Wrapping Up 2023!

 Whew! The holiday season just gets INSANE!! I'll try an catch you up from the last post in October. Luckily, it's only been two months, but lots have been packed into those weeks! First up, Cooper was asked to the Halloween Dance at school. Kendal is his good friend and they dressed up like Penny Benjamin and Maverick from Top Gun: Maverick. They looked amazing! He had so much fun and I'm happy he's making so many fun high school memories. 

Right after Halloween, the holiday season was in full swing! Cooper had a concert at BYU-Idaho with the choirs there. It was fantastic, and I think maybe Cooper may decide to attend there after he graduates. He really liked the professors and the students he interacted with. 

Next, The Nutcracker started getting serious. Cooper practiced with Bailee, the ballerina playing Clara, 2-3 times a week to get ready. Their pas de duex is going to be amazing (Cooper won't let me watch his practices, he wants it to be a surprise) from what I've heard from Amelia and others. I'm so excited to see it! In between Nutcracker practices, Cooper has been preparing for Dancing With the Rexburg Stars. One of my co-workers is dancing this year, and I'm excited to watch her as well as Cooper. He'll dance twice with his teams. I'll try and post the videos. The first one he's in a blue shirt and starts further back, but moves up. 

Cooper also continued cabaret practices with Claire. They'll compete in the new year. Here's the latest video---I'm so impressed with their skill and hard work!

Thanksgiving was a fun time, we decided to combine our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations this year because everyone is so busy. So we had "Thanks-mas" and it was so much fun to see all my nieces and nephews. It really gets wild when we all get together, but in the best way. My family really is fantastic. Here's a picture of Amelia with the youngest grandchild, Riggins. 

The rest of November was spent in Nutcracker practice, Cooper's Bel Canto performances (the downtown lighting ceremony), and ballroom lessons. 

Nutcracker! It. Was. AMAZING!! I can't say enough excellent things about it. I am SO proud of Cooper. I cannot believe how talented and hard working he is. He's turned into a fabulous, talented, strong, beautiful ballroom dancer. Let me back up--the morning of the first Nutcracker performance he had his Christmas Classic for ballroom. This is his least favorite competition. It's a technique competition, and Cooper thinks it's boring. He's not wrong. 😂 But it's an important part of ballroom dancing, so we all suffer through it. Luckily, he was finished by noon, so he had some down time before the ballet that night. 

Now, the Nutcracker---this is my 14th year attending. I still love watching the ballet and the story. I've always loved the Nutcracker, and it's been so much fun to watch my children perform in the beloved ballet. Cooper was AWESOME. His pas de duex was INSANE, and he was the only dancer to perform an overhead lift. I love watching him dance and the happiness he gets from it. Here are TONS of pictures from the two performances. Yes, we need to figure out how to keep the shirt tucked in next year. :-) 

Amelia and Cooper back stage during the performance. I love that they share this.

This month, along with EVERYTHING else that happened, I had the opportunity to help with Shop With a Cop. I wrapped the gifts the children had chosen for their family members. It was an early morning (yawn) but it was so gratifying to see the police officers shopping with the children and interacting with them. I'm so blessed to live in this community, and the people here are fantastic.

Onto Amelia! I haven't written much about her because to be honest--I don't see her much when she's living on campus! Even though she only a few blocks away. she has her own life (as she should) and I usually only see her on Sunday afternoons. I can say she LOVED this semester. She had fantastic roommates, met so many new people (aka boys), had a wonderful student ward and enjoyed her classes for the most part. She's thriving and happy and progressing. The best news we got this month is her Europe trip with BYUI has been officially approved, so it's happening! All she has to do is apply for the program, pay her money and start preparing. We talked to the couple in charge and they said some of the places they'll be visiting are: London, Paris, Germany, Florence and Rome.  Amelia cannot wait! I'm so grateful she'll have this experience. she's worked so hard for it.

Amelia move home around December 12th, and it's been so much fun having her home again. We sure miss her when she's gone. She's also been extremely busy with the Nutcracker. She coaches three girls on their solos (the same ones she performed), and was back stage holding things together the two nights of the performance. 

Moving on through the month, Cooper had a trip with the Bel Canto choir to SLC. They performed on Temple Square in the tabernacle. It was an overnight trip, so I was a little worried, but Cooper had a fantastic time. He rode down on the bus with a bunch of his friends, and hung out with them performing, eating, and chilling. One of his performances was aired online, so I was able to log on at school and watch. It was so fun to see him in his tux, singing in the Tabernacle that was all decorated for Christmas. He's had so many wonderful experiences with Bel Cantos, I'm grateful he had the courage to try out for it!

Lastly, Cooper had Madison Presents with Kurt Bestor. It was a fund-raising concert and Amelia attended with me. It was fun for her because she had performed with the orchestra in the same concert two years earlier. It was packed, and the fine arts departments did an amazing job! 

Can you believe that was only the first two weeks of December?! Luckily, the last two were must calmer, even though not as fun. After visiting Katie and David in Utah and seeing all the beautiful lights, we all caught horrendous colds/sickness and were pretty much laid flat for the remainder of the month. Not how I envisioned spending my holiday break. Cooper is still planning on going to the New Year's Eve dance tonight, so we'll see how he does. Hopefully though we're on the mend, and we can start 2024 a little healthier. Here's a few pics before the sickness set in:

It's going to be an amazing year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

October Happenings

Okay, actually this first one is from September--but life was crazy and I didn't get it posted in time. Cooper asked his friend Sarah to Homecoming! He's been friends with her for years, and she also dances with him in ballroom. He looked SO grown up in his suit! They had a fantastic time and I think it was a good intro for Cooper to school dances. Here's some pics:

 

Next up was Cooper's first choir concert. He had to rent a tux for the season, and he looks even MORE grown-up in a tux than a suit! He felt very Leonardo DiCaprio wearing it. It was last week, and he did an amazing job! The whole choir is so impressive. It's a change from going to all Amelia's orchestra concerts. 😆

Lastly, Cooper was asked to the Halloween Dance! His friend Kendal (SUCH A SWEETHEART)  asked him last Saturday. He was so excited--almost more to reply to her than to go to the dance. 😉 I continue to be grateful he has such a fantastic group of friends that I never worry about. Here's the poster from Kendal:

Here's Cooper's reply:

I'll try really hard to update more often--especially since Cooper's dance is this weekend! He's also getting busier with the Nutcracker as well. He really is a dancing fool. 

I'll also post a quick Amelia update. I honestly don't see her as much when she's living up on campus. She has made new friends in her classes (one guy is 6'7"!) and loves her FHE group and church ward. Here are a few pics of her with her cousin at a concert, out in our beautiful autumn colors, and with the Four Phantoms. 

Summer Recap and School Begins!

 The remainder of summer flew by! This summer was more of a "working" summer than ones in the past. Amelia was working to save money for Europe, Cooper was working to save money for the upcoming junior year, and I was working and doing PD for school. But, we still managed to get a few fun activities in. 

For the 4th of July, we went to our usual spot to watch fireworks. Rexburg sets off fireworks simultaneously at three different places around town so you can see them wherever you live. We went to the site near Rexburg Rapids. It was a little chilly, so the kids were bundled up. Don't worry, Cooper poked his head out when the show began.

During the school year I don't have much time to go to the temple. This summer Amelia and I were able to meet Mom at the Idaho Falls temple and do a session. It was so much fun to have three generations do a session together. Also, Amelia was called to be a temple worker in Rexburg. She loves it!

We spent a quick weekend in Lava Hot Springs with Katie, David and their cute boys. The cabin we stayed at was BEAUTIFUL and just what we needed. We explored Soda Springs also, including the geyser and haunted Hooper Cabin. Cooper and Amelia tried drinking from the soda water spring and were less than impressed. 😆

I mentioned in an earlier post, Cooper and Amelia work at the movie theater here in town. With the big release of "Barbie", the staff was given the option of wearing pink that day. It included wearing jeans, so Amelia and Cooper jumped at the chance!

In July we celebrated Linus' birthday! Kate and David came up to Idaho because all his cousins are here. We went to I Jump and had a fantastic time. It was especially fun because we got to snuggle with our newest cousin/nephew, Riggins. 😍

Finally, even though we tried to stop it, the new school year arrived. Cooper is a JUNIOR, and Amelia will start her sophomore year at BYU-I in a few weeks. 😳

Lastly, the Eastern Idaho State Fair was began this weekend. We went down for a quick trip to visit the fair and hang out with family.

We also found out Cooper made the Silver Lift team in ballroom! He's been working SO hard and we're beyond proud of him!

Time is a funny thing...

 Time is crazy. Some days are soooooo long and difficult and I wonder if they'll ever end. Then some days fly by and become weeks, then months before it seems I can catch my breath. The entire month of May is both. The end of the year is a special kind of insane at school, students (and teachers/staff) and DONE, so each day feels like I'm a bouncer/baby-sitter. When I finally hit summer break (as much of a break before summer school begins), I'm shocked how much has happened during those chaotic days. Here's a few highlights:

• Cooper had his final ballroom recital. He was a little sad, he loves it so much. He did sign up to double dance next year though, and he's taking lessons/coaching this summer to improve his lifts so he can make the silver lift team in the fall. He also had a young women ask him to be his cabaret partner, so he'll be practicing that as well! I'm so proud of his commitment to ballroom. He goes to the gym 4-5 times a week, and practices tirelessly. 
• Cooper got a job at Paramount Theaters! He's a responsible member of society now. 😆
• Cooper finished his sophomore year! It's hard to believe he only has 2 more years of high school left. He has an amazing group of friends. They are pretty nerdy, but so much fun.
• Cooper auditioned for Bel Canto choir and made it! It's been so much fun to see him gain confidence and try new things.
• Amelia finished her first year at BYU-Idaho. She had a little trouble with chemistry, but still managed to get several scholarships to pay fully for next year! I'm so proud of her for working so hard. She's working full time this summer in hopes of earning enough money to go on a humanitarian trip to Europe in 2024. 
• Amelia finished another year of coaching for the ballet studio she used to attend.
• Amelia sent off her missionary at the end of May!
• We added to our family--another cute nephew/cousin to spoil. Andy and Desiree had their second boy. That makes 14 grandchildren!
• Lastly, Amelia her first grown-up girls' weekend at Lagoon with her friends--and it poured rain!

Here's some pictures:

Cooper's first day on the job!

14th grandchild! We love you, Riggins!

Cooper's ballroom pictures

Summer has a lot more in store, stay tuned!!