Saturday, October 17, 2009

Baptism

 
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Last Saturday Jarom was baptized. Where did the time go? I find it odd I am a mother to an eight year old.
He is such a fun boy. I love that he has a tender heart. He hates to see anyone or anything get hurt.

He is such a good kid. He really does know the scriptures and love them. I am amazed when I listen to him have conversations with his dad about the Book of Mormon. Everything he reads sticks in his mind. Sam and Jarom have a game where Sam quizzes Jarom on the Characters of the BOM. Jarom is tough to stump.
Recently Jarom has learned a lot about Joseph Smith. His tender heart already holds a special place for that Prophet.

I feel very blessed to have Jarom as my child. I learn so much from him already. He is such a good brother.

This day was a special day in the Hobi home.

 
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Friday, October 16, 2009

Jarom's 8th bday

 
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Ok, so it has been a while since I have posted. I have had a lot to celebrate this past month. We started out by celebrating Jarom's 8th birthday.
This has been a big year for him. He was so excited to turn eight. For his birthday we gave him his very own set of scriptures. He LOVED (and still does) love them! His other gifts were a basketball, watch, and bucket of soliders. So easy to please at this age.
Our traditional birthday breakfast celebration of pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles was a hit.
That evening the family ate his favorite meal... dumplings.
The Next week more celebrating to come. Grandma Trena is coming to visit and attend his baptism.....

 
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Where I come From...

 
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Where I come from the sky is BIG and it’s always sunny.
I don’t notice the sky so much here. It’s usually through the trees to be seen. But I am very aware of the weather -each day is a new surprise.

Where I come from the sun is HOT first thing in the morning.
Not so much here. It takes the good part of the morning to warm up. A Jacket is always handy.

Where I come from you don’t get a lot of rain.
Here, mystifying fog hangs over the ground early in the morning or late afternoon indicating a Thunderstorm is in the making.

Where I come from EVERYONE is at church on Sunday.
As we drive to church here we pass school fields full of baseball games, lacrosse, soccer, or swim meets, walkers, runners, & bikers.

Where I come from there are a few different denominations.
We have a place here called “God’s Acre” where several churches are built.

Where I come from Stucco is what most houses are built of with cacti, rocks and a little grass for landscaping.
Here white picket fences, bridges, gates, or stone walls adore your landscape of the charming New England style homes.

Where I come from you run into someone you know at least everywhere you go.
I consider myself lucky if I recognize someone while shopping ALL day long.

Where I come from there are neighborhoods complete with sidewalks and a set of grandparents.
No such luck here. Homes are dispersed here and there. Up a hill, over this pond, behind these trees, or around the bend. Sidewalks and neighborhoods don’t mix.

Where I come from you can get a great haircut at Fantastic Sam’s and for a great deal.
Here you can get a terrible hair cut and REALLY pay for it.

Where I come from a family of 3 is relatively small.
Three kids here requires a nanny, maid, and Pre-school!

Where I come from swim lessons for kids are a full hour and several weeks long for $30.
Here I can buy a single 30min lessons for $30.

Where I come from you don’t see mailboxes at each residence anymore.
Here I greet my mail man every afternoon on my steps.

Where I come from Pre-school tuition is $300-$450 a year.
Here it is the same as BYU tuition. $6000
(For your 4 year old to scribble with paints!)

Where I come from daycare at a Gym is $1 a kid.
My local gym is $5.75 an hour!

Where I come from Rhodes Rolls are sold everywhere.
None, nada, nowhere here!

Where I come from Spring shows up in March/April and is there to stay.
She isn’t here to stay till May-ish.

Where I come from a fast food chain is unavoidable.
Not one exists in my town! (hooray)

Where I come from a sunset can be seen.
Here I watch the sun disappear behind the trees... and sometime later it gets dark.

Where I come from you don’t hear church bells ringing at noon each day and Sunday mornings like I do here.

Where I come from you don’t see the colors of a rainbow in the trees during Fall.

The life I live here on the East Coast compared to my life in the West is FULL of contrast.

Nonetheless, I prefer it here.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Now...

Three meals a day use to be enough to fuel my life. That was a few pounds ago and several weeks ago.

I made meal plans on-the- go, went shopping sporadically and most the time felt eating was a burden.

I've never liked the time or energy meal time requires.

Eating was something that had to take place to satisfy grumpy attitudes, ensure a peaceful sleep or fuel to move on with the day.

That was then.

Now it’s quite different for me.

Now I wake up at 4:30am stumbling to the kitchen in hopes Martha Stewart has a snack waiting for me. Only to wake up to the reality that avocado on toast is what I really get.

Now, I can’t jump out of bed quick enough to begin a hearty breakfast for both me and the kids.

Now, I am in the kitchen scavenging through the fridge 24/7.

Now, I visit the grocery store every other day because I have new idea’s for meals or snacks.

Now, I am starving all day long.

Now I am eating for two!

Hobi Baby #4 due to arrive next Spring!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Black Belt

 
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Thursday Night in a small gym, a seven year old boy tested for a black belt. A task for which he had trained for over three years.

At the age of four Jarom joined Tae Kwon Do because it was the only activity offered for his age.

The first day of class he learned to do a jumping jack, and began the challenge of controlling his body.

As the weeks passed Tae Kwon Do became part of his life.

Soon enough it was obvious Jarom was a natural.

For the next several years he attended class three times a week and rarely complained about it.
As his body grew so did his self-confidence and ability. Every two months he tested for a higher belt and passed.

Preparing for the black-belt test took a lot more than just showing up for class. He studied at home to memorize forms, their names, kicks, combinations and much more. It was a mental test just as much as a physical one.

This day was his big day. One other student from his class was ready for this same test and the two of them began warming up as the gym began filling.

I can only imagine how this little seven year old may have felt seeing the room fill up with supportive friends: school friends, home teachers, missionaries, Primary friends and teachers.
This support meant much to me. Thank you to all who came; you helped make it special for us.

He gave them a show. He worked hard and stayed focused the entire hour and a half.

Black Belt achieved! And well deserved.

He left the gym wearing a black belt and carrying a-taller-than-Jarom trophy, and has an entire lifetime ahead to know he can do hard things.

 
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Jumping dad and another student doing a flying side kick to break the board.

 
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Nailed it!


 
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Power Breaking. Five boards at the same time.
 
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Jarom when he started Tae Kwon Do in 2006.

Stay tuned for the video I am making....

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Super Size Me!

Nothing comes in right portions these days.

A simple need to fuel our bodies is “Super Sized” sending us on our way to endless problems.
(BTW- I LOVED the documentary Super Size Me, watch the trailer below)

Going to the movies isn’t enough anymore. It’s got to be IMAX!!
One can’t even see the entire screen without holding on to something as to not fall over, all the while balancing the BUCKET of popcorn and GALLON of soda we pass off as snacks.

Lets not leave out the Home Entertainment. A television is no longer left to the corner stand in the living room, it is now multiplied and glorified by being hung on the walls in several rooms.

Bigger isn’t the only thing better. More is too!

I don’t eat at fast food restaurants, but Super Sizing doesn’t escape me.

I am not one to have “scoops” of ice cream. I eat ice cream by the pints.

Pizza doesn't come in Super Size but I'm confident I could eat till the cows come home.

I do laundry by “Super Loads” (That's the actual setting name) I triumphantly close the lid and say “Super Size Me!” I LOVE that setting.

I shop at Costco. Anyone who needs to push a dolly cart to shop is a “Super Sizer!”
I feel like a Giant playing house while loading the the huge boxes of laundry and dish detergent into my cart.
Bananas come 15 to a bunch!(that would take me half a month to eat) Toilet paper fills the entire cart, leaving some consumers balancing them atop their children’s head, muffins serve 3 families, Cheese Puffs are the size of golf balls, and can those pizza’s really fit in a regular oven?

We live in exciting times. Who gets to exercise patience these days?

Want to watch a movie? Download one.
Want to skip commercials? DVR
Need to talk to someone on the other side of the world? Use your cell phone.
Want to see the pictures you just took? Upload them.
Want to share them with someone? Email them
Need money? Use credit card.
My list can go on and on.

The point of my blogging on "Super Sizing" and "Patience" is actually a play on words.

I do have a message, but not the patience to endure time to tell.

So, I wonder who really reads this and can you guess what am I trying to say?



Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Looking back- the car

Turning sixteen was a Heavenly day for me. On that day I gained a portable personality. I was a proud owner of a car! I have no idea what kind of a car it was, but I do remember it was blue, it was MINE, and it started without a key.
This car was my extra closet. It carried my basketball bag, soccer shoes, track clothes, extra clothes, books, and a bunch of other smelly things... like boys.
I was in charge of the music, the money for fuel and the roads!
(My biggest pet peeve was when someone else honked my horn while I was driving!!! Keep your hands off my horn!)

Looking back I realize that car took me many places and through many phases.

Like races through town at crazy speeds, football games in the middle of nowhere, road trips with friends, boyfriend drive-by’s and through the canyon to work at Zion National Park each summer.

I learned how to play road games with boys driving on the highways. (I can’t believe I am still alive or that Lindsey wasn’t kidnapped. I would DIE if my kids did some of the things I did!!)

I pushed the limits with that car all the time.
My car was good to me. As my senior year came to an end, so did my relationship with my car. I sold her for $500 and went to Mexico for my Senior Trip. (where was my loyalty??)

Selling her was removing myself from my high school life, and the friends and the town went with it.
Now It was time to move on to the “real world” (aka College, and a whole different story)

Today, my car represents a different Me. It still carries sport bags, stinky shoes, books and a bunch of other smelly things....little kids. I am still in charge of the music (Scripture Scouts 24/7) and my horn is still a big No, No!

This is a car I won’t be trading for any type of vacation or ditch for a new life. I want to hang on to this phase and it’s passengers forever!! (An upgrade may be necessary soon. Seats are running low)

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Bandit

 
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This summer something has happened to Jace.
He isn't quite himself.
He has turned into a "Bad Guy!"
I understand it's hard to be good all the time.
He was on a 4 year roll. This day was sure to come, right?

Maybe it's the late night bedtimes, lack of routine, or too much action all day??
My little dress up King has gone to the "Dark Side."

Last week he helped himself to the sucker bowl. He ate Eight suckers is less than 5 min.
He was going for some kind of record!
Yesterday, he got into my car and consumed 10 pieces of my gum.
Today, he returned to my car and finished off the pack of gum and peed on Jennica's floor- just for fun.

He's some kind of animal that feels he needs to mark his territory. For the past month he has randomly peed on the floor and laughs about it!!

What happened to my child??

This evening I took the kids to the park and he was King Grump of the day. He was the screaming child walking to the car. I realized his little body needed an early bed time.
After a bubble bath I cuddled up with him on the top bunk and told him I would read him Peter Pan.(His favorite to dress up as)

As he snuggled into me I remembered how he was as a baby. He would always snuggle his nose into my body and fall sound asleep.

He kissed me over and over as I tried to begin the bedtime story. He kissed up and down my arm then reaching for my face he smashed his lips onto my cheek, pulling me away from the book.

It was clear he wanted Mommy time.

Fifteen minuets later, my little one was asleep with his arms wrapped around me. Then it occurred to me that this has never happened before.

I have never had a child fall asleep to a bedtime story.

I needed that moment with him as a Mom. I will always remember that sweet moment while reading Peter Pan.

I love this kid. In all his characters...

 
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Baptism Trip

 
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In a few months our oldest turns eight!
Turning eight is a big deal.
We believe all children are born innocent and by the age of eight are old enough to be held accountable for their own choices.
With that accountability Jarom gets to choose to be baptized.

In our family, regardless of their choice to be baptized, Dad will take a soon-to-be-eight child on a "Baptism Trip."

Last month Jarom's baptism trip was a weekend in Palmyra, New York to visit Church History sites of Joseph Smith and to watch the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

Just the two of them.

 
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Jarom's baptism date is set for October 10th.