Early Christmas Present

We had our ultrasound on Tuesday, and have been too busy since to blog about it....But Trey is having a BROTHER! As soon as the lady told us it was a boy it just felt perfect, and Trey very sweetly looked up at at Bill and said, "Dad, what are you going to do with 2 buddies?" We will just have to be insanely happy I guess.

Trey and Libby

I have to put these pictures on of Trey with his baby cousin Libby. He is practicing being a big brother. He is very excited to go with me to the doctor tomorrow to find out if he is having a brother or a sister.

My brothers and sister

My sister Bristy and her husband Brad.

My brother Brett and his wife Lori.

My brother Marshall and his wife Brittany, with their baby Libby.

My brother Chad and his wife Tawna(sorry it's blurry).

This is Brett again. Don't be offended, this is a gesture of love in our family.

We also had an extra visitor at the Christmas Party this year. Santa Claus came to Town! The whole family got to sit on his lap.

My nephew, Drexton, wasn't quite sure what to think.

Hooper Family Christmas Party

My mom and dad throw the family a Christmas Party every year. It is always fun. We are a family that loves to play and laugh together.


Every year, my mom has an ornament for all the kids to make. This year it was a miniature Nativity.

Here is a shot of some of Trey's cousins.

This is Drexton.

That is Jax in the Red Sox hat,

then Logan, Addie and Jake.

And the newest addition is Libby.

Other things we do that I didn't get pictures of: the kids all make gingerbread cookies and decorate them, we eat till we're stuffed, and play our annual game of Pictionary (boys against girls, there is a lot of laughing and name calling involved, but it is so fun, and it is the only time I ever get Bill to play any type of board game).

Trey's Christmas Concert

As you can see, Trey is thrilled to be here. His class sang "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas". It was hard to hear, but he moved his mouth the whole time so I'm sure it was awesome. He has been practicing his stage skills by playing Rock Band.

Grandma and Grandpa Hooper were able to come watch him sing too.

I have been converted

This is especially for my friend Jane. She will truly appreciate it.
As most of you know, I am a die-hard Diet Dr. Pepper drinker. Well since being pregnant I cannot stand the taste of it, and water gets very boring (I don't care how good it is for you!)
Anyway, I was really wanting a pop one day so Bill brought me home a Sonic Route 44 Diet Coke with Lime. I heard angels singing, and the heavens opened. I will gladly admit that I am now a Diet Coke convert and I feel no shame.

Christmas Kickoff Party

It has become our tradition to have as much of Bill's family as possible over for dinner the day after Thanksgiving. We always have the famous "Shipley Taco Salad", which for my fellow Utahns is really meat nachos. Most of the older boys (Bill and his brothers, and Michael-a nephew) compete to see who can make their salad the hottest with peppers and salsa and this really mean Thai seasoning that could melt your esophagus if you aren't careful. So it has also become tradition to serve Tums as a side dish. After dinner we finish up the leftover pies from the day before and then cram everyone into the basement to watch a Christmas movie. It is always a lot of fun. It is great to start our Christmas season with the people we love best. This year we missed Mom and Dad Shipley very much and had our minds on them a lot. Grant's family, and Kathy's family weren't there either because they all live back East, but they are always there in spirit when we start sharing funny stories of when they were all growing up. I am glad to have been able to marry into a family that was as close as mine was growing up.

Thanksgiving Rocks

After dinner we went to my mom's house for pie. Little did we now what awaited us. My brother had set up a TV and RockBand in my parents garage. It was so much fun!

Trey really got into singing. He had a death grip on the microphone, I'm surprised we didn't have to pry his fingers off of it. Bill is an awesome drummer, and I was laughing to hard to be good at anything.

Thanksgiving

We started out our Thanksgiving week with a weekend in Salt Lake to see Coldplay in concert. It was such a good show. If you are a fan and they come here again, you should go. We would probably go again. The lead singer is a spaz, but it made it fun to watch.

We had dinner at Bill's sister's house this year. She outdid herself on the food. All I have to say is sweet potato pie, with real sweet potatoes, YUM! Bill's brother and his family came up from Arizona too so the cousins all loved being together again. (Yes, that is my kid chewing with his mouth open.)