Monday, October 18, 2010

Wow! First time back after a whirlwind of a summer!





















A summer FULL of plenty of SUNSHINE!!! There is no way i could catch up with all we did this summer, but i've included a few pics here, along with our list of great memories from this summer season!

- First and foremost PHILMONT!!! What a fantastic experience for the whole family. It must be what heaven, or living in Zion, would feel like. We benefited so very much from wonderful experiences & training. And by rubbing shoulders with great people - here's a few pics with the general primary presidency & the general young men's presidency which presided over & taught us often during the week. oh, and Isaac returning in honor from his 5 day mountain hike through NM!! His passage into manhood - or at least the right to drive & date ;).

-the Joy is in the Journey!!! That's what we found as we crossed the country visiting my parents in Michigan, visiting Winter Quarters on the long trek West (we picked up a couple pioneer girls here), LOVING our visit with our dear family in Utah, part of which followed us one more night to enjoy Arches - what a TREAT!!!- to arrive finally in New Mexico, 3,000 miles later. (we'd had an oil change the week before, did that mean we needed another already?)

-Believe it or not, after all this wonder, joy, and excitement, returning home was better than Disneyland! We couldn't WAIT to arrive after 2,000 mile drive back!! Our goat had delivered twin babies while we were gone (with the help of our friend), a new batch of baby bunnies, we couldn't wait to sleep in our own beds after nearly a month and our new house had been completely unveiled, cleaned, and prepared for our move-in!!! (more pics later, but this is the kids at the new counter ;)

Other highlights of the summer!: Isaac becoming a Priest, Emily & Anna's friend being baptized to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!, girl's camp!, moving into our new home!, visits from G&G Hoffman, Clayton Hoffman Clan, the Millar's, and the Maxwell's & G&G Cooper, visiting Maxwell's in Kennett to see Wendy, John, and Michael in live performance and sooo much more!!! It could take a whole journal to record our summer but this will have to suffice. Enjoy the memories with us! And on to autumn time!!!

Love, C

Saturday, July 24, 2010

The Girl Scout's Progressive Dinner!







I felt so lucky to sub-in for Linda and Laurie as a girl scout leader for an evening! Linda rushed from the airport and made it for most the night anyway, which made it extra enjoyable! This is Mikela and her dear friends and girl scout troop for the night!

Our master gardener at work!!!






What does a brother do to show his LOYALTY and LOVE?! This one could not be beat. Here is a glimpse of the gorgeous (and long - couldn't fit it all in!) rock wall built by our master gardener, Spencer Lawrence Cooper! And pics of him putting in the grass with the rest of his crew, working into the night!!! And we couldn't miss catching the beautiful vegetable garden he put in by the barn. Great work, Great memories!!! THANK YOU, Spencer! Thank you everyone that helped make it happen! (Including Steph, holding the youngest participant, HOPE!

Sister's Love


Can't you just see the adoration in Clara's eyes! She loves and looks up to her sisters SOOO MUCH!!! She was thrilled for Zoie with every present. Clara also laughs harder than the sister being tickled - it's like your tickling Clara if you tickle anyone else! This morning at the barn, Zoie was crying because she'd forgotten her shoes and couldn't come see the baby goats, she had to wait in the car. Clara said in her two year old lingo, "Doie Dad? Doie Crying decause dshe dan't dome dee dhe baby doats?" "Yes, Zoie's sad she can't come see the baby goats." I confirmed. "I feel sad for Zoie too," I sad, "Maybe we could pick Zoie a flower and bring it back to Zoie to help her feel better," I suggested. We entered the barn, played with the baby goats, fed the animals, petted the kitty, swept up and started back to the car. Clara found a hill of gravel and had to try to climb up it! I finally retrieved her and we went back to the car. As I picked Clara up to put her and placed her in the carseat, she handed a flower to Zoie! Zoie was all better, I had completely forgotten in the midst of all the other activities, but somehow, on her own, Clara had remembered and picked a flower (I don't even know when! Because I carried her from the gravel pile to the car!) and first thing back in the car handed it to Zoie. It did make Zoie happy, she even giggled when I told her Clara had done that all on her own to make her sister feel better. Sister love.

Spencer, Stephanie, Maylee and Hope!






What an amazing JOY to have the Coopers come to stay! For 5 whole weeks we got to enjoy them as family, friends, and next door neighbors! (They stayed in the apartment over the garage). It was such a beautiful blessing to share time, talk, tiny ones, planning and preparing the gardens for the new home!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having the faith to make such marvelous memories happen, Spenc and Steph!! We are SOOO glad you came!!!

Highlights of their visit:
*Spencer building a monumental rock wall that will preserve our memories and love in stone!!! Spencer, I LOVE the stones the children gave me - incredible to do!!!
*Isaac and his friends joining Spencer in the digging and dirt!!! Way to go guys!!!
*Esther, Zoie, Clara enjoying Maylee and Baby Hope DAILY!!!! We still miss coming to the apartment to ask you to play!!! Here are pics from our Reptileland visit.
*Spencer making us ROAR with laughter most every night! (we'll never forget Princess and the Frog quotes and interpretations! ;)
*Stephanie helping so much by watching little ones as I ran to meetings and errands!
*Stephanie even helping with laundry!! Great work balancing a new baby and all that!
*Mike having a hay day with the tractor! We're getting veggies/fruit from the garden!
*Enjoying Mom and Dad, Kari and Clark and Kristi and Calt over Memorial day with Spenc &Steph!!

Thanks for all!!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Zoie turns 4!!!





And I ALREADY LOVE that age on her best!! She's the epidemy of 4!! Smart, talks hilariously CUTE! SUPER HELPFUL!!! A ray of sunshine, LOVEABLE, ADORABLE, and drives you crazy if she's out of sorts. Zoie is WONDERFUL!!! I love her! And I know she loves me too - but only far after Daddy, whom she still all out loves, needs, ADORES! I cannot blame her ;). We were so lucky to celebrate with her cousin Maylee and Grandpa and Grandma C. before they headed for home!!! Zoie also loved her little gift from Mrs. Cwockett, with whom she has a darling friendship. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOIE!!!

Memorial Day Weekend!!!






What a Wonderful Blessing for us to have Mom and Dad Cooper, Maxwells, Laws, and the jr. Cooper family all with us on Memorial Day weekend! Who would have thought a few years ago we'd have most the family in PA for a casual, fun weekend together? Wonder of wonders! I'd like to thank all of those people I love for making it such a memorable weekend! We had a beautiful time visiting the barn and new home. Mike's & guys worked on the skid steer! Like the big version of garden we showed in early spring? It's growing!!! We loved playing in the yard, laughing on the porch, eating Mom's amazing food, watching the children play piano and sing, planning for the landscaping and most of all, just being together! Thanks everybody! Love You!

Hurray for Spenc & Steph!!!





How we RELISHED having my dear brother and his wonderful wife, Stephanie, along with their precious Maylee & Hope here with us for 6 weeks!!! We feel immensely blessed to have had such an opportunity. Spencer built us a lasting and beautiful monument to remember him by at the new house; an amazingly beautiful rock wall guiding one through the forest and onto a french garden as a welcome to our new home. The green grass we managed to get in with Spencer looks fantastic (more to come!) and the ebb & flow of the garden beds he created speaks peace to the whole area. We LOVE it Spenc!!! Can't wait to place the fountain in the middle and finish it up for you and Steph to visit us again soon and see it completed! Here are some fun pics of our visit with Stephanie and the little girls to Reptile Land. Love you guys!