Cooper Family Reunion 2008

This year we had the Cooper Family Reunion at a lodge in Orderville down by Zion National Park. We had a great time with family and loved catching up with everyone. I am always so amazed at how quickly the kids get acquainted and are sad to leave each other after it's over.

The reunion was for my parents and all their decedents. There were 70 people there. We were missing the other 26! It is a little crazy to think it all stems from two people.
On Friday most of us went to Zion to hike. It was nice and HOT, so the shady spots felt amazingly good. The hikes we took were easy enough for the kids, but long enough that we felt like we had hiked. I have to admit that all of the socializing we did while hiking was one of my favorite parts.
It is near impossible to get a family picture with Parker these days. He insists on covering his face or making a crazy face for every picture. Oh well, at least we know he exists.
After our long day at Zion we rented the Orderville pool to cool off. It was actually pretty nice.

Father's Day Fun

For Father's Day Reed and Sandy arranged for us to go bowling in Brigham City. It was a great activity. The kids loved it and that always makes us happy.

Colleen, Dana and Randy
Grandma and Grandpa enjoying the funLiam, Brennen, James and Russell
Melissa, Taylor, Zak and Michelle
Sandy, Lindsey, Preston, Reed and Jerusha Caryn and her great form. This helped me score a big 70!
Randy's great form.Joshua enjoying the colorful bowling balls. He tried carrying them a few times. Just a little bit too heavy!
Gabby didn't want to try at first, but once she did, she loved it. She keeps asking when we can go again. Parker was the high score for our group at 129. I like to think my four-year-old beat me by 60 points only because he used the ball ramp.
Dave and Stephanie showing the true bowling joy.

After bowling we went to Sandy and Reeds for dinner. It was a great night outside so we enjoyed the back yard. The kids got a ride in the barrel train driven by James. What a good sport to drag them around for a good 30 minutes. They loved it.
Randy and Joshua waving to the passing barrel train.

Back Yard Friends

Gabby, Parker and Joshua spend lots of time in the back yard. It's even more fun when there are friends. They love friends. It may be because they love to have people to socialize with or maybe just to boss around. Either way, the days are always more fun with friends.

Happy 11th Anniversary

Randy and I celebrated our anniversary on June 6th. We were married in the Manti temple 11 years ago. I feel so lucky to have married such a good match. I was definitely younger and dumber when I made that decision, so I can't take much credit for it.

To celebrate our anniversary we decided a few months ago that we would take that giant leap and get away from our kids for the night. Yes, this is the first time we have ever been kidless over night since having kids. Randy's mom took our kids for the night, and they loved every minute of it. Grandma treated them to "Old McDonald's" otherwise known as McDonald's...my kids think it is somehow linked to the song. They also went to see and feed some baby goats and lambs. We have city kids so they were very entertained. It was great to know our kids were well taken care of.

Randy and I stayed at the Manti House Inn where we stayed 11 years earlier. We walked around the temple grounds for a while and enjoyed a peaceful night without the demands of kids. It was very nice. On Saturday morning we got to go to a session together as well. It was a great way to celebrate 11 fabulous years together!

Embarrassing Moment

Today I had the great privilege of speaking in church. I was stressed out for two weeks leading up to the event. I have spoken in church before, so I know what happens to me. Although I don't absolutely love preparing for the talk, I really do learn a lot and am glad for that experience. So, it's not the writing the talk part that I don't enjoy. It is the actual speaking. I seem to loose all control of my emotions, no matter the topic or how hard I try to relax. I think it is a fear thing.

I was prepared with my talk completely written out so I wouldn't have to think much about what I was saying. Maybe that would help with the nerves? I knew the second I stood up that I wasn't going to be able to control the shaking voice, sounding as if I would burst out in a sob at any moment. I tried to hold it back anyway.

So being Father's Day, my topic was "Fathers as Examples of Righteousness." I quoted The Family: A Proclamation to the World a few times throughout the talk. One quote I shared was, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." Unfortunately, when I reached the Mothers part I slipped up on the word "nurture" and replaced it with "torture." At least we all got a good laugh. If only it had been on purpose.

I only confess this embarrassing moment because I want to be at the laughing end and not the laughed at end. Let's look at the bright side, a talk like that may be remembered long enough that I don't have to speak for another five years or so.

School's out for Summer

Gabby finished 1st Grade last Thursday. She had a great year with her teacher Ms. Hames and a great class. She made lots of friends and learned amazing things. I can't believe how much they can learn at this age.
She is excited for summer break, but I am sure the excitement will wear off in a few weeks when she doesn't have 20 friends to play with every day. We have put together (thanks to my sister and her ideas) school work packets for the summer to keep the kids busy and learning. Maybe we'll throw in a few trips and fun activities too.

My 1st Yard Sale

I love to look for deals. I can't pass by a clearance rack without taking a peek. I don't frequent yard sales though because it is too early in the morning on Saturdays. We have, however always had yard sale furniture. The most recent set was purchased by my parents just before we were married. A year into our marriage we had a place big enough for the furniture, and we began our re-upholstery job. I was a little more "country/sheek" (I think that's what they call it) then. The style went a little better with our West Jordan home. It was beautiful furniture. It had a great claw foot on it and a unique shape.


After our attic job was complete, we decided we would take a big step and invest in NEW furniture. Randy didn't know what we could do with our old stuff, so I told him I would sell it at a yard sale. He thought it was crazy, and was sure it would not sell.

At the beginning of May we had our first yard sale. With the help of my good friend April we were very well organized and had everything priced and set out. I made lots of signs, which ended up being too small. Mandy came to the rescue and made bigger signs and hung them about the neighborhood. Randy helped me carry the chair from our living room set out, but thought I was jumping the gun to pull the couch out. Mandy, once again, helped me out and we put the couch on the front lawn. I made more on the couch than the rest of the yard sale. One hundred dollars for a set that was purchased eleven years ago for fifty (that even included a round oak table)! Not bad. Randy was impressed with the sell. I did turn around two days later and spend my hundred bucks on a dresser for Gabby...used of course, but big and very fancy.

Happy Birthday to Randy (May 17th)

I would tell you how old he is, but next year may be considered another big one. It may be the official year he begins hiding his age!

Every year Randy tells me not to do anything for his birthday. Each year that passes I have gotten closer and closer to doing NOTHING for him. This year, he got exactly what he asked for...I am not proud of myself.

We spent the day doing yard work and planting the garden, which is one thing he really wanted done. By the afternoon, the kids were ready to get washed down, so we tried out the sprinklers and they took care of the rest.



We usually go out to dinner for birthdays, but with wet kids, and everyone already nice and tired, Randy just picked dinner up.
After dinner I ran to the store with the kids to pick up last minute gifts. Parker got Randy a racket and birdie set, and Gabby picked up a movie. Joshua gave his dad a picture to show him how he tries to be just like him!
I hadn't even made a cake for him. Thankfully we had a stake activity the next night and someone sent me home with one. It was worth the day wait. I could never make a cake so delicious.
Happy Birthday Old Man!

Happy Graduation...oh, and Happy Birthday

Dave Collard, our brother-in-law, and cool uncle graduated with his bachelors from U of U this spring. After the graduation, Stephanie had a BBQ for him at our house. His family and ours showed up to celebrate. It happened to be the day after Stephanie's birthday, so my kids had put together a gift for her. They were so excited for her to open it. I told them they should probably give some of it to Dave, but all they could spare for him were the fancy glasses! Stephanie is just that cool of an aunt!

Soccer Season 2008

Gabby and Parker played soccer this spring. Last year we tried t-ball, and I don't know if one year older made them a little more coordination, or if soccer is more their thing, but it was a much better experience. They were on different teams because they break up by grade.
Gabby started out the season a little on the shy side, but after offering her a quarter for each time she touched the ball, she decided to work a little harder and get more involved in the game. By the end, she was making $2.00 a game. Not bad for having four boys on her team that appeared to have a little experience.



Parker may be a little more in to sports than Gabby, but still lacks the skill to focus. He got lost watching the other kids, other games, or just the fans on the sidelines. We also offered him quarters, but he usually reached a dollar. Hey, they both had fun. I guess that's really what is important.

Joshua was a great fan. His favorite part was collecting the team snacks after the game. I wish I could say he didn't learn that from me.