We Love Monster Trucks!

Every year all the Hoopes Boys go to the Monster Truck show--well, a couple weeks ago Dane saw the comercial for it on TV and kept asking when we're gonna go...so we planned a little family weekend in mesa! We got to take Nick's little girl, Taylor with us too! She's such a sweet girl and our kids LOVE her! And luckily she loves them too! It was a fun weekend!
Anyone that says the Monster truck show is loud is underestimating it...it's REALLY LOUD! I didn't realize we should have taken 3 or 4 ear muff things (I forgot what they're called) Paige thought they were pretty cool though!

She wasn't for sure she liked it at first--and for some reason, she covered her eyes instead of her ears!

And then of course she totally got into like the rest of the "classy" people there and started cheering when the trucks broke a tire or something!

Dane loves anything with monster trucks--the way they sound, the way they look, they way the ramp, anything...this boy LOVES being a boy!

Summer Fun!

Paige is turning into a wild woman...I thought she was waiting for me to come in to take her clothes off...guess not!

This is how she helps unload the dishwasher--she pulls all her bottle nipples out first and has to look at them for a little while! And if I make her get off before she's ready, oohhh she's mad!

A couple weeks ago, Tanner's boys were here to play for the weekend and we did a favorite Hoopes summer activity...catch baby frogs at the river! This is seriously one of the funnest/funniest things ever--come over and we'll take you!

I know it's kinda gross cause you really don't know what you're gonna find at the river, but these little boys loved their "treasures" they found! They even found a rusted bike that they were trying to convince Poppa Danny to take and fix!

I am lame lately with taking pictures...my life is not my own lately, in fact I think I'm turning into a monster! BUT...I think things will be lots better now that Nick has successfully passed college algebra with a fabulous 87 in the class and now we have our husband and daddy back! I am really proud of him and it's been super rough around here! So time is flying by, and just an update...school starts Sept. 17th and Nick will go by himself for the first couple weeks to get our house kinda ready, all oriented in school and even have a few days to miss us before we get there! Then my mom, dad and us 3 will fly out to our adventure! Dane keeps telling everyone that he's gonna be a surfer, so I think he's pretty excited! Things are working out great--but they usually do (I guess that's what a little faith is for!) There is lots to do, but it's all exciting---so start saving your money for a vacation to Hawaii! Aloha!

Family Pics!

Last week we got some family pictures done...here are a few of the kids!

I can't forget!

I have to write this down before I forget--I get sad when I know I should write something down really soon after something funny or cute happens and then I magically forget! It really ticks me off--so I am getting on it this time...yesterday evening Nick was taking the kids to his parents house to play while I was at work and when they were driving through Central by the Temple site, the chapel is looking like a chapel, anyway, Dane saw it and started cheering "the Temple is almost done! the Temple is almost done" then he sat back in his chair and he just said to himself, not real loud but loud enough for Nick to hear he said "that makes me so happy!" He was saying to himself and Nick said it just made him smile big! I think it's funny that Dane does NOT like church or primary, but he's excited about the Temple--he knows that it's important and it's exciting that we're getting one in the Gila Valley! The other funny thing I can't forget is just this morning Dane whacked Nick in the leg and asked him if it hurt. Nick told him no and Dane said with this tough look on his face, "that's cause I have a tough hand!" We laughed for a while! If anyone needs a funny little kid around to make you laugh for a while--Dane can come play with you! He'll make your day great!

Is this what I get to look forward to?

I was trying so hard to get ready fast the other day cause it was gorgeous outside and we were going on a picnic, so I put my makeup bag down in front of Paige which I didn't think was gonna be a problem, well, she's obviously smarter that she looks cause in about 30 seconds she had the lid off the mascara and this is what her face looked like...then she was mad at me for taking it from her and cleaning her off!
I picked her up and showed herself what she looked like and she said "eww" I laughed! She's got that word down good! Everything is "eww" The funny thing is that at least you can see her eyebrows with mascara on them!

My funny little Paige!

Memorial day turned out to be super fun! We went to Roosevelt Lake with the DeRusha's and we had a great time! After looking at 3 different campsites (Nick forgot to ask where they were gonna be and cell phones don't work there) and Nick saying "if they're not at this one, we're freakin goin home" We found em'!

Dane was in heaven! He loves his Lamb cousins and they all were like little fishes in the water. They would take turns in the boat and on the shore--such patient kids! Dane found a little minnow and carried it around till it was dead and then insisted we bring it home-ugh! Such a boy!

Cute cousins Dayton, Sadie, Ava, and Dane!

Dane waiting patiently for a turn on the tube! When he finally got a turn, Nick tried to teach him how to roll off and Dane thought Nick was trying to drown him! He told Nick he can't come to the lake anymore!
Hopefully we get to do this again soon--cause it was a lot of fun! Good Family, good conversation, good food, just good!

Funny Dane!

So Dane doesn't particularly like going to church...he doesn't like to be quiet, he doesn't like sunbeams, he doesn't like wearing a tie most of the time...well, a couple of weeks ago he was walking home with my dad (papa Danny) from church and when they were walking across the canal, Dane stopped and asked if he could throw his tie in. My dad told him "no!" Dane turned to my dad and said,"well maybe if I throw it in a fish will come by and eat it and we'll never find it, then I don't have to go to church anymore! Does that sound like a good idea?"
And just last week getting ready for church, Nick was dressing the kids and I usually do Dane's hair, well I was running late as usual and I told Nick to just put stuff in it real fast. So Nick put some gunk in his hair and said "there I guess you're done or whatever" Dane asked "well, do I look all ugly then?" I laughed pretty hard! I guess he's worried about his hair--yes! I've instilled great hair maintenence in my kids! Anyway, there are a few funny Dane stories!

It's decision time!

HERE WE GO!So Life has been pretty crazy/stressful lately...and as of today, it's about to get a little crazier! Nick finished his last finals today and now we have a couple week break before he becomes captain Algebra all summer! I do have to brag a little--Nick got straight A's this semester and he did not have an easy load--SOOO proud of my guy! He and Emily are both graduating friday night, so lots of family will be here and it will be heaps of fun!

A couple of weeks ago we had a huge decision to make and Nick said it's up to me where we go to school, either NAU or BYU Hawaii...I made my pros and cons list ( I love list making) and I mailed his acceptance letter to BYU! So we will be Hawaii dwellers for a couple of years--I'm excited and nervous all at the same time! My husband is gleeful because he gets to play drums to pay for his school! We have lots to do, like sell our house, cars and pack up all our stuff and hopefully it will all work out great! Plus I get to live in a place I love! I love the people, the air, the easy going everything, and I have some awesome mission friends that live there--it's pretty sureal though! School starts the middle of Sept. so we got a few months, but I know it will go fast!