{Love for President Hinckley}

Well, being in Utah does have its advantages, I suppose. We found out around 8pm that President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away today around 7pm. He was such an incredible man, and though I got teary eyed as I turned on the breaking news and saw pictures of him and his sweet wife, for the most part, this is a happy passing. I'm sure he must have been missing his wife so terribly these last 3 or 4 years.

I do know though, that the mantle has been passed on to the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and President Thomas S. Monson, the new High Priest of the Church, needs our thoughts and prayers.

I will forever be grateful to the president of my youth, Gordon B. Hinckley. I felt his love for me so strongly and I will miss his humor and his voice. I wonder if there is something big coming that we will need President Monson instead of President Hinckley.

I know that school tomorrow might be very somber as we all remember and honor President Hinckley. But I feel in my heart that all is well and that Heavenly Father is still watching over us and he knows what he is doing. It is time for President Monson, and President Hinckley has served well and he has completed his mission on this earth. I can only imagine the happy reunion he may be having now with his wife and his family and with his Savior.

God be with you 'till we meet again, President Hinckley! I know He will be with us.

Technological Difficulties & Being Inspired

Well, my computer won't turn on and I seem to have misplaced my camera. Without those two important technologies, blogging isn't easy! Updates will come, but it may be a little while. Sigh...

In the meantime, I have been very inspired by this quote that was shared in my Home-Based Women Entrepreneur Lecture Series:

“You are creatures of divinity; you are daughters of the Almighty. Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future, if you will take control of it.”
-Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this class. We sit in a small auditorium once a week for an hour while amazing women come and talk to us about the incredible things they have done and inspire us to do incredible things in our lives.

Updates Are a Comin'

After a busy week and a half of the new semester, I'm starting to feel bloggy again. Look for updates soon!

*Wii madness
*The baby craze
*The snow INSANITY we are experiencing right now
*A happy birthday tribute to Mom
*Dad's Cadillac
*The fun that comes with having the newlyweds in town
*One word....IKEA
*And whatever else I feel like

Christmas & A Wedding

It's been a delightful couple of weeks! We had Christmas with our families and enjoyed the wedding of a certain red-haired boy and a little sister.

Some pictoral highlights:

All the family in town means LOTS of presents under the tree!

I am the proud new owner of this red beauty! Thanks Papa! I can hardly wait to get it home!

Christmas Eve serenade by the other Michael Buble:

Cute posin' nephew:

Stockings at the in-laws: I aspired to get my initials on a certain son's stocking.... I get excited every time I see them!

My brother in law Cam surprised us all with his cello playing skills! Seems he's been practicing for a few months without anyone knowing. He taught himself using videos on YouTube!! He did a fantastic job!

Handsome Christmas morning Hubby:

Watched them:

Now, on to the wedding!

The GORGEOUS cake:

The Bride & Groom:

Dancing with Daddy:

The Getaway:

The car was hidden over two blocks away, but apparently the bridesmaids drove around for a long time to find it!

My camera batteries were unfortunately DOA at the temple in the morning - a fact that I am very sad about. It was a cold but perfectly lovely day. Everyone had a great time! As soon as I borrow some pictures from others in my family, I will post some more. Holly's bouquet was absolutely stunning.

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

{Dear Santa}

I want these bundt pans from Williams-Sonoma:

I've been a really good girl this year...promise!

Once there was a snowman...

Twas' the week before finals and all through the land,

college students were studying the books in their hand.

"We're tired!" they cried, with a great pouty shout,

"We've been studying for months, and we're all studied out!

It's snowing outside and we want to go play!

Couldn't you please make these tests go away?"


But the tests would not go and the studying could not stop.

What's a student to do when their brains want to pop?

Why, they look for distraction, for fun and a rest,

they look for an Indian who just is not dressed.


"It just isn't right!" they say with a grin,

"He must be so cold in naught but his skin!

We must dress him in layers to keep out the cold,

Here's snow on the ground, let's make him look bold!"


So the students got busy and packed him up tight.

and the Indian didn't put up much of a fight.

The next morning as students poured into the school,

they noticed that something looked pretty dang COOL!

Why, Frosty had come to visit them all!

Hip Hip Hooray! HE'S 15 FEET TALL?!

THE END

HTML Madness!

My html knowledge has increased about 500%. Thanks to Suzanne Hart and Matie Kay for instructions and examples, Shabby Princess for free digital paper, and to me for totally messing up my blog and then figuring out what I can and cannot do. I feel like a blogging wizard! I also highly recommend right clicking on blogs that you like and viewing their source code for more hints and tricks. Alas, I deleted my "widgets" on the side in the process, but I saved them in a word document before I started playing. I'll probably add them again tomorrow.

And I also recommend playing with your blog when you don't have a mountain of homework to do. :)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Tag...I'm It!

The lovely Aimee tagged me....oh, quite some time ago. I haven't forgotten, promise! Just had to get back into the blogging groove.

So, here are 6 facts or habits about me that people may or may not know:
*I want to be a photographer. Like, for real. I find myself composing shots during class, walking home from school, between classes, watching the kids in my quad play on the playground, walking though parking lots, during performances, watching tv/movies, etc, etc... I WILL get a good camera some day and I hope ya'll will think I am fantastic enough to let me take your pictures! I plan on getting good enough so that it won't even be a question. ;)
*I love collecting recipes. I love searching for the BEST chocolate chip cookies, the BEST banana bread, the BEST twice-baked potatoes, etc. I don't always have time to cook right now...but I will in the near future. Bring on the food!
*I love cold cereal. Mr. Hadlock and I have a huge collection that we eat and replenish continuously. Sometimes, I think we go through 2-3 gallons of milk a week. Yum! Last semester my craving was Fruit Loops and Frosted Shredded Wheat *Big Bites*. This semester I love Cinnamon Toast Eggo cereal and Wheaties.
*Disneyland IS the happiest place on earth...if you are with the right people. What do I mean, you say? Well, in The Polar Express, the little boy whose name I cannot remember is at first unable to hear the silver bells on Santa's sleigh because he doesn't believe. It's only when he lets the magic work in him that he believes and he can finally hear the ringing of the sleigh bells. That is how Disneyland is. Some people are only there for the thrill rides and they ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones a few times and they are done. I love those rides too, but that is not what Disneyland is about! It's about the *magic*, the memories, the fun, the spirit of the place. I'm sure part of the reason I love Disneyland so much is because I have a wonderful Disneyland Daddy. During sacrament meetings of my youth, my dad always planned out 2 things: the next trip to Disneyland and the hen house/palace he would build when he finally got chickens. (I think my papa is a farmer at heart). I have spent so many happy hours there that it will always be a magical and wonderful place. If anyone ever wants to come with me, I promise we'll have a good time!
* I love hanging things from my ceiling. It is the greatest canvas for fun decorating! During Halloween I hang construction paper bats; Christmas: snowflakes and ornaments; Winter time: just the snowflakes; Valentine's Day: hearts; and Fourth of July: stars. Next year I will add green shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day and maybe autumn leaves for autumn and Thanksgiving.
*I love the rain, but I can't stand getting my hair and face wet. What is so fun about dripping hair and streaking mascara? My favorite way to enjoy rain and snow is either on the covered front porch or through a window inside my warm house with a warm drink. Playing in the rain and snow is fun, but only if I am prepared for the consequences.

Ok, now I tag...Sarah C (whenever she feels up to it), Elizabeth VP, and Miss Tricia. Enjoy!

Cute Craft!

I dropped by the Wymount Office this afternoon to pick up Mr. Hadlock's ID card (that he left there this morning), and I found the CUTEST snowflakes I have ever seen hanging from the ceiling!

They are 3D snowflakes! Isn't that cool??

I looked up the instructions (printed in our December newsletter), sat here for an hour and gleefully made 3D snowflakes to hang from my ceiling. I love them! I wanted to post a picture of my snowflakes, but the batteries in my camera are out of juice, so maybe tomorrow. In the mean time here is a stock photo. I am going to the local craft store tomorrow to buy silver spray glitter to really dress them up.

Welcome Braxton!

Congratulations to Sarah and Justin! They welcomed Braxton Noble Caruso (a handsome baby boy) at 5:32 am on Tuesday. I hope he doesn't make a habit of arising so early for Sarah's sake. :)

Doesn't Sarah look *beautiful* for just giving birth to her first baby??

We love you, Caruso's! I can't wait to see you!