The CRAZY COOPERS owe the dentist big time!

This was the year of the dentists for the Coopers. Gary and Debbie both had root canals and crowns. We both need more, but waiting until next year:) Ian had surgery twice~ once to pull a tooth and once in the hospital to pull another tooth, put in spacers and crown 6 more teeth. Grant had just a few cavities, but he has had the 2 bottom teeth out and now a top tooth. This photo session started with getting Grant's picture of his missing tooth and ended up to be a crazy Cooper camera moment. I don't think we will forget 2009 and all the dental woes it had to offer.

111 degrees and he can find the mud!!!

Ian Robert Cooper is one of those kids that can find mud or dirt anywhere. It was a very hot week in Oregon.... 100s all week long. Ian and Sadie (pup) go out to the backyard for a short time. Gary knows they won't stay out long in this heat! He doesn't hear from them for awhile. Daddy went to check....uh oh.... the sprinkler had formed a mud puddle and they decide to play in it. Oh my! Pictures are much louder than words.

Summer Swimming 2009

Swimming is such a huge part of our family that I wanted to include some swim lesson pictures. We swim in the winter in a local pool, but in the summer we go to the outdoor pool. The boys took lessons this summer again. Grant passed to level 4 and Ian to level 3. It is a great activity that we all enjoy. If we travel the first requirement is a swimming pool.

Sisters for Rent

Callie watching the parade

Paige watching the parade

Ian and friends watching the parade

Lily watching the parade

Grant watching the parade

Fun at the Sprinkler park...Ian, Lily, Paige, Grant

Ian, Callie and Grant at the Sprinkler park

Grant, Ian and Callie cooling off

Paige cooling down

Having a sleepover

What would it be like to have sisters? ~ my boys often ask. We just rent a few girls for a sleepover once in a while to try it out. Sisters are fun and squeal when it is good and bad. They like the same things the boys like being wild & crazy. Jumping, running, yelling, getting into things, giggling, being silly, eating and finally sleeping......zzzzzz We enjoy the time with the Everson girls so much. We have lots of fun, food, laughs and sleep very well. Sleepovers are great!!!

Glide Cooper/McCord Cousins Reunion 2009

Brothers and Sister -- Linda, Gary, Jim, Dennis, George

Cooper and McCord cousins and an Aunt....

Cooper brothers, sisters and spouses not looking at the camera....

Kids looking for things in the pond.... just killed a mole trying to pop his head out.

Fun swimming in the Umpqua River.....

Dennis, Michael and Grant getting a ride in Cousin Steve's army truck...

It runs and they are off....

August 2009 was the first Cooper/McCord Cousin Reunion event in Glide. Kim and Janie were dear hosts at their home on the Umpqua river. It was a fun day with the cousins. We don't see each other very often except at events like weddings and funerals so this was a treat to have with the kids. The Umpqua river was beautiful and the kids enjoyed getting wet. The cousins had many stories to tell of how they played in the river when they were kids. All of Gary's siblings were there to enjoy. We stayed in Roseburg and came home the next day.

Great memories

My Amazing Hubby

Sometimes I wonder, how in the world did I get such a great husband? My little sister would tell you that she knew it all along, she found him for me, I just needed to listen to her, blah, blah, blah..... He might say our eyes met across a crowded room and he marched over and introduced himself, then got my phone number from my little sister, but waited to call me for 3 long days..... After my father died, God our Father knew exactly what kind of husband I needed. He is my gift from God. I am so lucky because he is a super husband.

Gary is also a great daddy. I can't even begin to tell you what a blessing our boys are to us. We waited so long to get them and they are such a joy. Sometimes it is hard to be a parent, but so worth it. Yes, they are naughty and embarass us from time to time. Each day we learn new things from them. We love discovering the world from a child's eyes again.

God is so faithful to me.

I love you Snookums ~~ Gary Norman Cooper!!!!

XXOO ~~ Sweet

Mothers Day 2009 Enchanted Forest

The boys took me to Enchanted Forest to celebrate Mother's Day. It was a very fun day. The weather was perfect. The EF had a fire a few years ago and must have used the money to update and paint a bit. The boys loved to hear the stories and look in the windows. Of course, the rabbit hole was fun. We all rode the bumper cars, log ride and other rides up in the woods. The boys got to drive bumper boats which was a hoot.

I put a few pictures of me in here with the boys, because it was Mother's Day after all. I LOVE being Grant and Ian's mom. It is the best job in the world. We have so much fun as a family. God has blessed me.