COOL ZOO DAY

The week after school got out it was beautifully overcast. We say that here in AZ, because the cloud coverage offers us some relief from the sun! So a group of our friends decided to make a trip to the zoo. My kids were more interested in the potato bugs and snails, found along the trail.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/FIRST DAY OF SUMMER

All three of the kids had their last day of school on May 21st!! Summer has officially begun! We started it with a fun BBQ with our friends and a swim party! The water in the pool is still a bit cold, but the kids didn't seem to notice. What could be better than swimming, grilling and fun? We are so grateful for such good friends!!

AWARDS NIGHT 2009

Kamarin was selected by her Language/Arts teacher to receive the Outstanding Student Award. We were sooo excited when they called her name at the award assembly. It was hosted in the school gymnasium. She was given a medallion which she wore proudly, the next day to school. We are so proud of her efforts in school. She really tries hard and goes the extra mile in all of her classes! Way to go Bug!!

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS SOUND IS?

We are sooo excited to finally announce that we are expecting another little Hoopes! I am about 13 weeks pregnant and as you can hear...have a baby with a healthy heart beat growing inside me. We waited to tell the kids until today! They are so tickled!! The boys are hoping for a boy and the girls are hoping for a girl...so place your bets! These ultrasound pix are just quick ones that the doctor's office did for me to show the kids. You can't really tell what is what, but I swear that there are two arms, two legs, fingers and toes, and a huge head! The due date is around November 24th. Now my kids know that their mother really isn't lazy, just really nauseated and tired! I have been so sick for the last 2 months and haven't been able to tell them why! So, now you all know too!

FATHER & SONS CAMPOUT 2009

I have been falling behind in my blogging lately. Some of it has to do with the fact that Branden now works from home...and the computer is in his office. So, if I want to work on my blog or pay bills or check emails, I have to do it very quietly....shhhhh! He is usually on a conference call or something else of equal importance.
So, with that being said....I am trying to catch up! The boys went on the Father & Sons Camp out a couple of weekends ago. Park and Everett look forward to this special time with their Dad. This year Grandpa Hoopes went along for the ride too! They had a great time! Pay close attention to how filthy dirty my boys get! They love that I am not there, to tell them to wash up and comb hair. This is guy time at its best!

EGGS...BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!

My kids love Easter! They love to get Easter baskets and paint eggs...we painted 3 dozen hard boiled eggs this year! Everett makes each egg an individual masterpiece. Kamarin writes on the eggs in her teenage code the initials of the boys she likes. Parker is slow and meticulous, painting one egg to everyone elses three. We had a fun egg hunt at our friends the Bast's. Then, we relaxed on the lawn! In between all of the festivities we tried to focus on the reason for celebrating Easter. Of course, Parker our thinker wanted to know what eggs had to do with Jesus! We are grateful for Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection!