Hancocks Roll

Noah's Birthday

2011-09-25T19:28:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we ended birthday week with our gift to Noah. Sweet remote control cars/trucks. Today somebody ran over it on our street. While Noah and hallie watched. They were all (n,h&truck) on the side of the road. Somehow the trailer this car was pulling just was too wide. Tragic and hilarious happy birthday Noah!!

Another...

2011-09-19T21:35:00.001-06:00

Life. Noah's 9. Hal's playing soccer. Mills is all about horses. Sweet!

This should help!

2011-07-08T21:57:00.000-06:00

A new app from my iPhone might just help me post more! Yay! Test run. This is a picture Hallie drew of our family the first week if school... I am a superhero evidently. I already knew that-thanks Hal for confirming!

bring on summer...

2011-06-14T22:00:00.001-06:00

hancock spring

2011-05-25T20:58:00.005-06:00

well i know you've missed us. here's a glimpse into hancock life lately.

the princess...

the eyes...

the backyard pool...and the neighbors...

the rocket...

by far the best part of our spring has been the unexpected discovery of the tadpole pond. one monday while mills was at piano lessons - noah, hallie and i wandered around a pond nearby. we saw some of the biggest tadpoles i have ever seen. the next monday after piano (so mills could come too) we went back. with a net and a bucket. the next monday we went back with 3 nets and 2 buckets (less fighting - more hunting). seeing as how i have become the "jack hanna/steve irwin" of wayne county schools i may have done a life cycle - frog/tadpole/crawfish presentation for all of my kids different classes with all the cool stuff we caught. i may have made up a few facts and deflected a few questions. i am sort of a celebrity here now. at least among the under 10 crowd.

every tuesday we take some new tadpoles in different stages back to school. this past week hallie and i might have even done a presentation for a second grade class at a school my kids don't even go to. i mean famous. here's a tadpole with front and back legs - a trophy...

a few mondays ago the kids (including 4 neighbors) found a HUGE snapping turtle stuck in a drain pipe at the pond. i called bryan. he came to the rescue. after an hour of LOTS of questions by the young people and ideas on freeing him (also by the young people) some rope and minus one shirt - bryan determined we didn't have the right "equipment". he did go back later that night with leaders and high school boys and "equipment". couldn't catch him. did manage to push him through the pipe and out the other end. at least he's not stuck.

HOWEVER - they did see some really big bullfrogs. evidently the frogs our tadpoles grow up to be....

so on friday the hancock family - armed with flashlights and big nets - headed out to the pond after dark. Noah, Mills and Hallie each caught a HUGE frog. Me too! check em out...

HUGE FROGS PEOPLE...

wore hallie out though...what an adventure being a hancock!!

in the weeds...

2011-03-03T20:11:00.002-07:00

Hallie Hula Hooping

2011-02-15T15:17:00.002-07:00

Happy Tuesday yall!!

The Christmas Tree is Down...

2011-02-10T20:43:00.003-07:00

Last weekend we finally took our Christmas tree down. And burned it in pieces in our fireplace. The kids feel like we've really locked in a tradition that no one else has. Burning the tree in celebration of a great season. They are so proud. I can't believe we made it to February. Crazy.

in honor of the occasion - here are some Christmas gems.

Mills drew a great pic & wrote out a Christmas story...I framed them and am sooo excited to hang em every year! (check out the words to Rudolph - if you can't read it, it's definitely worth a visit to the house next December!!)

Hallie and the krazy kar!

And just for fun - Check out Coach Hancock and the THUNDER!! Next Game Sat at 9!!

you wish you lived my life...

2011-01-23T20:54:00.002-07:00

my daughter had her art featured in an exhibit at the wayne county arts council...

i walk around the corner to this... a lot...and i am soooo thankful

i get to watch this...so sweet

my kids are FULL of life!

and well my man...can you see him here?

he spends his days sitting in one of these...keeping wayne county alive in his heart!!

i love my life!

For Jan...

2011-01-23T20:15:00.006-07:00

Well folks- its been a LONG time. sorry about that. things over at LMH Photography have been busy this fall! (check it out lmhphotography.blogspot.com) however, thought it was high time i updated you on some hancock goodness. here is a little christmas cheer - i know its january but we are hancocks...plus our christmas tree is still up...dead but up...well - to the new year!!

lipgloss from Santa

manly

then came the snow...

we got to spend the day after christmas with bryan's family

these are his grandparents.

what a great shot!! we laughed all day!

my niece - Ari

Hallie!

my nephew - Gabe

then after the snow came this

this is straight out of my camera....

i LOVE LOVE my backyard view!

The Grizzlies

2010-09-20T21:42:00.005-06:00

Mills' soccer team had their first game Saturday Morning! The Grizzlies were amazing! Coached by Andrew Lancaster (LOVE him) and Bryan (LOVE him MORE) they are destined for greatness!

coaches Bryan and Andrew being Grizzly. Mills not so much. just too sweet.

NOAH is 8!!!

2010-09-20T20:55:00.006-06:00

This has been my life this summer. Boys and bikes. Boys and scooters. Boys on things that roll. All kinds of BMX, razorX jumping, ramp building goodness. Lots of bandaids and bleeding. Goodtimes!

Noah, Drew, Seth & Ben

For Noah's birthday, Bryan & I made him a set of bmx/razor ramps. They turned out sooo great! Adjustable height, cool paint job...our neighborhood boys will be tearing it up!

We set them up in the YL office parking lot, invited the bike gang, ate pizza and did all things sweaty and boy! Noah we LOVE you! Happy Birthday bigman!

personal fave

flames

prepare

launch!

not sure? tough face...

Here's to much more adventure!!

Thank you Earl!

2010-09-02T21:12:00.001-06:00

Sunset from the manshack - Nice work Earl!

on your way to school...

2010-09-02T20:55:00.002-06:00

On your way to school to see this - Mills and Mrs. Malpass

Do you see this????

We do!!! & We LOVE wayne county for reminding us about those folks whose motto is safety first, who wear helmets in the cockpit, and who make me cuss everytime I watch them drop those planes down into these small spaces!

They fly behind our house - their wheels 5 feet above the crops, while we sit on the manshack (the toolshed) in lawn chairs bolted to the roof waving to the pilot - who is at eye level.

It's a huge perk to our home and living in this part NC that we get to watch this guy all the time!

Props to Bryan for leaning out of the van window and snapping this pic on the way to Tommy's Road Elementary. Props to me for having my camera with me at all times and for having shown Bryan how to operate it!

First Days of School...

2010-08-27T11:48:00.003-06:00

Can't believe this is us...Mills headed off to her first day of public school at Tommy's Road Elementary -FIRST GRADE! Noah starting SECOND GRADE. Hallie will be at Protestant Preschool after Labor Day. Soo Sweet. Mills didn't sleep a wink. Like Christmas. Up and Dressed before I even came out of my room. Big ol backpack. Amazing. They had a great day!

the hancocks

walking in

at her desk!!

Happy Anniversary!

2010-08-14T22:26:00.005-06:00

Hello out there! It has been a long time with no update. The Hancocks have been rolling for sure. I have a lot of cool pics and stuff to upload - let me just start off with this amazing video Bryan shot on our 13th wedding anniversary (July 12). He went out fishing 10ish miles off shore Wrightsville Beach with Noah, Tom Johnson and my cousins. No fish - but this.... this is MAGICAL.

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T20:39:00.002-06:00

Just cooling out

2010-07-02T20:53:00.007-06:00

Been enjoying the start of summer here...

Brandi and Hallie Grace in the hammock.

BW we will miss having you around next year...love that laugh!

got to watch them haul in the 883 lb blue marlin at the big rock.

a once in a lifetime experience - absolutely mind blowing

sitting outside at some bar & grill listening to Dad...

one of my all time favorite things to do

Noah took a turn on the drums.

Hallie (wearing a princess dress she bought with her own $$) & Mills danced.

Heaven...

Things i LoVE about summer...

2010-06-08T09:08:00.006-06:00

having Charley capsize you on the Nantahala

and laugh

this face

palm tree island

my kind of hunting

catching fish - no matter how small

letting all the crabs we catch go - while we stand in a circle...

first one to move - LOSER

notice the crab on B's toe...hard core

the grady white

walking home after catching "light 'em up bugs"

jumping

looking out my kitchen window to see this

i took this through the glass so as not to disturb...

evidently you pour better tea with your goggles on.

sisters

eating on the screen porch by candle light...

followed by a night swim on the deck...

Just like you...

2010-06-08T08:59:00.002-06:00

This is Hallie at work week at Windy Gap. For 4 days she talked about riding the swing. No fear just good ole anticipation. So despite the enormous height and weight differences...she rode! Once with Bryan & Twice with me! I love her!

you go to the grocery store....

2010-05-27T21:18:00.003-06:00

and come home to this!! glorious!

i love my husband! i love my kids!

hallie, lauren & graycie - all dressed alike for the party - total coincidence!

been dogsitting maddie - David Burke's dog.. we love her!

oh my goodness

2010-04-26T20:13:00.004-06:00

look at these pics...i love my kids & this amazing light

plus for a few more check out lmhphotography.blogspot.com!

She's 4 - so she rides!!!

2010-04-22T21:25:00.002-06:00

Every 4 yr old in the Hancock house learns how to ride a bike without training wheels. It's just how things are. Hallie just turned 4 in March. 4 weeks ago. Mills promptly removed the training wheels of Hal's bike with some wrenches she found in the garage. With no choices but ride or walk...check her out!

And her version of the days events...

Kissing Frogs...

2010-04-14T20:37:00.004-06:00

While we were at WB over Easter, our favorite bike trail had a spot that was covered in frogs. We obviously had to stop every time and catch some. We might have tried to kiss a few.

She's trying to kiss...

Look at those freckles...LOVE THIS KID!!

Birthday Weekend....

2010-03-28T19:38:00.002-06:00

Today is my birthday!! The kids organized and threw a surprise birthday party for me. So fun! They made the guest list, planned the volcano & hawaii beach cake, blew up balloons and just generally rocked it out! It was so fun being celebrated by my kiddos! Yesterday in preparation for the big day we worked in the yard. Bryan and I were in the back and when we came around front this is what we saw. Thats right- a party for all of our neighbors. They are all so glad they live near us! Hallie in the princess dress, Noah in the muscle shirt, Mills in the hot pants and dancing for everyone. I was filming from inside so the music is hard to hear - I knew if I showed my face the good moves would end. Especially watch Mills at the 1:10 min mark...Classic. ENJOY!

And another...I LOVE MY KIDS! this is really normal everyday life...what a gift!

If this is PRESCHOOL...What we will do for COLLEGE?

2010-03-18T19:45:00.003-06:00

So last Monday was registration for Protestant Preschool and Kindergarten. All of the Hancocks have gone there. Starting as sweet 2 1/2 year olds - all the way to kindergarten. We LOVE It! What a fun group of teachers and families. Back in the day when Noah was there, we just showed up on registration morning - maybe a little early - and signed up. As the years have gone by things have been getting a little more competitive. Last year, I arrived at 6:00am for 8:00 registration and the daggone line of parents in lawn chairs wrapped in blankets drinking coffee was HUGE. I barely got in....and I froze.

SO this coming year Hallie will be the last Hancock needing a spot at the ol preschool (so SAD). However, we want her to be in the 4 day a week, 4 year old class. There is only one class with 10 students. The director is on our YL committee. She told me that there were lots of kids wanting to be in that class - that if I wanted Hallie in there I should come early. I was hoping she had pulled me aside to tell me she would save me the trouble and go ahead and sign Hallie up. I mean the good we do for the community and all. No such luck. The moms were already chatting about how they were gonna get to the school at 4:00AM to stand in line. What? Was I gonna have to get up at 3:30?? I was dreading it.

Enter Bryan - he heard us talking and volunteered to get in line. i LOVE this man! So Sunday night he decides that he would rather set up a tent by the front door at 11:30pm, rent a redbox movie to watch on the laptop, roll out the thermarest and downcomforter and just sleep out there. Way better than getting up at 3:30. I mean he can get a good nights sleep - wake up at 7:45, step out of the tent and sign my girl up for school. I thought that would be hilarious.

Everything went according to plan... kinda - at 12:00am another dad rolled up with a plastic adirondack chair to wait out the night. Not a big deal. They chat. They decide to call it a night and hit the tent and , well, chair. But at 3:30 AM a group of moms rolls in - they notice the tent and instead of giving bryan some room, plant their chairs right up next to it. Some might have even shaken it and said, "Hey - person in the tent - don't try to sleep in there...etc, etc". Then they chatted for 4 hours straight. no lie. poor bryan. he sat in his tent silently letting them believe he was asleep. i think he dozed some - but good night's sleep it was not.

The crowd did clap when he came out of the tent in the morning AND, naturally, we were #1 in line. Wonder what I will have to do next year???

check the tent posted up by the door!!! (7:30AM)

Victory is sweet! I mean preschool is sweet!!

1st graders take over BLADEZ on ICE...

2010-02-28T21:42:00.005-07:00

Noah's class at Tommy's Rd. Elementary school went ice skating on Friday. So fun and what a comedy show to watch. Lots of varying skill level...lots of falling on the ice. Check out Noah's moves!

Noah looking good!

going down

made it all the way around!

Sorry about the focus....but this is Noah and his teacher, ms. Bryant!

Noah, Lien and Leann

Noah and Shamon

Noah and Rahul

somedays you gotta dance...

2010-02-28T21:26:00.006-07:00

we had a warm day last weekend (i KNOW - a miracle)! The girls were camped out on the back deck singing and dancing with abandon...ENJOY!

preparing for the music...

the emotion

the finger...

enter hallie grace...

i mean the butterfly dance outfit...

shake what your mama gave you!

The Goonch Meets the Mighty Neuse...

2010-02-13T20:30:00.010-07:00

The goonch: An old school party barge pontoon, completely stripped, reassembled and painted camo (of course - we do live in Wayne County). Think Huck Finn. No motor, no steering wheel, just pontoons and plywood. Named after some man eating catfish in China. Enter in Greg Hook, Ben Parker and Sam Metzler. EWHS graduates, UNC and NCSU alums, married men and some of my husbands best friends. Greg flew home from Boulder CO where he is on Young Life staff to spend a long weekend with the boys. They need/crave adventure. This is where the goonch comes in. The gonch and the Mighty Neuse together - a hard to resist combination! Let the fun begin!

The goonch has been living in our backyard for a long time. I wanted to put a step ladder to it and serve cocktails on Thanksgiving. It looks the same today as it did then. The grass under it is redneck tall. I was excited to hear it was coming out of the yard. Well until this...

in our effort to get the goonch out of the backyard - we forgot to account for the total yard saturation...Bryan's car stuck down to the frame...good times

the enormous hole and mess left

props to the minivan that pulled that suv out of the yard!!

The adventure is about to begin! Have a mentioned that the river is moving FAST! Good for a boat with no motor. However, it may be hard to steer this sucker and the water is up as high as I have ever seen it. Plus the goonch has never actually been in water since we have owned it. Hope it floats!

tail light of Ben's brand new truck. the goonch pontoon busted the light in a tight left hand turn. I may or may not have been driving...so glad Ben already liked me.

getting ready

the goonch meets the water

so far so good! Loaded down

they are off...6:45 PM Friday Night. Whitetail Landing. The Neuse River is MOVING at flood stage. Hope they fit under all the bridges!

amazing...what they woke up to

Ben, Greg & Sam

the tent

the Mighty Neuse

the goonch in all her glory!

what maneuverability...

Mom - please note the life jackets in the back...safety first for us Hancocks (please disregard the fact that they are not wearing those jackets and the complete lack of rails or sides to the raft - how did they distinguinsh the edge of the raft with the black water at night??? )

the lawyer

the men

the burn barrel

What we did while "Huck Finn" rafted the river...

Noah & Mills get in on the Seven Springs Ramp action. Sat afternoon 5:00pm.

how many horsepower does Bryan have?

getting her back on the trailer

20+ miles and the goonch conquers the mighty neuse!!

SNOW DAYS!

2010-01-31T20:23:00.003-07:00

Some pics to start your week off right... more stories later!

Just another frigid day...

2010-01-09T20:13:00.013-07:00

What the Hancock's do on a frigid January afternoon...

walk by the Neuse...

wear toboggans...

And don't miss this...we break ice on our heads!

preparing face...

so not surprised - love him!

mills' turn

victory!

ninja bryan (check Noah's face)

sweet Hallie

I even tried it!

Mills found a "mask"

Hallie ice skates...

drink in the sun

Then its time to go home. This is Mills with her I am done walking in the cold - wearing these muddy pants and boots - my legs are tired - i need hot chocolate face. So we stopped on the way home for ice cream of course! What an afternoon! Thank you Wayne County!

HaPpY Halliedays!!

2009-12-30T19:28:00.001-07:00

here goes...

2009-12-09T19:54:00.009-07:00

I love taking pictures! Sitting on my couch right now I count (just in this one room of my house) 44 framed photos of my kids and our family. 44. Not kidding. Not to mention the 18 stuffed albums flanked by 19 boxes of prints from Walgreens. Love...or obsession? Couldn't say for sure! The past few months I have been spending a lot of time thinking, practicing, going to workshops etc... I've upped my game and learned how to turn dials on my camera that I thought were only there as decorations or finger rests. I've talked to Bryan so much about it that he's added the words ISO and shutter-speed to his love language. Bottom line: I really want to start taking pics of families and kids (and anyone else) on more of a professional level. So here is a glimpse of some of the best shots of the fall - i made the girls go out on an "official photo shoot" - Hallie wore her tutu. typical Hancock afternoon! Hope you enjoy and let me know if you want your mug behind this lens! We will keep you posted...

WOW

SHEER DELIGHT

MY FAV - THE LADYBUG

Winter at Windy Gap...

2009-12-06T20:21:00.009-07:00

This weekend Bryan spoke up at Windy Gap - the Young Life camp near Asheville! We were sooo excited to wake up Saturday morning to snow!! Sure felt like Christmas time....Enjoy the pics!

notice Hallie's snow outfit (above) - dress, tights and black patent leather heels. She insisted and the shoes lasted about 5 minutes!

noah (little guy up on the platform) is not in many pics - cause as usual he ran around like he owned the place! He's up there with the program guys taking care of business!

what a weekend

2009-11-16T21:36:00.004-07:00

I got to take Noah & Mills to their first GO HEELS football game Saturday!! We had a blast!

brought Hallie back a tattoo

well Sunday was fun too...

Just in case there is trouble at your house...

2009-11-16T21:21:00.005-07:00

you'll know who to call...

A Halloween Dry Run...

2009-10-27T22:10:00.004-06:00

WOLVERINE

THE DANCING WITCH

ADD A PRINCESS... TRIFECTA!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-27T14:05:00.001-06:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Mills at the farm

2009-10-19T20:34:00.005-06:00

i love this... Mills running the rows of corn down at the farm. The corn is so tall. My Dad - or Ga as he is now affectionately known - was born on this land and I like to think he did this very thing. Maybe in this very place.

the many faces of Hallie Grace

2009-10-19T19:45:00.006-06:00

what joy she brings me...
truly there are no words
enjoy

Party in the Minivan...

2009-10-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

Thank you Miley Cyrus for making my life better!

First Game of the Season...

2009-09-23T20:23:00.005-06:00

Noah and Mills are on the same soccer team this season! The Dark Knights! First game was Saturday...check em out!

with Marshall Outlaw - one of Noah's best buds!

warming up

this is Mills' first time on any team! So fun to be out there playing! Especially when you have pink swooshes on your cleats!

Mills in action

Noah after one of his goals!

gotta love being a Hancock!

the adventures of windy gap...

2009-09-18T22:24:00.005-06:00

"Mom? Maybe we should do this tomorrow?"

-Mills after we strapped in the swing.

And getting on it was all her idea.

And guess who was waiting to go next? Hallie!!

Not to be outdone (even though the swing is NOT his thing)...

Noah tackles the zipline - 1st time all by himself!!

Kindergarten

2009-09-09T22:36:00.003-06:00

Mills at the end of her first day of kindergarten...

love em

Its Still Summer...

2009-08-29T20:54:00.005-06:00

If everybody had an ocean... (or lake)

conquering the "mambo"

girl party on the mambo

hallie in deep conversation with megan...

poor roy

2009-08-26T21:30:00.002-06:00

What happens when things get quiet at home...

notice the bow...the girls are so proud! roy looks miserable.

What Noah brought home on the first day of school...

2009-08-26T21:12:00.001-06:00

as if i had not cried enough already.

thank you Lord for my sweet son...

Noah's First Day of First Grade!

2009-08-25T09:36:00.006-06:00

Ready for action!

(by the time I got out of bed at 7:05 - Noah had gotten himself dressed and made himself/finished his breakfast)

the backpack - with lunch box combo

amazingly for the hancocks - we were early.

This is us sitting outside the school waiting to be let in.

Thank you EJ for coming over to hang at the house while the girls slept in!

at his desk...

When I got home and the girls woke up - Hallie said look what I can do!

I think it is a wink?

Hancock Family Vacation & Hurricane Bill

2009-08-22T20:53:00.005-06:00

So we've been gone. Hancock family vacation at Wrightsville Beach. So fun. The Goldsboro Hancocks (us), the Raleigh Hancocks (Bryan's parents), the Pennsylvania Hendersons (Bryan's sister, husband & 2 kids), AND the Virginia Ruckers (Bryan's grandparents). 13 of us. Here is a preview. So many great photos and stories to come... Oh yeah and thank you Hurricane Bill for bringing my husband the best surf he's had at WB in many years!

Hallie Grace being Hallie

Noah and Bryan in the rockin' wave maker. The surprising winner of most fun thing to ride in the waves we have seen in a long time. I think its meant for pools and lakes...leave it to the Hancock men to take it to new heights - literally. Thanks Mom for leaving it in the attic for us to find! Look for the video later in the week!

Mills - mighty crab hunter showing no fear or mercy!

Look at the millions of crabs she was hunting! (yes those are all crabs)

This spot just makes me happy. A Lindsay all time favorite...

Cousins - some making tough face, others not so much.

Bryan - working it this morning as the sun was rising. Thank you Bill!

Windy GAP!

2009-07-29T10:57:00.003-06:00

Hey friends! we are at windy Gap this week with kids from Wayne County! We created a blog for parents to keep up with all the fun stuff we are doing. It has some great pics - if you would like to check in with us the address is www.ylwaynecounty.blogspot.com!

Just a few reasons why we love sumer

2009-07-23T21:07:00.007-06:00

We ride bikes in the mud...

then shower outside...

In a perfect summer evening...as the sun sets after the rain.

Dinner anyone?

2009-07-23T20:46:00.003-06:00

Tonight we went out to dinner - spur of the moment. I went next door to talk to the neighbor. When I came into the driveway to hop in the car this is who I saw. He said he wanted to look his best for dinner. Smelled good too! He worried about his hair all the way to dinner. You know it is hard to get that mop to stay down flat to his head...

the cuda

2009-07-23T20:27:00.004-06:00

look what noah caught!

the wb & granny myrtle

2009-07-18T21:34:00.009-06:00

so we went to the beach with my sweet granny myrtle over the fourth of july. i love to throw a party and decorate and i learned everything i know from granny myrtle. she brought tons of 4th of july decor - hats, streamers and the like. not only that but she had each great grandchild a red, white and blue outfit. so amazing. well i got stuck/lucky and had to wear a headband with stars that stuck up and had ribbons trailing down...very becoming. and oops i don't have a picture of me in it. these will have to do.

granny and the girls in their beautiful dresses (and hat)

hallie and cousin cole (he had yet to put his festive shirt on)

dad - playing corn hole in his hat (he brought his own 4th of july shoes...)

well the folks in the house next to us had a for real party. tents, band, caterer and thousands of dollars of illegal fireworks! it was by far the best display i have ever seen. not to mention we were 20 ft from the dock where they shot them off. our lives were in danger every fifth firework when they came sailing our way - but other than that amazing. my whole family pulled chairs out to the waters edge and sat there with our jaws dropped. except of course for our kids who were inside sobbing about all the loud noises.

look at this dock! i did not zoom in with my camera. we were right there!

so fun seeing the reflection in the water!

ghost crab times (this is before it made noah bleed)

sea urchin bryan pulled off the bottom of an old crab trap - in all my years at wb i have never seen one in the sound before. i knew they were there - just never stumbled upon one.

hallie hanging out with roy in her usual spot

off on a crab hunt

the hunters

the hunted

roy's first boat ride

last stop - the hunters looking for pirate treasure on palm tree island

Meet Roy...

2009-07-18T21:20:00.001-06:00

Roy - for roy williams and royal princesses

She is a girl - and a sweet one at that
nothing like a puppy that does not sleep through the night or know to pee in the right place
to make you thankful for your children that do!

the deep out...

2009-07-16T22:33:00.004-06:00

I heard this a million times at the beach...

Toes

2009-07-15T21:49:00.005-06:00

So blogging at home is taking some getting used to...especially when you are at the beach. But we are back now. I will get some beach pics up here in a couple days.

Just wanted you to see what Mills and I did on our date yesterday afternoon! We had our toes done! The non english speaking ladies loved her! Her sweet feet hardly touched the water - but they would splash the water over them. She picked out a flourescent pink and they painted flowers on her big toes and put a "jewel" in the middle! As we left she said, " Mom, since I am queen for the day can we go to Target and let me buy something too?" I love how this girl thinks!

Bringing it home...

2009-06-28T21:50:00.008-06:00

Well I thought I would finish off the Crooked Creek pics & thoughts now that we have been home almost a week....most of that spent sitting in the sun sweating...on purpose. If you read Bryan's last post you have an idea of our trip home. I'll include a few pics to help you visualize.

how we spent many of our last hours... eating ice cream!

Noah realized that he yet to conquer everything at Crooked Creek and he needed to check off the slide into the lake! Here he is preparing for the polar plunge slide - bryan's mini life jacket screams "safety first". Water temp was a cool snow melt of FREEZING!

noah's entry

bryan's entryThis is the new christian walk. 165 kids. 165 kids who experienced real life. 165 kids who have decided to follow Jesus. Later this night these kids will stand up at club in front of their friends and leaders and "say-so".

This is "say-so". A time during the last club of the week where kids who decided they want real life and to hang out with Jesus stand up and say so! So many are standing (this was week 3)! This is why the assigned team (us) were there. What an encouragement to us to keep doing what we do! Then it was time for us to say goodbye. We packed it up and headed to the airport!

Bryan, the kids and our 10 checked bags PLUS our carryons (including guitar and Mills' birthday makeup case) - Thank you Southwest! 2 free checked bags per customer!

home

2009-06-23T21:57:00.002-06:00

so we show up at the airport with 8 huge bags to check when southwest informs us that we are too early to check them. Of course there's an asian lady around the corner who runs the luggage store and refuses daily to improve her english that agrees to "watch" our bags for $100. yup. $100. You'd think for that price she could afford rosetta stone or at least hooked on phonics. Since it's mills' birthday we ante up, leave the airport, rent a dodge magnum and go to the movies. Up 3D. Nice. if you need a laugh go to a 3D movie with Hallie and watch her love afair with the "magic glasses." After the movie we hit mcdonalds and target where we buy 2 more bags since our eight bags weigh too much and we couldn't fit some of our stuff in them. And by some of our stuff i mean the 50 pairs of shorts that went unworn in that godforsaken place white men named frasor after they conquered the natives who previously referred to it as "iglaktic" which means "cold ass place y'all should just let us keep." So back to the airport with 10 bags now and a thankyou to the luggage lady who replied "around the corner" and we're off on our plane. Had another stellar blast-off with the kids and a smooth flight. The girls did beauty shop and Noah begged the flight attendants for (and received) extra oreo 100 calorie packs. I got free beer since it was father's day which officially makes southwest not only the greatest airline in america but the greatest company on the planet. i also sent sloan a pic message from the plane which may be a terrorist act but i was just so fired up cause, you know, FREE BEER.
We hung around in Raleigh long enough to hit Chuck-e-Cheese and the Build a Bear workshop. If you've never built a bear i'd highly recommend it. At the end you sign the bear promise which says something like "i brought you to life and promise to love you forever." So spiritual. So Dr. Frankenstein. Then finally home to Goldsboro where we've already shunned unpacking for 2 days in favor of the pool and going to the pool. we also picked some stuff from our garden, like zuchinis the size of my thighs. we could feed a small african village with our giant zuchinis. But we do have ocra to fry, and squash to boil and fry, and fish to grill, and God to praise for our beloved North Carolina and it's heat, humidity, fried food, heat, sunshine, warm swimming pools, beaches, heat, and my kingsized bed. Amen. Wampire. Nestle.

humidity here we come!

2009-06-20T11:10:00.004-06:00

Well Goodbye Cold June Weather.... the Hancocks leave for 100 degree heat in the morning. While the weather has been interesting - it will still be hard to leave. What a beautiful place and amazing people!

goodbye 30 degrees!!

no more hot chocolate after every meal...

no more Matt Sloan reading your kids bedtime stories...

Noah will miss the summer staff & how much they loved on him! Especially Tyler!

no more leading the buses into camp on the mini bike!

no more wrestling in the ring after dinner...well maybe some things will come home with us!

Gotta keep packing - Lord help us!!!

Western Night

2009-06-20T00:54:00.001-06:00

sweet noah and his face paint...

my girl

2009-06-18T00:21:00.003-06:00

Its 12:20am here. I just got Mills and Noah in bed. We spent the last 2 hours dancing on the night that never ends. Mills is unbelievable! We were in the middle of a circle of 450 campers and she ran and danced with abandon. Totally free and with the biggest smile. Arms up. Hair out behind her. Dancing her little heart out. Truly alive. That face, that grin - i hope i never forget how she looked tonight. What a gift she is to me.

Pictures you should see...

2009-06-17T16:39:00.007-06:00

well we have spent a lot of time in the hot tub...

hallie's camera smile

how bryan and i enter the tableau...

my cowboys

love this pic! Hallie has been wearing mismatch shoes most of the month - on purpose. Plus the magic wand has kept her busy for hours. Abracadabra zoom zoom zoom - she says. I do not know why.

the climbing wall...

2009-06-15T20:59:00.001-06:00

Lots of crazy weather this month...and lots of beautiful rainbows.

2009-06-14T23:17:00.003-06:00

This past week I finally got to ride the incredible swing here at the ranch! I was legitimately scared. Sitting in the harness - watching the metal floor fall out from underneath me - just hanging there 50ft off the ground...scared. The free fall is literally 3 stories before the swing catches. violent. amazing. my dad would love it. wish he was here! The first time I rode with Bryan and Greg Hook. The next day I rode with Leslie Sloan and Ellie Holcomb. They were terrified. The whole time they were saying why are we doing this. I do not like stuff like this....etc. When the swing let go - they screamed and screamed. I would've except I was laughing SOOO hard at them and how much they were screaming...AND its all on video. ENJOY.

Noah

2009-06-14T13:22:00.013-06:00

Noah is amazing. I am so proud of him. I wish yall could be here just to watch him. He is such a joy. All boy. All out. All the time! Plus his hair is doing crazy things out here with no humidity and tons of chlorine!

He spends the days cruising camp on this mini bike he found in the prop closet. Really he rides it everywhere. to the pool. to club. to the dining hall. in the dining hall - between tables. down the steep hills at mach 500. its a sight to behold.

does anyone remember johnny from karate kid? noah insists on wearing headbands, necklaces he made at the craft cart and whenever possible tattoos or marker body art.

being like dad at the swim meet!

ok - so my friend Leslie and I take our kids to McDonalds on BBQ night at camp because none of them really like the meal & its kinda fun to get out of camp. Across from McDonalds is this really cool park. The weather Tuesday cooperated so after our happy meals we headed across the street. The park includes this skate park. Noah immediately asked if he could go check it out. Within 2 minutes he was talking to some kid (see picture above) and then riding a razor scooter (see picture below). He is the man. I had to stay on the playground with the little kids - Leslie went to subway to grab the adults dinner - so I couldn't really get too close. I just love Noah! He had a blast!

This session, Noah has really bonded with the ridge runner staff. After lunch he heads up to the track to help put the groups through the course!

When they prep the cabins for their ride Noah says, "I'm Noah Hancock from Goldsboro NC and when you see a white flag you have one lap left."

Bryan and I went up to watch him work the other day. Noah talked Bryan into a ride!

notice how the left front wheel is spraying directly on Noah!!

how either of them could see is beyond me....they had to stop every lap and wipe Noah's goggles!

Noah is all boy with a tender, sweet heart. What a gift to our family. What a bunch of dirty laundry!

More High Adventure....

2009-06-10T22:43:00.000-06:00

Mills coming off the platform at the end. Check out that face! Both the kids just sat down and swung out to get down. Bryan and I had to jump for the trapeze.

bryan and mills celebrating!

noah's swing off the platform!

success!

high adventure!

2009-06-09T22:20:00.000-06:00

Look at my amazing kids! Since we arrived Mills has been wanting to do the ropes course. We walked over to it the other day - the day it snowed- took a good look around and she decided she definitely wanted to do it. We found out we could fit in Tuesday at 1:30/2:00 and for 3 days she counted down the hours. She got a good night's sleep Monday to be ready, ate a good lunch...etc. She was so excited! Noah was not sure if he was really into it or not - but when your little sister is so fired up he really couldn't refuse. This is a partner course & Mills insisted she wanted to go with Bryan. So - She and Bryan set off first and Noah and I went next! What a gift to do this with them!. They were so brave. No hesitation - even as they admitted they were a little nervous. The summer staff running the course were blown away & I thought I would cry numerous times I was so proud! These are the pics I was able to take before we really got started and the summer staff girl took one of Noah and I at the end of the zipline. Thankfully my friend Elizabeth showed up just then with her amazing camera and took a whole bunch of us as we went through the course! I will post those up tonight! I have amazing kids!

getting ready

Climbing the hill to the start

at the top

thumbs up

getting ready to goshe's off!

the cargo net...Noah and me at the net after the zipline start!

the many faces of Hancock...

2009-06-08T00:52:00.000-06:00

Bubba Nubbins - resident bad guy. Look at the bus driver in the back!

Svendle - from Norweigestanvakiabull. wears heelys and brings the oij!

note the shorts of svendle...

Rob (of Rob and Gib) - rapper and snack specialist

Caruso - playground monitor at the Cricket Daycare Center

Folks, How could you not love a man like this???

just pics...

2009-06-07T21:41:00.000-06:00

wifle ball times!

Noah wrestling Shamu in front of 350 campers...Noah wins!

Hallie riding on Caruso's (Bryan's) back at the start of the Cricket Day care skit!

Hallie - in her cricket day care finest! the glasses were her idea...

snow on june 7th???

2009-06-07T16:06:00.000-06:00

seriously...today it has hailed & snowed. The sun is out and it is 32 degrees with wind gusts of 15+ mph. I am not a winter person. I am freezing. Aaah North Carolina...i miss you!

Buses pulling in for week 2!!

To finish off what a week of camp looks like...
Wednesday - the night that never ends. The program finale (sort of) - the good guys save crooked creek ranch! Tablaeu (a frozen scene from the old west) where kids go back to their cabins and dress like what they see acted out in the scene. The highlight I must say was when Bryan and I got to ride into the tableau on a frontend loader in the bucket lifted up as high as it would go!!! So fun! Then we had an incredible dinner, followed by a carnival with games, food and cotton candy. With all the fake money you earn you can pie your leader in the face, send them to the dunking booth etc. Next we headed to the opera (the big show) where crooked creek is saved and bubba and i fall in love - Then the whole camp heads to the square dance! What a night! Kids laugh and sing and play and truly experience some full life! My kids love it too!

Thursday-Saturday - thing are still so fun but not so heavy on the program team. Thursday the whole camp hikes to the top of a nearby mountain! And they all make it to the top. We just walk with them and stick with kids - side by side until they suceed!

Friday & Saturday - kids still come to club, meet a few new characters, watch real life (a place where they hear some of our stories), Hang out with their leaders, swim, ride horses, go carts, ropes course, hot tub, frisbee golf ALL that stuff. Saturday Night at our last club we ask kids who decided to begin a relationship with jesus to stand up and say so. So we all stand and sing a song and the kids that have trusted Jesus this week for the first time remain standing while they rest of us sit down. WHAT A SWEET MOMENT for all of us! So many kids last night! Then they go around the room and say "My name is ________. And this week I gave my life to Jesus." Sweet Sweet! I cry every time! What an honor to partner in this with Jesus! You know He really doesn't need me but He invites me in to this amazing time!
After club the buses leave and we have about 20 hours to clean up and prepare to do it all over again!

the buses are here...let the fun begin...the cold fun...let the cold fun begin!!!!

Bubba & Shirley's FlashBack video

2009-06-05T12:26:00.000-06:00

Showed this Wednesday night in the opera (skit finale)!!

Time to catch up!

2009-06-05T11:27:00.000-06:00

OK so finally I can share with yall what a week of YL camp looks like. Basically kids arrive on Sunday afternoon and camp is really heavy on the program - the funny guys leading the kids through all kinds of activities and skits. Basically trying to break down walls and get kids laughing and to really just enjoy themselves and be kids for a while. As the week progresses - the program guys culminate their story line on Wednesday and by Thursday the program begins to take a back seat. There is more free time and opportunity for leaders to hang out with the kids they brought and really dive in relationally. It's so great to see them hanging out all over camp talking and really allowing kids to open up about their real life! So here is kinda a snapshot of our weeks at camp...

Sunday - arrival, welcome, club & obstacle course (a late night run through the woods getting wet and dirty - so Fun!)

Monday - cabin v. cabin volleyball tourney (each cabin comes up with a team uniform...), entertainment night
check out these cool uni's! helium balloons in pantyhose!

Caruso & Dietz - playground monitors at the Cricket Daycare center - running the tourney Mills handing out tokens to campers as they earn them for doing amazing feats!

Tuesday- swim meet, rodeo & hoedown

That is Frank Ivey the camp speaker - being raced down the pool on a turtle float. He thought it would be dry and easy....

Here he is after the race.....notice sweet Mills has on a winter coat and pants...air temp at the start of the swim meet - 45 degrees...

all of camp in the pool for the atomic swirly (everyone runs around the outside and makes a giant whirlpool - it is SOOOO fun)

Ok gotta go to lunch! Will tell you all about Wednesday's adventures when I get back!

a few to get you started...

2009-06-05T01:37:00.001-06:00

Well today I played with my kids and spent time with my husband (SO FUN) and basically did not accomplish as much blogging as I meant to. Still so much to catch yall up on. Until tomorrow feast your eyes on this!!

Bubba Nubbins and Shirley Cramers...Little Bubba & Shirley Cramers...

Sleep tight... see yall tomorrow!

the night that never ends...

2009-06-03T14:05:00.000-06:00

Well we've made it to wednesday - the night that never ends...tableau, dinner, carnival, opera, square dance. That is of course after Mondays volleyball tourney, entertainment night - Tuesdays artic swim meet, rodeo and hoedown plus two hours of costume making. Also we've had club every night and led the singing and skits (wait till you meet Svendle and Rob N Gib). tonight is the resolution of the good guys and the bad guy and a real blast for all of us. I just have to go now and learn two dances plus a whole script of lines. Plus I just got hallie down for nap and I need to entertain the other two. What a day! Bryan's voice is shot and tonight we get to fall in love and win him over to the good side of things (those really aren't related just thought you should know). always a winner! Anyway. After today things will slow down a little for us program folks and I can get some more pics up to show you all we've been doing!

Suffice it to say it has been COLD and rains everyday. Either all day or in the afternoon. No snow yet but really I am expecting it anytime now. Everyone is still having a blast! Just with their bathing suits on covered up by winter coats and sweatpants! interesting summer here in CO! More later tonight! Love you ALL!

Arrival!

2009-05-31T22:15:00.000-06:00

Bryan's welcome outfit - BUBBA NUBBINS...he was trying to get Mills to make a mean face. It just isn't in her!

one of the buses is making its way down the curvy road into camp...its in there i promise!The Welcome crew getting ready to talk to the kids coming off the buses...thats bryan back there hiding. Once everyone is welcomed and gathered round - he'll jump up shoot his shotgun and tell them that its his camp and they should go on back home...more or less - He loves it. Playing the bad guy for Bryan is so great. Its only one step away from his real life personality!
The Work Crew - high school kids serving for a month of their summer (for free) doing jobs like serving in the dining hall, outdoor crew (mowing etc), laundry girls, tawashies (they get to washie your bathrooms and clean), the pits (do dishes for the whole month) AND THEY LOVE IT! They begged to come. Here they are celebrating a bus pulling into camp! Makes me tear up every week...You know how great it feels to be welcomed somewhere like that? To come to a place that has done all this amazing stuff for you? So you can have the best week of your life and see life lived as it should be - with Jesus? It feels good.
And here they are cheering kids right off the bus - right after this they will help them carry their luggage to their cabins. Actually one of my favorite parts when I go to camp. I mean who really wants to carry their own bag anyway? Oh Yeah - some great moments happen when you have to get off the bus and run down the chute of work crew to the welcome. Think Ginny Hughes whooping it up running with all her pillow and blankets so excited to be at camp....then taking a nosedive to the pavement when she tripped over something. And it was all caught on tape by the video intern! Hilarious!

the kids on the "tank" or sound truck...Bubba Nubbins running the bases on the wifle ball court after hitting a home run! He just interrupted some kids game, walked up to the plate, hit a home run, ran the bases and walked off...
this is the swing - i cannot wait to get on! You climb to the top of the building, get harnessed in - then the floor falls out from beneath you and you go sailing out over the side of the mountain!!! today was my first time watching it. I will try to put a video of it up so yall can see it! Bubba Nubbins and I will ride it together!

the buses come today!

2009-05-31T14:17:00.000-06:00

Today is the day it all begins... Any minute now the buses will begin pulling into camp. All those high school kids...they have no idea what they are in for. How much they have been prayed for. How much they will laugh. How great the food is they will eat -and I mean good. They are in for an amazing week! Mills and I are headed out to take some pictures of the welcome to post here - but first we thought we'd give you a glimpse of our last couple days.

Well - we are all adjusting to the altitude. Drinking lots of water and acting like we've run a marathon everytime we walk up any incline. Goldsboro is soooo flat. Most of us have had some headaches. They are all gone now for the most part - however Hallie asked me for a bandaid. I asked why...she said she had a headache

As we were exploring I heard this lady say something about bear tracks - so of course we went to investigate. Check em out. He/She walked right through camp night before last. The kitchen staff told us to always lock the kitchen if we were there at night because bears can open the doors and the walk in cooler and eat stuff in there! The girls were thrilled!

Since we were up by the adult guest lodge we decided to go in and check it out. No one was here yet. So we went in grabbed a coke out of the fridge and walked around. Check this place out. If you have never been to Young Life Camp as an adult to check Young Life out - you should! No boring cabins here! This place is amazing. I mean its nicer than my house...and the view...and a place to plug in your hair dryer (why do people awlays think YL camp = roughing it?) We are far from it! Little slice of heaven...

We spent the morning swimming. Here are Hallie and Lucy Sloan living it up in the hot tub!

Sorry for the lack of pics of Noah. He's officially off and running with whoever will have him. He's helping the ODC (Outdoor crew) and basically hangin out with Bo a new friend from Florida. He sits with Bo at meals and basically does his own thing. I see him when he is hungry or tired... Yesterday Bryan and I went out walking around to try and find him and he was on the wifle ball field with the assigned team (all folks on YL staff). Definitley the youngest on the field by 20 years. He hit Three homeruns while I was watching for about 5 minutes. What a baller. He just is not afraid to join in whatever is going on around here. I love raising my kids on Young Life Staff!

Well the first bus just rolled by my window. Gotta get out there and take some pics! Miss yall!

We are here!

2009-05-28T16:06:00.000-06:00

Well...We have arrived! I thought I would start a blog to keep all of our friends and family updated on the adventures of the Hancocks! Seemed like the easiest option. I know you are all proud. Plus I want yall to know what is going on here so you can pray for us and for kids as they really see Jesus this month at Crooked Creek Ranch!

So - to get here we had to fly! We flew nonstop from RDU to Denver CO. I thought it would either go very well - or very bad! I am happy to say that it went amazing! The kids did great and the flight was a perfect first flight experience. Bryan and Noah sat on one side of the aisle - the girls and I on the other. I took a video of take-off but of course I forgot the cord to upload it. So as soon as I can find one I will put it up here...Suffice it to say not many people really talk much during take off - so our kids hollering about how cool it was and how it really wasn't scary and wow we are flying were entertainment for everyone onboard our flight! Mills says her favorite part of the ride was the BLAST OFF! and really who can blame her!

Kids in the airport - playing their new leapster games!

After getting ALL of our 9 checked bags plus 3 car seats and 5 carry ons...we loaded in a van and drove 1 1/2 hours to camp. We are near (10 min) Winter Park Ski Resort and about 8500 ft above sea level. It is cold. Young Life owes me a month of my summer back! When the sun is shining it is really OK even though I have not put on shorts yet and I am typing this inside in my North Face jacket. The kids don't seem to mind though and of course after dinner we all had to get in the swimming pool and hot tub - well mostly because we promised.

The hot tub - check out that view...

The rest of the staff arrive this afternoon and the work crew/summer staff tomorrow AND the campers roll in on Sunday afternoon for the best week of their lives! It is really exciting to be a part of this and to get to be here! I sure I will have tons of cool stuff to share as we get going. I will try to post a good bit so you can see what a week of YL camp really looks like!

Our kids are great! They love being at camp - they think they own the place already... I love being their mom!
Well more to come!
Peace - Talk to ya! (we miss you Scalf's!)

Thought you would like this pic from Noah's kindergarten graduation last week!