Thanksgiving at the Hibberts

We are looking forward to having a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast at Neil and Amy's new house this year! You guys are awesome, thanks for hosting all of us, again!

My 2 cents on the election and life on this earth - "The Best is Yet to Come."

I was very disappointed that Obama won the election. I was also surprised that he won by such a wide margin of electoral votes. My kids who are so influences by me were obviously equally disappointed. (They are so funny, Ethan has been the most upset.) I think people that voted for him are well intentioned, but I also believe the majority of his supporters were uninformed, as shown by the video and other content/facts on this website. I agree with Rush Limbaugh who has said that Ignorance is American's most dangerous commodity. I also agree with Rush that it's very difficult to win an election by voting against someone, and I was definitely voting against Obama and not necessarily for McCain.

Time will tell if his new president leaves our country better or worse. Although Congress equally bears the responsiblity of leading our country, and things haven't been great for helping Bush with them in control for the past 6 years. I'm a little worried with Democrats having control of both houses of congress and the presidency. But we'll keep living our life and hope that none of their policies and taxes kill Corey's business.

At General Conference, Elder Perry said "we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come." - I did notice at that time that he didn't put a disclaimer saying "...depending on who wins the US election for the Presidency." so that gave me comfort to be still and know that God is in charge and "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!" (I also did notice that President Monson talked about "Change" and Pres. Uchtdorf talked about "Hope" and I was jokingly thinking "What?!? They support Obmama?!?! What is going on here?!?!"

From my journal the morning after Election Day
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Well, yesterday was election day, and it is now 7:36 a.m. and I checked out the results online and will now begin trying to get used to the phrase "President Obama". Oh that does not sound good to me. I've said my morning prayers and told the Lord that I am not happy that Obama won, but will be of good cheer (perhaps mostly by avoiding the lack of cheer that would inevitably come to me by watching the news, thus I shall rarely watch the news again for the next 4 years) and that I also pray that Obama's win will somehow help God's Kingdom to roll forward and fill the earth... cause it seems that all the people in Iran and Iraq and Palestinian wanted Obama to win, so maybe now the US will have good feelings with them and they'll open their borders to the preaching of the gospel? - that's my theory. I also just read in the book of Ether how the Lord had compassion on the brother of Jared and his family and friends despite the crumbling culture chaos around them, which leads me to hope and believe that the Lord will bless and protect America and the Church even though Obama is the next President. I will probably say "Oh Dear" for a while these next few months, but will try and push those thoughts our of my mind and replace them with faith.
Also, last night before bed Corey and I read a great article called "The Lord Can Ease Our Burdens" which had a lot of time/election results appropriate advice for me, I will probably read it again. It ends with this scripture: "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God" (D&C 101:16). We can trust in the Lord (as I sigh "oh dear...").

My Little Ladies

Aren't they sweet? You can just tell they are made of Sugar and Spice, huh! Abi has some obsession with her nose, it's pretty funny. Mel's just playing along with her long awaited little sister. I love my girls.

Future Chess Master Joseph

Joe has a new passion - Chess! Don't be fooled by the above photo - I was black and beat him, but, since he's the real chess lover, I let him take my side for the photo op. He's become a really gracious loser, too. "That's Checkmate Joe..." "Let me check... yup. (sticks out his hand) Good job! Wanna play again?" Joe even made his own chess set out of Legos - I was quite impressed.

My brother Neil, his wife Amy, and their kids came up for a quick visit a week ago and Joe asked Neil to play. Amy sent me an email tonight telling me "Ever since Joe beat Neil in chess he plays one game of chess online every night before he goes to bed to try to sharpen his skills for the next time him and Joe come head to head. Boys, boys, boys, there's nothing like competition. Neil can't be having a nine year old beat him." I thought that was so fun, and I am going to tell Joe in tomorrow and get him psyched for the Thanksgiving Showdown when we go up to their place in two weeks!

Creative Corey: Sledding on the Grass

In September on a beautiful fall evening, Corey had a grand idea - Today seems like a perfect time to go... sledding! He blew up the innertubes, got some cooking spray, and wouldn't tell us where we were going. I was able to figure it out when he turned toward FlatIron Mesa park which has a huge hill. He tried to water down the hill with a gallon of water, but that really wasn't enough to make a difference, so it was a good thing that he'd brought along the cooking spray. I was being a party pooper though and didn't want them using the rest of the can cause I didn't have any extras at home. Sure, it would be easy enough for me to run out the next morning or whenever and buy some, but it just seemed like a waste of perfectly good olive oil cooking spray! Now, if I had bought the cheap stuff, well that would have been different! Maybe not. But, but, but they're gonna get hurt or break their glasses! They kept falling off the tube about half way down the hill where the cooking spray ran out (Corey would have argued "Well, if you'd let us use more spray!!!") As I kept raining on their party saying it was time to go, it's getting dark, or the kids are gonna get hurt, Corey told me "There's never going to be a perfect time (or perfect way) to do anything, let's just do it and enjoy it!" He was right, it's a fun memory and the kids still talk about it and remember it, and we'll probably do it again only will come better prepared with more oil. Moral of the story - don't wait for a perfect opportunity to present itself, take the opportunity you have and make it work.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." - Thomas S. Monson

Memories with and time with our kids is important, cooking spray conservation is not!

Sick Day

We've all been throwing up today. I just had my turn and am feeling much better now. I'm old enough that I know how to throw up with minimal clean-up - right into the garbage disposal (which I prefer over the toilet bowl). Hyrum was the first today, he threw up at 11:30 all over the wood floor (yes! Not on the carpet!) so he didn't go to afternoon kindergarten, then at 12:30 the school called to tell me Melodie threw up and to come get her. Corey had the car at work so I called him and he ran and got her at the school. He went by the redbox and got us 4 dvds to keep us company on the couch, then he headed back out to work where he was going to stay an extra hour to make up for this unexpected trip home. The school called again at 2:30 telling me to come get Joe. Doh! I said I still had one more kid there in first grade and asked if they'd like me to take him too, she said "We haven't heard anything from that class... oh, I have another kid here, gotta go." I guess we'll see how long Ethan lasts. Ok, gotta get Joe... I didn't want to call Corey again, so after a few calls my wonderful neighbor Monica went to go get him. Joe came in and seemed to be feeling well, and proudly told me he didn't even make a mess - he threw up in the sink as he was getting a drink! Way to go! Ethan did make it through the whole school day, and as he walked in alone he said "I don't feel good..." and I told him of everyone else's sick episodes so he'd know what was in store for him. He's in the kitchen moaning right now. Luckily Abi and Wesley haven't thrown up, as for the older ones, we've all been watching movies and I'm making them keep bowls and water pitchers in front of them to catch any messes. The joys of motherhood!

Update: Ethan threw up after an hour of bellowing. That's 4 down, two to go.

Update: Ok, this is gross... When Ethan threw up, he did so as he was sitting at the kitchen counter into a big white salad bowl. I rinsed it out, then went back to the couch. Fast forward 2 hours - Corey's home, the kids haven't eaten anything all day, I hear them in the other room - Corey's going to make them macaroni. After a while I come into the kitchen, everyone's happy and eating food, looks like they're gonna keep it down, then I see the macaroni has been served out of a big white salad bowl. I didn't say anything as I looked at each of them happily eating. I pulled Corey aside and quietly asked him if he washed that bowl out before he used it. "No, why?" Oh gross... We didn't tell the kids, but did throw out all the leftoveres. After I told him, he felt like throwing up. I guess we'll see how Wes and Abi are tomorrow, cause I don't think there's a way they could have escaped contamination now...

Update: Wednesday morning - Abi and Wes are still ok, Corey threw up.

Conference Road Trip

For General Conference, we took a two hour road trip to Ephraim, Utah. We listened for the two hour drive down, had lunch at Fat Jack's Pizza (from my college days) and then ice cream at McDonald's, and then listened to the next session on the two hour drive back to Sandy. We were actually able to listen to Conference! I think this might be a good tradition.

Abi enjoying her ice cream!

Awake, Arise, and Come Unto Christ

This is a great talk by Sheri Dew that a friend forwarded to me. Hope it lifts your spirits, too, Colleen! Sorry to single you out, but I think you're the only person who reads my blog! ;)

Mount Olympus

Grant, Stephanie (Grant's girlfriend), Josh (Steph's little bro), Joe , Neil, and Me

Saturday I hiked Mount Olympus with my brothers Neil and Grant. For my brothers, this was the 8th annual trip to the tip of Mount Olympus. I went with them in 2005 (and was sore for a week), missed last year (pregnant) and the years in between we were living out of state, but I've hiked it 3 other times. I invited Joe to come along, a little worried how hard it would be for him, but he was a trooper and didn't complain once, although Neil and I did piggy-back him a few times when we could see the exhaustion on his face. But Joe's game for next year, and I plan on being there too! Here's a picture that my dad took from their deck with his telescope. Cool!


Can you see those 6 tiny figures on the Mountain top? We're waving hello