Hinckley Blog

Well, I'm sitting here feeling a little blue, wondering what each of you is doing right now. Mom and Dad are at President Scott's, the boys are probably at their reunions, etc. Rob said, "I know what will make you feel better!" And he put on this hat. He was right - I do feel better. I have a matching hat. How did this come to be, you might wonder. Rob's firm party this year was a foods-around-the-world theme, with stations for Asia, Italy, America, and Caribbean. The Asia station was decorated with these hats, and Rob asked if he could have them. He made us wear them to Keith and Nan's to pick up Ellie after the dinner.

Speaking of Ellie, we bought her a high chair this week that makes great foam. She's taking to it pretty well, but as you can see she hasn't quite grown into it yet.

And while I'm posting random pictures from around the house, here is a picture of the kitchen faucet Rob bought me for my birthday. Aw, shucks, how romantic.

I suppose now I will put on my matching Chinese hat and do some reading before bedtime. We get to sit on our sofa tomorrow at watch Conference, which of course doesn't start until noon. I made fudge sauce for Rob to take to the Elders Quorum Pre-Priesthood Meeting Ice Cream Social tomorrow night, and on Sunday we'll go over to Keith and Nan's to watch with them and have dinner. Happy Conference Weekend!

JT, welcome to the family. Holly and I were so excited to hear the news that you and Bess are engaged. As you know, Hinckley women need quite a lot of care. Welcome to the club. Something you may have noticed about the Hinckley family is that you don't actually get to be a part of family pictures until you are officially sealed to the family. I'm sure years from now it will seem as if you've always been part of the family, and we'll wonder why you're not in some pictures (Joseph, how come you weren't at our wedding again?). In order to avoid this confusion, I've begun the process of revising past family photos. See the results of my work below.

This is just an initial concept, but it gives you a good idea of what I think your wedding pictures will look like, in which I am told I must wear pink. Holly reminds me that now that you will be relocating to New York City, we will have sisters in each of the four major East Coast metropolises (metropoli?): Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Cincinnati.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to become a Hinckley in-law. Some of these you may already have picked up in your time around 1485.

1. The Hansens take lots of pictures (but you're from Texas, so you're probably used to this)
2. All the good food goes REALLY fast (for example, when you hear they've ordered twice as many enchiladas as they needed, do not assume there will be one left in two days time when you arrive)
3. Hinckleys steal things. They think it's cute and call it House of Thieves, but your stuff is gone nonetheless. Even if you catch them, don't assume they will give it back. The upside: you can steal their stuff, too.
4. Hinckleys know people, lots of people. For the next several months, be prepared to hear a new person's name daily. Also be prepared to pretend to be very excited about the happenings in these people's lives.
5. If possible, act excited to hear the same story many, many times.
6. Grand Canyon hikes are always fun, but you might die. Accept this and move on. Also try not to be put off by Lizzie hiking in Tevas and having no blisters.
7. Clark has a very marketable degree. No one else does.
8. Hinckleys speak in their own rather odd language made up of strange half-words. Most of the time, you can figure out what they mean with just a little bit of effort. Sometimes I just nod knowingly, pretending to understand, and respond with "Sup fun!" or "Top!" This seems to satisfy them.
9. If you see anything you like, put your name on a post-it note and stick it on the bottom of the object. This is apparently a legally binding claim on the assets of the testamentary estate.

Welcome to the In-Law Club, my good fellow.

It was so fun having Pops visit us in D.C. this week, even though it was very brief. He was here to see the frozen Potomac River, taking a run along the river path, have lunch with Abby at George Mason Elem School, a walk through Old Town Alexandria, a visit to the Lincoln and Korean War Memorials, and dinner in Del Ray (our little neighborhood). Not bad for a 24 hour stay. It was so fun having you here! We can't wait for you to come again!

(For some reason I can't get the pictures to upload, so you'll just have to view them from Shutterfly)

Pops, you poor sad thing! Rob and I came up with a list of things you can do while Mom is gone:

1. Order stuff online (Holly looks great in all shades of green, and Rob wears a 15 1/2, 32/33 shirt).
2. Come to Cincinnati and play with Ellie. Eat Skyline and Graeters.
3. Buy a wireless printer from Costco. Print stuff.
4. Whittle something to put in the cabin (a matching towel rod?)
5. Take Lizzie dress shopping, or discuss flower arrangements over lunch.
6. Play guitar at Spencer's house. Bring your harmonica holder.
7. Dust off that old slide rule and party like it's 1973.
8. Purchase the 2006 Ohio State-Michigan game from iTunes. Study intensely, and resist the urge to shout derisively at the Michigan defensive line.
9. Watch all of the Halestorm Entertainment films in the following order: Singles Ward, The Best Two Years, The RM. This follows the development of our protagonist, Kirby Heyborne, from his pre-mission days in Singles Ward through his rocky post-mission transition. Watch for cameos by Jared Hess. Alternatively, watch the Battles of Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith. These are best viewed in Jonathan and Leanne's basement, if possible.
10. Review your 401(k). Alter the mix of mutual funds in your portfolio. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

So here's what I do when Mom is in Boston taking care of the next two generations:

I go to work. I run. I go to Church. I empty the dishwasher. I warm up a pork tamale with nachos. I load the dishwasher. I sweep the floor. I wash my darks. I wash my whites. I answer the telephone. I dovetail when running errands - cleaners, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Wild Oats, Costco. Sometimes I open the mail, but that has been hard to get to. I go to bed.

Aside from that, it's pretty quiet here...

We're a quirky family with quirky parents - nobody can deny that. Well, last week I added a quirk that was probably inevitable. I was delighted to find that Costco had cases of Vitamin Water on sale, and I happily put one in my cart. As I was loading my heavy Costco purchases into my trunk, I decided that I was thirsty and might as well grab a Vitamin Water for the road. Then, when I got home, the Costco trunk seemed too heavy to take in the house, so I left it there for a few days. Meanwhile, on other errands, I found that having drinks in the trunk was pretty handy. So when I at last unloaded the trunk, I left my beverages there. I actually didn't think much of it, until Rob opened my trunk a few days ago and said, "Why, hello Clark!" Pops, I've taken after you and become a beverage-in-the-trunk girl. You must be so proud.

Also, you probably all recall that Rob went through a phase where everything he bought had to be treated with Teflon, because more often than not some part of his meal ended up on his shirt or pants or (gasp!) tie. Good think Mom and Dad found him a Teflon tie. He's done much better of late - I can't remember the last time he spilled something. But take a look at his daughter:


Anyone know a place to get Teflon coated baby wear? If not, Ellie will continue to undress for dinner.

We'd fingure we better put some pictures up because we haven't blogged for a while. Last weekend we went snowmobiling with Scott Jacobsen and his wife Courtney at the Jacobsen ranch-King Fisher Bend near Evanstan. The temperature was -10. So if we look like we have 17 layers of clothes on in this picture, it's because we do.

This other pictuer is an one from our first Christmas morning as a married couple. Jenni was in charge of the stockings. So of course they were filled with various citrus fruits, a ruler, and (surprise) a pocketknife on top. Merry Christmas.

Last Sunday evening about 9:15 p.m. our phone rang. Who could it be? Lo and behold, it was Gina Randall. She was in Salt Lake picking up Thalia from her mission on Temple Square, and they had a three hour layover in Cincinnati. Wow! Ellie and I headed down into Kentucky to the airport to sit with Gina and Thalia for awhile and catch up. You meet your international friends in the oddest places. Kudos to Cincinnati for being a truly international airport.

All our South African friends are doing well. Joey and Emil are considering leaving Swazi for a job in . . . I can't remember, but not South Africa. I'll email Gina and ask her to remind me. Sam and Paul are expecting their third baby (which I think they sent me an email about, Jose, but I forgot). Luke is on mission in Zimbabwe and finds it surprisingly safe. He's been out about a year. Everything else is about the same. We reminisced about old times, introduced them to Ellie, and then sadly parted ways. It's somewhat amazing that in the time since I left South Africa, I've seen Gina twice - both times in Ohio. She has a daughter, Kirsty, who married an American named Aaron and moved to Bowling Green, Ohio. Gina and Thalia were headed up there for a visit directly from Cincinnati - the first time Thalia and Kirsty will see each other in EIGHT years. Can you imagine going eight years without seeing your sister? Thalia doesn't know any of their children. She met their oldest when he was eight months old, and now he's eight years. Gina last saw them when the last baby was born two years ago. Gina's other married daughter, Shona, lives in Australia. Shona and her husband Mark headed to Bowling Green to see Thalia as well as Kirsty and Aaron, so it was going to be quite the reunion. Imagine Bowling Green playing backdrop to a South African family reunion. Wow, don't you miss South Africa? Let's go back someday.

In other news, Ellie helped Rob take down the Christmas lights this afternoon, and I thought you all might enjoy a picture.

I've been listening to a few things from the BYU podcasts lately. There's even a talk that Grandma gave some years ago! Richard Holzapfel has a good once debunking the myths of the Da Vinci Code. Our dear law school professor Gerald Williams has one on conflict. President Samuelson said to speak about something that he deals with a lot, so Professor Williams chose conflict. Music? Paul Simon's "Another Galaxy." Sting's new version of "Fields of Gold" played on the lute. Tom Wait's "Hold On." Francis Dunnary's "Sunshine." Patty Griffin's "Useless Desires." Sarah McLachlan's "The Rainbow Connection." This one was playing on my birthing soundtrack when Ellie was born! A few songs from The Weepies. Check them out at www.theweepies.com. My current favorite is World Spins Madly On.

ADDENDUM POST PUBLICATION: I forgot our favorite discovery from this Christmas. It's an all brass jazz version of O Holy Night arranged by none other than W.G. "Snuffy" Walden of Windham Hill and West Wing fame. Walden's arrangement was featured on the TV show Studio Sixty on the Sunset Strip (from the creators of the West Wing), and you can download it at the show's website: http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/
We had it on repeat for weeks and weeks. It's worth having in your collection.

So, Mom spent her $10 iTunes gift certificate in the Motown section of iTunes. Actually, she spent her gift certificate and a little more, for tunes by such notables as the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, the Commodores, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, and our own Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Pops' only recent purchase has been the legendary Sissel singing, "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room." But I am increasingly into free podcasts. Some of favorites: Grammar Girl, Mr. Manners, 60-Second Science, New York Times Front Page (the morning headlines), Slate Explainer (answering such difficult but burning questions as "How can you tell if a rock is a meteorite?"), Slate Magazine Daily Podcast (try "The Mystery of Margaritaville"), and several NPR favorites - Story of the Day, Driveway Moments (try the recent interview with the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens), Motley Fool Profiles, Present at the Creation. What else is on my iPod today? Walking in Memphis, some old James Taylor (Blossom, Anywhere Like Heaven), Sweet Baby James sung by Highway 101...

What's on your iPod?

Pops

This morning Ellie and I got up and out of the house early (well, 10:30) to attend our first infant sign language class at our Loveland library branch. We joined 10 other mothers and babies on a circle mat in the children's section and gathered around Becky, our instructor. Ellie was the youngest of the group, which otherwise ranged from 7 months to 3 years. Becky led us in a few little songs and we worked on several signs: I love you, more, eat, drink, milk, mom, dad, thank you, yes, no, hurt. So now every time we say any of those words, we're supposed to also sign them so that she can associate the action with the word. Supposedly, it will help her develop speech skills earlier and avoid tantrums because she needs something and doesn't know how to say it. We'll see. Anyway, I felt like a pretty cool mom showing up for sign language class! I don't have any pictures from class, but I hate to blog without posting a picture. Here's one from a few days ago.

In my last post, I forgot to include this picture of our anniversary dinner. I ran out to get some Wendys for myself for dinner, since we'd had to cancel our dinner plans. When I got home, Rob had showered and set the table with china and candles and sparkling cider. What a guy!