4 HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE!

POOR REESE IS GETTING A SLIVER DUG OUT OUR HER HAND. SHE DIDN'T ENJOY IT!

Dad and Cooper

Cooper helped daddy change the oil in our lawn mower. It's that time of year again to start mowing the lawn. I am actually excited about it because it is fun, I get some sun, and my yard will look beautiful again. (now, if the snow would stay away)

Dinosaur Park

Last weekend, Jacqui and I took the kids to Dinosaur Park up near the mouth of Ogden Canyon. It was a really neat place. First, we went upstairs to see what looked like a real triceratops and a t-rex getting ready to fight each other. The dinosaurs looked real and life size. The room was dark with a few small lights on the dinosaurs. The kids clinged to our legs and when the t-rex roared, they did not like that at all. It was really cool though.
The inside of the park had alot of bones and skeletons and was full of information and fun facts about dinosaurs. Cooper thought it was pretty neat until I held him up to a big dinosaur skeleton.

The park has like 10 acres outside. We walked around and looked at all the dinosaur statues. They looked real and they were huge. There was a big park to play at for the kids and they also got to feed the ducks.

New Car

Bryce and I bought a new 05 Nissan Altima last week. Our air conditioning in our Honda stopped working and so we decided it was time to get a new car. We are very excited about our puchase because it provides 3 "firsts" for me.

1. It is the first car we have owned that was made in this century.

2. It is the first keyless entry car I have ever owned. Kind of nice to click a button to lock and unlock.

3. It is the first automatic I have ever owned. Cool, Uh? It is so nice to not have to shift gears.

Anyway, we got it for a good deal and we bought it from some private owners who took good care of it. We really like the color and it gets 30 miles a gallon.

And you think you are having a Bad Day!

I still don't believe it, but it is a crazy picture.

Happy Birthday Cooper!

Three years ago on April 11, I was driving with my mom when I received a call from our caseworker. It was about 6:00pm. He told me that our little boy Cooper had been born by way of c-section and that he and the birthmother were doing well. Cooper's birthmom went in and out of the hospital quite a few times before they would admit her. She tried a natural birth but then ended up with a c-section. I was so excited and I just cried with joy. I was told that Cooper started eating alot right after he was born. The next few days were a little hectic and stressful, but we ended up adopting Cooper on April 14. So, both of those dates are very special to our family.

Cooper has grown up so quickly these last three years. He has always been so big that people think he is a year older than he really is. Cooper is such a good kid and Bryce and I have been very blessed to have his special spirit in our home and family. He teaches us so much and we love him so much.

Every year, Cooper has lots of birthday parties with his cousins on both sides and with his birth families. We went to Celebration Center last week and he had a great time going on this frogger ride with Addey. They also had a great time playing on the soft play and riding on the merry go round. It is so cute to watch Addey interact with Cooper. You can see how much she adores Cooper. She loves to follow him everywhere he goes and put her arm around him.
We also had a little party for him at McDonalds. This year, we decided to get him some art and crafts so that he can learn and also stay away from that darn tv. He got some crayons, markers, playdo and tools, sidewalk chalk, fingerpaint, and some dry erase markers and Nephi book to keep him busy at church. Cooper had so much fun playing with all of his presents.
We want to wish Cooper a Happy Birthday and let him know that he is a huge blessing in our family. We couldn't imagine life without Cooper. He is the best little boy and we love him!

The Scariest Hour!

On Monday, April 7th, I was at Jacqui's house. Jacqui had to go pick up a friends kids from school, and left me with Jaxson, Reese, Cooper, and our friends little 10 month old baby. When Curious George ended, Reese and Jaxson came up stairs. After a minute or two, I went to check on Cooper. I couldn't find him anywhere. In the past he has gone out the back door and ran up the street. He is so quick, so when I didn't see him in the back yard I started to get a little worried. I began searching the house, top to bottom. I looked in every hiding spot I could think of, because he has a tendency to hide. I was calling his name over and over. I grabbed the baby and had Reese and Jaxson follow me outside. We ran up the street. I couldn't see him anywhere, but I talked to a neighbor to see if he had seen him. He immediately called for family in his house to come help. Jacqui's neighbors took Jaxson and Reese and the baby for me, and I started running up and down the nearby streets, as did Mike (Jacqui's neighbor). I called Jacqui to see how close she was. Then I ran back into the house, and knelt down to say a quick prayer, asking Heavenly Father to help me find Cooper. Then I ran outside and ran up and down the streets talking to any one I saw. I looked in garages, backyards, ditches, water drains, and nearby farm fields. I knew Cooper didn't have shoes on. Each time I set out on a new street, I would run back to the house searching frantically through it, screaming for Cooper to come out. While all of this is going on, my thoughts were turned to a little seven years old girl who was kidnapped just a week before. I was in such shock, that I kept having really bad thoughts of what this would end in. Meanwhile, neighbors were out, and also checked the house, yard, and every nook and cranny we could think of. Jacqui's friend called the police, and everyone was out looking. Bryce and Jared were on there way home, trying to get here as fast as they could. Jacqui got home, and joined in the searching. The police came to the house to find out more. It's now been about twenty five minutes since I first noticed he was gone. We were all out running, and some how met in the living room at the same time. The officer told me that we needed to search the house again, because 90% of the time, the kids are in the house. He then walked straight to the love sack, which was in the corner of the room, pushed up against the wall. He grabbed the corner, pulled it back, and began talking to Cooper.








I collapsed to the ground and began wailing. All those thoughts and worries had come to an end. I knew he was safe, and my emotions finally showed themselves. Up to that point I had been in such shock, that I hadn't showed much emotion. Jacqui picked Cooper up out of the corner and brought him to me. Immediately we could smell why he had been hiding the entire time.


As he watched me cry, his bottom lip started quivering, and he asked me why I was crying. I apologized and thanked the officers. I also thanked the neighbors for their great help.

Things I learned:



-Do not procrastinate. We never know how much time we will have with our children.

-I learned that I need to take advantage of my time spent with Cooper.

-When Cooper says, "You want to play with me mama? You and me." I need to stop what I am doing and play with him.

-When Cooper says, "You want to watch this with me, mama? I need to watch the show with him. I am a busy body and I need to make sure that I spend quality time with my son.

-I love him so much and I can't imagine life without him.
(On a softer note, I learned that I should maybe exercise more often, so that when I need to go out and run up and down the streets, my legs won't be so sore the next day.)

-25 minutes can feel like forever

-I learned that there are people out there who still care and who are willing to drop everything and help. That really meant a lot to me to have them helping me find Cooper. I couldn't have done it by myself.

Things I hope and pray that Cooper learned:
1. He shouldn't hide.

2. If he does hide, he needs to answer mother or anyone else who is calling his name.

3. He won't get into trouble if he messes his pants. He hardly ever has accidents and I have tried to tell him that he won't get into trouble and that he just needs to tell mom.


I am so thankful for all those who helped me. I am thankful that my Heavenly Father heard and answered my prayer. I am so thankful that I have my little boy here with me this day!

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

I just wanted to thank mom and dad for getting Cooper this pirate ship for his birthday. He loves it and it is a hit with his friends. He put this cute bandana on his head and has been playing with his ship. Thanks again.