The First Snow

Last week was the first time it snowed and actually stuck. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. It was just odd to be into December with no snow. Anyway- we took the kids up to Rock Canyon for their first sledding experience. Last time I was at that park it was on group date hosted by Mr. Dave Norton where we had 4 twin sized mattresses that the "boys across the way" had bought at DI. We spent hours seeing how many people we could fit on each mattress as we flew down those hills. Crazy kids. That happens to me all of the time living here in Provo. I will drive past something and my mind will fill up with memories. I'm always half expecting to run into someone I know everywhere I go(like old times) but that never happens. Except last week when Jonathan and I ran into Dan and his wife at Tucanos- that my friends is a whole other blog entry. Anyway, back to my kids, sledding, yes. It was great. Micahlyn mostly just wanted to throw snowballs at daddy and Isaac had a hard time putting down his bottle(teething is soooo much fun) but good times where had by all.

BYU 17 UTAH 10

Everyone knows that we one, but Jonathan took this picture after the game and would really like anyone who wasn't there to experience it.

Our Angel Baby

I had the greatest experience today and I hesitated to write about it on our blog because it was so personal, but I am using this as a scrapbook too so I hope you'll all indulge me. I was playing with Isaac in the living room this afternoon while Micahlyn was napping. He's been pulling himself up on furniture and he'll walk when you hold his hands but he's still pretty shaky on his own. Well he pulled himself up on the hutch and was turned around looking at me when he just let go and took 3 steps toward me. I gasped and scared him, making him fall. Great mom, I know. I started to cry and he looked so confused. That was the first time that it hit me, he had no idea what he has gone through. I was so happy and thankful that i got on my knees right there and Isaac and I had a good prayer of Thanksgiving. Sorry if this sounds odd to some of you who may not know that our little Isaac was born with club feet. I had a hard time talking about it when he was young, so I didn't. But I realized today that this was not really his trial, it was mine. I am so thankful for Priesthood blessings, personal revelation and an amazing husband and family that have helped us through these last 8 months. We saw so many Doctors and got so many opinions and they were all pretty much the same, except for the Dr. we went with. The only one who said that he could be healed without surgery. We received very specific answers to our prayers that this was the way to go and I have never been so happy that we followed the Spirit. We went from Doctors telling us that he would never walk without surgery to perfectly straight legs and feet and taking his first steps at only eight months old. I guess I knew that he would be OK but didn't expect anything like this so soon. I love this life and am so thankful for miracles.

Isaac went through casting every week and was such a champ.

First he had little baby casts, they were actually kind of cute.

But the Doctors quickly realized that he was too strong and would kick the little casts off so they switched to casting him from the hip down. They were so heavy- but that's why our little man has abs of steel. He would pick those things up like they were nothing.

He has always been such a happy baby despite it all.

and look at him now!

gettin' bossy like his sister

Our Angel

related?

So I think that I have a complex about Micahlyn and I not looking alike. Last week I actually spent an hour(during nap time) curling my hair to see if we would look more alike if I had curly hair. Not so.

Bowling Night

This is how my family celebrates Thanksgiving.

Surprise! You don't get to pick your callings.

So my mom and dad returned a week and a half ago from their trip to Israel, Egypt etc. and had such an amazing time(as you can imagine). We expected to be hearing stories of the Garden, the Tomb, the Sphinx and crazy camel races for weeks but i'm pretty sure it will be a while before they get a chance to reminisce since 2 days after they got back, dad was called to be the new Stake President of the Bakersfield California Stake. You never want to be sad for someone who receives a calling I guess, but we were all....well, sad. Those who know them know that they were on a 1 year plan for dad to "officially retire" so they could head off on another mission. Well, sad for them, happy for us. We are glad that they will at least be in the country for a few more years. Mom is convinced of a conspiracy of her children praying against her. I told her that i'm pretty sure our prayers wouldn't trump hers. They told us Saturday afternoon that he was called so we jumped on a plane Saturday night so we could be there for the setting apart(any excuse). Elder Hinckley and Elder Dalton were both so kind and friendly. A highlight was when JJ(my nephew who's dad went to the U) heard that Elder Hinckley went to the U. After the setting apart, he walked right over to him and pulled on his jacket and said "so do you like BYU or Utah?". Elder Hinckley didn't miss a beat. He said "well son, You see that your grandpa is wearing a blue tie? Well, i'm wearing a red one." JJ quickly decided that he was now his favorite General Authority.

For clarification, Becky's family are the ONLY U fans in the family-as will be evidenced this Saturday. Black sheep.

We really enjoyed our day down there.

Isaac charming Elder Dalton. Micahlyn playing with a few of Grandma's souvenirs.

They had so many amazing photos of so many amazing places, these are just a few.

Dad playing Moses, climbing Mt. Sinai.

In front of the Treasury in Petra, Jordan.

Mom & Dad riding their donkeys to the monastery.

my crazy kids this week

Isaac in his favorite beanie(BornToLoveClothing.com)

Sissa getting crazy with the finger paints.

Micahlyn playing in the leaves

Isaac playing with his cousins Payton and Carter.

What a week. Well, it's officially winter in Utah. The last of the leaves out front found their way to the ground, which the kids love, but is kind of depressing to look at. Jonathan has been so busy with school and work and his new calling(ward clerk-those of you who know him know how funny that is), so the kids and I have been trying to stay busy with trips to the park, playing with cousins and some home improvement projects. We are staying in Utah for Thanksgiving and trying to finalize Christmas plans with both families. How old are your kids when you start doing Christmas alone? I just assume that every year we will either go to California or Canada(or Chile or Mexico). Jonathan thinks I put too much emphasis on holidays and he's probably right, but I just love them. I can't wait to decorate, bake and wrap all the presents. I realize it's not the important part- it's just the icing. I love icing.

Do You Buy It?

We've never thought that she looked like either one of us. I bet
if we did Jenn's picture she'd look way more like her. Thanks
Kazia, I love this thing.

My Beautiful Sisters

Becky & Jenn
bad picture, sorry Bec.

I have the coolest siblings in the world. This week, I've been thinking a lot about my sisters. I've been thinking about how incredibly thoughtful they are. Both of my sisters are the most giving people you will ever meet- attributes they got from mom and dad I suppose- but this last week I found myself thinking about how lucky I am to have sisters like them and how much I want to emulate them. So this a tribute to my beautiful, talented, generous, wonderful sisters.

MICAHLYN'S BIRTHDAY

All of the Hawkins family was in town for conference and mission reunions so we rented a cabin up in Heber for the weekend. Micahlyn would like to think we went just for her birthday, but she just got lucky. We haven't gotten really into birthdays yet since she still has no idea what's going on. She is just happy that people keep giving her shiny things and that she gets to eat cake with no bib. She loved everything but was super attached to the 10 new pair of fairy princess shoes grandma gave her(a must have for any 2 yr old diva) and the make-up case that her evil aunt Laura gave her( I have found glitter in every corner of my house). Isaac enjoyed the festivities also- although, Jonathan thinks we should probably get Micahlyn a doll so that Isaac can get a break from the dress up parties.

BOYS WILL BE

So, you know how whenever guys watch sports on TV, they always think they could do better than the collegiate or professional athletes they are yelling at? Usually they will tell you as much. Well, this year BYU has struggled trying to find an athlete that can kick a football more than 30 yards and Jonathan and my brothers, while fighting their inclinations to have a sit down with coach Mendenhall, have mentioned, on occasion, that they could each do better. Now take into account that while my husband and brothers are all excellent athletes, none of them played football beyond the 6th grade(flag) and Jonathan being from Canada never even played that. None of them had ever attempted to kick a field goal before, but bless their little hearts, were completely confident that they could. I told them that Tiffany can kick a football 60 yards and that was all the motivation they needed. So on a rainy Saturday afternoon, after hours of armchair quarterbacking, they grabbed a ball and headed to the BYU practice facility. Unfortunately, after arriving they were informed that the multi million dollar monstrosity we all helped to fund raise for is strictly reserved for the guys who are actually on the BYU Football team. So off to Provo High and it is here that we pick up with our aspiring kickers.

Our Family

Ok so Mehrsa finally convinced me that I am the only person in the world without a blog. Soooo, here we are. Jonathan and I have been married for 4 years and have a 2 year old girl named Micahlyn and a 7 month old boy named Isaac. Jonathan has been doing real estate in California for the last couple of years and we have just recently moved back to Provo so he can go back to school. He is doing real estate here while he finishes his degree and is planning on beginning his MBA next year. It's so surreal being back in Provo, but it's not all bad- we have Cafe Rio, BYU Football and my 2 brothers and my sister Becky and their families all live close by. My parents got back from their mission this last year and although they technically live in CA they are here visiting grandkids atleast once a month. Life is good.