5th Grade Field Trip

I volunteered to go on Alex's field trip to Rock Canyon in Provo and then bowling. When I was driving to the school it was raining and I was pretty sure that we would probably skip the canyon and just go bowling. NOPE!! The teachers said we were going to go ahead as planned.
Here is Alex on the bus with his friends. He didn't even sit by me because he wanted to sit by a cute girl named Lacy!!

As we got into Provo it was SNOWING and then I was SURE they would not make us get out and walk up a canyon looking for buried geographical formations!
WRONG AGAIN...we went ahead and trudged through the canyon in the snow, every one's feet were soaked and cold. I tried to be positive and I just kept telling myself how pretty it looked, because it was beautiful!!
We got back on the buses and headed to the bowling alley.
The kids all bowled in their wet socks and we ate our lunch there. It was pretty chaotic at the bowling alley but the kids had a fun time (even though Alex bowled a 50...with the bumpers)!!!

CHEER Tryouts

The past few days have been very busy for Miss Alexa. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after school she has had Cheer Workshop, learning a dance and cheers for try-outs!! She has practiced a TON and is very anxious for the actual try-out today!!
Stephanie brought over a Good Luck balloon with Kit Kat's and Reese's (Alexa's favorites), Josie also brought over a balloon with some Peeps and I made the notes with the Extra gum for her to give to her friends for Good Luck!! Some of the other girls had the same thing in mind and she got quite a few "good luck" treats!!

Me and Max picked up Alexa, Josie and Paige from school and drove them down to the High School for the try-out!! Max bought her some cotton candy from the dollar store (another one of her favorites) and drew her a picture, he was really excited to give it to her!!
Max took this picture of them just before they went inside...now I have to go home and WAIT IT OUT!! I am very nervous/excited for her!!!

Here is a picture of all the Freshman that tried out, I borrowed this from Alexa's friend!

Alexa got home about 5:30 and was telling me all about the try-out. They put them in groups of 3 or 4 girls and had them "rally on" one at a time and then they all did the dance and band cheer. After everyone was done they called all the Freshman back to do it again together and after that they called Alexa's group in again. She was pretty confident and did the dance great all 3 times!!
NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY POST THE RESULTS ON THE CHEER BLOG!! They didn't give them an exact time when the results will be up so we just keep checking every now and then, some girls said it was like 8pm last year so who knows!!
SHE MADE IT!!!!
She was doing her homework and decided to check and there it was!! She started screaming that she made it so I ran to the screen to take a look and I saw ALL those names and it looked to me like a list of everyone that tried out so I asked her if she read the top part and she didn't...we hurried and read through it and SHE MADE IT!!! They took all but 3 girls.
She spent the next hour or so on the phone and Face Book letting everyone know that she was a SFHS Cheerleader!!! Rich and I helped her out by texting our families, it was a very exciting night and I am SO PROUD OF HER...
even though that means I am old enough to actually have a child that is going to be in High School!!!

Weekend in Logan

We headed up to Logan this weekend and brought Harrison with us. We got to Mom's Friday evening and sat around for a few hours deciding what to have for dinner. We finally decided on El Sol and it was delicious!! We even talked Dave into coming (he claims to hate El Sol) and he said it was really the LAST TIME he would ever eat there!! After that we went back and watched a movie until 3am. Rich went to bed and Alexa went to Melissa's. Saturday morning Rich went on a run and me and Dad went on a "donut run" ours was way funner, I promise!! I CRAVE Shaffer House donuts all the time and I guess it is a good thing that there is NOTHING even comparable to them in the "UC" (Utah County) or else I would literally weigh 400 pounds!! Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls and Maple Bars (I am drooling a little right now)!!! Who's this guy I am posing with??? That would be RICH after I flat ironed his hair!!! His hair is SO LONG now I had to try it!! I like it!! Some of my family didn't even recognize him, they had to do a double take!! We ALL headed downtown to Kenzie, Jake and Brooklyn's piano recital. Monica and I were out in the hall with Max, Owen and Nixon...they are kind of naughty and were too loud, plus there weren't any more seats inside!! We entertained ourselves with Starbursts and taking pictures!! All the Clark kids played wonderfully, they are a talented bunch, I wish I had a piano so my kids could learn!! After the recital we all went to Fredrico's for lunch...also very delicious!!! I love the huge room in back that they have now, the kids played on the stage and were wild hooligans!!! We had a great weekend in Logan and I can't wait til the next trip!!

4.0

What more can I say???

Just one more term to go and she will have "a perfect year!!!" I am SO PROUD!!

Back Handspring!!!

Alex started a gymnastics class last August and he has learned a lot so far. Last month he learned a back flip on the trampoline.

Now he can do a back handspring with no spot. The floor at the gym where he takes lessons is a little bouncy so it is easier for him to do them there but he wanted to show me when we got home.
He did it a few times in the grass for me and then he hurt his wrist a little so I didn't get all the pictures I wanted! I am so proud of Alex for all his hard work and everything that he is accomplishing!!!

D.A.R.E. Graduation

Max and I went to see Alex's D.A.R.E. Graduation at the school this morning. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. I love that they offer this program to the 5th graders, it is so important for them to know what's out there and to make a choice early on not to get involved with drugs and other bad stuff.
Here's Alex getting his certificate from Principal Harlan with Officer Slaymaker and Mr. Bates. Bad picture but it's as good as it gets.

 

I didn't know Alex was getting a special recognition until I read the program. Each teacher picked two students to receive Outstanding DARE Essay and Outstanding DARE Student. Mr. Bates and Officer Slaymaker picked Alex for Outstanding DARE Student. They said this recognition was for the 2 students in each class that were always willing to participate and showed alot of excitement for the program. I am so proud of Alex, he is such a good kid!!

 

Here is Alex with his certificate and award.
I feel really lucky to have such great schools for my kids to attend and for all the important things that they learn. I hope Alex never forgets what he learned in D.A.R.E. so he will stay away from things that are harmful and bad for him!!

As I was leaving the school a lady grabbed my arm and said "I just have to tell you that I love your son, Alex. I have been a room mom for several years and he is just such a great kid. Once he told me that I look like his mom except I have blonde hair and I am older." I have no idea who this mom is but it's always great to hear that other people think your kid is awesome!!

Sunshine

Alexa left for St. George bright and early Friday morning with Josie and her family and Paige. They are going to the "Sunshine Tournament" which is a huge baseball tournament.
Reason for going...baseball = lots of BOYS!!!
They came back Sunday night and she had tons of fun!! The weather wasn't the best but it was a nice little getaway for them. They ate, shopped, ate, watched baseball games, ate, hung out, ate etc. She said they ate alot!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

I had no plans for St. Patrick's Day this year. I woke up today and thought "I am not even going to bother." I was trying to remember what we did last year and realized that we were at Josee Lou's 1st Birthday party and so we did not have a green meal. I decided that I better kick it in gear and bring a little "green" into the day!!

 

Seems weird that one minute I wasn't going to do anything and this is what I ended up with (the biggest celebration yet). I made cards for Rich and the kids. Yes, I made them. I colored them and cut and glued and glittered. They were definitely cheesy but they were made with love!
Yes, I know, very cheesy but it's the truth!!! I love Rich and I love that he is my best friend!!
I went for the green pancakes and eggs again because I knew Alexa wasn't going to eat dinner with us and the boys don't like mac n' cheese.
We were pretty rushed because Alex and I had tickets to see "Hairspray" at Hale Center Theater. Actually Rich and I were supposed to go but since I took Alexa to the Jazz game last night Alex was feeling a little left out so Rich sacrificed his ticket. It was a great production and we had a great time. Rich and Max just hung out at home and Alexa slept at her friend Josie's house.
NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!

A Small Miracle

Today Rich got home pretty late from work and we were already eating. He came and sat down with a folder that said "Tahitian Noni Benefits." I read it and was confused!!

This is a long and complicated story so I will just sum it up the best I can. A few months ago we thought Rich was going to be hired on as a permanent employee, he has just been a "contract employee" since September, meaning no benefits and not great pay. Well Noni decided they didn't have any more money to put into this "side company" and told them they would be shutdown within a month. WOW, that was a bad day!! Now not only was he not getting hired on permanent but may not have a job at all!!! Well over the next few days investors were found and it looked like things would work out, but still no insurance because it would be a new company and only a few employees.
Then we played the waiting game while things were in the process with the investors and the board at Noni. I was getting anxious because I just wanted to know he would have a job and a steady paycheck. I looked into other options as far as coverage for the baby but it was looking like we did not qualify.

Rich was called into the Director's office today and was told that he was being hired on as a permanent Tahitian Noni Employee and that benefits would start April 1st. WHAT A BLESSING!! The investors are still buying the company but Rich will work for Noni and take care of things for this new company. I still don't understand all the details or the way things happened but I am SO THANKFUL!! I can't tell you how relieved I am to have this burden off my shoulders and know that I can actually have the baby in the hospital and not at home in our bathtub!! Just kidding, that was never really going to happen but I joked about it alot because I was so nervous about how much money it would cost to have a baby with no insurance!

We have been on a rollercoaster ride for 2+ years with Rich's employment and now (knock on wood) we can breathe a little easier knowing things will always work out, it is just never the way you want it to but the way it is supposed to! I know we have learned a lot during this time and hopefully we have learned all there is to know so that it doesn't happen again any time soon, but if it does we will make it, we know we are in good, loving hands.
Ironic though that it was Noni that laid him off in the first place and now he's back there. Not going to lie, it makes me a little uneasy but I know now that we can handle hard things.

20 Weeks

Well here we are at 20 weeks...20 down 20 to go, that sounds like a LONG TIME!! Hopefully I will get lucky again and I can be induced early!

 

I am feeling much better and just get headaches but I guess I can live with that. I have started to feel the baby moving, Rich keeps putting his hand on my belly trying to feel it but it is too early for that!

Happiest Couples Contest

Back in November as I was reading the latest issue of the Utah Valley Magazine, I came across a contest and thought I should enter it. The prize was gift certificates to local eating establishments and that sounded like a great prize to me. All you had to do was submit an email including a picture of why you are a "happy couple." Easy enough.
Here is what I submitted:

November 8, 2010
Dear Utah Valley Magazine,

My husband Rich and I have been married for 6 years. We both enjoy running and find that it is a great way to spend time together. We run about 15 races a year together and even though we don't run together (he is much faster than me) he is always there waiting for me at the finish line!! I know that having this common interest and spending alot of time together makes our marriage better and our friendship stronger. We have 3 kids (15, 10 and 4) and when we do races out of town (Logan Marathon, Pocatello Marathon, races in St. George etc.) we take them with us and make it a little vacation. The kids aren't interested in running the races but always have a great time in the hotels!!

We ran in the Dirty Dash and that was the funnest race we have participated in. It would make for a great article in your magazine. I attached our finish line photo to this email so you can see for yourself how much fun you can have playing in the mud!

I just wanted to let you know that my husband and I are very much in love and try everyday to make our marriage better. I think it is awesome that you focus on the positive and not the negative!!!

Angela Cope



I got a call around the end of January from Kate at Utah Valley Magazine. She said that we won the contest and that she wanted us to come in for a short interview and a photo shoot. I had no idea that we would actually appear in the magazine (let alone a full page photo). I was pretty nervous about the photo shoot but I think it went pretty well. After we took pictures we sat down for the interview, she asked us questions about how we met, what we like about each other, advice on how we stay happy etc.
It was fun talking with her and hearing the things Rich said about me and our relationship just made me fall in love with him all over again. We received gift certificates to Bajio and we both LOVE it so that was great! Now we just have to wait for the issue to come out!!

Well today was the day. I got a text from my friend Stacy (who works for the magazine) saying she left me some magazines on the front porch. I was kind of nervous to look at it! Here is the magazine:

Here is what the article said:

Rich and Angela Cope
Hometown Spanish Fork
Married 7 years

Boy Meets Girl
Angela was divorced, raising two children and working when she noticed Rich on LDSSingles.com. She sent him a message, and he decided to take her out after some encouragement from his sisters. Rich was a single 29-year-old homeowner, and his family joked he would never get married. But after falling in love with Angela, Rich became a husband and a dad within a matter of months. The Copes now have three children and one on the way.

Sage Advice
It's all about the date night for Rich and Angela. With similar adventurous interests, the couple has something fun to do each week from Jazz games to travel. "You have to continue to date after you're married," Rich says. "I think people forget that it's possible to fall out of love, and you really have to make an effort to stay connected to your spouse."

Blue and Gold Banquet

We all went to the Stake Center for the annual Blue and Gold banquet. We had taco salad for dinner and everyone brought a cake. It was supposed to be a "theme" cake but I had no ideas and neither did Alex so I just made a white funfetti cake.

Each boy got an award for their cake and Alex won "flattest cake." very creative judging!!! Alex couldn't decide which cake to try so he got a piece of ALL of them (not really but seriously Alex)!!
He got loaded up on awards tonight, we have missed the last few pack nights due to the Holiday's and being out of town. He still has alot of work to do before his birthday!! He and Rich need to get moving so he will be able to advance out of Cub Scouts in May!!

It's a...

GIRL


Rich is ECSTATIC!!! I will get used to the idea and I am sure she will be a wonderful bundle of joy!! Let's just hope she is like Alexa and not like me!!
Me, Rich and Max went back to Dr. Andrew to see if he could tell us what we are having. Max told me he really wanted to see the baby inside my belly so I thought he would be really excited. He was playing my iPod touch while we were waiting and he was glued. I kept telling him to come an look at the baby but he wasn't that interested, I guess I can't blame him he probably had NO IDEA what he was actually looking at!!

The pictures aren't the best but he did get a good view "down there" and there was nothing to be seen so we are pretty sure it is a girl, plus we all KNEW it was going to be anyway!!!

When we got home Max said, "So mom, are there two babies in your belly then?" I was confused with the question so I asked him why he thought that. He said "I heard the Dr say there was a girl in there but I want a brother." I guess it was just wishful thinking!! Later that day he told me it is good it's a girl since there is just me and Alexa. I know he will be a great big brother to her, hopefully he won't be too rough.

I Shouldn't be Allowed to be Pregnant!!!

A few Saturdays ago I got up to take Alexa to work. I literally got out of bed put in my contacts, put on my slipper boots and left the house. After I dropped her off I thought I would be nice and grab the boys a donut for breakfast. I ran into Fresh Market grabbed what I needed and headed back out to the car. It was locked and I had NO KEYS!! They were hanging in the ignition!! A.W.E.S.O.M.E!!!
Luckily I had my phone in the pocket of my gray sweatsuit (no bra) so I called Rich hoping he was back from his run...no luck. I called the home phone and his cell phone. I sat on the bench inside the store and played on my phone waiting for him to answer. I was there for probably about 25 or 30 minutes before he finally picked up. He got in his car and came to my rescue!!

Well today, similar story, only this time Rich was at work in Orem and my phone was locked in the car with my keys!! I ran to the gas station before work for a drink and did it again!! I decided to walk up to Stephanie's house because I knew she would most likely be there (she just had surgery on her foot) and thought Jeff would probably be home too. It was a windy morning and I had on heels so that was great!! It is about 6 blocks to her house and with the wind it was pretty chilly. I finally got there and she was home (in the bath) but Jeff was in Salt Lake. I called Rich to see if he could call Carrie to come take me home. I don't know any one's phone numbers they are just all in my phone!
When I got to Steph's house there was a man on his roof across the street talking to someone but I didn't really pay attention. When Carrie got there she said the man was stuck on his roof, I guess he was probably trying to talk to me and I totally ignored him!! OOPS! The wind had blown his ladder over and he couldn't get off the roof so Carrie had to come to his rescue too, he had been up there for an hour!!! She took me home to get my spare set of work keys and then she dropped me off at work.

I am going to make some spare keys and maybe wear one on a necklace or sew a secret pouch in my bra for it!! This is getting ridiculous!!
Thanks Carrie for saving the day!!! I owe you one!!