Wilderness Safari

Since Jeff and I have lived here in Fayetteville we have not really done anything, gone to any attractions or historical sites, we've gone out to eat one time at a Greek restaurant on Dickson Street; which is the "where it all happens" scene near the college. So yesterday, Sunday, after church we went with the Strongs to the Wilderness Safari to enjoy God's creations. It was the coolest adventure that I have been on in a very long time!
First thing we did after we arrived was go to the petting zoo, where we got to play with and hold the baby lions, play with and get scratched by the baby tigers, and watch the out-of-control but adorably cute baby monkeys. And here are some pictures :)

Aww isn't it the cutest?

Baby Lemur in diaper... awe

The giraffe is thinking "My Life Sucks in this 20'x20' cage...."

If you can't tell, it is a hippopotamus in the water...

An obese razorback... yeah, go Arkansas!

baby bump

Last week Jeff and I had the stomach bug, and it was horrible! Naturally I just thought it was morning sickness at night time, like usual, but it ridiculously got out of control when I couldn't even drink a sip of water or a bite of a cracker without throwing up- to the point of dry heaving, it was nasty. If you're like me, when you get sick you really want someone to be there with you to hold your hair when you puke, or to just calm you down when you feel like giving up, etc., Jeff wasn't much help because he too was puking out both ends! I probably lost about 5lbs in the one and a half days I was sick.

This week is the beginning of my 2nd Trimester and I thought I would post some pictures of me and my very little (but to me very big) baby bump stomach (got the idea from Breezy)....

See, it is right there... just below the cardiganThis is picture is taken by Jeff in front or in back of our apt, right next to the golf course and across the street from the pool.

so witty...

A couple of weeks ago, I was a total wreck, just crying over everything, over every little thing... I bet I was driving Jeff mad... Well anyway, I had just come back from getting the mail, totally out of breath, and I was was looking in the fridge for jam. I couldn't find it and started crying. Then I started crying because I knew I sounded stupid and weak, and just plain prego, which made me only cry harder.
Sweet Jeff, takes me by the hand and leads me to the couch. He sits me down and fixes me some toast with jam on it. After bringing it to me, he sits down next to me. I start crying again because I'm embarrassed but grateful. He grabs my hand and says to me, "if it makes you feel any better, the first thing they'll do to the baby when it comes out is slap it!" and ya know it actually made me feel tons better! :)

Heartbeat...

We went to the Dr today, and I mean actually met him and talked with him. Turns out I'm normal and pregnant! thank goodness, I was so worried because I've been told my whole life that I was weird, well not so!

The Dr. put some liquid stuff on my tummy and moved around a wand, attached to a speaker, over my belly to find the baby's heartbeat. He found it, and I asked, "are you sure it isn't just mine?" he says, "if it were yours you'd be having a heart attack right now because of how fast it is going." so it wasn't my heartbeat, it was definitely the baby's! yeah! we are more officially pregnant than before! :)

No Try Just Am

July 7, Jeff and I went to a OB/GYN Dr here in Fayetteville, AR and was a bit disappointed when we didn't even meet with the Dr. We were there for 2 hrs filling out paperwork, drawing blood, peeing in a cup, and sitting around waiting a lot (not Jeff, just me had to draw blood and pee in a cup). Although, we were given a confirmation date of when the baby will be due, 1/31/11

Our next appointment is July 26, and we're hoping we'll meet with the Dr. this time and be able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Oh it is all so exciting! We're going to be parents! I think we'll be great parents, especially Jeff, he is irresistible, good with kids, and I'm so excited to see if he'll cry when he holds our little one in his arms for the first time.
(I've never seen him cry, so I'm banking on it)

We've told both of our families now, which is why we're now just writing about it, even though we've known since Sunday June 6. We didn't want anyone to feel left out, and we wanted to wait until we went to the Dr. Of course, we technically haven't yet, the fact that I am feeling all the symptoms of pregnancy I am thinking I still am. :)

So my wonderful blogger friends and family I would like to officially tell you that:

I am Pregnant!
11 weeks, still in the first agonizing trimester, I've been sick, nauseated, vomited?, dizzy, weak, and exhausted... oh boy! :) I am hoping that after 12 weeks (by the book) I will feel much much better, almost normal, but we'll see, I've heard the horror stories!

The APX wives and mothers have been so understanding and helpful to me, even though I am unable to have my own mom or sister here with me to give me advice and encouragement, I have had Tara and Cindy by my side encouraging me along the way. And of course, my husband has been a Knight in Shining Armor throughout all of this too... I thought I loved him before, but he has only proven to me that I have lots more to love him for, each and every day he lets me know that he loves me and that I am worth all the washing dishes, cleaning the house, putting up with the vomiting, the complaining, the depression, the nagging, etc... he is the biggest and most deserving sweetheart!

Also, I would like to thank my brother, Travis, I am so glad that he is out here too, it is so nice to have family here to be my support, to cook when I don't want to, to clean up when I don't have any energy, to buy my cravings when everything makes me want to puke... really I cannot do it without these two wonderful men, and without the friends that I have made out here this summer, Thank you!

I want to add, thank you to those of you who have known about my pregnancy and kept it on the down low till Jeff and I wanted to announce it... I know it is hard to keep an amazing and wonderful announcement like this under wraps, but we totally appreciate it. Furthermore, (yeah I feel like I am writing a novel) to those of you who have been genuinely excited for us and express it in your voice, I really do appreciate it, because there have been only a few who have sounded almost disappointed or non excited at all on our behalf and it is really disappointing. So thank you for being excited and supportive!

Fireworks at the Lake...

Jeff, Travis, and I drove out to Lake Weddington to view our fireworks show with the Strong family, once we got there a bunch of families and couples from the office were invited too- love how our office is a one huge party all the time! :) The show was fun because the little ones were either scared or excited; which either makes it more fun for the adults.

It was all fun and games till the techs showed up drunk with their heavy artillery fireworks and grenades! By then we thought it be safe to leave, and it was also getting late, and the mosquitoes were eating us alive even after we sprayed!

I really love fireworks, and after serving in the military for 10yrs, I really appreciate the meaning of the 4th of July- Interdependence Day, Freedom and legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain- occurred on July 2, 1776, but was passed July 4. Interesting enough John Adams had written to his wife:
"This day will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more"

I am so grateful for the men and women who not only have served to save and protect this country, whether in the military or otherwise, but do love and gratefully show their respect to this land and those who gave us the separation and Freedom God wanted for this land.

Love the Furnished Apartments...

So we made the move to Fayetteville, AR on Sunday July 4. I woke up early on Sunday morning, not really being able to sleep anyway, and started packing, hadn't really packed anything on Saturday. I packed up everything into 3 of the 4 boxes I brought out, and was able to stuff all of our clothes into 1 suitcase instead of the two we brought out. I don't think we got rid of stuff while we were here, but maybe I'm just super awesome at packing! While I was packing Jeff was running the stuff out to the moving van, I could have easily fit everything into the car, but Travis was riding with us, and I had nothing to prove, I just wanted to drive comfortably anyway.
By the time we got in the car ready to go, I fell asleep right away- I guess I had really worn myself out. The drive was about 3 hrs north of Little Rock.

Once we arrived we were unsure about what we were to do next, how we were able to obtain a residence... we spotted Gordon Richards on his balcony and waved him down. I guess other couples/families had come to stake out there spot and fight to the battle for it, I could care less, "just get me a place to rest my head" I thought.
We picked the first building on the left right when you drive in the complex, next to the main office, club house, and pool. Third floor, with an elevator, next to Colby Peterson, Brooks Christiansen, and Gordon Richards... not bad, not bad at all. :)

The apartments inside all look the same, same layout, same decor, all furnished! We haven't even unpacked because it is basically all here anyway.

The apartments include: spacious 1 & 2 bedroom floorplans
golf course views available
private balconies (select units)
9 foot or 11 foot vaulted ceilings
full-size washer/dryer
frost-free refrigerator w/icemaker
full-size kitchen appliances
dishwasher
disposal
microwave
central heat & air
energy efficient construction for lower utilities
carpeted bedroom & living areas
ceiling fans

We've unpacked our clothes and our food, but we'll save the rest to unpacking when we need it. Fine by me, less work for when we have to move again- whether to Texarkana or back home to Logan, UT.

The best part about our apartment is the smell! no more cigarette smoke-filled apartment, no more anxiety attack when walking into the apt., no more constant headaches, and no more dizziness! Hoorraaayyy!!! :)

A few bad things about Fayetteville, there isn't much to do here but swim and go to the botanical gardens, and the worst thing so far, is that the boys aren't doing so well in the office, I think yesterday they had a total of 5 sells or something.... partly due to the fact that their area right now is all renters or people who fail the requirements.

Jeff Strong has been talking about the boys moving up to Fort Smith, which is an hour south of here. Hopefully that will be good, because we definitely need the money and Jeff, my husband, needs the motivation.

Our time in Little Rock

Well for those of you who haven't figured it out, Jeff and I moved out to Little Rock, AR for the summer, every year we move to a new state for his job. This year we moved the last day of finals which was Thursday May 6, and drove all through the night until early morning when Jeff couldn't drive anymore and stayed in the nicest Motel 6 I've ever seen. Huge King size bed, Huge flat screen tv, and more spacious than the usual. Got a few hrs sleep and drove on. We arrived Saturday morning in North Little Rock. Was able to sleep a few hrs in our apt before he went off to work. Saturdays are the long days, 9am-9pm. And if the guys are working further away, it just means they get home later.

The last couple of weeks that we've been here, it has been extremely hot, and unfortunately Jeff has to work all day in it... he has mentioned to me a few times that some of the areas that he sells in are actually quite nice and he could see himself or us living here. I don't know about that, the heat and I'm not sure what the winters are like here, but the weather is a big NO for me.

It has definitely been a blessing to have Travis out here with us too. He was doing fairly well at the beginning and then we went to Texarkana and since then he has been disappointed with his sales. I know it will turn around for him, and hopefully soon. His trainer from his mission has come out here to sell with him, Lee Anderson, he's a good kid. I think having him here Travis feels motivated and pressured to do well all at the same time. Last week Travis and Jeff went selling together and got one each, which was good because it is usually hard to sell with another person, it isn't like Missionary Work, where having a companion is a good thing.

This weekend, 4th of July weekend, we (our office) is moving up to Fayetteville, AR- and from what I read it is a very good and gorgeous place to live and or visit. I'm actually very excited!

I hope that our apt up there won't smell like smoke, I think that is probably a good contributing factor to why I've been feeling sick since we got here in AR, the other couple reasons may be the fact that the bed is crap, and the weather is HOT. but that's just my two cents.

There are so many wives out here, many more than last year, I haven't really had the opportunity to get to know all of them yet, but the few that I have I really enjoy their company and their friendship. Tara Strong is one of the women that I feel most comfortable around, she is good natured and easy to be around. I have been babysitting and nannying for her, she's got 4 girls: Jasia 8, Mylee 6, Josie 2, Zoey 9mo? they are really fun to be around and I really do enjoy the experience that Tara is giving me. I feel sometimes more like a playmate than an actual babysitter or authority figure, I just look at it as a way for me to help Tara out, 4 kids and all girls can be very challenging, I know because my sister has 4 girls as well, and she says that at times it can be very difficult and at other times it is very fun!

Some of the adventures that we've done while being here in Little Rock, I've gone to the Wild River Water Park, The Little Rock Zoo, The Little Rock monument, The Big Dam Bridge- world's longest bridge ever, the Peabody Hotel for ducks, and the Texas Roadhouse. I know of the Old Mill- which is the same mill used at the beginning of Gone With the Wind, but I've never seen that movie and it doesn't really sound all that interesting anyways. But I've had fun, and mostly have done all these things with the Strong girls. :)

The Peabody Gardens

The purpose of this Little Rock trip was to go to the Peabody to view the ducks, but that didn't start for another 40min, so we had a lot of spare time on our hands..

The hotel had a statue garden near the river, pretty random stuff... this dog looks like it is taking a dump, not about to sprint like the sign said... :)

How?

I'm not sure...

On the River Front overlooking the Arkansas River and looking out at the Spanish Punk Rock Band across the river. A serene moment....

The Clinton Natural History Museum... Jeff thinks it looks like a double wide on stilts...

Little Rock

Last Sunday, Father's Day, we celebrated by getting out of the house and going for a walk, then calling my dad on top of the world's longest bridge! We took our picture and sent it to him in a text. He appreciated it. He even commented on the heat, you could actually see just how hot it was, our faces looked like they were melting... I don't know why I chose to wear jeans that day.

Here is the three of us on top, halfway across, the world's longest bridge. The bridge crosses over the Arkansas River. It was so bloody hot this day, and so it took us a really long time to walk across even just half of the bridge.

Jeff's Birthday! Friday June 11, 2010

I woke up early that morning and posted on the wall the Happy Birthday sign I made the day before and gathered all his presents on the nightstand next to where he was sleeping. Then I went back to bed. Later that morning he got up, saw the banner and the presents. He definitely wasn't expecting anything so it was nice to see him so surprised and happy. Later that night, when he got home from work I took him out to Texas Roadhouse because we still hadn't used our office meal ticket yet, and I knew he was in the mood for red meat. I asked the waitress if they wouldn't mind embarrassing my husband with a song and dance for his birthday. He was embarrassed, but luckily there were other APX reps there that night and they all came over to congratulate him and to wish him a happy birthday. I think he had a really good birthday, I know I enjoyed myself and enjoyed embarrassing him! :) it isn't very often that I get to do that... it isn't very easy to embarrass him either.

After the waitresses had sung and danced for him. Funny cuz his expression says it all...

Family Reunion in Branson Missouri 2010

We had our first ever family reunion, which will be the first of many! Branson Missouri, isn't exactly a place I'd ever heard of before my mom told me about it and I watched "she's out of my league"

Jeff, Travis, and I moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas for the summer and is only 3 hours south of Branson. We were only able to stay for 4 days, but those four days were a blast!

We arrived Sunday night, while everyone else arrived Sunday morning. My parents have a timeshare out there. Jeff and I had our own while everyone else crowded in every available space to sleep in a 3 bedroom, 5 bed, 2 bath apt/hotel.

I believe it was Sunday night that we gathered around to talk about our Mission Statement or Motto that we were to present, however only Jeff and I were prepared. This was the first reunion that we have had where everyone excluding Jesse was present.

Mom, Dad, Dustin, Travis, Me, Jeff, Andrea, Mikke, Ayden, Norah, Ivy, and Lydia. Next year maybe there will be some more additions to the family, perhaps a sister-in-law or two, or some more kids! :0) the family is growing and it is so exciting, just the way it should be.

While we were there, the highlights consisted of Silver Dollar City Amusement Park and Rides - a two day pass, lip singing and dancing as a family and as groups, swimming, playing games, and talking - which seems to be something the Hook family just doesn't do very often... it is as though everything needs to be scheduled and planned out, and "hanging out" just doesn't get to happen... but in the end, our trip was a success! :)

A long time coming...

Jeff and I just watched Gentelman Bronco another "napolean dynamite" movie, by Jerusha and Jared Hess- FYI I used to be friends with Jerusha, when her family moved to Minden, NV from Oklahoma. My sister used to date her older brother. And I had a crush on her younger bro Micah. After she graduated HS, she went to BYU (I think), I saw her once at a "Big Show" - One of Ryan Stanfield's production shows... she was there with her fiance Jared. So anyway, the movie that we watched had its funny parts, but overall it was a fail. This particular part, Jeff was rolling with laughter... the guardian angel is holding an albino snake around his neck, and when you least expect it the snake poohs... click here to watch the video.

This last weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with my MTC Companion, Sister Angela Parnell, from TX. I hadn't seen her in 5 years, since the first and last time I went to a Mission Reunion. Angela was my only American Companion in 18 months.

I really enjoy those visits you have with people where you don't necessarily "do" anything, you can just talk and enjoy their company. This was one of these visits. We talked about everything we've done, and thoughts about it, in the last 5 years. Tangents are good when you've got an entire day to talk. Tangents bring epiphanies and allow you to truly get to know someone.

She took some pictures of us, so I'll have to bug her to post them.I hope she doesn't hate me for posting this, but she is kind of dating this guy... and when I say kind of, it really is just that... I don't know if he knows if he likes her or if he really doesn't know how to date... you know, show the girl that he likes her. My vibe from him was awkward... stuck in the late 80s early 90s... extra large polo shirt, tapered jeans, white sneakers (and no he didn't, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had a pair of velcro shoes), and he's a computer programmer or something? the total stereotype... Anyway, if she likes him that is great... but the dude seems clueless, even when she is pretty straightforward in her actions, head on shoulder, cuddling, flirting... What I'm saying is that the kid hasn't made a real move yet, and it has been a solid month and a half... if you agree with me and think that a month is too long to not make a move (of any sort) on a girl that you are interested in, or disagree with me and think that it is too soon, (does hanging out to play guitar hero count as a date? and if the kid is finding activities for the two of them to do, does that signify that he is "interested" in her, or just being friendly? ie- rock band, playing chess, reading books, playing card games and including yatzee? please leave me a comment... Is he interested or Isn't he?

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Elder Travis Hook, my brother, for the last two years has been serving in the Washington, DC North Mission. He has had a pretty good run, here is a video of him and his companions having a good time... click here ending as one of the Assistants to the President. He loves it, but we can all tell that he is ready to come home. And he'll be home in less than two weeks! Since he's been gone, there's been two new additions to the family! One being, Andrea's baby- Lydia, and the other being, My husband, Jeff. As Travis put it, "Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug!" so I'm sure Jeff and Him will get along great.

Jeff and I are planning to drive down to Minden, NV where my parents live for Travis' homecoming... apparently he arrives in NV at 10ish pm on Wednesday the 31 March! And we'll get to be there for him. When I came home it was just my parents and Travis at the airport. I cried because I didn't want to be there necessarily, to me it was final - I was no longer in New Zealand and I was no longer a missionary. I do miss it, but I am very grateful to have moved on and progressed... ya know?

It will be really great to see Travis, from his pictures he looks like he's put on some weight, and he refers to himself as a chubby boy! :) I know he is ready to move on, he keeps saying, "I'm almost 26 yrs old, and I have no schooling under my belt, I feel very behind." I think that is just how our family works... both Dustin and I graduated College around the same age... 26/27? And Travis will be no different, a few years later, not a big deal. The good thing about coming home now is that Universities will take just about anybody, as long as they have money! Utah State University just got rid of 90 professors... I had no idea that USU was even that big!?

Travis, when he gets home he'll probably make his rounds to each of the different family members and decide what he'll do for the summer... a few options... work for my dad (that is if he has work), go to school (I don't know how he'll do that, he has NO money!), or he'll come sell with Jeff in Arkansas... and maybe take an online class or two with the money that he does have. But only he can decide that.

At the end of May our family is having ourselves a little get-together/family reunion in Branson, MO; which is about a 4 hrs drive from Little Rock, AR (where we'll be living this summer). We'll be staying in a condo for a week, we haven't figured out exactly what we'll be doing just yet, but it will be the first time in a VERY LONG TIME that the entire family will be together.

Mom
Dad
Dustin
Andrea
Mikke
Ayden
Norah
Ivy
Lydia
Melissa
Jeff
Travis
Jesse will unfortunately not be there, due to medical reasons.

I'm so excited!

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