Hiester Family Antics: A History Carol

The Hiester Family in a nutshell - a big one, like a coconut or something

We are a family of a whole bunch of random people, thrown together in one small house, who all happen to look alike. Each member of our family was hand-picked by God... that's the only explanation for the saga that is our family. Here's the story from the beginning... My husband, Todd, was married before me. His wife's name was Carrie, and together they had 3 kids: Tyler, Kurstin & Elissa. Todd's parents were divorced and his mother remarried. Her new husband, Don, had 2 small children: Ally & Wesley. Their natural mother was killed in a car accident when they were 8 & 11. One year later, they lost their dad and Todd and Carrie took them into their home. 6 months after Ally & Wesley were added to the household, Carrie died of cancer at age 26. Her own children were 3, 6 & 9 and Ally & Wesley were 10 & 13. And Todd was alone with them. Think Lord of the Flies. So when I fell in love with Todd, I got these 5 kids as a bonus. We married about a year and a half into our relationship, with the kids as our wedding party. We made it all official with an adoption lawyer and lots of money, ensuring that we are LEGALLY their parents. They even had to take oaths saying they would perform the duties of sons and daughters, which I think means I have someone to change my diapers when the time comes! After 2 years of marriage we added Robben Carey to the mix. And now we've welcomed Livi Claire...the seventh, and final, Hiester kid (unless, of course, God has other plans). Todd and I are 37 and 35, respectively, and our kids range in age from 1 to 21. It's great because we're cool and always the youngest in a crowd of high school parents.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A History Carol

As an extra credit assignment in his AP U.S. History class, Tyler had the opportunity to rewrite a classic Christmas carol. I don't have specific permission to publish the result (merely a suspicion that he'd be okay with it), but I couldn't resist sharing. As you read the following, try singing it to the tune of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer":

Once, when Great Britain reigned here

And colonies began to grow

Lots of unfair things were happening

And the colonists were saying "this blows"

Ever since the Seven Years War

Britain had been really lame

All they did was pass new taxes

And colonies just weren't the same

Then one ship came filled with tea

Demanding high prices be paid

And when they chose to stay the night

They lost their tea and received a fright