As I stated before I'm going to start by catching up where I left off in my journal. My last entry was in May 2007, and only that recent because I gave a lesson in Young Women's on journal keeping and felt like a hypocrite, so I made a catch up entry. So, I'll just touch on the main events to get caught up. I went to girl's camp in June. It was the first time I'd spent the night away from Maddix let alone four nights!! I missed him a lot, but I'm glad I got to experience girl's camp again. You don't get to have those week long spiritual highs as an adult, so it was really rewarding. Plus our girl's our truly the best! They are all great, sweet, spiritual, fun girls and just a blast to be around. Also, I made a great friend in the process. I was the assistant camp leader, and the camp leader was the cutest, nicest lady named Vicki Jenkins. Despite our age differences, I sort of felt like we are kindred spirits. We had a lot in common and just loved to talk! I think of Vicki as my favorite new acquaintance in Roosevelt. She actually doesn't live here anymore. She was lucky enough to find love again since her husband passed away and remarried and moved back to where she was from originally. I'm so happy for her, she deserves the best!
Other main events of the summer...there were a lot of firsts for Maddix. It was his first time going to Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, Bear Lake, etc. Ben's little brother Beau got married in July to the sweetest girl name Nicole. Maddix just adores her, as we all do. I couldn't have picked someone better even if I'd chosen her myself. It was a nice wedding in the Vernal temple and the reception was especially nice at "Chantilly Place" aka the Glines' residence. It was nice to have extended family in town for the wedding. Maddix especially enjoyed playing with Aunt Malissa, Uncle Charles, and Amelia. Maddix stole the show when he was dancing!
The rest of the summer flew by of course, and we didn't get to go on vacation until late fall. Ben's family all decided to go back east to visit Malissa's family. We went shortly after Thanksgiving. It was a really fun trip. We got to stay in New Canaan, CT at the Schwart's gorgeous house. We visited the Atlantic Ocean. We also went to NYC. We visited Ellis Island and took a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty. We went shopping in China Town. Later that weekend we were actually able to stay in the city at Hotel QT right off of Times Square, where Malissa worked. It was fun to stay right down town once. We went to "The Lion King" on Broadway which was wonderful! Thanks to Malissa and Charles, the hotel stay and Broadway tickets were our Christmas gift. That's one we'll always remember! It was fun to be there at that time of year because the city was decorated for Christmas. We got to see the huge tree at Rockefeller center. We got to see all the cute Christmas window displays at Macy's. The city seemed magical at this time of year. Malissa and I took a quick trip into Macy's. It was humongous... like seven floors. There was a whole floor just for women's shoes...heaven! We took a stroll through Central Park, and made a special stop at FAO Schwarz toy store for Maddix. It was a very enjoyable trip. Maddix experienced his first time on an airplane (that was Granny Helen's first plane ride too!), train, subway, ferry, and taxi. Good times.
At this time, Ben decided to quit his job at Newfield, the oil company. He decided to pursue construction full time. He actually joined up with another general contractor, Matt Neilsen. So far so good. They've combined work and have been very busy! Ben is a great provider for our family and I'm thankful that he works hard so that I can stay home.
Also at this time, there was a new addition in the Cooper family. My little brother Derek and his wife Betty had a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Kaitlyn Lucy. She's a doll!! It was a fun time of year because Betty is from Mexico City and her parent's have never been to the United States. So, they were able to come and stay for about a month over Christmas time to see the new baby. We got to celebrate Christmas with her parents, Mario and Lucilla. We all love them and enjoyed having them here.
Although it was Maddix's second Christmas, it was the first one where he kind of got the concept of Santa Clause. Well, he at least could recognize him. He would refer to him as "Ho Ho"! He even got to visit him at the Christmas Village in Ogden. That was fun, he was a little scared, but did pretty well with sitting on a stranger's lap. Maddix had fun opening his presents on Christmas morning. He also went sledding for the first time on Christmas Eve at the park by our house. It was a memorable Christmas!
A few weeks later, Ben and I found out that I am pregnant! We waited to tell our families until I was 12 weeks along. That was tough! Meanwhile, Maddix turned 2 and had a birthday party! He got spoiled as usual by all the relatives. It was a "sports" themed party with a birthday cake that looked like a basketball jersey, and Ben and I got him his first basketball hoop. At first he just liked to knock it over and ride on it like a horse. But now, he is actually good at making baskets.
When we finally broke the news to our families, we had Maddix do it with a message on a specially made t-shirt. It has a little turtle on the front that says, "SHHH I have a secret... then on the the back it says, "I'm going to be a big brother!" Maddix will be the best big brother. He has been carrying a baby boy doll around for a several months now. He loves babies, especially baby girls! Maddix has been growing up so fast. He is suddenly speaking really well. He'll try to say almost anything now. He is so much fun to have around.
Well, I think I've hit the main points in a nutshell. That's a relief to be caught up to the present time.
Other main events of the summer...there were a lot of firsts for Maddix. It was his first time going to Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, Bear Lake, etc. Ben's little brother Beau got married in July to the sweetest girl name Nicole. Maddix just adores her, as we all do. I couldn't have picked someone better even if I'd chosen her myself. It was a nice wedding in the Vernal temple and the reception was especially nice at "Chantilly Place" aka the Glines' residence. It was nice to have extended family in town for the wedding. Maddix especially enjoyed playing with Aunt Malissa, Uncle Charles, and Amelia. Maddix stole the show when he was dancing!
The rest of the summer flew by of course, and we didn't get to go on vacation until late fall. Ben's family all decided to go back east to visit Malissa's family. We went shortly after Thanksgiving. It was a really fun trip. We got to stay in New Canaan, CT at the Schwart's gorgeous house. We visited the Atlantic Ocean. We also went to NYC. We visited Ellis Island and took a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty. We went shopping in China Town. Later that weekend we were actually able to stay in the city at Hotel QT right off of Times Square, where Malissa worked. It was fun to stay right down town once. We went to "The Lion King" on Broadway which was wonderful! Thanks to Malissa and Charles, the hotel stay and Broadway tickets were our Christmas gift. That's one we'll always remember! It was fun to be there at that time of year because the city was decorated for Christmas. We got to see the huge tree at Rockefeller center. We got to see all the cute Christmas window displays at Macy's. The city seemed magical at this time of year. Malissa and I took a quick trip into Macy's. It was humongous... like seven floors. There was a whole floor just for women's shoes...heaven! We took a stroll through Central Park, and made a special stop at FAO Schwarz toy store for Maddix. It was a very enjoyable trip. Maddix experienced his first time on an airplane (that was Granny Helen's first plane ride too!), train, subway, ferry, and taxi. Good times.
At this time, Ben decided to quit his job at Newfield, the oil company. He decided to pursue construction full time. He actually joined up with another general contractor, Matt Neilsen. So far so good. They've combined work and have been very busy! Ben is a great provider for our family and I'm thankful that he works hard so that I can stay home.
Also at this time, there was a new addition in the Cooper family. My little brother Derek and his wife Betty had a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Kaitlyn Lucy. She's a doll!! It was a fun time of year because Betty is from Mexico City and her parent's have never been to the United States. So, they were able to come and stay for about a month over Christmas time to see the new baby. We got to celebrate Christmas with her parents, Mario and Lucilla. We all love them and enjoyed having them here.
Although it was Maddix's second Christmas, it was the first one where he kind of got the concept of Santa Clause. Well, he at least could recognize him. He would refer to him as "Ho Ho"! He even got to visit him at the Christmas Village in Ogden. That was fun, he was a little scared, but did pretty well with sitting on a stranger's lap. Maddix had fun opening his presents on Christmas morning. He also went sledding for the first time on Christmas Eve at the park by our house. It was a memorable Christmas!
A few weeks later, Ben and I found out that I am pregnant! We waited to tell our families until I was 12 weeks along. That was tough! Meanwhile, Maddix turned 2 and had a birthday party! He got spoiled as usual by all the relatives. It was a "sports" themed party with a birthday cake that looked like a basketball jersey, and Ben and I got him his first basketball hoop. At first he just liked to knock it over and ride on it like a horse. But now, he is actually good at making baskets.
When we finally broke the news to our families, we had Maddix do it with a message on a specially made t-shirt. It has a little turtle on the front that says, "SHHH I have a secret... then on the the back it says, "I'm going to be a big brother!" Maddix will be the best big brother. He has been carrying a baby boy doll around for a several months now. He loves babies, especially baby girls! Maddix has been growing up so fast. He is suddenly speaking really well. He'll try to say almost anything now. He is so much fun to have around.
Well, I think I've hit the main points in a nutshell. That's a relief to be caught up to the present time.
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