::our cooper::

Cooper's photo shoot.

Thanks to Amber Rust of Two Color Photography.

Which ones do you like best???

::A.A.A.D.D.::

I came across this story and decided...This is SO me!!! (minus the "age activated" part)

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

This is how is manifests itself...

I decide to wash my car. As I start toward to the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first, but then I think that since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.

I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I'd better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water, and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight, when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day;
the car isn't washed...
the bills aren't paid...
there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter...
the flowers aren't watered...there is still only one check in my checkbook...
I can't find the remote...
I can't find my glasses...
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long and I'm really tired.

::cooper's blessing::

Cooper, we bless you with...

::health::

::physical & mental strength::

::open spiritual mind::

::choose friends with same standards::

::be a good example::

::get along with brother and sister::

::remember Heavenly Father in all you do::

::know your family loves you::

::remember your family will always support you::

::know you can come to mom & dad for help, love, support::

Lunch @ our house afterwards...

Thanks to all who came and participated in Cooper's special day :)

::a long december (post)::

After reading Caroline's blog, I decided to do a big December post too so I don't leave anything out. Here we go...

So let's start with Coopie being 1 month old (on Dec. 17th). Who does he look like??

Cooper @ 1 month

Porter @ 1 month

Chloe @ 1 month

Chloe had a PJ party at school on her last day before the Christmas break. She got to wear PJs, slipper, and take her pillow. They watched Frosty the Snowman, had snacks, and the teachers did their quarterly progress reports on the kids...Chloe got great marks! Mastery on EVERYTHING!!

Then the next day she had a little Christmas recital at the middle school. The kids sang 10 songs and Santa came afterwards. It was SO cute! They were to be in their "best dress," so Chloe got to get a new dress for the occasion. We thought she looked pretty cute ;)

Every December 23, Matt's mom and Aunt Deanne and Amberlee go over to Grandpa Halling's house to make fry cakes (sort of like a scone). It's fun to go over and talk to Grandpa and keep the tradition of fry cake making alive.

On Christmas Eve, we get together with Matt's family (his siblings and all their kids and his mom and dad) for a little party and gift exchange.

We had a party with Matt's extended family on both sides (mom and dad), but I didn't get any pictures of the Jeppsen side (sorry-forgot my camera). Papa with the guitar came for a visit too, but I didn't get any pictures of that either (JEEZ!! I'll do better next time).

The Halling side was fun too-all the great grandkids do a gift exchange, Matt's Uncle Steve plays his guitar while everyone sings Christmas songs, and we have a great dinner.

On Christmas Eve, we all open presents from eachother (always jammies).
Christmas Day!!!

Grandma Kitty's house

watchin' some Kobe


opening presents

new toys!


Whew!! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

::next year::

Now that the prep time is over for Christmas, I've gotten an early start on my New Year's resolutions. I've decided that next year I will not be at the post office on the nationally proclaimed "busiest day of the year"

(I've been there on that day for the past 2 years trying to mail boxes to all my grandparents).

Next year, I'll finish ALL of my Christmas shopping the week before Christmas, not Dec. 23. I had to go to the store last night to get some last minute things (mostly stocking stuffers), and most everything was picked over and gone!!

It's been a fun season so far. The kids are SO excited about Santa (more Chloe than Port, but probably cause she's older). They try to be good so Santa will bring them some presents. We've talked about why we give presents and what Christmas is about, and Chloe understands pretty well (for a 5-year-old). It's been a little stressful this year, but also REALLY fun! I LOVE Christmas shopping and giving gifts. We have a family Christmas party today and Santa comes tonight!! We're so excited!

Merry Chirstmas to all! We love you all!!

::papa's birthday::

Happy Birthday, Papa!!

We celebrated "papa-with-the-kitty's" birthday on Saturday with lunch, some cake, some presents, and some time at the kangaroo zoo.

Papa had LOTS of help with the candles :)

So the Kangaroo Zoo has some new rules that say you can't play on the inflatables if you're over 150 lbs! That ruled Matt out!! He was really sad! He loves that place! The kids were sad too; they love when we go down all the slides with them. I went down a few slides with the them, but I don't jump over the edges and flip around like Matt, so it wasn't the same. It was a fun day anyway, I just don't think we'll probably go to the Kanga Zoo for a while.

::so this is Christmas...::

Don't you LOVE this time of year??


We decorated our tree...


...saw Santa...





...and wore a cool Santa t-shirt