The Annual Hooper Christmas Party!

Every year it gets bigger and better. You can always count on decorating some sort of treat, the kids making a homemade ornament, a mean game{not kidding} of pictionary; guys vs. girls, and of course tons of good food and family. This year we had a surprise visitor.

Logan, of course played it cool. He is 11 going on teens.



Now, this one surprised me. Addie our little usual social butterfly, wouldn't have anything to do with them unless Grandpa sat with her.

Taggert wouldn't sit on his lap until he noticed he had a present for him.

I guess all that talk about stranger danger really, kind of worked.

This just makes me laugh. Drexton just couldn't take his eyes off of him. He just kept nodding his head and saying yes.

Yes, this is Brad smiling! And this is him committing to Santa to take me out every other week {because babysitters can get expensive}, after I told Santa all I wanted was more quality time with my husband.

Family pic with the Big Guy!

He was so nice and patient.

Drexton wanted to know where did Santa go?

We make gingerbread cookies.

Here's the last 2 weeks!

Despite if the mom feels good or not, life with 4 kids must go on, right!?!?
I'm really looking forward to the next two weeks/with the kids and fam/holiday/vacation/not paid. Seriously, no dentist/ortho appts/school/dance/appts/church act./carpooling/etc. Just stayin in and relaxin. Which is what I should've been doing the last 2 weeks anyways. But hey, those of you that do know me so well, know that I'm always running late. (That should be a great New's Year goal!)

Gingerbread house contest at Grandma & Grandpa Brower's. Ours is still standing even after the ride home from Lehi, thanks to the engineering genius in our family (a.k.a. Brad).


Christmas did get put up the weekend of Thanksgiving. Thanks to the 3 hours I guess I had to spare just putting up the tree and lights. Then the 10 minutes it took the kids to put the ornaments on. Thank goodness they are all at different height levels so it looks a little even. But hey, if anyone has a prelit tree they are dying to get rid of, I just might be willing to trade.










































I love our ornaments, they are all homemade!


This is what's going on post-surgery. The kids and Brad have been so good to help around the house and do whatever is asked. It does help that the elves are also watching.









Logan, helping the computer illiterate mom.












Addie found out vacuuming could be a workout.







Taggert probably does a better job than I do.





















And here's why they are all cleaning!






























Making frosting for Logan's 6th grade class, for gingerbread houses.

Yes, I'm here, barely!

I say barely because I feel like I'm not all mentally here. (On percocet). Close second to the Morphine button in my hand after surgery.
I finally had surgery December 2, supposed to be a same day scope, turned out to be a 3-day, cut me open surgery. But yeah, they did find something. They took out my right ovary and tube which was wrapped with vericose veins, tied the right off, coterized the uterus and found endometrial tissue above the uterus to biopsy. Basically I was cut in half, filled with gas, gutted, and sown back up. I also apparently have anemia, my hematicrit was so low they almost gave me a blood transfusion. I hate to sound so negative, but it hurts!! Worse than the c-section 11 1/2 years ago. I've cried myself to sleep every night on the couch, (I can't get in or out of my bed yet), since I've got home.
On the flip side, I am so grateful for my husband, kids, and family and friends who have picked up the slack of housework, carpooling, babysitting, dinners, phone calls, and prayers. And the D.P. Jaime was very tasty! I love you all so much!! I can't think of a better time of year actually to have down time. What a season to reflect and realize how much I do have. The only thing I want for Christmas now is to feel good, even if just for one more day.