Cael is Born!

 After nine + months of planning, preparation, trying to get ready, nervous, scared, not-ready moments... Our sweet baby Cael Benjamin was born June 10, 2004. He was 8 lbs 1 oz. The delivery was classified as a normal induction which started the night before. It was exhausting, mentally and physically. Having never experienced having a baby before- all of the procedures were unfamiliar, the hospital was very kind- but in many ways there were not things that occurred that I was ready for.
We are just so thrilled that our baby is here. He is handsome, sweet, and snuggly.

Birthday Bar-b-que at Midwestern

We invited our friends and many fellow students from Midwestern to help celebrate Ben, Matt Fisher, and Cody Ellefsen's birthdays. We cooked all of the meat at the pavilion near the school and had such a great time together. All three of the birthday boys blew out the candles together and it was quite a photo moment at the right angle.

These boys are getting older- You can even see our purple Taurus in the right background.

 Ben and Cody smile for the camera after getting all the meat ready to cook. Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can't help with the cooking!

Brandon and Mandy visited over the break and we had fun showing them around and taking them out to the desert. It is impressive to see these huge saguaro cacti  up close.

Jan 2004

Ben and I went to the ultrasound appointment today, let's just say Ben is really excited because… We are having a boy!

I still haven't had to suffer from any of the typical sicknesses of pregnancy so it doesn't really feel like I am pregnant. I still need to eat or else then I feel sick. A baby boy… It is so exciting!

We had a good Christmas up in Star Valley. My mom sure did spoil us, but we did come from the furthest distance away. One thing that was quite upsetting to my mom was that Derek and Allie said they weren't coming up because he wasn't getting off of work until Christmas eve, then while Ben and I were in Evanston we saw Allie's Dad who asked if you knew when Derek and Allie were coming Laramie. It was a whole two days earlier than what he had to told my mom. This is upsetting to mom and also because it was the Hoopes year for Christmas. Mom cried, we told her we love her and she was so glad we came up clear from Phoenix.

On Christmas day we left for Salt Lake because my cousin Alex was being sealed in the temple the next day. It was snowing so hard and it was very dangerous driving conditions, but we made it to Grandpa Bowers house in one piece. Not to mention the delicious feast we had in Evanston from Vickie. It was so crazy how much snow, heavy snow had fallen – 30 inches at Grandpa's house. Tree branches breaking and power lines down-- some people were without power for two days! Quite an adventure trying to get everything for a wedding ready. Then mom and I decided they wanted to come to Arizona with us. I was excited my parents are going to be with us for New Year's. We painted the great room in my house and then relax in the sunny warm weather. I think they had a good time and it was also during their visit that we found out Aimee was in jail for taking Riley Hoopes' car back to the store and selling parts for cash. She really isn't making the best choices right now.

Well – I got a four-point no the semester and I registered for 12 credits and school starts this coming Tuesday. I'm pretty excited, but I just hope that I can get the credits I need to graduate with my associates degree at least. Also, I've been working on Ben's baby book pictures through high school. It sure keeps me busy while I don't have anything else to do.

Christmas in Star Valley

We made the drive up during our holiday break in Arizona to celebrate Christmas with the family in Star Valley this year. One of my favorite and most special moments was having Grandpa Byron Hoopes reading the Christmas story from the bible while the family acted out the nativity. Grandma Mary and Grandpa were both sitting on the couch together, reading the scriptures. I really began to realize at that moment how important these kinds of moments are. We didn't rehearse, our costumes were last minute, but we were together as a family creating memories.

 Our family gatherings also include Aunt Celeste, Uncle Guy, Sage and Hunter. Aimee was also around for the holidays. We are worried about her, so it was good to spend time with her as well.

Ben and I had just found out a few months ago that we would be expecting a sweet little baby boy in June. Momma Hoopes could not be more excited to be a future Grandma- and so we were given a few new baby items. Such a nervous and exciting time for us and our family! We cannot wait to meet this sweet little boy.

Disneyland with the McWhorter's

We went to Disneyland with our friends, the McWhorter's, and it was so much fun! They have a little three almost 4-year-old and she was barely tall enough to ride the big rides. We took her on splash Mountain it was so funny to see the picture well we were going down the last dive. She looked so scared, but she didn't cry at all, which was nice. The bad thing was I had to miss school and they will drop you from classes if you miss more than three days of school because they take attendance! It is crazy but I sure like school more than working at the preschool.

Things are going well here. Been start school tomorrow and then he will be super busy, but he loves school and I'm grateful for that. The only worry I have right now is my dear grandma Mary hoops. She hasn't been feeling well and has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which is a cancer that is aggressively treated with chemo. I love my grandma hate to be so far away while she isn't feeling well. I just hope and pray she will do well with the treatments and get back to her good all self again.

Ben is reading a Guinness world record book and every once in a while he will read a crazy or amazing record to me.! There are some very interesting people that do some crazy things out there.

Our First Trip to Disneyland!

 

 Our friends Brian and Deanne invited us to go with them to Disneyland for a few days before school started back up. We stayed in the same hotel room to save money and Ben used the military discount for  free tickets into California Adventure and Disneyland Park-hopper pass

 "HEY! I'm looking cute and you are kissing Minnie Mouse? WHAT?!?!" I'm sure Minnie gets it all the time...

 Deanne and I getting soaked on the rapids ride. It was nice to have friends to take turns and watch our little friend Brianna.

 
 
 
 

 

 

Officer Basic Course

Dr. Jones and Dr. Platt get ready with their weapons



Staying in these air-conditioned tents during the hot Texas summer heat!

THE ARMY SONG

First to fight for the right

And to build the nation's might

And THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG

Proud of all we have done,

Fighting till the battle's won,

And THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG

 

The it's hi! hi! hey!

The Army's on it's way

Count off the cadence loud and strong:

For wher'er we go, you will always know

That THE ARMY GOES ROLLING ALONG

   Ben sent a package for my birthday with pictures and gifts. He wrote a poem that made me cry when I read it. It was funny, sweet, and full of love! A perfect gift when you cannot be with your spouse during special holidays.

Picking up my love from the airport! I was so excited to have him back with me after spending 6 weeks working up in Star Valley for Dr. Weston dental assisting and waitressing at a Steak House in the evenings. 

 I LOVE MY BENJAMIN!