A Moment Worth Celebrating

Cooper's first corn on the cob! Makes me smile!

The Conquering Hero Returns!

My Riley girl came home! There are not words to describe how much I missed her. Two months is WAY too long to have her gone - now I know. She really did have an amazing summer. Dusty & Heather live in Williamsburg, VA - an amazing, beautiful, historical town. She would go for a walk in the afternoon and see war re-enactments going on just about any afternoon. She was able to go to Washington DC, Kirtland, OH and went to girl's camp with the ward there. She made wonderful friends and memories she will always cherish. I am very glad she was able to have the experience but I am even more glad it is over and she is safe in my home and arms. I missed her beyond belief!!!

I wasn't sure how Cooper would react to her return. For the last couple of weeks when you ask him, "Where is Riley?" he would bring you a phone :) I was afraid he would be shy around her and make Riley feel bad. The exact opposite occured. She picked him up, he cuddled in tight and wouldn't let go. It was very sweet. When we picked her up at the airport; somehow I was stuck with grandma and Cooper. I was pushing the wheelchair as fast as I could go but it felt like it took forever. I could see her down the hallway - hugging her siblings. When she saw me, she started running but by the time we made it to each other; I was a blubbering mess. (Glad there are no existing pictures to document that moment) She felt taller, smelled the same, and I felt whole again as I hadn't in two months!

For Riley's birthday, we re-did her bedroom. Here are a couple of pictures to show a glimpse of the finished product. I think it turned out well, if I do say so myself! Everything on her walls and in the room we already had - except the new bedding and a lamp. Everything else I just re-painted, re-covered, and re-purposed. It was a wonderful way to spend the last couple of weeks before she returned. Kept the time moving along :) She professes to love it and I could not be happier with the results!!!!

Yes, that is the top of Cooper's head. He manages to wiggle his into almost everything :)

Six Month Sabbatical

So, I took a bit of a blogging break. Life just became a bit overwhelming and instead of being a stress reliever; blogging felt like one more thing I was behind on! So, I just didn't do it. Life hasn't really gotten any calmer but today I felt like blogging! Lots of things have been going on at the Hope house over the last 6 months so here is a quick peek!
Craig was baptized!! Congratulations my sweet, kind, soft hearted, little boy. I love you so.

My baby turned 1!!!! This deserves one entire post all to itself - Cooper, you have made the last 18 months bearable/wonderful, you make us laugh everyday, you are so sweet, smart, silly, and you have saved our family in ways you will never understand. Thank you for coming to our home!

He LOVED the little mower - can't say I always appreciate it when he chooses to play with it however. (Very loud)

Andi turned 6!!!!!! (I promise I fix her hair - she just pulls it out the moment she walks in the door)

Andi wanted a bike sooooooooo badly!!! Here she is taking off for the first time. A couple of days later she announced to her dad she was ready to ride without training wheels. Andi attacked this adventure the way she does everything - she had dad take them off, got on the bike and started riding, kicked the bike when she fell down (she was so mad when she couldn't just ride away), and within about 15 minutes she was riding around with no training wheels and an alarming sense of confidence. She had a major wreck a few days later that left her cut, bruised, and with a HUGE lip but she climbed right back on! I fear for anyone who tries to get in the way of Andi's determination!

Easter arrived - Cooper had his first egg hunt. I thought I would need to help him but I was so wrong. He took off as fast as his little legs could carry him and started grabbing eggs. He ended with more than in his basket than Craig or Andi did!!! Cute boy!

Someone decided to hang Cooper from a kitchen cupboard. I didn't ask, I just took a picture :)

Andi graduated from Kindergarten!!!!!! Andi LOVED school, made lots and lots of friends, was a very cheerful, helpful student (according to Mrs. Holland), and was my only child that was sad the school year ended. She can't wait to start 1st grade!

Andi also lost her first tooth!! This was a big day - she has been anxiously waiting since Craig started losing teeth!!!! She actually lost her second tooth just last night. She was biting a wrapper off of something, turns to me and says, "That made my gums bleed." Upon further inspection, I found her tooth was gone. It was gone and lost. It took us a half hour and inevitably help from her dad, to find the tooth - only to have Scott throw it away on accident later. The Tooth Fairy still visited!

Just because he is cute!!!!!

Meighan and I took our kids on a hike up Tablerock a couple of weeks ago. It is a pretty tough hike (especially for little people and a mom who is in terrible shape with a HUGE baby in a front pack), we lost the three boys for two hours (moms were getting pretty alarmed), and poor Ellie lost large amounts of foot skin but the view was spectacular and I can't wait to go again!

This pic is a bit fuzzy but Scott and the kids were re-building our play set in the backyard. A wooden beam in the hands of Craig met poor baby's face and left a nice bruise. Picture does not give the bruise enough credit. Poor baby was sad looking for awhile!

Andi was watching a movie sitting in her bean bag. Cooper really wanted to join her. Completely on his own (I am not kidding) - Cooper created his own "bean bag." I only folded up the blanket under his bead because he looked so uncomfortable. Scott and I create problem solvers :)

A few other things that happened:

- The Hopes were forced to move AGAIN (another landlord lost a house in foreclosure - stinks to rent)

- The Hopes found an amazing, huge house (7 bedrooms, 4 full baths, formal dining, huge rec room in the basement - wonderful house) through miraculous means - Father in Heaven loves and watches over us.

- In Jan. grandma started having seizures. The seizures are under control now but grandma's health has really really declined. She requires a significantly higher amount of care now. Life just gets more complicated all the time.

- Scott started working for AT&T, spent two months in school (two long months), works from home, LOVES it, decided to start his own VSC and now has 9 employees!!!

- Riley took driver's ed, now has a permit, and will get her official license in Nov. Yes, this milestone almost killed her dad :)

- Riley left on June 11th to spend the summer with Dusty & Heather in Virginia. She flies home on Aug. 11th (4 more days). She has had an amazing summer - went to Kirtland, OH, Washington DC, has a season pass to Busch Gardens, girl's camp, etc etc - she has made lots and lots of friends that she is sad to leave but the last week she has become very very homesick. Lots of crying - I can't wait to see her and she is never allowed to leave again until she goes to college!

- Cooper had his first day of nursery today!!!!!!!! Hurray!! He didn't even notice me leave, looked happy both times I looked in on him, and I enjoyed Sunday School and Relief Society in there entirety, was able to feel the spirit, and even held hands with my husband :)

LIFE IS GOOD!

-

Crazy Silly Cooper

My baby has recently become very very very silly! Sunday we were playing games as a family and having some brownies (yes, I let a baby eat brownie)! He was being such a Kook we had to take pictures. Pictures don't quite capture it but here is a little glimpse into how funny he has become!

Just a note at how my baby is growing up - He no longer crawls!!!! He has been taking steps since Thanksgiving weekend and was progressively getting braver but about two days after Christmas he really took off!!! He now walks everywhere and occassionally runs (usually ends badly). If he topples, he just stands back up and keeps walking. It is like he has taken a "no crawling" stance!! I love watching him walk around even while it breaks my heart into tiny pieces! Please slow down baby boy!

My Craigy Turns 8!!!!!!!

When you bring new little babies home from the hospital, accountability seems a long long way away. There is some comfort as a parent when your children are still unaccountable. My Craigy seems so young still - I am shocked the time has arrived :) It makes my heart ache! Happy Birthday my sweet little man!

Craig wanted "Spy Stuff" for his birthday! Here he is checking out his new binoculars! He got a motion alarm, voice changer, sunglasses that help you see behind you, and even night vision goggles. It was really fun to be the parent for this birthday!! The next day, he came home from school and ran up the stairs. I kept expecting him to come back downstairs - for a snack at least!! Finally I called for him, "What ya doin Bud?" "Umm, spy stuff." "Oh, I didn't mean to interupt. Get back to important spy business." I didn't see him again for quite a long time :)

Turning 8 also means Cub Scouts!!!! I should note at this time that my cute husband has been anxiously awaiting this day since Craig was born!!!!! Scott LOVES scouts and he felt cheated by his inability to be involved in his older son's scouting experience. I was taking care of the birthday purchases and asked my husband a question about what Craig needed for scouts - man was I put in my place; Dad's take care of the scout stuff. It was really cute :) I was a little afraid that Scott's enthusiasm might dampen Craig's but Craig appears to share the "Scout gene." It took him two days to have his bobcat and he has already worked his way through a good chunk of the Wolf!!! Craig becomes very obsessive about things - he is also very committed (he was The Hulk for over two years) - so, Scott and I are both enjoying his enthusiasm thus far! Even better news - Sunday I was released from my calling as Activity Day leader (one I had only had since Aug. - we had just planned the entire year of activities and they were going to be sooooooo fun) and recieved the calling as a Cub Scout leader!!!! I will find out tommorrow if I get to be a Wolf leader!!! I am really hoping - I would love to be with Craig!

Now, at my house - turning 8 means having a friend party!!!!! Due to the current Spy obsession - we had a Spy Party!!!! I don't mean to toot my own horn but, it has to be said that this was one of the greatest B-day parties in the world and definately the greatest ever conceived at the Hope house!!!!! We invited 8 little boys and when they arrived they had their picture taken and were thumbprinted (Scott made the coolest spy IDs and laminated them). Then we all had pizza! Then Spy training began - some calisthetics (lead by Riley), target practice, an obstacle course with bomb detonation (popping a balloon), and ended with Scott's shining moment - LAZER COURSE!!! Apparantly if you face a lazer pointer at a small mirror (pack at Hobby Lobby for $2), it will bounce to another mirror, to another mirror, etc. When the lights are out and a fog machine is blowing - the lazer rays appear!!!!!!! Don't ask me why we own a fog machine, it is a long strange story but I am grateful my husband has one now!!! It actually worked and looked so cool. Several boys were concerned about being burned by the lazer beams :) After Spy training the boys had an actual mission - rescue Agent Fox (Andi)!!! There was a map & clues that led them around the neighborhood; final destination was the school playground where Andi was tied to playground equipment. It went pretty well, except my invisible ink (words written in lemon juice will appear under heat) ended up starting the map on fire!!! I think the boys thought that was cool though! At one point I heard one the boys yell, "Craig, I love your birthday party." We came home for presents, cake, and then watched The Spy Next Door. It was soooooooo much fun to plan and execute!! Happy Happy Birthday my boy!

The party pictures are not great - I was too busy making it all work and it was dark a lot of the time. Totally worth it!!!

Christmas Celebrating!!!

I uploaded all of the pictures backwards :) So, here is Christmas dinner! Meighan and her family came over for dinner and then we played games all evening! Riley recieved Just Dance 2 - this has been a big hit!!! We all took turns playing/laughing at each other! Loved it! Also, we got our Ashlie home for a whole week!!!! She arrived the 19th and flew out the 26th - it went too fast but I so enjoyed having her home!! Picking her up at the airport was one of my favorite things! Waiting with the rest of the family, watching all the people stream out the doors, and then FINALLY, there she was! I teared up a little and Grandma kept worrying about where her parents were (she was so shocked when I kept telling her that we were her family)!

I was a bit lax on the picture taking front this year - too busy watching and enjoying to remember to visually record! Andi is thanking her grandma for a present!!

Craig tearing into a present from Grandma Highbarger!!!

Ashlie!!!!!! Hurray - still just happy she was home!

Cooper's 1st CHRISTMAS!!! He was a bit confused by the whole process, became as excited by other's presents as his own and only sort of figured out the opening procedure! We all had fun watching him!

I know it sounds silly for a 5 year old BUT, Andi really really wanted her very own blow dryer :)

Cooper on his little bike! This has been a real hit! He loves it and his siblings love to push him around the house (for hours)!!! I was concerned about the speed with wich Andi was pushing him. I admonished her to be more careful and slow down. Andi's solution - belt him to the bike!

Craig got a couple of Wii games he has been DYING for!! He ran around the room yelling, "He gave me both, he gave me both."

But - it was Riley that won the prize for BEST CHRISTMAS REACTION EVER! There has been begging for a cell phone going on at my house for YEARS!!! Scott was on the "never gonna happen" team and I thought she should maybe have something by the time she was driving/dating. Santa ran across a program that finally helped ease Scott's mind about a cell phone! So many parental controls the phone almost isn't fun!! Santa puts the kids presents, unwrapped, under their stockings. When Riley came out there was nothing under her stocking. She is used to her dad teasing her but just as she was starting to sound a bit upset - Scott called her phone, I said, "Riley, is your stocking ringing?" There was a short pause and then "DID I GET A CEEEEELLLL PHOOOOONNNNE?" All at a very very loud volume. She them dumped the contents of her stocking onto the floor, picked up the cell phone and screamed like a wild banshee. It was so much fun to watch! I had the hardest time sleeping Christmas Eve because I knew she would be so excited!!! Thank you Riley - parents dream of that kind of reaction! Later Andi declared it "The best Christmas Ever!" wich always makes a parent happy.

The good news; it was actually a pretty slim Christmas for us materially speaking. I shopped like crazy and horded coupons and even I was a bit amazed at how well I did considering the budget - but I think we tried extra hard to have the right spirit. We have done homemade gifts for each for the last three years - my children LOVE it (especially Craig). I love watching/helping them create things for family members. It is wonderful to be sooooo invested in a gift. We also did the 12 days of Christ this year - instead of the 12 Days of Christmas. Each gift (mostly baked goods) was related to and accompanied by a story or miracle from Christ's life. I liked that each night (well most anyway) we took a moment each night to think about our Savior. Plus, the kids really like the sneaking and doorbell ditching that goes along with it. It was a first time effort and I am already thinking and planning for how next year will go!! We also started a new tradition on Christmas Eve. Everyone wrote an "I love you" letter for the person who's name they drew in the gift exchange. After the regular Christmas Eve festivities, we sat in our jammies around the tree and read our letters out loud to each other. There were a few tears, some laughs and a beautiful spirit!! We all agreed it was a wonderful new addition to our festivities!

We had our silly program with Meighan and Kirsten's families - sorry, lost my mind and didn't take any pictures! Trust me though, it was fun!

Coming into the family room Christmas morning!

Waiting for the go ahead from dad as they waited excitedly at the top of the stairs!!!!! It was a wonderful Christmas - came and went too quickly but magical as ever! Merry Christmas my sweet little family! I love you all so!

Thanksgiving :)

I know this may sound crazy/pathetic - but this was the first time I have ever done Thanksgiving dinner all by myself!! I have always gotten together with family and provided a section of the meal! This year, circumstances landed the Hopes alone in Boise! It was actually really fun! I made all the dishes my little family loves most, we got out Grandma's china, the table setting was beautiful (I didn't think to take a picture until it was covered with post meal mess), and - best of all, we got ALL the left overs!! Kevin (my step-brother) did have Thanksgiving dinner with us; he was stranded in Boise by nasty roads! Plus, Mckay, Ashley and their family came to our house the next day to spend the weekend. We had a great visit with them and got the best of both worlds!! I may just choose to do Thanksgiving alone again :)
Andi's Kindergarten class put on a very sweet Thanksgiving program! It was full of songs and Andi had a solo part for one of the poems (she was very nervous but did great)! I loved watching her!

My cute girl :)

Here are just a couple of cute, November moments!! Cooper and Dad asleep together; melts my heart every time they cuddle up together!

Riley playing Wii with Cooper in the front pack - it just makes me laugh!

Now this is a rare one - Cooper fell asleep while sitting with Andi!!! Sooooo cute!

Halloween!!!!!!

Halloween was the usual frenzied, candy extravaganza!!! Andi dressed up as a witch; quite a cute little witch!!

Cooper enjoyed his 1st Halloween dressed as a bumble bee (Thank you Breanna for the costume loan)!!

Craig desperately wanted to be Link (from the Legend of Zelda)!!!! I think we pulled it off too! I figured out the costume (it is actually stapled together - LOL) but Scott made it perfect for my little boy with his amazing shield!!!! I was so impressed with him - good daddy! Riley and her friends went to the Stake Halloween Dance as a pack of Skittles (they each had a different colored shirt on with a large S on the front)! They were super cute but alas I didn't get a picture!

And of course, we carved pumpkins!!!

In true teenage style - Riley made her jack-o-lantern throw up; we are so classy!!

I just want to point out that I grew the two HUGE pumpkins all by myself!!!!!!!!!!! I was shoulder deep cleaning the biggest one out (I clean out and Scott carves)!!

Cooper didn't so much carve pumpkins as watch/eat but he enjoyed himself just the same!

Riley hard at it!

Here is my cute Craig with his creation!!!

Andi, happily sharing her hard work!

Andi at the school's annual costume parade!!!!!! I sure love that little girl! Craigs pictures from the parade were all from the behind and he wouldn't turn and smile at me - I think he was trying to pretend he didn't know me JK!!!!!! Who is that crazy woman with the camera!