Cousins, cousins everywhere...

Last weekend was a total BLAST!!! Ivy K. and Sammy J. were here from Henderson. Every year (well almost every year) their parents Sam and Jess celebrate their anniversary by spending a weekend in Zion National park. This year they were celebrating their 10th anniversary! So awesome. Anyway... Ivy and Sammy have got to be the sweetest kids on the planet. We love to hang out and do fun kiddo things when they are here. This is what we accomplished.


They played the Family home evening game. This game is sooo fun. Casa de Coop has been busting this game out for many years. We decided to make new cards and they are super silly. One of them says "You went to stage stop and forgot to get me a drink. Go back one space." Another card says, "You helped Grammie fold the laundry, go forward 2 spaces." My personal favorite is, " Hug your Mommy." The little pieces are too funny too. There is a pig, a dinosaur, and a rhino just to name a few. I am always up for this game. It is fun for ALL ages.

We made a tent in the living room out of a sheet. It was the coolest. The tv was under the tent so the munchkins could enjoy their favorite cartoon while enjoying the fabulous tent. We were going to put up our real outdoors tent downstairs, but it was too big and they would not be able to see the tv as well...besides big tents are kind of a pain to put up. I am all about the easy when it comes to small people and sleep overs.


This is a picture of the three of them with the cutest "sleepy baby faces". I am a sucker for a kid with that sweet just-awoken look. Kelly could ask me to do almost anything and I would do it if it was when she first got up. The girls were soo good that night. They went to sleep pretty early and didn't make a peep at all in the night. I know because I was up and down all night checking on them to see if they were cold, or sleeping well. The furnace made a poor choice and decided to up and quit on us. Not awesome. We made do with a huge fire and Aunt Sarah space heaters. Thanks Sarah!

Next thing you know it is CRAFT TIME!!! YES! We did lots of different projects together.

• A puppy card
• A green coil snake
• A project folder
• A silhouette (spell check rules)
  
• A finger puppet for a play that they wrote

It was fun! Sadie even came over to see where all of the action was at. She scribbled a sweet picture of what I am pretty sure was French fries or her dog. I am not sure though. I should have taken a picture of it so you could see it. Dang it. Ivy was a huge help with all of the cutting and gluing. Nine year olds are the wolds biggest helpers. I love it.

Next they made cookies with their Grammie. They mixed and spooned out the dough like the good little elves that they are. I wasn't there when they made them, but I am sure that tons of dough went into their bellies. Cookie dough just screams out "don't cook me! Just eat me like this!" Kids have no choice. I think it might be in their DNA or something, either that or it is just yummy.

I was absent from the cookie making because I was going to get my niece Charlee! I hear your thoughts. "What Lex? Hanging out with 3 kids just wasn't enough for you?" No, it wasn't. I like to live my life on the edge. I am so hard core. - Not really, but by the end of the weekend I did feel a little worn out. Waaaah. I am such a baby. The fun continued on.


A puppet show was put on for us. It was about friendship and bananas. I am not sure how those two things tie in together, but they do. Kelly made a blue girl with green piggy tails. Ivy made a lion, "Li Li" her favorite stuffed animal. He goes on all of her road trips. Sammy made a purple guy. He was just a purple circle, so I added a yellow hat and arms to give him a little flavor. It was sooo Sammy. Charlee made a monkey that was holding a banana. I liked it when they sang the song at the end of the show.

They weren't the only ones to put on a show that night. DJ played his guitar for a everyone and it was fierce. The small ones would dance, even Grammie got in on the dancing action. Ali and Savy put up their cell phones for the slow songs. I was busy making grub for our little guests, so I couldn't chill. Listening to him play is one of my favorite things so I was a tiny bit sad that I missed that. Oh well, there will be other jam sessions another day. :)


Deej and Mama Coop took a kiddo time out and watched the Jazz game in the tent! It was entirely too cute. I thought that they were going to take the sheet down to watch it. Nope, they like to live life on the edge as well and snuggled in together and enjoyed the game in there. Sheesh. I want to watch tv under a sheet tent. I should have before we took it down. I am going to make one tonight and watch my shows in it.


All in all it was a wonderful weekend. We had fun making crafts, singing and listening to each others talents. I am super happy that Kelly got to spend quality time with her cousins. She thought of it all as her belated birthday party. That is fine with me. It certainly was a celebration. Kelly even got to learn how cousins treat each other. She now tries her best to be nice to her younger cousins. Thanks Ivy, Sammy and Charlee! We love you guys.

So homie, where ya been?

(The following post is a silly made up conversation in my head. Please excuse the utter sillness of it all.)


Well??? Come on, fill me in on what's been going on at Casa de Coop already!

Aw shucks, I could tell you....but you would never believe me.

Try me.

OK. Um.... Amanda, Sarah and I saved a mans life the other day.

What? That is amazing!!!! What happened?

He was all lifeless and plastic-like. Also, he was all one color. I am not sure if he had legs or not.

Oh my! That sounds horrible! You three should get a hero's parade or something. I want to carve your face out of ice, or name my first born after you!

We should get a parade for sure....but he was really a CPR training mannequin. He felt like a real person and my arms were a little sore the next day. I was freaking out about taking some looong complicated test. I think that I had Test anxiety or something. I felt all out of it and weird. I know that is usually the norm for me, but it was trippy.

Did they teach you how to help people with test anxiety at your first aid class?

No! They totally should have. I think I was in shock. I was all pasty and my hair was a mess. My socks were pulled up to my knees.... wait, I always look like that. Oh well. We all are CPR and first aid certified now, so we can save your life if you need us too.

OK, I know who to call now. I forgive you for making me freak out about the man now. What else is happening???

Kelly had a wonderful birthday. She had to go to the doctor that day though.

Are you pulling my leg again? Did she really have to go to the doctor?

Yes, I swear that this is real. She was telling me that her ear hurt when she would wake up for a couple of days. Also, she had a fever that she could not kick. My sister Cynthia is a nurse here at the hospital and she got Kelly an appointment right away. Kelly ended up having a doozie of an earache and is on some good medicine. She is feeling so much better now .

Oh, poor little girlie. Did that ruin her day at all?

No. She liked the doctor very much and thought that the office was cool beans. Kelly had tons of visitors for her birthday.

• Aunt Amanda, Uncle Jason and Sadie came by earlier and for cake that night.
• Aunt Sarah brought her candy and hugs.
• Aunt Emily came over with Mia and gave her some sweet hair doo dads.
• Aunt Shannon stayed over for a while and got her a rad chair and some glow in the dark star stickers.
• Aunt Cynthia brought over Wyatt, Jesee and Charlee to play and got her the cutest pink doggy.
• Then Grammie came home and sang to her and gave her a precious ring.
  

Wow. That is alot of people that love her!


I know. She loved it so much. Turning five is a big deal I tell you. Kelly got a sweet bike! My mom got her a helmet and knee pads plus a singing hamster card.

What? A singing hamster card? What next?

Yeah, I know. It sounds bizarre. It is the cutest card though. She loves to dance to it all of the time. Is it wrong that sometimes I want to break it?

Yes. That is mean. Be a nice Mommy.

Yawn. I am getting sleepy. I better go to bed. Will you tell me more tomorrow?

Definitely.

We had a fabulous weekend. Ivy, and Sammy were here! We did so much stuff. Guitars were played, cookies were made, tents were put up, furnaces were broken. Wild and wackiness all around I tell you.

Oh sweetness! I can't wait to hear about it.

Later gator.

:)

Happy Birthday Kelly Jessica!!!!

Tomorrow my baby is turning FIVE!!!!!!
No....Kelly is officially not a baby anymore. She is a big girl now.

Hooray for Kelly!

There are no words in the world to describe the love that I have for Kelly Jess. She is smart, funny, cute and nice. She loves to learn and play with her family. She really enjoys making other people happy. She is a great dancer and is a sweet singer too. I love how she draws her cartoon people.

Everyday I say a prayer of thanks for my angel Kelly.

The day that she was born the sky was pink. Really it was. The clouds from an earlier rain took on the light of the sunrise and colored the sky pink. It was a beautiful way to bring her into the world.

These five years have FLOWN by. I know that before too long she is going to be a young lady, and then a strong woman. I look forward to being with her every step.

She is going to have a fun party with her family, I hope that she has the best day. I will take pictures to let you see how much fun it is going to be.

I hope that you have a happy Kelly day tomorrow too!

TO: you LOVE: me

Happy Valentines Day Sweetheart!



That is all I have to say about that. :)

Ah, it is snowing AGAIN! Sweet.

I just went outside, and it is snowing like there is no tomorrow.

I am NOT used to this.

I lived in Seattle when I was little.

Then I moved to Kanab when I was14. Not a whole lot of snow then.

I moved to Tucson AZ with DJ for 3 years. No snow at all there.

Then we moved to Henderson NV. It only snowed once there. Yeah - for like 2 seconds.

I LOVE the cold.

I told someone once that would never live in the hotteness that is St. George.

Then I moved to Tucson.

It was so hot there that it melted my brain a little.

I did not like that.

I then moved to Henderson.

Last year on the 4th of July it was 116 in the SHADE!!

BLICK

This summer I am going to LOVE the heat.

We have had sooooo much snow. We needed it really bad.

Lake Powell is so low. We live to go to Lake Powell. So much fun.

I was TAGGED by my rad sis Nicole.

Here goes nothing.


A - Attached or single? Attached!! To DJ Cooper. Man of mystery: for almost nine years. I love the freaking heck out of him. I challenge anyone to a sweeter hubby

B - Best friend? Oh, I would say Dana James Cooper

C - Cake or pie? What? People, really I do not need this crud-ola in my world

D - Day of choice? I love all of the days now that I have my hubby back to normal. :)

E - Essential item? Chap stick and cell phone, but I am fighting with Verizion right now...those meanies!!!

F- Favorite clothing item? My new Crocs that my Mom bought me! They are light and sweet and the best. My Mom is sooo thoughtful.

G - Greatest ambition in life? Uh, To just be nice and always have time for my family.

H - Hometown? I would say Banak Hatu. ( Kanab Utah back wards silly!)

I - Indulgence? A baby cone from Junction

J - Jan. or July? January (!) is the Birthday for my Mom, my Dad, my daughter Elora, my daughter Zoey, my niece Charlee, my my brother-in-law Jim, my brother-in-law Doug etc....

K - Kids. Elora 12. Zoey 10 Kelly almost 5...I have more to say about that but not now.... ;)

L - Life isn't complete without? a hug from DJ

M - Movie? I love anything that will make me laugh or cry

N - Number of bros and sis? I have ALOT of sisters!

2 from my mother

• Cynthia
• Shannon

....7 from my husband...

• Nicole
• Jessica
• Emily
• Amanda
• Sarah
• Ali
• Savannah

-and 3 from my step dad Mack-y...but I am not sure on that. bad sister!

I have 5 in law Brothers...

• Rhett
• Brandon
• Sam
• Matt
• Doug
• Jason
• Jim

I love them very much.

O - Oranges or apples? I love ripe oranges...and fresh apples.

P - Phobia or fear? I have soooo many fears that It would drive you CRAZY!!! Lock me up already!

Q - Quote? "Pound sand white eyes" ha ha. Ask me what that means in another language...it sounds better in another language I promise.

R - Reason to smile? Kelly Jessica, Elora Lousie, and ZoeyAnne Ridgeway

S- Season of choice? Fall....it rules people

T - TV shows? I am trying not to watch tv...ugh I know...I am a tv junkie....but I do love Survivor

U - Unknown fact about me? I am allergic to everything!!!!

V - Vegetable? I love radishes. They are spicey and crunchy...a new yum factor

W - Worst habit? I am working on all of those.... I think I am doing well

X - ray or ultrasound? Ultrasounds push on a baby belly...a big boo to that, but you do get to see the weeee one, so plus to that at the same time :)

Y - Your favorite food? Nothing...it ALL makes me fat. ha ha

Z - Zodiac sign? I am a VIRGO!!! The same day My Marcia-Mic-Mom. Oh, How the stars got that right. I love her FOREVER!!!

Promises, promises...

Ok...
I know that it is Monday.
I know that I promised myself that I would write on here as regularly as possible.
I know that I promised to have Savy tell you what is going on with her life.
I know that I promised a picture of the sweetest Grandma ever.

Sigh.

It is flu season her at casa de Coop! My hubby DJ is catatonic in our bed whimpering about his stuffed dinosaur Paddy... Kelly has weird delusions about being a penguin dancer....and I just want to dig a cave in the ice outside and crawl in. Blah.

No excuses!

I will hold true to my word.

1. First Monday is such a downer. Ali was here for the weekend and now she is gone. Back to Dixie College and a life full of activities and people that need sunshine and cheer. I need sunshine and cheer. Boo
2. Mama Coop is back to work. She is doing a Spa tour. Man, that one would be AWESOME! - if they let her do the spa stuff too. I hope they let her this time, she needs a foot rub. We will miss her all week.
3. Savy is back to school. DJ is next in line to drive her there....but Sarah stepped in and saved the day!!! Yea for Sarah!! Sick DJ's should not be driving ingured Savy's.
4. Savy started her own blog!!! YES!!! is is new and sweet. She can tell you what is up in her own words. - You want to see the link? You know that you do!! http://savycoopblog.blogspot.com/ So marvelous.
   
5. At the top of this blog I put in a picture of the fam at the Valentines party at Grandma Coopers house this Saturday. I have more to say about that, and tons more pics too.
6. Nicole tagged me. I am NOT ignoring her, I just have to rest first.
   
7. Now I am too ill to say anymore, or else I will pass out on the keyboard.
8. Love ya!

( I will leave you with a little party cuteness. Savy with baby Sadie! Soooo precious)

YES!! I found 16 dollars and some chapstick while doing the wash today.

I tell ya, found money is so so sweet! Sure it is only 16 bucks - 16 bucks I didn't know that I had! Life is good.

Speaking of good....yesterday I spent the evening with my middle sister Cynthia (see picture at right) and her adorable family. I always have a blast going over to her house. My nieces Charlee and Jesee always greet me with a warm hello and my nephew Wyatt gives me huge bear hugs. (you can see a picture of them with Kelly all bundled up for snow fun at the lower left.)
It is really great to feel loved by your family. Her hubby Rhett is also a cool guy that always makes me feel welcome. (I am over there all of the time, inviting myself over for dinner. I think he is used to it by now, it has only been 15 years that I have known him. Sheesh.)

Another good thing is that we are all going to a Valentine party in St. George tomorrow. It is Cooper family tradition and I have yet to experience the event. I hear talk of Valentine boxes and small children laughing and smiling. It sounds te-rif to me. DJ, Kelly and I are going to drive over with Amanda and small baby girl Sadie. Sarah is going to be along for the ride as well.

Usually I do not like car rides, but I am willing to make the sacrifice to see Grandma Coop. I would post a picture of her on here, but sadly I am without such a picture. But do not loose hope dear reader friend. I will take a picture of her tomorrow and show you how cute-if-full she is.


I would do a Savy update....because you should hear the news....but I am going to leave that to her. She will tell us all about her adventures of Darth Knee this weekend I am sure of it.

I will however, leave you with this parting picture of our new brother in snow, Kevin the second. Or Junior, if you so wish. ( he is sticking out his tongue at you. ha ha)

Happy Carb-Load-Day to you!

So, did you load up on fun filled carbs today? No? You forgot all about it, and ate a piece of celery for dinner instead???

BOO!

(No points for team reader!)

We here at casa de Coop celebrated the day by having a fun filled day of baked lasagna.

Don't worry it really isn't a national holiday...yet. It was just our families turn to make a carbohydrate loaded dinner for Savy's basketball team.

Mama Coop had to be in St. George today, so the task was passed down to me. (Technical foul.)

I was not afraid of the task at hand. Why was I so confident? Did I have a team of classically trained chefs at my beck and call? No silly, I had the help of my wonderful sisters Amanda and Sarah. Want to see a picture of them celebrating the wonderful carb-load-day?

You know that you do.

Ha Ha! That picture is so so awesome! I would feel bad posting it, but Sarah took the picture. I am so off the hook now.

It really was fun. We planned, shopped, cooked and cleaned together and I am very happy with the results. (Two points for team Cooper.)

The day was stress free and fun because they have such positive attitudes. I swear that I laughed like it was my birthday. (either I need to get out more often or else they are really funny) Not a bead of sweat fell from my brow. It is a great way to do things I tell you.

Awesomeness all around.

Here is a picture of the lovely Kanab high school cowgirls. They are right out of a long practice, and seriously sick of eating spaghetti. Good thing we changed it up a bit with the baked lasagna. (Three points for team Cooper!)



(Woo hoo! Everybody do the wave!)

Cooper Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free genealogy websites - Lost relatives

It is WAY too cold outside.

Yea! Happy news! Papa Coop is home!

Everyone's favorite leading man has landed here at snow filled casa de Coop. Smiles all around for lots of reasons.

1. He is fun to be around
2. He is an awesome cook. (we had sweet egg rolls last night.)
3. Someone that we feel safe with can drive us in this crazy snow.
4. We are happy when all of us are safe and sound here at home base.
5. He shovels a mean walkway.
6. He is lightning fast at scooping up Kelly when she is being a wild child.
7. Did I mention that we love him to tiny bits??
   

Today was "make a whole bunch of valentines day".
Yes!
Did you celebrate by hot gluing one of your fingers, getting permanent marker on one of your favorite shirts, or was it more of a cardboard paper cut kind of day for you? I personally like to spend my day with the traditional super glue my finger to my shirt. It's mixing two different ideas I know, but I prefer to live dangerously.

We could all feel Kelly's intense desire to frolic in the snow today. I had to insist that she eat some breakfast first. (I am a mean Mother) Then I thought I would save her little tootsies from frostbite by first sticking them in appropriate sock ware...then adding sweet plastic sandwich baggies to the party. Of course I had her wear shoes as well.

Where are her boots you ask? Kelly would like to know the same thing.

Well, we DID just move here from sunny Henderson NV. Not exactly the boot wearing capitol of the world you know. This year is just a freak year for winter snow too. Excuses, excuses. I will find her boots - but mark my words - As soon as I find them the weather is going to get all sunny and then I am going to have to bust out the flip flops.

I can feel it.

You take the good, you take the bad....

...you take them both and there you have - the facts of life.

Yes, I am a child of the 80's. Yes, I loved the show "the Facts of Life". I can honestly say that Blair was my favorite character. ( I'm also a huge Family Ties - Alex P. Keaton fan as well. Not ashamed to admit that at all) Mrs. Garrett was oh so wise and jolly. Tootie and Natalie were so funny and nice to everyone. Honestly... Jo was confusing to me then. Not a Jo fan so much.

This is 2008 not 1985, and "the facts of life" today are not solved in a half an hour. (sorry Tootie)

I woke up today to the sound of my beautiful Mother's voice. She was calling me from work. Not a really great sign. She is a 911 dispatcher here in scenic Kanab Utah. Calls from one of Kane county's finest are not supposed to be fun. Not supposed to be happening to me at the very least. She was calling to inform me that my car was hit by another driver. (see sad picture at upper left)

Shouldn't my car be in the driveway? Safe, sound, close to the house?

Yes, it should.

Yesterday we took it into the local mechanic to have the simple task of a tire rotation done to our sweet little Impala. We might have complicated matters by adding windshield wiper replacement to our list of things to do. It sounds easy...right? Well, maybe not. By closing time our car was still not here, and not a soul had called us to ask if she could spend the night. Tough luck guys, they did not finish the job. No car for you.

For about 8 years we have been living in cities that were slightly larger in population . I am used to the one hour oil change. The quick tire rotation. The ease of going to a Checker auto parts store and buying your own windshield wipers. All this time waiting for our car was making me twitch with worry.

I have no tolerance for excessive waiting. When I want something done it gets done, or else I do it myself (or I throw a tissy fit.) It is wrong, I know. I own my 3 year old side. I am working on changing that character flaw of mine everyday. It helps living around patient people - that and screaming into a pillow once a week.

The best part about this story, is that it was hit late last night - by the owner of the place. Sheesh buddy give me a break. So he did... kind of. He is paying to fix our car, which he should. Plus, the work we needed done is on him. I should be happy about that.

I am not happy.

We still do not have a car. Truthfully, I have no clue what-so-ever when they are going to be finished fixing our car. Papa Coop took in his van a while back and it took a couple of weeks to get a squeek fixed.

Blah.... I need to stop thinking about it.

Thank you for letting me vent.

*******SAVY NEWS***********

Our favorite 16 year old went to the doctor again today. The news is not what we were hoping for. What exactly were we expecting you ask? How about this....

"Savannah, you have healed 99.9%. We are going to let you take off that Dark Vader of a brace and you can throw those crutches in the trash on your way out. Plan on playing in the next game on Tuesday with no problem. Also, all of your doctor fee's were paid by a small, glittery woman carrying silverware. It was odd, but she seemed so nice."

Needless to say that was not what happened. Instead it was more like this....

"Squishy your knee is Savy. Orthopedic surgeon you will see, no?. Your knee brace "Darth Vader" will be. Begun, the knee wars has."

Alright, alright. Yoda is not Savy's doctor. It would be Awesome if it was though, right??? I am sure that her doctor is wise, and we trust what he wants her to do, but why can't he just make it all just go away? Probably because he is not a wonderful 900 year old Jedi. Angry about it I may once have been, but I'm not any more.

Bring on the Darth Vader brace! Savy is one tough chica. She can handle it. (see pic at left)

How about some good news????

Ok... hmmmm. Everyone is almost over their colds. Woo hoo!

Our niece / granddaughter / cousin Mia had a double earache. She had to go to the hospital. Not good. I was hanging out with her today and she seems like she is feeling almost normal. I seriously think that children under 10 years old should never get sick. It is not fair I tell you!!

Baby Sadie (also our niece/ granddaughter/cousin) is also just getting over a bummer of a cold as well. -Oh my gosh! Today she was sporting the cutest, smallest piggy tails. I just wanted to squeal with delight when I saw them. Dang it!!! I should have taken a picture of them. Boo!!!

I did take a picture of Kelly today. Want to see it?

Sure you do. Aww. Kelly is being a sweetie pie. Just don't give her any cold medicine. It turns her into a wild child!

The word for the day here at casa de Coop is smile. It is smile because that is what we all were trying to do all day. I think we pulled it off.

Well, I might have been just a little bit cranky for a split second today.

Ok, I snapped at DJ when he accused me of saying a grilled cheese sandwich cost 2 bucks. I admit it. I also did say that it cost two bucks, but in my defense I meant with fries. He didn't know that though. Start reading minds already Deej! (especially when I am cranky)

All is well though. Smiles were smiled. Braces were worn. Cars were smashed Husbands were apologized to.

Why is everything getting smaller??? Aw, who cares? ;)