Gravity Boots

This morning at the gym I watched Michelle (friend) put on gravity boots and pull up on a bar and hang upside down. It looks so incredibly fun and so I went over and talked to her about it. She then let me try it. After about 5 minutes of trying to get up (and looking rather ridiculous) with many laughs from people around me, my friends and even my bishop- I finally succeeded!! I expressed a very loud woohooo. It felt so wonderful on my back and really worked my stomach muscles! I think I might actually attempt it again sometime.

Here is what you strap to your legs! (Like Ski Boots)

It has a metal hook on the back that you put over the bar!

After just one work out- this is what I look like! hehe Apparently the military likes them too!

Wouldn't this be fun to watch :)

I've decided to get one at home and each morning while I read my scriptures I will hang upside down- what do you think?

Young Women's President

Growing up I always loved my Young Women's program and the leaders, yet I always thought they were older women trying to fit in and be young. My eyebrows still raise up when I think of some activities they did! Well two weeks ago I was released from being the 16-17 year old Sunday School teacher to being the Beehive advisor in Young Women's. (12-13 yr old girls) I was really excited, but with Stake Conference last weekend today would have been my first week and lesson. Instead the Lord decided that He wanted to change my calling to Young Women's President. WOW! What a huge responsibility!

So, today I looked back at the YW leaders I had and think "they weren't old and they were just acting themselves, because everyone is young at heart!" Hehehe I find it so funny that your opinions and feelings change so quickly when you put on other peoples shoes. I am so excited to serve in this new calling and am looking forward to getting to know the girls, going to girls camp, and helping them in any way that I can! I just hope I have the energy to keep up with it all!!

One-Word tag

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Where is your significant other? kitchen
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? sacrifice
5. Your father? humble
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? psycho
8. Your dream/goal? Europe
9. The room you’re in? warm
10. Your hobby? Exercize
11. Your fear? Dark
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy
13. Where were you last night? church
14. What you’re not? flexible
15. One of your wish-list items? piano
16. Where you grew up? American Fork
17. The last thing you did? Drove
18. What are you wearing? jeans
19. Your TV? smugged
20. Your pet? kitchenaid
21. Your computer? new!
22. Your mood? good
23. Missing someone? yes
24. Your car? needs gas
25. Something you’re not wearing? make-up
26. Favorite store? A scoop above
27. Your summer? HOT
28. Love someone? All
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? morning
31. Last time you cried? Friday

Woohoo!

It passed with flying colors! How exciting- it was fun to watch all my friends picketing out on the street corners. Thanks to Monica for being so passionate- it was fun to watch her enthusiasm! It's always exciting to watch the votes come in- even if they don't go my way. I always feel very patriotic and proud of our country for participating in voting. At the same time it's so sad that so many people don't vote and don't care. They will see the light one day.

30 DAY NOTICE!!

Alright after much persistence from my husband I have decided to go private. As of December 1, 2008 I will no longer be public, if you would like to continue viewing my blog and keeping in touch with me or my family you will need to do one of the following:

1. Talk to me (not very reliable, but if you persist it will get accomplished!)
2. Post a comment and tell me so
3. Email me and let me know: jhoggard@gmail.com

Sorry for the inconvenience, but my husband has some "substantial evidence" and is defending his side as well as any lawyer out there (plus I do feel good about it.) Thanks for understanding- Julie

Happy Halloween

Today was a fun day! We played all morning, made cakes in the afternoon, and then went trick or treating in the evening. We started in Old Town and did the rounds with the businesses, and then we went Trunk-or-treat at the church. At the church we also had a cake walk, free hot dogs and root beer, face painting, hayrides, fish pond, and doughnut eating on a string. We saw a bunch of friends, handed out a ton of candy, and wore ourselves out. The kids were exhausted and went to bed a little after 8.

Emma insisted this year that she didn't want to be anything girly. So she choose to be Captain Rex- a storm trooper from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She did get a lot of complements with the accompanying giggle. It was cute to watch her act her part.Here is a picture of Emma and Riley (vampire.) They are the best of friends right now and two peas in a pod! Those are his two sisters next to Sean.

Sean wanted to be a Knight, and we did buy the outfit. He changed his mind at the last minute and decided to go as Batman, without the mask because it broke a month ago and was thrown away. It's probably good he went as Batman, because the knight outfit was too small (yet cute.)

Ryan was superman! Very fitting for his attitude and he looked great in it. He was all smiles tonight, and only got scared at one outfit- a dinosaur. When he get too tired he turns silly and all smiles. He had everyone in stitches!

After we had gone around the church and had food and played games, we went back to our car. Here Emma and Sean took turns handing out the candy to all the trick-or-treaters. They had a blast. Usually I decorate our car really cute with lights and pumpkins and such- but I forgot this year. Ooops- oh well!

Here's me-goofing off for the camera and my hubby! I still love the outfit, and wish I had more reasons to wear it. It was a very warm night, the last few years it's been cool enough to need a jacket, but this year it was pretty warm (I even saw a baby crawling around in just a diaper.) The one thing that I have learned with poodle skirts is that they keep you unusually warm. In the old movies when they are in the convertibles and the men were wearing jackets and the girls were always wearing short sleeve shirts- I had thought they must be cold or why aren't the men sharing. I now know it is because the girls were wearing natural heaters.

As we got ready to go we buckled up the kids and they immediately reached for the candy. YummY!!

Here are what my cakes turned out to look like. I made 5 cute couples, and I hope nobody realized that I forgot the eyebrows and lashes on the girl- good grief where is my brain.

Here is the table with my couples on display.

By the way these are the cakes I made last week- I can now say that I made 20 cakes in one week. - ha ha Although they were small- it was enjoyable. Hope everyone had a very Happy Halloween.

Happy Pre-Halloween

For those who want to see what decorations we put up at the Hoggard home this year. The kids and I bought a $5 sheet and painted a face onto it. Then the next weekend a huge windstorm blew it away, but he is back and almost as scary! We bought the cool spooky spiderweb and orange lights, the kids informed me as to where it should go. The reflection onto the window behind is neat to see.Here is our mini-graveyard. For FHE this week we paired up and carved pumpkins. Sean really wanted one with hands and a bow tie. Shiloh wanted one that was winking. Emma wanted to stab it with toothpicks. Here's an up close finished product Here is the finished Halloween facade. For Sean's preschool we made 20 little bags of candy to take.

For Emma's Kindergarten we made 20 more little bags.

Happy Day Before Halloween!!

Random babble

Some times I don't want to write individual posts on something really small. Yet- if you put a whole bunch of small things together it's more exciting to read and worth my time to blog. Here are a few things that are interesting or exciting to me. Emma's very first report card. (The front and back) The actual grades.

The format is so different than the one I received 25 years ago. Emma's school makes the parents sign them and return them.

Ryan's favorite thing to do right now is dump out cereal all over the floor. It is driving me nuts- he has completely ruined four boxes of cereal in the past two days and spent a lot of time in timeout. And still he runs to the cupboard! This is what will happen if you add flour to a Kitchen Aid before Mom turns it off.

In case you were ever wondering- this is how I get stuff done!

Emma's school had an assembly and she got an award for perfect attendance! Great Job Emma! This last Sunday was the Primary Program. We bought Emma a new dress for the occasion and so she could keep warm. All the primary children wore "Future Missionary" tags, and Emma was very proud to wear hers.

Her brother liked it as well- ahhhhh just think only16 more years.

You will probably only find these pictures funny if you knew me when I was a youngling. For those who just recently discovered my friendship I will fill you in. All through Elementary I played hard at recess; all of my jeans had holes in the knees, I would come home dirty, and I was constantly trying to hide the blisters on my hands. It drove my poor mother nuts and I could never understand why. Now. . . . . my daughter. . . . is coming home with mud and grass stains all over her knees and bottom. For the first time since I have become a mother I found myself repeating my mothers words and thinking to myself, "What am I going to do with her."