Monday, July 5, 2010

Hopkins Family Reunion

Every other year we have a Hopkins Family Reunion! My mother's side of the family get together for a few days. This year we went to Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon. It was really good to see family and catch up. Plus the weather was WONDERFUL! We did all kinds of fun activities but what I enjoyed the most was visiting and relaxing with the Fam. What I enjoyed the LEAST was chasing after my children up and down hotel hallways!
It's crazy to see how your family grows, develops and changes. I can only imagine how Grandma and Grandpa Hopkins (my mom's parents) feel as they sit back and watch their posterity multiply and grow! It makes me wonder what my little family will look like in 40 years.
I sure hope it'll look a lot like this:

(My brother Nathan [upper left corner of this picture] has his arm around his wife Erica and little Ella who aren't in this picture.)

The Two wonderful people who started it all!
Maryann and Dale Hopkins:
We went to Snow Bowl and rode on the chair lift. The boys LOVED it!
Mason and Noah kept waving to people on the other side of the lift passing by while yelling "Hi!" Mason also kept announcing to strangers on the lift that he fell and hit his head?!?! (Which surprisingly did NOT happen?) Where do they get this stuff?
At the top we went on a small hike and just enjoyed the scenery.

... YES he did actually use the highest toilet in AZ!!
Back at the hotel we "enjoyed" some FREEZING cold pool time!
My cousin Matt, his wife Shealyn, baby girl Alyce, and adorable baby boy Preston.
The Grand Canyon!!

On the drive into the Grand Canyon I was amazed at the wildlife just hanging out on the side of the road!!! Crazy!
Noah and Ella are best friends! This is how cousins should be! How sweet was Ella to lend Noah her pink doggie backpack? (Of course Ron made me take it off him pretty quick! But still cute!)
All in all we had a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing the whole Fam again in 2012!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Too young for this?

NO. We have NOT really started potty training Noah. But... he has been interested in the toilet lately so I figured... why not? Right now I am just doing the "preliminary's". We just sit in the bathroom (he sits on his potty) and we read books. Occasionally he puts his bear up to try the potty out. (Sorry Grandpa the State Farm shirt for his bear is in the wash.)
Thanks Grandma Joyce for the awesome "Big Boy Potty Book" both my boys LOVE it!
I read somewhere that when they have a poopy diaper you should "plop" the poo in the toilet and flush it down while your toddler is watching. Although I think that's DISGUSTING we tried it this morning. All morning long every time Noah saw the toilet, he'd look down in the bowl and say "Bye Poop!" and wave. I thought that was kinda cute!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Tub time!!

Mason and his cousin Ella taking a bath.
When we asked Ella where Mason's belly button was...
this was her response!
(Sorry it's a little blurry. I think I was laughing so hard I was shaky with the camera!)

I LOVE bath tub time. My boys love the water and play forever in the water. They get mad when I tell them it's time to get out. I think dumping water on each other is their favorite game!


Monday, June 14, 2010

Camping Tradition!

We went camping this last weekend with friends. (The Talley family and Us!) We used to go camping semi-annually with our friends every year. Then we all started having kids... and life just got crazy! Anyways, we had a lot of fun hanging out, (trying to get out of the COLD wind!!!), eating, and watching our boys (and Sydney) play hard!
We camped just outside of PineTop/Show Low area. The weather was nice but really windy!

I wish my scanner still worked. I'd totally scan an old picture from one of our camp outs back in 2001. Jeff, Ron, Me, and Emryn from the original camping crew!

Hammock Time!! Horse shoe fun! After I took these action shots we noticed that Ron and Jeff make the same concentrated face while horse-shoeing!

My favorite part of the trip (besides watching my boys soak up the outdoors) was a "hike" more like a walk I took with Lindsey, Noah, and Sydney. Lindsey and I don't get to talk much (with out being interrupted by the kiddos or braking up a brawl!). I really enjoyed our chit chatting and just leisure time!

Noah and Sydney!!!! I just love those little piggy tails!!!! Super cute little girl!



The boys had so much fun reading with "Grandma Talley". They chose to read in the car with Grandma Talley instead of go on a hike! Mason even fell asleep on her lap!


Noah and "Co-coa"! Both my boys can't say Colter yet... Mason can say it... I think it's just easier to say "Co-Coa"!


Noah spent a lot of his time waiting outside Jeff and Lindsey's tent for "Nee-Nee" (Sydney)!

Yummy! Yummy breakfast that Nate and Emryn made! Thanks guys!

Is this Legal?

I came out to my car the other day to run errands and this is what I found...
VROOM! VROOM!


What a goof!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my baby sister's 22nd Birthday! Maryann is such a sweetie. She is so thoughtful and hardworking. I don't know anyone who chooses to get up at 3:30am for work EVERYDAY (who isn't in construction!) and works crazy long hours! Her work ethic is amazing and I really admire her for that.
She gives excellent advice on my personal care. Seriously, I really value her opinion about my hair do or make-up (I'm not so good at all that!) She is definately a fun person to shop with and will always be 100% honest about whether something looks good on you or not. Even if that means telling you "That makes your Faler butt look BIG!! ha!" Ok that's a total inside joke for "kankles!" :) No really though she has good taste and shares her knowledge.
She is very sweet, kind, and SUPER generous. She is always thinking of others (except when it comes to her beauty sleep!) I love that she is perfectly happy just hanging out with family and noisy kids. My boys just love Aunt "Na-na!" I know that someday she'll be a wonderful mommy. Happy Birthday Maryann! I love you!

Monday, June 7, 2010

What is this?

Ok... Well, in case you can't tell it's a...

Toothbrush.

Mason's Tooth brush to be exact.
I know, I know, it looks like Mason's had this thing for years but... it's actually only about 1 week old. We go through toothbrushes like no body's business.

What can I say? He loves to "brush" his teeth or should I say chew his toothbrush! (That's my boy!) My favorite part is the totally bent angle of the toothbrush!

Man he's got some strong Masseter (chewing) muscles!