity, Bible belt fun - our door is always open. (Don't worry Josh - the house will be fully disinfected by the time you get here). Can't wait to see you all again!
Love - Amy

The Hodges Family Christmas Letter 2011

There's so much that's happened this year I don't know where to begin.  I guess I'll just start with each member of the family.

Paul is still working towards his associates degree in Internetworking and Communications. This major has been so much fun for him and he will be finished with it in May.  Paul has also been offered a position on a competitive team called SkillsUSA that allows him to exercise what he's learning.  If his team does well, they go to a national competition and eventually a world competition.  Paul's teacher invited him to join his team and has qualified for the world competition the last few years.  Paul has been teaching the 11-12 year old boys in Primary and it's been wonderful seeing the boys move from Primary to Priesthood.

I went back to school in January and Fall semester started taking my classes towards a Web Development degree.  I plan to be finished in May of 2013.  These classes have been really fun and difficult.  Hopefully when I finish I'll be able to work from home and be able to do some fun stuff with our blog.  Recently I've been quilting to relax.

School and Etta have basically been our life.  Etta has grown so much this year!  She went into nursery in July and LOVES it!  The only time she cries is when we pick her up to go home.  I don't think she walks anywhere...she loves to run and play.  She can count to ten and recognizes all her letters but Z and Y. (She thinks they're N and V).  She talks a lot and some of her favorite things are her stuffed bears, her blanket, dancing and nuggolths (snuggles).  She will be 2 in January and you can tell with how independent she is getting.

Below are some pictures of Etta and how she's grown this year and a video we wanted to share with you all.  Even though we are scattered we think of you often and try to make sure Etta recognizes your pictures so she knows her family.  We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and look forward to hearing from you all.

Love,
Paul, Lacey and Etta

Eating cake

Etta playing with her bath markers

Etta's First Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This is what Etta wore to Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's house for the BSU games.

"Oh no!"

Etta's first pumpkin from Linder Farms

For Carsey & Cooper from Grandpa

Easter in Meridian 2011

Easter weekend, Saturday to be specific, Mary and Lacey came with Kody, Paige and Etta to our house and decorated easter eggs. What fun we had as Paul and Gary went out to the park in our subdivision and hid the plastic ones that were filled with candy.

I hope this movie comes through ok. It's my first try at video editing. You can see how much Kody, Paige and Etta enjoyed running around the park. What a great day it was! I hope you all had a special weekend. We had stake conference so Sunday was wonderful as we heard from leaders speak about the resurrection of Christ. The gospel is truly "good news". I love my family, each and every one!

The Saddlers clean the house!

Mom's Day

Mom - we all put this together for you...