Secret Santa

Life has been pretty quiet the past week for us. Matt had a few catering jobs last week and besides that we've been home. Yesterday Matt's mom, Janie, called us and asked if we'd like to help her be secret santa's for a family that is very down on their luck right now. We found out that they have been eating top ramen for a while now and that's all. We were very excited to help out and show the kids about giving at Christmas.

Matt and his mom went to Sam's Club first while I stayed home with a sleeping Ryker and Matthew went to scouts. They bought the family some toilet paper and tissues and other things. They picked us up and we went to Albertsons to buy them some food. The boys had a great time putting things in the cart that they like, of course, and things we told them the family might like. We also got them some cleaning products cause those things run out too and Janie said that most people don't think about giving laundry soap and toilet cleaner even though they are needed greatly too.

Our cashier asked if we were Christmas shopping and Janie told her we were doing a secret santa for a family in our neighborhood. She teared up and told us how wonderful that was and that she had been a S.S. recipient just the night before!! She told us she and her husband had no way to buy some food and were just sick trying to figure it out. She was so appreciative and sincere, I truly hope the people that did it for her realize how great her need was and how grateful she was. It was truly a great evening. The boys thought it was so much fun to put all the sacks on their front porch and ring the doorbell and leave.

We had several conversations throughout the night of why we did it, and how helpful and in need this family was. What a great Christmas tradition and experience!

I was going to take pictures of us shopping and stuff, but Matt took my camera to exchange it and we couldn't use it.

E.R. Trip

**GRAPHIC**

So Monday night I was putting the boys to bed and Matt went out back to pull his smoker into the garage. Its pretty big and heavy and super awkward to move by yourself and Matt sliced his finger on the metal. I was unaware of any of this until he called me from the kitchen to come quickly. My white sink was covered in blood. I was expecting to see a body part lying in there until he peeled back the skin on the inside of his middle finger. It was just pumping out blood and we couldn't get it to stop. He tried putting super glue on it, but it wouldn't stop bleeding so the glue could dry. I made an executive decision that he needed to go to the E.R.. It was after 10 and the boys were in bed, so I called my father-in-law, Bob, and asked if he could take Matt. He was there within 5 minutes and they were off.
Two hours later Matt came home with 5 stitches and a finger splint. Needless to say he has to be careful where he puts his hand on the steering wheel!! Of course, Matt is already overduing it and not following doctors orders. This is very hard for him since his hands are the means of our livelihood. I hope that it heals well and extra quickly. :) As you can tell by the picture, he was not to happy about me posting this. I told him this is my journal and we need to document it!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Snakes & Scales

Thursday was Coop's 6th birthday. He LOVED the crown he got at pre-school the day before. He had to wear it for his birthday breakfast.
All Cooper wanted for his b-day was a hamster. He opened the cage after breakfast and then we took him shopping for his hamster. Matt is just getting ready to put it in the cage.

Complete entertainment!

Meet Hammie the Hamster. She is a dwarf hamster so she is super tiny and has no tail.

For his party that night, we had the Reptile Rescue come show us some spiders snakes and lizards. A big shout out to the Kiddie Kollege for letting us have it there.

Cooper was ecstatic to be the Jr. Explorer and hold this corn snake.

Oops, sideways. Jeremy showed us two snakes that are the same kind, but look totally different.

Cooper had the best night learning all about these animals.

All the kids were totally enthralled. Even Liseanne got right up there to listen while he showed off this python.

The highlight of the night was the alligator. Everyone got to feel the side of it and got a good laugh when Jeremy counted his fingers after he put it back in its bucket.

Cooper got to be first to hold the boa. He was in heaven!!

Matthew wasn't scared at all. He loved it!

Zack thinks we should get one of these at our house. Not gonna happen!!

I'm a slaaaaave, for you!!

Liseanne is no chicken. She was the only "mom" who would hold the snake. I had to talk her out of wearing her bikini for this picture.

Matt looks at ease and ponders the snake!!

Cooper had a snake cupcake cake that everyone loved.

Coop loved getting a 5 dollar bill for his 5th birthday. Getting presents so close to Christmas actually is good for him. It gives him something to do and takes his mind off of the presents to come. Well, for a while anyways!

What a fun birthday. Educational and exciting. I highly reccomend having the Reptile Rescue do a party again.

We love you Cooper the Snooper!!

5 Years Already!

I can't believe that Cooper is 5 today. WOW the time flies!! He was the only pregnancy that I was super sick during and knowing his temperment now, I understand!!
Cooper is truly his own person. We have our rough times, and they can be rough! But the good times are fantastic!! He is so funny and comes up with the most interesting and cutest things.

He can be bouncing around one minute and yelling and having a blast and then can sit down and put together a puzzle over and over again and not even make a peep!!

I love Coopers smile. That smile means a lot and some days its hard to come by, but it truly makes my day! His whole face smiles!

Cooper wants to know everything about anything. He always wants to know why, when and where. He also can come up with the best excuses and reasons. I always give him an A for effort and creativity.

I love the quiet moments when he is (willing) to snuggle. During these times I hold him close and remember that he is my sweet boy and how much I love him no matter how frustrated he makes me. :)

What a firecracker he is, but we are so blessed and grateful he is a part of our family. He always keeps us entertained and is very excited for his new baby brother to come out! He loves preschool (most days) but can't wait until next year when he gets to ride the bus and got to the "boys" school. I love this little boy so much and am glad he's mine. :)

Some of Cooper's favorite things are:

The color Red

Transformers

Hamsters

Patches (his blanket)

Chicken Nuggets

Root Beer

Singing primary songs
Going to California (both of them)

(the one where he went that Jon lived, and the one where Disneyland is!)

Iron Man

Names he wants to name the baby are:

Bionicle
Devastator

Cooper 2

Danke

The past two days I have been doing a lot of thinking of the things that I am grateful for. One person just kept popping up in my mind. I just couldn't get their face out of my head!! At least its a handsome face right?! I am so grateful for my wonderful husband. I never could have imagined after meeting him at that first wrestling meet that here we would be just shy of 15 years later!! We met 15 years ago next month. I can't believe that we are still madly in love with almost 5 boys!! I am so thankful for his talents and knowledge of things I just don't get. He still makes me laugh and I LOVE when he makes our boys laugh. I go all googley when I see him holding our newborns, and helping a toddler walk, and wrestling with a preschooler and watching him baptize our 8 year old and teaching them how to fix things and how they work. He is the best daddy. Matt is always willing to try new things. Its just exasperating that he's always good at all of the things he trys!! :) I love you babe! Thanks for being my best friend.
I am also thankful for my boys. All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a mom. Who knew I would be a mom to 5 boys though!! Lots of people ask me if I'm sad or mad that I have only boys. How could I be mad or sad at 4 1/2 beautiful healthy boys? There was a time when getting pregnant and staying that way didn't come so easily. In my prayers I used to tell Heavenly Father that I would take however many he would send. Even if it was one or none. There's no way I'm getting picky about gender!! Each of my boys are so unique and special. I can't imagine my life without them. I love when they make stuff for me or pick something out special for me. Zack always makes sure I get something pink, cause I'm a girl you know? I always tell Matt, when all is said and done the only thing that we'll have left or that really matters is family. I am forever grateful for my "little" family and all the ups and downs we have. Thanks honey for sharing in this roller coaster with me. I love all my boys!!!

GIVING THANKS

Today, I am giving thanks to naptime!! I cannot keep up with my darling little 22 month old nephew. His sweet little mind just has to know how everything works, runs, tastes and explodes. I LOVE HIM!!