Alea Turned FOUR

Well, Alea had her birthday party in Amarillo while we were there, she is now officially FOUR. We were, once again, so blessed to be around family and she was made to feel so loved by everyone she cried to go back to Amarillo the first night we were home. The Cooprider family wanted a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party (it's kind of a Cooprider tradition) and since I'm a CEC alumni I like to go also. We met them there on the busy graduation day and had some great fun and yummy pizza. Afterward Nana, Lala, Alea and I went to the mall to get some new earrings and princess accessories to celebrate. On the Perkins side: Alea and her cousin, Gideon, have the same birthday and we decided weeks ago to do a combined party. It was a boxing/princess party-no not box the princess. The big event was the trampoline. The girls dressed up in princess dresses (thanks Miriam!) and twirlled to princess music, softly, sweetly, controlled on the trampoline. In contrast, the boys put on hulk/boxing gloves and duked it out on the trampoline. We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and had an all around great time!

Shew . . . we are now home and are so happy to have another member to our family for three weeks: Josiah, my nine year old nephew!

Alea's Ear Piercing

Alea has been asking us for months if she can get her ears pierced. It all started when she went to the Daddy Daughter Dance, she wasn't quite ready then, so we said that she could just wait it out until she was really ready. Well, she was ready for her fourth birthday! We talked her three Amarillo cousins into getting their ears pierced with her "for her birthday" and it was quite the afternoon. Greg and I thought it would be a great mind distracter to get them giant swirly succors so that they would focus on that and it was a great re-focus tool! Alea went first, "because I am SO brave" and she set the bar really high because all she did was blink a little hard when they pierced her ears. August was next and she did wonderful, she squealed and said "Ouch, that hurt!", let about two tears out of each eye and then was fine after all her family clapped excitedly for her. Next came Miriam and she did as good-if not better-than Alea, a blink and it was over. Samara was awesome also, she blinked a few times but was not too fazed. They all did so wonderful-the moms were more nervous than they were, I think-and now they have this awesome memory together, not to mention they can now get matching ear rings. I'm so proud of you four girls!!

Brent's Graduation!

We have just returned from Amarillo where we watched Greg's brother, Brent, walk the stage for his high school graduation. We had such a great trip and it was jam-packed with visiting and celebrating. We are so proud of Brent and his accomplishments thus far in his life. We sat there proudly as we remembered our big day of high school graduation (um, twelve years ago) and how great if felt to have the support of both of our loving families. I know Brent will be successful with what ever he decides to do with his life and we look forward to being a part of it! Congratulations Brent we are so proud of you and wish you success and blessing with your next journey in life!

Pella’s Tulip Time

We attended our second annual Tulip Time Festival in Pella, IA Saturday May 9th. We had such a wonderful time. The kids enjoyed riding the bus, eating special food, looking around the town on the back of a tractor and smelling the tulips. Benton would take a big sniff and lean back, waving his hand in front of his nose, and say "shew-wee". It was really funny. We stayed for the LONG parade and Greg and I got sun burned but we had so much fun just being together. We look forward to next year's Tulip Festival!

Happy Mother's Day 2009

What a great opportunity to celebrate one of the most important people in our lives-our Mom! For my Mother’s Day, as many mothers out there, the biggest treat is for me to be released from motherhood duties for the entire day. This struck me as ironic today, being Mother’s Day and all, that actually the rest of the 364 days of the year should be Mother’s Day and this should be celebrated as the Non-Mother’s Day. Follow??? The act we are celebrating, motherhood (as an action), is completely denied and gladly given up on this one day of the year. Maybe it’s just this stage of life when my mothering is so prominent and my children still require so much care. I have enjoyed an entire day of non-motherhood—Thanks Greg for stepping in and being such a great Dad on this Mother’s Day, I feel so blessed and loved!

Here’s to the most obvious moms in my life.

My Mom: Thanks for your example in every area of life!! I can see the Lord shining through you in all areas of your life. It’s a huge goal for me to strive to be like you, but everyday I try. Thanks for sacrificing for me and taking the time to invest in my life, it was an investment worth making and I acknowledge and thank you for that. You are the mom that is always there, always has words of wisdom and encouragement, always puts your children at a high priority and always brings peace, comfort and contentment. You are MY friend, MY mama and I LOVE YOU. Happy Mother’s Day!

My Mother-in-law Cooprider: Without you I wouldn’t have such a great husband and without you we wouldn’t have such wonderful children. In essence, without you, I wouldn’t be a mother, so I thank you for the opportunity to be a mom-that’s what I always wanted to be! I see the sacrifice you have made for your children-staying home and home schooling to name a few-and I know the benefits will be reaped for years to come. I am a better person for knowing you, I love you and am so blessed to be in your family. Happy Mother’s Day!

My Mother-in-law Meyers: Thank you so much for your encouraging words regarding my mothering they are heart-felt and appreciated. Your example of mothering, through your own children, has been a reflection of love and selflessness that every mother strives for. It means so much to me how you love my family and stepped into Greg’s life with enthusiasm and love-all those years ago. You are a great example of a mother, friend and gramma and I love you. I am so honored to be in your family! Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there-we have such an important job, the best job . . . motherhood.

Spring, We Welcome YOU

The splendor and beauty is all around us-it is spring. We embrace you, we welcome you! We cherish your longer days, warm rains, cook outs and picnics-spring. May you bring smiles, laughter, health and warm sunshine-oh spring. Melt away the memories of our long months of bitter winter-it is spring. Let us bask in your warmth and inhale your sweetness-spring. The birds join us in our welcoming of spring, they sing and rejoice-yeah, it’s spring. Another page has turned and we are glad to see it go, our ghostly white complexions are quickly fading to golden brown and we just can’t get enough of you-oh SPRING!

Alea's Tumbling Recital

Our little tumbler had her recital May 1 and 2. She did so good! We did not realize how big of a production the recital was. I thought we’d be there about an hour and we’d see some cute little dancing and tumbling. Well . . . two hours into the REHEARSAL, we snuck out and took Greg and Benton home so Benton could go to bed. Alea and I returned in plenty of time for her part in the big production. It really made her (and me) feel like we are a part of something big. The studio she attends has around 130 students in two (or three) locations and they all had a part, or multiple parts, in the production. Alea did her somersaults, cart wheels, head stands and blow up saxophone playing like a pro and took a nice big bow at the end of the finale. She got called across the stage to get a certificate of congratulations for her first recital. She looked so little up on that big stage. Alea, we are so proud of you may we always encourage you to follow your dreams!