Christmas 2009 Greetings

December 2009 Calendar

Dec. 4: Clayton's Scout Campout
Dec. 5: Christmas Tree Search Party
Dec. 12: Austin's Lego Robotics Competition at Rimrock Elementary
Dec. 12: Ward Christmas Party--A Night at Bethlehem
Dec. 13: Ward Choir Christmas Sacrament Meeting
Dec. 16: Last Day of Classes for BYU-I
Dec. 17: Nathan Gets Upper Wisdom Teeth Out
Dec. 17: Austin's Christmas Program--5:30 @ Performing Arts Center
Dec. 20: Housley Family Gingerbread Houses
Dec. 21: Christmas Piano Recital--6:30 @ Piano Gallery
Dec. 22: Random Sam Plays @ Christmas Show
Dec. 22: Ward Choir Christmas Sing-a-long
Dec. 23: Christmas Vacation Begins
Dec. 25: CHRISTMAS
Dec. 27: Hendricks Family Dinner

Now That's a Mouthfull!

This was just our week for oral surgery, I guess.  Nathan's wisdom teeth removal turned out to be anything but routine.  He has been really hurting these past few days.  Then two days later, Clayton had a cyst removed from his gums.  It was another day of no fun for the Housley's!!!!

After the surgery, Clayton was a little loopy from the general anesthesia.  On the drive home, he quietly asked us if they had even given him a sucker.  When we said no, he seemed disgusted.  "Well that's cheap," was his response.  He and Nathan seem to be having their long winter's naps because these pain pills wipe them out.  They both sleep 12-14 hours a day.

The day after the surgery Clayton's face began to swell up.  His eye was almost completely swollen shut by Sunday morning.  And it looks like he is going to end up with two black eyes.

Peru, Lima South

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Nathan received his mission call to the Peru Lima South mission!!! It was a surreal moment listening to him announce where he was going to spend the next two years of his life. I think we all felt a little stunned at first, but we are also very excited.

Poor Nathan had his lower wisdom teeth removed the night before. Check out his swollen (but still cute) cheeks. The teeth were severely impacted and angled, so the procedure turned out to be really intense. That night--and the rest of the week for that matter--Nathan was in a lot of pain. He was on some really heavy pain killers!!!

He invited family, roommates, and friends over to watch him open the call. The envelope was delivered around 9:30 that morning, but he waited until nearly 9:00 that night to open it. 

Nathan enters the Provo MTC on April 7th
and stays for two weeks. Then he flies to the Peru MTC
to study for another six weeks. 
Nathan had hoped all along to speak a foreign language.

 

 We are so proud of Elder Nathan Louis Housley!

Night of the Notables

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For his GATE class, Austin had to present his research on a famous figure from  history.  Austin chose Chiron, a centaur from Greek mythology, because he loves the Percy Jackson series.

That night all the GATE students set up their exhibits with posters they have made, dress up as the character, and display objects that help explain their research. As people come by, they answer questions.

Austin did a great job on his presentation.  Apparently Chiron was the ultimate "Party Animal." Austin informed us that in addition to being half-horse, half-man, Chiron was a philosopher/teacher, invented medicine, a great hunter, and an over-indulgent drinker.  There's nobody cuter than our Austin, though.

Our Future Missionary

Nathan submitted his missionary papers last week, so we are now waiting for the call! 

It is a very exciting time. 

November's Calendar

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Nov. 7: Sadie Hawkins
Nov. 10: YW Night of Excellence
Nov. 12-14: Cameron's BHS StuCo trip to Boise
Nov. 12: Parent Teacher Conferences
Nov. 13: Clayton's Scout Campout
Nov. 15: CLAYTON'S BIRTHDAY
Nov. 18: Nathan's Wisdom Teeth Come Out
Nov. 19: Austin's GATE "Night of the Notables"
Nov. 19: Nathan's Mission Call Comes
Nov. 20: Clayton's Oral Surgery
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving Vacation
Nov. 26: Housley Thanksgiving Dinner
Nov. 28: Hendricks Thanksgiving Dinner
Nov. 30: NATHAN'S BIRTHDAY

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Halloween 2009

After suffering (or should we say suffocating) through the ward party, Austin decided he would much rather be Indiana Jones for Halloween night.

The boys enjoyed trunk or treating at Fairview, and they still found enough energy to make the rounds throughout the neighborhoods.  Candy is the ultimate motivator.

Junior

Cameron has started off his junior year with a bang.  He got a job working for Craigo's Pizza as a cook and bus boy. He works usually four nights a week.  And he has distinguished himself in the community by becoming a "sign flipper."  He has the moves and really gets noticed.

And he got his braces off!  Isn't he a handsome devil?

He is a true ladies man and had a great time at the Homecoming Dance.  (Her name is Krissa Hegsted, and she is from Rigby.)

But don't worry tennis fans, he still has an undying passion for the sport.  He plays at least five to six times a week.  And he also spends all of his hard earned cash on private tennis lessons every Wednesday and Friday morning at 6:30 am.  So you know he is dedicated. 
We couldn't be more proud of Junior.

October's Calendar

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October 1: Austin's soccer game @ Ammon--6:00
October 2: Homecoming Dance
October 7: Clayton's soccer game @ Tiebreaker--6:00
October 8: Austin's soccer game @ Longfellow--6:00
October 14: Clayton's soccer game @ Tiebreaker--6:00
October 15: Austin's soccer game @ Ammon--6:00
October 18: Cameron speaks in a Stake General Priesthood Meeting @ Kearney Stake Center--5:30
October 21: CAMERON'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!
October 21: Baptisms for the Dead at Rexburg Temple
October 25: Cathy speaks in Sacrament Meeting
October 29: Jazz Band Concert @ PAC--7:30
October 30: No school
October 31: HALLOWEEN

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Body Man

Nathan has begun to realize that the countdown is on. There are going to be many things he won't be doing in the next two years, and waterskiing is one of them. So whenever he comes home on the weekends and the weather is half decent, he has been asking us to take him out on more "last" time.

I have to admire his courage in skiing in this freezing water.  The sun may be shining, but the river is ice cold.  There is no way I will get in it, even with a dry suit on, let alone a wetsuit.  I am cold just riding in the boat .  Anyone who skis in these temperatures is insane.  But then I am not a motivated 18 year-old boy. 

Nathan finds our old wetsuits from the '80's hilarious and loves to impress us with his physique by wearing them. He earned the nickname "BodyMan" when Austin told him he looked like a superhero in the red, white, and blue. Notice the head band.  I am not lying when I say that water is ice.

Our Cub Scouter

Austin's Arrow of Light September 3, 2009
 

 Following the example of his older brothers, Austin has been a true go-getter as a Cub Scout.
We are very proud of him.

Pinewood Derby, September 2009: The "Silver Surfer"

Ten year old Austin and his dad let their creativity run wild again this year. I especially liked the extra touch of the shark coming up the backside of the wave. The "Silver Surfer" joins Austin's other great Pinewood Derby car creations such as his "Hot Dog."

Redfish Lake

In August we journeyed to beautiful Redfish Lake for a family camping (and of course boating) trip.  Sadly Nathan had to work that week, something about earning enough money to pay for college, or something unimportant like that.  On the way there, we drove through Sun Valley and stopped on the Galena Summit.

We had a campsite right on the beach and enjoyed the clear water and inspiring mountains around us.  One of the highlights was watching Cameron and Greg go rock jumping .

Never one to miss an opportunity to tear up calm water,
Greg goes for big air.

Despite the rain, we had a great time sleeping in a tent, fishing,
boating, and spending time together.

 

Hopefully we can make this an annual event.

Oregon Bike Trip 09

We had the most wonderful trip to the Oregon Coast with our good friends, Dave and Julie Lyman and Dale and Mariah Roberts. We started at Bend (where Oregon begins or so we were told).

Up at Tillamook we saw the fishing industry, the Tillamook cheese factory, a WWII blimp air musuem, and the beginnings of the inspiring Oregon Coast.

As we biked down the coast, the weather went from scorching hot inland (100+) to foggy and quite cool on the coast (low 50's). It was always breathtaking and beautiful.

We biked all the way to California and the Redwoods.
Those trees were awesome. Paul wasn't too shabby either.
(If you look really close, we are sitting on his boots.)

We came back through Crater Lake, 
one of the most gorgeous spots on Earth.

I guess it pays to be a motorcycle momma!

Island Park 2009

The big news is that Austin learns to love wakeboarding!

Nathan lays it down as he slaloms.

Cameron clears the wake in his fashionable neon yellow westuit.

Clayton doms at doubles!

A little fun in the rain at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Our Island Park vacations will always be some of our funnest family memories. 

 Gotta love summertime!

Our Eagle Scouts

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 We are so proud of our two new Eagle Scouts!!!

All in all our ward's entire priest quorum (nine boys) now have their Eagles.

Tennis Anyone?

Cameron is all about tennis this spring.  (Notice the snow in the background.  Remember this is Southeastern Idaho.  We had to cancel the first three matches because there was still snow on the courts.)

He and his doubles partner, Tanner Roberts, have done really well. They never even seem to notice the cold, the wind.  They plan to win always.  But they always get compliments from the opposing teams' coaches about their good sportsmanship as well.  As Cameron likes to remind us, tennis is a gentleman's sport. 

Cameron has a great serve and an intense dedication, so it seems to be a winning combination. It has been really fun watching him play.