I'm So Happy He's Mine, Cooper's 9!

Cooper turned 9 years old today! He is full of charm, mischief, and outright fun. He is such a happy, thoughtful boy and we can't imagine life without him. There is never a dull moment around him and I love him more than words can say! He's been a charmer since birth, still loves to never wear pants, and has a smile that is contagious and gets him out of a lot of trouble! Happy birthday, Coop! WE LOVE YOU!!!

 

It Must Be Kinda Cold Someplace...Because I GRADUATED!!

It is finished! I reached the light at the end of the tunnel and it is worth everything I had to go through....except maybe a few classmates. They were real winners. Anyway, Friday night I graduated! They pronounced my name correctly, shook hands with important people I had never seen in all my 4 years at BYU-Idaho (except Elder Kim Clark---he hangs out with M. Russell Ballard you know, :-) ), and accepted my blank diploma cover and alumni pin. Here's a few pictures of the night:

Picking up my cap and gown the night before graduation.

Last day of student teaching--it was harder than I thought to leave those students!

Walking across the stage/stand:

 After the convocation:

Future graduate---in like 10 years! (Still too soon!)

Thanks for everyone who came to support me, I appreciated it! Now, onto teaching impressionable young minds. Poor students. :-)

Cooper Sweeps the Pinewood Derby!

Tuesday night we had our second annual pinewood derby. Our first one was a little rough, with battle scars including a hole in my dining room table. This year went much smoother. So much that COOPER WON FIRST PLACE!! He. Won. Every. Single. Race. He couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. The super competitive dads in the ward couldn't believe it.

Here are some pics:

Cooper with his bright yellow Pokemon car. He was awfully proud of it....even before we knew it was a winner!

 

 

 

 

 

His face when he won his first race:

The winning moment:

 
                           

Here's the trophy and an extremely happy scout:

Thanks for Ben for all your help with his car!

The Birthday Dust Has Settled...

....and Amelia is one happy girl. Thanks to everyone who helped make her birthday (week) such a great one! I'm sure she'll remember this year forever. (She'd better--it was an expensive one!) :-)

Here are some pictures:

Pizza Pie Cafe--with a free monster Cookie for her birthday.

Her birthday party with 5 of her VERY loud friends. So. Much. Squealing. 

Cooper was the quietest one. Who'da thought?!

 She also had her locker decorated; was sung to in class, ballet, and primary; had
a shopping spree with Katie Call (and the rest of us); dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe; a fully decorated house; and a special birthday pie. I think there was more, but I'm too pooped to remember it! Luckily I'll have two years before her next party!