Thursday, May 29, 2008

Showing Off

So much has been happening with Laex it's amazing. It seems that once they hit a certain stage everything just takes off.
*He finally has two teeth - at his 9 month check-up the doc. said, "I see one breaking through" and now he has two! (I know - most kids his age have at least four by now!)
*He dances any time music comes on
*He's learned how to give kisses - lets just hope that before he gets much older he'll learn that the open mouth and tounge sticking out aren't exactly going to attract the girls;)
*He waves bye-bye (this one was on the run:)

and yesterday he decided he didn't want cousin Avi to out-do him, he took his first steps on his own, boy are we going to be in trouble! (He's such a stinker that everytime we take out the camera he just plops down on his bum - so we'll get the action eventually)

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memorial Day!

So, we spent our memorial day getting much done around the house. LeGrand gets frustrated with me because I just want it all done NOW! But, truth is it just takes time and it is coming along quite nicely - I'll post some pics later.

Anyway, I think memorial day is such a special day to celebrate. I have many memories of visiting Grandma and Grandpa Hoopes graves in the White Rocks Cemetary. Now I also have a dear Aunt burried there. Although we didn't get to go visit this year I took the day yesterday to keep them on my mind. They are people who should never be forgotten. Grandpa Hoopes was a vetren. He was such a kind, gentle caring man. He passed when I was in the 5th grade, he is much like my father. Grandma Hoopes was someone I never had the opportunity to meet. She passed away when my father was just 21, he had just returned from his mission. I feel like I know her because of all the stories I've been told about her, and I'm lucky enough to carry her name (Loa). I have always been proud of this and the fact that my dad tells me I am much like her, I feel very close to her and can't wait for the day to meet her. My dear Aunt Marlene was a one-of-a-kind lady. She was so unselfish, always thinking of others. She was a woman of many talents, knitting, crochet, and a fabulous cook - I'll never forget her AMAZING homemade rolls. We spent many dinners at her place. She was also always the one to make us laugh, often times it was at her that we were laughing but she didn't even mind, eventually she would join us and we would laugh till we were crying and our tummys hurt. What a woman!
I also lost a dear cousin when we were just four. And throughout my life I've had many people pass who were dear friends and family members. I'm grateful for the many memories I have of these people and the way they have touched my life.

Monday, May 26, 2008

GRADUATION, a LONG night, and a HOLIDAY!

In the midst of all that is happening at our house we got to take a quick trip to see my little bro graduate High School. He will always be my little brother but the truth is...he isn't really little...in fact, he's much bigger than me! We love you Cade - Congrats and best wishes for the fun future ahead!
**Note the hot pink shoes - Cade and three of his buddies wore hot pink shoes, it was great - we were able to keep track of where they were! - And, they feared the weather would be crappy so the told the kids they didn't have to dress up - how nice~ (I made him a celebration lei - it ended up being a little big...)

This year the high school put on quite an event for the graduating Seniors, in an effort to keep them off the streets they had an all night Party. Well, mom got wrapped in to doing all of the food ( not a surprise, I know) They themed the party like a cruise ship, the decorations were amazing and they had things going on all night. Fear Factor (with a 500 dollar prize), a hypnotist, lots of blow up toys, carnival games, Rock Band, life sized DDR and ended the night with a drawing for some amazing prizes (WII, Laptops, Mini Fridges, TV...grand prize a 4-wheeler) The night was amazing. I got to help mom with the food, it's been a long time since I've pulled and all nighter and it took a couple days to get back to normal!

We had a midnight buffett (complete with shrimp cocktail, wingers wings, pizza from little ceasers, and all of moms home-made cooking - honey bbq wings, bbq meat balls, hot dogs, hot links, hamburgers, nachos, fruit and veggie trays, cheese and craker trays...) Then we had a 3 am dessert bar - choco coverd strawberries and pretzels, byu brownies and eclairs, cream puffs, lemon bars, rice crispie treats, aggie ice cream, cookies, cheesecake bites... it was a great time and they had more than half of the senior class there!
We were able to squeeze in a little family time...Laex and Avi are growning so much they just follow each other around.
Now were home for a day off!!! yeah!!! LeGrand has been working so much it will be nice to get some things done around the house!!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Finishing the good-byes! Goodbye Neighbors and Home!

So this ones combine!

We already miss you neighbors, don't get me wrong our new neighborhood is awesome and we love having our own space. After 5 1/2 years of living so close to people I really gained a sense of security that I wasn't too hype about leaving. Not to mention whenever I needed anything there were people just steps away who could help and they did, a cup of sugar, help with a blessing, watch the kid in an emergency thanks for everything! We miss you! We really made some GREAT friends in the condo.

HOME: - Ya know, home is where you make it! I was attached to that place pretty good. It's where many a dinner/bbq's were spent with friends, we hosted the family there more times than we can count, hauled groceries up 5 flights of stairs once a week, and it's where we brought home our first bundle of joy! So many memories. It was officially our first place and we put lots of sweat equity into making it our own...it truly was our own (and we've already learned from our great neighbors there that the new people have re-painted the WHOLE thing, kinda depressing when I think about all that work - oh well they had to make it their own, right?) If walls could talk, those wall would have so much to say - never a dull moment. I miss you!

Were ALIVE!!

OK..two weeks without the internet in the middle of a construction zone....I'm about to go CRAZY! We're finally back online and I'm dissapointed to say I'm dependent upon this stupid computer. I can't believe the withdrawls I've been going through! In the meantime I've got a lot of catching up to do..stay tuned for pictures and the works. We've been very busy in the new place but it will look fabulous when were done!:)