Misssing Cord

WELL... I would like to have posted more photos from last weekend. Alas, we can not find the cord for our camera to download the photos. Is it at the hotel? Could it be in the van? We've searched everywhere and are ready to bite the Canon Bullet and order another one online. Photos coming soon....

Family Fun Fest

This past weekend we went to Kingsport and Joshnson City for part of the weekend with our good friends - the Trump family. Karis and Anna Trump were born 11 days apart and are wonderful playmates.

The weekend started out early with a car trip to Kingsport - 5 children (Karis is the oldest!) and two moms in one van! The children played at the hotel before naps and then we all splashed in the hotel pool for a while before dinner. The dads joined us later that evening. Once the children were in bed, we re-inacted adult fellowship "Celebration style" - in the hallway while the children were asleep in the rooms.

The next morning we woke the children up at 6 AM to see the Fun Fest Balloon race. The funny thing is - once we arrived in downtown Kingsport, we realized that the balloon race had been canceled due to poor weather conditions! Regroup... a few times - and we ended up playing all afternoon in the "Hands - On" museum in Johnson City. But not before getting rained out of a state park and turned away from their museum/gift shop that wasn't open yet. The Hands On museum is a great children's museum. Photos waiting to be posted tomorrow will show Karis and Anna playing in a child's life-size grocery store. There was also a Nascar play area, a coal mine area, pretend bank, art area, tractors, planes, water play, and many other things the children had a blast exploring!

We ended the day with a meal from the world famous Pal's "restaurant". At least it is world famous if you're from Kingsport. We thought there sauce burger, chipped ham sandwich and frenchie fries were pretty tasty. Karis actually asked to get another sandwich on the way home.
The best part of the meal was sitting on the lawn of the ETSU campus eating with the Trumps.

Our family had so much fun with the Trumps and hope this becomes an annual tradition. The Trump family is so refreshing to be with.

More photos from the weekend will come soon - they haven't been downloaded yet from our camera.

I love Daddy

Joshua thinks he has the best Daddy in the world. I could not agree more! Joshua crawls as fast as he can to Craig when he comes home from work in the evening. He can't wait to be picked up by his Daddy!

More July 4th Photos

Preston and Reagan Ruth

Jonathan and Melanie Oldacre

Pool Fun

Philip

July 4th Celebration

In honor of Independence Day, Stuart and Jenny had a July 4th Party at their house. We celebrated the holiday with Stuart and Jenny, The Ruth Family, and Jonathan and Melanie Oldacre. What a fun evening. At one point, all the children were so happy playing, that all the adults were able to talk together. One of my favorite moments from the evening was when Jonathan impersonated Craig and Stuart! We are very rich with friends.

Jenny made a sugar cookie dessert that Michelle and I agreed we needed a photo of!

The four older children - Preston and Reagan Ruth and Madie and Karis Cooper

Joshua

Summer Reading Program

This summer we participated in the Knox County Library's Summer Reading Program. We read 20 books together and the children received a prize pack with coupons to play putt-putt, go bowling, ride the Three River's Rambler train and other prizes. Of course Joshua is too young to enjoy these prizes, but we have enjoyed going to the library weekly to get new books.

At the Library, Joshua and Philip enjoy crawling around and pulling books down off the shelves. There is a little nook where they have conquered crawling up and down the two steps. Karis and Madie thoroughly enjoy picking out new stories and coloring an activity sheet that they library gives them. It only takes a day or two to read the 15 books that we take home, but the regular trip will hopefully build memories that these children will love to look back on.

My buddy Andy

This is Joshua's buddy Andy. They were born the same week almost a year ago. They share the same love for soothie pacifiers and lots of attention. They are sweet babies and we hope that Joshua and Andy are life long friends - even though right now they wrestle over the same ball!

Andy is a miracle baby. He was born with a heart defect and look at him! God has been merciful to his family and miraculously he is doing well! He has survived major heart surgery and many other procedures. His parent have walked through more seemingly uncertain moments than we have in our whole life, but their faith and trust in God is unwavering. You can check out his story at www.sagraves.blogspot.com

Our family loves the Sagraves family. We feel so lucky to have them as our friends. They are such a joy to be with.

Where's Karis?

One afternoon, I couldn't find Karis...she wasn't in her bed in her room with a contraband paci - she was on a "bed" on her floor with a contraband paci - asleep!

Three years old and still in love with the pacifier!

Fruit N Berry Patch

Adam and Holly at the Fruit and Berry Patch

Family shots at the Berry Patch

Craig and the kids

Another summer favorite activity: picking fruit at the Fruit and Berry Patch! Last week we took the family and two good friends - Holly and Adam to pick berries and peaches.

There are many reasons why we like going out to the patch - it is good family time and it is wonderfully refreshing to be outside in the quiet, natural surrounding.

Last week we had a wonderful evening with the family and Adam and Holly. We took a picnic dinner and stayed until dark picking peaches and blackberries. Hopefully we will spend many more family times together like that.

On another note: this week our family had a crazy bout of sickness and Holly served our family by staying with the children all night Sunday and all day Monday. Then she proceeded to come down with the stomach flu herself! We're very grateful for Holly!

Cooper Family Night

Recently we celebrated our monthly ritual of Cooper Family Night with Stuart and Jenny. The evening was filled with pool time, outdoor play and yummy food thanks to Jenny. We love these times as a family and always look forward to the next time.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the World's Best Husband/Father Duo! I am convinced that I am the luckiest woman alive. Craig, you are such a wonderful father. Karis loves to be with you. She has caught my craze for you. And Joshua thinks you're one of the best things around.

The way you lead our family is exemplary and you give us such a compelling example of Godly character, that it is a delight to follow you.

I can relate to Susanna Spurgeon who said of her husband C.H. Spurgeon while they were engaged, "I believe God Himself united our hearts in indissoluble bonds of true affection, and, though we knew it not, gave us to each other forever." I echo her sentiments. I love you!

To Our Fathers:

We hope you have a wonderful Father's Day. Thanks for all the wisdom and stength that you posess.

Larry/Dad: You're a true southern gentleman - kind, considerate and very loyal to your family. Your zeal to care for others is very inspiring.

Dad/John: Your zest for life is very refreshing. You keep up and even out pace people half your age! Your laugh is contagious, and people enjoy being with you. You make life fun!

Thanks to you both for loving us and caring for us these 29 years. We hope you both have a wonderful, restful day! Wish we could be there with you in person.

Happy Father's Day!

Haircut

Karis has a new haircut. She loves it and tells everyone about her new "hair-tut"! When she saw herself in the mirror after getting it cut, she said," Oh, how cute, I love it!"

Happy Birthday Scott!

Today marks two special occasions:

Scott's Birthday and the day Craig asked me to marry him - eight years ago!

But, I wanted to draw attention to Scott and wish him a very Happy Birthday!

I can't remember meeting Scott. I know there was a time when we met, but I was a shrimp as he always called me growing up. I may not remember meeting him, but I have an arsenal full of memories!

A few favorite memories:
snowball fights in the unfinished addition to the house
passing the baton of loving U2 - and the red poster sized letter u and number 2 in your room
walking to Meirs Pool
swiming in the bay
catching crabs off the dock
racing in Bombacharger over the waves behind the tankers in the bay - sorry Dad - bet you didn't know that one!
sneaking around Mr. Mason's yard and breaking his hamock
Family Game!!
Duke Basketball - go Blue Devils!
Your wedding - no one will forget that night! What a party!

I love you and hope you have a wonderful Birthday!

Spaghetti and Strawberries

Here are a few "Messy Photos" - Joshua loving his spaghetti and strawberries!



Karis at the strawberry patch!


Aaron at the strawberry patch





Joshua has discovered the love of Spaghetti! The boy can shove it in! I think it is perhaps his favorite meal at the moment. Needless to say, it is also the messiest meal that he eats. But, he will eat anything if it has spaghetti sauce on it. His aversion to peas was conquered when I disguised them in his spaghetti and sauce. I'm thinking about investing in one of those smock bibs!


On a recent trip to Maryland we picked strawberries with my mom, sister and the children. I think the two boys ate their weight in berries. Sadly, strawberry season is over as quickly as it began, but I am looking forward to blueberry season in a few weeks. Only, blueberries don't make for any messy mouth photos. . .

Enter Blogging World

Greetings from the Cooper Family! This is the first post in our family blog. We wanted to be able to keep in touch with friends and family near and far, and figured this would be one way that we could try to do that. Hopefully through photos and stories, we will preserve a record of our family events as well as put a smile on the faces of grandparents, aunts & uncles and friends alike. Thank you for sharing in our life and family!

This is a photo from last summer of our family (outdated I know). Future posts with current and new photos.