FHE, Haircuts, Flowers and Sillyness

Hey Everyone. Hope ya'll had a happy 4th of July. I didn't take any pics of our day- wish I would've. But we had lots of fun at Chris's parents house with Chris, Sarah, Madison, Charlotte and Jared Nelson, Brian, Jeni, Natalie, Garrett, Chase, Anna & kids, Chris, Heather, Katie, and a few other friends of friends. We played the "ring game" in the pool, ate BBQ and snacks, got sunburnt, and we couldnt forget the Wii that Brian & Jen brought! It was a hit for sure. That day was a great relaxing and fun day! Wish we had a day like that in EVERY week. It sure made the week go by fast! It's already the weekend again! Yipeee!!

I have been feeling like a good homemaker because I've been baking a few things that seems like only a grandmother or mother would do. I made a meatloaf- well actually Paxton pretty much made it the day before, I just put it in a bread pan and put BBQ sauce all over it and baked it. But then today I also made strawberry shortcake- Myers' family way. My mom's recipe is sooo good and really easy. If anyone wants to try it, come on over cuz we have quite a bit. But do it quick cuz it'll go fast! Anyway, I really like cooking and baking. I just wish I had more time to do it. I wanna stay home like 2-3 days of the week just to cook. I eventually want to start canning things. First I need to get a pressure cooker though. Hmmm...

Oh my gosh- now here's a story for ya'll. A few days ago at like 5am Pax and I were sleeping and we hear our neighbors (their bedroom is attached to our bedroom) making tons of noise- really loud. It sounded like someone was running around, shuffling, trying to wrestle- or something.... Anyway, so i kinda wake up because they're so loud. Then I hear "LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS! DON'T MOVE- DON'T MOVE! " Paxton and I both jump up out of our beds and look around, and I jump to the window to look outside - i couldnt see anything. Anyway, we were trying to figure out what it could be. We thought maybe it was cops busting our neighbors for something. But we didn't hear ANYTHING else after that- so we were so confused. I thought maybe they were getting robbed- I was waiting for a gun shot. We waited for a little bit and didn't hear anything at all, just a little bit more moving around loudly. So I layed back down and Paxton put his ear up to the wall, trying to listen to what they were saying, but couldn't make anything out. Finally he laid back down. We still don't know what that was, but we were kinda freaked out. Isn't that so weird?

Well, we have been trying to have FHE on Monday nights with the two of us. It's kinda hard when you don't have children or a bigger group to do it with. But he have had a few. We read out of the book To Draw Closer to God by Henry B. Eyring. And we also took a few pics... silly pics.

Whatchoo talkin bout fool?!

He's NOT falling asleep while reading...

One night Paxton decided he really wanted to get his haircut, so he called up Kathleen and within 20 minutes she and Eric were in our house at our service!! She is always so willing to do hair for all of us. It's so nice. THANK YOU KATHLEEN! You're so amazing at hair- if only we could return the favor in someway - besides $$$. I'm sure you still enjoy the $, but ya know.
Paxton looks so handsome w/ short, trim hair.

Why does he look really annoyed- with evil red eyes?

FLOWERS! On the morning of the 4th of July, Paxton got up early before I had gotten up and went to the store to pick me up some pretty tulips!! When he first got them, they were a bit droopy- and in shock, so we tied a string around the stems to hold them up, and by the end of the day they were standing straight up by themselves!! Unfortunately, 2 days later they are droopy again! :( But they're still beautiful. What a nice thing Paxton did for me.

.. and SILLYNESS... as you can always expect at the Hobson household.

We're Jammin!

So my mom always has made super yummy strawberry jam as I was growing up. We never ever had store bought jam. We always had homemade strawberry, apricot, mixed berry, raspberry, boysenberry, or blackberry jam in our house- YUM. Well now that I'm far far away from home, I have been really wanting my mom's strawberry jam.. it's our favorite. So I finally decided to make my own. It isn't the exact recipe my mom uses, and I can tell a difference in the taste. I still think my mom's is better, but it's still really good! It made around 5 cups and it totally costs less than store bought jam. I recommend all who is able, to make their own jam. Just buy a pectin box, and they have all the recipes for jam inside. There's a certain type of pectin you should get. I don't know the name of it, but I think it's in a white and yellow box... starts with a C maybe. ?? Anyway, we are really enjoying our fresh strawberry jam.

....

Hey- I just want to make a comment. Thanks for those who have commented on my last post and answered the TOP 4 questions. It always fun to read everyone's, although what I had in mind was reading them on their own blog. hehe. Then other people who don't read mine can see YOURS and then do it themselves.... just a suggestions. Either way is fine- but uhh. yeah! :)

Ok- we love you all. And- we just got back from Matt & Analissa's wedding & reception and WOW- it was so beautiful. Analissa was beautiful, Matt was handsome, the reception was beautiful and the cake was awesome. I kinda want some more. They just gave me a SLIVER of a piece. hehe. Oh well, I don't really NEEEEEEED it!

Love,
Abby

FANTASTIC FOUR

So I am at work SUPER bored, and I checked my friend Haylee's blog and she had posted this cute little "Get to Know You" thing. I thought it was fun, so now I'm doing it, hoping it will take 3 hours- because then I can leave work.

4 Jobs I've Had

• Jamba Juice!!
• Craigo's Pizza- YUM
• EFY Counselor!
• Peer Tutor for Anatomy & Physiology

4 Movies I Can Always Watch

• The Notebook
• One Fine Day
• Harry Potter- any of them
• Catch Me If You Can -- I just put random movies I like- although i really do like romantics

4 Places I've Lived

• Boise, ID
• Idaho Falls, ID
• Rexburg, ID
• Dallas, TX- Frisco & Carrollton
  

4 TV Shows I Enjoy

• The Office
• Planet Earth on Discovery
• America's Next Top Model- silly I know- I don't know why I enjoy it really :)
• King of Queens/Everybody Loves Raymond- they're the same kinda

4 Foods I Love

• Broccoli/Chicken Casserole
• Mindy's Special Pizza from Craigo's (although it doesn't treat me right inside)
• Trail Mix
• candy - I like almost all candy- except the gross orange peanut things you get at Christmas, and Peeps- yuck

4 Websites I Frequently Go to

• Gmail.com
• everyone's blogs
• byui.edu - email
• Oprah.com

4 Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

• at home with Paxton
• at home in Idaho with my parents and fam
• with family and friends here in D-town
• uhh- Hawaii maybe - yeah I think so- or London- that'd be cool too.

We'll there ya'll go. Now I invite everyone to do the same, it's a fun little treat for you for the weekend- or just anytime you're sitting at work extremely bored and have 2-3+ hours to kill! :)

What is everyone doing for the 4th of July? Any fun plans? Which firework show is the best? There are too many to choose from. I kinda like the Idaho way- there was only one to go to that was worthwhile- and it supposedly is the biggest firework show West of the Mississippi! Wow- it was really cool. We'll have to see how these Texans do their firework shows... see if they live up to my expectations. hehe

Well, have a great weekend!

Or does it...?

After i posted my last 2 blogs, I was thinking about the title "Anticipation Kills" and I think it's actually not true. It is actually fun to be anticipating something coming up. As lots of you know, last week Paxton was out of town the whole week! And I was missing him lots, and I was anticipating his coming home and was so excited. I knew I would see him in 2 days, 1 day, 10 hours, 3 hours, then finally he walked over from the airport exit with his white dress shirt, and his suitcase rolling behind him.

And then, it was a very happy moment. We were both so excited to see eachother, hugged, kissed. Soon after he was with me and I knew he wasn't going to leave me, the anticipation and excitement died. I had nothing to look forward to. SO- the point is.. my anticipation for the new Harry Potter movie and book is NOT killing me! :) I am SUPER excited, and glad I have something to look forward to.

Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix Trailer

Check it out! Good trailer

Anticipation Kills...

I don't know if I'm more excited for the 5th Harry Potter movie to air July 11th or 13th(?), or for the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- book 7 to be released July 21st!!! Last year I saw the 4th Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opening night! I want to see the 5th one opening night too! It looks so good and suspenseful and scary!!
I just barely started reading the 5th book again. I've already read all the books, but I want to read the 5th again to refresh my memory. This is one I don't remember as well. Only a few little details. Anyway, you think I can finish an 870 page book in 20 days?
p.s.- Does anyone know the date of the premiere- ? I've seen 11th, and 13th

Cover of the 5th movie! hehe

My Super Heroes

These kids are my nephews- Logan and Duncan. My brother sent me pics of them and I wanted to post em- because they're SO DANG CUTE! I love the picture of Duncan (below) in the corner, pouting! Haha.. So cute. I miss em. I miss being close to all my nephews and nieces. They're all so much fun!

FAMILY- what counts to you?

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.

" By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.

" FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow,
the company that we are working for
could easily replace us
in a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves
more into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

I received this story in an email. I almost cried- it's really sweet. And it made me think about times where I have been rude and short-tempered at home. It's definitely not worth it- ever. I like getting stories like these because it gives me another thing to personally focus and work on. When having something like this to improve, it makes me more grateful for things I have and relationships I have- it makes me happier.

THANK YOU to everyone - to all my friends and my family that consistently show love and care for Paxton and me. It's the relationships, and not the things we have that are important and that make us happy.

Pot O' Gold? NO-->Pot O' Kohl's!!

Paxton's First Day of Work at Grant Thornton. We treated it as his first day of school, because that is what it has turned out to be. He has come home the last three nights with "homework." WHAT??? I thought he graduated? Well- there's always more to learn. He's got so much to learn from work, and becomes exhausted/overwhelmed sometimes at ALL he has to know. He is studying right now and has been for about 1 1/2 hours already. AM I EVER GOING TO HAVE TIME WITH MY HUSBAND? Who knows... well I guess Anna knows. You tell me.




After his first day of work, we went to Kohl's to buy him new dress shirts and some shoes. We got lucky- Kohl's was having a BUY 1 GET ONE FREE deal going on. So we got him 6 shirts for the price of 3, and we got 2 ties for the price of 1. It was just awesome. We also got him a pair of black shoes there- they are nice and i guess comfortable too. I wouldn't know. And then last night we went to another shoe store and got him some new brown shoes- which he DESPERATELY needed. And they are SWEET! I love them. They look so good on him, and they're really stylish. He's gonna look SO ridiculously good-looking!

So here is one of the sweet shirts we got him- white with a hint of purple. He just looks SOOOOO handsome. Can't stand it.

GOLDEN NIGHT

Two nights ago around 8:15 the sky and clouds were SOOSOO beautiful. It was all GOLDEN. This is the view from our apartment- overlooking a golf course. And there's a little pond and just the green. Well the sun was setting and ahhh- it was so beautiful. A lot of these pictures probably look the same but we just couldn't get enough. And the pictures don't capture the gorgeous and perfect colors that were illuminating the sky. So PRETTY! It is on nights like those that I thank Heavenly Father for all the beautiful things He creates and has created. It really is amazing.

Canton Treats

Here are the goodies i got from Canton. Of course- I had to take pictures.. they are cute .. i wanted to show them off.

I knew Paxton would like this candle. I saw the name of the candle, and when I took a whiff- I just had to get it. It smells really really good... I mean - it HAS to with a name like that! If ya'll are interested, either go to Canton next month and smell it, or come to our apartment and smell-- it is very refreshing! I also got a Home Sweet Home candle- smells like Cinnamon.. If you've ever smelled the Yankee candle of Home Sweet Home - it's the same smell. Yummy. My mom always has that kind and just loves it-- I do too!



Here is a centerpiece candle set I got for our kitchen table. It looks really good- it matches the colors in the kitchen: burgundy, dark yellow and green! I love it.



... and some cute bracelets for $1 . Anna politely let me buy the white one. It's so cute! I told her she could borrow it whenever she wanted to. ha.

Shop Til You Drop

Well, my first experience to Canton was so great! First off- Anna picked me up at 7:30 and then we went to meet up with Tori Ann and Sarah. Tori drove me, Sarah, Madison, Anna, and two of her friends Michelle and Stephanie. It was fun just on the trip to Canton- so I knew it'd be a fun rest of the day with them. They were such a great bunch of girls to hang out with.

Well we got Canton around 9am. The weather was SO perfect- not hot and sunny quite yet- just perfect. We hit up all the arbors and little side stands-- mosty the arbors though. We stopped around 11:30 and got lunch- those famous baked potatoes is what most of the girls got- i stuck with a chicken croissant sandwich. yumm. Then we went back to shopping and we didn't stop until 4pm! Wow- what a day.

Now I really don't like to spend lots of money on things i don't REALLY REALLY need, so it was hard to buy some of the things-- but I just kept telling myself it was ok... Paxton gave me permission. haha... not that i needed it from him. I was the one making all the money anyway. hehe. But there were SO SO SO many neat shops and things- oh i just wish i had thousands of dollars to spend- i would've gotten so much stuff! There is just SO SO much... anyway... all in all- it was an awesome, fabulous experience in Canton... but I must say it does "meet your shopping quota" for a few months- as Michelle said. I'm sure Paxton will like that.

Here is the BEGINNING of our day at Canton all fresh and ready to shop away!



.... and here is the END of the day!! Do we look pooped out or burnt or show any sign of exhaustion from shopping....? I don't think so!!!! ha



Michelle found the jackpot right from the beginning!!! She makes these bibs, spit rags for babies where she sews ribbon around white bibs and then embroiders the baby's name. She gots tons of cute cute ribbon. What a good idea!



Just sittin for awhile... we needed pit stops every once in awhile. It was such great weather.



Madison came along with the girls... she's gotta get her shopping skills sharpened! She did such a good job- and was very friendly with everyone. She even skipped out on her nap- what a trooper! p.s. She kinda looks like my niece Ashley in these pics... so adorable.



Ohhhhh- doesn't she look tired... STRETCH!



I absolutely LOVE this picture. Its SO adorable. We were taking another break in the shade and just to relieve our sore legs and feet, and for the prego lady. We all had a great time just chatting a bunch. Michelle made Stephanie and Anna laugh in this pic.. and don't they look adorable in the action..?

Fun & Giggles

Maybe- last week??... Paxton brought me to work so he could have the car for the day. But what he did several times was come into the office and use the computer for things since we don't have internet at our apartment. Anyway, I brought the camera to update our blog at the office, which I actually don't do because there's no room to plug in the thing to the computer... anyway, I just got bored and took some pics of us being silly. It was actually on the day of that HUGE storm- I think like 2 weeks ago. And so Paxton stayed at the office for a little bit for the storm to go by, and I recorded some of it, but it didn't show the gray skies- which was the coolest part. It was SO dark at like 9am... it just looked really cool. Anyway, so here's just some silly pics.



Why does he always make funny faces... I like it though actually. He's so silly.





I thought Paxton looked kinda funny with his legs crossed and sitting at the computer. First- he couldn't fit his knees under the desk because I cant even fit them under either. Second- it just looks funny.



Once again...

SOLD

Just wanted to let everyone know- we sold the Bowflex already. We had it up for about 5 hours when Paxton got 2 calls on it. Then about 4-5 emails came and a bargain offer of $100 cash, which we quickly declined. That guy thought he was being clever or something. NOT! But we sold it last night and got it out of Ann and Steve's garage! I'm sure they are delighted as we are to have a little extra cash in our account.

I'm going to do another advertisement- but a wanted ad: I really want a piano. Does anyone know of someone that has a nice, good sounding piano for sale that isn't totally expensive? I am losing my skills and i really want to keep them. So if anyone knows of any, let me know. I mean, I know we're in an apartment, but I want it in my apartment. We'll see if I can convince Paxton :)

BOWFLEX ULTIMATE

I thought I would do a bit of advertising on our blog. If you or anyone you know wants a bowlfex, we got it right here! It's in excellent condition. Almost brand new. Has all the parts to it, hardly been used. ONLY $400 compared to brand new at $1900 Now I'd say that's a spankin good deal. Now here's a little funny story. This morning Pax dropped me off at work, but he always comes in and uses the computer for a little bit. Well this morning he thought he'd get the Bowflex advertised on CraigsList. So he was working on the text, like what people can read as they're looking at the pics. ANd he wrote all this stuff, some of what I said above, and some more detailed stuff. Anyway, and then at the end he wrote "See the pictures for yourself." And I just laughed so hard. He sounded like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite. "See for yourself." Can't you picture Pax saying that in the voice of Kip, which he does such a good job at. Hahaha. And he didn't think anything of that phrase in the ad. So I was like Dont say 'See for yourself' Oh man, it's just funny because the language of Kip has become part of Paxton's vocabulary and voice. I don't know, I thought it was funny.
ANYWAY, tell your friends and fam about the bowflex, if they want one! OK

Pillow Talk

Well, we are settled into our apartment now, with everything in it's place. It feels good to have it all done. For a present for our new apartment, Paxton's mother bought us a new bed set- the whole works. I really love the accent pillows, they're awesome. We love it. It's all very soft- the sheets aren't 750 thread or whatever you call it as Chris Lingafelter prefers, but we like it at about 250-300. ha. Anyway, we really like the colors and design. It looks really good in our apartment too. THANK YOU ANN, We absolutely love it.
We also have to thank Steve because he gave us our couches and coffee table and stuff. Pretty much ALL our furniture is from Ann and Steve. We don't know what we would've done without it. So Thank You Steve also. Our apartment looks so nice because of them. I'll have to do another video of OUR apartment now. Sometime...




This is the bed skirt - so cute.

" I Caught You a Delicious Bass"

So Paxton gets bored during the days since he isn't working and has nothing really to do. He has his class to study for, but he doesn't wanna be studying all day everyday. BORING. Well, there a sweet little lake in front of Ann's house and you can see tons of fishes jumpin in the water and swimming around. So Pax decided to go to Wal-mart and buy himself a fishing rod and a pair of wading boots. I was at work when he started fishing, but he told me he had bought everything to go fishing. Well he didn't buy real worms to use as bait, but he bought a fake, rubber worm and tried to use that. The first day of fishing was unsuccessful. Fishies don't smell rubber, they smell REAL worms. SO- the next day Pax went to Heather's yard and dug out real worms. He went out to the lake and tried again. After just a few times of throws- or whatever you call it.. he caught a fish!! He called me at work to tell me he caught one. I was so excited!! I told him to save it till I get home. And I told him to take pictures of it, and pictures of him holding it up while it's still on the hook. So- that picture of him, he took it himself! Amazing eh? Anyway, the first pictures are of the first day when he didn't catch anything, but of course the last couple are from the second day. I'm so proud of him! Great job baby! Oh- and it isn't a bass... it's a catfish. :)


He was trying to find worms as bait. The fake rubber worm just wasn't working because it had no smell to it. Too bad we can't buy some worm spray to put on the rubber worm. That'd be kinda cool.


Digging again for worms. We couldn't find any because it's all clay. I don't think worms would live in wet clay, they probably wouldn't be able to get around. So, we unfortunately couldn't find any.


Ann let me wear her gardening, fishing boots. I didn't want to get all muddy.


Here's the fisherman, waiting patiently, reeling slowly.


Here you can kinda see the bobber-- it looks like an eyeball. There were lots of little fishies jumpin and you could see the fins and a ripple wherever they were.



He finally caught one! YAY!!



And here is the "delicious bass"- catfish!

Go-tee-Guy

Hey- just wanted to post this pic to show everyone how cute Paxton is with his goatee! He had been growing it for a few days, but had to shave it for the temple. Anyway, isn't he cute?

SNAKE SLAYER!

Alright guys- this is a crazy, gross, scary, and cool story! There was a huge storm last week- like Wednesday night or something--- and anyway, at Ann and Steve's house that night, Ann was standing on the front porch watching the end of the storm go past and was standing there for about 3 minutes. Then she turned around to go back inside and found a HUGE snake all coiled up in the corner right by the front door! It terrified Ann, and she turned and ran to the back of the house. Ann has a tremendous phobia of snakes, so it absolutely horrified her to see that ugly wretched snake ready to strike at her! YIKES- i think that would freak ANYBODY out- I don't care who you are-- well unless you're the crocodile hunter. Anyway, so Ann called Paxton and told him about it all, and was so scared. Pax, me, Chris & Sarah were gone, driving back home from hanging out- so we hurried home and got in the house. We were looking for it in the yard and driveway but never found it. So then, we were hungry and wanted to cook some steaks on the grill on the back porch, and Pax didn't know how to start it so he asked if Ann could help him. Paxton went outside first to check and see if there were snakes, and he came back and was like OHH- the snake is out there! Right there! Everyone thought he was joking- pretty cruel joke.. but NO it was the SNAKE-- AGAIN! What was he doin hangin out around this house-- especially ANN'S!?!?! So the girls were freakin out while Pax and Chris got shovels to kill this sucker! They worked together to hold the head down, and guillotine this serpent!! So here's the pic of Paxton, the Snake Slayer holding the serpent with the murder weapon! It sure was a long snake eh?




Here's what was left of the snake on Ann's back porch! YUCK. Pax cleaned it off right away though- so he could still BBQ those steaks we were lookin forward to!