Max on the piano...

Baby Steps.............

I thought if I waited long enough Jeff might just surprise me and post something. I thought maybe for our 11th anniversary (Feb 13) or just maybe for my birthday (March 2) or possibly Alexis's birthday (March 21), Ashlyn's birthday (April 12) or Reese's birthday (May 27). NOPE. The idea of posting for me started to get overwhelming when I thought of how long it has been and how much I need to post to catch up. It is always downloading the pics and getting them on that is hard for me. I thought I would just start with a funny story, no pictures (though I wish I would have taken one of this) and easy to post.

A couple of days ago Ashlyn asked me to come in her room and help her pick something out to wear. This is not unusual for her. She will typically have 2 or 3 outfits laid out (always with one in mind that she really wants to wear). It's almost like a test to see if I can guess right most of the times. So, recently when she did this she had 4 outfits but each had an accessory. One had a bracelet, another had a hair thing, the third a necklace and the last had.........Dracula teeth. She had picked the Dracula teeth to go with a soccer jersey (something she thought I wouldn't want her to wear). How could I resist picking that one? The thought of her wearing the teeth around as an accessory made me laugh. When I told her that was my choice she cringed and said, "no, that's not a choice anymore" and put it away. It doesn't sound very funny now but, it is such an Ashlyn thing to do. I figured if I was going to use this as my journal I need to be better at posting the cute stories about my kids.

More to be posted soon......................

Happy Birthday Jeff!!!

Today is Jeff's birthday and he is turning 34! Seriously can you believe it? I remember when we first met at Ricks. We were sitting near each other in a broadcasting class. He was sitting maybe two seats ahead and one row over. I saw my friend talking to him and then started quizzing her about him. Who is that? How do you know him? Is he an RM? I know, random question. I was a sophomore in college....you know how that goes. I felt I was too old to date a freshman boy and knew I wanted to marry a returned missionary (not that I wanted to get married, it was the LAST thing I wanted to do that year) so why even be interested in a guy who hadn't. Anyways, I remember thinking she was wrong when she told me he had served a mission. Jeff could have passed for a kid in high school. We met that night at a dance where he had to pull out his drivers licence to prove he was 22. Blew me away.....and swept me away at the same time. Here are my Jeff favorites (please feel free to add on):

1. He is the best dad! He loves to spend time and play with the kids and they love the attention. Still a kid at heart (this is why I feel like I have 5 kids sometimes).

2. He makes me laugh. Even when I'm mad or frustrated and the last thing I want to do is get un-mad (I don't think that's a word) he can almost always turn my mood around. He is just so witty (not always in a good way).

3. He is a hard worker. No matter if it's at Sprint or at home he works hard.

4. He is so darn cute! I still can't believe how lucky I am to have such a handsome husband.

5. He's going to hate me for saying this but, he is such a spiritual giant. I am constantly in awe how he makes anything having to do with church a priority. Whether it's his personal scripture study, prayer, or in his callings. He definitely makes me want to be a better person in that way.

6. I love that he loves sports. Yes, you read that right.

7. He is frugal (most of the time). Example: He is still driving our first car - a 1997 Nissan Altima that is just at 200,000 miles. I also love this because he can put up with my deal hunts and has learned to appreciate them (I think).

8. He has such a tender heart. He is always willing to put whatever he is doing aside to help others when needed.

9. I love our late night dates. Several times a week after we put the kids into bed we watch our recorded programs together. Yes, it means more tv but, it has been a nice way to get alone time together. I don't think that he even minds that I fall asleep almost 10 minutes into watching them either!

10. Jeff's a great dancer. No kidding. That is one thing I remember liking about him that first night we met.

11. Last but not least -Jeff's a great husband!! Obviously... read 1-9.

I don't get a chance to brag on Jeff much so, I thought I would take the chance while I could. To wrap this up I will close with the words to this song that Jeff has made a tradition in our family. He and his family sang it growing up. Wish you could hear the melody. It is a song his family learned at Aspen Grove I believe.

Happy birthday happy, happy birthday. This is your day so have a lot of fun, boom, boom, boom. We're all waiting for the celebration, for the celebration to begin so, blow out the candles on your cake and make a wish, wooh! serve everyone your favorite dish, favorite dish. Boom, boom, boom. Happy birthday happy, happy birthday this is your day so happy birthday to you!

Ashlyn's Outfit of the Day!

Becky and I are starting a new segment on our blog, "Ashlyn's Outfit of the Day!" I don't know where she comes up with some of her outfits. They're crazy! She reminds me of Punky Brewster. Today she came down wearing this.


She's wearing ballet shoes with shin guards!!! Man, I couldn't help but laugh. Ashlyn is one of the strangest kids I know, but I love her, and I'm so glad she's in our family.

Las Vegas Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful break going to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Jeff and I spent a couple day getting dental work done (thanks to bro-in-law Bryson). We did however, find time to do several fun things. Grandma and Grandpa Cooper took our family to this place called Magical Forest. The kids had fun on the carousal, train rides, slide rides and sitting on Santa's lap.

We visited the Natural History museum with the cousins and Grandma. Reese couldn't stop growling that day, tyring to sound like the dinosaurs.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. What can be better than good company and good food?

It is nearly impossible to get 13 kids smiling and looking in the same direction. That's what we try to do every year for Grandma and Grandpa Coopers Christmas card. The best part about this picture is our baby Jesus. It was a singing Christmas Tree we put there in place of baby Ruthie to try and capture the kids attention.

It's Autumn time...

I started on this post a couple of weeks ago and didn't get too far. I know I just need to get

something up. Fall has been busy for us. Max had his birthday party. It was Halloween themed and the kids had a ball. We had a crazy full house. About 15 boys came. The boys had such a good time. Their favorite game was the mummy wrap. The kids loved playing and throwing the t.p. around once the game was over.

Our annual pumpkin patch outing. The kids love picking their pumpkins right off the vine. The patch also has a hay maze, farm animals and a hay ride.

I caught my kids one day out front raking leaves. They said they were trying to make a leaf pile to play in like Grandma and Grandpa Rowe's. Look at the small pile they were able to rake from our two small trees. I had to laugh when I saw Max raking leaves in the tree. It reminded me of a blond joke my brother Spencer once told me.

How did the blond get hurt raking leaves?.....She fell out of the tree. NO offense to blonde's (I've been one before) just a funny joke.

I was in charge of making fall centerpieces for our teachers dinner at Parent teacher conferences. I had seen this idea before but didn't know how it would turn out. I put an assortment of mums inside a carved pumpkin. I was pleased with the final product.

MaxPreps.com Football Coverage...playoff action

http://www.maxpreps.com/events/bk/bk_at_the_game.aspx?channelid=fdb53829-3227-4936-bded-81e9b2c082bb&newchannel=true