Dear Santa,

Jenna has been learning and perfecting writing letters in "school". Professional, business, friendly etc...... and so as part of the kids' journaling time today I had them write letters to Santa. I have to share...

JENNA'S LETTER: (age8)


Dear Santa,

How are you doing? I am doing really well. I can't wait until Christmas. I am happy that you are coming. We still live in the same house we did last year.

I want so many things this year. You can pick what ever you want to bring me. I want:

• a scooter
• soccer ball
• $20.00
• a barbie house
• make-up
• hairbands
• bracelets
• a door that leads from my bedroom to the bathroom
• a DS

I really want a DS because my brothers NEVER let me play with theirs. I hope you have a safe trip around the world.

Love,

Jenna

HAYDEN'S LETTER: (age 12)

Dear Santa,

How are you? I am just fine. What is it like at the North Pole? It is hot down here in Maricopa. I have a few questions for you. What is it like being so loved? How have you lived for so long? Will you tell me the secret to living so long? Is it all that fresh air you get on Christmas Eve?

From

Hayden Estes

MICHAEL'S LETTER: (age 15)

Dear Santa,

Hello, how are you today? I just thought I'd write to you and say that you are my favorite gift giving entity. While we're on the subject of gift giving I'd like to remind you that Christmas is only a little while away and I have been a VERY good boy. Always obedient to my parents and loving to my siblings (especially my sweet little sister). With this in mind I have compiled a list of objects that would bring me great joy on Christmas morning:

• A pair of black Oakleys (you know the ones)
• A Storm Trooper hoodie
• A projector for my bedroom.

I think these are all reasonable items. After all we don't want everyone to see those pictures from last year's Christmas party.... do we? So bring me my demand list and the pictures will be on your doorstep for you to do what you want with.

Sincerely,

Michael Estes

WET WILLIES

Joe's brother, Ronnie, was down visiting for Thanksgiving and my kids had so much fun with him because he is just a big kid.

Nathan was introduced to wet willies while playing with Joe and Ronnie one night. I am not sure which one of them introduced it to him but he caught on quickly. Three year olds are so literal it is funny. So, Joe would lick his finger and stick it in Nathan's ear.

This is Nathan's version of what he learned that day:

Nathan licks his own finger

then he sticks his finger in his own ear

then he runs over to you and tries to touch you with his finger.

It is the funniest video we have taken in a while! I had to have pictures of it.....(yes, he is once again finding clothes optional. This is the real reason we must live in the desert.)

Kids do the funniest things.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

I can't wait. I am not sure why but I am so excited for Christmas this year...more so than normal. I got my tree decorated and house all "festified"and I am counting down. I am so excited for this season.

Watching the kids open gifts, Seeing Nathan's eye's light up over every little detail because it is all new to his 3 year old mind, listening to and singing Christmas music, baking, parties, gift exchanges, piano recitals, good friends, the December Ensign, my brother's family coming Christmas day, and reading the Christmas story while hoping that my kids really appreciate the magnitude of it all.

These are all things I am excited about, but mostly I can't wait for, and hope that this season brings a spirit of humility, giving and thanks for our family.

Happy (late) Thanksgiving

Happy (late) Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for and I would be sad if I didn't take the time to share my top 10.

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in the church
2. Joe, Michael, Hayden, Jenna and Nathan
3. My extended family
4. A living Prohet
5. Good friends
6. This country and the privilege of voting(even if others did it wrong this year:o)
7. Health
8. Always having food on the table.
9. Always having all that we need and so much of what we want
10. Being able to stay home and be such a big part of my kids every day life

Hope your Thanksgiving was fruitful!

Elections 2008--I may have to go back to Canada :o)

I am sure it is no big surprise that I spent a lot of time helping with the 2008 campaigns. Jenna and I spent the day at the polls yesterday. She spent about 6 hours with me campaigning and it was so fun to have her there. I wish I had a picture. What a rush for me. I have to say it's a little scary that they let anyone vote. I just have to share some of the highlights of my experiences....


While out knocking on doors with a candidate for Senate I came across some interesting folks. My favorite was a lady that I met by the name of "Sally" ( I will not use real names out of respect and fear that I may humiliate these people):

*knock * knock * knock*

ME: "Hi Sally, I am out walking with my friend, Andre Campos, who is running in this year's election for state Senate."

SALLY: "Oh, how nice...are you going door to door?"

ME: "No, ma'am. He is running on the Republican ticket so we are only hitting the houses of the registered Republicans, Independents and those who are undecided."

SALLY: "Oh, so which one am I registered as?"

ME: "Excuse me?"

SALLY: "How am I registered?"

ME: "You are registered as a Republican."

SALLY: "Oh, that's good to know. Do I need to vote as a Republican, then?"

ME: "Yes, you do!"

(Hey, if she's dumb enough to believe it, just be glad she is voting republican.)

Experience #2:

I am a PC with the Republican club here so I worked all day at the polls yesterday campaigning outside. There are so many funny things that I saw yesterday, but this is my favorite. It made me come home today and re-teach my kids how the house and senate are set up....

There was a guy "STAN" that was sent out by the Fillmore camp wearing a John Fillmore shirt to help me out for a couple of hours . He was way pro Fillmore, for whatever reason, but didn't seem to know much on where John stood on things, so I helped him out and between the two of us we figured it out. PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM IN NO WAY SAYING THAT I AM THE EXPERT ON POLITICS. I have spent a lot of time with the candidates and have a pretty good feel for them, however.

So this guy "VOTER" about 25 comes bouncing up to the parking lot yelling "Obama...Obama". I love seeing people so excited to vote! He voted and came out yelling some more.

The Republican Club had some ice water (it's still warm here in AZ) for voters to take. On our ice chest was a sticker that said John Fillmore on it. The following conversation went something like this (I kid you not!):

VOTER: Who's John Fillmore? (pointing to the sticker on the cooler then to the shirt that "STAN" was wearing.)


"STAN": "He is running for Senator."

ME: (quietly to "Stan") "He is running for representative".

VOTER: "Is that the job that McCain is doing?"

STAN: "No, McCain is running for President."

ME: "McCain is an AZ Senator."

STAN: "Fillmore is running for Senate."

ME: "He is running for representative." (while showing them the voter's guide and wondering who the Fillmore camp sent me.)

VOTER: "Then who is the big guy?"

STAN: "You mean, the president?"

VOTER: "No, in AZ?"

STAN: "You mean McCain?"

VOTER: "No, who is running for the big position?"

STAN: "Fillmore is running for Senate."

VOTER: "Then who is the CAMPOS guy?" (pointing to the Andre Campos for Senate sign)

ME: "Fillmore is running for Congress, Campos is running for Senate. There are more than one of each per state."

VOTE: "Then who is running for the big office for AZ...the one who is in charge of Arizona?" (at this point"Voter" is getting a little flustered...but remember he has already voted and is just now asking these questions of the party he had no intention of voting for :o)

ME: "You mean the Governor?"

VOTER: "yea, yea, the governor!"

ME: "The governor is not up for election this time...there is no one running for governor."

VOTER: "Then who did I vote for?"

ME: "I have no idea, sir."


Experience 3:

You really had to be there for this one, but I laughed all night whenever I thought of it.

There was a couple out with me. He was running for a school board position and we had a great time talking through the day. They were handing out fliers, I had voting guides and on the other side of the parking lot entry were a few democrats handing out fliers. Every once in a while you would get one that pretended to be on a phone or just acted like they did not see the sea of fliers being waved at them. It's kinda' like when you go to a car lot and the salesmen all start closing in.

Well, this one guy was walking towards us, a little funny. I could tell early on he was going to ignore us, which is fine. Then he started walking a little faster. About 50 yards out he started trotting...kinda' like a bunny where the whole body bounces up and down. Then a few feet before he hit the parking lot he full on sprinted past us. I am not sure if he thought we were going to jump him or what, but something tells me that he has had a traumatic experience somewhere in the past with polls. I am surprised he even ventured out to vote. As long as I live I will never forget this guy running past us as fast as he could to get to the building without a flier in hand.


One last story.

Yesterday while out I received a text message from a friend that said: "due to the long lines all Democrats are asked to vote on Wednesday."

I laughed and told Jenna about it. This morning we were eating breakfast and Jenna asked if we were going to the polls again. I told her no it was all done yesterday. She said "well, it's gonna' be another busy day since all of the democrats have to go vote today." I forget how literally they take things at that age....or maybe she knows more about democrats than I give her credit for :o)