What Jay and I read together

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Jay enjoys this series far more than he will admit I think. He really like the description and the addition of the wolves, but felt the Voltarie are over the top.

View all my reviews >>

A Tutorial For You From Joshua

Just in case you missed learning how to do this growing up, Joshua will now demonstrate the steps to produce an armpit fart. He is quite skilled at it now thanks to the tutelage by his older brothers. (Ha no pun intended there!)

Joy School Christmas

We had a really nice Joy school Christmas party last week. The kids made presents for the parents and made the treats. They also put on a production of the nativity story and sang songs. Here is Beth and her Joy School group singing Jingle Bells.

All I want for Christmas

Elliott is missing his two front teeth, and a few others.

Political Christmas Wish

A friend of mine brought this article to my attention via facebook. http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/02/sanderlin.afghanistan/index.html
My opinions on this decision and the wars both in Iraq and Afghanistan are similarly mixed. I know without a doubt that the soldiers fighting this war are doing so because they made a commitment to God and Country. I am thankful to them because I also know if they didn't go over there, the terrorist would surely be here.

However, the casualties brought forth in this article, not to just the soldiers, but the the families who stay behind, the communities left without actively volunteering members, nations left divided on issues and made vulnerable to subterfuge, make me and I am sure many others tired of these wars and want an end and wonder how far our country will go to get a victory. Decades ago our nation felt these same pangs of a war weary nation, and while I was not a firsthand witness to the losses and suffering, the histories leave no doubt of it's existence. The country at large had difficulties understanding why this war was so important and why isn't it over yet? Much like the difficulties we have today.

As a military wife, I don't have many experiences with deployments. I count myself lucky on that front. But, I have seen and known many around me who have suffered as detailed in the article. So when I first heard the news about the President's strategy, I was cynical. "That," I said to myself, "is all that we need Mr. "I Will Bring Our Troops Home." Then I wondered what was the answer, if there was indeed an answer.

What I love about this country is the freedoms I have to be me. To enjoy all that life has to offer if I am able to obtain it by either luck or hard work. I love the culture of the United States and the exposure I get from so many other cultures. I love that our people have a voice in our government. I love that by writing this I will not be stoned in the street. I love that even the smallest minded people are allowed to be small minded people. In my opinion I do feel that this is the environment that our Father in Heaven wanted for us. I think that the US espouses the concept of free agency highlighting both choice and and accountability.

Do I feel that the other side wants to turn all that asunder? Knowing what little I do of radical Islam, I don't think that is what they want. I think they are tired of seeing another culture other than theirs make decisions for the whole world. I think they are afraid, like many Americans, that the winner of the fight will make unwanted changes to their freedoms and stunt their growth towards what is desired by all humans. I think that they believe just as strongly as I do that their ideal is worth fighting for, and should be fought for with as much effort as available and is worth the cost of valuable lives.

So my answer, or should I say political Christmas wish, to all of this confusion, the atrocities, the loss, the frustration, my solution to the war is understanding. When I say understanding, I mean more than the efforts of diplomacy. Diplomacy is not understanding. By understanding I mean we should look at each other, both sides. We should take the good with the bad, We should understand each others value to our respective societies. We should talk of similarities and differences, not with contempt, but with the desire to know why there is a difference in the first place. Understanding trumps fear and prejudice. Understanding requires work, not just handshakes and state dinners. Understanding requires self-reflection to actually look at the bads the other side pointed out in us and change them for the greater good. If understanding is practiced on a large scale it will work. Then we can stop all this fighting as understanding unites us all as a global society.

Snow in the San Angelo Weather Forcast this week

We're supposed to get snow twice this week. While I doubt there will be enough for a real snowball fight, it has sparked the idea in the kids imagination. So here we are Parents versus kids. Who do you think wins?

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

November Sunday Afternoons

So here is a list of things that encompassed our November

Veterans Day Parades - Elliott and Jay took part of our annual veterans day parade here in San Angelo with our Cub Scout Pack.

The long horn bulls really love being in the parade. This one wears shoes for the event.

My scouts.

Book Fair at the elementary school - Missy and the kids are always excited for a book fair. This time Missy volunteered to work and submitted a fairly open schedule not thinking that they would schedule her the entire time everyday. After some amending she was able to work the book fair and make all her other obligations. It was a fun experience for her and Beth who tagged along most days.

Ballet lessons - Beth and Joshua have begun learning a dance to the carol of the bells. It is too cute to see them moving around. They are working towards their recital in the Spring where they will perform Peter Pan. jay will be Captain Hook and Mr. Darling. Good think he already has the Cpt. Hook costume and has danced the ballet before. Missy and Jay will also be attending the Nutcracker ballet this weekend.

Joy School - Tuesdays and Thursdays continue to be Beth's favorite days of the week. She loves all her Joy School friends and is very keyed into when they miss school. In November she learned about the Native Americans and Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving feast and learned a song about thanking the pilgrims (to the tune of "Are you sleeping").

YM/YW/Scouts - Missy and Michael went on a temple trip to Lubbock with the YM and YW. This was Michael's first time and he was able to do some temple work for his Crowley ancestors. The Young Women made cookie care packages for some of our friends fighting the war, and the cub scouts focused on our military heroes this month.

Dentist appointments - We all went to the dentist. I don't know about other families, but trying to schedule dentist appts. for four kids and a mom at optimal times and dates is not easy. Then Beth and I had to go back for some fillings. Beth is well loved at the dentists office and did great getting her fillings. She isn't scared at all and goes back to the chair without Mommy.

Doctor appointments - We had a follow up with Elliott's doctor concerning his low weight. All of his labs came back within normal ranges...he is just small and thin. We make a special effort to give him a good diet with extra protein. While he is normally picky, I think all the lab work and Dr. visits made him realize mom and dad weren't lying when we told him the doctors would be worried about his weight too. He is doing better at eating.

Field Trips - Joshua took a fun field trip to Texas Roadhouse this month. It is a western themed restaurant which has a great field trip program including plastic cowboy hats, free hot dogs, and other goodies. He loved it and wears his hat with his boots often. Joshua also had a classmate over for the weekend. Curious George to a field trip to our house and saw what a Haderlie weekend looked like. He ate dinner with us, enjoyed Sunday afternoon games, and played imaginary games with Beth and Joshua. Joshua then journaled the event for George's scrapbook.

Class Thanksgiving Feasts - Joshua had a healthy Thanksgiving feast and Michael's school held their annual "Boo-rah" Thanksgiving feast. Michael was hoping I'd meet his friends parents so we could arrange some time to spend together outside of school, but we missed them.

Craft Fairs - This is one of our favorite times of year because the area has two major craft fairs. We went to one the weekend before Thanksgiving on the base and we will go to another this weekend at Fort Concho. Lots of fun to see all the crafts. The fair at the base even has free crafts for the kids. It was a nice Saturday activity and the kids were all impressed with the magician that did tricks for them.

Thanksgiving feasting and general laziness during the holiday - While we worked over the dinner and digesting it, our family had a very lazy holiday and enjoyed the trixtophan turkey comas. We enjoyed having Jay home so much to play with. We hardly left the house although we did enjoy visits from our friends. By Sunday evening I was ready for the holiday to be over. Ugh I am not looking forward to summer vacation. :P

Christmas decorating and shopping - One of our family traditions is to put up the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving. My grandmother started us on a tradition of yearly ornaments (usually significant for each individuals accomplishments that year) and the kids love putting their ornaments on the tree. They also enjoy playing with the manger scene and the nesting dolls and boxes.

Jay's Sunday Nap?

Latest Goodread

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just as it's prequel I loved this book and Stargirls' "take" on the world. One of my favorite quotes from the book...."..Today is calling to you, trying to get your attention, but your stuck on tomorrow, and today trickles away like water down th e drain. You wake up the next morning and that today that you wasted is gone forever. It's now yesterday. Some of those moments may have had wonderful things in store for you, but now you'll never know."

View all my reviews >>

Ella Minnow Pea

Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable by Mark Dunn


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Cute tale and and fable to help us all learn to think for ourselves and to seriously analyze the decisions our government and leaders make on our behalf and for the "greater good."

View all my reviews >>

Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love the wit and humor of the book and the details associated with the tale. I don't know if it is because I've already "found God," or not but I didn't find it religiously enlightening, although I did learn more about Hinduism. I love how Pi is truely polytheistic.

October 2009 Part 2

Beth after an exhausting day.The end of teh video is blurred as i run to catch her!

October 2009 Part 1

Here are just a few things that our October consisted of in picture and video. Included in these posts is my trip to Mississippi to visit my sister Julie, her husband Tony, their new baby Alexander Roy, and seeing my Mom and sisters. I took this trip alone and on the return I was really bored so I thought I'd photo journal the experience. Also I've included Halloween, although not the Trunk R Treat...I wasn't home for that yet. I hope you enjoy some of our October. Beth Joy School Halloween Trick or Treat! Visiting Alex in the hospitol. Julie's baby shower...(Mom I am enclosing a picture of the view so you can see what you missed!) My other sister Laney...she's expecting too, in April! My car ride home driving from Biloxi Mississippi to San Angelo on I-10. This is a long drive through the widest part of Louisianna and Texas. I got a little bored, especially when I was stuck in traffic. Books on tape are great though and I enjoyed the Historian and the latest Da Vinci Code segment. This first one is for Michael. Ummm people with vertigo like me shouldn't have to drive over that...is there another option? No? Can I close my eyes? No? Okay, I think I can, I think I can! Whew...oh I can release my tight grip on the steering wheel...I'm okay, just a little sweaty. Almost Home! Well in 8-9 more hours. Stuck in traffic outside of Houston. Wait! You mean I have to sit here for 45 minutes looking at that? Come back I want ice cream!!!!! This one is for Mom! More time in traffic in San Antonio. Typical Texas scenery, although a bit too hilly for San Angelo the colors are about the same. Jay and I once had an argument about what a mountain is...I won of course, but it was instigated by this sign. Really I know Texans think everything is bigger and better, but there are no mountains in or around Mountain Home. This one made me giggle....granted the end of a long car ride, but if you look closely in the clouds there is a :)to the left and a :( to the right. Crazy right?! Comedy and Tragedy in the sky. This month started off with a bang. We had a busy weekend. On Saturday I went to a Beehive breakfast in the morning and Jay and Elliott participated in the Veteran's Day parade as part of the cub scout organization. Then we cleaned the church with some other families,and later that night had the missionaries over. I am volunteering at the kid's school book fair, and have a lot of church and stamping activites this week, added to our normal routine of dance lessons and weekly appointments. In rare moments of bordem or exhaustion these are the things happening around our house:

Umm okay Michael.

I've been reading a lot lately.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book! All the feel of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein surrounding the Dracula story. The book was scary but not in a "gory scared to be alone in my own house way." Was a great book to listen to on my drive.

View all my reviews >>

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Was quite dissappointed in this Dan Brown book. I guessed the ending long before Langdon got there. I felt this book did not live up to it's predecessors and did nothing that national treasure had not already accomplished.

View all my reviews >>

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed the Red Tent and the story of Dinah. I could have done without the "coupling" and a few of the graphics that I managed to skim over. I feel they did not further the story in anyway which is why I only gave the book three stars. I feel religious history should be able to be read by those who are religious.

View all my reviews >>

Every Little Thing About You by Lori Wick


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Cute love story and I like that it is set in Texas. I also like the Christian overtones but sometimes feel that Wick is drowning the story in them which is why the book earned three stars rather than four.

View all my reviews >>

Looking Ahead

Not much has happened since my last update so I thought I'd let you all know what we are going to be doing in the next few weeks or so in order to keep certain friends and family from complaining about the lapse in my blog posting. (Just kidding..you know I love you all!)

First is my visit to Mississippi to see my sister Julie, my brother-in-law Tony and their new Baby Alexander Roy Greenwood. He was so excited for his baby shower that he decided to show up two months early. So I am headed out to see him in the NICU, and to attend the baby shower (and to drop-off some toys and goodies I've been saving for my sister's kids). While I am gone, Jay gets to be the stay at home parent for three days. He is excited for the time away from work...he doesn't get much of that lately. He also gets to be the parent during our church's Trunk-R-Treat. Have fun honey! :D

Next is a re-focus on fixing up the house. I don't have anymore weeks of teaching in our Joy School co-op, so now I can have ongoing projects lying around without having to worry about busy fingers checking out the power tools. I need to paint the kitchen, living room, dining room, and my bedroom. We need to finish the cabinets and doors of the other rooms we have already painted. I need to replace the vent over the stove and the kitchen sink. I need to decide what to do about the kitchen cabinets...paint or not and the living room carpet. Questions that may be put to the Realtor. We also need to replace the floor in our bathroom. (In my original un-edited post I wrote that last sentence twice...think it bothers me much?!) Then I have work to do outside...painting trim and cleaning out landscaping beds and getting rid of broken backyard toys. Once that mission is completed then the house will go up for sale...with or without orders!

We also have some doctor appointments for Elliott in our future. His pediatrician is worried about his height and weight dropping form the 7% to the 1%. We did a whole bunch of lab work two weeks ago and now we are just waiting for results. She wants to send us to an Endocrinologist so we are planning a trip to Lubbock because there isn't one here in San Angelo.

Finally we are looking forward to the holidays. Jay and are already listening to Christmas music. I love the messages of joy and peace and the excitement of family and feasting all in remembrance of the gift our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ gave to us all. I also love the cooler weather. We drew names this year and the kids are excited to shop for each other. Jay and I were hoping it would help them feel more of the Christmas spirit rather than the "Christmas I Gotta Haves." We'll see how it works out.

Many people have asked us about orders. Jay and I are frustrated that we don't know when and where we will be headed despite many applications for assignments. Jay is ready to move on to the next challenge and so am I. The kids are ready to change schools. The kids are ready to have a dog..."Not until we move," isn't happening fast enough. We've decide to press ahead like we already have orders to move. We are worried about selling the house or getting the orders with the built in unaccompanied TDY which leaves me holding the bag of having to sell the house or getting all the required passports and moving arrangements made. It may be that the Air Force will need us to stay here longer than we anticipated, but we are going with the scout slogan and arranging to "Be Prepared" no matter what happens with our living locale.

So far that is all that we have planned in with the normal routine of ballet lessons, speech therapy, doctor and dentist appointments, church,scouts, school, work, and household errands. I think we need more excitement don't you? Now that you know what we will be up to in the next few weeks you can think of us and be glad you aren't the Haderlie's or just hav e agood laugh at our expense! ;D

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Teaching Joy School

I had a fun week teaching Joy school this week. We have 7 children in our pre-school co-op group and we alternate weeks of teaching a lesson; a virtue such as obedience and choices and a kindergarten readiness lesson with letters, shapes, and or colors as the focus. The kids also learn songs,eat snacks, and play together. Our group has three girls and four boys. They are all such sweeties! This week our kindergarten module had me teaching the colors to the children. I wish I had more hands so I could have had the whole group take a picture. But here is Beth with our color experiments telling me back what she learned today.

Our last three weeks

Our last three weeks have been really rough for our family, with just a few bright spots.

Rough was adjusting to our new school schedules. The little kids especially had a rough time adjusting to the new routine. Jay and I had to take away a lot of toys because the kids couldn't keep up with their room and school. We had a lot of arguments and fighting in the mornings before school about having to get up and get ready. Then their were arguments after school about having to do homework and chores before they could watch TV and play. More arguments ensued over bath and bedtimes. It took about two weeks for us to convince the kids that this was how it was gonna be no matter how much they whine. Such mean parents they have. But we are finally in our routine. Monday mornings are still a little rough after the weekend, but by the afternoon the kids are ready for the school week.

The kids are all doing well in school. They all brought home really good progress reports. Michael was working on a really cool art project, and if he can manage to not get hurt or have fights on the bus, he really enjoys attending gymnastics. Elliott has taken to the second grade like a natural and is reading so well. He surprises me when, thinking he is way to quiet and into some kind of trouble, I find him curled up with a book enjoying a good read. I am glad that at least one of my children likes to read as much as I do. Joshua hates school and tells me everyday he wishes he could stay home with me and Beth. He and Beth really are joined at the hip these days. They are taking a Ballet class together. Joshua brings Beth home prizes and treats from school and makes sure that everyone in the house is treated fairly. Beth enjoys Joy school and Ballet. She is so smart...you can just see her brain working all the time.

We have had a whole lot of rain....We have green grass..um weeds...y'all! This was nice for the dryness, not so nice for all the outdoor activities we had planned like attending football games. Then because of the rain and the confinement indoors we all caught some sort of cold/flu. We were sick, the whole family except for Elliott (I swear that kid either has some sort of super human immune system or as mu brother says "is just too mean to get sick."). Jay, Joshua, and Beth had high fevers, coughs, and vomiting. Michael and I had low grade fevers, hot and cold flashes, bad coughs, congestion, and muscles aches. Jay had to take the whole week off of work to care for himself and the family. He is my hero! :* (xoxoxoxoxo)

Moving on....now that we are all better I hope to be able to post something more interesting. I have some video clips of the kids in Ballet and some pictures of them at class so I hope to post those soon. I have also read some good books...Fairest by Gail Carson Levine and The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell. Both are books about girls who feel they are less than ordinary and they end up being so extraordinary. Very fun and at some moments thought provoking reads. I am also reading now a Laurie King book. I loved her Mary Russell series so I thought I'd give this series a try and I am not too sure about it. The there is the Warrior Heir which is just weird right now. Jay and I are enjoying reading each other to sleep with Don Quiote de La Mancha which makes us chuckle at his antics.

No word on orders yet. We were going to try for a post in Germany, but his work told him the report date of Jan. was out of the question. So it looks like the Haderlie family won't be moving until Mayish, but I am still planning on putting the house up for sale by the end of December. We are scared to death that we will get stuck with it, and I'd rather sell it early and live in an apartment or rental for six months than have it for two years after we move. :( I am still going through the house like a whirlwind getting rid of this and that. I've had to stop painting for a while because of the rain and to teach joy school (and get sick), but after this week I will pick it up for a few weeks before I have to teach again. My room is next on the list after I finish the doors for Michael's room and my bathroom cabinets. We still have to replace my bathroom floor and fixtures before it is finished. I am still wavering on what to do with the kitchen cabinets (paint, re varnish, or leave alone) and whether to replace the carpet (new carpet, wood laminate, carpet/flooring allowance in sale of house). Any suggestions or if any of you all are bored and want to paint with me just say so.

I have enjoyed my time with just Beth home. She does Joy school two days a week...it is really quiet here then. We get a lot done around the house together and I get a lot of projects done while she plays on her own. We also enjoy going to "Mommy's exercise" three mornings a week. I am attending Curves and have had some good success with that and Slim Fast. I hope to lose a total of 30 lbs. I have lost about 12 so far. I am also having fun with my Stampin' Up business. It doesn't keep me too busy and I enjoy coming up with new ideas for my technique classes and cards for my card swapping group. The rest of my crafts have been stored away because of the work on the house. I will post some pictures of the progress on the house soon too.

We are excited for the upcoming birth of a nephew in December (my sister Julie and her husband Tony) and to hear that my sister Laney and her husband Andrew are expecting a baby in April. Can't wait to play with the babies! Have so many toys to unload...I mean pass down. Well that is about all that is going on here in our little corner of the world. We hope that all of our family and friends are well and happy. "God be with you till we meet again!"

A Book Not Worth Reading In My Opinion

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
It took Jay and I a while to finish this book as we read it together, and I wish we'd never wasted our time. For crying out loud how long does it take to describe Stockholm syndrome? I also thought Pachett should never have dropped the "f-bomb" or had the characters "hooking up." I think the story would have been more interesting if the hostage/terrorist bond continued after the story like everyone of the charecters had dreamed. I thought the ending was lame and the whole story the way Pachett laid it out was really only worth about five or ten pages.

View all my reviews >>

Murder She Baked

Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This one was fun but I guessed the murderer way into the story so it kind've ruined it for me. I did try the recipe for Hannahs Bannana's and made some for my one of my visiting teaching sisters. Hope she likes them. They taste like the crispy part of banana bread...YUM! You can check out the main website for all about these murder baking mysteries by clicking on this posts title.

View all my reviews >>

Back to School

Today was back to school day. at a quarter to six this morning Jay woke us all up. We have to be up earlier this year because Michael has gymnastics in the morning at the high school. So we all got up and were ready to go after we had back to school blessings and FHE last night. We told back to school jokes at breakfast and impatiently awaited departure time with backpacks on our backs. Here are some pics of the occasion.