Merry Christmas from The Coopers

We would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! May God bless and keep through 2009!

Spending Time with Family

We sure have enjoyed having Jerry's family home from Florida this week! Alan and Janelle and their kiddos came to visit, so we've been taking advantage of having some family time. Last night us Cooper kids (us big ones) decided to leave the kids with Mamaw and Papaw and go spend some time together. If I am remembering right, I can't think of a time all of the siblings and their spouses have went out (without the kids) and had some fun, so it was about time : ). First stop was Texas Roadhouse which was very yummy and then we stopped a couple other places : ) One was boring ole Wal-Mart, but the other place was...let's just say we will keep that place undisclosed, HA! No we didn't go to the bar, so all of you that are thinking that, can wipe that thought from your mind, LOL! While we were away the kids enjoyed playing games and decorating Christmas cookies with Mamaw and Papaw. Thanks so much for watching the kids Reed and Betty so we could go and enjoy some "grown up time".

L to R: Janelle, Alan, Tony, Elizabeth, Janiece & Jerry

Mamaw instructing the girls how to make more frosting!

I think Kallee spent more time licking the frosting and sprinkles from her
fingers than actually decorating the cookies :)

Courtney making a mini ice cream cone

Some of the finished products!

The boys enjoying a game of Life

After leaving Mamaw & Papaw's, the older girls decided to come home with us a brave the cold! We pulled out the hide-a-bed that is in Kallee's room and heated it up with the heating blanket. They said they stayed warm, but getting out of the warm bed and coming downstairs to the cold was a rude awakening : )

Kallee & Courtney catching some zzz's

It's Christmas Time Here, Ya'll

Christmas has arrived here at our house! Since we will be hosting Christmas with Jerry's family here on the 24th and then heading to MI, we decided to let the kids open their gifts early. They of course went for that idea, HA! We were very blessed to find most of their gifts on Ebay or on the sales racks, so... We've never been the type of parents to spend a ton on Christmas presents (I know, we're just terrible), but the kids don't have to know that : ) We want them to get nice things, but we also want them to know that Christmas isn't all about the gifts! I try and buy little things here and there all year long, that way we don't' have to do it all in December. Most of my shopping is usually done by the end of the summer, but this year that didn't happen. I was able to get most of it complete by the first part of the month, so I didn't feel too overwhelmed. I received WAY TO MUCH from my hubby (scrapbook items, Chonda DVD's, flag pole, boots, etc.), but I am thankful for everything he bought me. Since my b-day is the day after Christmas, he let me open that gift too and it was a... RED PURSE! I've been eyeing them for awhile, but couldn't bring myself to spending the $30 on myself. Glad I didn't, cause that gave him a gift to buy me for my b-day and he got it for less than $30, YEA! Anyways, we were blessed again this year and hope to be good enough throughout the new year, so we will get something next year, HA!

Keegan excited to be 2nd in line to open his presents.

Keegan got: some clothes, a couple PS2 Football Games (thanks to Game Exchange), a fan for "his side" of the room (thanks to the travling sales men that go from business to business), a steering wheel for his PS2, a new pillow (I know, kind of boring, but he needed one), some roller blades that I have had in the closet forever, etc.

After getting this Webkinz for his birthday, I thought the poor thing needed some clothes. I got on Ebay and man do they have some cute clothes for these silly things. He got a football outfit and a police man outfit for "Frogger".

Keegan with the Bat-Man car he begged for, for his b-day and didn't get. That's cause I knew I was buying it for him for Christmas : )

Poor Talon is always the last kid to open his gifts, I guess that is one of the
disadvantages of being the oldest : (

Talon received: a mini MP4 player w/ a touch screen (thank you Ebay : ), some shoes, a set of Acoustic Guitar Chord Cards, a new pillow, some clothes, etc.
He is a typical 12-yr. kid, he loves clothes!

Kallee all smiles after opening the Barbie Talon bought her with his own $$$.

Kallee with all her stuff: Dora furniture, Princess helmet and pad set, her pink Ji-Jar (guitar) she requested, a sun dress and sandals for this summer, etc.

These little furniture pieces are SO cute! She received the "Dora Talking House" for her birthday from some friends of ours, so... she needed the furniture for it. I was able to get 6 different rooms for $15 on Ebay, YEA! They normally sell for $9.99 each.

Kallee trying out her Princess bike helmet and pads, she can't wait to go on
a bike ride this spring!

Jerry checking out his WWII movies.

Daddy trying on his new tennis shoes!

Me and my new red bag, thank you baby!

Courtney came to visit today, so I decided to pull out the crafts I bought last year and let "the girls" paint them. The boys were too busy doing "boy stuff" and didn't want to paint, so I thought this would be a great activity for them to do together. I actually bought them last year (like 75-80% off) so the kids could make one for Nana and Mamaw, but since I don't think Mom is going to need any Christmas decorations this year... : ) As you can see, Kallee didn't need any help, so her's turned out very pretty.

The finished products

Our First Gingerbread House

This year we made our first attempt at making a gingerbread house. It turned out pretty cute and has stayed together so far : ) I bought it last year like 90% off, so I don't know if it will be any good to eat later on, but at least it is cute. Many of the "decorations" were ate before they actually made it on the house and those that did get on the house, a lot of them are gone (thanks to little Miss Kallee, grrrr)! Oh well, it will be all torn apart and ate within a few days anyways so...

Yes I'm Alive

Yes I am alive, I've just been busy like the rest of the country. We have had a lot going on around the Cooper household, so I will try and catch you up on all the details.

After Thanksgiving my Dad came to visit and we had a wonderful time while he was here. We were so happy that he decided to stay for a few days at our house and that he stayed here in IN for almost 2 weeks. The kids love having Papa here, he is like a big kid for them to play with. Kallee kept him playing games for almost 2 days straight, but he never complained, he just kept playing them over and over and over : ) He of course chased the kids up and down the steps and all through the house, Jerry wasn't home (of course) while this was going on, or it wouldn't have went on : ) The kids would hide and Dad would have to find them, this was a fun game that lasted for quite awhile. He came downstairs once and said "I can't find them any where", so I went with him "on the hunt" and we finally found them all sitting in our shower : ) He tried to open the door to pull them out, but those little stinkers held the door shut. To lure them out, he grabbed a washcloth and filled it full of cold water and started to "give them a shower"

up over the top.

Papa explaining how to play Hi-O-Cherry-o to Kallee

Playing the Oreo Memory game

Papa chasing the Keegan around the dining room and going under the table to get Kallee : )

While he was here, we enjoyed the kid's school plays, they were very good. The lower learning center was my favorite, it was called "All I Want for Christmas". It was directed by Sarah Fry and Angie Spangler, what an awesome job they did! The middle learning center performed "Christmas Comes to Grandpa", they did a nice job!

Keegan loved his costume, it looked uncomfortable to me, but he thought it was great! It was made by Janae Waggoner, she did an awesome job!

Keegan "sleeping" during the part where the toys all go back to being just toys.

Team Galaxy Figures - Jacob Huffer, Kyler Gardner & Keegan

L to R: "Grandpa Brown" A.K.A. Jonathan Durgan, Tyler Brant, David Gilbert, Connor Watson and Talon A.K.A. Tommy

We also enjoyed the Frankfort Christmas parade, which was very cold. I opted to sit in the van with Dad while Jerry and Kallee stood outside so they could get as much candy as possible : ) Our school participated in this parade for the first time and...they won 1st place, YEA!!! Our float was titled "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and was created by Kevin & Beth Wilhelm, they did a wonderful job!

Janae Waggoner was "Mary"

Talon was one of the wisemen on the float and Keegan was one of the children listening to the "Greatest Story Ever Told"!

This is the back of the float as it went past us, very pretty!

Since then...Talon has started his play practices at the library, which there will be 8 practices in the month of December and approximately 10 in January before the actual performance. He snagged the part of "Templeton the rat" in this season's "Charlotte's Web". We are very proud of him, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a part of the Clinton County Children's Civic Theater!

We've been to the doctors and had yearly checkups for the boys and they are "fit as a fiddle", whatever that means, HA! They have 10" different in their height and 36.5 lbs. different in their weight. Talon has grown 5" this year, so now I know why he started the year in size 10 and is now in size 14, ugh!

Last weekend was our church Christmas programs, but we were un-able to be here : ( We didn't realize we had something already on our calendar for that weekend, until we told Bro. Mowery to use that weekend for the program. Jerry & I are the assistants in the 6-9 year old class, so they always ask us teachers our opinion on when we should have the program. We did however enjoy our weekend get-away in Cadillac, MI! Jerry's district manager bought resort packages for all of us in her district, so we took full advantage of our free stay at McGuire's Resort! She even made sure our meals and drinks were taken care of, whoo hoo! I really think she should give us "agents" that don't drink those sparkly drinks an extra $100 to shop with, HA! Some of the agents probably drank close to $100 in drinks while we enjoyed Mt. Dew and Dt. Pepsi. Oh well, at least we didn't end up with a headache all weekend and puking, LOL. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together; we slept in, did a little shopping and enjoyed each others company. The kids enjoyed their fun-filled weekend in TN with Mamaw and Papaw! They figured they might as well use their Dolly Wood season passes one more time, before they expired. Mamaw and Papaw had a surprise waiting for them this time around, they all went to Dixie Stampede! Mamaw said Kallee was in awe of everything going on around her. She said her little eyes danced when baby Jesus came down from the sky, wish I could have been there to see it. Thanks Reed and Betty for taking the kids with you and making memories with them!

Since the weekend, we've enjoyed our churches Christmas dinner and a day off of school (due to ice). We will enjoy a little Christmas get-to-gather with our small groups tonight and then onto Christmas next week. Wow, where has the month of December went?!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Banes

Well yesterday was the day for Elizabeth (my sister-in-law) and Tony! We were very pleased and honored to be among those invited to their wedding. It was a very small, yet beautiful wedding. Her daughter Courtney was her Maid-of-Honor and Tony's friend Jim was his Best-Man. Kallee was the flower girl and Lane, Elizabeth's son, walked her down the aisle and gave her away. We are VERY happy for the both of you, we wish you a life-time of happiness! May God bless your marriage and keep you always and FOREVER!!! Hope you two have a great time on your honeymoon and we will make sure the kids have some fun while you are gone. ***They were really brave and asked me to take pictures, so below are a few of the 200+ pictures I took, enjoy!

Little Miss Kallee did a great job!

Lane walking his Mommy down the aisle

Saying their vows

"Sand Ceremony" -- Blending two lives into one

May I introduce to you... Mr. & Mrs. Tony & Elizabeth Banes



Courtney, Elizabeth, Tony & Lane

Lane & Courtney

Kallee and her Aunt Biz-bis (as Kallee calls her)

Kallee & Courtney -- Kallee thinks Courtney is the greatest thing since sliced bread : )

Elizabeth's grandma Hysel and Courtney made the cakes, they were very
pretty and VERY yummy!


Our Little Angel

This one shouts -- "I'm a little stinker" : )

"And two shall become one"