The most exciting news!!!

Go here http://www.hopkinz.com/ to see my beautiful grandbabies - they're healthy and strong and we couldn't be more excited for Jimmy and Liz!

p.s. sorry for the lack of blogging - computer issues and a couple of days away are my excuse but we're back in business and I'm back in town.

Life as a Hopkins 4 of 10 by Johnny

My House
In my house, I feel comfortable. I know that my house will be safe because my dad is an architect. He designed our house. One problem is the 500 year old oak tree that is leaning towards the house. It has lost two big limbs in the last year and a half. Other than that I have a great house that I love.

In the back we have a small deck where we sometimes eat dinner. We have an apple tree that my mom used to make a delicious apple betty. It’s kind of like apple pie, without the crust. I have had my own bedroom for about 3 years, and I love it! I have never moved in my whole life.

My house is where my family lives, loves, and cares for one another. This is why I feel so comfortable at home.

Life as a Hopkins 3 of 10

My favorite game

My favorite game and most of my family’s is called “Don’t eat Pete”. It is a fun game my family plays it a lot. You start off by making a tic-tac-toe board with happy faces. Then one person shuts their eyes while the others put candy on the smiley faces. We all agree on a face to be “Pete”.

After that the person who closed their eyes carefully takes the candy one by one until he/she tries to choose what we call Pete, the chosen smiley face. Then the other players scream “Don’t eat Pete”! In this game everyone wins because they get candy.

Drink deeply

I just love conference!! I especially love it when the guys come home from the priesthood session and tell me all about it. This years favorite quote from Elder Uchtdorf - "Lift where you stand!"

It's all over much too soon. Can't wait until tomorrow to drink deeply of the living water these wonderful men of God pour out so freely. If you're not LDS and wonder what I'm talking about go to LDS.org and read the conference talks. The truth is so exciting!

My Life as a Hopkins Part 2 of 10

The second installment - below are a few of the guys from the neighborhood

My Neighborhood

My neighborhood is not a usual neighborhood. It is on a private drive
on Cowell Road. My driveway is on a gravel road. I have many memories
on that road. One is when I was around 10, and I was playing football with
some friends. I reached forward and fell on my face and I did not feel very
good after that. My house is usually quiet because all of my brothers
are either at work or away from home. Two of my brothers are married the
other two are getting ready for another college year. Soon I will be able to
go to college like them.

My Life as a Hopkins 1 0f 10

Johnny's was given a creative writing project in his English class. Here are the instructions for the paper. "The purpose of the project is to create your own book which will help you remember what you know, as well as show others who you are."

I love what Johnny wrote and want it as part of the permanent record. The sweetest thing about this project is that Matt sat at the computer and helped Johnny with the typing - because part of being a Hopkins seems to be procrastinating....we're determined to change that!

Here's the first installment of 10 of the project:

My Name

To me my name means happiness. My dad says the doctor that helped with my birth went to Johns Hopkins University so that seemed like an appropriate name. My mom, on the other hand, says I was named after my great grandfather. His name was John Ray Foster.

My name is Jonathan Ray Hopkins. But most people call me John or Johnny. I was born on August 6 in Walnut Creek. I have four brothers and no sisters. Sometimes I wish my name were different but then I remember what it means. In Hebrew it means “God has given” to me that means a lot.

sinking feeling

I was feeling so fabulous about my plumbing skills...then tonight as I ran the garbage disposal the whole thing blew...I'm tired and there are bits of food all over everything under the sink and water everywhere. I need a plumber....I need sleep....I need to realize that there are bigger problems than my crappy under the kitchen sink pipes. I'm off to the hardware store!