Merry Christmas...Love, The Saddlers!

We have LOVED reading everyone's updates and looking at all the pictures. It's so fun to see what you are all doing.

As for us, things have definately not slowed down this year! ;0)

Brian fills his days building up the business and serving in the Bishopric, which he loves. His favorite is being able to spend time with the youth. As we all know being self-employed definately has it's drawbacks but the benefits are that he is able to be at all of the kids games, recitals, etc., and he always makes sure that people get where they need to be when I'm in class. This includes Drew's early morning seminary...good thing one of us is a morning person!

I'm currently carrying about 15 credits/semester at Weber State working toward an Elementary Ed degree and serving in Young Women. Between homework, YW activities, and the kids' schedules the days fly by but I wouldn't have it any other way. Brian and I try to provide a united front (since we're outnumbered) and when I accidentally blink, I can't believe how fast my kids are growing!

Speaking of... McKenzi is in the home stretch of her Senior year at Fremont High School. This year she was admitted into a medical magnet program called BHST that allows her to spend her 1/2 her days in college pre-med classes (medical interests must run in the family). She works 3 days a week, serves as FCCLA President at school and keeps up with her homework while also carrying 2 online courses. She definately has her eye on the future and was recently very excited to get an acceptance letter to Utah State University for next fall. No decisions yet, she's still waiting to hear back from BYU and BYUI... we'll see. Despite her heavy work load she manages to keep her sense of humor.

Drew has changed immensely this last year. He is really turning into quite an amazing young man. So far this year he has tried out for, and made, the school volleyball team (co-ed), ran cross country track, and is currently playing basketball. He has never had an interest in basketball before but since he hit the 6' 2 1/2" mark, his friends thought it was time to recruit him. In addition he made the honor roll for the 1st quarter of school. Right now he's in the middle of studying to get his learners permit (heaven help us) and hopes to start driving (with Brian and me) soon. He's got a great sense of humor; when he and McKenzi get together, it's quite a show!

Ryleigh turned 12 this year. She is involved in all things social, is loving being in Young Womens, wearing make-up (finally) and tries hard to stay out of all the 6th grade 'drama.' She recently started taking singing lessons and has had two recitals so far this year. Her last performance was a show stopper! It's a talent that she especially enjoys developing and we are having fun seeing her grow...especially when it comes to overcoming stage fright. Her latest challenge is practicing a song for sacrament meeting... an assignment from Brian... McKenzi is trying to learn a new song to accompany her by the end of January. Keep your fingers crossed.

Last but not least, Kade is finally hitting a growth spurt, which he loves. He has great friends at school, loves scouts and is getting used to being the only one home on Tuesday nights since everyone else is at mutual. He doesn't particularly love being the youngest because he often feels left out but it has its benefits. He can often be found having a 'sleep-over' in Ryleigh's room or running errands with McKenzi. Most of the time he practices defending himself against Drew (typical big brother behavior). Not long ago I walked into their room about an hour after 'bedtime' and found the two of them wrestling on the floor. Kade was laughing a full gut laugh yelling, "I love you too, Drew!" as they rolled around trying to pin each other down....some things I don't understand...but can appreciate just the same! ;0)

We love you all and think of you often.

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

The Saddlers

Wishing you an Anthrax-free Holiday!

Ben got his first in a series of 5 anthrax shots last week. Here he's modeling his MOPP suit.

We moved. No more neighbors overhead. Only 29.9 more years of mortgage payments.
Max likes his school...finally. It's Christmas break, and the kid WANTS to be in class. Ben suffers through an interstate commute, and we are grateful! We live in Lacey now. We previously lived in a 2 bedroom apartment in Lakewood which the locals call "Lakehood." When we were house hunting and first drove out to this neighborhood, Max was quick to observe the lack of hobos and graffiti.

A rare moment. These two are in a constant battle for family dominance.

This might be the dirtiest we've ever seen him.

Rest stop. Hiked at Multnomah Falls on the drive home from Meridian.

I just threw this one in since I'm almost never in photographs..usually the one taking. I guess that goes with being a mom.

Max was Sub-Zero from Mortal Combat for Halloween. We taped a bunch of stuff over his karate gi. He really enjoys karate. His dojo is quite a commute from our new home, but it's great. Pure Okinawan karate is apparently hard to come by. He missed his first test while we were moving. Poor kid has to wait a few months and test with the next batch.

Jack and Spring on a tram at a wildlife preserve. We go do all the fun stuff whenever Ben is gone training. He was deflated to learn we saw the Muppets only hours before he returned from his last training session.

Max dressed up the standard peppermints but then regretted it. He's right: they do look like bloodshot eyeballs.

I was instructed to take this photo. Still not sure what that's all about.

Atop the Space Needle....once again while Ben was in Yakima training.

1 of 3 outings to Sunnyside Beach is Steilacoom, about 15 min from our apartment. Sadly, the summer only had about 2 weeks of decent weather.

Snake Lake Nature Center. This water pump insured we returned several times and always left muddy.

Halloween swag.


Ben forced me to go outside in the cold and snap a picture of our house today. He and Max instructed me include some of the above, but especially that WE MISS YOU ALL... and that we might visit Meridian over the Christmas break.
Everybody here has LOVED viewing your updates!

Ben, Spring, Max and Jack

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!