Happy 34th Birthday Brad!!

You get better looking every year.

I LOVE YOU!!

Grandma Camp 2008!

Every year Grandma & pa Hooper have all the grandkids for a 24-hour period and have Grandma Camp. This year's theme was Grandmaland. So the kids had to line up at the gate with their tickets that were mailed to them, to get into "the happiest place on earth". Then they had souvenier photos taken and a homemade version of Splash Mountain, now called Splash Alley at the Hooper's. Halarious, my dad woke my mom up at 2a.m. thinking of this one. Way to go pops, they got all the parents as they arrived the next day to pick up their now trained employees. We had to ride inside the wagon, guiding ourselves as grandpa pushed as fast as he could as we made our way around the driveway to the back of the house where there was a sprinkler going, Logan on the roof of the shed with another hose ready to spray the heck out of you, but what you couldn't see was all the little kids with buckets of water and grandma ready to take the unexpected photo of the reaction.

After we had dinner, or I should say Park food; Nachos, corn dogs, cotton candy, snow cones; we played games with the kids: Dart throw, ring toss, token on the dish throwing, and of course the infamous whack-a-mole. So fun!! I don't know what was scarier though, the Dad pushing you down the driveway in a wagon threatening not to hit his truck or the fence not knowing what was ahead of you, or that my kids know how to act like carnies now?!

Every year she calls and says, I hope the kids don't expect much, it's not going to be that great. But every year she out does herself! Way to go mom!

Memory Lane

1-As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or alot, anything you remember.

2-Next re-post these instructions on your blog. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a comment, I'll assume you are playing and will check out your blog and leave you a memory.

Everybody play!!

Palisade Pals

So every summer, since I was like 13, my family goes to Palisade State Park down by Manti to demonstrate karate and teach self-defense to handicap kids and their families. Now I've had the chance to take my kids down the last 3 years, and it is amazing! Some of the families there are new, but most of them have been coming all these years. There is not one time I probably haven't smiled through tears at some point while being there, for several reasons. First, I can't fathom the spirit and kindness that they posess. Our family has adopted the name those "special" people. They were definitely sent here to forego Satan's grasp and to teach us for a reason. And second, I know this may sound selfish, but we come home and thank our Heavenly Father for the physical, mental, and social abilities we have. I cannot imagine the patience and time it would take to care for a child in that position, or let alone be one of these special individuals being somewhat trapped trying to communicate your needs and emotions. I want to thank my parents for exposing me to these "special" people early in my life. Through teaching them at Palisades, volunteering at the Special Olympics, and teaching Special Primary with my Dad in my teenage years, my testimony has absolutely grown towards not only these "special" people, but I think towards having compassion to all people. That we are all a child of God, and we are all equal in His eyes.