Here and Gone!

With our summer slowly coming to an end (school started today) we are trying to fit in as much "fun" as we possibly can. Aspen and I have been spending a lot of time at the pool and this past weekend, we all took a trip up to Snowbird and bought "All Day Passes." Actually we purchased passes for Aspen and Zach and I just sat around and watched them have fun. Oh the joys of pregnancy :-). They did everything they could. They raced down the Alpine Slide numerous times. They jumped on the bungy trampolines. They climed the rockwall, rode the ZipRider and then finished the day off with an Arial Tram Ride. For those of you who haven't done this, I highly recommend it. It is so much fun. We usually do it at least once a year. Here are a few pics from our day.




This last picture is of Aspen coming down the Aerial Tram Ride. She was exhausted but I liked how you could see her reflection in the glass. So I added the picture :-).

It's Official

Aspen is finally going to be a big sister. We cheated and went to Fetal Studio's this past weekend. I am only 17 1/2 weeks but we found out we are having another girl! We are so excited. It was kind of a strange twist because we were all convinced we were having a boy. This pregnancy has been completely different from my last. The guy who did our ultra sound wasn't very convincing either. After numerous attempts and a fruit juice to get the baby moving, he decided it was a girl. He may very well be right. He would know better than we would right! Either way, we are excited for baby #2 and so is Aspen. She sings and talks to my belly every day. Now that I can feel the baby move, I can tell just how much she already loves Aspen. Whenever Aspen talks to her, she moves around like crazy. It is so sweet.

Here is a profile picture from our ultra sound.

A lot can happen in a month and a half!

I honestly don't know why I haven't kept up on my blog. But rather than sit and give you a bunch of lame excuses, I will simply add a few pictures and get us up to date.

In June Aspen had the opportunity to ride in the Lehi Stock Parade with her Grandma Laurie. Aspen has loved horses since she was a baby. Even her room is decorated with horses. So this was the perfect thing for her. An old frind of mine, Tom Lewis, or as I still like to call him "Tommy" let us borrow one of his horses. Thank you Tommy and Jen for letting us do this. You guys are great.


The other great thing about this parade is that my cute Grandparents were the Grand Marshalls. In order for them to be the Grand Marshall's, someone had to nominate them and "someone" did. They not only were the Grand Marshall's of this parade but they were the Marshall's of the entire Lehi Round Up Days. Even though it wore them out, they loved each and every minute of it.



I also had the opportunity to spend some time with and old friend of mine, Katie Terry. We have been friends since Jr. High. I knew that her little girl loves horses just as much as Aspen, so I called to see if they would like to come with us. Lucky for us, they did.


Also in June, Zach represented the Sheriff's Office at the Riverton Demolition Derby Tug O' War. Basically, they go up against the Riverton Fire Department. They have done this for the past two years and both years the Sheriff's Office has taken the title. Here is a picture of Zach. He is the third guy in. Look at those muscle's. Zach said his motivation came from not wanting his little girl to see him lose. You could hear her screaming over the hundreds of other spectators. She was so proud of her daddy and so was I!


In July, Aspen had the opportunity to be in another parade. This time is was with the Children's Ballet Theater. She takes dance there with her favorite friend Cassidy. Here is a picture of the two of them on that day.


The final post I will do is of us on a litte hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Aspen has loved this hike since she could walk and we do it at least once a year. Grandma Cam came with us this time and it was fun to have her:

Kindergarten Graduation

The very first post I did was of Aspen starting Kindergarten. Now, I am posting about her graduating from Kindergarten. We are so proud of her. She has learned so much this year. I am amazed everyday at the things that she knows. She was fortunate to have amazing teachers this year. One's who truly cared about her and what she was learning. We think the world of them.
Her graduation was bittersweet, just like every new chapter in your children's lives. With each new chapter another one closes. Aspen will never be a Kindergartener anymore but we will remember these days for the rest of our lives. I just have to take a minute to say (and I know I speak for her daddy too when I say) that we have loved every minute of having Aspen in our lives. No other joy even comes close to the joy that she brings to us each and every day. Every laugh, every cry, every snuggle and every jump on the tramp are precious to us. Now if we could only figure out how to make the time slow down just a little bit. She is growing up way to fast for us. Now that I am crying, I will end this post with a few pictures from that day. Congratulations Aspen! You. Are. Amazing!

Aspen and her friend Gentry

Do you think they look proud?

I think she looks proud of herself too. The flowers are from her daddy. He never forgets!

We were so happy to have my Grandma and Grandpa Cooper with us. My grandpa has had an awful year. One surgery after another but he is a trooper.

We were also happy to have Aunt Holly and Aspen's cousin Jeremey with us. She had the day off and they spent it with us.


Thank you everybody for making Aspen's day special. It means so much to her. Thank you mom for bringing the donuts. It is a good thing you did :-).

Field Trip and a dress down day

Last Friday Aspen and I went to the Zoo with her Kindergarten class. I thought it was funny when I asked Aspen if she was excited to go to the Zoo and she replied, "I am, but I am more excited to wear anything I want!" They wear uniforms at her school and they have only had one other dress down day this year and Aspen missed it! I just thought that was a funny thing to come out of a Kindergartener's mouth.
Anyway, we were a bit nervous because the weather wasn't looking so good. It had been raining for days and it didn't look like it was planning to stop anytime soon. It did rain while were there but not enough to ruin the trip. The kids loved it. Their favorite thing (and mine too) was the gorilla's. One of them had wrapped itself up in a sheet to get out of the rain. It was adorable. I took a picture of it but it didn't really turn out because the gorilla was behind the glass and kind of far away. Oh well, you will have to take my word on it. Here are a few pictures from our day at the Zoo.

Aspen, Gentry and Sadie

They really thought they could move that ball!

Alyssa and Aspen

Ms. Eschler (one of Aspen's teachers) and some of her students

Mother's Day

So I know Mother's Day took place about a month ago but I am just now finding time to tell you about it. For Mother's Day, my mom, my mother-in-law, Aspen and myself joined up with Hilary, her mom, her mother-in-law, her grandma and Cassidy, and headed down to Las Vegas for the weekend. The reason for going to Vegas had nothing to do with gambling. We went down to see Phantom of the Opera. It was fantastic. The play is based off the movie which I absolutely love, only in person it was so much better. We stayed in this amazing time share called the Wyndham Grand Desert. For 10 people, we needed a really big place, and this one delivered. The kids had the best time. They swam in the pool, they saw the fountains at the Bellagio and they went to FAO Schwartz! Oh and the temperature reached 109 degrees on Sunday. I think Summer is finally here. At least in Vegas anyway.
Here are a few pictures from our trip.

A Day at the Pool

The Group, minus Susan the picture taker

Playing on the giant keyboard at FAO's

Caesar's Palace

The Gardens at the Bellagio

Hula on Over

Since it has been over a month since I last blogged, I thought I should post something. We had Aspen's 6th birthday party on Saturday May 10th. She wanted to have a Hawaiian Luau. So we ordered the decorations (and borrowed some as well,) we made the invitations:



and the cake:




And we were ready to party. We invited about 35 close friends and family and about 27 people came. We ate Hawaiian haystacks and fruit and listened to Bob Marley. The kids mostly jumped on the tramp which wasn't the initial plan but they had fun.

Aspen got the most adorable presents. Everyone was so good to her. Every time
I ask her what her favorite present was, she says something new. Here
are few pictures of our guests and Aspen opening her presents. I don't
think we could have asked for better weather. It was perfect. We are
pretty sure Aspen had a great day and that is what we wanted.

I had to add a picture of Aspen's hair. I thought it turned out really cute.




The little birthday guests.




My brother Brock, his wife Holly and their little boy Jeremy.


Emily's little girl Kendal


Emily's other little girl Avery (YES! They are twins aren't they adorable!)


The Thank You's


Thank you everyone for making Aspen's day special. We love you all so much.

I also wanted to give a special thank you to my mom, Hilary and Grandma Cam for all their help. We couldn't have pulled off the party if it wasn't for them. You guys
are great.

Zach, thank you for whipping our yard into shape after our sweet dog destroyed it. You did a fabulous job and I know it took a lot of time to do. Your the best!