GWO 2007

I have posted before about MOF (my online friends). Well for the last 2.5 years I have grown to really love women that I have never met. We are an online community of LDS women who are all moms. Well last year we all decided that we wanted to plan a weekend where we all could meet. We called it the GWO (girls weekend out). It was a year in planning, and it was a HUGE success. We had between 50-70 women at the cabin in Midway Utah almost all weekend. There are approximately 130 women total on the board, so it was amazing that so many of us were able to make it. We had women who flew in from as far away as Germany and Mexico, as well as those of us who were more local.

It was such a good weekend. It was just like a girls camp for grown women. You would think that having so many hormones in one place there would have been at least one cat fight, or cliques that formed, but there was none of that all weekend. It was funny on the first night as we all arrived to enter a room where there were familiar faces, and you knew intimate details of these women's lives, but it was a room full of complete strangers. But as the weekend went forth we grew to love each other even more.

Thank you to those who put in so much time and effort this year to make it the best first GWO. (we all decided the day after we got home that we want to make this an annual event :)

The Clique

So back in the 1960's, Grandpa Cooley formed a band with some of his buddies and they were called the Clique. They were really good. They even recorded an album and tried doing the jingle for Coleman outdoor products. Well they all ended up going their own way, but 3 years ago decided to come together and play some of their old songs. They had such a good time that they recorded a CD and began having a yearly concert down in Ceder City Utah. Last year they made a DVD and I believe they will have one again this year. It is so fun watching and listening to all of these Grandpa's have so much fun and relive their youth each year.


These were some of the grand kids with their cool "Clique" t shirts. We think we want to make some and sell them next year.Grandpa Cooley plays the keyboard.And Sings

"Grimmy" was all over the place. He was in Hog Heaven, and was just having the time of his life. He is a real natural on the guitar.
What a cute grandpa!!

Lot's of the grand kids liked dancing to the beat.
Princess M wasn't to sure at first, it was really loud.

Lots of friends and family traveled really far to support the band. It is always fun to see Grandma Cooley with her sisters. There is a real bond between all of them that I hope to have with all of my sisters as we all grow older.

Left to right, Aunt Dean, Grandma Nancy, and Aunt Jacque.

More fun with Grandma and Grandpa

We were lucky enough this month to get to spend lots of time with our Tennessee grandparents and Aunts and Uncles too. They came to visit and we spent a good week and a half with them. Near the end of the week we all headed down to Ceder City for Grandpa's Band performance. Before hand we all met at the park for a little get together and to just play. Aunt Kathy is referred to as the Pied Piper of children. The kids just flock to her, and she loves it. These 2 spent a good portion of our time at the park just eating ice out of the cooler. It was SO hot.The bigger girls all taught the little girls how to play red light, green light. It is now a favorite game around here.

Grandma bought us a few fun new toys. One of the favorites is our new sprinkler. Princess E thinks it is specifically used to put her head under. I am just happy that she is finally actually playing in the water, instead of wanting to just water all of the plants.

Aunt Kathy introduced them to "airplane". They both thought it was the greatest thing ever.
Every time we are together with the Cooley's we play games. Some of our favorites are, Universal, Settlers of Catan, anything on the x box, and Mexican train. Here we are gathered in one of our late night game playing sessions.

Mom has her own mixing up the tiles method. It is pretty funny to watch actually.
Uncle Jared gets kinda kookie late at night. He says lots of funny one liners. His tiles all fell over shortly after this picture was taken and he said, "whoa there boys, get back here." It was probably funnier just because it was late and we were all a little loopy.

First Eye Appointment

Princess M had her very first eye check at eh beginning of July. She was the best patient ever. She just sat there very quietly and was very still. She looked right at the light, that Princess E was able to help with, and did everything she was asked to do. She was such a brave little girl. I couldn't take any pictures while we were in the appointment, as she was sitting on my lap. But here is a picture of the Sign at Jc Penny's.
Check out these cute sunglasses. It was determined that she doesn't have a lazy eye, but she is extremely far sighted. So we will just keep a close eye on her and who knows, she will probably have glasses in a few years.

July 6

For a long period of my life I had a huge fear. I feared that I was going to spend the rest of my life alone. I decided that I was going to make the best of it and I got myself to a point where I was happy with who I was and was doing all the things that I knew Heavenly Father wanted me to be doing. I decided to stop wishing for things that were out of my control and just focus on what I did have control over and to be the best me I knew how to be. It was after I changed my attitude that I was introduced to the most incredible man ever!!

I got an email from a mission companion telling me that she wanted to set me up on a date with a friend of hers. She told me that he had a nice car and nice shoes. (as if those sort of things were what I was looking for. lol) Well after many attempts to convince me to go, the date was set. On December 6 2001, I met the man of my dreams.

7 months, and thousands of miles on our car later, we looked at each other across the alter in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and covenanted to be each others eternal companion. I have never made a better choice in my life.


It hardly feels like 5 years have passed. I am more in love now than I ever was. I truly am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who led me to my knight in shining armor. Who knew more about what was right for me than I did.

Thank you King J for making me your Queen, your pearl of great price. Thank you for a great 5 years. I love you!!

Camping With Grandpa and Grandma

So grandma and grandpa gave King J and I a great Anniversary present. They took the 2 princesses with them camping for a few days so we could have some alone time for our 5 year anniversary. The girls had a blast. They camped up at Payson lakes, just up the canyon from Payson Utah. I sent the camera with Grandma so she could capture some of it on film. 2 sleeping Beauties. Princess E loves grandpa, just as long as he isn't giving her a flu shot. I thought this was just an adorable picture.
Notice the crispy red legs. Can we say OUCH!! I guess he fell aseep while reading his book. Go figure.

Of course the babies had to come along for the fun. Princess E secretly wants to be a hairdresser. Thanks for playing along Grandma
I asked princess E what they were doing in this picture and she said, going onan adventure with Uncle Kyle and Uncle Nate. Sounds like fun.

I didn't know who this was at first. What a goofy picture Kyle.
Notice how juge uncle Nate is getting. You are so big little brother!!

Apparently they all wanted their hair in "2 pig things" as princess E calls them.

What fun times. Mom wants to join the girls next time. King J would rather just stay at home. He is not much of a camper.

Our new double stroller

Who says a single umbrella stroller is for just one kid? This is the beauty of having kids that are light as feathers, LOL. We went all over the Gateway like this. Princess E decided it was pretty tiring being a big kid and having to walk.

Brave little swimmer

We went to play in the fountains at the Gateway the same day we went to Wheeler farm. Both Princesses have a hard time with spraying water. But Princess E finally got brave enough to venture to the edge and get wet a little. Hopefully we can over come this fear soon. :)

We all scream for Ice Cream

We have a new favorite summer time treat. It started last year when I got this cool double barrel ice cream maker at the DI. We pulled it out again a few weeks ago and have been making the creamy goodness about once a week. Home made ice cream is the best. It is really cool for the girls to watch it turn from milk and sugar into the frozen stuff. They are great helpers.

Wheeler Farm

Our day on the farm. We had a blast despite the fact that it was about a million degrees. We just jumped into the shade as often as we could.

This big jersey cow came right up to the fence. The kids were so excited.

This funny duck found a good spot to rest right in the big pile of manure. Pretty cozy if you ask me. LOL We found Wilbur!! Princess E was pretty proud when she touched his bum. She giggled for a long time.
Princess M was bound and determined to catch the ducks. I was bound and determined to keep her out of the raging river. LOL
Here she is trying to climb the fence to get to the ducks. She is such an animal lover.

Cleaning Lady

Princess E has a new favorite job around the house. She LOVES to vacuum. I asked her to help me vacuum out the couch and she thought it was the greatest thing ever. She now takes out the other vacuum, that comes apart in pieces, and pretends to do the whole house. I can't wait until she can do it for real.