Cooper Family--2009

You have to take advantage of a photo opportunity when the entire family is together because there's no telling when everyone will be in the same city at the same time again. During the week of Christmas we had this opportunity and gathered all of the Coopers together to take a few pictures. Here's what the family looked like in December of 2009. (There will be a few major changes--new babies--in the next few months, but we just won't all be together then!)

The Fam

The Girls

The Boys

The Boys--Joking Around

Steve-o and Lou

Melodee and Stephen

Stephen, Mel, & Kyle

Liz and Jon
Julia and Jordan

Rebecca and Chris

West Side Whities--and Liz

Happy New Year to all. May 2010 be a wonderful, exciting, and eventful year for each of you--we know it will be for us!!!

Mr. Potato Head

Well, we're back in Miami. I was SO happy to get off the plane and step into an air-conditioned airport. I swear they had the heater running on the plane, which didn't help my mood in trying to stop Kyle from having his several crying/screaming meltdowns. I'm ready for someone to hurry up and invent a transporter.

It's been a busy few days since getting back, so I've been slow on updating the blog. Here's what's kept me busy: a MAJOR grocery shopping trip, unloading suitcases, loads of laundry/ironing, finding places for all the Christmas presents, starting to weed out and purge old items to make space, and putting away Christmas decorations. I haven't even gotten around to the cleaning I need to do. Man, it's amazing how much more tired I get so much more quickly! You would think I was pregnant/trying to chase after a rambunctious 2-year-old or something.

We had a wonderful time over our Christmas break and I wish we didn't have to leave. I think Kyle is glad to be home and back to his own bed, toys, books, though. We'll just have to look forward to the time when "home" isn't so far away!

Here's a couple of pictures of Kyle playing with his Mr. Potato Head.

The Amazing Cooper Race

Later on Christmas day, the "Clipboard of Fun" had us going on an amazing race around Houston. Steve-o and Lou put together an awesome game for us to play--fun, free, and challenging.

We split into 2 teams: 1) Jordan, me, Rebecca, and Jon; 2) Stephen, Chris, Liz, and Julia.

Our first clue was a crossword puzzle, which we had to use to fill in the blanks of the clue to tell us to go to the neighborhood park for our next envelope. My team made it to the park first, but could NOT find the clue. The other team got there, and we were all running around this playground like crazy. The other people there were seriously concerned with what was going on. Finally, I found the clue--taped to the sign at the front of the park. It sent us to the end of the street to open a box and follow the directions.

We had to put together a puzzle and find our next clue on the back. That clue told us to go to the church building and look at the dumpster. We were sure our team was in the lead, but the other team was already at the church AND found the clue before we even parked!!!

The dumpster clue told us to find the key under the mat and search the church building. Luckily, it was nearly impossible to find. We had to call and get more information. The next clue told us to open another package, which was a ball. Every team member had to make 3 free throw shots before opening the next envelope. Stephen's team beat us on the challenge.

Next we had to travel to the corner of 2 streets and search for the clue at a bus stop. It told us to open another package, which had golf equipment inside, and go to the practice putting field at the golf course nearby. Each team member had to make both a 5 and 10 foot putt. We pulled ahead, thanks in part to me only having to hit 2 putts, and headed for our next destination. Unfortunately, we took a wrong turn on the way there and ended up back in 2nd place.

The next stop was a park with a disc golf course. We had to play the first 3 holes, rotating turns, and averaging par at each hole. We barely made it, but were still way behind. Thanks to the other team catching a long red light, we pulled up behind them on the way to our next stop: a park with little league fields. Jordan took a short cut--a good one this time--and we got to the fields before the other team. They were the wrong fields, though, so we hopped back in the car while Jordan ran on foot to the next complex. We passed Stephen's team on the way, thinking they'd already found the clue, but when Jon found the envelope spot in one of the press boxes, there were still 2 there!

We had to open a package with charcoal and fixin's for hot dogs, grill them, and each team member had to eat a hot dog with mustard and relish on the bun. As we were starting our fire, the other team pulled up to the press box, but sped past us without stopping to grill. We thought this was strange, but kept on with our task.



The next clue said to look under a trash can by the mascot of the University of Colorado. When we were searching for the clue, we saw Stephen's team running over to tennis courts with gear and just knew they must have cheated--how could they have grilled/eaten their hot dogs so quickly and already be on the next task???

We kept going, though, and followed the directions to another street within the park. We came to a problem, however, when this street was blocked off, due to flooding. We called Steve-o, who told us to by-pass some clues..a bicycle challenge and the tennis thing we saw the other team doing...and go look for some clues at different business locations. We had to call him back with information to receive our next instructions.

He sent us to a cemetary and on a hiking trail to search for the first set of birdhouses with 2 birdhouses on the same post. That clue sent us to Church's Chicken to add up prices of 5 items. After completing that task, we were sent to one of his friend's homes for our next clue.

There we found a sewing challenge. Each team member had to thred a needle and sew on a button correctly before receiving the next clue. We completed the challenge, but hadn't seen the other team since the park. We were told to go to the pit stop, but had no idea what we would find there.

Can you believe it? Our team came in first place!!!


Stephen's team opened the wrong package, skipped a bunch of clues, and ended up having to go all the way back to the park and start over from the hot dog challenge, puting them in second place.


There wasn't a million dollar prize or anything, but we all had a blast! I hope we can add this to the list of Cooper Family Christmas Traditions!

Christmas Morning

"Oh, WOW! Sa-Sa-Santa Caus!"


We had a wonderful, crazy, exciting Christmas morning. Kyle woke up just like any other morning, but was excited that Santa ate the cookies we left out the night before. Then he wanted his own cookie.

We had the traditional Christmas breakfast of hot chocolate and egg, ham, and cheese sandwiches and then read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Everyone then shared a testimony of Christ/gave thanks for all our blessings and we opened presents...one by one.

Kyle got to start and was quite excited about opening his presents--and helping everyone else-- but soon lost interest and was running all over the house/playing with the trimmings and trappings from everyone's gifts.

We continued on without him. Here's a sampling....

Some Aggie OR caps and an Aggie cap for the new baby:

Lots of golf stuff:

Cookware:
Gifts for women that make men happy, too:

We also had some personalized gifts from the heart.

Stephen and I made these for everyone:
I took/found pictures that looked like letters and spelled out a personalized message for each couple.
("Oh, they say 'Cooper!'")
*Liz and Jon's is "Family."

Our very last present to open was also something quite special. Over the last five months, Steve-o and Lou have collaborated on compiling a book of stories called "A Day in the Life," which includes stories from his life as well as things they've experienced together and with each of the children. My favorite type of gifts are those that are personal! I told my parents--especially my Dad--that they need to work on making their own memoir for next Christmas!

I love Christmas and was so glad to get to spend it with Stephen's family. I really get sad about living so far away from my side, but we just have one more year in Northern South America and will be much closer and have (hopefully) many more resources to make the distance much more bearable. Merry Christmas to all. I hope everyone's holiday was a merry as ours!

The Night Before Christmas

After Christmas Eve dinner at Pappadeaux, we drove around to look at Christmas lights. Then, the traditional Christmas Eve pajamas were passed out. Kyle's were awesome!

Then, we got on to opening stockings. Each year, we draw names for a "secret Santa" and fill the stocking of another family member. You can be funny or serious, and everyone tries to guess who drew their name. It's a fun evening, full of laughter.

Kyle's stocking was overflowing, thanks to being filled by several "elves."


Rebecca's first experience with stockings was quite thrilling! (Jordan threw in some awesome medical stuff he brought home from work, along with her fav's--cereal and popcorn.)



Chris got some real "winners." I especially loved the Divino Nino candle! (Stephen had him.)



Liz's stocking got some of the hardest laughs, thanks to an old family joke. She also got a Divino Nino candle. (I had her...Stephen and I must have been on the same wavelength.)


Jordan scored many of his favorite snacks, as well as some items to help him get ready to welcome a new baby. (Jon did a good job!)


Chris drew Julia's name--I never would have guessed that one correctly!


Julia fooled us all on Stephen's stocking. He put condoms on his stocking wish list...as a joke..and she actually bought them!!! Stephen also got the standard Slim Jim and beef jerkey all the other boys had.


Timee filled my stocking, but I had no idea because both Stephen and Julia put some goodies in there. I especially loved the re-gift heart necklace one of her students gave her. (sarcasm intended.)



Liz had Jon, which helped to ensure he got just want he wanted.


Steve-o drew Lou's name and got her some of her favorite stuff!

Rebecca did a great job on Steve-o's stocking...the drink boxes and signed golf balls were awesome!



Opening stockings is one of my favorite Cooper Christmas traditions!

We read Christmas stories with Kyle, put him to bed, and waited for Santa to come the next day!



Just think, Jordan and Julia, next year you can actually take a Christmas Eve picture with your own child!