SURPRISE!!!!!!

We are some lucky dogs around here....For Valentine's my Mom decided to fly us out to Montana and we decided to hide it from the kids until we got there. So I picked them up from school and told them we were headed out to the airport for a surprise vacation. They made a few guesses as to where we were going like...the beach, Utah, Madagascar & Australia haha!!! Well the girls obviously can read so when we got to Minneapolis for our layover they noticed the word BILLINGS on the board at the gate and they FREAKED out!!!! They put it all together and they were so excited...we were on our way to Billings to be with their cousins, uncles, aunts & grandparents for the week. Not just the Warnick's but Grandma surprised everyone!!!

This was our first time meeting Miss Emma...she is such a doll. We got to attend her blessing and Carter's baptism. So glad we were there to celebrate with the Warnick's for their special weekend. We don't get to do that too often anymore.

THE REEF

So Montana is just a wee bit chilly so they have the coolest waterpark there that is all indoors. The kids loved it!!!

Grubbing!!! Gotta love the free continental breakfasts.

Saying goodbye to the SnoShack with Alyson & a little mall action. Not much else to do in Billings haha!!

Surprise #2--Grandma MaryAnn picked us up from out layover in Salt Lake and we decided it would be fun to surprise Grandma Jim at his office---I'm pretty sure he was surprised!! It was fun to get to see them even if it was only for a few hours.

We had a great little Valentine's getaway. Dave and Carson didn't make it out with us but they enjoyed their "man" time together. Thank you to Grandma Shauna for the awesome surprise. The girls will never forget it!!!

Does not take after his Grandma MaryAnn.......

So ever since this little guy has been alive he has been afraid of the vacuum. It's the funniest thing. No other noises, machines, objects scare him but when I turn the vacuum on he goes running. It cracks me up each time. His little legs can't run and hide fast enough. So needless to say HE DOES NOT TAKE AFTER HIS GRANDMA MARYANN IN THE VACUUMING DEPARTMENT HAHA!!!

CHS DRAGON CHEERLEADING CAMP

We decided to finally "give in" and sign the girls up for the high school cheerleading camp. They had so much fun and were super excited when they found out that Morgan Bailey from our ward was going to be their teacher. They did so good and I was so shocked that the crowd at the basketball game didn't scare them one bit. They were so excited to be cheerleaders for a few days.....Daddy better upgrade to Captain soon if we have cheerleaders in our future haha!!!

Tara Oaks Elementary SOCK HOP

Say Hello to the Tara Oaks Hula Hoop Champ...Yep that's right!!! Miss Ryleigh won her schools hula hooping contest. We were so proud and honestly so shocked....didn't even know she was a hula hooper haha.

Ryleigh leading some of the older girls in our Ward in the "bunny hop". She thought she was so BIG!!

Here's the girls with some of their friends. We've been very fortunate to be involved with such a good group of friends and such a wonderful school.

A LITTLE DRAGON BASKETBALL WITH OUR FAVORITE PLAYER #20

Christmas in Memphis~2011

We were lucky enough to have 8 extras join us for Christmas this year. We don't get many visitors so we're always so excited to have extras...especially for Holidays. My parents, Alyson's family & Reiley all flew in on the 23rd and the excitement began right away with a visit to GUS's fried chicken---YUM!!!! The following morning Cara was baptized, a little shopping was done and then of course the cooking began. We celebrated Christmas Eve mexican style...kind of a Hooper family tradition. Unfortunately I was a little busy and forgot to get the pinata out-guess I won't have to buy one for next year....

After dinner we opened up Grandma Shauna and Grandpa Dave's presents...and we were all surprised with a pre-vacation to our Disney Cruise vacation with a 3 day Orlando vacation. We're all so excited we can hardly stand it!!!! The kids of course got their Children's Place jammies and then headed off to bed so Mommy and Daddy could start more craziness with Santa.

Christmas morning in our Sunday Christmas best with Grandma and Grandpa~This was taken after church-the kids were up the stairs quickly to change so they could get started on their Santa gifts.

Grandpa did very well this year....look at this beautiful ring my Dad got my Mom. I love it!!!

For Christmas we (us kids) decided to take our shirts from our last Disney vacation, this past summer, and have them made into a quilt. My sister Natalie made it and did an AMAZING job....she far outdoes me in the talent/craft/everything department!!!! After Christmas was over we hung out, went to LOTS of movies, out for BBQ, did the touristy stuff, shopped, went to basketball games........dot, dot, dot

We were sad to see our Memphis Christmas come to an end....It was so nice to have family in town.....most of all it was so nice to see my kids make memories with their cousins, aunt, uncles & cousins. Here's Isaac giving Evan a hug goodbye...so cute!!

Cara's Baptism

12~24~2011

Not only was Cara lucky enough to have her Grandma and Grandpa Hooper and her Markham family at her baptism but she was able to be baptized on the 24th-the eve of the birth of our Savior. It couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great time to take a break from the Holiday craziness and reflect on the gospel and the blessings it brings to us. Cara's Aunt Alyson spoke on Baptism and her Grandma Shauna spoke on the Holy Ghost...they both did great!!! It was the first (and not the last) time that Cara heard the "head, shoulder, knees & toes" saying about modesty. All in all it was a perfect day. We're so proud of Cara and for the decision she made to be baptized.