Kristen, Tiffanie, and I ( my two good friends here) took the kids to the Memphis Zoo on Friday. We had a really good time despite the fact that it was "elementary field trip day." Here are a few things I learned that day at the zoo.....
Baseball has been going really well. Carson is so athletic. It just amazes me. He's pulling doubles, triples, catching balls straight lined to him, hitting every time he's up, and he's always "baseball ready." Dave has been the head coach and he's doing really well. I know he gets pretty frustrated when they loose and tends to blame it all on himself (cusses, hits things, pouts,...kidding, kind of!) but I think he does a great job. Dave loves the game of baseball and it definitely has been passed down to Carson. We're excited to see how the rest of the season goes. 
Yesterday was the second time since we've lived here that the bee keepers have paid our neighbors a visit. Beehives totally gross me out, but I'm amazed at how these guys work in these swarms with such grace. Do you think deep down in they're a little freaked out. Maybe not. Have you seen that episode on Dirtiest Jobs about the bees????? Crazy!
Aren't these so cute? My mother in law MaryAnn sent these to the girl's. They loved them. I thought this was such a cute idea. So for all of you sewers, here's a new idea for you. Thanks MaryAnn my kids love the packages.
Ryleigh was a little superstar. She got right up with no complaints and started riding. I thought she would be nervous because she's my timid child, but I was proven wrong. She loved it. Don't you love those goldilocks popping out of her helmet. She definitely adds style to horseback riding.
Keeping Busy!
We're baaack!!!! We had a really good time in Orlando (despite the weather). Our kids had a wonderful time and that's exactly what we had hoped for. This vacation was something we've wanted to do for a while now and with it being my 30th I decided it was perfect timing and a perfect bday gift. This was Carson's first year where he was tall enough to ride every single roller coaster. He loves it. That boy has no fears. Cara was smiling and full of drama as she always is. My favorite part of our trip was when she saw the Disney Princesses. My heart just melted. She loved them and hugged them and could not keep her eyes off of them. Very precious! As always Ryleigh enjoyed the food, (like her mother) and the fun cups filled with carbonated drinks (like her mother). She was a trooper. There were times where she stood in line and wasn't even rewarded with a ride at the end. She did really good. We were also lucky enough to be joined by our friends Brandon and Amy Smith and their kids. It was fun to have other kids around for my kids to play with and adults to hang out with and talk to at night. Thanks Brandon and Amy for joining us. All in all it was a wonderful trip and we're hoping to do it again next year.
Alyson and Aaron's babies have finally arrived. Both Alyson and my sister in law Angela went over their due dates. YUCK! Talk about missing out on a big week in Utah. I would have loved to have been there to hold them and love them. I'm excited for both families and can't wait to meet these little guys in person. Congrats Aaron and Angela and Alyson and Greg! Both babies are beautiful.
David Everest Hooper
So there's 4 grandkids, 1 daughter in law, and 1 son in law missing from this picture, but this was the picture that stood out most to me when I decided I wanted to pay a birthday tribute to my Mom. This picture tells it all. My Mom is the rock of our family. The most important thing to my Mom is her faith and her family. Everything she has and gives is to her family and the church. On her wall she has a cross stitch reading "We Will All Go Home Together." I truly believe we will and I know we owe that to my Mom. Mom~ I too love you "more than tongue can tell." Happy Birthday!
Poor Memphis Tigers. What happened???? We know what happened... they totally gave the game away. So things didn't work out for Memphis in the NCAA tournament last night but despite the poor ending of the game we had a fun night. Some of the brethren in the Ward came over and enjoyed the game with us. Having a projector T.V. has been a ton of fun. It gets used greatly when it comes to entertaining...especially entertaining middle aged men, free of their wife and kids, and enough chips and salsa to keep Chili's in business for the night. (Thanks Erika for joining me and holding the fort down as the only two females in the house.)
Yesterday in between conference sessions we decided to take a drive out to Herb Parson's Lake. Isn't it funny how you can live so close to something so big and not even know it exist? This lake is like 10 miles away from us. How come we have never heard anything about it??? Crazy! We took a very muddy walk around the lake. We decided after the 1 mile marker that Ryleigh wasn't going to last much longer without us holding her so we turned around. The kids were troopers, but Dave and I decided we'll go back alone and do the full 7 miles around the lake. Kind of a fun date idea!!!
If you're in need of a good family flick I strongly suggest this movie "Nim's Island". The kids loved it and I was actually very entertained too. It's kind of got a "Swiss Family Robinson" kick to it and I loved that movie when I was a kid. 
U2 lyrics~In the Name of Love
The girl's at the jukebox in downtown Memphis with 
Lee, Stacey, and Paige in front of the Civil Rights Museum.
Oh there she is!
