New Family Tradition

We started something new this year. I found 12 stories that went along with a little gift that I wrapped up and put under the tree. Each night one of the kids picked one and we read the story and opened the gift. It was really fun and I really enjoyed the stories, although some were a little too long!!

One of the stories was about giving gifts and so I attached an envelope with 6 $5 bills and we did a family name draw. We all went to Target and split up into groups in search of the perfect gifts. A $5 budget is pretty small but we were all able to find something.

After the Cope Christmas Eve party we came home, got in our jammies, took a family photo and then did our gift exchange.
Here is everyone decked out in their new Christmas jammies, or should I say pajamas?? Rich hates it when people call them "jammies."

Onto the gift exchange...we went oldest to youngest (who does that???)
Alexa had Rich
She got him a Cycling magazine, just what he wanted!!

Alex had me
He gave me some really pretty diamond earrings, I love them!!

Max had Alexa
He got her some diamond earrings too, different ones, just what she wanted!!!

Maizee had Alex
Maizee picked him out a Perry the Platypus shirt (she went a little over budget, don't tell)!! He loved it!!

Rich had Max
Pretty sure Rich went a little over budget too, he got Max a Hot Wheels starter set, that he LOVED!!

I had Maizee
I got her a stuffed Rhinoceros, she liked it!!

Now it's time for the kids to jump in bed!!! Santa's coming!!

Santa Pictures

On Facebook there was a photo company advertising "Unique Santa Pictures" and they had some shots of what they had done and I instantly fell in love and knew that this was going to be my Christmas card photo. I made the appointment and we all headed to Thanksgiving Point for the photo shoot.




It was quick and easy and I AM IN LOVE with the pictures!!! FotoFly is the place to go if you want something a little different and unique!!

Also as a bonus there were Reindeer there, Santa's reindeer. But Max was a little disappointed that Rudolph couldn't make it!!
It was a pretty cold night and none of the other kids wanted to see Santa's reindeer.

Cope Family Pictures

Norma arranged for family pictures at a studio in Payson. Everyone was there!! All 47 of us, that's right 18 adults and 29 kids...thought I would save you the trouble of counting for yourself!
The photographer sent us the "proofs" to see so we could decide what prints we wanted to order. I have to say I was a bit confused at how they would actually turn out (after all the editing).
BEFORE:

AFTER:
Well, I am not gonna lie, it is a little weird that there is no floor...we are all just kind of floating in the air, I don't love it!! But there is NO CHANCE that we will have another group photo for quite some time so I am happy with it for that reason alone!

Here is just my family.
BEFORE:

AFTER:
Again, not in love with the floating (which is a lot more noticeable in this one).

Bernard and Norma's picture turned out great! Bonus: NO floating

I like this one because sweet Maizee is being silly and has her tongue out!! She loves sticking out her tongue!

After the photo shoot some of us went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Joseph arranged it and we had a great time!

Maizee Rolls Over

I don' have any pictures of this but wanted to document it anyway. This morning Maizee was talking and making noises in her bed but she wasn't crying so I stayed in bed a bit longer then went in to her room to get her. When I went in she was flat on her back (yes she sleeps on her tummy), and she was just laying there happy as can be!! I am sad that I didn't actually get to see her roll over but I know she did!!

Gingerbread Houses

Rich and I are tending the Duvall kids for a few days while their parents are out of town and Stephanie left me in charge of the Gingerbread Houses!!! We invited the Anderson's over to make them with us. Max didn't really want to make one so I made one for him! He was in a bad mood for some reason. All the kids had a great time creating their houses. Alexa and Harrison were "too cool" to make one but Harrison helped Madison.

 

Jennifer was in charge of Maizee and put her to sleep!! We had a fun time spending the evening together, I think all the houses turned out great!!!

Maizee is 4 Months

Head: 90th percentile
Length: 2 Feet (50th percentile)
Weight: 11 lbs 12 oz (10th percentile)

 

She started to growl and does it all the time it is hilarious!!!

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

I went to help with the Kindergarten's Thaksgiving Feast this afternoon. They ate chicken nuggets with ranch, potato chips, carrots, finger jello, pickles, olives and pudding for dessert.
It was fun to see Max with all his friends and also to see all the fun things they made. They made place mats, a necklace and feather head dress.
And here is Max's art work that was hanging in the hall outside his class.

Maizee

 

2 A.M. Infiniti Scarves

I decided to try and start up my own little business. I crocheted a few scarves for myself and got lots of compliments on them and a few people asked if I could make them one so I decided to crank out a few and put them up for sale.

I love to make them but the hard part is I want to keep them all because they all turn out so cute!

I can do custom orders and make them them whatever color, length and width you desire. I started a Facebook page here
so go and "like" it NOW!!

I have decided that since I am new at this I am going to do a giveaway, I am just getting it all figured out and then I will let you know when it starts!

If you would like to buy a scarf that is already made, here are the 3 that I have on hand. If you would like a custom one, leave me the info. These make wonderful Christmas gifts that are fashionable and also will keep you warm!

Here is a mustard color (very popular, this is the 4th one I have made in this color). It is a double loop and is very soft yarn.

Here is a cream triple loop scarf. It is a little longer so you can wear it a few different ways. This yarn is SO SOFT!

Sorry these pictures aren't the greatest. This is a black double loop wide scarf. It is also very soft and versatile.

I just set up with PayPal so if you don't live by me you can pay with PayPal and I will send it to you!!

Sizes

Double Loop $20.00 USD Triple Loop $25.00 USD Custom Order $25.00 USD

Description of Custom Order

Bangs

I have been growing out my hair for a long time now. I have been having this feeling lately like a need a change...so I took matters into my own hands last night and

 

CUT ME SOME BANGS!!! I did not do that great of a job and need a trim anyway so I made an appointment to get them "shaped" a little better but I am liking the change!

Halloween 2011

 

 

 

This was a fun Halloween for me, putting a baby in a pumpkin for a photo shoot and making her very first Halloween costume!!! I am having so much fun with my little Maizee!! After school Alex had a million kids here setting up his "Haunted Maze" in the front yard. He went all out again and even had the base of the weed eater, that sounds like a chainsaw to use as a prop. A few weeks ago when we were in Logan my dad built him a man that holds onto the garbage can and then you put the hose behind the mask and it looks like he's throwing up. Alex just took videos so I don't really have any pictures of his creations!! He decided that he wanted to scare people instead of going trick-or-treating!!
Alexa went on a date to a corn maze in Payson with Tanner, Josie and some other people. She left right when it got dark and the corn maze was pretty dumb but they had a good time!

Me and Rich took Max, his friend Nic and Maizee to trick-or-treat at his Grandma's house.
Here is our little "owl" with Great Grandma Cope. We stayed and visited for a little while and then Rich took the boys around the neighborhood to fill up their bags!! It was a pretty nice night, not too cold so that is always nice!!
Max got tired of walking around so they came back home and his friend went with his brother to get more candy.
Alex and Parker did go out and do some trick-or-treating after a while.
We had a great night, we ran out of candy too so that is always good!!