Hawaii!!!!!

We just got back from the most amazing trip ever. Maui was so gorgeous and wonderful. Most places that I go to I think well this is nice to be here but I would never want to live here. Maui was totally different. I could totally live there and never miss Utah (Well except for maybe all the people).
Cooper was in heaven playing in the water and surfing. Although he did almost drown like a million times. However it never phased him. He is one tough kid. He doesn't even look like he was in Hawaii though, because he is still as white as can be ha ha. He talked about missing his best friends Gabe and Bode a lot.
Cambri loved being at the beach and the pool. After awhile she really warmed up to the water and in the kiddie pool would dunk herself and go into the ocean without someone having to hold her. She got a cute little tan. The tan on her butt looks like the little girl on the sunscreen bottle where the dog bites her bottoms. After about a week she was ready to come home because she wanted to play with her Christmas presents and see her friends.
I got a amazing Camera before we left so I took non stop pictures. That camera was glued to me the whole time. Here are some of my favorite pics that I took.


Coop and Cams performing at the Luau







This was advertisement for Famous Daves and Cooper kept saying to him, Piggy you go eat some bacon lol






Cooper and Daddy surfing, Cooper loved every second of it



Dad teaching Cooper how to surf

Cooper and his cousin Ethan, everyone thought they were twins

Someone had carved this into the cement by the beach!

Chad during his first lesson surfing!




The boys getting ready for their surfing lessons.






Love this action shot of them falling over lol

Burger King Sandwich?????

Yesterday we were at my parents and were getting ready to leave to watch my little sister and brother scuba dive at the Crater. Coopers Mema made him a peanut butter and Jelly sandwich. No matter how much coaxing (threatening) he would not touch it. So we took it into the car hoping he would eat it later. On the way to the Crater Dustin and Mariah were hungry so we stopped at burger king for food. Cooper was begging for something but I wouldn't cave. So instead I took Dustin's left over hamburger wrapper and put Coopers sandwich in it.
He said, "Hamger momma?"
"No Cooper its a Burger King Sandwhich"
Takes a bite
"O this is so Nummy momma, I like it"
This little boy is so funny!

5 Years and Counting!!!!

Chad and I celebrated our 5 year Anniversary today. He was so amazing..... We both did our black friday shopping, I went to Walmart for the midnight sale while he watched the kids. Then when I got home he went and did his shopping and was gone tell almost 7 in the morning. After being up all night he made me breakfast in bed. Chad usually doesn't cook so I was a little nervous. They were seriously some of the best pancakes I have ever had. Way better than I usually make. On top of doing that he got me a awesome SLR camera. I cant wait tell it is delivered and I can learn how to use it. The rest of the day we just ran errands and went to the movies with Cambri to see Megamind (that is a hilarious movie). This was the most low key Anniversary we have had so far and it was probably the best. I just enjoyed relaxing with the family. Tomorrow the kids will go to my parents so we can go out to dinner and have some alone time. I am so lucky to have such a thoughtful loving husband. I cant wait to spend many more years with him.

Naughty Cooper

Last night I ran to the gas station, while the kids stayed home with Chad. When I got home Cambri was crying a little, saying Cooper bit her. Well, me being the bad mom that I am, thought she was lying, because she sometimes has a habit of doing that. Well, later she came downstairs and stood in front of me and I saw this huge welt on her forehead. I freaked out and asked her what happened. She says, "Mom I just told you Cooper bit me." I lost it. I could not believe that someone could bite someone else's forehead that bad and leave a welt. I felt so bad for my little Angel and for not sympathizing with her when she told me about it the first time. Needless to say, my freaking out scared her even more and made the whole experience very dramatic. Cooper spent some time in the corner for that one. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with that kid.




This is a picture of Cambri's welt a day after the fact, and it is still so bad. (The picture was taken with my phone so its bad quality)

Bring Him Home Santa

Military

Lately I have been thinking about the members of the military and their families. There has always been an unspoken competition on which form of service is best. Army always thinks their better than Air Force, Marines are better than the Navy and so on and so forth. Then recently I heard that being active means more than being in the reserves. The competition has always bothered me. I wish everyone could see that whoever puts up arms and fights for this country no matter what they do are amazing. They are always at risk whether it be at home on their base or fighting in war. I am so moved by the amazing people in our country who sacrafice so much for all of us. We take for granted our lives here in the United States of America and how we got the freedoms we have.
I am so amazed by the wonderful families who stick by their family members who are serving. My sister in laws husband is in the Army reserves. He recently left to go on a tour to Afghantistan. I am so proud of her for being so strong to raise her two children alone for this year that he is gone. I have never heard her complain once. She is so proud of her husband and the sacrafices she makes, and she is proud to make the sacrafices she needs to support him. I admire her for all that she does to support him and he role that she plays in his unit.
I just found out that my new neighbor lived in Utah at Camp williams for four years, while his wife stayed home to finish raising their teenagers, to do his job with the Army National Guard. When I asked them how they could possibly do that, neither one complained. They just accepted it as part of being in the military and appreciate their chance to finally be back together. I admire them for their strength and endurance.
I hear people complain all the time that they want this war to end and that may be true for all of us. However I have never heard one person in the military or family member complain about what they are doing to support our country. If they are proud to do it and don't have a complaint how can we?
Everytime I hear stories about little kids who are seperated from their parents while they are fighting for our country it brings me to tears. I know what they are going through because my kids have been there too. Here is a story that I wanted to share that touched my heart.





"Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest act's of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal. Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi," the little girl then she asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, he didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.

The mother of the little girl, who said her daughters name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.

After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you." He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon."

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded. As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, their were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American."

You have to watch this video it is amazing :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5leMiif4pM&feature=player_embedded

Cooper said the cutest thing today that I just had to share. I was showing him pictures on our blog and he saw a picture of his daddy. He said "That's my daddy, Oh I miss you daddy. Come home safely daddy." I just love hearing the sweet things that come out of his mouth. Usually mixed in with those sweet things are his naughty things too. Like, two nights ago we were watching Grown Ups and they said Da** it and Cooper started laughing and said Da** it too. This kid repeats everything he hears. So we have to be super careful what we say around him :)