Racoons and Grubs argh....

We have a lovely lawn in the backyard. Dave doesn't want the boys to play football back there because the lovely lawn gets all torn up. The other day Dave noticed that the yard was torn up. He reminded the boys about the no football rule but they insisted there had been no infraction. Matt reported that it looked like someone had peeled back the grass in patches all over the place.

Turns out our happy neighborhood racoons have picked our yard as their fast food stop. They love Grubs and grubs love our lawn...The guy at ACE said, "get rid of the grubs and you get rid of the racoons" and hopefully save the yard.

Grubs are really ugly if they look like the label above - yuck!! The yard is kind of a mess - each morning I go out and replace the grass that has been peeled back in patches. If you have any wisdom in this area I would love to hear from you. The boys would like to stay up all night with beebee guns and get themselves a coon! Hopefully the GrubEx will do the trick.

The yard really needs some attention - the tomatoes are dead and saggy but we're still enjoying the fruit. Maybe Saturday will be a yard clean-up party for the Hopkins! John's comment, "Gee we could have been playing football back there!"

Life as a Hopkins 7 of 10 by Johnny

Church
Every Sunday morning I get ready for church. For breakfast, we usually eat as a family. My mom usually makes the breakfast, but my dad is really good at cooking eggs and potatoes. We leave for church at 12:15 so I can help prepare for the worship service. My family usually sits in the same place every week. Sometimes I have to speak in front of everyone at church. One time when I was giving my talk, I was talking about something near to my heart and started crying. I like church because I learn new things about God and Jesus Christ. We have a program called seminary. Every morning at 6 o’ Clock we meet to study the scriptures. We are reading the New Testament right now and memorizing certain verses. I am grateful for my church and don’t know where I’d be without it.

Time to stand up

In conference several general authorities stated that we're living in the time foretold by the apostle Paul. I grew up hearing that we had been saved for the last days. As teenagers we thought that was so exciting. It is exciting but it's also demanding. The time has come to do the hard stuff.

We hold to the iron rod and hear the shouts from the great and spacious building saying we're fools and hateful - it goes on and on. It's hard not to take it personally. Truth is truth no matter how many people disagree.

Marriage is ordained of God. He directed that it be between a man and a woman. Who am I to offend God? Man may be offended but I don't take my strength from the arm of the flesh. My comfort and hope come from the Savior and I stand with Him and the Father. Thankfully I don't stand alone - there are millions of us from all religions, cultures and backgrounds.

We stand for the plan of happiness. We stand for families. We stand against violence and hate. We stand for truth. Don't be afraid to stand with us.

Life as a Hopkins 6 0f 10 by Johnny

Grandma
My grandma died when I was very young but I still remember some things like when we would play the card game called war. Where the highest card wins. From what I do remember she always had candy for me and we played with the other toys she had. I wish I could have known her better we could have been great friends. I think we had a lot of fun when she was still here. I hope she thought I was a great kid that I would grow up into someone like her. I hope to meet a person nice and just like her.

expecting week by week 3, 4, 5, 6

We played catch-up today - these are not the most beautiful pictures of Liz.

Note to self - check the size before you buy - little boy hat big giant girl hat...

Little tiny socks that look like they have shoes on them - in every color of the rainbow.

There are lots of cute girl things - not so much for boys. Jim is looking out for JD so I have to focus...

Liz is a little queezy if she doesn't eat regularly. The phrase most often heard by Liz - "You're going to be so big!!". The boys say - "Finally you'll look like a Hopkins!"

expecting week by week

We're so excited for the babies. I decided that we should celebrate each week when Liz and Jim come over for Sunday dinner. You can't have a celebration without a present so here are the last two Sundays.

Sept. 27 - a pregnancy journal where Liz can see what the babies are doing and write her thoughts. On this date they were the size of a sesame seed!

Oct. 5 - a book of sudoku puzzles to keep her occupied while waiting for her sonogram the following Friday.

Won't it be fun to see the changes as the weeks go by?

Tahoe with a book club friends

I had a great time away with friends from our bookclub - Read it and Eat. Only 7 of us could make it.

We stayed at Charlottes cabin at Incline Village. We had planned to go shopping and eat out but it snowed!! So we stayed in and talked and talked and talked.

We went out for a slippery walk Saturday morning. The air was fresh and crisp with the smell of pine.

These women are wonderful - we laughed and cried and ate a lot of fabulous food. We decided going away with moms is the best - everyone does a little and everyone enjoys a lot.

It made me want to organize a time when I could get away with all my friends, far and near, and take time to relax and chat.